; . * TRANSACTIONS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. ' r\ * r :■ y ■. r ■ - ^ 14 1 - . 1 PROCEEDINGS OF THE J PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE VOLUME II, 1893 TO 1898. PERTH: PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, AT THE PERTHSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM. 1898. J. YOUNG AND SONS, PRINTERS, PERTH. INDEX. CONTENTS. PAGE Index to Subjects, ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Titles of Papers read but not published, ... ... ... 7 Excursions, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Species more specially noticed — Animals — Vertebrate, ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Invertebrate, ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Plants — Phanerogamous, ... ... ... ... ... 9 Cryptogamous, ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Index to Contributors, ... ... ... ... ... 9 Illustrations, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 Errata, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... u Note. — The Titles of Papers published in the Transactions are not given in the Index to the Proceedings, SUBJECT INDEX. Address, Annual, ... ... ... ... xxi, liii, civ, cxl, clxviii Address, Opening, ... ... ... ... i, xli, lxx, cxxiii, cli Address of President at Opening of Enlarged Museum, ... ... lxxix Address of President at Extraordinary General Meeting, ... ... cxvii Address of Sir W. H. Flower at Opening of Enlarged Museum, ... Ixxxi Agassiz Museum, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., ... ... ii Anthropology, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... clxxxii Astronomy, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxxii Audubon, Biography of, .. ... ... ... ... xxvi Audubon, Personal Reminiscences of, ... ... ... ... xxiv Biology, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxxvii Birds, Destruction of Rare, in the County, ... ... ... cxlviii Botanical Notes, ... ... ... ... ... ... clix Botany, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxxvii 6 INDEX, PAGE Chemistry, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxx Cist, Prehistoric, at Letham Quarry, ... ... .. ... cxxxii Conversazione, ... ... ... ... ... xciii, cxxxiv Darwin, Origin of Species, ... ... ... ... ... clxxx Dinner at Opening of Museum, ... ... ... ... ... lxxxix Drummond Hay, Col. H. M., Obituary Notice of, ,.. ... ... xcv Educational Value of Museums, ... ... ... ... xliii, liii Extraordinary General Meetings, ... ... ... ... ... cxvii Flooding in Tay Valley, 7th February, 1894, and its effects, ... ... xxii Flora of Perthshire, Publication of, ... ... ... Ixxi, clxviii Geography, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxxiv Geological History of the Site of Perth, Scenes in the, ... ... > cvii Geology, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxxiv Harlcer, Professor Allen, Obituary Notice of, ... ... ... xlvii Herd, Mr. William, Obituary Notice of, ... ... ... ... clxvii Letham Quarry, Notice of Prehistoric Cist found at, ... ... cxxxii Museum, The Peter Redpath, M‘Gill University, Montreal, ... ... iii Museum, Agassiz, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., ... ... ii Museum of the Boston Society of Natural Science, ... ... ... ii Museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal, ... ... iii Museum of Natural History, American, Central Park, New York, ... iv Museum, Perthshire Natural History, Enlarged and Re-arranged, Opening of, ... ... ... ... ... ... lxxviii Opening Ceremony, ... ... ... lxxviii Dinner in City Hall, ... ... ... ... lxxxix Conversazione, ... ... ... ... ... xciii Museum, Perthshire Natural History, Maintenance of, ... cv, cxxiv, clxix Museum, Perthshire Natural History, Offer to hand over to Town Council, ... . . ... ... ... cxvi, cxxiii Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, ... iv Museum, National, Washington, and Smithsonian Institution, ... iii Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, ... ... ... iii Museums, Educational Value of, ... ... ... ... xliii, liii Natural Science, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... clxix New York, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, ... iv Obituary Notices — Drummond Hay, Col. H. M., of Seggieden, C.M.Z.S., ... xcv Harker, Professor Allen, ... ... ... ... ... xlvii Herd, Mr. William, ... ... ... ... .. clxvii White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.E.S., F. L.S., ... . . xlv Young, Mr. John, C.E., ... ... ... ... ... xciv Opening of Enlarged and Re-arranged Perthshire Natural History Museum, lxxviii Origin of Soils, The, with special reference to the Soils of Perthshire, ... cxli Palaeontology, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... clxxxi Perth, Scenes in the Geological History of the Site of, ... ... cvii Philadelphia, Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences, iv INDEX. Photographic Excursions during Summer of 1896, Photographic Section, Proceedings of, Physics, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, Progress of Natural Science during the Victorian Era, The, Publications of the Society, / PAGK cxiii cxii, cxxxiv .... clxxii clxix Ixx Radiolaria in Perthshire Plighland Rocks, Rare Birds, Destruction of, in the County, Report of the Council, Annual, Report of the Curator, Annual, Report of the Librarian, Annual, ... Report of the Editor, Annual, xxiv cxlviii xviii, xlix, xcviii, cxxxv, clxii xviii, 1, c, cxxxvii, clxii xx, lii, ciii, cxxxix, clxv xx, lii, civ, cxl, clxvi cxxxvi, clxviii Report of Treasurer of Museum Fund, Reports of Delegates to the British Association for the Advance¬ ment of Science (title only), ... ... xv, xli, lxxviii, cxxx Reports of Delegates to the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies (title only), ... ... .. ... xv Reports of Delegates to the Museums Association (title only), lxxviii, cxxxi Scenes in the Geological History of the Site of Perth, ... ... cvii Soils, The Origin of, with special reference to the Soils of Perthshire, ... cxli Tay Valley, Flooding in the, 7th February, 1894, and its effects, ... xxii Washington, National Museum, ... ... ... ... ... iii Washington, Museum of Smithsonian Institution, ... ... ... iii Weather of 1893-94, ... ... ... ... ... ... xxii Weather of 1894, ... ... ... ... ... ... xli Weather of First Two Months of 1895, ... ... ... ... liv White, Dr. F. Buchanan, Biography of, ... ... ... ... lv White, Dr. F. Buchanan, List of his Papers, Notes, and Addresses, communicated to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, ... lxii White, Dr. F. Buchanan, Obituary Notice of, ... ... ... xlv White, Dr. F. Buchanan — Flora of Perthshire, ... ... lxxi, clxviii Young, Mr. John, C.E. , Obituary Notice of, ... ... ... xciv Zoology, Progress of, during the Victorian Era, ... ... ... clxxviii TITLES OF PAPERS READ BUT NOT PUBLISHED. Aid given by Photography to the other Sciences, The, ... ... cxiii Anterior Limb, Modifications of the, ... ... ... ... clix Arctic Regions, A Voyage to the, ... ... ... ... xvii Bering Sea, Notes of a Voyage to the, ... ... ... ... clxi Birds recently presented to the Museum by Mr. Atholl Macgregor, Descriptive Notes on the, ... ... ... ... ... cxi Brain, The Physiology of the, ... ... ... ... ... Ixvi Carse of Gowrie, On Some Rare Flowering Plants of the, ... ... clix Cashmere, Scenery and People of, ... ... ... ... xcvii Cast Iron Pipes, How Affected by Water, ... ... ... ... xvi Colour Photography, ... ... ... ... ... ... cxiv Colour Photography and the Stereophotochromoscope, ... ... cxxxiv 8 INDEX. Colour Sensation and the Harmony of Colours, Copper Island, Report on Plants Collected on, by Alexander M. Rodger, Desert Conditions in Britain, Dragonflies, About, Economic Entomology, ... Flight in the Animal Kingdom, ... Flour, The Manufacture of, Geological Structures in Scotland, and Fossil Plants from the Coal Measures, Geometrical Forms of Rock Crystals, The, Glenalmond District, Physical Geology of the, Hawks and Hawking, Heredity, Some P'resh Evidence, ... Microscope, The Modern, and Recent Bacteriological Investigation, Mind in Animals, Movement in the Earth’s Crust, and Some of its Problems, Rontgen Rays, The Process of taking Shadowgraphs by means of, Sandpipes in the Chalk, Spain, Tour in, in the Spring of 1894, EXCURSIONS. PAGE Arbroath, ... ... ... cxxx Ardoch, ... ... ... ... xiv Balruddery Den, ... xxxv, lxxv Balquhidder, ... ... ... clvii Balvaird, Falkland, and Abernethy, cliv xiv ... cxxviii viii ... lxxiii Barnhill to Glencarse, Birnam, ... Buchan ty, Burntisland, Callerfountain and Aberdalgie, Cargill to Caputh, Clashbennie, Comrie ... Craigindivots, Craiglea Quarry, Craig-y-barns, ... Dalguise to Dunkeld, Dalmeny, Dollar, ... Dunblane, Doune, and Sheriff- muir, ... ... ... cxxx Dunfermline, ... ... lxxii, cxiii Glenartney, ... ... x, xxxii Glenfarg, ... ... ... xxx cxxix cxxix cxxx x xiii clvi clvii cliii clviii vii Greenloaning to Comrie, Invermay, Ivincraigie Burn, Kinloch-Rannoch, Ivinnoull Hill, ... Lake of Menteith, Little Glenshee, Loch Clunie, Lochleven, Loch Tummel, ... Methven Loch, ... Millhaugh, Murthly, ... New Scone to Inchture, Perth to Ivinfauns, Pitroddie, Reekie Linn, Stirling, ... Stormont Loch, Tentsmuir, Thistlebrig, PAGE xlviii clxvi clx cx cxxxii cxlviii cx cxxxiv xcvii cxxxiv lxvi xcv xvi xlvii cxxxi cxiv xlviii cxiv PAGE xiii . cxxvi xii . Ixxvii . lxxvi xxxv . Ixxvii vii cliv . cxxix cxxx . xxxiv clvii xiv civ . cxxvi . cxxvii cxiii xi . xxxiii v .INDEX. 9 SPECIES MORE SPECIALLY NOTICED. PAGE Animals — Vertebrate. Blackcap, xix Merganser, ci Phoca groenlandica, cii Smew, cii Tench, .. clxiii Invertebrate. Agrion puella, ... xi Cilissa haemorrhoidalis, clvii Corymbites cupreus, xxxi Macrocheira Koempferi, clxv Metacrinus rotundus, .. clxv Vanessa antiopa, . . cxxxi Plants— Phanerogamous. Anthemis Cotula, xiv Apium inundatum, xii Carex limosa, x Carex vesicaria, ... xi Epipactis palustris, PAGE clix Goodyera repens, ... xxxvii, clix Hieracium cuspidatum, xii Lysimachia thyrsiilora, xi, civ Papaver Lecoquii, XV Potentilla argentea, xxxviii Primula vulgaris x veris, cliv Rosa cinerascens, xxxviii Rosa involuta, ... xxxviii Rosa pimpinellifolia x rubi- ginosa, clix Rosa rubiginosa, var., ... . cxxix Rosa sub-canina, xxxviii Rosa sub-collina, . xxxviii Sagina procumbens, var. spinosa, xv Silene dichotoma, XV Silene noctiflora, . xlviii Taraxacum officinale, var. eryth - rospermum, vii Cryptogamous . Dicranum montanum, ... cxxxviii Pseudoleskea catenulata, cxxxviii CONTRIBUTORS. Anderson, W. G., PAGE cx Barclay, Wm, xxx, lxxiv, lxxv, lxxvi, lxxvii, cxxvi, cxxix, civ, clvi, clvii, clix, clxvi Brown, R., F.E., R.N., ... ... ... ... ... xv, cxxi Campbell, Col., Capper, G. H., Carruthers, Dr. Coates, Andrew, Coates, Henry, ... cxxxiv, cliv, clviii lxxii Ixvi xxiv F. R.S.E., i, viii, xxi, xxxi, xxxii, xxxiii, xxxiv, xxxv, xli, xlv, liii, lxx, lxxix, xciv, xcv, civ, cxvii, cxxiii, cxxxiv, cxl, cli, clxviii Dewar, Lord Provost, ... ... ... ... ... ... xciii Dow, R., ... ... ... xxxv, lxxv, xcvii, cxxvii, cxxxi, cliv, clix Drummond Hay, Col. PI. M., C.M.Z. S., ... ... ... ... lxxxvii Flower, Sir W. H., ... ... ... ... ... lxxxi, xci Goodchild, J. G., F.G.S., F.Z.S., ... ... ... Ixvi, lxxiii, clx Hall, Rev. H. Armstrong, ... ... ... ... xvi, cxxxii IO INDEX. Kidston, R., F.G.S., PAGE cxxxiv Millais, J. G., ... ... ... ... xcvii M orison, James, xlvii, clvii M‘Dougall, R. Stewart, M.A., B. Sc., cxxxii M‘Gregor, T. M., F.E.S., cx, cxxviii, clvii Pullar, Sir Robert, F.R.S.E., lxxxviii, xc, cxx, cxxx Reid, A. S., M.A., F.G.S., xv, xlviii, l.xxv, lxxviii Robertson, Dr. G. M., ... xlviii, xcvii Rodger, Alexander M. , ... xvii, lxviii cxi, cxxxi, cxlviii, clxi Smith, Dr. W. G. cliii Snodgrass, William, M.A., M.B, cxxxiv Stewart, James, L.D.S., clix Stewart John, ... clxvii Thomas, Miss M., cxxvii, cxxix Valentine, George, xcv Wallace, R., M.P., xcii White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.E.S., F.L.S. , V Young, John, C.E., xvi ILLUSTRATIONS. Ancient Stone Cist found in Letham Quarry, Craiglea Quarry, Drummond Iday, Col. H. M., C.M.Z.S., Portrait of, Museum, Group taken at Opening of, Museum, Exterior of, Museum, Interior of, White, F. Buchanan, M.D., F.E.S., F. L.S., Portrait of, in text, page cxxxiii to face page clvi to face page xcv to face page Ixix to face page lxxviii . . to face page xciii to face page xli ERRATA. Page xliii, foot-note, line 2, read “excursions” for “extensions.” Page lxvi, line 2 from bottom, read “ Professor ” for “ Professer. ” Page lxvi, last line, insert “ See Transactions , Vol. II., Part III., Page 127.’ Page xcv, line 8, read “ Part IV.” for “ Part III.” Page xcvii, line 21, read “Part IV.” for “Part III.” Page cxi, line 6. insert “See Tra?isactions , Vol. II., Part IV., Page 143.” Page clvi, last line, read “aizoides” for “azoides.” 16 J PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. WINTER SESSION, 1893-94. 9th November, 1893. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Fossils from the Carboniferous Strata at Dron — from Mr. Melville Jameson, jun. Specimens of the Loach or Beardie — from Mr. T. Marshall, Stanley. River Lampreys — from Mr. Chas. MTntosh, Inver. Specimens of the Smooth Newt — from Col. Drummond Hay and Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor. Dried Plants — from Dr. Buchanan White. Library.— Two vols. Complete Angler, by Isaac Walton — from Mr. John Young, Janitor. Six copies of List of Hemiptera occurr¬ ing in Perthshire — from Mr. T. M. M ‘Gregor. The President delivered the following Opening Address : — Gentlemen, — As requested by our Building Committee, and more especially by our Hon. Curator, I have made it my duty to see as many Natural History Museums as possible during my recent visit to America, and to make myself acquainted, as far as possible, with their methods of construction and arrangement. In this endeavour I have been assisted, far beyond my expectation, by the kindness and courtesy of all the Museum authorities with whom I have come in contact. In many cases I carried introductions, but whether I presented these or not seemed to make no difference in the way in which I was received after stating my errand. I wish, therefore, to take this earliest opportunity of expressing the gratitude I owe to all these kind scientific friends across the Atlantic. I shall refer to the various Museums in the order in which I visited them, and shall give my impressions from notes taken on the spot. A 11 PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 1. Museum of the Boston Society of Natural Science. — In this Museum an attempt is made to combine the functions of both a general and a local Museum, and necessarily the result has been somewhat detrimental to both aims. It has, however, some good features, such as cases set apart for elementary typical specimens and models, which may be borrowed by School Teachers and used for object lessons. The cases are of light oak, and are not made on the most modern plan. The idea of the general arrangement is good in theory, but is too complicated to be easily followed, even by the student, in going round the collections. It is that the specimens should exhibit the resultant of the various forces of nature, both on Plant and Animal life and on the inorganic world. The result, how¬ ever, was only to confuse the eye. 2. The Agassiz Museum, Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. — This Museum, apart from its intrinsic merits, has a special interest for the Naturalist from its association with its great founder, Louis Agassiz, whose bust meets the visitor on entering the vestibule. In it I found the only attempt at a really comprehensive and educational Type collection — or “Synoptical” collection, as it is there called — that I met with in America. It is not extensive, and is contained in one comparatively small room, but the specimens are well selected, and are arranged with the greatest possible care. The group labels are printed in bold type, and fixed conspicuously on the walls, over the cases. One novel and useful feature is that different colours of card are used for mounting the specimens to denote their geological horizon if extinct, a darker shade being used if the species or group is still living. Black arrows are painted on the inside of the glass, to indicate the direction in which the series runs. Small draw¬ ings and group descriptions are freely used. Composite table and upright cases and wall cases are used for the Synoptical collection, the vertebrates being placed in the latter. The General Collections are arranged in two series, a Systematic and a Faunistic. The latter is particularly interesting, being arranged in a series of rooms opening off each other, each containing specimens from one of the great conti¬ nental or oceanic areas. The most popular section of this Museum is a room containing a unique collection of glass models of typical North American flowers, showing, besides the natural appearance of the flower, enlarged models of dissections, fructification, &c. These models have been prepared — or, rather, are being pre¬ pared, for the series is not yet complete — by a German firm, at the expense of a wealthy Boston lady, who engaged their exclusive services for a period of ten years. The models are displayed in flat- topped table cases got up in the most sumptuous manner. The whole building is of fire-proof material, is well lighted, and painted white inside. On the top storey, besides reference library and offices, are laboratories where eight students can carry on original researches in physiology, embryology, &c., with the assistance of liberal endow¬ ments. In examining the Agassiz Museum, I was indebted to the kind assistance of Prof. E. L. Mark, who occupies the Chair of Com¬ parative Physiology in Harvard College. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Ill 3. The Peter Redpath Museum, M‘Gill University, Mon¬ treal, owes its chief interest to its connection with its dintinguished Hon. Curator, Sir J. W. Dawson, whose valuable collection of fossils it contains. Amongst these I was interested to notice a number of Scotch specimens, sent by Mr. James Reid, Blairgowrie, who has to¬ night been proposed as a member of this Society. Mr. Reid had given me an introduction to Sir William, who was much interested to hear what our Society was doing. The building consists of one main rectangular hall, with a gallery, lighted from the roof. The cases are not of very modern construction. The main floor is devoted entirely to geology and the gallery to zoology. In the latter, what interested me most was the very fine collection of shells formed by the late Dr. Philip Pearsall Carpenter. These were beautifully mounted on plate-glass tablets, resting on black velvet, which re¬ lieved the brilliant colours of the shells. The names were written on the glass with white ink. 4. The Museum of the Natural History Society of Montreal. — This is an old museum, and its collections are some¬ what heterogeneous, but it has served a good purpose as the home of the local Natural History Society. This Society is about the same size as our own, and appears to be doing very similar work. It is the only Society of the kind in Canada that publishes Transactions, its publication being The Canadian Record of Science. 5-6. The National Museum, Washington, and the Smith¬ sonian Institution, Washington. — These two are now under the same management, and are therefore practically departments of one museum. The buildings are distinct, but are within a stone’s throw of each other. In Washington the kindness I received from the officials even exceeded — if that were possible — what I had experi¬ enced elsewhere. They explained that the Museum was a Govern¬ ment Institution, and that one of its functions was to give information to all who wished it, but this explanation did not account for the amount of personal attention I received. Amongst other favours, they furnished me with detailed drawings of some of the cases, for the guidance of our Building Committee, as well as Reports, &c. In this Museum the Curators seem to have paid special attention to the construction of cases, and especially to the adaptation of cases to particular kinds of specimens. This applies to the materials of which the cases are made ; the height, with relation to the eye-line ; the colouring of the backgrounds, with relation to the colour of the specimens ; the angle of slope of the glass, with relation to the angle of incidence of the light ; and similar problems. It may be that the results arrived at may not prove to be the best possible solutions, but they are valuable as being the outcome of much forethought and practical experience. The backgrounds of dark maroon struck one as novel, and perhaps a trifle dingy, but certainly they formed an admirable foil to such specimens as corals, light-coloured minerals, skeletons, &c. One form of case which I had not seen before, and which struck me as particularly useful for certain purposes, was one combining, in a modified degree, the properties of our table and up- iv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. right cases. It was called a table case, but the slope of the glass on both sides was very steep, being at an angle of about 60 deg. with the horizontal. In this way a large amount of exhibition space was obtained at the cost of a small amount of floor space. One useful feature of the Museum was a series of small tables and chairs placed in each room for the use of students. To each table was attached books of reference bearing on the collections displayed in the room. Of the Curators at Washington to whom I am specially indebted, I feel bound to mention the names of Mr. True, at the head cf the Mammal Department; Mr. Wilson (Prehistoric Archaeology); and Mr. Clark (Ethnology) ; also Mr. Earll, who had charge of the ex¬ hibits sent from the Museum to the Chicago Exposition, and who showed me much kindness during my visit there. 7. Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. — This is one of the oldest scientific institutions in America, having been founded in 1812. It is classic ground for other reasons besides its antiquity, for here, in the midst of the extensive collection of shells, Tryon elaborated his Manual of Con- chology, and here Mr. Pilsbury, whose acquaintance I had the pleasure of making, is carrying on the same work with even more elaborate care. Here, also, I had the pleasure of seeing birds that had been shot by Audubon and Wilson, America’s great Ornitho¬ logists. The Museum, as it stands at present, is rather out of date. It is contained in one rectangular hall, with two galleries, the whole being rather dimly lighted, partly from the roof and partly from the side. The cases are equally behind the age, having heavy oak frames and common glass. In these the specimens are arranged without much idea of sequence, and are very much overcrowded. This state of matters, however, is not to be allowed to continue, for a fine new building is being erected adjoining the old one, and in it the more important collections will, in course of time, be suitably housed, with elbow-room for future expansion — an important feature in a museum with any vitality. One interesting feature of the bird col¬ lection is a small series of some of the local species mounted with their natural surroundings. These are not got up in the elaborate and costly wTay that I saw and admired in some of the larger and wealthier museums, wrhere each group had a case to itself, but w^ere simply mounted with the nest and some reeds, branches, or soil, as the case might be. As a guarantee that the surroundings were true to nature, they wrere set up under the supervision of Mr. Witmer Stone, one of the assistant Curators, wTho is himself an active Orni¬ thologist. Mr. Stone informed me that many people came back to the Museum week after wreek to see if any newT and interesting groups had been added to the series. It occurred to me that we might, without much expense, be able to carry out a similar idea on a small scale in our new building, and thereby make our bird collection even more attractive than it is at present. 8. The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, New York. — This is one of the newTest of the American Museums, and in some respects it is the finest. No expense has PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. V been spared to make both the building and the cases as suitable as possible to the purpose for which they are intended. As a result the rooms are large, airy, and well lighted, with abundant passage room between the cases. There are no galleries, all the rooms being lighted by large side lights, and, as the interior is painted white throughout, the specimens have the best possible justice done them as regards light, which is a most important element in successful museum display. The cases are very handsome in appearance, being of mahogany and plate-glass, and of large size. The Museum is not on a very extensive scale as yet, but it has ample ground, and also, apparently, ample means, to extend. Both here and in Phila¬ delphia the local authorities appear to take a very liberal view of their duty towards educational institutions of this kind. One attrac¬ tive and instructive feature in both the Washington and New York Museums was a number of coloured photographic transparencies, on ground glass, about 12 by 18 inches, representing geological and other features of the country, which were hung on the windows. Of the Curators of the New York Museum, I have to express my special indebtedness to Professor R. P. Whitfield, at the head of the Palaeon¬ tological and Conchological Departments. I had hoped also to visit the Natural History Museum at Yale University, but, unfortunately, this was not possible in the limited time at my disposal. Besides the few stray facts stated in the foregoing report, I have taken some notes regarding measurements of cases, etc., which will be at the service of the Committee if required. I think I cannot conclude more fitly than by quoting the followT- ing most pregnant sentences from Professor Brown Goode’s “ Report of the National Museum, Washington, 1889-90,” to which my atten¬ tion was drawn by Mr. Thomas Wilson : — “ The general character of a museum should be clearly determined at its very inception. Special¬ isation and division of labour are essential for institutions as well as for individuals, and it is equally necessary to decide which lines of development are to be favoured in preference to all others. Many museums fail to make this choice at the start, and, instead of steering towards some definite point, drift hither and thither, and, it may be, are foundered in mid-ocean.” Dr. Buchanan White read the following notes on the Summer Excursions of 1893 : — As has been the habit of the Society for many years, the first excursion of the season took place on the day set apart for the local celebration of the Queen’s Birthday, namely, the 25th of May. On most, if not all, previous occasions the botanists regarded this excursion as affording an opportunity for a pleasant walk rather than as a day of actual work, and brought their vasculums more from custom than with an expectation of filling them with specimens. Phis is due, of course, to the fact that many plants do not come into bloom before Tune. May, 1893, has, however, proved a notable exception to the rule, and, though all the species about to be men- vi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. tioned were not seen in flower, yet on no previous Queen's Birthday excursion were so many blossoming plants observed. Having reached Stanley by rail, the party walked to Perth along the right bank of the Tay. Near Stanley Rubus saxatilis was noticed under a hedge by the roadside, a very unusual situation for this plant. Near Thistlebridge (or, as it is more commonly called, “Thistlebrig”) a quantity of the local Sagi?ia ciliata was found. Here we left the road, and, descending to the river, spent a little time in studying the geology of the place under the guidance of Mr. Henry Coates, who has favoured me with the following account of it : — “Thistlebridge'"’ is the appropriate name given to a trap dyke which crosses the Tay about a mile below Stanley. It is finely exposed in four separate sections, each at different elevations, and each of these the party examined in turn. The first is immediately above the road, where the sandstone adjoining the dyke presents the appearance of vertical bedding. This, however, is due to the alteration of the rock, caused by contact with the molten lava. It has been baked in such a way as to cause successive joints, parallel to the plane of contact. The next section is below the road. Here quarrying operations had been carried into the sandstone far enough to expose the true dip, showing an inclination of only 15 deg. to¬ wards the N.W. The next section occurs at a still lower level, and here the dyke has been tunnelled through for the passage of the Luncarty Lade. At this point the variation in texture of the basalt was well seen, namely, close-grained along the outer surfaces, which cooled first, and coarser towards the centre, which took longer to cool. The last section was seen in the bed of the river itself to¬ wards the east side. Here it forms a most picturesque feature, the rampart of black rock, where it projects above the surface of the water, contrasting finely with the white foam which marks the sub¬ merged portions. The difference in altitude between the highest and lowest portions of the dyke gave a striking impression of the power of denudation of the river, which must have cut away this wall of hard rock to a depth of more than a hundred feet. Looking up the river towards Stanley the high cliffs of dark red sandstone were seen rising up on the west bank of the river, with occasional bands of grit standing out from the softer strata. In the bed of the river itself, to the north of the dyke, the outcrop of the strata was very distinctly seen, marked by successive lines of ripples. Amongst the plants observed at or near Thistlebrig were Valeria- nella olitoria , Eupatorium cannabinum , Astragalus glycyphy/los , Arabis hirsuta , Saxifraga gra?iu/ata, Malva moschata , and Carex pe?idula . The latter is very local and rare in Perthshire, and if we had not known of its occurrence near Stanley the plant found on this occasion would have puzzled us exceedingly, and been a cause of much speculation and exploration. The specimen found was a large tuft lying in the Luncarty Mill Lade, and hence evidently brought down by the water from the precipitous bank where the habitat of the species is. As we continued our course down the river many other interesting plants were seen, including Symphytum PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Vll officinale , Meuni athamanticum (one plant), Viola canina , Polygala vulgaris , Geranium sanguineum. At one place a variety, which seems to be var. erythrospermum , of Taraxacum officinale was very abundant, and, as usual, had the florets quilled, and not flat — a feature not mentioned, I think, in the books. Near Luncarty we left the river and followed the Mill Lade, on the banks of which Luzula albida is abundant in the spot where we found it some years ago. Here, also, the var. paleacea of Lastrea filix-mas was observed. After going along the Dunkeld Road for some distance, and noticing Chelidonium majus in its old station near Luncarty Burying- ground, we regained the bank of the river at Hatton Ferry. Amongst other plants observed between this point and the River Almond may be mentioned Listera ovata , Adoxa moschatellina , Lupinus perennis , Geum intermedium , and Polygonum viviparum. From the title of the excursion fixed for ioth June it may have been thought that the Syllabus of the Society and the “ Pilgrim’s Progress ” had got mixed up in some inexplicable manner. The places to be visited were the Glen of Dolour, Castle of Gloom, the Water of Care, and the Burn of Sorrow. In a deep, rocky, and densely wooded ravine on the southern flank of the Ochils well-made paths lead through chasms where the rocks nearly meet overhead, up the sides of precipices and through shady woods, to the green emi¬ nence, between two burns, where Castle Gloom domineers over the Glen of Dolour. Passing leisurely through the Glen, and noting such local plants as Festuca sylvatica , Millium effusum , and Scolopendrium vulgare , we finally reached the Castle and spent some time in examin¬ ing it and in admiring the view. We then took our way up the Burn of Sorrow, a merry little stream flowing between the great green domes of the Ochils from its source near Ben Cleuch. A mile or so up the burn is a heap of debris resulting from the working of a vein of copper ore many years ago. From this heap some good specimens of the ore were obtained. As we continued to ascend some alpine species of piants began to make their appearance. As Perthshire species none of these are of any rarity, but as regards the Ochils they are of special interest as being almost restricted in their distribution to this spot. Amongst those noticed on this occasion were Epilobium alsinefolium , Saxifraga stellaris , S. hypnoides , and Juncus triglumis. Leaving the Burn of Sorrow we explored a very steep and rocky ravine in which a small burn descends from King’s Seat. Here, in addition to the above-mentioned alpines, we saw Hieracium Dewari, Galium sylvestre , Epilobium angustifolium , Hymenophyllum unilaterale , Stellaria nemorum , &c. ; and also the sub-alpine moth, Larentia salicata. Eventually we reached the summit of King’s Seat, over 2,100 feet above sea-level. Here another alpine plant — Carex rigida — is not uncommon. For various reasons the next excursion did not take place till 29th July, when a comparatively large party went to Blairgowrie and worked their way to Loch Clunie and back. The first place to be Vlll PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. visited was Muirton Wood, where some of the members made their first acquaintance with Linncea borealis in its native home. Un¬ fortunately the period of flowering was over. We then drove west¬ wards to a spot near Claves, where the road passes through a “ stone circle.” Leaving the photographic members to use their cameras, some of the botanists made a short detour in search of Cardnus ?iutans and Gera?iium columbinum , and were successful in finding the latter, but did not go far enough for the former plant. Other species observed were Cerastium arvense , Filago germanica , (in great abun¬ dance), and Erodium cicutarium. Returning to the road we then drove past the Rae Loch, where Lythrum salicaria was seen in full flower, and after a short halt at Marlee to make arrangements for the afternoon, proceeded to the Clunie Loch. The first business here was the investigation of an old quarry, the description of which has been undertaken by the President and will be given at the January meeting. As we were unfortunately not able to get a boat, the botanists had to be content with an examination of a portion of the shores of the loch, where a few plants were found, including Callitriche autumnalis , Isoetes lacustris , a Potamogeton allied to P. nitens , &c. Specimens of a local Mollusk, Valvata piscinalis , and of a hemipterous insect, rare in Perthshire, Nepa cinerea , were also obtained. In a hedge near the loch several plants of Rosa Sabini were noticed. As it was now two o’clock we returned to Marlee, where a boat had been engaged. As it was rather windy Marlee Loch was not in the best condition for botanical investigations, but with the aid of Colonel Drummond Hay’s famous dredge a number of in¬ teresting aquatics were obtained by those who went in the boat. Amongst the species seen were Potamogeto?i lucens , P. heterophyllus in several forms, including the var. P. longipedimculatus , P. obtusi- folius , &c., Callitriche autumnalis , and Naias fiexilis , which latter plant almost led to a catastrophe, one member persisting in calling it Ananias, and hence being nearly put overboard by his indignant companions. Some of the party who did not go in the boat strolled along the shore and observed some other plants, such as Malva moschata , Fumaria densiflora , Scirpus lacustris , S. sylvatica , Salix Smithiana , and drifted specimens of probably Potamogeton Sturrockii. After tea at Marlee Hotel the party returned to Blairgowrie, and thence to their various homes, having enjoyed the excursion very much. It may be noticed that to this excursion members came not only from Perth and Blairgowrie, but from Stirling, Glen Isla, Dunkeld, and Longforgan. The next excursion that came off was to Buchanty on 19th August. Mr. Henry Coates has kindly furnished the following account of it : — Not the least pleasant part of this excursion was the drive from Perth in the morning and home in the evening. Harvesting operations were in fiill swing, the sky was flecked with summer clouds, and, on the high ground, the air was laden with the scent of the pines and the heather. As we approached the flanks of the PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY' OF NATURAL SCIENCE. IX 'Grampians we realised that the Fair City is within more accessible distance from the Highlands than we are sometimes apt to suppose. Halting at Buchanty, both banks of the river Almond were examined, both below and above the bridge. Striking downwards first, a point was reached where the conglomerate was exchanged for a coarse sandstone, or grit, showing that the fault had been passed which divides the one from the other. The exact line of the fault could not be seen owing to the vegetation and debris, but its position could be localised within narrow limits from the configu¬ ration of the glen. Further down, the stratification of the sandstone was well seen in the bed of the stream, with a dip towards the south¬ east. Amongst the moss in this part of the glen a beautiful yellow Clavaria, or club fungus, was seen. A considerable part of the shady bank was covered with trailing periwinkle, which the botanists declared to be an escape from cultivation, but which for all practical purposes is now a wild plant. While we rested in the wood for luncheon a specimen of the beautifully-marked stag’s-horn moth alighted on the very sleeve of the entomologist of the party, and was spared the collecting box for its confiding temerity. Retracing our steps up stream we now made for a point a few yards above the bridge, where a remarkable series of “ pot holes ” has been worn out in the hard conglomerate rocks. These vary from two or three inches to as many feet in diameter, their depth being as great, and in some cases greater. They offered a most tempting field of usefulness to the photographic members, and soon two or three of the finest were immortalised on the gelatine film. At the bottoms of most of the holes could be seen the rounded pebbles and boulders which told of the origin of these curious hollows. Thus, to the seeing eye, they were stones which contained veritable sermons, telling of the power of the river to carve its way through the hardest rock. While one of the largest holes was being photographed the Secretary of the Photographic Section magna¬ nimously stepped into the breach — or rather into the hole — to act as an index to its depth. A little further up is a small waterfall, which, in addition to its picturesque aspect, is of interest as illus¬ trating the way in which falls cut their way backwards through hard rocks. It was also curious to note the way in which many old pot holes had in this way been cut through, leaving semi-circular cavities in the edges of the rocks overlooking the stream. Leaving the Almond the party now went along the Crieff Road to the Roman Camp, opposite the entrance to the Sma’ Glen. On the way, a small loch, or rather marsh, was passed, which seemed to promise a good reward to the botanist if there had been time to examine it thoroughly. Within a small space it presented a wonder¬ ful variety of plant life, both flowering and cryptogamic, and might be worth examining earlier in the season. Amongst the plants observed were Utricularia minor and Spargcinium minimum. The last point visited was the Roman Camp, where some of the members were foolhardy enough to throw doubt on the Roman origin of the mound, though certainly its situation — guarding the mouth of one of the Highland passes — seemed to favour its authen- X PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. ticity. On the adjoining hillside, however, were a number of mounds of a different character, regarding the origin of which there could not be much doubt. These were moraines, deposited towards the close of the great ice age, as the glacier which once filled up the Sma’ Glen gradually receded before the advance of a warmer climate. The final excursion took place on 2nd September, one of the hottest days of a hot summer. Going to Comrie by train, the day was devoted to an exploration of part of Glenartney, which we entered by the road which runs on the south side of the Ruchill. On the left side of the road, about a mile from Comrie, and close beside a “standing stone” (not mentioned in the map), a slab with a number of those “ cups,” whose origin and meaning is shrouded in mystery, was observed and examined. Passing on we were glad to see that the patch of Sambncus Ebulus near Cultibregan, which vTas first noticed during an excursion to Glenartney some years ago, was still in existence. At Milntuim we left the road and descended through a wood to the bed of the Water of Ruchill, which we ascended for some distance. It is possible that earlier in the season a greater variety of plants might be found than wre met with. Amongst the species seen were Carex remota (in great abundance in some spots), C. sylvatica , Circcea alpina , and Vida sylvatica. The Ruchill does not seem to be prolific in alpine plants, the only species seen being Saxifraga aizoides and Alchemilla alpina. At a picturesque waterfall — Sput a Chleibh — the absence of the photo¬ graphic members was much regretted. A good photo of this spot would form a nice addition to our collection of pictures illustrating the geology of Perthshire. At this point the stream has cut a passage through (1) the conglomerate, (2) a basalt dyke, (3) the conglomerate again, and (4) apparently Old Red Sandstone, and, since the rocks are massive, it is possible that the details would come out well.