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"Your Council hope other local Societies will join the Union, and have reason tu think that several contemplate doing so.^[1]

"The objects of the Union may be broadly stated to he to extend the usefulness of Local Societies by affording facilities for inter-communication through an authorised and regularly published magazine, which records the more important work done by them; announces their forthcoming meetings and excursions; and assist in the interchange of notes and specimens; and, by providing opportunities for personal intercourse among the members at meetings to be held from time to time in various places of interest, and in other ways, to promote the study of Natural History, and other scientific subjects.

“Your Council desire to record their warm appreciation of the hearty efforts which the Birmingham and Dudley Societies have made to ensure the first meeting of the Union being successful and interesting. The Conversazione which will take place in the Town Hall this evening will give members of distant societies some idea of the scientific and other resources of local members and will afford an excellent opportunity for social and intellectual intercourse. The excursion to Dudley and neighbourhood to-morrow will supply an admirable opportunity for the study of some of the geological features of a most interesting and important district, while the archæological members will find much to occupy their attention. Your Council feel that the thanks of the members are due and are assured that they will be warmly tendered to the gentlemen who have with admirable foresight, much labour, and expense made these arrangements for their edification and instruction.

"Your Council recommend that they be empowered to appoint a small Committee of Management to transact the general business of the Union. They also subunit bye-laws for your consideration.

"The present subscription of one penny per member is deemed by your Council as quite inadequate to enable the Union to engage in any real work, and they desire to have your opinion as to whether it should not be increased, and if so to what amount.

“It now only remains for your Council to state that it recommends this meeting to select Leicester for the next annual gathering of the Union, and to express the hope that this association of societies may be increasingly instrumental in fostering the study of Natural History and allied sciences."

The President moved the adoption of the repeat, He strongly recommended the meeting to adopt the suggestion of the Council, and empower them to select as a Committee of Management ten members of the Council and the editors of the "Midland Naturalist," ex officio. As to the amount subscribed by each member annually he for his part could not think what induced the promoters of the Union to fix the sum so low. The subscription would only pay the postage of two circulars to each of the members. He recommended the meeting to pass some resolution fixing the subscription ab a reasonable amount. His own idea was one shilling per annum per member it the societies of the Union meant to do real work.

The motion was seconded by the Rev. W. H. Elliot, and carried.

The President then moved that the Council be empowered to appoint a Sub-committee of Management to conduct the business of the Union.

Mr. Lawson Tait seconded the motion, which was carried.