The Annals of Scottish Natural History
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RETURN TO LIBRARY OF MARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY WOODS HOLE, MASS. LOANED BY AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The Annals OF Scottish Natural History A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED naturalist EDITED BY J. A. HARVIE-BROWN, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S. MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION JAMES W. H. TRAIL, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S. PROFESSOR OF BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN WILLIAM EAGLE CLARKE, F.L.S., F.R.S.E. KEEPER OF THE NATURAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT, ROYAL SCOTTISH MUSEUM, EDINBURGH 1907 EDINBURGH DAVID DOUGLAS, CASTLE STREET LONDON: R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES ST., CAVENDISH SQUARE The Annals of Scottish Natural History No. 6l] 1907 [JANUARY WANTED THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND. By JAMES W. H. TRAIL, M.A., M.D., F.R.S. THE time is long past since it was possible for any one to that he took all for his claim knowledge province ; and societies, like individuals, have had to restrict their scope to ever-narrowing fields as knowledge has grown and deepened. Some have applied themselves to the investigation of a science or of a science while single portion ; others, with wider range of subjects, have limited their action within a definite, it may be a relatively small geographical area. More and more has it become evident that concentration in a definite field is a condition necessary to the production of work of permanent value, and that for all but a gifted few that field must not be wide. But while the subdivision of labour is necessary, and has brought with it very great increase in knowledge in almost every field of study, it has also brought very serious loss and danger. The many workers toil on within their limitations and however the ore narrowing ; precious they seek, they tend to shut themselves off from the wider vision 6 1 B 2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY and to lose knowledge of and sympathy with the work of others, and the sense of proportion that should make their own work sane and true. Even within the narrow limits of the special study the work fails, crushed under the accumula- tions of materials that will not be fitted into a coherent scheme, or defective through the difficulty of ascertaining what has been already published on the same subject. There have been, and there are, numerous societies in Scotland whose object has been to add to what was already of the natural of the and outside known history country ; the work of the societies there have been issued numerous books and papers in journals, forming a mass of information of large amount and of much worth, if only it could be made readily accessible. But much of it is buried almost beyond reach, and a relatively small part alone can be made full use of. The influence of this literature as a whole on the study of the natural history of Scotland is hurtful rather than helpful while it cannot be properly utilised, as the vague knowledge of its existence tends to disguise how very much remains to be done, and the effort to search out the records consumes much time that can ill be spared. The societies that existed in Scotland a century ago included inquiries into the natural history only as a part of their the small number of proceedings ; yet publications issued in any form made it comparatively easy to follow all that was being done. But for many years it has been almost impossible to ascertain all that has been issued. Many societies have been formed, most of them strictly limited in their scope, either to certain counties or districts, or to certain subjects. Among the most successful are those that restrict their publications strictly within the limits in- dicated their names and numerous valuable contributions by ; have been issued by these societies. But for the most part these publications are issued only to the members of each society, or in exchange with other societies, and this makes it almost impossible for a worker to have access to some of these publications. When we turn to the papers issued in the is less for find journals practical difficulty hardly ; we them scattered through numerous publications, each usually WANTED THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND 3 or to a narrower field limited to one science, even much ; and no one can hope to keep account of these papers by one's own watchfulness. Still more difficult is it not to overlook what appears in separate form, or in local works, guidebooks, travels, sometimes in foreign languages, and in ways that are very apt to escape notice. As the years pass, many contributions, while still of great value, become forgotten, especially if issued in a local publication. Their subjects are investigated again, under the supposition that they have not been previously approached, and much labour is wasted that might have earlier not or after been saved had the work been forgotten ; completion of the work anew the earlier paper is found, and the second proves to have been needless, and is thereupon withdrawn. Every worker knows how large a part of the time that should be available for extending knowledge is spent in seeking to find out what had already been published on the subject under investigation, and must have longed for an accurate and full subject -index to the field of investigation. This heavy burden on scientific work grows more exigent year by year, and threatens to preclude advance, if the inquiry must be made anew by each indi- vidual. There is urgent need to free research from such burdens as far as that is possible. If relief is not given by efficient indexing research will build itself into its own and its earnestness and will tomb ; very productiveness only cause it to be crushed by its own products the more speedily. It may be thought that to advocate the formation of another natural history society is only to add to the burdens already so oppressive. That might be so if it were on the lines of those but the of which already existing ; society there is need should not be on these lines. Its aims should be to supplement and strengthen the work of all societies and individuals that seek in any way to extend what is known of the natural of Scotland in no to history ; way diminish or to interfere with their usefulness or freedom, but to aid them by bringing within the reach of all a knowledge of what has been gained in the past and is being done at the time to show what is known and what present ; gaps 4 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY exist and thus to where labour can be ; suggest most usefully and profitably applied to extend what is known, within the limits of place and time in which each works. Scotland is exceedingly well defined as a natural area for investigation, since even its southern frontier, by which alone it is in contact with any other land-surface, is clearly marked throughout most of its length by the Cheviot hills. Its surface is much diversified and the ; numerous islands along its west and north coasts offer problems of an interest- ing and important kind in their relation to the origins of fauna and flora, and to the evolution of new types by isola- tion. But while these conditions appear so favourable to the pursuance of a systematic investigation of the natural history of the country as a whole, no organisation has been formed with that aim a strange and unfavourable contrast to what exists in various parts of continental Europe, often where only political instead of natural limits mark out the countries. Finland, Switzerland, Bavaria, and Branden- burg afford examples of admirable work of the kind in question. It is more than time that steps were taken to provide for a careful and thorough investigation of the natural history of Scotland as a whole, to take up work of a kind that no existing society attempts to discharge, and to supplement the individualism of the workers, and even of the numerous societies, by the common efforts of all to the same end, by means that shall make the work of each known to all to whom it can be helpful. Such an aim can be fulfilled only by co-operation. There is much need for the formation of a new society whose one end should be the investigation of the natural " " history of Scotland. That Natural history should be interpreted in the old, wide sense, to include all that falls under physiography and geology, as well as zoology and botany. Anthropology should not be excluded, although, for the sake of convenience, it would be represented probably by physical and prehistoric aspects rather than by its other sides. Geology has already been the care of the the Ordnance has excellent Geological Survey ; Survey given of the of the and the maps present configuration country ; WANTED THE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND 5 climate is the object of continued observation and records by the meteorologists. In so far as all these have national support for their study, there is less need to make other for them even in these there are side issues provision ; yet that call for and there is room for extension of inquiry ; the information acquired into forms that would bring it more directly before those likely to be interested in such things. It is, however, in the sciences of botany, zoology, and anthropology that the want of co-operation and co-ordina- tion is most evident and the urgent need of action is most felt.