* Some way above the Spout we crossed to the north side of the Ruchill, and presently found ourselves on the Silurian formation. We now took our wray down the glen, and, after a short stroll on the moor near Blairmore, descended to the road near Dalrannoch (where we gathered Potentilla procumbent and Circcea lutetiana ), and so on to Comrie. This concludes the account of the official excursions, but, as in former years, it seems desirable to put on record the results of some other explorations made during the past summer. The earliest record of Carex limosa as a Perthshire plant is in Lightfoot’s Flora Scolica (1778), where it is stated that it was found by Stuart “at Tullybanchar, half-a-mile west of Comrie.” With the object, therefore, of trying to ascertain if the Carex still grew there, Mr. Barclay and I took advantage, on June 3rd, of the new railway to pay a visit to Comrie. From information kindly furnished by Major Dundas we were able to find without difficulty a marsh which * Note. — This waterfall was afterwards photographed, during the Excursion to the same spot, on 16th June, 1894. — Ed. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XI may very probably have been the place where Stuart found the plant, but a careful search in this and other marshy spots in the neighbour¬ hood of Tullybanochar was not rewarded by success. It is therefore probable that Carex limosa no longer occurs in this station. That the somewhat local Carex vesicaria is not uncommon near Tully¬ banochar is interesting from the fact that in the Eighth Fasciculus of Plants, published by George Don in 1806, he remarks that his speci¬ mens of Carex vesicaria were gathered in “a marsh near Tully- banchar, 3 miles from Comrie ” — doubtless the same place, though he over-estimates (as Stuart under-estimated) the distance from Comrie. On the banks of the river, Aquilegia vulgaris is abundant, but only as a naturalised plant — semi-double and of various colours. Lepidiiun Smithii also occurs, and near Dalchonzie Melampyrum sylvaticum , but not yet in flower. On a wall near Comrie we saw Corydalis claviculata. Returning to Comrie we went up Glen Led noch as far as the narrow rocky ravine in which is the Devil’s Cauldron, and then ascended the hill crowned by the Melville Monument, but did not find anything which deserves record. The result of this visit to Comrie tends to strengthen the impression made by various explorations that the valley of the Earn is not, on the whole, possessed of a rich flora, or, at least, it is much inferior to the valley of the Tay. On June 17th Mr. Barclay and I visited Stormont Loch and other lochs near Blairgowrie. All the district has been well explored, but still it is useful to occasionally go over old ground, especially in an abnormal season like the present. At Stormont Loch the water was considerably below its usual level, and the consequent effect upon Nymphcea lutea ( = Nuphar lutenni) was rather curious. In¬ stead of the leaves floating on the surface as they ordinarily do, many of them had assumed a more or less upright and aerial posi¬ tion. The flowers, too, were elevated considerably above the water. The explanation is probably that the level of the loch’s surface had been greatly reduced since the peduncles and pedicels had grown. The most interesting plant at this loch is Lysimachia thyrsiflora , which has long been known to occur there. Within recent years it seems to have spread very much, and is now exceedingly abundant over a considerable portion of the marshy shores. Another local plant which used to grow here (and may still grow) is Bidens cernuay but we could not see it in its old station. We were much interested by an incident in the life-history of a pretty blue and bronze-coloured dragon-fly (Agrion pnella L.), which we had an opportunity of ob¬ serving. As we were watching these insects flitting over the surface we noticed a female suddenly plunge into the water and begin to lay eggs on the submerged plants of Litorella lacustris. We waited for a considerable time to see what she would do when she emerged, but had finally to leave her still busy. Passing through the woods we paid a visit to the Hare Myre, where we found Lysimachia thyrsiflora in considerable abundance. It has not, I think, been recorded for this spot before, and I suspect Xll PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. that it may be a rather recent arrival there. In the woods we noticed Pyrola media , but it seems not to flower freely, for we could identify it only by one of last year’s fruit-stalks. After looking at the Black Loch and the White Loch, we made our way to a favourite hunting-ground of the late Abram Sturrock — Muirton Wood. In a marsh there we noticed Myrica Gale , Utricularia intermedia , Carex teretiuscula , C. limosa , and C. filifonnis . In the wood itself Linncea borealis has long been known to grow, and we were glad to find that it seems to be rapidly increasing. This year, at least, it was not flowering at all freely. After this we went on to the Rae Loch, where we saw Carex teretiuscula and C. filifonnis, and thence to Marlee Loch, the shores of which we traversed for some distance, but did not see much to interest us, except Lythrum Salicaria — possibly wild, as it seems to be native at the neighbouring Rae Loch. We then returned to Blair¬ gowrie, having had a pleasant but very, very hot walk. On ist July Mr. Barclay, Mr. MTntosh (of Inver), and I went to Dalguise with the intention of exploring the deep rocky ravine which the Kincraigie Burn has hewn out of the hillside. On the railway embankment between Dalguise Station and the Tay some interesting plants were noticed, including Potentilla reptans , (first observed here by Mr. MTntosh some years ago, and probably an accidental intro¬ duction in this spot), Equisetum pratense , Trifolium agrarium , Anthemis arvensis , &c. In the fields here and elsewhere the more than usual abundance of Centaurea Cyanus was noticeable, possibly due to the shortness of the corn. In a backwater of the Tay Apium inundatum , a plant not hitherto noticed in the district (Silurian, Perth), grows in profusion. An examination of an extensive shingle confirmed what we have observed elsewhere, that, notwithstanding the proximity of the river shingles and the lower haughlands (recently shingles) to the water, their flora is exceedingly poor this year, and that many of the plants which had obtained a footing on them had suffered much from, if they had not altogether been killed by, the drought. Leaving the Tay we followed Kincraigie Burn past the Milton of Kincraigie and entered the ravine, through which the stream descends in a series of waterfalls. The sides of the ravine are for the most part very precipitous, but a good climber can make his way in the bed of the stream for nearly the whole extent of the gorge, as the rocky bed is more or less step-like in structure. As the tops of the banks are well clothed with natural wood, many parts of the ravine are in deep shade. The primary object of our search was a Hawkweed ( Hieracium cuspidatum , Lindeb.), which we found (for the first time in Britain) near the top of the ravine during the Society’s excursion to Loch Skiach in 1891. Soon after entering the gorge one specimen in flower was detected, and this caused us to hope that the species would prove not to be uncommon, but the specimen in question proved to be the last as well as the first seen on this occasion. From the inaccessible nature of some of the rocks, as well as the profusion PROCEEDINGS— PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XIII of a somewhat similar-looking plant — Crepis paludosa , — it is probable, ^however, that other examples have been overlooked. Several other interesting and rare Hawkweeds occur in this ravine, including H. flocculosum and H. orararium , as well as some other local plants, the chief of which is the handsome Festuca sylva- tica. Near the head of the ravine several plants of Pyrns aria , the White Beam, were noticed, but whether these are native (they were most probably not planted) is an open question. After completing our exploration of the ravine (which occupied several hours), we turned to the north and went along the hills behind Kinnaird House. Here, at an elevation of nearly 1000 feet, Torilis Anthriscus was noticed. This is a very abundant plant about Perth, but in Highland Perthshire it is very far from common, and indeed almost unknown, so that its occurrence here was rather un¬ expected. In the woods above Balmacneil Salix ambigua and Rosa spinosissima were the only noteworthy plants observed. After cross¬ ing the river by the railway bridge at Logierait we were glad to see that Tragopogon pratense (an introduction, no doubt, in this place) was still maintaining its position on the railway bank along with Malva moschata. On 2nd August Mr. Barclay and I went to Glenfarg Station without any very definite plan for the day’s explorations, but, after taking the advice of Mr. Wilson (Glenfarg), and under his kind guidance, we set out. First of all we visited a basalt quarry to the east of the village, where we noticed the local Carduus crispus ; then, turning to the west, we made our way by Glendy Mill — on a bridge there Linaria Cymbalaria is naturalised — to the Farg Burn, which we followed nearly to its source. Nothing very remarkable in the flora was observed, the most interesting plants seen being Parnassia palus- tris and Viola lutea. Leaving the Farg we descended a tributary of the Water of May, and near Auchengownie found several bushes of the rare (in Perthshire) Salix pentandra. On the site of a cottage, near the lower end of the picturesque gorge through which the May flows, at Craigindivots, Sambucus Ebulus grows along with one of the shrubby Spiraeas. The Craigindivots ravine produced at its lower end, which was the only part we examined, Saxifraga hypnoides , Origanum vulgare , and Mimulus luteus. We then made our way to the road which leads by Glendeuglie to Glenfarg, finding on the way Imperatoria ostruthium at the side of a cottage garden near Abbots- deuglie. A good method of exploration is to go to a station on one railway line and work one’s way across country, by road or otherwise, to a station on another line. The recent extension of the railway to Comrie enabled Mr. Barclay and I on ioth August to explore a district the greater part of which was new ground to both of us. Going to Greenloaning, we first of all paid a visit to the celebrated Roman Station called Lindum, with its extensive earthworks, and then took the road to Comrie. This road, which is an easv one to walk, affords the traveller many picturesque views and a considerable variety of scenery. The descent to Comrie is particularly striking, xiv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. and on this occasion the atmospheric conditions produced some curious effects. We did not see very much of interest in the bota¬ nical way, though one or two somewhat local plants were observed. The geology seems to be worth attention, especially the conglomerate hills and hillocks near Comrie and the great quantity of erratics on the moor at the highest part of the road. The distance from Green- loaning to Comrie is about 13 miles. On 13th August Mr. Barclay and I made another traverse, going from New Scone, by Rait and Kinnaird, to Inchture. The day was one of those very hot ones which have made the weather of this August so remarkable. Nothing particularly noteworthy amongst plants was observed till we got to Rait. Here the Sweet Briar ( Rosa rabiginosa ) began to occur not uncommonly, but in nothing like the vast profusion with which it grows between Fingask and Kinnaird, the road between these places being lined on each side to the exclusion of almost every other rose. At Fingask Cynoglossum montanum was seen in the station where it has been known for many years, and in a quarry Mentha sylvestris and M. viridis were found. Mentha sylvestris was afterwards seen in very great abundance in several places near Kinnaird. On hedge banks near Fingask Malva sylvestris assumes more of the character of a wild plant than it usually does, but is doubtless only an escape. In a beanfield near Ballin- dean Anthemis Cotnla was gathered. This is a rare plant in Perthshire, and sporadic only. As Professor Trail of Aberdeen wished to see the Roman Camps at Ardoch, Mr. Barclay and I accompanied him thither on 19th August. After “ doing ” the camps and finding Vaccinium oxycoccos in a marshy place in one of them, we took the road to Blackford by Orchill. Within sight of the road are various small marshes which at an earlier period of the year would probably repay examination. In one of these spots, close to Orchill, Veronica Anagallis was seen, and in a ditch a small bed of Glyceria plicata. Another marsh pro¬ duced Carex limosa , and the pastures near it Habenaria viridis. When within about a mile from Blackford we struck across the fields to the river Allan, finding in another marsh Orchis incarnata , or what appears to be that species from the hooded leaf-tips. In a field near the river some curious forms of Polygonum Persicaria attracted our attention. Veronica Anagallis was again observed, and seems to be common on the banks of the Allan. I forgot to mention that Rumex con- spersus was gathered near the site of the “Great Camp” at Ardoch. On 23rd September — a day whose low temperature was in marked contrast to what we had experienced in Glenartney three weeks pre¬ viously — Mr. Barclay and I went over some old ground, and were not unrewarded. Our route was the left bank of the Tay from Barn¬ hill to Darry Island, thence inland past Ivinfauns Manse to the Balthayock Road, and thence by Pepperknowes Farm to Glencarse Station. The bank of the river did not yield anything new, but exhibited a number of plants in flower for the second time. This PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XV is what perhaps might be expected from the unusual season we have 'had. The most noteworthy of the plants in flower was Caltha palus- tris, almost every plant of which showed several blossoms. Other species were Fragaria vesca , Spircea XJ l maria, Laminin album , Astrantia major , &c. It was not, however, till we got near Pepper- knowes that we met with some unexpected plants. In one little spot on the roadside three of the four Perthshire poppies were growing together, namely, Papaver Argemone , P. dubium , and P. Lecoqii. The latter is very rare in Perthshire, and we had met with it only once before. At Pepperknowes there is a gravel pit* into which we turned, not, however, with the expectation of finding anything very remark¬ able. In this we were agreeably disappointed, for the pit produced several interesting plants. Amongst natives we noticed Agrimonia odorata (new to this district of Perthshire), Centaurea Scabiosa , Cynoglossum officinale , Sagina procumbens (var. spinosa , which we had not met with before), and a curious form of Filago germanica. There were also three aliens, namely, Verbascum nigrum , a white-flowered Silene , and a species of Roemeria . Of the Verbascum there was one plant only, and its presence is due to some seeds which were sown here some time ago. This species is not a native of Scotland, but casual specimens occasionally occur. We have scattered seed of it in several places, but, except in this instance, without any result. The Silene appears to be S. dichotoma Ehrh., but how it and the Roemeria came to this spot is not very clear. The Silene was rather abundant, but of the Roemeria we saw but one specimen. In the old mill-dam at Pepperknowes several bushes of Salix undulata grow. Some of these were flowering for the second time this season, and, as is usual with the second flowering, the ovaries were somewhat pubescent, though in the first or normal flowering they are glabrous. This is a point of considerable interest in connection with the botanical history of this hybrid. Near the farm Rumex alpinus was noticed, and completes the list of records for the day. Mr. R. Brown, F.E., R.N., one of the Delegates of the Society to the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies, gave a Report of the Meeting of the Union held at Kirkcaldy. Mr. A. S. Reid, M.A., F.G.S., Trinity College, Glenalmond, one of the Delegates of the Society to the British Association for the Advancement of Science, gave in a Report of the Meeting of that body held at Nottingham. 14th December, 1893. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. Mr. George G. Gardiner, 40 South Methven Street; Rev. H. Armstrong Hall, Tayhill; Rev. P. A. Gordon Clark, Free West *Colonel Drummond Hay tells me that I am wrong in speaking of a gravel pit ; it is the gravel pit of the Carse. xvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Manse; Mr. Wm. M‘Quibbon, Main Street; Mr. Arthur Folkarde, 2 David Street, Blairgowrie; Mr. James Reid, Allan House, Blair¬ gowrie ; Dr. Robertson, Murthly ; Mr. Orkney, Clerk of Works, Craigie ; Mr. John Alexander, M.A., Sharp’s Institution; Mr. James Robertson, Mansfield Place ; and Mr. Alfred Brown (of Messrs. Dickson & Turnbull’s, George St.), were elected Ordinary Members. The following donations were intimated Museum — Perthshire Collection . — Peregrine Falcon from Loch Kennard — from Mr. R. MTntosh. Squirrel — from Miss Grace Morrison, Crieff. Two Blue Rabbits — from Mr. Athole M ‘Gregor. Fossils — from Mr. James Reid, Blairgowrie. Index Collection — Shells, Butterflies, Silk Cocoons, and Specimens of Wood from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands — from Mrs. Pryce. Reptiles and Insects — from Rev. P. A. Gordon Clark. Fossils and Echinae — from Rev. F. Smith. Fossil Brachiopods from the Lias, Leicester¬ shire — from Mr. W. Ellison. Library. — Eight Vols. “Scottish Geographical Magazine” — from Mr. Andrew Coates. “A Monograph of the Yellow Sandstone of Dura Den ’’—from Mr. Henry Coates. The Rev. H. Armstrong Hall delivered a lecture on “ The Modern Microscope and Recent Bacteriological Investigation.” nth January, 1894. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. Mr. Davidson, Manager of the Water Commission, exhibited, and presented to the Society, a Diagram showing the various Strata of a boring recently made on Mugdrum Island. Dr. Buchanan White exhibited a Snowdrop in flower. The following papers were read : — 1. “Note on an Outcrop of Diabase at Rossie Priory.” By Robert Dow. (See Trans., Vol. II., p. 1). 2. “ On the Chemical Composition of the Tay Water.” * By Dr. Andrew Thomson, M.A., F.C.S., F.R.S.E., and D. Ferrier. 3. “How Cast-Iron Pipes are affected by Water.” By John Young, C.E. * To be published in Vol. II. of the Transactions as one of the series of papers on the Natural History of the Banks of the Tay. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XVII < 8th February, 1894. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Cormorant — from Mr. C. L Wood, Freeland. Heron — from Master J. S. Richmond, Hilton. White Rat — from Mr. Wm. Herd, Scoonieburn. General Herba¬ rium. — Plants — from Mr. W. H. Beeby, Walton-on-Thames, per Dr. F. Buchanan White. The following paper was read : — 1. “A Chapter on Hemiptera.” By T. M. M‘Gregor. (See Trans ., Yol. II., p. 6). 22nd February, 1894. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. Mr. C. Burnett, Craigmount, Barnhill; Mr. Chas. Scott, Teacher, Rattray; Mr. Patrick Hunter, Waterybutts, Errol; and Mr. John Mackinnon, 1 1 Charlotte Street, were elected Ordinary Members. Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor exhibited some beetles which he had found in a hr tree. The following papers were read : — 1. “A Breeding Haunt of the Raven.” By Lieut. -Col. Duthie. (See Trans ., Vol. II., p. 17). 2. “ A Voyage to the Arctic Regions.” By Alexander M. Rodger. 8th March, 1894. TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. Mr. Thomas Butter, 8 Marshall Place, and Mr. W. Ross, Rose Terrace, were elected Ordinary Members. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Entomological Specimens in Spirits — from Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor. Library. — Pamphlet by Mr. Peach, of the Geological Survey — from the Author. A Series of their Proceedings — from the American Museum of Natural History. B XV111 PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. The following Reports were read and adopted : — REPORT OF COUNCIL. In submitting their Twenty-seventh Annual Report your Council are again glad to announce an increasing interest in the work of the Society. There have been seven meetings held during the year, with an average attendance of 47, the greatest number at one meet¬ ing being 54, on 25th March, 1893, and the least 22, on 8th February, 1894. Nine papers were read at these Meetings, in addi¬ tion to the Annual and Opening Addresses of the President. Six¬ teen new members have been admitted during the year, making up a total membership of 284, including 1 honorary and 12 correspond¬ ing members and 8 associates. The total thus brought out is under last year’s Report on account of the names of many in arrear with their subscriptions having been recently removed. During the sum¬ mer eight excursions were arranged, and the Council again tender their thanks to those gentlemen who granted the privilege of visiting their estates, as well as to those who took a good deal of trouble in making arrangements for carrying out several of these Excursions. The Museum has been closed during the past year owing to the work of extension now in progress. The erection of the building has taken longer than your Council anticipated, but that part of the work is now nearly finished, and they trust the fitting up of the cases and arranging of the specimens will proceed more rapidly, so that the whole can be thrown open to the public as soon as possible. In the meantime, however, your Council will be very glad to hear of any having donations to make to the Extension Fund, or good specimens to give to the Society’s collections. The Lecture-Room has, as formerly, been granted for meetings of various societies for educational purposes. REPORT OF TREASURER. ( See Balance-Sheet , page xxxix ). REPORT OF CURATOR. With regard to the several collections in the Museum since it was closed, your Curator has to state that all has been done during building operations that was mentioned in last year’s Report, namely, that every precaution would be taken to render the Cases as secure as possible against moth, dust, damp, &c., and, as far as can be ascer¬ tained at present, this has been effected with perfect success. Again, as to the new form of label for the Bird and Nest Depart¬ ment, stated to have been compiled and printed, these have now all been filled in in manuscript, with the names of the several donors, locality (with the geological division in which each specimen has been obtained), the date, sex, and stage of plumage, &c. — all wired and ready to be attached to the several specimens when placed in the new cases. Besides this, a Catalogue of the Birds, Nests, and Eggs found in Perthshire and the basin of the Tay, including all the infor¬ mation given in the labels, is in preparation, and will be finished, it PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XIX is hoped, by the time the Museum is re-opened. To this will be added a Map of the whole district, showing the various geological divisions given in the labels, with an Index in which will appear, not only all the Birds found in the district, and those which from their extreme rarity had not been included in the body of the Catalogue, but also the names of those species that have been at any time noticed in the parts immediately adjoining the district, in case at any time they may make their appearance in it. Both these latter will be mentioned in full in an appendix. All local names, especially those mentioned in the Wild Bird Act, are given in the Index, and a blank space is left opposite each species in the body of the Catalogue, where its local name will be entered, along with any information regarding it that may be obtained from time to time. In reference to the Dewar Collection of Birds and Mammals, purchased last season by the Society, which, as most of the members are probably aware, has been placed in store for the present in charge of the Curator, each of the cases has been carefully gone over with naphthaline, and can be reported on as being in quite as good con¬ dition as when received, if not better, there having been at that time some slight sign of moth, now believed to be quite subdued. Several of the more valuable of the specimens have been remounted, along with a few of the original Museum ones, and some others more recently received which required renovating. These are all again in the hands of the Curator, and when placed in the Museum will, he feels assured, give the highest satisfaction. The following additions have been made to the Birds since last Report : — A pair of Wild Swans, male and female, shot on the estuary of the Tay — purchased in the flesh for the Society. These have been mounted, but are not yet in the hands of the Curator. Male specimen of the Egyptian Goose, shot this winter on the Tay, opposite Port-Alien ; also a female Blackcap, not previously in the Museum — both as donations to the Society from the Curator. With regard to this latter bird, which was got at Seggieden by Mr. M‘Gregor, bookbinder, Perth, as late as the nth November of last year (1893), while feeding on elderberries, it may be as well to remark that, though the stay of this bird exceeded the stay of all other Warblers by six weeks or a couple of months, this is not unprecedented in the habits of this bird, which, though insectivorous like all other Warblers, is a much greater fruit and berry feeder than any of them, and its stay seems guided in a great measure by the fruit supply, which, last season, owing to the very fine summer, was enormous, especially on the elderbushes, the berries hanging very late in the season. In addition to these birds, a Heron from Mr. Richmond, Hilton, and a Cormorant from Mr. Wood, Freeland, complete the list. These latter, however, are not yet in the hands of the Curator. The following Nests and Eggs have been received, and are now in the Curator’s possession : — From Mr. Duncan Dewar, Remony, Loch Tay — Tawny Owl, taken from a hole in an ash tree; debris and two eggs ; this bird makes no regular nest. Wheatear, with five eggs. Lesser Redpole, with one egg ; four were the complement, or clutch, but three were broken before being sent. XX PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. From Dr. Thomas F. Dewar, Arbroath — Wheatear, with six eggs. It may be remarked that this nest and the one from Loch Tay are two of the most beautiful, and very characteristic of the localities from which they come ; the Highland one lined with wool and Wild Ducks’ feathers and that from the Coast very pro¬ fusely and entirely with those of the Sea-Gull. Ring-Plover, with four eggs; Common Tern, with three eggs; Lesser Tern, with four eggs. The above three species making no special nest, but a mere depression in the ground, the sand and debris of broken shells, with surroundings, have all been sent, which will be duly arranged when placing the nests in the Museum. From Mr. Folkharde, Blairgowrie — Reed Sparrow, or Black¬ headed Bunting, with four eggs. This is a most beautiful nest, and has been most carefully taken with all its surroundings. A Long- Tailed Tit, with no eggs. Ringed Plover, with two eggs, from the Ericht. Greater Tern, with two eggs, from the White Loch, Blair¬ gowrie. The materials from the site of these two nests have not yet been sent, but will be. Two other eggs are forwarded, presumed to be those of the Grey Dun Hen, but with no history attached. Two boxes, containing Birds’ Skins and Nests, but without eggs, have been received by the Curator from Mr. Bell of Rossie, but, as there is no list or any particulars sent with them, these must stand over for the present. A Nest and Eggs of the Shelldrake, as also that of the Dunlin, from Mr. R. W. R. Mackenzie of Earlshall, Tentsmuir, by Col. Campbell, have been advised, but have not yet reached the Curator’s hands, so that no special report of these can be given. REPORT OF LIBRARIAN. The Librarian reported that, owing to the building operations, the Library had been closed during the greater part of the year. REPORT OF EDITOR. The Seventh Part (Vol. I., Newr Series) of the Trcuisactions and Proceedings is the only publication wrhich has been issued by the Society during the past session. This Part completes the Volume, and with it are presented the Title Pages and Indices for the whole. The following Office-bearers were elected President — Henry Coates, F.R.S.E. Vice-Presidents — R. Brown, F.E., R.N. ; W. Barclay, W. Ellison, and D. M. Barker. Secretary — S. T. Ellison. Treasurer — John Stewart. Curator — Colonel H. M. Drummond Hay, C.M.Z.S. Librarian — James Coates. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXI Editor — Dr. F. Buchanan White, F.L.S., F.E.S. Councillors — Col. Campbell, Ex-Dean of Guild M£Arthur, Lieut.-Col. Duthie, and J. Ritchie, LL.B. The President delivered the following Address : — Gentlemen, — The work done by our Society during the past year has been on the whole satisfactory. The meetings have been well attended, and considerable interest has been shown in the sub¬ jects brought forward. Of the papers read, a rather larger propor¬ tion than usual have dealt with subjects apart from those embraced within the more immediate sphere of our work, namely, the Natural History of our district. This, however, is not to be regretted, as it helps to extend popular interest in general scientific research, and also to prevent us from taking too narrow a view of our own individual de¬ partments of study. One, at least, of the papers read has excited considerable comment outside our own walls. As a Scientific Society, however, it should be our function to show that nothing is to be feared from the fullest and freest investigation of truth, even when facts which are brought to light run counter to preconceived notions. It is not our part to enter into any controversy regarding practical questions arising from such investigations, but at the same time we should be failing in our duty if we tried to suppress the result which the laborious use of the microscope and the chemical re-agent had yielded. Some of our members are, I doubt not, disappointed at the apparently slow rate at which the new Museum building advances towards completion. This is due entirely to the exceptionally damp weather we have lately experienced, which has rendered it inadvisable to hurry on the plaster-work and wood-work. It is satisfactory to learn, however, from the Inspector, that every detail of the work up to the present point has been most carefully executed. In a Museum building, of all others, it is essential that the workmanship should be of the most substantial and enduring character possible, for, not only must the objects to be exhibited be preserved from damp and dust and the possibility of fire, but they should not be liable to disturbance from unnecessary repairs to the building. In the mean¬ time, your Building Committee have been employing the time in maturing their plans for the arrangement of the collections, in getting more information regarding the most recent forms of cases, and otherwise preparing for the laborious task which lies before them after the tradesmen have completed their part of the work. In this connection I should like to say that I trust many members, who may have some leisure time to spare, will volunteer to assist in the work of transferring the old specimens and arranging the new. No one who has not had experience of this kind of work can realise how much there is to be done; and, if we cannot afford to engage the services of a paid Curator, we can only hope to accomplish the task by the aid of a band of willing helpers, working under the directions of those in charge of the several departments. Perhaps some of our lady members may be willing to assist in this undertaking. XXII PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. The last twelve months have been marked by very great extremes of meteorological conditions. Mr. P. W. Fairgrieve, of Dunkeld Gardens, who has kept very accurate records of the temperature for a number of years, has kindly sent me a copy of his readings during the past year. From these I find that a maximum of 88 deg. F. was registered in the shade on Tuesday, 15th August, 1893, and a minimum of - 7 deg. F. on Saturday, 6th January, 1894. This brings out the remarkable result of a range of variation amounting to 95 deg. F. within the period noted. The year has also been marked by the prevalence of storms of exceptional severity. Of these the most destructive was that which occurred on Friday, 17th November, 1893, when so much damage was done to wooding in many parts of Perthshire. Commenting on this storm in an article published in Nature for 25th January, 1S94, Mr. Charles Harding states that the velocity of the wind recorded by the anemometer at Orkney reached the remarkable figure of 96 miles an hour. This was the highest velocity ever recorded in this country, the previous maximum having been 91 miles an hour on 20th May, 1887.* Lastly, the record of the year for rainfall and flooding has also been exceptional, and, as one consequence of this, the soil is at the present time more fully charged with moisture than it has been for several years. For the statistics of the rainfall I am again indebted to Mr. Fairgrieve, who informs me that during the month of February in the present year he recorded a total of 7.99 inches. The significance of this figure is apparent when we compare it with the totals for the same month in the three previous years, which were as follows February, 1891, - - '34 inches. Do. 1892, - - 76 ,, Do. 1893, - - 2‘9o „ The greatest flooding in the Tay Valley during the past year occurred on Wednesday, 7th February last, when the water covered the lower haughland throughout the greater part of the river’s course, and left traces behind it which have not yet disappeared. Mr. Davidson, Water Manager, informs me that at 5.20 p.m. on that date the water at Perth Bridge rose to a height of 1 2 feet 6 inches above its mean level. This is 14 inches below the flood-mark of 7th October, 1847, as marked on Perth Bridge. It would have been interesting to compare it with more recent floods, but of these, unfortunately, no precise records appear to have been kept. Mr. Davidson also informs me that on 7th February the water rose to a height of 11 feet 6 inches over the top of the new filter bed above the bridge, and 2 feet 6 inches over the top of the filter bed on Moncreiffe Island. Such exceptional phenomena as those which we have been con¬ sidering are not without their lessons for the naturalist and the geologist. The storm showed us how large tracts of woodland, covered with the growth of hundreds of years, may be laid bare in a single night, thus changing the character of the vegetation, and perhaps even of the climate, over a wide area. In low-lying districts *See Nature , Vol. XLIX., p. 295. PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XX11I the fallen trees, if not removed by human agency, might give rise to the formation of new beds of peat. The teachings of the spate were even more evident. A few days after its occurrence I had occasion to travel up the Highland line, and in passing up the valley of the Tay from Dunkeld to Ballinluig I had an opportunity of wit¬ nessing the enormous amount of geological work that the river had performed, both in its destructive and its constructive capacity, during its swollen condition. In this section of the valley the flood appears to have done more damage than any spate of recent years, and the results, from the points of view of the proprietor and the farmer, were certainly melancholy. The river had swept over the whole of the valley floor, breaking down embankments and fences, and carrying away both vegetation and soil in large quantities. But if the quantity of material carried away was remarkable, the material freshly deposited was still more so. Large areas of ploughed land were completely covered, in some places with layers of sand and fine silt several inches in thickness, and in others with beds of gravel and coarse shingle. The occurrence of these beds of varying degrees of coarseness side by side was very instructive, because it exactly corres¬ ponds with what we find when we examine an exposed section of an ancient accumulation of river deposits. It recalled, for instance, one of the cuttings I had examined a year or two before on the Crieff and Comrie Railway, where the line passes through a mass of river material which had been brought down by the River Turret in former times. In this cutting there were exposed many beds of finely stratified sand and silt, intermingled with layers of fine and coarse gravel, tapering off at either extremity, all precisely similar to the deposits just laid down at Guay and Dalguise. The recent spate has thus afforded one more lesson in the part which rivers play in the geological history of the earth’s surface, not only in transporting material from the land to the sea, but in re-arranging the material on the surface of the land itself. I firmly believe that as geologists come to examine more minutely the beds which make up the floors of our valleys, they will attribute less to glacial and lacustrine agency and more to the slow but perpetual action of the rivers. The well- known words of the late Poet Laureate — • “ Men may come and men may go, But I go on for ever ” — ■ have a deeper significance for us when we penetrate even a little way into the secrets of Nature’s great laboratory, and see the working of some of the tools by which the Creator makes the surface of the earth both beautiful and fruitful. As regards the geology of Perthshire, by far the most important event that has occurred during the past year is a discovery by Mr. B. N. Peach, of the Geological Survey, which promises at last to throw some light on the age of the crystalline rocks of Highland Perthshire. In my address to this Society at the beginning of last session I mentioned that Sir Archibald Geikie had just then placed these rocks in a group by themselves under the provisional name of “ Dalradian.” I am sure, however, that no one will be better pleased XXIV PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. than Sir Archibald himself to see the mists gradually recede from these ancient fastnesses that have so long concealed the secret of their origin, and to be able to dispense with all provisional arrange¬ ments. The key that has been so long and so painfully sought for is, of course, that of organic remains. Hitherto the prospect of finding these, even if they ever existed, seemed remote, owing to the great alteration which most of the rocks have undergone. Now, however, the microscope has revealed their presence where they would be least obvious at first sight, and yet where they would have the best chance of being preserved, namely, in certain bands of hard siliceous chert which occur along the lower flanks of the Grampians. In this chert Mr. Peach has detected certain species of Rcidiolciria , a group of microscopic marine animals, whose flinty skeletons would be prac¬ tically indestructible when once entombed. These Radiolaria cor¬ respond with similar remains found in the cherts of the Arenig group, the lowest member of the Silurian system, so that it seems as if we must once again assign at least some of the crystalline rocks of the Grampian Highlands to Silurian age. In the meantime we may hope that the investigations being carried on by the officers of the Geological Survey will throw still further light on this most interesting problem.