The Scottish Naturalist. 189 



KIRKCALDY NATURALISTS' SOCIETY.— 29th January, Mr. James 

 Shepherd read a paper on "Instinct," which has since been printed for private 

 circulation. The subject is one at once exceedingly interesting and ill-under- 

 stood. Mr. Shepherd has been successful in putting the facts before his hearers 

 in a way that could not fail to engage their attention and interest ; and his 

 anecdotes of observations made by himself on pet animals are well worth 

 attention. 



MONTROSE SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD CLUB.— At the meeting of 

 this Club on Tuesday, 12th February, Mr. \V. J. Hardie gave a lecture on the 

 Teeth, illustrated by models and diagrams. Dr. Howden reported that he had 

 attended the meeting at Perth, on the 9th February, of delegates called to con- 

 sider the federation of the Scientific Societies in the east of Scotland between 

 Fife and Aberdeenshire. He gave an account of the proceedings at the 

 meeting, and advised the Club to join the Union. It was unanimously agreed 

 to do so. 



MONTROSE NATURAL HISTORY AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 

 Feb. 20th. — The annual meeting of this Society was held in the Museum at noon. 

 The Secretary, Mr. R. Barclay, reported a miscellaneous gathering of donations 

 to the Museum during the year. From the list it is evident that the collections 

 are, like those in most provincial museums, of a very mixed kind ; and among 

 other gifts during the year is one of a gold cup won by a horse of General 

 Ramsay at Mysore in 1865, and bequeathed by him to the Museum. The cup 

 is valued at 250 guineas, and the Society for it may have to pay ^26 5s. 

 of legacy duty. We do not wonder that some of the gentlemen present ex- 

 pressed the opinion that the gift was of the same nature as a " white elephant." 

 The Society is desirous to extend the buildings of the Museum, and an Exten- 

 sion Fund has been commenced. Part of the money has been contributed, but, 

 as usually occurs, only a minority of the members have as yet intimated sub- 

 scriptions. In connection with the proposed extension, Dr. Howden moved : 

 *' That, in any addition to be made to the Museum buildings, provision shall 

 be made for the formation of a purely local collection, illustrative of the natural 

 history of Angus and A/earns, and of an educational typical collection of classes, 

 orders, and genera, for a lecture-room, a library, and a laboratory for scientific 

 ivork." After he had spoken in support of his motion, it was seconded by 

 Captain Forsyth Grant ; and after a good deal of talk, it was remitted to the 

 Directors to consider and report to the next annual meeting. It is to be 

 hoped that the motion will receive full and fair consideration ; and that, if 

 the necessary expenses can be met in any way, it will be carried into action as 

 soon as possible. 



On the motion of Dr. Howden, the Society agreed to join the East of Scot- 

 land Union of Naturalists' Societies ; and he and the Secretary were appointed 

 to represent the Society in the Council of the Union. 



PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE.— December 6th, 

 1883. — Several new members were admitted into the Society, and donations 

 intimated to the Museum. Thereafter, on the motion of the Secretary, it was 

 resolved to add to the constitution of the Society : " In the event of any 

 surplus arising from the annual voluntary contributions, subscriptions, donations, 

 or other income or funds of the Society, the said shall be applied in furtherance of 

 the objects of the Society as above stated, and no part thereof shall be applied in 



