session 1901-1902. 
XXX Vll 
Societies might readily and usefully undertake, not only with 
regard to fossils, hut also in all departments of natural history. 
How the steady growth of scientific education in this country 
during recent years has told most favourably upon the character 
of our local Societies was then pointed out, a review of the 
proceedings of the various local Societies at the present day 
showing that a high standard of excellence is often attained. 
Turning to his own special subject, geology, Mr. Rudler drew 
attention to the importance to each Society of the study of the 
physiographic features of its district, a branch of enquiry which 
is now known as geomorphology, and he recommended the working- 
out of river-development—of the reason why each stream flows 
in one direction rather than in another, how it has flowed in the 
past, and how it may possibly flow in the future. “ In the modern 
view of river-development, largely due to American geologists,” 
he said, “the stream is regarded as working its way downwards, 
cutting its channel deeper and deeper, until it eventually reaches 
what Major Powell has called its ‘ base-level.’ Then ceasing to 
work in this way, it meanders sluggishly over its plain, when 
a period of rejuvenescence sets in, and a new cycle of erosive 
activity is initiated.” And he thus compared the life of a scientific 
Society with that of a river: “In a somewhat similar manner 
it may happen that a local Society, which in its youth was vigorous 
as a mountain-stream, gradually finds its energy on the wane, and 
may at length reach a base-level of existence, when it flows placidly 
along, like the river in its lower reaches, very beautiful, and no 
doubt useful in its way, yet decidedly sluggish.” 
Of the two pieces of systematic work here recommended .to he 
undertaken, that of river-development appeals strongly to us. 
It is, as Mr. Kudler stated, a fascinating subject, and it is one 
which might well he studied in our county. There is less scope 
for the registration of type-specimens, which I may mention are 
the original specimens from the examination of which figures and 
descriptions of new species have been produced. I doubt whether 
we have any in our County Museum. A list of the local fossils 
in the Museum might, however, be published by the Society, to 
the past history and present state of which, I fear, Mr. Rudler’s 
simile well applies, although I hope that the period of rejuvenescence 
is about to set in. 
After a discussion on the advisability of the Corresponding 
Societies’ Committee stating each year what has been the outcome 
of the Conference of Delegates held in the preceding year, the 
Rev. J. 0. Bevan brought his subject, already mentioned, forward. 
“Tor some time past,”he said, “the Delegates have been enquiring 
at the annual meetings : ‘ What can we do—what can our Society 
do—to further the ends of science through the Association?’” 
He then proceeded to answer this question to a certain extent, 
dwelling on the importance of investigations being carried on 
uniformly so as to admit of easy comparison over wide areas. 
“In the choice of subjects,” he said, “three considerations (at 