* AUDUBON. Last winter, when Dr. Bowdler Sharpe, of the Natural History Department of the British Museum, came to Perth to deliver his lecture on “ Curiosities of Bird Life,” he seemed much interested to learn that my father had been acquainted with Audubon, the great American Ornithologist, and expressed a strong desire that he should place on record some personal reminiscences of that remarkable man. During my recent visit to America more than one naturalist to whom I mentioned the fact expressed the same desire, remarking that there were few men now living who were able to supply information regard¬ ing Audubon from personal experience. Special interest had been aroused in his career from the fact that only last summer America had paid a long-delayed tribute to his memory in the form of a fine monument, erected in Trinity Church Cemetery, New York. My father has recently complied with Dr. Sharpe's request, and I have thought that it might not be out of place to bring his remini¬ scences before the Society this evening. I shall therefore, with your permission, now read his notes as they stand, and aftewards supple¬ ment them with a very brief biographical sketch which I have pre¬ pared from one or two memoirs I obtained when in America, in order to bring the story of Audubon’s life up to the point when my father first made his acquaintance. Personal Reminiscences of Audubon. By Mr. Andrew Coates. “It was, so far as I recollect, in the spring of 1843 that, on the invitation of a friend, I paid a visit to the family of Mr. Audubon, * See Sir A. Geikie’s Textbook of Geology, 3rd ed. (ist Aug., 1893), p. 627, note 3. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXV whose country residence was in New York State, not far from New York City. It was only after reaching the house that I learned we had chosen a very trying time for the family, because, on the follow¬ ing morning, Mr. Audubon was to take his departure for the Rocky Mountains, on his last excursion in pursuit of his favourite study. He must then have reached his 70th year. It was a bold and perilous adventure, such as might well have tried the courage of young men capable of enduring the greatest hardships. In those days the region known as the Rocky Mountains was regarded as one of the wildest on the North American Continent. It was settled chiefly by a savage and half-civilized people, consisting of Indians, half-breeds, and whites who had degenerated into half-savages. But such was Audubon’s restless nature and love of adventure, even at that advanced age, that no influence that could be brought to bear upon him was found strong enough to dissuade him from his purpose. And yet, with all his boldness and daring, he was one of the gentlest of men. As a husband, a father, and a friend he had a heart over¬ flowing with kindness. Indeed his character was written on his countenance, on which might be read kindness, courage, and genius. He had a sharp eye, regular and finely-formed features, and a noble and expansive forehead, from which his silvery locks flowed back in graceful folds. If I were to picture to myself the ideal of a patriarch I would choose Audubon as my type. His conversation was both interesting and instructive. There was an emphasis and meaning in every word he uttered. He had a strong French accent — so strong, indeed, that one would have imagined he had newly left the country in which he had spent his early years, — because, although he was born in Louisiana, his parents soon afterwards settled in France. But his French accent, so far from being a drawback, gave an additional charm to his conversation. “ I have said that I arrived on the day previous to his departure on his last expedition, but my friend and I were treated by the family with as much consideration as if there was nothing of an unusual kind to occupy their thoughts. Even when we all met at breakfast on the morning of the departure the conversation was cheerful and pleasant all round. “The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Audubon, their two sons (Victor Gifford Audubon and John Woodhouse Audubon), and their wives and children. In this happy family it would be difficult to find a more perfect example of everything that can render home beautiful and attractive. One soul seemed to animate every member, from the oldest to the youngest. Mrs. Audubon was some years younger than her husband, but age did not seem to have told upon her. She must have been beautiful when young, and she still re¬ tained a pleasing and beautiful expression of countenance. She was natural and simple in her manners, and, indeed, a fine example of a well-bred, sensible English lady, — for she was the daughter of an English gentleman. Their two sons were fine-looking men, highly cultured, and kindly and genial in their manners. They were both married to elegant and accomplished ladies, and the three genera¬ tions — namely, Mr. and Mrs. Audubon, their two sons, and their XXvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. wives and children — lived as one family, under one roof. Nor did the youngest of the three generations occupy the least important place in the family circle. I was particularly interested in one bright little girl, who had a great deal to tell me. She was much taken up with her doll ; but when I presumed to cast such an impu¬ tation on her intelligence as to give to the doll the place of a living thing, she turned sharply round on me and said, ‘ Why, it’s only filled with sawdust.’ I felt I had come off second-best. I could read, however, in her answer one of the lessons of truth which she had been taught at home. “ The house in which Audubon lived was in keeping with the character of its occupants. It was plain and unpretentious, but wanting in nothing that was necessary to comfort. It was surrounded by grassy parks and natural wooding, but unadorned with parterres or other evidences of elaborate gardening. In the course of conver¬ sation with the different members of the family I got many interesting particulars bearing on the preparation of Audubon’s great work, ‘The Birds of America,’ the adventurous life of the author, and the double disaster which befel that work. First, the destruction of nearly all his drawings by a rat, involving the necessity of doing the work of years over again ; and, second, the destruction of all his plates by a fire in New York, after some 180 copies had been en¬ graved, it being, therefore, impossible to produce more copies. His sons, who took charge of the publication, told me that there now only remained three copies unsold. One copy they kept for them¬ selves, but that, they told me, was an expensive luxury which they meant to part with. I afterwards purchased the whole three copies, one for myself and the others for my two brothers in Paisley. One of these was afterwards presented to the Paisley Free Library, where it now is. My own copy possesses two advantages over the other copies. First, it is engraved on very much thicker paper; and, second, Mr. Victor Audubon informed me that it was the only copy of which the colouring had been touched up by his own hand. “To return to Audubon himself, the evening of life was in him like the soft but brilliant light of the setting sun. But, sad to say, when — years after the time I speak of — his sun did set, it set behind a cloud. After his return from his last expedition his physical health failed him, his eyes grew dim, and no less dim became his inward vision. But a bright gleam of light shone through the cloud at the last. The closing scene I quote from the published memoir of Mrs. Audubon — ‘On the morning of Thursday, 27th January, 1851, when the end seemed approaching, and his family were around his bed, then, though unable to speak, his eyes, which had been so long nearly quenched, rekindled into their former expressive lustre and beauty, as if his soul were conscious that it neared the shore of the Eternal Land, and the dying Audubon stretched out his arms, pressed his wife and children’s hands with his own, and peacefully passed into his rest.’ ” “Perth, October, 1893.” John James Audubon was born near New Orleans, in the State PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXVII of Louisiana, on 4th May, 1780. His father was a Frenchman, of a roving disposition, who had been sent out into the world to seek his fortune, without any resources, at the early age of twelve years. From being a boy before the mast, in a vessel trading between France and America, the elder Audubon gradually rose until he became a Commander in the French Navy under the first Napoleon. During one of his visits to America he had purchased an estate in what was then the French Colony of Louisiana, and it was here that he met and married his wife, a lady of Spanish extraction, and settled down for a few years, during which the future Naturalist was born. The scene of Audubon’s earliest years was thus laid amid the orange groves which fringe the heated waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and in after years he could still recall the feelings of wonder and delight with which he had there first heard the call of the mocking-bird, and watched the bright plumage of many other members of the feathered tribe. Soon, however, the family removed to the Island of St. Domingo, in the West Indies, of which Commodore Audubon had been appointed Governor. Here Madame Audubon lost her life during an insurrection of the Negro population, and shortly after, Audubon, senior, with his daughter and three sons, returned to his native France, where he purchased an estate near Nantes, on the Loire, and settled down to spend the remainder of his days. The next few years of Audubon’s life were spent in completing his education, or at least such education as his wandering disposition allowed him to pick up, for, like many another man who has made himself famous, he preferred to learn of things rather than of books. His father wished him to prepare for a military training, in order that he might enter the victorious armies of Napoleon, but again and again, when he should have been studying mathematics, he was found in the woods and meadows by the Loire watching the habits of some curious insect or making drawings of the different birds. At last his father saw that his free spirit would never submit to be curbed by the discipline of a soldier’s life, and sent him, instead, to America to look after the estates which he had purchased there. At first he settled at Mill Grove, a little country place in the State of Pennsylvania. It was here he met with Lucy Bakewell, the daughter of an English settler, who afterwards became his wife, and who was his sympathetic helpmate in all his subsequent trials and difficulties, as well as in his successes, when these came at last. The few years spent at Mill Grove by the young couple were perhaps the happiest they ever experienced. Their life was unconventional in the extreme, and if their means were slender their wants were equally limited. Much of Audubon’s time was spent in hunting and sketch¬ ing in the neighbouring woods, for already he had begun to dream of a great work on the Natural History of his adopted country, though without any definite plan as yet. At length, however, the necessities of his young family compelled him to seek some more remunerative channel for his energies. Impelled partly by this necessity, but still more by his own restless disposition and his insatiable craving for more knowledge of nature and her ways, he now commenced that series of wanderings — or “vagabondizings,” as he termed them — which con- XXV111 PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. tinued, with little intermission, until advancing years and infirmities obliged him to come to rest once more. The history of these wander¬ ings, as contained partly in the published fragments of his journals and partly in episodes scattered thoughout his ornithological writings, re¬ veals some of the most thrilling and romantic scenes and incidents that are to be found in the records of modern travel. In those days, before the steamboat and the railroad had prepared the way for the advance of civilisation, large tracts of the North American continent were as unknown as the heart of Africa is at the present day. No danger or difficulty, however, was able to quell the spirit of the Naturalist. Often he would set out on a journey through woods and prairies with only his dog, his gun, his sketch books, and his flute. At night he would seek shelter in the hut of some back-woodsman or the tents of friendly Indians. Frequently, when he arrived at some distant town or village with empty purse, he would replenish his funds by rapidly-executed crayon portraits' of some of the citizens who wished to be immortalised in that way, or perhaps by giving dancing lessons to the younger portion of the community ! Several times he embarked in commercial undertakings, but each time, either from adverse circumstances or from the counter attraction of his gun and his pencil, they ended in failure. Frequently his wife had to supplement the slender income by what she could earn by teaching, and once she even took a situation as a governess in order to provide funds for her husband to take his drawings to England ; and yet she never seems to have repined at his eccentric habits, nor to have lost hope that he would one day make a great name for himself. At length, as the result of years of unceasing toil and hardship, he had accumulated a large amount of material, in the form of both drawings and notes, for his long-projected work on the Birds of America, and now he had to commence the scarcely less difficult task of getting the work published. Finding that it was impossible to accomplish this in America, he packed up his portfolios, and, with the assistance of his wife’s savings, sailed for England on 26th April, 1826. After exhibiting his drawings in Liverpool for the purpose of raising some needful funds, he went to Edinburgh, where he quickly won the hearts of some of the men who then made Edinburgh society famous, such as Sir Walter Scott, Francis Jeffrey, Professor Wilson (“Christopher North”), Professor Jameson, Sir William Jardine, and Sir David Brewster. For a time he was lionised in the Scottish capital, and the American back-woodsman, with his noble features, his long hair falling in thick clusters over his shoulders, and his unconventional and pictuiesque garb, must have been a striking picture in many brilliant assemblies. His journal of this period con¬ tains many most interesting incidents illustrative of the people and the manners of the time. I shall only quote a single sentence — “Went to the Society of Arts and saw many beautiful and remarkable inventions, among them a carriage propelled by steam, which moved with great rapidity and regularity.” After making arrangements for the engraving and colouring of his drawings of the Birds of North America, on a scale which has hardly PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXIX ever been attempted in any publication either before or since, he had next to raise the thirty or forty thousand pounds necessary to meet the cost of the work. The next year, therefore, was spent in travell¬ ing throughout England and France for the purpose of obtaining the necessary number of subscribers, at two hundred pounds each. This being accomplished, he returned to America, and at once plunged into the tropical forests and swamps of Florida to obtain more material for the succeeding parts of the work. The remaining years of the active portion of his life were made up alternately of visits to England — generally in the company of his wife and sons — for the purpose of superintending the progress of his books, and of expeditions to all parts of the great North American continent, from the frozen shores of Hudson’s Bay to the warm and fertile regions of his native State. The last of these memorable wanderings was undertaken in 1843, when, on the morning of nth March, the Grand Old Naturalist set out, accompanied by his son Victor, to explore the mountains and rivers of the Great West. We have now reached the point where my father’s narrative com¬ mences. Here, therefore, I shall leave the story of Audubon’s life, and shall conclude with a word regarding his character and his work. This I shall do by quoting from two writers well qualified to form an estimate of his worth. His character has been summed up by Robert Buchanan, who described him as “ a man of genius, with the courage of a lion and the simplicity of a child.” Regarding his work Baron Cuvier wrote that it was “ the most magnificent monu¬ ment which has yet been erected to Ornithology.”* 1 2th April, 1894. Henry Coates, F.R.S.F., President, in the Chair. Mr. Sidney Steele, Fairmount, was elected an Ordinary Member. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Golden-crested Wren — from Mr. C. L. Wood, Freeland. I?idex Collection — Crocodile (ir feet long), from South Africa — from Sir Donald Currie, M.P., K.C.M.G. Library. — C£ Life of Audubon” — from Mr. Andrew Coates. “Catalogue of Coleoptera” — from Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor. Mr. T. M. M ‘Gregor exhibited specimens of the Crested Newt. The following papers were read : — 1. “ Perthshire Entomology.” By T. M. M ‘Gregor. (See Trans., Vol. II., p. 29). 2. “On the Marine Origin of the Old Red Sandstone of Scot¬ land.” By James Reid, Blairgowrie. (See Trans., Vol. II., p. 21). * See Audubon , the Naturalist of the New World , by Mrs. Horace St. John, New York, 1856 ; Life and Adventures of John James Audubon, edited by Robert Buchanan, London, 1868 ; Life of John James Audubon, edited by his Widow, New York, 1869; The Story of Audubon, the Naturalist, London, 1886; and Report of the Audubon Monument Committee of the New York A cadem v of Sciences, New York, 1893 (reprinted from the Transactions of the Academy, Vol. XIII.) XXX PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. SUMMER SESSION, 1894. The following Excursions were arranged : — 1. May 24. — To Glenfarg, jointly with the Edinburgh Scottish Natural History Society. 2. June 16. — To Glenartney. 3. June 30. — To Tentsmuir. 4. July 14. — To Killin, for one or more days. 5. July 28.— To Millhaugh. 6. Aug. 11. — To Lake of Menteith. 7. Aug. 30.— To Longforgan. The Summer Excursions of 1894. Compiled by the Editor. For many years past it was the custom of the late Dr. Buchanan White, at the opening meeting of each winter session, to give an account of the Excursions of the Society during the preceding summer. In spite of illness, he intended, at the opening of the present session, to have performed this work as in former years, but death, which came on so rapidly, prevented the fulfilment of this purpose. It seems right, however, that some record of these excur¬ sions should find a place in the proceedings of the Society, and to attain this object the following account has been compiled. That the botanical portions have not been written, like those of former years, by the hand of the master will be evident enough, but in the circumstances any dehciences may perhaps be excused. Those parts which are placed within quotation marks have been contributed by the President, Mr. Henry Coates, except the account of the last excursion, that to Balruddery, which has been supplied by Mr. Robert Dow. The first excursion of the season took place on 24th May, the day set apart in Perth for the celebration of the Queen's Birthday. The party left Perth by train for Glenfarg Station, where they were joined by a large number of ladies and gentlemen, members of the Scottish Natural History Society of Edinburgh. After paying a visit to a quarry close by the village to examine one of those basalt dykes which are so frequently met with in Perthshire, we returned through the village and struck into the old road which goes by the Wicks of Baiglie. This we followed for some time, and then climbed to the top of Balmanno Hill to enjoy the famous view which, in days of yore, delighted the eyes of the Roman soldiers, and which, when first it met the gaze of Sir Walter Scott, appeared to him as fair a sight as earth could show. Arrived, however, at the top of the hill, exclama¬ tions of disappointment burst from the lips of all. Although the day was warm and pleasant and the sun shone brightly, yet a thick haze PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXXI veiled the landscape, through which objects at no great distance loomed indistinctly, whilst those afar off were quite blotted out from sight. Not a glimpse could be caught of the Grampians, and even the course of the ample Tay could be but faintly traced. After a brief rest the party made the descent of the hill and regained the road at the point where it is crossed by the railway. Here they were joined by the President and Dr. Buchanan White, who had driven from Perth. The latter pointed out at this place a clump of Sambucus Ebulus , the dwarf elder or D anew or t, and gave an interesting account of the plant and of its distribution in Perthshire. Proceeding next to the lower end of Glenfarg, the road up the glen was followed. It was a great relief to escape from the broiling sun into the cool shade of the glen. “A halt was made at Glenfarg Quarry, which is situated midway between Aberargie and the Bein Inn, to examine the structure of the rocks. In this quarry a fine section is exposed of the beds of volcanic rock (Porphyrite, &c.) which were laid down during Old Red Sand¬ stone times, and which were subsequently arched up in the line of the Sidlaw and Ochil Hills. In this particular district they had evidently undergone a large amount of local disturbance in addition to the general upheaval. This was shown by the deep synclinal trough, extending half-way across the quarry, into which the beds had been bent ; by the numerous joints and small faults which have been developed; and by the highly ‘ slickensided ’ structure of the joint-faces. The porphyrite in this quarry is fairly compact and close-grained, but a little further up the glen it becomes more open, or ‘ amygdaloidal,’ with distinct steam cavities, indicating the upper portion of a lava flow which had cooled at the surface. In these steam cavities numerous minerals have subsequently been deposited, such as agate, calcite, zeolites, etc. Some good specimens of these were secured by the party, including some crystals of quartz in which had been developed black needle-like spicules of apatite.” Before leaving this interesting spot the party were formed into a group and photographed by Mr. S. T. Ellison, and then the road was followed to the Bein Inn. It could not be expected that at such an early period of the year, and in a locality so often and so thoroughly searched as Glenfarg, any great find would reward the toil of the botanists. A few plants were got in flower of Geranium lucidum and Lychnis viscaria. The only other plant which need be mentioned was Geum intermedium , of which fine specimens were plentiful. After a welcome tea at the Bein Inn the journey back to Glenfarg Station was proceeded with. “A few yards above the Bein Inn, in a cliff by the side of the road, a section of tuffaceous conglomerate was examined. This represents the loose material, consisting of angular fragments and fine dust, which had been blown out from the neck of the volcano, from which also the streams of lava forming the cliff had flowed out.” The entomologists reported that during the day insects were scarce. Three specimens of a fine elaterid beetle, Corymbites cupreus , distinctly Scottish, were secured on the wing. This beetle, though generally distributed, is not common in our district. XXXli PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Arrived at Glenfarg Station the party separated and “ homewards each took off his several way.” On Saturday, 16th June, a party of about sixteen ladies and gentlemen, members of the Society, proceeded from Perth by rail to Comrie. About midway between Crieff and the latter place we could see that the. whole side of Torlum Hill was covered with fallen trees, a striking instance of the great havoc caused in this district by the great storm of 17th November, 1893. From Comrie we drove up Glenartney along the right bank of the Ruchill. The road runs high above the river, which flows far below, almost invisible amidst the thick woods that clothe its banks — “Lone Glenartney’s hazel shade.” About five miles from Comrie is a pretty little waterfall, Sput-a- Chleibh, and to visit this we left our carriages and scrambled down the steep bank, here comparatively bare of wood. Some pleasant hours were spent here by those who were botanists or geologists, as well as by those who were neither the one nor the other. The botany proved no richer in June than we had found it the previous year in August. The geologists, on the other hand, found much to claim their attention. “ The picturesque little fall of Sput-a Chleibh has been caused by a trap dyke which intersects the course of the stream obliquely at this point. The trap rock (basalt) is rather harder than even the hard conglomerate (Old Red) through which it runs, and, resisting the denuding action of the water longer, has formed a barrier in its course. The portion of the dyke exposed in the bed of the stream exhibits very distinctly the prismatic structure common to all Tertiary dykes. A miniature dyke of conglomerate about a foot in width was seen standing up boldly at right angles to the trap dyke, caused probably by alteration of the conglomerate through contact with the molten volcanic material. A few yards further down the stream another dyke intersects its course, and unites with the main dyke a little further to the west. The main dyke may be traced in an almost continuous line eastwards as far as the summit of Moncreiffe Hill. It crosses the Edinburgh Road near Scoonieburn. “At Sput-a-Chleibh an interesting example was observed of the way in which trees frequently assist in the disintegration of rocks. An ash tree had established itself on a rocky prominence, and had sent its rootlets down through the joints and fissures of the rock. As the tree grew the roots also increased in size, making the fissures wider and exposing fresh surfaces to the action of the weather. At present the disjointed fragments of the rock are held together by the powerful roots which have curled round them, but when these at last decay the whole will crumble into fragments. Good photographs were obtained of this and of the dykes, which in due course will be exhibited in the geological cases of the Museum.” Leaving Sput-a-Cleibh we again took to our carriages, and, returning for some distance by the road we had come, we struck to the east and joined the road from Ardoch to Comrie at Blairinroar Toll. Near this we halted at a place called, on the map, “St. Patrick’s Well.” There is a small well here which issues from the base of a PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXXL11 hill of conglomerate, but it is on the other side of the road from the well marked on the map. It is probably, however, the same, though the outlet may have been shifted. Dr. White had been interested in this well when we visited it the previous autumn, and had afterwards made some inquiry as to why it was called after St. Patrick, but he told me that he could not find any information regarding it. “ In driving from St. Patrick’s Well back to Comrie the road passes through a cutting in a band of conglomerate which rises up in a line of rugged prominences. This outcrop, when approached from the south, puzzled the geologists of the party, who maintained that it must mark the occurrence of beds of volcanic material, while the botanists (who had been there before !) held that it was con¬ glomerate. A closer examination of the rock in the cutting showed that the latter were correct, although the former had the consolation of pointing out that the conglomerate was so fused and altered as to have become as hard as a volcanic rock, and hence to have assumed a similar outline ! ” On reaching Comrie we had still a good part of the day before us and we therefore drove to visit the “ Devil’s Cauldron ” in Glen Led- nock. What havoc had been wrought here since our visit the pre¬ vious autumn ! Fallen trees almost blocked up the footpaths and rendered it a work of no small labour to reach the fall. The wood through which we had climbed to reach the Melville Monument existed now only as a mass of ruin. It was sad to see, and gave a vivid idea of the terrible force of the hurricane which had thus marred the beauty of the scene. “ In Glen Lednock a visit was paid to a quarry in Laggan Wood, where another of the numerous Tertiary dykes of this district is ex¬ posed. This one, however, is of interest as being intrusive in the Clay Slate of the Highland Metamorphic Series, whereas most of those previously visited by the Society have cut through rocks of Old Red Sandstone age. The contact metamorphism was very marked, the clay slate on either side having been baked for a thickness of about two inches, so that when exposed to the weather it crumbled down into small fragments.” On leaving the quarry we returned to Comrie, and thence by train to Perth. On Saturday, 30th June, the excursion was to Tentsmuir. Jour¬ neying by train to Leuchars we were joined at Dundee by a number of students belonging to the botanical class of Professor Geddes in University College, Dundee. Passing through Leuchars we stopped to admire the fine old Parish Church, the oldest portion of which is supposed to date from the beginning of the twelfth century. The church also recalls the name of one of its former ministers, the famous Alexander Henderson, leader of the Covenanters, and Moderator of the famous Assembly of 1638, which made such short work of prelates and prelacy in Scotland. A pleasant walk through the fields then led to Eden Mouth, where the party separated. A few members went off to make observations on the many species of sea-birds which frequent Tentsmuir, and especially to take note c XXXIV PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. of the Terns, or Sea-Swallows, as they are called, though they belong, not to the swallows, but to the gulls. The rest of the party rambled along the sandy coast, picking up such plants as came in their way. None were of special rarity, and, indeed, this part of Tents- muir is not nearly so prolific as it is further to the north. Carex distans , Listera ovata , Habenaria viridis may be mentioned, and the keen eye of Dr. Buchanan White detected a small plant, not in flower, of Anagallis tenella , a large patch of which was one of our best finds on a former visit. Turning inland, a walk over the heathery moor brought us to Kinshaldy Wood, where wre had some hopes of finding Corallorhiza innata but were disappointed. Here a rest was indulged in and gatherings exhibited. The entomologists, who had been busy, but up till now with little profit, here obtained fine specimens of the Cinnabar moth, a species by no means com¬ mon. A tortoise beetle and a fine Necrophorus , or burying beetle, were the only other insect captures worthy of record. Turning back, the party proceeded over a stretch of rather barren moor, on which, however, there were patches of Teesdalia nudicaulis. On coming to cultivated ground, Rhinathus major was also ob¬ tained, though not at this part in any great plenty. Arrived at Earlshall, we were very kindly received and entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie. The examination of the fine old mansion was the last, but by no means the least interesting, part of the day’s pro¬ ceedings. The work of restoring the building, which had fallen greatly into decay, has been carried out by Mr. Mackenzie with rare taste and judgment. So successfully has this been done that in walking through the rooms one can see them almost as they were a couple of centuries ago. On Saturday, 28th July, a party of twelve members drove from Perth to Millhaugh, on the River Almond. Their object wtis mainly to investigate the structure of the rocks through which the river has here cut its way, for the flora of this gorge had been thoroughly explored on many former occasions. Arriving at Millhaugh Bridge we were joined by two members from Glenalmond, and then pro¬ ceeded to cross the river to examine the cliffs on the other side. These were carefully examined and revealed many features of geo¬ logical interest. “ The face of the cliff itself presented a fine example of £ false bedding.’ Several good specimens of Psilophyto?i , the fossil remains of Old Red Sandstone Algco, were secured, and also some exceptionally good slabs of Sandstone exhibiting suncrack markings.” In the absorbing work of investigation the time sped quickly past, and then a rest was indulged in. The party then separated, one section driving to Methven, whilst the others enjoyed a pleasant walk through the w^oods to Logie House and thence to Dalcrue, where, according to arrangement, the whole party again were united. The rocks at Dalcrue proved to be unusually interest¬ ing, being partly composed of a volcanic dyke of basalt, similar in form to the Giant’s Causeway, and partly of a wall of Old Red Sand¬ stone, which, contrary to what is usual, projected beyond the dyke. The Sandstone of this wall we found on closer inspection had been PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXXV baked hard by contact with the heat of the dyke, in some places being so fused with the basalt that it was difficult to tell which of the two predominated. The basalt itself consisted of two types. First, the coarse-grained inner dolerite, which had been the last to cool, and in which glittered beautiful felspar crystals ; and second, the fine-grained outer basalt, which had cooled more quickly. This last, indeed, was so fine that it proved very difficult to distinguish it from baked Sandstone save with the aid of a microscope.” On the way home, near Moneydie, a new station was discovered for Agrimonia odorata , the sweet-scented agrimony, a scarce plant in Perthshire. Thus ended one of the most interesting and solidly instructive expeditions of the season.* The next excursion was originally fixed for the nth August, but was postponed till Saturday the 18th, when a party set off by train from Perth to visit the Lake of Menteith. At Stirling we were joined by Professor Traill of Aberdeen and by Mr. Kidston, along with some other Members of the Stirling Natural History Society. From Port of Menteith station we were driven to the Lake. The majority of the party embarked in boats to visit the island of Inchmahome, on which are the ruins of the Abbey in which Queen Mary, then but a child, resided for about a year before she was sent to France. “ On the island were found the following species of land Mollusca, viz. : — Helix rotundata , Zonites cellarius , Z. alliarius , Z. nitidulus , Z. purus , Z. crystallinus , Z,.fulvus , Cochlicopa lubrica , and Pupa umbilicata. The manner in which these creatures have been brought to the island raises some curious questions of distribution. In the lake itself, chiefly on the under surface of the leaves of water-lilies, were found several species of fresh-water Mollusca, viz. : — Limmza peregra , Physa fontinalis , Ancylus fluvial ills, and Planorbus albusP The wind was strong and the water consequently so rough that attempts at dredging ended in failure. In returning, several interesting plants were ob¬ served along the shore, among which were Lycopus europceus and Utricularia vulgaris. Lythrum Salicaria was growing abundantly in several marshy places and is doubtless native in this locality, though known only as a casual or an introduction in the more easterly parts of the county. One solitary botanist had not gone with the others, but had proceeded along the north shore of the lake, with the object chief¬ ly of observing the roses that were to be found in this locality. These were not very numerous and comprised forms of Rosa mollis , R. tomentosa , R. glauca , R. coriifolia , and R . lutetiana. Two speci¬ mens gathered on this occasion have since been identified, though with some reserve, by Professor Crepin of Brussels, as belonging to the group of R. sub-canina , Christ. Concerning this group we shall have something more to say in the sequel. A pleasant journey home by road and rail brought to a close a very pleasant day. “The last excursion for the season was fixed for 30th August, the Perth Autumn Holiday, to Balruddery Den. This romantic den is within the policies of Balruddery House, on the border of * This was the last official excursion at which Dr. Buchanan White was present. XXXvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Perthshire, and is widely known, not only for its sylvan beauty, but also for its high geological interest. “ The Balruddery Burn, which in some parts of its course forms the boundary line of the county, has, in the upper reaches of the den, cut its way deep into the beds of the Old Red Sandstone. These beds consist of a fine-grained dark bituminous sandstone, with a somewhat uniform dip to the south-west. “ The members of the Society, who were joined by geologists from Edinburgh, Stirling, and Dundee, found, on arriving, that Mr. J. Martin White had made complete arrangements for a day’s thorough digging. Two of the estate labourers were told off to excavate the rock at various parts of the escarpment. It may be interesting to mention that the elder of the too, “Ned Inches,” who has been a servant on the estate for many years, had assisted Hugh Miller in his explorations, as well as the savants of the British Association who visited the den in 1867, when the Association held its meeting in Dundee. Guided by the old man, operations were begun at the points excavated by Hugh Miller, but, unfortunately, the fossil finds, though interesting, were not very numerous. One of the party, however, succeeded in finding a complete specimen of Mesacanthus Mitchelli , Eg., about three inches in length. Another find was a complete impression of Climatius ,* a fish closely allied to the Diplcicanthus and Acanthodes of the same formation. The only other fish remains discovered were detached scales and spines of these and other allied ganoid fishes. A number of good specimens of Parka decipiens were also laid bare. It is interesting to record that geologists have had to revert to the old theory of Hugh Miller regarding Parka . He figured and described it in his well-known “Old Red Sandstone” as the spores of a plant which flourished when the silts and sands of these ancient times were being laid down. This theory was discarded for many years, the theory of his successors being that it was either the ova of a fish or of a crustacean, probably Pterygotus angelicas. It is now ascertained by microscopic sections to be undoubtedly the spore sacs of a plant, thus proving the astuteness of the old geologist. Many impressions of vegetable remains were also found. These it was impossible to determine at the time. “ Digging operations were completed during the afternoon, and thereafter some of the members were taken over the gardens and glass-houses by Mr. Cairns, the head gardener. One of the most interesting plants under glass was Monstera deliciosa, a member of the aroid family, of which the Lily of the Nile is one of the best known representatives. The spathe of Motistera is as large as a good-sized trumpet, and of a beautiful cream colour, with a spadix as thick as a child’s arm. The other section of the party, under the guidance of Mr. White, were invited to Balruddery House to examine the collection of fossils gathered by himself, and to inspect the magnificent organ recently^fitted up there on the Hope-Jones * This has been identified by Dr. R. H. Traquair as Climatius reticulatis, Agassiz. