150 The Scottish Naturalist. 



several of the eastern Scottish societies, which we have this month 

 the pleasure of reporting as an accomplished fact. 



The advantages of such combination among our societies have 

 been recognised fully by probably not a few of their members ; 

 and the first step in that direction was made two or three years 

 ago in the meeting of the Northern Scientific Societies, a meeting 

 that has since been held annually. But the ties uniting the societies 

 that have joined in this meeting have been very loose ; and it has 

 seemed desirable that there should be a closer bond of union in 

 well-recognised districts, the various societies in which should set 

 certain aims in common before them, and should endeavour by 

 concerted action to further the objects of these societies through- 

 out the district. To the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, 

 and especially to Dr. Buchanan White, must be ascribed in great 

 part the credit of bringing the matter to the point of action. 



The result of some preliminary discussion as to how the pro- 

 posed combination of societies in the east of Scotland could be 

 best and most usefully carried out was, that the following circular 

 was signed in name of the Natural History Societies of Aberdeen, 

 Dundee, and Perth, and was sent to the secretaries of all the 

 societies from Fifeshire to Aberdeenshire inclusive : — 



" The members of several Scientific Societies in the east of 

 Scotland having had under consideration the advantages that 

 would result from a federation of the various societies, believing 

 that thereby the value of their scientific work would be greatly 

 increased and their objects promoted, have determined to call a 

 meeting of delegates from the various scientific bodies in the east 

 of Scotland, to be held at the Perthshire Natural History Museum, 

 Tay Street, Perth, on Saturday, 9th February next, at 1 p.m. At 

 this meeting it is purposed to consider the question of federation, 

 and how it may be best carried out, and also to adopt a constitu- 

 tion, and to arrange for a first general meeting. 



Some of the advantages of such an association may be briefly 

 stated : — 



1. Increased value of work by having an aim in common. 



2. Increased zeal amongst members by definite work being put 

 before them. 



3. Improvements in method of carrying out excursions. 



4. Increased facilities for intercourse amongst the different 

 societies. 



The idea of a federation of societies is not a new one. In 



