78 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



shire Museum is already in the front rank of local museums, 

 and is a model of what such an undertaking should be. 



Alike in his reports as Secretary and in his addresses 

 as President, of which latter he was accustomed to give two 

 each year, in March and in November, Dr. White was 

 accustomed to select as his theme subjects of direct practical 

 bearing on the work of the Society ; either the results already 

 attained, or work yet to be done, very frequently forming the 

 topic. The Reports on the Excursions of the Society, of 

 which several are made each year to districts in and round 

 the basin of the Tay, and of the Perthshire Alpine Club, a 

 branch formed for the special exploration of the Perthshire 

 mountains, were always furnished by him ; and while his 

 health allowed he was seldom absent from any of these ex- 

 cursions. The progress of the Museum was a constant aim ; 

 and he spared himself no labour in the endeavour to render 

 it more complete and more instructive. To it he frequently 

 recurs in his numerous contributions to the publications of the 

 Society. Of the sense entertained by the Society of his 

 services, the following resolution, passed at the first meeting 

 after his death, bears witness : " The Society records with 

 profound regret its sense of the irreparable loss which it has 

 sustained by the death of Dr. F. Buchanan White, F.L.S., 

 F.E.S., who was one of its founders, and who, during all the 

 years of its existence, has guided its affairs with untiring 

 devotion. In the service of the Society he spared neither 

 time nor labour, and his large store of scientific knowledge 

 was ever at the disposal of its members. To his energy and 

 skill are mainly due both the reputation which the Society 

 and its museum have acquired, and the popularity which the 

 study of Natural Science has gained in our city and county." 



In 1870 he induced the Perthshire Society to undertake 

 the publication of a magazine for Scottish Natural History, 

 he himself undertaking the work of editor. He was able to 

 secure sufficient co-operation to ensure the financial inde- 

 pendence of the new journal. In this way originated the 

 "Scottish Naturalist"; which has done much to promote 

 the objects for which it was commenced. In a few years it 

 was found necessary that the Society should issue a special 

 publication of its own, but the "Scottish Naturalist" was con- 