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXXV11 system, which was formally opened in the month of June last by Dr. Peace of Glasgow. “ On the way to Longforgan Mr. Dow pointed out the stations of a number of rare Perthshire plants. These included Goody era repens , the creeping orchid, unfortunately much thinned out by last November’s storm. Silene noctiflora was found to be flourishing in abundance at the station discovered last summer. The ditch, which in early summer is choked up with Stum angustifolium, a rare Perthshire plant, was found to have been cleaned out, but the plant seems to hold its own notwithstanding. The yellow ripening wheat fields were rendered conspicuously attractive by a copious colouring of the common red poppy, Papaver Rhoeas. Thus ended a most enjoyable excursion, rendered doubly so by the kindness of Mr. White, who was untiring in his efforts for the comfort of the party. Mr. White expressed the hope that the Society would have another excursion to Balruddery next season. The kindness of Mr. Paton, farmer, Monorgan, ought to be acknowledged. Although in the midst of harvesting operations, he willingly and personally drove a number of the party to the den, and back to the station in the afternoon.” This completes the list of official excursions, and as regards these, at least, it will be generally acknowledged that the geological section has borne off the palm. No one will grudge them the honour; and a little healthy rivalry among the various sections would do no harm to the Society. Apart from the official excursions, the entomologists, and, in particular, Mr. T. M. M ‘Gregor, made numerous explorations. Amongst his finds are five species of Aculeate Hymenoptera new to Perthshire, and seven new species of Hemiptera-Homoptera. His collections have not yet been fully examined, but when this has been done the results will no doubt be communicated to the Society at no distant date. Nor were the members of the Photographic Section idle during the summer. Several excursions were planned, and successfully carried out, for the purpose of obtaining good pictures of the native trees of Perthshire. When these have been placed in the cases allotted to them they will be found to be beautiful as works of art and of great scientific value. In former years the botanical members also, under the guidance of Dr. Buchanan White, were wont to do much work in what we may call private excursions on their own account. But in the summer of 1894 their leader was no longer able to march at their head, and this to them was a sad disaster. The good work, how¬ ever, was not entirely suspended. My own excursions, and they were numerous, though solitary, were directed to the investigation of the Roses of the county. Of these I made a large collection, and sent duplicates of them to Professor Crepin of Brussels, one of the greatest authorities on the difficult genus Rosa. He has been kind enough to send me a full report on these specimens, which I shall on some suitable occasion communicate to the Society. Here I shall merely mention one or two points of special interest. Among the XXXV111 PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. specimens sent were two from different localities, which the Professor identifies as Rosa drier as cens, Dumort. This is a variety of R. tomen- tosa , Sm., and has simply serrate leaves. This form is not given in the London Catalogue of British Plants, and is a new record, at least for Perthshire. A considerable number of specimens are identified, some as R. sub-canina , Christ., and the rest as R. sub-collina , Christ. But of these the Professor remarks — “ The feeble and transitory characters of the glabrous and pubescent forms of this intermediate group render the determination of herbarium specimens often pro¬ blematical. Accordingly it is with many reserves that I class these specimens. It is your business to clear up on the living bush any doubts regarding these forms.” In conclusion, I may mention that I discovered in Glenfarg a new station for that very scarce Rose, R. involuta , Sm. This makes the eighth locality known to me in Perthshire for this interesting hybrid. The others are Callerfountain Hill, Old Road near Kinfauns, Waulk- mill, Auchterarder, Gleneagles, Dunkeld, and the Roadside near Cluny Loch. At all the stations there is only a single bush or two, except at Waulkmill, where there is quite a little colony. Professor Crepin thinks that all the Perthshire forms are hybrids of R. pimpi- nellifolia , L., x R. foment osa, Sm. BALANCE-SHEET of THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE for the Year ended 28th February, 1894. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XXXIX £ D h o CT\ ro rn HH G- o C t-H • f-H o ro 00 ■H vO Ov o to 1— ( i— t HH l-H l-H t-H G co Jo o 00 ro fG CG l-H CJ 04 HH l-H GO _ r~] s? S3 1 ; •m • • • • <— t o : • G3 r- ' ; • I H-J O * * * * CJ G .2 G G Ph Ph o *N *G f "1 G CJ Q : ; ; W m tx C l !-G CO : X ‘5 Ph ! U Ph G G Ph in 73 in G G O jn Ph o PS G r-- G Q i co Ph • p— • G G £2 o t 73 G G -4—i CO rt in CJ tx c 1 H— » in O Ph tx .S .S "s- Ph c G -hh O CJ C/2 cJ uT W CJ N G U ) G c g m y O o pp CJ C o t/5 CJ .CJ "o O C/2 ^ — . in 13 G 1 Jzj •CO CO o CO s r\ , X W O CJ G G 13 CJ co ph G p- CJ in in O in ~G -4—> P- G Ph CJ G G 13 pp P=5 G G pp O c: G £ G Q G CJ CJ G3 < iJ u K Pi w H •J £ i-J H t-H " > o K- I — > > m ^ N feJO 1-1 C M 'o S3 tx 4J ^ Ph *“0 l2 g ^ G CJ JG rG jn Ph CJ co G CJ Ph H CJ CJ .G tx CO CJ G • rH g G X CJ tx .5 ~ G G G . r-T G S ^ G Gj _tX rt- c n in '—I LO CJ Gj i- i G fG = CJ t X £ «> , K : C/} tTD in Uh G OJ • i— i Po _ r~» in . O : "S : H— » G Ph g G G in v 00 ■4— > G c/2 CL) G — • Cj a5 PP aj H=l o o in o - .2 -4—1 ’ Ph o in O O _ pq m in -4— » C/2 5-1 G G £ “ & .5 oo > *-< G co G Co r-G J72 5-< cj 5-h C/2 G a 6 H Cj C G CO Cs G 00 G C H QJ Gh • r*4 CJ in o -4— ' in G b G G rG G .2 • rH G • H CO -4-J G 0) 5- CJ CJ , •\ CJ rG O g G • rH in G . G G G o G G G O pq pq < U Cj G 5- ' .o o G G < c ci PQ G O j-j C/3 G Si G S3 N ■cj- 1 S' HH S3 i-C 'iC fed. ] i JAN. 96 G G O G Cj in G r— 1 J G o > G > • pH E G Si G i W Si r^. G HI G to.N rt w o, G3 ^ G aj c3 Si .o G — m ci G J“H H G in -4— > c G O CJ CJ c . . fcjo 2; G C li ■H Cj flj HI (H • w M G CO S3 c3 X G Si c! G G > Cj G iG G G G £ ° I - 1 O <£ * in of Natural Science. *i|r* r^t iA* iPtogramnte Of — — J onv>cr8a3tone — — in tbe Society's IRoonts, tbe Worfuitg JBows’ aitb (Bids’ ©all, anb tbe baptist Cburcb, Zav Street, on friba?, 29tb November, 1895, from 7,15 to 10,15 p.m„ on tbe occasion of g?be •> opening •> of * tbe * jftew « ^Perthshire Natural * Kistorg * Museum anb tbe /IReeting of tbe East of Scotland Tuition of naturalists’ Societies. Entrance bs South ®oor of 'GMorfeing iffio^s' anb Girls' llBall. Xabics' Cloafc=1ftoom, 3front Class=1ftoom of bo. Gentlemen's Cloafe=1Room, Gallery of bo. ^Evening or Aborning Dress. admission, ©tie Shilling. XEtcfcets to be bab at tbe principal JBoofescllets', from /Members of Council, or at tbe Society's 3Builbings, South Uas Street. YOUNG & SONS, PERTH. (programme. At 7.15 — Doors will be opened, . At 7.30 — Reception in the Working Boys’ and Girls’ Hall. \ At 8— - Lecture in the Baptist Church by Prof. D’Arcy W. Thompson, M.A., F.R.S.E., University College, Dundee, on “Qt5tr& and Q5ea0f in cHnftqutfp.” Illustrated with Lime-Light Views. Lord Provost Dewar in the Chair. At 8. 30- Tea will be served in the Working Boys’ and Girls’ Hall. At 9.15 — Lecture in the Baptist Church by Professor E. Waymouth Reid, B.A., M.B., University College, Dundee, on Qttgefmee of Qtkaufp ” v (Cosmetic fancies, anfc (Hew). Illustrated with Lime-Light Vieivs. Sir William H. Flower, K.C.B., F.R.S., in the Chair. At 10.15 — Carriages may be ordered . N.B.— Electric Bells will be rung five minutes before each Lecture. *3p <# *&» *$? Mr. George M‘GIynn’s Band will play in the Working Boys1 and Girls’ Hall at intervals throughout the Evening. SxjJtBtftons. Jn f#e Jkcfur^Qjtoom of (perf$e$tre Jloctefj? of (Ytaiuraf ^ctence — Exhibition of Photographs, under the charge of the Photo¬ graphic Section of the P.S.N.S. 3tt tfyc Bx firarg — Exhibition of Scientific Instruments, Ancient and Modern. Jit tfye Of 6 QTluecum JE>aff — The Index or Type Collection. [N.B. — This Collection is not yet arranged , the Specimens being only put temporarily in position for the present occasion .] 3n tQe (Uoiv QVluecuin The Society’s Collections representing the Zoology, Botany, and Geology of Perthshire. On the Ground Floor are the Collections of Vertebrate Animals, including the Mammals, Birds, Fishes, Reptiles, and Amphibians, and also the Birds’ Nests and Eggs. In the Gallery are the Invertebrate Animals (Shells, Insects, &c.), the Botany (Trees, Flowering Plants, and Cryptogams), and Geology (Rock Specimens, Minerals, and Fossils). Some of the Collections, however, are not yet arranged. Painted on the Walls, above the Bird Cases, is a series of Diagrams, illustrating the Geology of Perthshire. 3nfenor of t$z (Vten> QHueeum, From a Sketch by Mr. Wm. M. Frazer. Group taken at Opening of Museum. PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxix WINTER SESSION, 1895-96. 14th November, 1895. Ex-Dean of Guild M‘Artpiur, Vice-President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Grayling — from Mr. George Hall. Nests with Eggs of Swift, Black-throated Diver, Dunlin, and Merganser — from Colonel Campbell. Ruff — from Mr. John Macgregor. Collection of Eggs — from Mr. George Gray. Slow Worm — from Mr. Thomas Moncrieff. Cast of Trout — from Mr. Wm. Morison. Casts of Fishes, painted by Miss M. G. Dickson — from Mr. James Stewart. Chiff-Chaff’s Nest — from Mr. W. White, Ivirkgate. Bullfinch’s Nest — from Mr. Thos. M‘Gregor, High Street. Case for Index to Geological Wall Diagrams — from Mr. M‘Quibban. Nests of Wading Birds — from Col. Drummond Hay. Smew — from Mr. Henry Kelsall. Loach, Stickleback, and Newts — from Mr. T. M. M ‘Gregor, F.E.S. Perch — from Mr. C. Kirk. Minnows — from Mr. A. Brown. Rock Specimens — from Mr. P. Macnair. Adder — from Mr. Lawson. Long-eared Bat and Ringed Plover — from Colonel Drummond Hay. Clay Concretions— from Mr. Henderson, Dunning. Razor-bill — from Mr. Orkney, Bridge of Earn. Collection of Butter¬ flies— from Mr. W.W. Key worth, Chester. Adder — from Mr. Alex. M. Rodger. Red Deer— from The Most Noble The Marquis of Bread- albane. Red Deer — from His Grace The Duke of Atholl. Roe¬ buck — from Col. Campbell. Photographs of Trees — from Messrs. H. Coates, W. Ellison, R. Kidston, J. Grant, and A. Nicol. Green Sandpiper — from Mr. P. D. Malloch. God wits and Razor-bill— from Colonel Campbell. Guillemot — from Mr. J. M‘Lauchlan, Pitlochry. Ringed Plover — from Rev. Roger Davidson, Ivinfauns. Spirling and Lamprey — from Mr. A. H. Lumsden. Lamprey— from Mr. P. D. Malloch. Index Collection. — Ostrich Eggs — from Col. C. H. H. Gammell, Tower of Lethendy. Indian Birds — from Mr. Atholl Macgregor, Eastwood. Skeletons — from Mr. James Stewart. Birds for Skeletons — from Mr. Robson. Fossil Coral — from Mr. Wm. Dow, George Street. Stigmaria — from Mr. Daniel Gow, Canal Street. Tortoise Eggs — from Miss Jamieson. Case to illustrate Manufacture of Flour — from Dr. White, Dundee. Octopus — from Mr. Chas. Burnet. Zoological Specimens — from Professor D’Arcy W. Thompson, Dundee. Library. — Royal Natural History, Parts 1 to 20— from Mr. Henry Coates. Owen’s College Museum Handbooks — from Mr. W. E. Hoyle. Methods of Taxidermy — from Sir Robert Pullar. Dr. E. L. Paton, Atholl Street; George Young, 8 Kinnaird Bank, Craigie ; Dr. Robertson, 23 Marshall Place; Henry Jameson, Clare- G lxx PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. mont, Kinnoull; Robert Wallace, Q.C., M.P., London: Miss C. Thomas, Barossa Place; Miss MacNab, 12 Pitcullen Crescent; Miss Gall, 8 Glover Street ; Miss Cameron, Victoria Street ; A. Nicol, Beech Villa, Kinnoull ; Thomas Moffat, Teacher, Forgandenny ; Wm. Simpson, Balhousie Works; Edward Smart, Sharp’s Institution ; Alex. Miller, Croft Bank, Craigie; Wm. White, 29 Kirkgate; George Muirhead, 5 North Port; Rev. John Alexander, M.A., Pitcairn Manse ; Mrs. Gibb, Woodend House, Almondbank ; J. Clement C. Buchanan White, Annat Lodge ; Mrs. Cox, Westwood ; and Miss Ritchie, Moncreiffe Terrace, were elected Ordinary Members. Sir William Henry Flower, K.C.B., F.R.S., LL.D., etc., Director of the Natural History Department of the British Museum, was elected an Honorary Member. The President being unable to be present, Mr. James Coates read on his behalf the following Opening Address : — Ladies and Gentlemen, — It has now become the custom for your President at the beginning of the Winter Session to say a few words regarding the work of the preceding summer. Following this custom, therefore, I shall now review, very briefly, our progress since our closing meeting last spring. Of the eight official excursions organised by the Council, all were successfully held with the exception of the one to Pitlochry and Banks of Tummel, which had to be postponed on account of the General Election. In spite of the considerable amount of wet weather which has been experienced during the season, it fortunately happened that all the days fixed for excursions, with one exception, turned out fine. Owing partly to this cause, and partly also to the diversity of the ground chosen, the attendances were remarkably good, and certainly above the average of former years. Two other causes also, no doubt, contributed to this satisfactory result — namely, the fact that a separate “Leader” was appointed for each excursion, and that some of the excursions were held jointly with other Societies. I know that there are some of our members who think that largely- attended excursions are not desirable for purposes of scientific research, and there is, no doubt, a certain amount of truth in this. At the same time, however, it is well to bear in mind that one of the functions of our Society is to make the interest in Natural History pursuits as widespread as possible, and also that any deficiencies of the kind referred to can easily be made up by subsequent visits to the ground for more detailed investigation. Even a general survey of a considerable stretch of country is not without its lessons for the naturalist, and especially for the geologist. As most of the leaders have sent me notes regarding the several excursions, I shall have something more to say regarding these presently. The editorial and publishing department of the Society has certainly not been idle lately, as no less than three Parts of the Proceedings and Transactions have been issued during the last six months. While I am on this subject, I may take the opportunity of warning our Treasurer that such unwonted activity will have the PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxxi effect of making serious inroads in his reserve fund, unless he can devise means for increasing it in the meantime. One of the Parts referred to — namely, Part II. of the Transactions — calls for special notice, as it contains the series of papers on the Natural History of the Banks of the Tay, which were communicated to the Society some two years ago. It was originally intended that these should have been published in much more complete and comprehensive form, and their publication was delayed by the late Editor with this object in view. After his death, however, the Publication Committee thought it best to publish them in their present form without further delay, and rather to supplement them from time to time by fresh papers, as additional matter came to light. The Part has been bound and issued in book form to the general public, and it is hoped that it will meet with a sale which will help to defray the present heavy outlay for printing. It has been very favourably reviewed by the local press, the only serious fault found with it being the want of a table of contents, which will be rectified if another edition should be published. A more serious undertaking in the way of publication is the issue of the “ Flora of Perthshire,” from the nearly complete manuscript left by Dr. Buchanan White. Professor J. W. H. Traill, F.R.S., has very kindly undertaken to see the work through the press, and Messrs. William Blackwood & Sons, of Edinburgh, are printing it on behalf of the Society. When complete it will contain, in addition to the notes on all the known Perthshire flowering plants, an orographical map of the county, and also a memoir and portrait of the author. As the book will cost at least a hundred pounds to issue, it is very earnestly hoped that every member of the Society will subscribe for a copy, and will induce their friends to do the same. The Memorial Bronze Tablet to Dr. Buchanan White, subscribed for by members of the Society, has now been placed in position, and has been much admired as a work of art. The Marble Medallion in memory of Sir Thomas Moncreiffe is also being suitably mounted, and both will be ready for inspection when the Museum is opened on the 29th of this month. As will be seen from the syllabus card, the Photographic Section, which has been in a state of hibernation during the last year or two, has lately been resuscitated, and shows signs of more vigorous life than ever. Two most successful and enjoyable photographic excur¬ sions were held, which will be duly reported on by the Secretary of the Section. I come now to the department which has perhaps absorbed most of our attention and thought during the past summer — namely, the arrangement of the Museum. Here I would first express the great pleasure which it has afforded those connected with the Museum to see our much esteemed honorary curator, Colonel Drummond Hay, so far restored to health as to be able to be engaged, day after day, at his labour of love in arranging the Perthshire birds and nests. I cannot refrain from making one other personal allusion — namely, to our recently appointed curator, Mr. Rodger. I think all who have watched the progress of the Museum since it was put under his lxxii PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. charge nine months ago must have been surprised both at the amount of work he has done and also at the quality of the work. I have now had the opportunity of inspecting a good many museums throughout the country, and I think I may safely say that ours will compare favourably with any of them for nicety of mounting, labelling, and arranging. I say this without fear of flattering Mr. Rodger, for I know that what he does is done in pure enthusiasm for the cause of Natural Science, and work done in that spirit is its own reward. One great advantage of having a permanent scientific curator in charge of the Museum is seen in the increased interest which is taken in the work of the Society generally, for Mr. Rodger has already gathered round him a band of workers who take an increasing interest in Natural History pursuits. Meanwhile, these workers have been kept busy mounting plants, arranging insects, painting casts, photographing trees, etc., etc., preparatory to the opening. It must not be supposed, however, that after the 29th of Novem¬ ber the work of arranging the Museum will be completed. It will be very little more than begun in the Perthshire collections, and in the Index collections it will not be begun at all. Indeed, it has become every day more plain to me that a Museum of the size to which ours has now attained can only be kept in a state of efficiency by the ser¬ vices of a permanent salaried curator. How we are to provide for the expense which such an arrangement will entail is a problem which the Society will have to face seriously, and at once. SUMMER EXCURSIONS, 1895. Having thus reviewed some of the events which have concerned the Society during the past summer, I now proceed to give a few details regarding the excursions, from the notes supplied by the several leaders : — 1. On Saturday, 18th May, the Members of the P.S.N.S, joined with the Members of the University Education Society, who had been attending the course of lectures on architecture, in an excursion to Dunfermline. Mr. S. Henbest Capper, M.A., A.R.I.B.A., who had given the course of lectures, acted as leader, and under his guidance a most delightful and instructive afternoon was spent amongst the historic ruins of the Abbey and Palace. The object of investigation on this occasion was, of course, archaeological rather than scientific, but as such, it was by no means beyond the legitimate scope of our Society, and the precedent was one which might well be followed on future occasions. The party numbered about 30. Mr. S. H. Capper supplies the following note : — The nave of the Abbey Church, still one of the most important buildings of the Norman period in Scotland, was first fully examined within and without, the original work — of the twelfth century — being distinguished from subsequent additions, and its characteristic fea¬ tures — arcading, vaulting, and mouldings — discussed. The eastern portion of the Church, originally of the eleventh century, was rebuilt on a grander scale in the thirteenth, but this has been replaced (in PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, lxxiii the nineteenth century) by a poor specimen of tawdry Gothic, the foundations only remaining of the old work. The scanty ruins of the once noble Abbey were next carefully examined, attention being called to the beautiful remains of the pulpit or lectern in the south wall of the old refectory, and to the vaulting of the old gatehouse. These comprise almost all that is left of an Abbey which at one time boasted it could lodge three sovereigns and their retinues at once. The Palace, so closely associated with events of Scottish history, and the birthplace, among others, of Charles I., was also visited. Favoured by magnificent weather, the excursion was greatly enjoyed. 2. On Thursday, 23rd May (the Queen’s Birthday), the Members of the Scottish Natural History Society were our companions in a joint excursion to Burntisland, and Mr. J. G. Goodchild, F.G.S., Edinburgh, acted as Geological Guide. As Mr. Goodchild had, during last winter, given a course of lectures on Volcanic Geology, his demonstrations were of particular interest to the Members present. The party numbered in all about 60. The following are the notes which Mr. Goodchild has supplied : — After leaving Burntisland, the route at first lay westward for about a mile to the railway cutting south-west of Colinswell. On the way, attention was called to the silted-up estuary, which, when the land stood at a lower level, separated Burntisland from the mainland. Some raised beaches of much higher antiquity were also noted. Arrived at the railway cutting, the party devoted considerable attention to the occurrence of a sheet of the rare form of ultra-basic eruptive rock known as Picrite, which at this point is seen to be intrusive amidst some Sandstones and Shales of Lower Carboniferous age, which are on, or about, the horizon of the Hailes Sandstones of the Lothians. The Picrite consists of a holocrystalline granitic com¬ pound of olivine, augite, biotite, and iserine (a mineral allied to magnetite). As iron ores form a considerable proportion of the con¬ stituent minerals of the rock, its predominant colour is dark — almost black — where the iron is in the form of iserine, but where the eruptive rock has come into contact with strata containing much carbonaceous matter, a reduction of the oxygen percentage has taken place, and the iron ore is reduced from the black condition to a lower oxide, in which the colour is very much more feeble. As a consequence, the Picrite, where it adjoins the Carbonaceous Shales, is cream-coloured instead of dark-grey-green, as it usually is elsewhere. From this cutting the party ascended the hill to the north, passing over the edges of a considerable thickness of strata higher in the series until a quarry was reached, in which the well-known Burdiehouse Limestone was seen. After lunching here, a move was made to Grange Quarry, where the Burdiehouse Limestone and its associated sandstones and shales are being wrought at the present time. From the shales seen in this quarry the party collected several species of fossils. Amongst these were noted specimens of Sigillaria ; Lepidodendron veltheimianum , and other species allied therewith ; Lepidostrobus , the “cone” or “fruit” of the Lepidodendrons ; leaves lxxiv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. of Cordaites , and other plant remains not yet identified. Associated with these were abundant remains of fish in the form of scales, teeth, etc., and also of more or less perfect specimens of the entire fish. The commonest species is the Elonichthys Robisoni . The minute valves of entomostraca abound. These shales contain a large percentage of bituminoid compounds, and some, a little higher in the series, have been actually worked at Burntisland for oil. These, like those worked near Edinburgh, be¬ long to the Oil Shales Series, which lies between the Marine Series, known as the Yoredale Rocks, and the Burdiehouse Limestone. The oil shales and associated strata are chiefly of estuarine and lagoon origin. Soon after the commencement of this period in this part volcanic action commenced from a centre now represented by the Binn of Burntisland. This eminence represents an old volcanic “neck,:> or accumulation of volcanic material filling up the pipe, throat, or chimney of the volcano. From this volcanic centre a considerable thickness of lava, representing the results of the quieter outbreaks, flowed into parts of the old estuaries, and even into the sea, so that the lavas here are seen in places to be interstratified with rocks of purely sedimentary origin. During the more violent explosive out¬ bursts of the volcano great quantities of volcanic materials were ejected in a fragmentary state, and fell upon the cone and into the water around, where they were interstratified with the lavas and their associated sedimentary strata. It was to study this association of volcanic rocks with strata of purely sedimentary origin that the excursion was chiefly undertaken, and therefore the party devoted a considerable part of the day to the study of the evidence to be seen in the fine natural section exposed in that part of Fifeshire. Mr. Barclay has also supplied the following Botanical Note on this excursion : — This excursion was, of course, mainly Geological, and the route taken did not allow of much being done by the Botanists, the best ground in that quarter being along the coast. One member took a short walk along the coast to the east of Kinghorn and brought back a number of the common sea-side plants. He also fell in with Salvia verbenaca , and brought specimens to distribute. This is an old station for Salvia, which also occurs, or at least did occur at Burntisland, and one or two other places on the Fife coast. The plant is not found in Perthshire except as a casual. 3. On 8th June a party of twelve drove from Perth to Buchanty, where they were met by Mr. Arthur S. Reid, F.G.S., of Trinity College, Glenalmond, and a number of his Science students. The day was one of the hottest of the season, and for this reason the shade of the trees along the bank of the river was much appreciated. The party divided into two sections, a Geological one, under Mr. Reid, and a Botanical, under Mr. Barclay. These two gentlemen report as follows : — PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxXV (i) Geological Notes, by Mr. Reid. At Buchanty Brig the recession of the Fall for some ioo yards or so is well marked by the many submerged pot-holes and other evidence. Some very fine pot-holes are now to be seen surrounding the Fall itself. The pebbles of the Old Red Sandstone Conglomerate here are mainly igneous, being apparently derived from the “ porphyrite ” massif on the Fendoch Burn, fragments of the amygdaloidal top of this flow being not infrequent. On the Millrodgie Burn the section exposed shows first a well-marked ash, followed by a fault breccia, where the great Highland Fault crosses the burn ; here too apparently is a mass of Old Red Sandstone caught in the fault. Then follows a close grained quartzite of the H.M.S., cut through by an east and west basaltic dyke, after which appears a narrow band of slate, which thickens out towards the east. Following the river section towards Dallick Brig, after passing over a considerable thickness of Old Red Sandstone Conglomerate, with a dip of about 40 deg., E.S.E., the fault is passed over without any available exposure near it, and the first beds of the H.M.S. exposed are found to be coarse roughly foliated altered grits, almost vertical with a high dip to N.W. ; these are followed by a thin band of slate (with partings of grit), and for some distance the altered grits and quartzite are seen “striking” across the river in a N.E. and S.W. direction, till a short way below Dallick Brig, the river, by a sudden bend, runs along the line of fault, and we have the Old Red Sand¬ stone Conglomerate on the right bank, with the Metamorphic Series on the left bank. Here the pebbles in the Old Red Sandstone Conglomerate are almost entirely quartzites and altered grits. Under Dallick Brig the percolating water, acting upon the mortar, has formed a fine crop of small stalactites, some of them over a foot in length. (2) Botanical Notes, by Mr. Barclay. Starting from Buchanty Bridge, the botanical members followed the left bank of the river as far as Dallick Bridge. There was a profusion of plants in flower, but nothing was seen of special note. One or two of the commoner alpines were observed, e.g., Alcliemilla alpina and Saxifraga aizo'ides , but the nature of the banks at this part was not favourable for enabling such plants as might be brought down from the hills to make a lodgement. From Dallick Bridge the party returned by road to Buchanty, deviating here and there to explore such marshy spots as they fell in with. In one of these was found a fine clump of that handsome and rather rare sedge, Carex iriigua , and this was the best find of the day. Pucedamim Ostruthium , the Masterwort, an introduced plant formerly recorded at Buchanty, was found to be maintaining its ground. 4. On 22nd June the Society again visited Balruddery Den, on the kind invitation of Mr. J. Martin White, M.P., for the purpose of further examining the beds of fossiliferous shale, of Old Red Sandstone age. About 20 Members were present. Mr. R. Dow, Longforgan, who acted as leader and local guide, has sent the following report : — lxxvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. After a pleasant ramble through the grounds and greenhouses of Balruddery, the party wended its way to the Den. Excavations were at once commenced at a section half-way up, and on the burn side, but this was found to be somewhat poor and unproductive. After lunch, digging operations were commenced at the upper end of the Den, and here a number of exceedingly interesting fossils were dug out. By far the most important was a very fine specimen of a Cephalaspis , probably C. Lyelli. The head measures about three inches across, and bears a close resemblance to the shape of a saddler's knife, and is protected by a buckler-shaped plate, which is prolonged into a point on either side. The specimen, which is a very fine one, will find a home in the new Museum in Tay Street. A few specimens of vegetable remains, and spines of Clirnatius , a fish of Old Red Sandstone times, were also found. A remarkable feature of the finds during the afternoon was the very large number of the fossil Parka decipiens which were got, over fifty specimens being brought to the light of day. This interesting fossil is figured in the Old Red Sandstone of Hugh Miller, and bears a strong resemblance to a round patch of small seeds. Hugh Miller suggested in his delightful book that they were the spores of a plant which flourished during the time the Balruddery sandstones were being deposited, but for many years doubts were cast upon this explanation, as these patches were believed to be spawn of Pterygotus. Recent careful microscopic examination has proved Hugh Miller to be in the right. It may be interesting to note that quarrying operations were carried on by old Ned Inches, who had been on the estate for many years, and who excavated for the Members of the British Association when they visited Dundee in 1865. The following Botanical Notes are supplied by Mr. Barclay : — In the Den a profusion of plants was seen, but nothing worthy of special mention. A pretty large bush of Rosa alpina was found. This is not a native British rose, though abundant in South Europe, and it must, of course, have been either planted or casually intro¬ duced at Balruddery. It also occurs on Kinnoull Hill, where it was discovered some twenty-five years ago by the late Dr. Buchanan White. 5. For 20th July a joint excursion had been arranged with the Geological Class of the University Education Society already referred to, in order that Mr. Goodchild might have an opportunity of explaining to the Members the origin and structure of the Volcanic Rocks of Kinnoull Hill. Much to the regret of those of us who had been looking forward with interest to this demonstration of our local Geology, a telegram was received from Mr. Goodchild stating that he had met with a slight accident, and would be unable to be present. In these circumstances I was obliged to assume the role of demonstrator myself. Fortunately, I remembered at the last moment the diagram of Kinnoull Hill which I had prepared for the wall of the Museum, and armed with this I did the best I could to supply the place of the distinguished member of H.M. Geological Survey. PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxxvii About a dozen Members were present, in spite of a rather wet afternoon. 6. On Thursday, 25th July, a party of our Members joined the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies in a five days excursion to Kinloch-Rannoch. As this excursion will be reported on by Mr. Barclay at the meeting of the Union on 30th inst., I need not say more about it here, except to express my regret that I was unable to be present myself, as I was then attending the Conference of the Museums Association in Newcastle, on behalf of our Society. 