118 Local Scientific Societies, and the
evidence that might have been gathered by competent
watchers has been for ever lost.
The systematic excavation of earthworks, barrows, tumuli,
&c, by the method of exploration, is necessarily expensive
work, and it is to me a matter of some surprise that the
munificent example set by men like General Pitt-Rivers and
Canon Greenwell, has not been more widely followed by
those who, with the knowledge of this difficulty, have it
within their means to promote this branch of research. As
in the case of one of the societies which I have the honour of
representing (the Essex Field Club), which at the instigation
of General Pitt-Rivers, undertook the investigation of the
ancient earthworks in Epping Forest, good work can some-
times be done by a local society, by raising a fund for the pur-
pose of exploring such remains in its own district, and this
leads me to the immediate object of the present paper.
In attempting to draw up any suggestions for the guidance
of local societies, the great difficulty appears to be the
impossibility of finding any subjects for research of a suffi-
ciently general scope to be open to all societies. The subjects
already proposed by the committee appointed last year by the
conference of delegates are, as you are aware : (1) under-
ground waters, (2) erratic blocks, (3) underground tempera-
ture, (4) rainfall, (5) periodical natural phenomena, (6) in-
jurious insects. To these I am now about to suggest the
addition of another subject, viz. (7) prehistoric remains.
Here, as it seems to me, there is a useful field for co-operation
among the societies of all counties. Thanks to the in-
creasing interest in scientific matters now making itself felt
throughout the country, there is perhaps no corner of Britain
which does not or could not be made to fall into the province
of some local society or field club. In view of the imminent
destruction of many of the minor remains on the one hand,
and the scheduling of the larger remains for State protection
on the other hand, I believe that occupation of the greatest
importance exists for all local societies.
The time has perhaps not yet arrived for laying down any
rigid system for dealing with the proposed subject, and I