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Annual Meeting—General Businesss.

The President next moved, that it be a recommendation of this meeting to each individual Society, that the subscription to the Union be raised to one shilling. He said he was unable to say what work the Yorkshire Union had done, when its members only contributed a subscription of one penny per annum. Such a subscription appeared to him to be ridiculously small and inadequate.[1]

The motion was not seconded but an animated discussion ensued, in which Mr. C. J. Woodward, Mr. Lawson Tait, the Rev. C. F. Thornewill, Mr. G. H. Twigg, the Rev. W. H. Elliot, Mr. E. Hollier, and others took part. It was ultimately resolved on the motion of the President, seconded by Mr. G. H. Twigg, "That it be a recommendation from this meeting that the annual subscription be raised, and that honorary secretaries be requested to report to a future meeting of the Union the opinion of their societies upon the subject."

The Treasurer's report was then read by Mr. Edward W. Badger, (in the unavoidable absence of Mr. E. D. Hamel.) It showed that the total receipts for the year, contributed by twenty-one societies, consisting of 2,683 members, were £11. 4s. l0d. The report was adopted.

Mr. Lawson Tait read the following

Bye-Laws.

1.—That the Annual Meeting of the Midland Union of Natural History Societies shall be held, from time to time, in the towns in which the various Societies of the Union are located; that the President of the Society in connection with which the Annual Meeting shall be held, shall be the President of the Union for the year, and, ex officio, a member of the Council and that where more than one Society in the same town is in the Union, the question of the Presidency shall be determined by those Societies.

2.—That the Annual Meetings of the Union shall be held in May, and that all the arrangements for the same shall be made by the Society or Societies of the town in which it is to be held.

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  1. This is a subject of so much importance, that we gladly print a circular which the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union have issued on the work to be done, and the necessity for an increased subscription:— "The Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. The Secretaries have been directed by the Council to call your attention to the desirability of a sufficient income being at once raised to enable the Union to commence the publication of reports and papers upon the Natural History of the county, as well as to defray the necessary expenses connected with the meetings. "It is intended to issue the following papers, &c., which are now in preparation, as soon as the requisite funds have been raised—
    "1. A history of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society, from 1861 to 1876 inclusive.
    "2. A map of Yorkshire, showing the districts, based upon the river-drainage system, into which the county will be divided, for the purpose of investigating the fauna and flora. This map will be accompanied by an explanatory paper, describing in words the boundaries of the various districts.
    "3. The reports and proceedings of the Union and of its Sections, together with such papers and catalogues as may be considered of sufficient value by the Council.

    "It is perfectly obvious that the contributions paid by the affiliated Societies, of 1d. per member per annum, are quite inadequate for this purpose, and you will see that the total income required, more especially for the first year, when the map is to be published, is very considerable. The Council consequently have confidence in inviting you to contribute to the extent of your ability and inclination and while large amounts are sought from all those who arc able to give them, they wish it to be understood, that small amounts are likewise acceptable. Among the sums already given are such amounts as Two Shillings, Half-a-Crown, Five Shillings, Half-a-Guinea, One Guinea, and Two Guineas. Subscribers of 2s. 6d. and upwards will be entitled to receive the publications of the Union.

    "The Council trust that the response to this appeal may be such as to justify them in ordering the early publication of the map and reports."— [Eds. M. N.]