7. The last excursion of the season took place on Saturday, 10th August, when Little Glenshee, one of the clefts in the southern flanks of the Grampians, was visited. Mr. Barclay, who acted as leader, has supplied the following report of the proceedings : — Driving from Perth, the party, which, with addition of two who were picked up on the road, numbered about a score, proceeded by way of Moneydie and Murray field to the mouth of the little Glen¬ shee. A fair, bright, and pleasant day — quite a rarity during the past wet summer — cheered the hearts of all, and rendered it possible to enjoy the beauty of the very charming landscape which met the eye on every side during most of the way. On the roadside past Moneydie a patch of Agrimonia odoi'ata was found, and it would appear that this plant is not quite so rare in Perthshire as was at one time thought. Having crossed the great fault which separates Lowland from Highland Perthshire, the party left their carriage and took to the hills on foot. A visit was first paid to the slate quarries, which are, however, no longer worked. Strolling through the heather in the neighbourhood of the quarries some members were rather startled at seeing a big adder moving swiftly away almost from their feet. A blow from a stick killed the noxious beast, but unfortunately the blow was such that the dead animal was rendered useless as a specimen. Two others, however, were afterwards seen, one of which was killed and carried off to add to the Museum collection. After a short rest for lunch, which was enlivened by an interesting geological discussion suggested by the near neighbourhood of the great fault, it was resolved to follow the bank of the Shochie Burn up the glen for some distance. A slight deviation was made in order to avoid passing too close to a field in which were stationed over a hundred bee-hives. These are annually brought up at this season, in order that the bees may gather the rich honey of the heather which clothes the hill sides that hem in the glen. The banks of the burn do not possess a rich flora. The hills are too dry to nourish much besides heather and some few of the commonest moorland plants. Alchemilla alpina and Saxifraga aizo'ides were seen, and on a rock beside the burn a few plants of Epilobium angustifolium. On returning, the party followed up for some distance a small streamlet to where it forms a pretty little waterfall. Here Melica nutans was found, and above the fall, by the side of the streamlet, were one or two solitary rose-bushes belonging to the sub-species Rosa Ixxviii PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. g/auca, Vill. Possibly they may have sprung from seeds carried by birds. This must certainly have been the case with a small tree which was standing in solitary state amid the heather a good way up the hillside, and which was found to be Primus Padus , the bird- cherry. Returning to the farmhouse at the mouth of the Glen, the party took seats on a green bank, and enjoyed a very welcome refreshment of tea and scones generously provided for them by the thoughtful kindness of Miss Macdonald. When this was over, and their hostess heartily thanked for her considerate hospitality, the members set off to rejoin their carriage. On the way Sedum villosum was detected growing in some plenty in a ditch by the roadside. Then ensued a pleasant drive home by Millhaugh Bridge. A few drops from the fringe of a great black cloud which passed away to the north-west failed to damp the spirits of the party, and when Perth was reached all agreed that they had spent a very pleasant day. It now only remains for me, in conclusion, to express the hope that the coming Winter Session of the Society may be as successful and as enjoyable as the past Summer Session has been. The Secretary read the Report of Mr. A. S. Reid, Glenalmond College, as Delegate to the Corresponding Societies’ Committee of the British Association. Mr. Alex. M. Rodger read the Report of the President and himself as the Delegates to the Meeting of the Museums Association held at Newcastle. OPENING OF ENLARGED AND RE-ARRANGED MUSEUM. On Friday, 29th November, 1895, the New Museum of Perthshire Natural History, recently erected in rear of the Society’s original building in South Tay Street, Perth, was formally inaugurated by Sir William H. Flower, K.C.B., F.R.S., Director of the British Museum of Natural History, London. THE OPENING CEREMONY. The opening ceremony took place in the Hall of the Perth Working Boys and Girls’ Religious Society, Tay Street, at two o’clock in the afternoon, and was attended by a large number of ladies and gentlemen. The platform was tastefully decorated with palms and flowering plants. Mr. Henry Coates, President of the Society, occupied the chair, and beside him on the platform were Sir W. H. Flower; Sir Robert Pullar; Sir Robert Menzies, Bart.; Sir Robert D. Moncreiffe, Bart. ; Lord Provost Dewar, Mr. Atholl Macgregor of Eastwood, Mr. C. S. Parker, Mr. Andrew Coates of Pitcullen; Prof. D’Arcy W. Thompson, University College, Dundee; Mr. John Thomas, Sheriff-Clerk; Colonel Drummond Hay of Exterior of Museum PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, lxxix Seggieden ; Mr. James Morison, Mr. S. T. Ellison, Ex-Dean of Guild M‘Arthur; Mr. James Durham, Dundee, President of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies, &c. Apologies for absence were intimated from the Marquis of Breadalbane; Lord Kinnaird ; Professor James Geikie, Edinburgh; Professor Trail, Aberdeen ; Professor MTntosh, St. Andrews ; Mr. J. Martin White, M.P. ; Rector Chambers ; Mr. Hunter, Edinburgh ; and Treasurer Chalmers. The President, in opening the proceedings, said : — My first duty this afternoon is to express, on behalf of the Council of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, our appreciation of the honour which Sir William Flower has conferred on us by accepting our invitation to be present with us to-day, and to take part in the opening of our new Museum. Sir William Flower has charge of one of the most important public institutions in London, and yet when we asked him to come down to Scotland to perform the opening ceremony, he not only agreed at once, but did so in the most kind and flattering terms with regard to the work of our Society. My second duty is to express the satisfaction which all who have taken an active part in extending the Museum must feel in seeing their labours brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Their aim has been to provide what would prove for the people of Perth and Perthshire an endless source, both of instruction and recreation. Whether they have succeeded in their aim or not it will be for the people to say. In carrying out that object they have been largely helped, both with funds , and specimens, as well as with encourage¬ ment, by friends who are not yet members of the Society. For all such assistance we offer our most grateful thanks. Before calling upon Sir William Flower, it is perhaps right that I should trace very briefly the history of the movement, of which the present occasion is the consummation. The idea of forming a museum such as we now possess has been kept steadily before our Society from the very first day of its existence. On 7th March, 1867, the late Dr. Buchanan White delivered his inaugural address as first President of the Society, and in concluding he used these words : — “ As regards the formation of a museum, the Society, while not neglecting to form a good general typical collection, should more especially devote itself to the acquisition of as perfect a museum as possible of all the natural products of the county. ... In the meantime, each member might easily collect and lay aside specimens for the Museum, and thus, when we obtain a suitable receptacle, we shall have the nucleus of a collection.” Eight and twenty years have elapsed since these words were uttered, and to-day, I think, we may fairly claim that we have seen the ideal realised, although, alas ! many of those who helped forward the work have not lived to see its completion. The first attempt to form a collection was in October, 1869, when a room was hired at Kirkside. Within six months, however, this was found to be unsuitable, and a larger room was taken in St. Ann’s Lane. Many of us cherish very happy memories lxxx PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. in connection with that humble abode of the Society, which was museum, library, and lecture-room in one, and where good fellowship reigned among a band of naturalists, whose ranks are now sadly thinned. It was in this room that the late Sir Thomas Moncreiffe, at the Annual Meeting in March, 1877, brought forward his com¬ prehensive scheme which ultimately resulted in the construction of the suite of buildings in which we are now met. After some discussion, the scheme was adopted by the Council, and steps were taken to raise the necessary funds. Before building operations were commenced, however, Sir Thomas Moncreiffe was suddenly taken from us, and it was then resolved to push on the work he had so much at heart, and to dedicate the new Museum to his memory. On 1 st October, 1881, the new building was formally opened, the ceremony taking place in the same hall in which we are now assembled. Dr. James Geikie, who was then President, occupied the chair. From that time the work of collecting and arranging specimens went on systematically, until, in a few years, the Honorary Curator, Colonel Drummond Hay, had to point out that the available space was rapidly being filled up. Even so long ago as 1885, Dr. Buchanan White, in his Presidential address, brought forward a scheme for enlarging the premises, and he frequently referred to the subject in subsequent addresses. It was not until the summer of 1892, however, that the Council saw their way to embark on so formidable an undertaking, and even then, they would hardly have done so if it had not been for the generous support offered by a few friends, and in particular by Mr., now Sir Robert Pullar. With almost no effort the necessary funds were raised within a few months, and building operations were commenced before the winter set in. Since then, the work of planning, building, furnishing, and arranging, has gone on without interruption, and the result of the very con¬ siderable amount of time and thought thus expended, you will presently have an opportunity of inspecting for yourselves. As in the case of the original building, so also in the case of the present addition, the progress of the work has been marked by an event of sad import. In the former case, as I have said, Sir Thomas Moncreiffe was removed before seeing the completion of his labours, and now we are met to celebrate the final accomplishment of our aims, but one who longed and laboured for that accomplishment is with us no more. I refer, of course, to Dr. Buchanan White, whose name must ever be associated with this undertaking. Mr. James Morison, the Treasurer of the Museum Extension Fund, read an abstract of the receipts and expenditure, as follows : — The amount received from subscribers was ,£3,438 is 7d, and interest, £ 220 5s 2d — making a total of ,£3,658 6s 9d. The expenditure included £2,232 16s 6d, spent on building and fitting up the extension, including architect’s commission and all extras ; £995 4s iod for cases and cabinets for specimens ; ,£284 10s nd for new specimens and for mounting; £110 for Curator’s salary to 31st December; and £34 3s 2d for sundries, making a total of £3,656 15s 5d, and leaving a balance of £1 ns 4d in the Treasurer’s hands. The satisfactory state of that and of all other PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxxxi departments was in a very large measure due to the energy and forethought of their President. The President said that finished the history of the movement up to the present time, and he had very great pleasure in calling on Sir William Flower to give them his address. Sir W. H. Flower, who was received with loud and prolonged applause, said : — We are assembled to-day for the purpose of inaugurating a new era in the history of an institution which has already passed nearly 30 years of useful existence, but which, I venture to predict, has henceforth a career before it of wider and deeper import than anything that has gone before. I even think that this epoch in the history of the Institution might mark a distinct advance in the educational history of the country. The Perthshire Society of Natural Science was founded in 1867, under the presidency of the late Dr. Buchanan White, whose untimely death we have had so recent¬ ly to deplore. Its purpose was described to be “to carry 011 the prac¬ tical study of natural science by the exhibition and preservation of specimens, the reading of communications, by lectures, excursions, and by the formation of a museum and library.” It is hardly necessary for me to say anything in such a meeting as this upon the advantages of such work as the Society encouraged. We may take that for granted. The formation of such Societies in all the principal centres of population in the country, and not only in this country, but in all lands in which anything like intellectual culture has any hold upon the people, is a proof that they fulfil a natural want in the human mind in its present stage of development. The steady increase in the members of such Societies is mostly the offspring of the latter half of the present century, which shows that this want is becoming more keenly felt as time goes on. Of 63 Societies, more or less kindred in their aims to yours, scattered throughout the provinces of the British Isles, which are mentioned in the last report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science as “Corresponding Societies ” of the Association, 48 were founded in the second half of the century, only 15 in the first half, and not one goes back to an earlier period. Societies for the study of natural history are thus a growth of our own age, and a sign of its intellectual advance. But it is not of the Society generally that I am to speak to you. I have been privileged to say a few words upon one special feature belonging to it. At the foundation of the Society it was stated that one of the methods by which it proposed to carry on the practical study of natural science was by “ the formation of a museum.” It is to the value of museums especially as a means of education that I beg to be allowed to draw your attention. Of the general value of museums, using the word in its widest sense, as collections of works of art and of nature, in the intellectual advance of mankind there can be no question. How could art make any progress, how could it even exist, if its productions were destroyed as soon as they were created ; if there were no museums, public or private, in which they could be preserved and made available to mankind now and hereafter ? How could science be studied without ready access to the materials lxxxii PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. . upon which knowledge is built up ? In many branches of science, especially those commonly called natural history, the progress is mainly commensurate with the abundance and accessibility of such materials. Though the first duty of museums is, without question, to preserve the materials upon which the history of mankind and the knowledge of science is based, any one acquainted with the numerous succession of essays, addresses, lectures, and papers which constitute the museum literature of the last thirty years must recognise the gradual development of the conception that the museum of the future is to have for its complete ideal, not only the simple preservation of the objects contained in it, but also their arrangement in such a man¬ ner as to provide for the instruction of those who visit it. The value of a museum will be tested, not only by its contents, but by the treat¬ ment of those contents as a means of advancing knowledge. The first recorded institution which bore the name of museum, meaning a temple or haunt of the Muses, was that founded by Ptolemy Soter, at Alexandria, about 300 b.c. ; but that was not a museum in our sense of the word, but rather, in accordance with its etymo¬ logy, a place appropriated to the cultivation of learning, which was frequented by a Society or Academy of learned men devoting them¬ selves to philosophical studies and the pursuit of knowledge. Passing over the slight indications left of the existence of collections at all resembling our modern museums among the ancients, we find with the revival of learning in the middle ages that the collecting instinct, inborn in so many persons of various nations and periods of history, but so long in abeyance, sprang into existence with considerable vigour, and a museum, now meaning a collection of miscellaneous objects, as well as natural curiosities, often associated with a gallery of sculpture and painting, became a fashionable appendage to the establishment of many wealthy persons of superior culture. All the earliest collections comparable to what we call museums were formed by and maintained at the expense of private individuals ; sometimes by physicians, whose studies naturally led them to a taste for biological science ; often by great merchant princes, whose trading connections afforded opportunities for bringing together things that were con¬ sidered curious from foreign lands ; or by ruling monarchs in their pri¬ vate capacity. In every case they were maintained mainly for the gratification of the possessor or his personal friends, and were rarely, if ever, associated with any systematic teaching or public benefit. In England the earliest important collectors of miscellaneous objects were the two John Tradescants, father and son, the latter of whom published in 1656 a little work called “Museum Tradescan- itanum ; or a Collection of Rarities preserved at South Lambeth, near London.” The wonderful variety and incongruous juxtaposition of the objects contained in that collection make the catalogue very amusing reading. Upon the association of individuals together into Societies to promote the advancement of knowledge, these bodies in their corporate capacity frequently made the formation of a museum part of their function. The earliest instance is that of the Royal Society in Crane Court, of which an illustrated catalogue was published by Dr. Grew, in 1681. The idea that the maintenance of a museum is a PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, lxxxiii portion of the public duty of the State or of any municipal body had, however, nowhere entered into the mind of man at the beginning of the last century. Even the great teaching bodies, the Universities (whose museums are now, next to the National ones, the most important in the country), were slow in acquiring collections, but it must be re¬ membered that the subjects considered most essential to the education they then professed to give were not those which needed illustration from the objects which could be brought together in a museum. Notwithstanding the multiplication of public museums during the present century, and the resources and advantages which many of them possess, so much greater than those which private collectors can com¬ mand, the spirit of accumulation in individuals has happily not passed away, although it is usually directed into rather different channels than formerly. The general museum and miscellaneous collections of old times are now left to Governments and Institutions which afford greater guarantee of their permanence and public utility, while admir¬ able service is done to science by those private persons with leisure and means who, devoting themselves to some special subject, amass the materials by which its study can be prosecuted in detail, either by themselves, or by those whom they know to be qualified to do so ; which collections, if they fulfil their most appropriate destiny, ulti¬ mately become incorporated, by gift or purchase, in one or other of the public museums, and then serve as permanent factors in the education of the nation, or rather of the world. The great national State-supported museums which now exist in every civilised country have certain definite purposes in view, and methods of management, which it is quite unnecessary to discuss now. No provincial or local institution is able to enter into com¬ petition with them, especially in the means they can or ought to supply of advancing detailed knowledge by exhaustive collections in every subject. To the extent of such an institution as the British Museum there ought to be no limits but those imposed by Nature herself. In the case of all other museums, large or small, belonging either to a town, institution, society, or school, the first considera¬ tion in establishing it is, that it should have some definite and limited object or purpose to fulfil, and the next is, that means should be forthcoming, not only to establish it, but also to maintain it in a suitable manner to fulfil that purpose. Some persons are enthusi¬ astic enough to think that a museum is in itself so good an object that they have only to provide a building and cases, and a certain number of specimens, no matter exactly what, to fill them, and then the thing is done, whereas in truth the work is then only begun. What a museum really depends upon for its success and usefulness is not its building, nor its cases, nor even its specimens, but its curator. He and his staff are the life and soul of the institution, upon whom its whole value depends ; and yet in many — I may say in most of our museums— they are the last to be thought of. You might as well build a church and expect it to perform the duties required of it with¬ out a minister, or a school without a schoolmaster, or a garden with¬ out a gardener, as to build a museum and not provide a competent staff to take care of it. And yet how often is that done. I am sorry lxxxiv PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. to say that I know many sad instances, some in towns not far from here. Valuable specimens not unfrequently find their way into museums thus managed. Their public-spirited owners fondly imagine that they will be preserved and made of use to the world if once given to such an institution. Their fate is, unfortunately, far otherwise. Dirty, neglected, without labels, their identity lost, they are often finally devoured by insects or cleared away to make room on the crowded shelves for the new donation of some fresh patron of the institution. It would be far better that such museums should never be founded. They are traps into which precious, sometimes priceless objects fall, only to be destroyed ; and what is worse still, they bring discredit on all similar institutions, and hinder instead of advancing the recog¬ nition of the value of museums as agents in the great educational movement of the age. A museum is like a living organism — it requires continual and tender care. It must grow or it will perish, and the labour of maintaining it in a state of vitality is not yet by any means fully realised or provided for in our great national establish¬ ments or in our smaller local institutions. As Professor Brown Goode, the Director of the United States National Museum, in an admirable essay on “The Museums of the Future,” says — “One thing should be kept prominently in mind by any organisation which intends to found and maintain a museum, that the work will never be finished, that, when the collections cease to grow, they begin to decay. A finished museum is a dead museum, and a dead museum is a useless museum.” To return to what I said is the first consideration in founding a museum — a definite object or purpose to fulfil. What, in such a city as Perth, should be the object? That question has, I am most happy to find, been already very fully and carefully considered by those who have hitherto had the management of the Institution, and they have answered it in precisely the way that will be most conducive to its value. Instead of a general miscellaneous collection of all kinds of “ curiosities,” thrown indiscriminately together, which constituted the old-fashioned country museums, you have resolved to confine your endeavours to two distinct departments, and two only, resolutely refusing to mix these together, or to destroy the value of either by introducing into them specimens which, however precious or interesting in themselves, would detract from, or interfere with, the special lessons to be derived from either of these two series. You are most fortunate that, thanks to the energy of your President, Mr. Henry Coates, and the munificence of some of your citizens — among whom I may mention our excellent friend Sir Robert Pullar, — you are in possession of two distinct rooms, admirably adapted for their purpose, in which each of these two series can be contained, without any clashing with each other. The one is a local collection, in which the natural history, the various animals, the wild flowers, the fossils, and the minerals of a certain definite area, of which Perth is the centre, are so exhibited, arranged, and named that any one can identify every creature and plant he may chance to meet with in his walks. You had only to fix your boundary, and then the object became absolutely definite and limited. Everything not occurring in PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxXXV a state of nature within that boundary will be rigorously excluded. You have already an admirable beginning for such a collection, thanks to the exertions of many of your members, among whom I cannot refrain from mentioning my old and valued friend Colonel Drummond-Hay, who, as you all know, has for many years made the perfection of the collection of Tayside birds one of the principal objects of his life. A moderate amount of curatorial work continu¬ ously applied as new specimens come in— for it will be a long time before the natural history even of this limited region is exhausted in all its aspects — will make that collection one of deep interest to all intelligent dwellers in the district, and a model to be followed in other provincial museums. But natural history in its various branches is now becoming a subject of general education. There is a large class of persons who will in all probability, year by year, as time goes on, bear a greater relative proportion to the general population of the country, persons who, without having the time, the opportunities, or the ability to make a profound study of any branch of science, yet take a general interest in its progress, and wish to possess some knowledge of the world around them and of the principal facts ascertained with regard to it, or at least some portions of it. For such persons museums might be, when well organised and arranged, of benefit to a degree that can scarcely be realised at present. For all such, and for any systematic teaching of either zoology, botany, or geology, although the local collection may be of some help, it is by no means sufficient. The animals, plants, or minerals of one district, especially of a district which, owing to our climate, cannot be considered an especially favoured one in its fauna or its flora, are quite inadequate to give a general and consistent idea of the richness and variety of the natural productions of the world in which we live. For that purpose we must have another collection, the contents of which are taken from all available sources. That is the collection contained in the second room, and it is the one upon which the skill, the knowledge, the judgment, and the capacity of the museum curator will be exercised to the utmost. Instead of welcoming every addition if originating within the prescribed limits, as in the case of the former series, it will be one of his principal duties sternly to refuse everything that does not distinctly claim a definite place in the system he has adopted. The general plan of the series must first be determined on, nothing being admitted that does not fall in with it, and rigidly kept to. The number of specimens must be strictly limited, according to the nature of the subject to be illustrated and the space available. None must be placed too high or too low for ready examination. There must be no crowding of specimens one behind the other, every one must be perfectly and distinctly seen, and with a clear space round it. Imagine a picture gallery with half the pictures on the walls partially or entirely concealed by others hung in front of them. The idea seems preposterous, and yet that is still the approved arrangement of specimens in most public museums. If an object is worth putting into a gallery at all it is worth such a position as will enable it to be seen. Every specimen exhibited should be good of its kind, and all H lxxxvi PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. available skill and care should be spent upon its preservation, and upon rendering it capable of teaching the lesson it is intended to convey. Every specimen should have its definite purpose, and no absolute duplicate should on any account be admitted. Above all, the pur¬ pose for which each specimen is exhibited, and the main lesson to be derived from it must be distinctly indicated by the labels affixed, both as headings of the various divisions of the series and to the individual specimens. The excellent saying of Mr. Brown Goode can not be too often repeated — “An efficient educational museum may be described as a collection of instructive labels, each illustrated by a well-selected specimen.” The Perth Museum is, as far as the building is concerned, admir¬ able. The general arrangement is all that could be desired. The collections that are already contained in it constitute an excellent nucleus. Having spent so much money and so much labour upon bringing it to its present condition, are you prepared to maintain it ? Recollect what I have said about a museum requiring watchful and incessant care. Not only must the specimens contained in it already, all more or less perishable in their nature, be continually looked to, cleaned, and renewed when necessary, but fresh ones must be added to make the different series complete, and they must often be re¬ arranged and re-named to keep pace with the continuous advance of scientific knowledge. An educational museum cannot stand still, or it ceases to be of any value. It will have to keep abreast of the rapidly flowing stream of knowledge. Now, that can not be done without continual expenditure. If you are to have a museum which is to fulfil its highest purpose, and to be an example to others of the kind throughout the kingdom, as I hope is your ambition, you must face that question. The main want is of course, the personal atten¬ tion of competent persons to act as curators, a want at present, I am sorry to say, nowhere sufficiently provided for in museums. Voluntary assistance is, no doubt, often valuable, and you have had splendid examples of what it can do, but it can never be depended upon for any long continuance. Death, or removals, flagging of zeal, and other causes tell severely in the long run against that resource. You must have a permanent paid curator ; in fact, if the Museum is to assume any important position, curators with special knowledge of various departments will be required. Museums will never be what they ought, or do all that might legitimately be expected of them, until the curators’ profession is properly recognised and properly remunerated. Now I come to my last point. How is the permanence of a museum like this to be secured ? As I said in an early part of my address, museums were once all the private property of individuals. Then Associations or Societies of individuals took them up. Now it is being gradually recognised that it is the duty of Governments and Municipalities to maintain them. Nearly all the London Scientific Societies formerly possessed museums, but as the collections grew — as was their natural tendency — the expense of keeping them up became a burden, and they have been gradually transferred to Government or other institutions. The Royal Society, as mentioned before, once PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. lxXXvii had its museum, and so also had the Zoological and Anthropological Societies. These museums have all been disposed of. It is at this moment a serious consideration with the Geological Society whether they are a fitting body to possess a collection, or whether they should hand the valuable one they own over to the National Museum. The marvellous spread of State-supported and rate-supported libraries, which has taken place during the last few years, appears to be only the prelude to museums maintained in the same way. The underlying idea of a library and a museum is precisely the same. They are both instruments of intellectual culture, the one as much as the other. You have that illustrated on a magnificent scale in the great National Library and Museum in London. Unfortunately, reminiscences of the old-fashioned country museums have caused a prejudice against such institutions. Now, however, an orderly, well-arranged, and well- labelled museum will soon be acknowledged as a necessity in any well-considered scheme of educational progress. The museum and library will go hand in hand as necessary complements to each other in the advancement of science and art and intellectual development generally. A book without illustrations is of comparatively little value in teaching many of the most important subjects now comprised in general education. A museum should be a book, or rather library of books, illustrated not by pictures only, but by agtual specimens of the objects spoken of. The great principle of expending public money upon purposes of education, though a comparatively new one, is now conceded upon all sides. The cost of supporting a few really efficient museums would be a mere trifle compared with the hundreds of thousands spent upon far less efficient modes of educating and elevating the people. As a stranger I must be careful not to interfere in any way with the government of your ancient city, and of the pecuniary resources belonging to it, or appear to dictate to those who are entrusted with their management, but I earnestly commend to their consideration the great benefits they may confer on education by assisting to guarantee the stability of this institution, especially if they can do it without in any way diminishing the enthusiasm or the continued support of those who by their noble voluntary efforts have brought it into the condition which now enables me to declare it open to the public. Colonel Drummond Hay said it was with very great pleasure that he had to rise to move a vote of thanks for the able address which they had heard. It was one which every member present would take very much to heart. It had been pointed out what a Museum really ought to be, how it should be conducted, and how the expenses should be met so that its advantages might be furthered. All these things were of great value. They were grateful to Sir William Flower for his kindness in having come down all the way from London to give them that address and open their Museum. He believed that that address would prove of great value, not only to the members of the Society, but to many throughout the county, and would lead them to support the Museum in a way which hitherto they had not done. There were many in the county who might do more, but who, not having had the advantages of the Museum brought before them, had lxxxviii PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. not thought about it. When they read the address in the papers, he believed many would come forward and give them specimens. The Chairman, in conveying the thanks of the meeting to Sir William Flower, said he had been asked by the Council of the Society to hand him a small memento of the occasion — namely, a copy of a book lately published by the Society on the Natural History of the Banks of the Tay. In doing so, he informed Sir William that the book was not only written by members of the Society, but that it was printed and bound in Perth by members, and that the illustrations were also the work of members. Sir William Flower briefly acknowledged the compliment, stating that he would treasure the work very much as a recollection of that day’s proceedings, and also thanking the members of the Society for having recently elected him as an honorary member. That year he had been rather fortunate in that kind of recognition. He had been made a Doctor of two Universities — Oxford and Utrecht — and a member of an Academy of Science in France, but he should always value very highly their kindness in electing him a member of their Society. On the motion of ex-Dean of Guild M ‘Arthur, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. James Morison, the Treasurer of the Museum Fund, for his services. Mr. Henry Coates said that he had been asked by the Council to present Sir Robert Pullar with a copy of the same work as that pre¬ sented to Sir Wm. Flower, in recognition of that gentleman’s kindness to the Society. When it was found that the cost of the extension was to be more than they expected, Sir Robert Pullar very gener¬ ously doubled the large subscription which he had already given, and in many other ways he had encouraged and helped them with the work. Sir Robert Pullar briefly acknowledged the gift. He said it was a long time since he began to take an interest in the Society, and its importance had been more impressed upon his mind that day by Sir William Flower’s admirable address than by anything he had listened to before. He trusted that the citizens generally and the inhabitants of Perthshire would take that admirable lesson to heart. He observed that a number of those in charge of education in the city and county were present, and had been listening most attentively. Sir Robert concluded by proposing a hearty vote of thanks to the President. They all knew, he said, how hard he had worked for the Society, and how ably he had filled the place of their late President. They were very pleased to have Mr. Coates doing the admirable work he had done, and every one of them would try to help him on in his work, which, he believed, would be of enormous benefit, especially to the rising generation. Mr. Coates briefly returned thanks, and at the close an opportunity was afforded to those present of inspecting the new Museum and its contents. The members of the Council, along with Sir William Flower and some of the other guests, were afterwards photographed in a group in front of the Museum Building, in Tay Street. PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, lxxxix The gifts to Sir William Flower and Sir Robert Pullar were beautifully bound, and bore a suitable inscription. That on Sir Robert Pullar’s was — “Presented to Sir Robert Pullar, F.R.S.E., by the Council of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, on the occasion of opening of new Museum. — Perth, November 25th, 1895.” DINNER IN THE CITY HALL. At five o’clock Sir Robert and Lady Pullar entertained from two to three hundred guests to dinner in the City Hall. The front of the gallery was beautifully draped with coloured cloths, and the tables were tastefully decorated with hothouse plants and flowers. There were two platforms, one at each end of the hall. Sir Robert Pullar presided at the one and Mr. Rufus D. Pullar at the other. The guests included the subscribers to the Muesum Fund ; the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and members of Town Council; members of School Board ; delegates of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies and leading Naturalists from different parts of the country. Among those present were : — Lady Pullar, Lady Glen-Coats, Paisley ; Mrs. Coates, Mrs. Dewar, Mrs. A. E. Pullar, Mrs. Tait, Mrs. MacLeish, Mrs. Roy, Miss Coates, Mrs. Waymouth Reid, Dundee ; Mrs. Sang, Kirkcaldy ; Mrs. A. S. Reid, Glenalmond ; Miss Taylor, Cardross ; Mrs. Macnab, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. M ‘Neill, Miss Macdonald, Miss M. G. Dickson, Miss M. Thomas, Miss Morison, Miss Pitcaithly, Miss Forbes, and Miss Raffan ; Sir William H. Flower, Sir Thomas Glen-Coats, Bart. ; Sir Robert Menzies, Bart. ; Mr. Robert Wallace, Q.C., M.P. ; Mr. C. S. Parker, Lord Provost Dewar, Mr. Andrew Coates of Pitcullen, Mr. James F. Pullar of Rosebank, Mr. Atholl Macgregor of Eastwood; Mr. John Bett, Dalguise ; Mr. H. M. Drummond Hay, jun., the Rev. x4. Fleming, Sheriff Grahame, Mr. A. E. Pullar, Mr. H. S. Pullar, Mr. Henry Coates, Mr. James Coates; Dr. Thomson, Perth Academy; Mr. W. MacLeish, Town Clerk; Colonel Stirling of Gargunnock, Professor Kuenen, Colonel Duthie of Row ; Professsor D’Arcy Thompson, Professor Waymouth Reid, and Professor Steggall, Dundee; Mr. James Durham, Newport; Professor Geddes, Edinburgh; Mr. Frank W. Young, Dundee; Mr. James Shepherd, Burntisland ; Mr. Alexander Hutton, Dundee ; Mr. R. N. Kerr, Dundee ; Dr. Gunning, Montrose ; Mr. David Storrar, Kirkcaldy ; Mr. W. D. Sang, Kirkcaldy ; Mr. A. S. Reid, Glenalmond ; Dr. Robertson, Errol ; Dr. Robertson, Murthly ; the Rev. A. B. Morris, Edinburgh ; ex-Bailie Robertson, Dundee ; Mr. Robert Smith, Dundee ; Mr. W. T. Caiman, Dundee ; Dr. Laing, Dundee; Mr. James Brebner, Dundee; Mr. Frank W. Michie, Dundee ; Dr. T. F. Dewar, Arbroath ; the Rev. F. Smith, Dun¬ blane ; Mr. J. W. Munro, Aberdeen ; Mr. J. Maclauchlan, Dundee ; Mr. A. P. Stevenson, Dundee ; Dr. Urquhart ; the Rev. W. Tait, St. Madoes; Col. Campbell, Mr. Geo. A. Mackenzie; Mr. John Thomas, Sheriff-Clerk; Mr. Robert Morison, accountant; ex-Bailie M ‘Neill ; Mr. R. Brown, R.N. ; ex-Provost Macdonald, ex-Provost Martin, ex-Provost Whittet, Mr. Frank H. White, Dr. Graham ; Mr. W. C. Leng, Dundee; Mr. John Young, C.E. ; Mr. G. P. K. Young, Architect; Mr. John Macgregor, Craigie ; Dr. Robert Stirling, Mr. XC PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. James Morison; Mr. John Moncrieff; Mr. James M‘Ewen, Marshall Place; ex-Dean of Guild M ‘Arthur; ex-Bailie Macgregor; Mr. James Stewart, Dentist; Mr. Scott Moncrieff Penney, Advocate, Edinburgh; Mr. W. A. Paterson, C.E. ; Mr. Forest Frew; Mr. W. Barclay, Teacher ; the Rev. Thos. Crawford ; Mr. D. Marshall, Craigmount ; Mr. John Stewart, Dentist; Mr. John Ritchie, Solicitor; Mr. A. M. Rodger, Curator of the Museum; Mr. David S. Dow; Mr. John S. Grant, Ballinluig; Mr. James Kennedy, Ballinluig; Dr. Buist; Mr. J. Campbell; Mr. P. D. Malloch; Dr. Trotter; Mr. Robert Keay, City Chamberlain; Mr. James Macdonald, Atholl Place; Mr. David Wilson, Bank of Scotland; Mr. John A. Robertson, Solicitor; Mr. Robert Ewing ; Mr. Robert Peddie, Comely Bank ; Mr. W. A. Barclay, Savings Bank ; Captain Duncan M‘Ewen ; Mr. J. Sime, Glasgow Road ; Mr. Thomas Todd and Mr. David Glass of the Co-Operative Society ; Mr. Thomas Marshall, Stanley ; the Rev. Patrick Greig, Westfield ; ex-Bailie Bridges ; Mr. Charles Law, Balbraith; ex-Bailie Chalmers; Mr. John Wood, jun,, Dupplin Bank; Mr. Charles Robertson, Blackfriars Street; Mr. R. M. Kippen, Solicitor; Mr. T. M. Macgregor, F.E.S. ; Mr. Harry Jameson, Solicitor ; Mr. Thomas Crawford, King’s Place ; Mr. C. Alexander, Kincarrathie Crescent ; Dr. Carruthers ; Mr. A. King, Solicitor ; Mr. D. Ferrier; Mr. John Alexander, Sharp’s Institution; Mr. Alexander Robertson, Central District School ; Mr. D. S. Lowson, Caledonian Road School ; Mr. J. Hutchison, Fechney Industrial School; Mr. W. M‘Kim, Scone; Treasurer Chalmers, Bailie Cuthbert, Bailie Wright, Bailie M‘Leish, Bailie Smart; and Coun¬ cillors M‘Nicoll, Alexander, Donnelly, Gow, R. Halley, Jackson, Keay, Keiller, M‘Kendrick, A. Reid, P. Reid, Stewart, Taylor, Wood, Anderson, Brand, Campbell, Hay-Robertson, and Dempster. While the company were assembling Mr. E. Nicol played selec¬ tions on the grand organ. After