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Annual Meeting—General Business.
181

3.—That the Secretaries of the Council, and any other two members of the Council may summon a Special Meeting of the Council, and that the Secretaries shall summon a Special Meeting of the Council on the requisition of any five members.

4.—That the Council shall hold an Ordinary Meeting at the commencement of and another at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting of the Union.

5.—That the Secretaries and Treasurer shall present reports at the first of those meetings.

6.—That the time and place of the nest Annual Meeting shall be decided by the Council at the first of their ordinary meetings.

7.—That the President of the Union shall be for the time the President of the Council; and that there shall be two Secretaries and a Treasurer elected annually.

The Bye-laws were adopted.

Mr. Edward W. Badger and Mr. W. J. Harrison were re-elected Honorary Secretaries, and Mr. Egbert D. Hamel Honorary Treasurer.

On the motion of the President, seconded by Mr. W. R. Hughes, it was resolved that the next annual meeting of the Union be held at Leicester.

The President having stated that a suggestion had been made that a joint excursion should be made to Castleton, next invited remarks from any of the members who desired to point out how the Union might be rendered most useful.

Mr. Harrison said it seemed to him the best thing to do was to place before themselves several definite objects. The only branch of science in which he was specially interested was that of Geology, and on that subject these members who took an interest in it, although they lived apart, could co-operate with each other, The subject of the glacial deposits was one which he thought might most advantageously be considered by the members of the Union. He moved the following resolution:—"That the subject of the glacial drift-deposits be referred to the Council as one well adapted for conjoint observation by the Societies in the Union."

Mr. Tait having seconded the motion, it was carried.

The Rev. C. F. Thornewill said he felt they ought not to separate without passing a hearty vote of thanks to the Birmingham and Dudley Sections for the excellent arrangements they had made for the instruction and enjoyment of members. It had bean said that he was a bold man who first ate an oyster, and certainly it was a bold step to take to start the Union, and also to bring members together tor a couple of days enjoyment and instruction.

Major Barnard seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried.

A vote of thanks to the President for his courteous conduct in the chair terminated the proceedings.

The Conversazione.

When it became known that the Midland Union of Natural History Societies would hold its First Annual Meeting at Birmingham, the local societies set vigorously to work to provide a hearty welcome for their visitors. The result was a most enjoyable conversazione, which was held in the Town Hall, on Monday evening, May 27, from 7 30 to 10 30, and attracted 700 visitors. Though we hope to afford some idea of the nature and variety of the exhibits brought together on that occasion