ANNUAL CONGRESS OR CONFERENCE. 361
Ipswich Scientific Society included the President (Dr. G,
Vincent), and the Excursion Secretary (Mr. H. Miller), with
many members of the Committee. Owing to the distance
Norfolk was not very largely represented, but Mr. T. Southwell,
F.Z.S., and Mr. Sherrin, F.Z.S., were present, and might in
themselves be regarded as an influential deputation from the
northermost of the three counties. The Essex Field Club was,
of course, well to the fore, many of our most active members
being present.
The President, Mr. David Howard, took the chair, and
called upon Mr. W. Cole to open the discussion by reading the
following paper :—
A SUGGESTION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN
ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE SCIENTIFIC (NATURAL
HISTORY) SOCIETIES OF "EAST ANGLIA."
By WILLIAM COLE. F.LS., F.E S. (Hon. Sec. E.F.C).
Very many of our local scientific societies do admirable
work, and work of a kind that probably would not be done at all
did these societies not exist. The accurate mapping of the limits
of distribution of the members of the British Fauna and Flora
which has made such progress in recent years, is very largely
due to local societies, and many geological facts of importance
gathered from the study of sections in pits and excavations
which may remain exposed for a very short time have been
preserved in the journals and other publications of these bodies.
Their educational and social value is also undoubtedly great.
But friends of the movement have long observed that the
efforts of local societies and their members have not borne the
fruit to which the enthusiasm manifested would entitle them.
There is in too many cases a plentiful lack of method in the
pursuits of the members, and a want of continuity in the
publication of results, that diminish the value of the papers
issued considered as permanent records of the biological or
geological studies carried on in the several districts.
To remedy this state of things many suggestions have been
put forward, and latterly the Scientific Societies Committee of the
British Association have taken up the question. The Committee
endeavoured to learn the views of local societies with regard to
greater unity and comprehensiveness of work, but somewhat
unfortunately, i venture to think, " federation " was put as a
fore-word in the communications sent to the societies, and
this appears to have alarmed many of them. The idea of
" federation " is objected to in some quarters from the not
unreasonable fear that this would tend to loss of individuality
and possibly diminish the local enthusiasm of the members. The