dinner apologies for absence were intimated from the Duke and Duchess of Atholl, the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane, Sir Robert and Lady Moncreiffe, Sir Patrick Keith-Murray, the Earl of Ancaster ; Sir Alexander Moncrieff, F.R.S. ; Sir John Leng, M.P. ; Sir John Kinloch, M.P. ; Mr. J. Martin White, M.P. ; Lord Provost Sir James Low, Dundee; Sir John and Lady Millais, Lord Balvaird, Sheriff Jameson, Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw, the Earl of Wharncliffe, Lord Kinnaird, Colonel Drum¬ mond Hay, Professor Knight, St. Andrews ; and others. Sir Robt. Pullar, after proposing the health of the Queen, wished all present a hearty welcome to that entertainment which had been improvised. It gave Lady Pullar and himself great pleasure to see round the tables so many known faces, and some which were not quite so well known, of those met to do honour to their friend on his left. The Chairman afterwards proposed “The Health of Sir William Flower.” After Sir William’s address that after¬ noon it was not for him to begin to state all the excellent qualities of their noble guest. His presence among them was a great honour, and they all thanked him very much for the trouble he had taken in coming down from London at this season of the year for the purpose of opening their small Museum. Personally, he felt that Sir William, PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XC1 by doing so, had done a great and excellent work for them in Perth. He would not speak of the honours that had been bestowed on Sir William, as he might not like that done in his presence, but he would only say that those who had not seen the new Natural History Museum in Cromwell Road in London should take good care to do so the first time they were in the metropolis. He had been pleased to hear what Sir William had said about their Museum, — that it was a model for provincial towns, — and he hoped they should take care that it continued to be a model. He thought no better educational work was being done in the city. While calling on Sir William at the great Museum he was glad to see, among other visitors, small sections of school children brought by their teachers to make some studies in the Museum. He should like to see the same going on in Perth. In his school days it would have been an immense relief to get off, for an afternoon especially, and to be taken to such a place as the Perthshire Museum of Natural Science. They were honoured that night with the presence of the Lord Provost, Magistrates, and Town Council of Perth, of the ex-Lord Provosts, of the members of the School Board and other educational institutions, the headmasters of the various schools in Perth, and a large number of scientists from University College, Dundee, and from the North, South, East, and West. All had gathered together to do honour to their friend Sir William Flower. They gave him a very hearty welcome, and wished him long life and prosperity. Sir William Flower, in the course of his reply, said that several honours had been paid to him that year, but that function crowned all. He had never before had a banquet given in his honour. It very rarely happened to any one to have his health proposed in such terms — far too glowing terms ; and his only consolation was that it was not himself personally they were honouring by that banquet, but the cause of which he was a very humble representative — the cause of the progress of museums. He had always been a museum man. He could hardly remember the time when he was not a curator of a museum. First it began in a small box, then it was transferred to a drawer, then to a chest of drawers, and finally to a small room in his father’s house. He had in his possession a catalogue of the museum which he made when nine years old. At that time stuffing birds, collecting insects and various other things, led him on by degrees to take an interest in natural history in various ways ; and, as there were very few openings in the museum business, he took the profession that seemed to be nearest it, and was brought up in the medical profession. Before he had been much more than a year as a student at the Middlesex Hospital he was appointed Curator in the Hospital Museum, where he spent nearly as much of his time as at his medical studies. After that he got drawn more and more away from museum work into the practice of his profession, and served in the army during the Crimean War. He returned home when he was about 30 years of age. He secured an appointment at the Royal College of Surgeons. If he had been a flourishing London surgeon he would not have had such an honour done him that day. He worked for the College of Surgeons for 22 years, and XC11 PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. that led ultimately to the higher appointment, where he had greater scope for museum work. Being devoted to museums, he had always thought it not only his duty to work in the museums with which he was immediately associated, but to spread as far as he could an interest in the subject elsewhere in the country. He considered himself a sort of museum missionary. He saw what was now be¬ ginning to be seen generally, that museums might be one of the greatest means of educating the people of the country that they possessed. He had watched the Perth Museum with interest. Ten years ago he had been brought into it by Colonel Drummond Hay. Last year he again saw it, and he thought from what he had seen that day that they were starting a Museum on what appeared to him to be right principles. He knew a great many other museums on which they might very truly inscribe the motto, “ Rubbish may be shot here.” These were not the sort of museums he advocated, but, unfortunately, there were many such. He believed that the people of Perth were determined to make their Museum a real educational Museum. It was not done yet ; it was not perfect. No Museum was perfect, but the people of Perth wished to make their Museum what it ought to be. They must face the question of expense. They must have a curatorial staff, and must pay them a good fair rate for their knowledge, experience, and skill. As far as he could see at present, they were fortunate in having got a very good curator to support them. He hoped they would pay him sufficient to prevent his going anywhere else, and that they would perhaps add to the number of his assistants. He did not think they could entirely depend on voluntary contributions, even in the Perthshire Society, admirable as it was. They had done an immense deal already, but many museums were started in that way, and, owing to deaths, removals, and so forth of the original starters, fell away. When once they saw how valuable museums could be made as a means of education, he did not think the people would grudge paying for them. Sir William Flower then referred to the grant of ^400 per annum which had been recently made to Owen’s College by the Corporation of Manchester, and expressed the hope that something of the kind would be done in Perth. He did not venture to dictate. He did not think that the museum should be handed over entirely to the Corporation. The Society had done a most admirable work, and ought to continue as much as possible by voluntary contributions ; but if these were supplemented to a small extent, and if the municipality took some little interest in the Museum, they would secure a future for it which would not only be an excellent thing for Perth, but for all Scotland and the British Isles, because it would be seen what could be done in making an educational museum by the union of voluntary effort, with a little aid from those in charge of the education of the town. Mr. R. Wallace, M.P., in proposing “ The Lord Provost, Magis¬ trates, and Town Council,” commended the Museum to their support. They had, he said, done much for the education of the city through the public library and through the educational establish¬ ments they gave so much attention to. But they wanted something more, and after Sir William Flower’s speech he had no doubt the Interior of Museum. PROCEEDINGS— PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XC111 authorities would take that benevolent interest in the Museum he so strongly advised them to adopt. Lord Provost Dewar, in his reply, said he was not to indicate his own opinion on that subject. He had towards it, as towards every subject that came before him, a perfectly open mind until it came up for discussion and decision, and it would then get a very fair and friendly reception. He thought that the success of the Museum had been enormously forwarded by the wise words of Sir William Flower, and he was sure the municipality would not disregard his warning and advice. The other toasts were “The School Board,” proposed by Mr. C. S. Parker, and replied to by the Rev. Archibald Fleming ; “ The East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies,” proposed by Professor Steggall, and replied to by Mr. Durham ; “The Perthshire Society of Natural Science,” proposed by Sir William H. Flower, and responded to by Mr. Henry Coates ; “ Our Benefactors,” by Mr. H. M. Drummond Hay ; “ Kindred Societies,” by Colonel Campbell, replied to by Dr. Urquhart ; and “ Sir Robert Pullar,” by Mr. Atholl Macgregor. CONVERSAZIONE. In the evening a most successful Conversazione was held in the Society’s Rooms and adjoining halls, at which about 600 members and guests were present. Short Lectures, illustrated with lime-light views, were delivered in the Baptist Church, by Prof. D’Arcy W. Thompson, M.A., F. R.S.E., University College, Dundee, on “Bird and Beast in Antiquity”; and by Prof. E. Waymouth Reid, B.A., M.B., University College, Dundee, on “The Mysteries of Beauty.” Lord Provost Dewar acted as Chairman at the former and Sir William Flower at the latter. The Working Boys and Girls’ Hall was furnished as a Drawing-Room for tea, music, and promenade. The chief centre of attraction was the new Museum, which was visited by large numbers for the first time, and greatly admired. In the Society’s Library and Lecture-Room was an Exhibition of Scientific Instruments, Ancient and Modern, under the charge of Mr. A. E. Pullar. Amongst other scientific appliances were shown the equipments of a Botanist, Entomologist, Geologist, Microscopist, &c. In the Lecture-Room was also an Exhibition of Photographs, chiefly the work of members of the Photographic Section. These were under the charge of Colonel Campbell, the Secretary of the Section. 12th December, 1895. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Cast of a Yellow Trout — from Mr. P. D. Malloch. Lepidoptera — from Mr. S. T. Ellison and Mr. XCiv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. R. Lawson. Hemiptera — from Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor, F.E.S. Photo¬ graph of Glen Turret — from Mr. W. Ellison. Framed Photograph of Group taken at Opening of Museum — from Mr. Henry Coates. Large Collections of Insects — -from Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor, F.E.S. Five large Photographs of Frozen Tay in February, 1895 — from Mr. W. Ellison. Frames for do. — from Mr. Henry Coates. Index Collection . — Geological Specimens — from Rev. W. F. Craigie. Skulls of Seals from Davis Straits — from Mr. D. Deuchars and Mr. Wm. Lamb. Halobates from South Atlantic — from Mr. Francis Buchanan White. Library. — “Comrie Earthquakes,” “Sketches of Perthshire,” “ Natural History of Insects ” — from Mr. Henry Coates. A Harp Seal was exhibited, which had been caught in Inver- gowrie Bay, and which had been purchased by the Society. The President read the following Obituary Notice of the late Mr. John Young, C.E. Gentlemen, — At the Meeting of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies, on Saturday, 30th ult., I took occasion to refer to the services which had been rendered to this Society by Mr. John Young, who was present at the Meeting, and who listened with evident interest to all that was said about the Museum, in the construction of which he had played such an important part. How little we dreamed then that within less than twenty-four hours he was to be struck down by mortal illness, and that his labours on this earth were so nearly ended ! As I mentioned at the opening of the Museum on the previous day, the ranks of those who used to meet in St. Ann’s Lane some twenty years ago are rapidly being thinned, but amongst them all there was no more kindly or genial spirit than John Young. No harsh word ever escaped his lips, and if any difficulty or unpleasantness arose in his presence it was soon chased away by some joking remark. For eleven years, from 1874 to 1885, he acted as Honorary Secretary of the Society, and although he made no pretension of being a skilled naturalist, yet no one could have been more assiduous in managing the business affairs of the Society than he was. Until recent years, when the state of his health prevented him from engaging in very active exercise, he frequently attended the Society’s Summer Excursions, where his cheery presence was always welcomed. I need hardly remind you of the interest which he always took in our Museum, or of the fact that in his professional capacity he designed the original Museum building. It is this circumstance that gives an added pathos to his sudden removal from our midst, just after seeing the triumphal completion of his work. It is worthy of remark also that his death took place within a few hours of the anniversary of the death of Dr. Buchanan White, which it was our sad duty to record at our December meeting last year. On the motion of the President, seconded by Mr. James Bridges, it was agreed that the following Resolution be recorded in the Minutes, and that a copy of the same be sent to Mr. George P. K. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. xcv Young: — “That this Meeting desires to record its sense of the loss which the Society has sustained in the death of Mr. John Young, C.E., who was one of its oldest and most devoted members, and who acted as Honorary Secretary for eleven years ; and to express its sympathy with the family of the deceased.” The following papers were read : — 1. “The Boys’ Brigade Field Club at Ballinluig.” By T. M. M‘Gregor, F.E.S. (See 'Trans ., Vol. IF, Part IIP, p. 133). 2. “Heredity: Some Fresh Evidence.” By George Valentine. 1 6th January, 1896. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Index Collection— Zoological Specimens from the U. P. Mission Station, Old Calabar — from Rev. P. A. Gordon Clark. Great Horned or Virginian Owl — from Major Chalmers, Gowanlea, Blair¬ gowrie. Arctic Plants — from Mr. Thomas Howie, Ivy Bank, New Scone. Library . — Sixteen Vols. of Botanical Works — from Mr. Thomas Howie, Ivy Bank, New Scone. Kerner’s “Natural History of Plants ” — from Sir Robert Pullar. James Dewar, St. Leonard’s Bank ; H. M. Drummond Hay, Seggieden; Hamilton Fleming, Hamilton House; John Bett, Dalguise House ; Col. Frank Stewart Sandeman, Stanley ; Rev. Dr. Bannerman, St. Leonard’s F.C. Manse; Mrs. Bannerman ; Thomas Frew, King James’ Place ; George Alexander, High Street ; David Blair, Barrack Street ; George Martin, Glasgow Road ; Mrs. Martin ; Robert Halley, Balhousie ; Miss Deas, St. Leonard’s Bank ; William Morrison, 15 Gowrie Street; Alfred Tuke, Station Hotel; Gilbert Malloch, 2 Albert Place ; Samuel Forbes, Croft House, Bridgend ; D. N. Milln, County Place; Samuel Chapman, King James’ Place; Mrs. Chapman; A. Forrester, George Street; Captain Black, Bal- gowan, and Mrs. Black, were elected Ordinary Members. A letter was read from Mr. G. P. K. Young, thanking the Society for their expression of sympathy on the death of his father, the late Mr. John Young, C.E. The President then read the following Obituary Notice of the late Col. H. M. Drummond Hay of Seggieden : — Gentlemen, — In the history of all human associations, as in each of our individual lives, death comes from time to time to remind us that nothing here is enduring. In the annals of our Society this truth has been impressed upon us with painful frequency during the XCvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. past few months. Out of three of our members who took a leading interest in the extension of the Museum, one died while the work was still in progress, another was struck down immediately after its com¬ pletion, and now the third has passed away while resting from his finished labours. Deeply as we mourn the loss of Colonel Drummond Hay from our midst, it is yet a matter for deep thankfulness that he was per¬ mitted to see the triumphal completion of his long and arduous labour of love. More than once during the progress of the work, he expressed to me his grave doubt as to whether he should live to see its accomplishment, and when at length he did see everything finished and in order, he evidently felt the keenest joy and thankfulness. When speaking of the precarious state of his health, it was evident that the brave old soldier was fully prepared for any change that might come. I will not now refer in any detail to his work as a naturalist, but merely remind you how varied his accomplishments were. Although in recent years he devoted his attention chiefly to birds, yet he had made extensive researches in several other branches of natural history. In particular, he had made a special study of the fishes both of this country and other countries which he had visited in earlier years, and his extensive series of drawings of the fishes of the Bermuda Islands form a collection of great scientific value, and also of high artistic merit. He also paid considerable attention to land and freshwater mollusca. The study of botany was always with him a source of keen delight, and he had an intimate knowledge of the flora of Perthshire, both as regards the flowering plants, and certain groups of cryptogams, particularly mosses. It is hardly necessary to remind you of what he did for our Museum. Without his labours the Museum would to-day be lacking its chief attractions, namely, the Collections of Perthshire Birds and Perthshire Nests and Eggs. Of the thousands of people who have examined these with delight during the past week, probably few have realised what an immense amount of time, labour, and thought were expended in their arrangement. As I have said already, it was a labour of love and it brought its own reward, but, never¬ theless, it was a labour which will call forth the grateful remembrance of future generations of the citizens of Perth. Colonel Drummond Hay’s connection with our Society extended over the long period of twenty-five years, during the whole of which he took an active interest in its affairs. He occupied the Presidential Chair from 1882 to 1884, and during the rest of the period he acted as Honorary Curator of the Society’s Collections. His numerous communications to the Society were always delightful to listen to, owing to the picturesque and graphic language in which the scientific details were clothed. After all, however, it was not the naturalist, but the man, that we loved, and whose loss we now mourn. To all with whom he came in contact he endeared himself by his unvarying courtesy and con¬ sideration for others. Those members who in earlier days accom¬ panied him on our field excursions, and also those who in later years PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XCV11 have worked along with him in the arrangement of the Museum, will long miss his kindly presence. On the motion of the President, seconded by Ex-Dean of Guild M ‘Arthur, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : — “ That the Society desires to record its sense of the irreparable loss which it has sustained in the death of Col. H. M. Drummond Hay of Seggieden, who for two years occupied the position of its Presi¬ dent. Colonel Drummond Hay was one of the oldest members of the Society, and during a period of more than twenty years took a warm and active interest in all its affairs. The Society would especially record with deep gratitude the invaluable services which he rendered as Honorary Curator, in the formation and extension of the Perthshire Natural History Museum. That a copy of the above resolution be sent to Mrs. Drummond Hay.” The following papers were read : — 1. “ The Geometrical Forms of Rock Crystals.” Illustrated by specimens and models. By Robert Dow, Longforgan. 2. “Notes on the Nesting of British Birds.” By Lieut. -Col. H. M. Duthie. Illustrated by lantern slides of nests photographed from nature by Mr. G. Burn Murdoch and Mr. H. C. Munro. (See Trans ., Vol. II., Part III., page 137). 13th February, 1896. JOINT MEETING OF SOCIETY WITH THE STUDENTS’ UNION. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following papers were read : — 1. “Mind in Animals.” By Dr. G. M. Robertson, Murthly. 2. “Scenery and People of Cashmere.” By Mr. J. G. Millais. This was illustrated by a large series of lime-light views photographed by the reader of the paper. 1 2th March, 1896. TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection . — Hybrid Pheasant — from The Right Hon. The Earl of Mansfield. Tree Root from a Drain Pipe XCVlli PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. — from The Most Noble The Marquis of Breadalbane. Pomerine Skua — from Miss Watson, Inchyra. Teal Duck — from the late Col. Drummond Hay. Spotted Crake and Goosander— from Mr. George Kidd, Hilltown. Specimen of Pickeringite- — from Mr. James Carr, Elgin. Index Collection. — Photograph of Contorted Rocks— from Mr. Nicholson, Carnoustie. Specimen of Manganite from Tinto Top — from Mr. Daniel Gow. Library. — “Agricultural Botany” and “A Guide to the Methods of Insect Life ” — from Mr. Henry Coates. “ A Breath from the Veldt ” — from Lady Millais. “ Indian Meteorological Records ” — from the Royal Society, Edinburgh. Miss Martin, Mount Tabor; Mrs. Buist, Atholl Crescent; Miss Buist; Geo. M‘Pherson, Rossie, Eorgandenny; Andrew M ‘Kendrick, Blackhall, Redgorton ; Rev. Harry Smith, Tibbermore Manse ; William White, Stanley ; Miss Gladys White, Annat Lodge ; Mrs. Benson, Row, Doune ; James Beveridge, Cherry bank ; and Walter Reid, Auchterarder House, were elected Ordinary Members. James Barty, 17 Castlegable; James M‘Laren, 219 High Street; David Urquhart, Muirton Place; James Morton, 37 Commercial Street ; J. K. Watson, Hillyland ; James Wylie-, 6 Union Lane ; William Wylie, 17 Commercial Street; Thomas Burnett, 2 Victoria Street; James Crerar, 20 County Place; John Munro, Charlotte Street; David Nelson, 17 Kinnoull Street ; Jas. Lindsay, 25 Strath¬ more Street; Jas. Menzies, 71 Strathmore Street; D. Macgregor, Bowerswell; John Grace, 5 Market Street; D. Thomson, 61 Strath¬ more Street; Jas. M‘Laren, Longcauseway; Thomas Smith, 19 Barossa Place; John Doig, 16 Priory Place; John Lindsay, 18 Scott Street; Andrew Duncan, 15 Bridge Lane; John M‘Dougall, 6 Brown Street; John M‘Rostie, 3 Cherry Lane; Fred. Hart, 75 Leonard Street; and James Drury, Craigie Place, were, on the recommendation of the Council, elected Associated Members. A letter was read from Mrs. Drummond Hay thanking the Society for their expression of sympathy with her on the loss of her husband, the late Colonel H. M. Drummond Hay of Seggieden. A letter was read from Sir W. H. Flower expressing his thanks for the copy of the group taken on the occasion of the opening of the extended Museum. The following Annual Reports were read and adopted : — REPORT OF COUNCIL. In presenting their Twenty-Ninth Annual Report, your Council are gratified to be able to record that the work of the Society shows marked progress. During the year 6 meetings have been held, at which 7 papers were read, in addition to the usual Annual and Opening Addresses of the President. PROCEEDINGS— PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XC1X The average attendance at the meetings has considerably im¬ proved, being 49. The greatest number at one meeting was about 100, on 13th February, 1896, and the least 24, on 14th November, 1895. Sixty-four new ordinary members have been added to the roll during the year, making a total membership of 369, including 2 honorary, 11 corresponding, and 26 associate members and 5 associates. During the summer months 8 excursions were held, at all ot which the attendances were very gratifying. The Council take this opportunity of thanking those proprietors and tenants who kindly granted the necessary permission for the carrying out of some of these. A very successful Excursion was again held jointly with the Scottish Natural History Society of Edinburgh, this time to Burnt¬ island and Kinghorn, and it was a great pleasure to meet so many enthusiastic Naturalists from this kindred Society. As the desire for another joint Excursion has again been expressed by the Scottish Natural History Society, your Council hope to be able to arrange one for the coming summer. The Museum was publicly opened by Sir Wm. H. Flower, K.C.B., D.C.L., &c., on 29th November, and has since been visited by large numbers, many of whom, your Council are glad to think, are not idle spectators, but who seem to study the specimens and labels carefully and take a considerable interest in the general arrangement. As a large number of working men were frequent visitors, several meetings were arranged with them, at which various gentlemen have explained the arrangement of the Museum and given lectures on different branches of Science, and your Council have thought it advisable to reinstate the old class of Associate Membership, so as to afford facilities to any desirous of joining the Society, to whom the annual ordinary subscription was somewhat of a burden, on easier terms, viz., 3/- per annum, and the Council hope to see this class of membership largely taken advantage of by working men and the elder scholars in some of the schools. Already 26 Associate Members have been enrolled. Your Council have again to mourn the loss of several who have done much for the Society in the past. Chief among these was Col. H. M. Drummond Hay of Seggieden, who was long a member of the Society and one of its most ardent supporters and workers, and who, during the last few years, devoted much of his time to the arrangement of the Birds, Nests, and Eggs in the Museum, which are such an attractive feature, and which he was happily spared to complete. The Society also laments the loss of Mr. John Young, C.E., who was for a period of 11 years, from 1874 to 1885, the Honorary Secretary. The use of the Lecture-Room has again been granted, as in former years, to various societies whose aims and objects are of an educational nature, and whose operations are for the general welfare of the community. REPORT OF TREASURER. ( See Balance-Sheet , page cxv. ) C PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. REPORT OF CURATOR. I have the honour to submit to you the following report : — The work of this my first year in your Museum has been of an interesting and varied kind. Since my appointment, a little over a year ago, your Museum has been arranged and formally opened by one who, we are proud to know, takes an interest in our Society — I refer to Sir Wm. Flower, of the British Museum, who found time to come and encourage us, gave us good advice for our future develop¬ ment, and expressed not a little satisfaction with our past per¬ formance. I am sure we are all very grateful to him for the trouble he took. In the Perthshire, or Local, Museum we have now got things into shape, and although there remains a great deal yet to be done, it is but a question of time and means. The Geological Department, which is under the superintendence of our President, has now assumed somewhat the lines upon which it is intended to proceed. The principal gift to this department for the year consists of a series of Highland Metamorphic Rocks from the Lawers district, sent in by Mr. P. Macnair. Among other noteworthy additions we have received a number of Clay Concretions from the Meigle Brick and Tile Works, from Mr. Henderson, and a series of Old Red Sandstone Fossils from Mr. James Reid of Blairgowrie. The Botanical Department has taken a more practical shape. Messrs. Wm. Barclay, R. H. Meldrum, and Jas. Coates have laboured to make the collections now placed along the cases of the south wall as complete and interesting as space permitted. The mosses under Mr. Meldrum’s charge are shown on tablets in the west table case, all the species being labeled with their localities as well as names. We are in hopes before long to illustrate this section with drawings, showing the fruiting of all the families, and also to illustrate the typical life histories of the order. In the herbarium is now arranged, in a series of boxes, the collection of mosses of the county. The Ferns and Flowering Plants have been arranged respectively in the south table cases and wall case. As far as possible we have endeavoured to show the most characteristic forms to be met with in the county, while the rarer species may be examined in the herbarium. We have tried to make the exhibited plants as instructive as possible. There is attached to each species the specific name, the common name, and the name of the collector and locality. And, further, each family is illustrated with coloured drawings to show the plan, section, and organs of the flower in some well-marked type. These latter are a work which, when completed, will add very materially to the value of the collection for teaching purposes. For this task the Society is indebted to Miss M. G. Dickson, who has expended a large amount of time and care in their execution. On the west wall we have, in what will one day be a very hand¬ some case, the Perthshire Trees. The work of illustrating the life histories of the trees by preparations of fruit, seed, and seedlings is being carried on by Mr. A. Brown ; while for the photographs, which show the trees in summer and winter foliage, we are indebted to a PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. d number of our photographic members, but chiefly to Messrs. Wm. Ellison, A. Nicol, R. Kidston, and H. Coates. On the north wall are the beginnings of our Invertebrate Collec¬ tions, but only two cases are as yet complete, namely, the Hemiptera, by Mr. T. M. M ‘Gregor, and the Eepidoptera, the work of Mr. S. T. Ellison. The Society is also much indebted to the former for his very handsome donation of Perthshire Hemiptera. I am in hope that before many weeks elapse we shall add to these cases our Coleoptera, after which I trust to begin the Spiders, Neuroptera, and Hymenoptera. The Mollusca, as far as the conchology of the district goes, is illustrated fully in a desk case, and is the work of Mr. H. Coates. I hope to be in a position before long to show also some of the forms as preparations, to illustrate their conformation and anatomy. And now to pass to the ground floor of the Museum. Here the Birds have been arranged according to Dresser’s classification ; they are almost complete for the county as regards species, but a number require to be represented by the different sexes and by fledglings ; and, further, I wish to arrange alongside each family a typical skeleton. This would add very materially to their scientific and educational value. J I would just like to add, in speaking of these cases, that I have twice had occasion to remove birds because of mould ; this is, however, nothing to be alarmed about — in fact, to be expected, as the cases are new, and are bound to give out a certain amount of damp. A little care and watching is all that is necessary in order to prevent it spreading. In the next cases we possess an almost complete series of nests and of the eggs of birds breeding in the county. As for the exceptions, we have had their stands set out with labels, in order that gamekeepers and other ornithological friends may see our wants, and already quite a number of county neighbours have offered to keep a look-out in order to provide us with the specimens which are now conspicuous by their absence. Many and great are the changes since last year, and I cannot submit this, my first Official Report, without reference to one whose place, in relation to our Museum, no one who comes after him can fill. Most of you knew Col. Drummond Hay for a much longer period than it was my lot to know him, but you can scarcely entertain greater respect for his memory, nor feel more sorrow for his loss, than one who, for the best part of a year, served under his kindly orders, and worked under his wise and helpful directions. The additions to the Ornithological Department during the past year have been numerous and valuable. The following are a few of the more notable : — The beautiful nest and nine eggs of the Merganser, a rare bird in this county, got last spring in Black Mount by Colonel Campbell ; also, from the same donor, a Swift’s nest with two eggs — common enough, but at all times difficult to procure. A nest of the Chiff-Chaff, not a common breeding bird with us, from Mr. William White. i Cii PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. A male Smew was shot by Mr. Kelsall on the Earn, near Crieff. This bird is particularly rare here, and we were very anxious indeed to possess it, as we already had a female. The Society is much indebted for this gift to Mr. Kelsall, all the more that he is himself an ardent ornithologist and collector. Our friend, Mr. P. D. Malloch, presented to the Society a very beautiful male specimen of the Green Sandpiper, shot at Kilgraston, near the Bridge of Earn, in 1893. A Ringed Plover from the Rev. Roger Davidson, from opposite Mugdrum Island. From Miss Watson of Inchyra we received a male Pomerine Skua, and from Mr. G. Kidd we have a Spotted Crake, a very beautiful bird, and a male Goosander. The last specimen from Colonel Drummond Hay is that of a Teal Duck, with curiously interesting white markings. It has a band of white on the throat and one over each eye. To the Mammals there has not been added much that is new, but they are now exhibited in handsome cases and can be viewed to advantage. The centre case represents a very pleasant and instructive bit of Highland moor, upon which stand a stag and hind of the Red Deer, the gifts of the Marquis of Breadalbane and the Duke of Atholl. There is beside them a particularly fine specimen of the Roe Buck, presented to us by Colonel Campbell. The preparing and stuffing of the specimens for this case was intrusted to Mr. P. D. Malloch and carried out by Mr. Charles Kirk. I feel sure you will all agree that Mr. Kirk has succeeded in putting before us such an example of the taxidermist’s art as can be seen in very few provincial museums. There has lately been added, by the intervention of Prof. D’Arcy W. Thompson, the very rare and beautiful Harp Seal, Phoca Groen- Icindica. This seal, a native of the Arctic regions, is frequently to be met with on the west coast of our island, but very seldom on the east coast. It is of interest, perhaps, to mention in passing that this is the species which is procured in such vast numbers by the sealers on the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts and in the waters of Greenland. The Fishes have had numerous additions during the year, notably a number of casts, the colouring of which was done by Mr. George Muirhead: — 1 st. That of a large Salmon, re-painted. 2nd. A Yellow Trout, purchased. 3rd. A Yellow Trout, presented by Mr. Wm. Morrison. From Mr. James Stewart we had casts of the Flounder, Gray¬ ling, Stickleback, Minnow, and Perch, all of which were painted by Miss M. G. Dickson. Index Museum. — At the Meeting of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists’ Societies held last November I gave an account of what our intentions are regarding the arrangement of this room. At present it remains as set for the opening of the Museum. We are in hopes before long to get our theories put into practice. Orders have PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Clll been given to have the cases overhauled, re-painted, and made dustproof on the same principle as those in the New Museum. As soon as this is done the work of arranging will be commenced. The principal donations to the Index Department for the year are : — Hornbill (male and female), Houbard Bustard, Moose Deer, and two Indian Thrushes, from Mr. Atholl Macgregor, Eastwood. From Mr. James Stewart the following skeletons were received : — Cat, Stoat, Mole, Bat, Tortoise, Frog, Toad, Flounder. A case showing the products in the manufacture of Flour, from Dr. John White, Dundee. A case showing the products in the manufacture of Cotton, from Messrs. J. & P. Coats, Paisley. A case showing the products in the manufacture of Jute, from Messrs. Coates Bros. & Co., Perth. A Lesser Floriken from India, and a number of Invertebrate Marine Forms, from Prof. D’Arcy W. Thompson, of University College, Dundee. Since the beginning of this year the greater part of my time has been occupied in arranging the extensive collections of insects which were presented to the Society by the late Dr. Buchanan White, Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor, and others. These have been placed partly in the storage cabinets of the Old Museum and partly in cabinets recently purchased and temporarily placed in the library and lecture-room. The attendance is very satisfactory. On the day of the opening it is impossible to say how many visitors were in, but I would say that at least 3000 is a very modest estimate. On New Year’s Day alone we had fully 2500 visitors, the Museum being open from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. During New Year’s Week we had about 5000 visitors in all. Since the opening our daily average has been 32, not including children. The Museum has been open for some weeks on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. It is very gratifying to know that our average attendance on these evenings, up to date, is 116. librarian’s report. The Library has never been in a more efficient state than it is at present, the recent additions having been selected with a view to add to its interest and completeness. As is generally understood, the Library is divided into two portions. The Lending Library contains the best works of general interest in the scientific field, and includes sufficient of popular interest for even the beginners in scientific knowledge. The Reference Library, on the other hand, contains many works of great intrinsic value, but these are suited more for the specialist and the student than for the general reader. During the past year 46 different members have availed them¬ selves of the books, and T56 volumes have been issued. With the increasing membership these numbers should be largely increased, and it is hoped that the privilege of using the Library will be very Civ PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. largely taken advantage of, if not during the summer months, at least with the commencement of next winter season. Many kind donations have been made to the Library during the year, and the following donors are hereby cordially thanked : — Lady Millais, Sir Robert Pullar, Mr. H. Coates, Mr. Thomas Howie. REPORT OF EDITOR. The Editor reported that Part II. of Vol. II. of the Society’s Transactions , containing the papers on the Natural History of the Tay Valley, and also Part III. of the same volume, had been pub¬ lished during the year, and had been issued to members. The following Office-Bearers were elected : — President — Henry Coates, F.R.S.E. Vice-Presidents — Col. Campbell, Ex-Dean of Guild M‘ Arthur, Lieut.- Col. Duthie, J. Ritchie, LL.B. Secretary — S. T. Ellison. Treasurer — John Stewart. Librarian — James Coates. Editor — William Barclay. Councillors — W. A. Patterson, C.E.; Dr. Carruthers, Atholl Macgregor, James Bridges. Curator — Alexander M. Rodger. The President delivered the following Address : — Gentlemen, — Our Twenty-ninth Session, which has just come to a close, has been one of exceptional interest in the annals of the Society. This Annual Meeting finds us at a turning-point in our career. On the one hand, the enterprise which has engrossed so much of our attention during the past few years has reached a successful termination, and with that termination has come increased prosperity and activity to the Society. On the other hand, we have to look to the future and to consider how best to maintain the prestige which we have achieved. This task will be the more difficult that we have lost so many of our leaders, to whom we looked for counsel and encouragement, but this very difficulty should stimulate us to increased effort. We cannot but mourn the loss of the veterans whose presence we miss at every turn, but at the same time let us use every means to encourage our younger workers to come forward and take the place of those who have fallen. What is wanted to make a Society like ours successful is a band of leaders, each of whom is an enthusiast in his (or her) own department of re¬ search, and who will affect others with the same spirit of enthusiasm. It will perhaps be useful at this point to review the recent pro¬ gress and present position of our Society in some of its aspects. The inauguration of the New Museum has naturally occupied most of our attention during the past months. Regarding the details of the opening ceremony it is unnecessary to remind you, except to I PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. CV remark that all the arrangements made by the Council were carried out without the slightest hitch or mishap. One suggestion I might make in passing, and that is that next winter we might have another Conversazione similar to the one we had at the opening, only on a less elaborate and expensive scale. Such gatherings afford an oppor¬ tunity for friendly intercourse amongst our members, which our rather hurried monthly meetings do not give. With regard to the New Museum itself, those who have had to do with its construction and arrangement cannot but be gratified by the very favourable verdict which has been passed on it both by strangers— including Sir William Flower and other authorities on museum matters — and by our own citizens, many of whom had no idea that such a work was going on in their midst. The immense advantage of having the Perthshire collections in a room by them¬ selves, and of having each department so completely distinct from the others that the eye can take in the whole general plan at a glance, is now very obvious. The fears of the Committee regarding the overcrowding of the floor space with cases have hardly, I think, been realised. One criticism has frequently been passed, and not, I fear, without good cause, namely, that the lighting is hardly suffi¬ cient on an average winter day. It is quite true, of course, that we have had an exceptional number of dull dark days during the past winter, but still that is a contingency which must be provided for in this climate. The fault is not in the amount of window space, but in the thick coating of paint with which the glass is covered, both inside and outside, in order to protect the colours of the birds, eggs, insects, etc., from the bleaching effect of the sunlight. To remedy this it may be necessary, before next winter, to remove the paint and to provide roof-blinds, which can be drawn on sunny days. In my Opening Address at the beginning of the Winter Session I referred to the necessity which would shortly arise of finding means to provide permanently for the Curator’s salary. Since then the Duncan Trustees, seeing the difficulty in which the Council were placed, have very generously come to their aid with a grant of £60 a year for three years. For this assistance, coming as it did when our need was greatest, we are deeply grateful, more especially as we recognise in the grant an appreciation of our efforts towards the education of the community. It must not be forgotten, however, that this solution of the difficulty, however welcome, is only a partial and temporary one. For a permanent solution the Council are con¬ vinced that they must look to the Municipal authority, as indicated by Sir Wm. Flower. While on this subject, I may add that the universal approval which the Museum has met with from all classes of the community leads me to anticipate that a proposal of this nature would meet with little or no opposition. In this connection I may be allowed to quote a single sentence from Professor Brown- Goode, who is at the head of the United States National Museum at Washington, and is one of the greatest living authorities on Museum administration. In a paper on this subject, which he communicated to the Museums Association in Newcastle last summer, he concluded with the following significant words : — “ The degree of civilisation to Cvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. which any nation , city , or province has attained is best shown by the character of its public museums , and the liberality with which they are maintained .” When our own city has this test applied to her, I feel confident that she will not be found wanting. The number of visitors who have inspected the Museum since it was opened, and the interest they have shown in the exhibits, have been extremely gratifying. Particularly has this been the case on holidays and on Wednesday evenings, which are the only occasions when the bulk of the working classes are at leisure to pay it a visit. On these occasions many thousands have passed through the build¬ ing, either singly or in family groups. It is interesting to notice how different visitors are attracted by different objects. To nearly all, the birds’ nests, mounted with such marvellous skill by the late Col. Drummond Hay, are a chief source of attraction, but many seem to be drawn to what might appear to be less popular subjects, such as the fishes, plants, rocks, etc. Strangely enough, the skeletons seem to have a special fascination for the children, and this I noticed to be the case in London also, with the difference that there they are known as “ skillintons.” Possibly the same curiosity which misses no opportunity of seeing the “ wheels go round ” prompts the child to investigate the marvellous framework on which our garment of flesh is hung. Altogether, the experience of the last few months has abundantly proved what I have frequently urged, namely, that our Museum is intended not merely as a place of reference for a few initiated students, but as a place of interest, of instruction, and of innocent recreation for the whole community. Nature herself dis¬ plays her beauties and her wonders with lavish hand, and why should we, who profess to be her humble exponents, be more niggardly in our aims ? It is for this reason that we have steadfastly set our faces against making any charge for admission to the Museum, although a considerable revenue could have been derived had we done so. With regard to our Ordinary Meetings, it is a matter of satisfac¬ tion that the interest in these has been so well maintained. On one or two occasions, indeed, the attendance has been almost embarrass¬ ingly large. Complaint has been made that the amount of material provided for some of the meetings was excessive. This probably is the case, but at the same time it is very difficult for the Council in drawing up the Syllabus to know how long each paper will occupy. The difficulty might be obviated to a certain extent by adopting a suggestion which has been made by a member, namely, that the meetings should commence at a quarter before eight o’clock, so that the preliminary business might be finished by eight o’clock, when the reading of papers would begin. This would allow of more time for discussion than is possible at present. The Photographic Section, which was revived last summer through the energy of the Secretary, Col. Campbell, has had a most successful session. Now that Photography is becoming more and more linked with the exact physical sciences, it is of the more importance for us as a scientific society to keep in touch with its most recent develop¬ ments. I will only touch on one other feature of our work during the PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCONCE. CV11 past session, and that is the resuscitation of the “Associate” member¬ ship. In Perth, as in other towns, there are among the industrial classes many enthusiastic lovers of Nature who would wish to associate themselves with others of like tastes, but to whom even the moderate fees exacted by our Society bear rather too large a propor¬ tion to the weekly wage. To such students the Council were only too glad to open the door of our Society at a reduced fee of three shillings a year when the proposal wras made to them. Already three most enthusiastic special meetings have been held, when the Associate Members and their friends have been addressed on scientific subjects by some of the older workers of the Society, and after each meeting the Museum has been eagerly examined. These new members are now looking forward to the summer, when it is intended to organise some special evening Natural History rambles in the neighbourhood of the city for their benefit. SCENES IN THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE SITE OF PERTH. Leaving the practical affairs of the Society, I shall now occupy the few minutes remaining at my disposal by trying to call up before your imaginations some of the scenes to which the site of Perth has been witness in past geological times. In doing so I shall not paint any fanciful picture, but shall simply endeavour to interpret, from the present configuration of the landscape, some of the trans¬ formations which it must have undergone in past stages of the world’s history. Further, I shall only refer to those chapters in the history of which actual physical evidence may be seen in the district. There are some favoured spots on the earth’s surface, such as the Grand Canon of Colorado, where an unbroken succession of sedimentary rocks, extending through many consecutive geological ages, may be seen at one glance, but in no part of Europe is this the case. As a rule the record of the past has to be pieced together from memorials scattered over widely-separated areas. Especially is this the case in our own country, where the powers of nature have had full play in carrying away so large a proportion of the solid crust. Gaps in the record are thus created by the total destruction of whole series of rocks. Much vaster gaps, however, are probably due to the fact that for long periods our ancient Highland hills remained dry land while other parts of the Continent were submerged under oceans or vast lakes. It is impossible to say in the case of each gap to which of these two causes it should be assigned, but doubtless the latter one accounts chiefly for the fact that the great Secondary and Tertiary formations, which overspread the south and east of England, are only found fringing a fewr isolated spots on our northern coasts. With these reservations in mind we shall now take up our position at some point, say on the ridge of Moncreiffe Hill, which commands both Strathtay and Strathearn, as well as the more distant view of the north, and shall try what fragments of the story of the past the surrounding landscape can teach us. Turning first to the north our eye travels over the undulating expanse of Strathmore to where the flanks of the Grampians begin CV111 PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. to rise up, somewhat suddenly, about a dozen miles off. Their line is broken by several small glens trending down towards the plain in front, and behind them rise the blue ridges of the higher Perthshire Grampians. In the foreground of this view is the River Tay, wend¬ ing over the alluvial haughlands of which the site of Perth forms a part, and then turning sharply to the east, after sweeping round the lower end of Moncreiffe Island. Next, looking more to the east, we see the crags of Kinnoull Hill, with their dark precipitous rocks and tree-covered slopes below, and forming, with the Tay winding through the carselands, one of the loveliest bits of river scenery to be seen anywhere. Lastly, we turn to the south, and there we see the extraordinarily broad extent of flat haughland built up by the River Earn, and suggesting the idea of a lake more than of a valley floor. Beyond this plain rise the green and rounded slopes of the Ochils, which form so complete a contrast in form and tint to the range we have just seen to the north. Such is the scene which meets our eye to-day ; let us try to picture to ourselves some of the scenes which stretched themselves out while each successive feature in the present landscape began to take form. To take the oldest features first, — the Grampians on our northern horizon carry us right back, at one bound, to some of the earliest chapters in the world’s history, to an antiquity so remote that its memorials have lost almost all trace of their original form. Still we know that for ages, while these hills were being formed, a great sea rolled where we now stand, stretching probably over the greater part of northern Europe. Not very far distant, however, were the shores of some primeval land, from the waste of which sand and mud were swept down into our ocean. At one time it was pure white sand of pounded quartz that was laid down, at another time silvery flakes of mica covered the ocean floor, and again dark ooze-like mud was deposited. The conditions did not always remain the same, for sometimes the land rose, and gravel and coarse sand were scattered round its fringes. At other times it sunk to greater depths, where only the finest layers of clay were deposited. Signs of life were present in that ocean, but only in its lowest forms. In the deeper parts the flinty and limey skeletons of microscopic creatures sank to the bottom, and through countless years built up the layers of lime and silica that we now find as beds of limestone and chert ; while in the shallower parts lowly forms of sea-worms burrowed in the sand, and left the impress of their tracks to be discovered in after ages on the tops of some of our highest hills. Leaving this primeval ocean, our second scene brings us to a period much more recent, though still in the earlier chapters of geological history. The Highland hills have now emerged from the ocean in which they had their birth. Their flanks, running as at present in a pretty straight line from north-east to south-west, slope down into a wide and shallow sea, stretching away on either hand as far as the eye can reach. The hills are much vaster than at present, and their sides are furrowed by torrents which bring down sand and shingle from their slopes, the latter to be picked up along the rocky shore, while the finer material is carried by the currents PROCEEDINGS— PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. C1X right out into the centre of the basin. Life is present in this sea also, but of a much more complex order, thus showing how far we have advanced in time. Stretched along the shore, and half-covered by the sand and mud, lies a tangle of branching seaweed, among which crustaceans crawl about, while in the waters themselves swim spined and mail-clad fishes. The most remarkable feature of this landscape, however, remains to be noticed. Stretching away to the east, a succession of low conical hills rises out of the shallow sea, and from some of these, streams of molten and glowing lava flow down into the water, where they mingle with the beds of sand and gravel. Sometimes a fresh outburst takes place, and showers of volcanic dust and fragments are shot up into the air, to fall down again on the slopes of the hill and in the water beyond. Scene number three brings us very much nearer our own period. The solid features of the land have already assumed the main out¬ lines of their present form. The shallow sea of the last picture has retired, and has left in its place the sands and gravel, now the sandstones and conglomerates of Strathmore. The volcanoes have gradually died out, and have left in their place the sheets of lava and beds of volcanic ash of which the Sidlaws and Ochils are built up. None of these features are visible, however, at the time of which I am now speaking. They are there, but they are entirely hidden under a vast expanse of Arctic ice. As far as the eye can reach, nothing is to be seen but one undulating sheet of white, save in the far north, where one or two black peaks stand out like monuments to mark where the giant Grampians lie buried. The whole mass of ice is moving slowly down towards the German Ocean, and in doing so is tearing the rough features from the surface of the land with a resistless and mighty force; but on the upper surface of the ice-sheet, where we are supposed to stand, there is no indication of any motion or work of destruction. All is death-like silence and stillness. Scene number four brings us to the confines of geologic with historic — or more correctly, pre-historic — times. The ice has melted from off the hills and the lower valleys, and only in the upper valleys are glaciers still to be found. Vast accumulations of debris — the grindings of the rocks left by the ice — still cover the floors of the valleys, but are being eaten into and re-distributed by the swollen rivers that flow down from the upper glaciers. The Carse of Gowrie is filled by an estuary, or arm of the sea, whose waters stretch from the foot of Kinnoull Hill to the slopes of the Ochils, and in the midst of which Moncreiffe Hill stands out as a long peninsula. In the still and muddy waters savage men ply about in small canoes hollowed out of the trunks of trees, and watch for the herds of deer and wild cattle that come down through the forest to drink at the river. Here I will close the picture, as we have reached the period when the filling in of details leads us on to more controversial ground. I have depicted these few scenes, not in the pretence that they con¬ tain anything original, but simply to show to the uninitiated how even a slight acquaintance with the geological structure and history of one’s country seems almost to supply us with a new sense, and makes each mountain outline, each crag, nay, even each stone eloquent K CX PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. with the story of the past. Surrounded with these, the geologist never feels alone, for the greater the solitude the greater the food for reflection. One more thought and I am done. During all the ages when these transformations were taking place, extending over many millions of years, the form of energy which we call light was in operation, and yet no human eye was there to receive the impres¬ sions of its rays, no human intelligence was there to mark the mighty changes that were being wrought. For countless ages these were witnessed only by the eye of the great Architect of the universe, who was shaping and directing all. 26th March, 1896. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated Museum — Perthshire Collections. — Tree Creeper, Coal Tit, and Pochard — from Mr. James Keay, Murthly. Lamprey — from Mr. James Grant, Newburgh. Pike — from Mr. P. D. Malloch. Index Collection . — Snake from Siam — from Ex-Dean of Guild M ‘Arthur. Collection of Indian Birds — from Mr. Atholl Macgregor of Eastwood. F. Fenwick, Pitcullen Terrace; Lord Balvaird, Scone Palace; John Anderson, Star Buildings; and T. Soutar, Commercial Bank, were elected Ordinary Members. The following papers were read : — 1. “About Dragonflies,” illustrated by Limelight Views. By T. M. M ‘Gregor, F.E.S. 2. “The Manufacture of Flour.” By Mr. W. G. Anderson, Dundee, 6th April, 1896. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Index Collection. — Three Snakes — from Mr. James Wylie, Commercial Street. General Herbarium. — Fascicle of British Willows — from the Rev. E. F. Linton. library. — “Notes on Parka decipiens,” by Professor D. P. Penhallow, Montreal — from Mr. Peter Macnair. Mr. Barclay exhibited a Tree Root from a Drain Pipe, which had been sent by the Most Noble the Marquis of Breadalbane. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Cxi Allan N. Taylor, Orchard Mount, Scone ; Miss M. G. Dickson, Greenbank ; and Rev. J. T. Allan, Rock Villa, Craigie, were elected Ordinary Members. The following papers were read : — 1. “The Nesting Birds of Perthshire and the Basin of the Tay.’’ By the late Col. Drummond Hay ; read by the President. 2. “ Descriptive notes on the Birds recently presented to the Museum by Mr. Atholl Macgregor.” By Alex. M. Rodger. SUMMER SESSION, 1896. The following Excursions were arranged : — 1. May 21. — To Invermay. Conducted by Mr. W. Barclay. 2. June 6. — To Den of Pitroddie. Conducted by Mr. R. Dow. 3. June 13. — To Reekie Linn. Conducted by Miss M. Thomas. 4. June 20. — To Dunkeld. Conducted by Mr. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E. 5. June 27. — To Balvaird Castle and Abernethy. Conducted by Col. Campbell and the Rev. D. Butler, Abernethy. 6. July 18. — To Callerfountain Hill. Couducted by Mr. R. H. Meldrum. 7. July 25. — To Ben Lawers. (Jointly with the Scottish Natural History Society). 8. August 8. — To Loch Tummel. Conducted by Mr. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E. 9. August 15. — To Methven Loch. Conducted by Mr. Barclay. 10. August 22. — To Clashbennie Quarry. Conducted by Dr Robertson, Errol. 11. August 27. — To Arbroath. Conducted by Mr. A. M. Rodger. 12. September 5. — To Dunblane. Conducted by the Rev. F. Smith. Nos. 2, 4, 6, and 9 were Half-Day Excursions. CX11 PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION. 2nd August, 1895. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following Office-bearers of the Section were appointed, viz. : — President — Dr. Andrew Thomson, F.R.S.E. Secretary — Colonel Campbell. Committee — Wm, Ellison, H. Coates, Charles Kirk, Edward Nicol. The first excursion was fixed for Saturday, 24th curt., and it was agreed that it should be to Dunfermline. It was resolved to hold a series of meetings during the winter, on the fourth Thursday of each month, to exhibit work, discuss methods, and, if possible, to have lectures on some branch of Photography. 29th November, 1895. On the occasion of the Opening of the New Museum by Sir William Flower an Exhibition of Photographs belonging to members, and for the most part taken by them and their friends, was displayed in the Lecture-Room of the Society, and was much appreciated. The following members were represented, and the best thanks of the Photographic Section are due to them for having made this part of the entertainment so decided a success : — Mr. R. Kidston, Stirling, who sent some beautiful geological specimens of mico-photography ; Mr. Henry Coates, by a large and varied collection of landscapes, principally taken by himself ; Miss Macnab, by some well-executed pictures from Brittany, and also those taken at the excursions to Dunfermline and Stirling. The Blairgowrie Photographic Society showed a series of local subjects, as did also Mr. Harry Jameson and Mr. E. Nicol. Mr. Wm. Ellison contributed a magnificent collection of enlargements, principally architectural, though there were also several finely-executed landscapes. Mr. Charles Kirk likewise showed a fine series of landscapes, a photograph of Red Deer in Glenartney Forest being specially deserving of notice. Mr. Alex. M. Rodger sent some most interesting souvenirs of his Arctic experiences ; and Dr. Urquhart exhibited two beautiful photographs of genre subjects, executed by Mr. Cox, as well as an interesting print taken by the platinotype process on linen. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. CX111 19th December, 1895. Dr. Thomson, President of the Section, in the Chair. The President delivered his Opening Address on “ The Aid given by Photography to the other Sciences.” The Secretary read the following report of the Autumn Excur¬ sions : — EXCURSION TO DUNFERMLINE AND CULROSS. This excursion took place on 24th August as arranged, and, in spite of the threatening aspect of the weather, the following members and friends of members took part in it, viz. : — Mrs. Macduff, Miss M. Thomas, Miss Macnab, Miss Gall, Miss Evelyn Campbell, Messrs. W. Ellison, A. M. Rodger, Miers, Keyworth, and Col. Campbell, Mr. Kirk joining in the afternoon. On arriving at Dunfermline there was a heavy downpour of rain, which, however, did not last long, and by the time the Abbey was reached the sun was shining brightly, and it was a perfect photo¬ graphic day. Several interesting views of the Abbey and Palace were taken, and at twelve o’clock the party drove to Culross, arriving there soon after one. Here they found ample scope for photographic work. The steep hill to the Abbey was first ascended, and here they were met by the Rev. Mr. Gordon, who showed them all the objects of interest in connection with the buildings. Through the courtesy of Miss Beveridge, the party had an opportunity of inspecting and photographing the Abbey House, a fine specimen of Renaissance work, designed by Inigo Jones. They then descended the hill, and on the way saw the Bishop’s House and Library and other interesting bits in the Royal and Ancient Burgh. At the base of the hill the Town Hall and Palace claimed attention, and were photographed by most of the members. The return journey to Dunfermline was then made, and photos taken of the beautiful Norman West Door of the Abbey Church. The party returned to Perth by the 4.48 train, and it is hoped that the practical results of a most enjoyable day may be exhibited by the members during the Winter Session, for the benefit of those who were unfortunately prevented from taking part in this our first excursion. EXCURSION TO STIRLING. The second excursion took place on Saturday, 14th September, when a number of members and their friends journeyed to Stirling by the 9.10 train. At Stirling they were joined by Mr. Kidston, who acted as a most efficient guide, conducting the party to the most interesting points of vantage. They first went up the hill as far as the top of Broad Street, where photographs were taken of the Town Hall and of the back of Argyll’s House, now the Military Hospital. The front of this fine specimen of Scottish Baronial Architecture was then visited, after which the party went to the Castle and spent two CX1V PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. hours in photographing and enjoying the splendid views. The Ladies’ Rock, the Guild Hall, and Church were afterwards visited, and then an adjournment was made for lunch. Some of the party then drove, and the rest walked via the Ferry, to Cambuskenneth, where photographs were taken of the Old Abbey Towers. They then returned to the town by the Old Bridge, of which some good views were obtained, and afterwards they adjourned to Mr. Kidston’s house, where they were hospitably entertained by Miss Kidston. They were also much interested in seeing Mr. Kidston’s collection of photographs. Fully satisfied with their day’s work, the party arrived in Perth at 6.45 p.m. A number of Photographs sent in by various members were exhibited. Several series of Lime-light Views were then shown : — English Cathedrals, by Mr. Kidston ; Views in Brittany, by Miss Macnab ; Entomological Subjects, by Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor ; and Landscapes showing effects of the great Storm of November, 1894, in the Atholl district, by Mr. Henry Coates. 23rd January, 1896. Dr. Thomson, President of the Section, in the Chair. Col. Campbell read a short account of a tour in Spain which he had taken in the spring of 1894, and exhibited lantern slides, taken by himself, of the various places which he had visited in the course of his journey. Several other interesting slides were exhibited, contributed by various members. 27th February, 1896. Dr. Thomson, President of the Section, in the Chair. Messrs. Rodger and Kirk exhibited a series of Lime-light Views of Birds with their Nests, taken from specimens in the Museum. Mr. Henry Coates gave an account of Mr. Ives’ recent paper on Colour Photography, communicated to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and exhibited specimens illustrative of the process therein described. Dr. Thomson gave an account of the process lately discovered of taking Shadowgraphs by means of the Rontgen rays, and showed slides illustrative of its use in Medical Science. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. CXV co CO oo *1=2 <33 CP 03 C<3 <33 TO <33 cO <33 <33 fa=J CP cp 53 oo pa *=c! P=H t=> *=x* CP >H cp 53 oo CP pa 53 oo W oa cp Ph CP w E-^ CP CP m oo I pp «aa ►P «3 PQ o o VO o 00 ro O CO G“ G“ p p o OI un M p p O CO P O eo p M 12 o w G“ G" 2 T 12 VO) EO p p VO 00 CO EO CO w H M Q £ H M w s-t G *G C/3 p o G G ►— > rr\ in , -4— » G Q « tO bJD fa • f-H rG C/3 • i— t G Jm i—; ’G £ G C/3 p • i— i fa fa-, *S ft w ~i—i o CO : P . -4—1 CV M ‘sh P fa 10 ci co >; H fa S 3 Pi Co ’o fa co O p fa fa P o H fa to ra fa fa rfa ■4 rO ■4— » G 'G 4— * . 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HH M S? 4- © vcT Ov CO 1^ 1 1 r^. Ov CO HH +» 0 CO GG~ in Cl •» 1 GG o PRESENTED 1 6 JUL. 1900 a e»c PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. cli WINTER SESSION, 1897-98. nth November, 1897. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Specimens illustrative of Life- History of Perthshire Trees — from Mr. Alfred Brown. Photographs of Perthshire Trees — from Messrs. H. Coates and William Ellison. Specimen of Epipactis palustris from below Blair-Atholl — from Mr. T. Caiman, Dundee. Portrait of the late Mr. John Young, C. E. — from Mr. G. P. K. Young. Golden-Crested Wren — from Mr. Whyte. Abnormal Salmon — from Mr. P. D. Malloch. Index Collection. — Specimens of Connemara Marble — from Miss Macnab. Collection of Shells — from Viscountess Strathallan. Relief Map of Scotland — from Mr. Henry Coates. Geological Specimens — from Mr. Alex. M. Rodger. Library. — “ British Deer and their Horns,” by Mr. J. G. Millais — from Lady Millais. Geological Survey of Canada, Annual Report — from the Canadian Government. Nansen’s “Farthest North” — from Members of the Society. Portraits of Contributors to the Reports of the “ Challenger ” Expedition — from Mr. Henry Coates. Two French pamphlets — -from Professor Flauhault, Montpellier. Mr. R. Dow exhibited a specimen of Monstera deliciosa from Castle Huntly, and of Ranunculus reptans from Lochleven. The President delivered the following Opening Address : — Ladies and Gentlemen, — I think our first duty this evening is to congratulate our esteemed Curator, first, on having been selected by the Government to fill an important, though temporary, scientific post ; and in the second place, on his safe return after fulfilling the duties of that post on the other side of the globe. The Society will, I am sure, be well compensated for the loss of his services during the five months of his absence, not only by the valuable, and in some cases almost unique, specimens which he has been able to bring home for our Museum, but also by the fund of experience which he has gained during his travels, and which will be used for the benefit of the Society. The temporary absence of our Curator has served to emphasize the truth which I have frequently urged upon the Society, namely, that it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of valuable scientific collections such as ours that they should be under the con¬ stant supervision of a thoroughly trained expert. During the time of Mr. Rodger’s absence, even with the attention which Mr. Caiman, of Dundee, was able to give during occasional visits, the work of arrange¬ ment was practically suspended, and, in addition, some of the speci¬ mens began to show signs of deterioration. This, of course, was Clii PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. checked by careful treatment on Mr. Rodger’s return, but it served to show what constant attention is required. It is thus more than ever evident that some permanent provision must be made for the proper maintenance of the Museum, more especially as the collec¬ tions are constantly increasing, both in extent and in value. During the summer months large numbers of visitors from all parts of the country have visited the Museum, and have examined the collections with evident interest. These embraced, besides the ordinary tourists and excursionists who visited the city, many visitors who came to attend some of the special gatherings, of which so many are now held in Perth as a convenient centre. For instance, in con¬ nection with the Co-operative Congress special arrangements were made for keeping the Museum open during the evenings, and mem¬ bers of our Society conducted parties of delegates over the buildings and explained to them the arrangement, etc. Several of the dele¬ gates were members of Natural History Societies in English provin¬ cial towns, and were able to appreciate the value of the twofold system adopted in our Museum. During the past summer a movement has been begun in connec¬ tion with our sister Society — The Literary and Antiquarian Society — which I may be pardoned for referring to very briefly, as it has a certain bearing on our own work. I mean the scheme brought forward by the Rev. Mr. Armstrong Hall for the reorganisation of the Museum in George Street, of which he recently published an outline in the Perthshire Advertiser. I have the less hesitation in referring to Mr. Armstrong Hall’s scheme as he is a warm supporter of our own Society, and has more than once contributed papers to our meetings. Mr. Armstrong Hall’s plan, so far as I understand it, is to do for Archaeology precisely what we have done for Natural Science, namely, to bring together a thoroughly representative collec¬ tion of objects illustrative of the history of Perth and Perthshire, all of which shall have full descriptive labels, and shall be arranged in proper sequence, so as to be of really educational value to the com¬ munity. Along with this purely local collection would, I believe, be arranged a small typical collection of general antiquities. Such a scheme as this, I am sure, cannot fail to meet with the heartiest sympathy from members of our Society, not only from a sense of the delicate flattery which is supposed to be associated with imitation, but also because it supplies the want which was pointed out by Sir William Flower three years ago, when he said that no town was com¬ plete in its educational equipment which did not possess both a scientific and an antiquarian museum, arranged in accordance with modern educational ideas. Another reason, however, why this scheme should commend itself to us is that it would bring to an end the anomaly of having two Natural History Museums in Perth — one in Tay Street and the other in George Street. I cannot leave this subject without expressing our obligation to the Committee of the Antiquarian Society for having deposited with us some of their natural history specimens, which will be very useful in filling some ot the blanks in our zoological type collection. Turning now to the syllabus of our winter meetings, it is, I think, PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, diii a matter for congratulation that some new names appear upon the list. This is as it should be, and shows that the Society is fulfilling its function in stimulating new workers to come forward and take the places of those whom we have lost. Those of us who are now among the older members of the Society, and whose names have appeared pretty frequently in the lists of papers from year to year, will, I am sure, be only too pleased to give place to others willing to take up the study of some branch of natural history. One mistake which members frequently make is in thinking that it is not worth while to bring a communication before the Society except in a paper of con¬ siderable length, whereas the interest of our meetings would be much enhanced if a number of members would bring forward notes, no matter how brief, on matters of personal observation. In conclusion, I shall now give a brief REPORT ON THE SUMMER EXCURSIONS OF 1 897, with the assistance of notes from some of those who acted as leaders on different occasions. In addition to the excursions set down in our programme, two or three others were held in the early part of the season in connection with the Botany Classes which Dr. William G. Smith had held during the winter. These were to localities in the immediate neighbourhood of Perth, and took place on Saturday afternoons. Although it was too early for any except the earliest flowering plants, yet many most interesting facts in plant physiology were illustrated and explained by Dr. Smith. The official excursions of the Society were, on the whole, hardly so well attended as during the previous season, though they were thoroughly enjoyed by those who were present. The localities chosen were sufficiently varied in interest, and the weather was, as a rule, all that could be desired. No. 1, 20th May (Queen’s Birthday), — to the Banks of the Tay, from Dalguise to Dunkeld. This excursion was held jointly with the Botany Class just referred to, and the leader was again Dr. W. G. Smith. The attendance was very large, about 30 being present, in¬ cluding several local members. Amongst these, Mr. Charles MTntosh, of Inver, and Mr. Greig, keeper to the Duke of Atholl, deserve to be specially mentioned for their services as local guides. Dr. Smith has kindly sent me the following notes : — “ As the excursion was one of a kind where the acquiring of general impressions was aimed at, more than the collecting of specimens, there is no real list of ‘ finds ’ to record. It was too early for the flora of the Islands and Beaches, places of particular interest in the Dunkeld district of the Tay Valley. We had, however, a good example of this on the Woody Island, to which we had an excursion ten days before. The Backwater Flora was just beginning to make its appearance, Viola palustris being the most noticeable. The woods were particularly suitable for observing the spring condition of the various trees. This was especially the case where the short halt for lunch was made, and where Cliv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. we looked across on the steeply sloping woods of the further side. Beech was in full leaf and flower, but light in colour ; Oak was in the spring brown, just after leaving the bud ; Scots Pine was just beginning to show new foliage ; and Larch was in spring green. The three Chestnuts on the river bank a little above Inver are well worthy of notice. They are exceptionally fine specimens to be grown so far north, and show how favourable the conditions of climate must be. Near the same point, some specimens of the hybrid Primula vulgaris x P. veris were found, and in very good condition. Mr. Barclay also got specimens of Gagea lutea and Calamagroslis epigeios” Dr. Smith adds in his note — “ I trust the others enjoyed the Excursion as well as I did myself.” The entomologists and photo¬ graphers were busy during the day as well as the botanists, the former securing specimens of Argynnis euphrosyne and Hylophila prasinana. No. 2, 5th June, — to Balvaird Castle, Falkland Palace, and Aber- nethy. This being a Photographic Excursion, Colonel Campbell, the leader, reports on it as follows : — “ Starting from Perth soon after nine, the party drove by way of Glenfarg to Balvaird and Falkland. A halt was made at the former place, and the fine old castle was explored. A rubbing was taken of a curious inscription cut on a stone above a niche in the banqueting hall by Mr. Coates, under somewhat difficult conditions, as to enable him to take it he was obliged to sit on the shoulders of the Secretary, so that the impression was perhaps not so distinct as it might have been had it been made under more favourable circumstances. Several photographs were taken of the exterior of the Castle. The party then proceeded on the journey to Falkland, passing through the village of Strathmiglo, where there is an interesting Town Hall, with a balustraded tower, from which rises a slender spire. A few minutes’ stop was made on the road to enable two of the members to take a photo, of a sheep being deprived of its fleece, an operation which must have caused it much relief, as the day was exceedingly hot. Falkland was reached at one, and after lunch in the gardens, Major Wood, Lord Bute’s Chamberlain, took the party over the Palace, the foundations of Macduff’s Castle which have been excavated, and the tennis court, which has been completely restored. The restoration which is being carried out in the interior of the Palace prevented any photos, being taken there, but several views were taken of the exterior, the entrance gates, towers, south facade, etc. At 3.30 the party started on the return journey, and, after climbing a long and trying hill, drove through the beautifully wooded Glen Turkie to Abernethy, where a welcome tea was partaken of at the inn. After a photograph had been taken of the celebrated Round Tower, the journey was resumed, and Perth reached at seven, in a severe thunderstorm, which, however, did not damp the spirits of the photographic members of the Society.” No. 3, 26th June, — to Loch Leven. This Excursion was held jointly with the Scottish Natural History Society, and was under the leadership of Mr. J. G. Goodchild, Edinburgh. Mr. R. Dow, of Longforgan, has kindly supplied me with the following notes : — “ At PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. civ Blairadam station the members of our Society were joined by a party from the Edinburgh Society, numbering over 30. After a ramble of a couple of miles, the southern shore of Loch Leven was reached. The party then worked along the shore towards the south-east, to the point where the Loch empties itself into the river Leven. On the way, Sedum villosum was noticeable for its abundance and luxuriance. A large clump of Aconitum napellus , or Monkshood, was passed, but this, of course, was only a casual. One of the rarities of the Loch, Ranunculus replans , was found growing abundantly, but only at one locality, namely, on the sandy bank where the river leaves the Loch. The party then returned along the shore of the Loch to Kinross. On a shingly bank Mr. Goodchild, by means of maps and large diagrams, explained the geological formation of the Loch and of the enclosing hills of the Lomond chain. The lava-flows forming the Lomonds having been explained, the various superficial accumula¬ tions, — boulder clay, sand and gravel beds, raised beaches, etc., — which cover a great part of the low ground round the Loch were lucidly described. The Perthshire Society was entertained to tea in the Kinross Hotel. Mr. Goodchild, in proposing success to the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, spoke of it as one of the most vigorous Natural Science Societies in the country. The combined party, before separating, was photographed at the landing station by the side of the Loch. The joint excursion was acknowledged by everyone present to have been most enjoyable and instructive.” No. 4, 3rd July, — to the Bank of the Tay, from Perth to Kin- fauns. Mr. Barclay, the leader of this excursion, reports as follows : — “ Owing to the fact that this was the midsummer holiday, only a small party met at the Albert Monument. One of the party, Mr. M ‘Gregor, gardener at Bowerswell, brought with him a plant which he had shortly before gathered on the bank of the Tay below Barn¬ hill, and of which he wished to know the name. This was at once recognised as Lysimachia thyrsiflora , and it was then resolved to visit the locality where it had been found, instead of going to the Woody Island, as originally intended. The party therefore pro¬ ceeded to walk along the bank of the river from the railway bridge to Kinfauns. The spot where Senecio Doria formerly grew was carefully examined, but no trace of the plant could be seen. It is, I fear, now quite extinct. In a ditch, further down, Carex aquatilis was gathered. This station was first discovered about four years ago. In the marsh below Limehaugh, Mr. M‘Gregor pointed out the locality for Lysi¬ machia thyrsiflora. There is a large bed of it, and I have little doubt but that it will maintain its footing, and probably spread, both in its present station and to suitable places further down. The plant must have come there within the last five years, as it could not possibly have escaped notice if it had been there before that time. There is only one known station for it further down, and that is in a marsh at Elcho, where it was planted by the late Colonel Drummond Hay of Seggieden. It has never been got anywhere else on the banks of the Tay, or indeed anywhere else in the county, except in the neighbour¬ hood of Blairgowrie, where it grows abundantly along the shores of Clvi PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. several of the lochs. Most probably it has made its way by some one of the usual modes of dispersal from that quarter to Limehaugh. Somewhat further down the river, in a spot where casuals frequently occur, a single plant of Silene armeria was picked up. On Darry Island, Astragalus glycyphyllos was found to be spreading, as there are now several patches of it along the bank, instead of only one, as was the case half-a-dozen years ago. On a subsequent visit to the marsh where the Lysimachia grows, Mr. Meldrum called my attention to the presence of the bog-bean, Menyanthes trifoliata. This, I find, is not in the 1 List of Plants of the Left Bank of the Tay between Perth and Glencarse,’ published in our Transadio?is in 1892,* but I think that the plant was there at the time, and that it was seen by Dr. Buchanan White and myself, but that through inadvertence I had omitted to take note of it.” No. 5, 24th July,— to Craiglea Quarry. A melancholy interest attaches to this excursion, as it had to be postponed on account of the terrible blasting accident which occurred shortly before the date originally fixed. Although the quarries have been in operation for more than a hundred years, no accident attended with such disastrous results had occurred before. Owing to the change of date, Mr. White, the manager of the quarries, who had originally suggested the excursion, was unfortunately unable to be present, but his foreman, Mr. Duncan, kindly explained the workings in his absence. The leader was Mr. A. S. Reid, Glenalmond. As the day was one of the finest of the summer, the drive from Perth was greatly enjoyed, particularly in the latter part, when approaching the Grampians. A halt was made at Harrietfield, in order to enable the photographers to secure mementoes of some of the reputed “ Drumtochty ” sites. It is to be feared, however, that the camera is only too familiar an object in this now famous village. Most of the time was devoted to the quarries themselves, which present features of very considerable geological interest, and here both specimens and photographs were secured for the benefit of the Museum. The rock is part of the band of clay slate which runs across Scotland from a few miles above Stonehaven to Port Bannatyne in Bute, and which is worked at several points for roofing purposes. The lines of cleavage and of stratification are remarkably distinct in Craiglea, the latter, which are emphasized in places by bands of a yellow sulphurous deposit, form¬ ing magnificent synclinal and anticlinal curves. Through these curves the cleavage is seen to cut with unvarying constancy. At the top of the quarry, where part of the surface was freshly exposed, some very well preserved ice grooves and scratches were seen. Altogether, the quarry afforded the student of geology a storehouse of fact and illustration that would have served for many days’ study. Regarding the botany of the district, Mr. Barclay reports as follows: — “There were no plants at the quarry worthy of notice, and the immediate neighbourhood was not much more productive. A few of the commoner moorland plants grew on the hillside, and by the little stream which rises at no great distance. Saxifraga azoides and * Vide Transactions , Vol. I., p. 245. Craiglea Ouarry, Logiealmond, showing Stratification and Cleavage of Clay Slate. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, clvii Melica nutans were the only species worthy of even a passing notice. The rocky gorge of the Milton Burn was thickly clothed with vegeta¬ tion, and might be worth exploring, but on this occasion there was only time to glance at its depths from the top of its steep sides.” No. 6, 7th August, — from Murthly to Dunkeld. This excursion, which was held in fine weather, was chiefly entomological, and was under the leadership of Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor, F.E.S., who reports as follows : — “ Insects were scarce, both in the larval and perfect stages, and the only specimens captured which are worthy of note were two small dragonflies, caught at a roadside lake, and which were new to our Perthshire collection. These, however, have not yet been identi¬ fied, owing to the absence of an English text-book, and the difficulty of obtaining a specialist to name them. Various species of Hemip- tera were noticed, such as Phytocoris pint , Dichrooscytus rufipennis , Tettigonia viridis , etc., but nothing of any special interest in this group was noticed. A search was made in the borders of King’s Mere for Saldidse, but without success. Abundance of water lilies in full bloom lent a most picturesque aspect to the Mere and its sur¬ roundings. A female specimen of the hare-bell bee ( Cilissa haimor- rhoidalis) was caught near Murthly.” No. 7, 14th August, — to Balquhidder and Loch Voil. The leader on this occasion was Mr. Barclay, and the object was partly botanical and partly photographic. To those who had not visited the spot before, the beauty of it must have been a revelation, and certainly ample scope was afforded for the camera. Both near and distant views teemed with picturesque “ bits,” and the lines of the landscape needed no “ composing ” at the hands of the artist. The geology of the district is most interesting, but too complicated to be tackled in a flying visit. One of our members, however, paid considerable attention to it later in the season, and we may hope to hear the results of his observations at some future time. Mr. Barclay reports on the Botany of the ground visited as follows : — “ The shore of Loch Voil was partially explored during a former excursion, and was not found particularly rich. The object of paying a second visit, so far as the botanists were concerned, was partly to re-discover, and gather in more mature fruit, a rather curious sedge which was gathered by Dr. Buchanan White on the former excursion, and which has not yet been exactly determined, owing to its having been in too young a state. It was a great disappointment to find that the herbage along the shore of the Loch had been cut, and this, combined with the fact that the Loch was several feet above its usual level, rendered the attempt to find the sedge a vain one. The flora of the ground traversed was not found to be richer than on the former occasion. Some interesting varieties of Rosa were obtained and two clumps of Rubus sub-erectus , a bramble not very common in Perth¬ shire, were met with.” No. 8, 26th August, — to Craig-y-Barns. The leader chosen for this excursion, Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor, was unfortunately unable to be present, but Mr. James Morison has furnished the following notes:— Clviii PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. “ This excursion was too late in the season for much botany being done, and nothing of special interest was found. One member took some photographs of various points on Craig-y-Barns, while the others took lunch beside the well-known perched block or ‘ rocking stone.’ Some of the party then wandered over to the Lunan Burn, and spent a short time on its banks noting the fruiting of some of the common plants. On returning to Birnam they had to fight for their tea against the hordes attending the ‘Birnam Games.’” No. 9, 4th September, — to Dalmeny and the Forth Bridge. This, the last excursion of the season, was purely photographic, and was under the leadership of Colonel Campbell, the Secretary of the Photographic Section, who reports regarding it as follows : — “ Leav¬ ing Perth by the 8.35 a.m. train, the party went to Dalmeny Station, and from there walked to the village, about a mile distant, and visited the twelfth century church, a fine example of early Norman architec¬ ture. Through the courtesy of the Rev. Mr. Dunn they were enabled to see both the exterior and the interior of this small but most beautiful church, and the rounded arches, with their beautifully decorated mouldings were much admired, marred though they were by modern lamps hung at intervals from the roof, which spoiled the general effect considerably. Several photos, of the interior, lamps included, were taken. Afterwards, the gentlemen of the party visited the Forth Bridge, that most wonderful example of modern architec¬ ture, and a striking contrast to the shrine they had just left. Mem¬ bers of the fair sex are not allowed to walk over the bridge, so the ladies went to South Queensferry, where some interesting photos, of the bridge were taken. It is, indeed, a wonderful structure, and its vastness cannot be properly estimated by passing over it in a train. The party rejoined forces at Dalmeny, and returned to Perth in the afternoon, well pleased with an excursion which had given them an opportunity of seeing and comparing the architectural work of the twelfth with that of the nineteenth century. Unfortunately the day was wet and unfavourable for taking good photos., but in spite of the climatic conditions, it is hoped there may be results good enough to show at the winter exhibition.” Of the excursions put down on the programme, two did not take place. One of these was to have been held jointly with the Geologists’ Association of London, but it was found that this could not be arranged. The other was to be a three or four days’ visit to Glenlyon, but it was fixed for a time — at the beginning of the school holidays — when not many members could have attended. As this wild and beautiful glen has not yet been visited by the Society, it is hoped that it may be possible to arrange the excursion for some future date. In conclusion, I would suggest that next summer the Photo¬ graphic Section should arrange a joint excursion with the newly- formed Architectural Association to some locality where picturesque¬ ness is combined with historical and architectural interest ; and also that an Archaeological Excursion be held jointly with the Literary and Antiquarian Society. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE- clix The following paper was read : — “ On some Rare Flowering Plants of the Carse of Gowrie.” By R. Dow, Longforgan. Illustrated by dried specimens. 9th December, 1897. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Motella teneirrata — from Mr. William Coull. Collection of Diptera — from Mr. William Wylie Young Pochard — from Mr. James Dow, Clathybeg, Gask. Greylag Goose — from Captain Drummond Hay. Index Collection — Foetus of White Whale and Hind Leg of Polar Bear — from Capt. Mackay. Dogfish — from Mr. Joseph Dow. Library. — North American Fauna, No. 2, and North American Bulletins, Nos. 2, 5, and 7 — from U.S. Agricultural Department. Photograph of Mr. Charles MTntosh, Inver — from Mr. Henry Coates. Botanical Notes. — Mr. Barclay reported that during the summer of this year several noteworthy discoveries of plants had been made by members at private excursions. These were — 1. Epipactis palus- tris — One specimen of this plant was found in 1881 by Mr. James Coates at Pitlochry, and is now in the Herbarium. The plant was not again gathered in that station, although repeatedly searched for, and it is therefore fortunate that Mr. Caiman has found it in some plenty on the banks of the Garry, below Blair-Atholl. This seems to be now the only known station for it in the county, although it has been reported from the Lake of Monteith. 2. Goody era repens — This orchid, very rare in Perthshire, is extinct in some places where it was formerly found. This year it was gathered in a wood at Kinfauns by Mr. Edward Roger Bush. 3. Rosa pimpinellifolia x rubiginosa — This hybrid was found during the past summer, for the first time in Scotland, on the bank of the Tay below Cargill Bridge, by Mr. Barclay. The identification of the plant is confirmed by Professor Crepin, of Brussels. The Hon. Mrs. Mackenzie, Balboughty ; Colonel Wavell, Glen- delvine ; Miss Anne Pinkerton, Gaskhill ; Dr. Beatty, Pitlochry ; W. A. Barclay, Pitcullen Terrace ; John Dewar, jun., Balcraig; J. Asher, Perth Academy; Andrew Anderson, New Scott Street; David Brown, 12 George Street, were elected Ordinary Members. The following papers were read : — 1. “Birds of the Mountain Tops.” By Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Duthie, R.A. (see Trans ., Vol. II., page 191). 2. “Modifications of the Anterior Limb.” By Jas. Stewart, L.D.S. clx PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 20th December, 1897. Ex-Bailie James Bridges in the Chair. J. G. Goodchild, F.Z.S., F.G.S., Edinburgh, delivered a lecture on “ Desert Conditions in Britain,” illustrated by lime-light views. The subject of this lecture, which dealt with some important problems in structural Geology, has since been published in the Transactions of the Geological Society of Glasgow, Vol. XI., Part I., 1898. 13th January, 1898. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated Museum — Perthshire Collection . — Caterpillars with their food- plants, and a collection of Diptera — from Mr. Wm. Wylie. Mute Swan (Skeleton) — from Captain Drummond Hay. Index Collection — Collection of injurious fungi — from Dr. W. G. Smith. Drawings of Diptera — from Miss Mercer. Physiological Slides — from Dr. A. Henderson. Library — Wild Birds of Essex, by Miller Christy — from Mr. Wm. Cole. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Glasgow, Vol. V., Part I., 1896-97 — from the Society. Annals of Scottish Natural History for 1897, and Scottish Geographical Journal for 1897 — from Col. Campbell. Rev. George Robson, D.D., Garry Lodge, was elected an Ordinary Member. The following papers were read : — 1. “A Botanical Ramble on Ben Lettery, Connemara.” By Miss Macnab. (See Trans., Vol. II., page 197.) 2. “ Grasses and other Forage Plants.” By Alfred Brown. (See Trans., Vol. II., page 217.) 3. “Plant Associations of the Tay Basin.” By Robert Smith, B.Sc., Dundee. (See Trans., Vol. II., page 200.) 10th February, 1898. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection . — Specimens of Psilophyton prin- ceps, from Old Red Sandstone Quarry, Earn — from Mr. R. Kidston, PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. clxi Stirling. Pied Woodcock, shot by the Hon. Alex. J. Murray, in Ardittie Woods — from the Right Hon. the Earl of Mansfield. Kestrel (young male) from Mr. James Dow, Gask. Index Collec¬ tion. — Concretionary Nodules and other rock specimens — from Mr. Smith, Quarry Master, Letham. Samples of Chemical Manures — from Messrs. Alex. Cross & Sons, Glasgow. Library. — Burns’s Coinage of Scotland — from Mr. James Coats, jun., Ferguslie House, Paisley. Transactions of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Field Club, Vol. XV., 1894-5 — from the Society. Annals of Scottish Natural History, parts 1 to 20 — from Col. Campbell. On Hadfield Collection of Shells, Parts II. and III. — from Mr. W. E. Hoyle, Owen’s College, Manchester. Miss M‘Leod, 2 Fairmount Villas ; Alex. Pitcaithly, Jeaniebank, New Scone; William Winton, 20 Pomarium, were elected Ordinary Members. The following papers were read : — 1. “Perthshire Mosses,” by R. H. Meldrum. (See Trans. , Vol. II., page 227.) 2. “Notes of a Journey to the Bering Sea,” by Alex. M. Rodger. Illustrated by Lime-Light Views. 10th March, 1898. THIRTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. The following donations were intimated : — Museum — Perthshire Collection. — Wild Cat — from Sir Robert Menzies, Bart. Index Colledio?i — Ammonite from Whitby — from Mr. Alex. M. Rodger. Library. — Report of the Geological Society of Canada, Vol. II., 1886, and Catalogue of Plants of Canada, Parts I., III., and IV. — from Geological Survey of Canada. Westwood’s Arcana Entomologica , North American Sylva, by Michaux; North American Sylva, by Nuthill. Fishes of Ceylon, by John Whitchurch Bennet — from Mr. Andrew Coates, Pitcullen. The President intimated donations of ^20 from the Perth School Board, and of ^5 from the Co-operative Society, for the maintenance of the Museum during the present year. Douglas Blair, South Methven Street, was elected an Ordinary Member. dxii PROCEEDINGS - PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. The following Reports were read and adopted : — REPORT OF COUNCIL. The Council have pleasure, in submitting their Thirty-first Annual Report, to be able to record that the work of the Society continues to be carried on with unabated vigour. During the past year seven meetings have been held, at which ten papers were read, as well as the usual Annual and Opening Addresses of the President. The attendance at the meetings continues very good, the average being 41. The greatest number at one meeting wras 60, on 10th February, 1898, and the least 28, on 6th April, 1897. The mem¬ bership has increased by 17, bringing up the total to 374, including 2 Honorary Members, n Corresponding Members, 30 Associate Members, and 5 Associates. Nine excursions were held during the past summer, which were fairly well attended. The Society had again the pleasure of meeting the members of the Natural History Society of Edinburgh at Loch Leven on 26th June, and the Council expect to be able to arrange another meeting for this year, at which they hope a larger number will come forward to meet this enthusiastic society. The Photographic Section had two extra excursions, which were very successful. The Council take this opportunity of again placing on record their in¬ debtedness to the various gentlemen who granted permission for some of these excursions. Your Council have again given the use of the Lecture Room to various City and County Associations for their meetings. The number of visitors to the Museum has been about 9500. REPORT OF TREASURER. (See Balance-Sheet , page clxxxv.) curator’s REPORT. Perthshire Trees. — In the Botanical Department, numerous additions have been made to the tree cases from time to time by Mr. Brown of specimens bearing on life history, and several additional photographs have been presented by Messrs. Coates and Ellison. A series of labels also has been printed naming all the specimens, so that any child can, at a glance, see the meaning of the arrange¬ ment, and perchance have its curiosity aroused to read the large label setting forth the value and uses of the tree. Times without number, I have noticed this case receive careful attention from school children. Perthshire bisects. — These have received numerous additions throughout the year — particularly Diptera. Specimens of this im¬ portant order have been collected by Mr. W. Wylie and presented to our Museum; these, along with named specimens in our possession, I have arranged in glass-topped cases and placed for exhibition. Each family, so far as known to occur in the county, is represented. Miss Mercer very kindly undertook to prepare a series of pen and ink drawings for me illustrating the more minute forms, also of differences PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, clxiii of mouth structure. Mr. Wylie recently presented another lot of Diptera, which are at present in the hands of Mr. P. Grimshaw, Edinburgh, for identification. For this case also there have been prepared and printed a series of labels setting forth the characters of the groups: — Neuroptera (nerve wings), Hymenoptera (bees, etc.), Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hemiptera (bugs). From such a formidable looking list, and bearing in mind our additions from time to time, you might imagine that our insect collections are nearly complete — this is, however, far from being the case; especially does this remark apply to the Dragon¬ flies, Beetles, and Flies. I would, therefore, invite members to keep a lookout for insects of these groups, specimens of which I should be glad to acknowledge, and would undertake to set any which might be sent to me. Perthshire Vertebrates. — In this division our wants are not so numerous, but occasionally we remove a “wanted-to-complete” label. Some time ago Mr. C. L. Wood of Freeland sent in a Tench taken from the back waters of the Earn. The Tench is a fresh-water fish of wide geographical distribution, extending over Europe and part of Asia Minor; in England it is comparatively common, but in Scotland the records are few. I should, therefore, be glad of information and additional records for the county. Perthshire Birds. — Of birds we received a Greylag Goose and Mute Swan from Captain Drummond Hay of Seggieden ; the latter bird is for maceration. I hope members who have the opportunity of collecting birds will bear in mind that I shall be glad of typical specimens for skeletons in order to illustrate each group. We have a young Kestrel Hawk from Mr. Dow, of Clathybeg; a Pin-tailed Duck from Colonel Campbell ; also, a curious Pied W oodcock from the Right Hon. the Earl of Mansfield, K.T., and this specimen is particu¬ larly well marked, the primary feathers of the wings being white. Bidex Museum. — Here things are more in shape than last year. The plants, excepting a collection from Copper Island, are much as they were previously. The Geological cases, too, are as they were, except that they have been overhauled and cleaned. A very important donation was received from Mr. Herbert Bolton, of Owen’s College Museum, namely a series of geological labels prepared by him and very suitable for our purpose. The Economic Section has received a good deal of attention this year. In my last report I made mention of our intentions with regard to it. Dr. Smith devoted part of his holidays to its arrangement, and also presented a number of his more typical specimens. The case is now all but complete, and the few remaining blanks will be filled as material comes to hand. I asked Dr. Smith to give me a short account for publication of the main features exhibited. His report is as follows : — “The case of Economic Fungi in the Perthshire Natural History Museum is intended, in the first instance, to exhibit typical examples of Fungi likely to be of economic importance in Perthshire or its neighbourhood. The greater number of the exhibits are fungi Clxiv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. injurious to plants ; a few attack insects, animals, or man ; some are useful, e.g.t mushrooms, the tree-mycorhiza, and the tubercles of leguminous plants. The numerous fungi living on dead or decaying matter are of secondary economic importance, and therefore are almost entirely omitted ; certain of them are, however, represented by the coloured sketches of Hymenomycetes in another part of the Museum. “ In the space allotted, it was impossible to do more than show examples of the chief groups, but the case should prove a useful key to sources of further information. Tubeuf’s ‘ Diseases of Plants,’ in the Library of the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, is the hand¬ book used in preparing the case, and it is recommended that those whose interest is more than superficial should go over the case with this book beside them. “ In grouping the fungi, it was thought advisable to use an arrange¬ ment based on scientific classification. This was the easier because such an arrangement agreed roughly with popular nomenclature and with the class of plant attacked. “There are three main divisions: — i, Bacteria; 2, the Slime- Fungi or Myxomycetes ; 3, the true Fungi. “Classes 1 and 2 are minute forms and unsuited for museum purposes, hence only a small area has been given to each. “ The true Fungi occupy almost the whole case. These are sub¬ divided into five groups, with almost equal space allotted to each : — a, Peronosporeae, the False or Downy Mildews ; b , Ascomycetes ; c, Uredineae, the Rusts ; d , Ustilagineae, the Smuts and Bunts; e , Basidiomycetes, the Toadstools and allies. “a, the Peronosporeae, being a typical and somewhat primitive group, are placed in the upper part of the case, so as to allow of ready comparison with the other groups. “ c and d are well-defined, easily recognised, and common fungi, already well distinguished by their popular names of Rusts and Smuts and Bunts respectively. “b and e are well-defined scientific groups, but they present consider¬ able variations in their external appearance and the injuries inflicted, while popular nomenclature does not assist in their identification. “ The arrangement also affords a rough key to the class of plant acting as host. Herbaceous plants are attacked chiefly by fungi from groups a , c, d, with a few from b, and fewer from e. Tree fungi will be found principally under the Ascomycetes (b) and Basidiomycetes ( and thus to bring it home to men’s PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. clxxxi minds in a practical form. The explanation is simple enough in itself, — over-population, consequent struggle for existence, variation, survival of the fittest, and inheritance of useful characters, — and yet no one had been able to fit the pieces of the puzzle together before. Since the publication of Darwin’s hypothesis, the whole trend of Biological investigation has been changed. Classification, distribution, embryology, and palaeontology have each assumed a new significance. The history of the individual has been recognised to be the history of the race in epitome, and classification is now based on genetic relation¬ ship. All facts of environment, such as climate, food supply, etc., as well as the inter-relations between plants and animals, are now studied as modifying causes. The study of fossil forms has received a new impetus, as it is here that we have to look for the links to fill the gaps which at present exist in the record. At first, biologists of the new school were inclined to despise the work of the systematists, as “ love’s labour lost,” but now it is seen that every new fact in animal and plant structure and distribution is of use in building up the the complete story of evolution. Since the time of Darwin, his work of philosophical biological investigation has been carried on by many earnest workers, prominent amongst whom are Huxley, Herbert Spencer, Haeckel, and Weiss- man, each of whom, however, regards Darwin’s conclusions from a slightly different standpoint. The last-named, in particular, takes exception to that part of the theory which deals with the inheritance of acquired characters. All that can be said with regard to this in the meantime is that we are still in complete ignorance with regard to the causes of variation and of inheritance. At first, as was to be expected, the theory met with a perfect storm of opposition, but this has gradually lessened each year, until now there can hardly be said to be any earnest thinker who does not accept the main facts of evolution as being conclusively established. As was natural, it was for long strongly attacked on the theological side, but now it has gradually come to be recognised that the con¬ ception of Creation by a gradual and orderly process of development is a much grander one than that of sudden and transitory acts of separate creation. To show how completely men’s views have changed on this subject, it will be sufficient to quote the words of the present head of the Anglican Church. Speaking of evolution some time ago, Archbishop Temple said : — “ It seems more majestic, more fitting of Him to whom a thousand years are as one day, thus to impress His will, once for all, on His Creation, and provide for all its countless varieties by this one original impress, than by special acts of Creation to be perpetually modifying what He had previously made.” (d) Palaeontology. — Little more than a century ago, fossils were looked upon as little more than mineralogical curiosities, or “Freaks of Nature.” Then William Smith detected their value to the Geologist as unerring guides to the succession of the stratified rocks ; and Cuvier, Owen, and other comparative anatomists showed their relationships to living forms. It was not until the time of Darwin, however, that the study of extinct life was finally annexed to Clxxxii PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. the domain of the Biologist as being as much within his sphere as the study of existing life. It was just ten years after the beginning of the reign that the publications of the Palaeontological Society were commenced, and since then the examination and description of the innumerable species of fossil plants and animals have gone on without interruption. By far the most remarkable results, however, have been achieved by two American Palaeontologists, Cope and Marsh. Not only have they given us a typical pedigree, in the history of the extinct ancestors of the horse, but they have given us a new conception of the wonders of animal life on our globe in early times by the gigantic reptiles which they have unearthed from the Secondary rocks of North America. Another memorable discovery was that made by Owen, in 1862, of one of the “missing links” between the birds and the reptiles, namely, the long-tailed Archceopteryx of the Jurassic rocks. This was just a year after the same prolific worker had published his classical “ Palieontology.” (e) Anthropology. — This branch of Biology, as we have seen, has sprung into existence during the Victorian Era. When Man’s place in the scale of creation became defined by the doctrine of descent, it became evident that his physical structure and the history of his appearance on the earth must be viewed from a new stand¬ point. Thus, a fresh impulse was given to the study of human anatomy and physiology, and, in particular, attention was turned to every possible trace of his handiwork or remains in the deposits which form the more recent portion of the geological record. The result of these investigations has been to add an immense deal to our know¬ ledge of the past history of our race, and amongst those who have contributed to this result the most prominent names are those of Boucher de Perthes, Broca, Lyell, Prestwich, Evans, and James Geikie. This investigation is only in its infancy as yet, but fresh discoveries are constantly showing that the evidences of primi¬ tive man are much more widely distributed than was at one time supposed. The Art which is most dependent on the science of Biology is Medicine, and in this art the progress during the Victorian Era has been as remarkable as we have already seen it to have been in the science itself. Indeed, one eminent physician, writing in a recent number of the Nineteenth Century , remarked that “ Medicine has made greater progress during the last sixty years than it had done in the previous sixty centuries.” Perhaps the change is best indicated by saying that the art has now become thoroughly scientific in its methods, — that is to say, it recognises that in order to supplement the work of nature, it must understand as thoroughly as possible how nature herself works. Amongst the chief causes which have led to this advance may be mentioned increased knowledge of the functions of many of the organs of the body, and particularly of the liver, the pancreas, the spine, and the brain ; the introduction of anaesthetics ; the discoveries in Bacteriology, and especially in its application to the antiseptic treatment of wounds ; the improvement in instruments and in technique generally ; and the increase of specialism in medical PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, dxxxili and surgical practice. Perhaps, however, the direction in which modern science has made itself most felt is not so much the cure as the prevention of disease. Here again the influence of Bacteriology is strongly marked as a leading factor in our improved methods of hygiene and sanitation. From what has been said, it will be evident that the last sixty years form an altogether unique period in the history of science. In the time of the ancients, wonderful progress had been made in certain directions, but for the first sixteen centuries of the Christian era men were too much taken up with the struggle of race, and too much trammelled by the authority of the church and the schools, to think out for themselves much that was new. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries witnessed a complete awakening from this state of intellectual lethargy. During these two hundred years, the ground was being prepared for further advance, so that at the beginning of the present era men were ready to go forward on the road of fresh conquest and discovery. What that road has revealed at its different turnings, I have endeavoured, in a very imperfect and fragmentary manner, to show you. The culture of the present era differs from that of the eras which preceded it in its emancipation from the old prejudices of the school¬ men, in its many-sidedness, and in its novel practical outcomes. In the last-mentioned phase, it is largely indebted to improvement in the mechanical means and methods of investigation, by which we are now enabled to examine, weigh, and measure both the infinitely great and the infinitely little. Perhaps it will be appropriate if I conclude with a reference to the position which societies such as ours occupy in this new scientific culture. Sixty years ago such societies were almost unknown. The Report of the British Association for 1897 contains a list of sixty-nine local societies which are affiliated with it, and the dates when they were founded. Of these, only ten were in existence when the Queen came to the Throne, and most of these ten were Philosophical Societies. The only purely Natural History Society in the list which is older than the reign is the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Field Club. That these local societies have rendered important services to science, in the accumulation of facts in all departments of scientific enquiry, is now admitted on every hand. Coming more immediately to the record of our own Society, it is gratifying to reflect that at least four names which have been on our roll have made their mark in the history of contemporary science by reason of original research, namely, Croll, White, Geikie, and Geddes. The following paper was read : — “The Geological Influence in the Distribution of the Alpine Plants of Perthshire.” By P, Macnair, Glasgow. In the absence of Mr. Macnair, the paper was communicated by Mr. Barclay. (See Trans. , Vol. II., page 240.) Q clxxxiv PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. SUMMER SESSION, 1898. The following Excursions were arranged : — 1. Monday, 30th May (Queen’s Birthday). — Taymouth Castle. (Jointly with the Perth Architectural Association.) Leader, Colonel Campbell. 2. Saturday, nth June. — Dollar Glen. (Jointly with the Scottish Natural History Society.) Leader, Mr. W. Barclay. 3. Saturday, 25th June. — Half-day Excursion to Kinfauns and Elcho Castle. Leader, Mr. James Menzies. 4. Saturday, 2nd July. — Beinn Dheiceach (3074 feet). Leader, Mr. R. Brown. Meeting of the Mountain Club at Cairn at 1.30 o’clock. 5. Saturday, 16th July. — Den of Riechip and Loch Ordie. Leader, Mr. C. M‘Intosh, 6. Saturday, 30th July. — Sma’ Glen. (Jointly with the British Medical Association.) Leader, Mr. H. Coates. 7. Saturday, 13th August. — The East Neuk of Fife — Crail to Elie. (Jointly with the Perth Literary and Antiquarian Society.) Leader, Dr. Urquhart. 8. Thursday, 25th August. — Newburgh, by Ballinbreich, to Wor- mit. Leader, Colonel Campbell. PROCEEDINGS — PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE clxxxv oo os oo s-i oG S3 s-( as OO ©*3 <30 'TO 1=3 <30 P-4 e-r E-« pq O-P CO pq eg w CO w E— ' P=S pq a-, w pq pq m CO I pq cq> «3 CQ lu 5 0 0 O On — O CO VO LO 00 OMDr^MN-OCOMI^ o o M — s? 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