XIV PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



receive the help of the members of the Society, and other 

 friends, by the contribution of specimens. 



The thanks of the Society are also due (1) to Mr. Alexander 

 Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., for the gift of a marine dredge, with 

 complete dredging apparatus. The dredge is fitted with the 

 most approved appliances, and will prove a valuable aid to the 

 pursuit of Marine Zoology. (2) To Dr. Alexander Hamilton 

 Howe, of Hullerhirst, Stevenston, for the gift of a copy of 

 Travels in the Interior of Brazil by Mr. George Gardner. The 

 book is especially interesting and valuable as the copy pre- 

 sented by the author to the distinguished general Sir Colin 

 Campbell, afterwards Lord Clyde. (3) To Dr. John Grieve, 

 F.R.S.E., F.L.S., for the gift of a copy of the Plates of Dillenius' 

 Historla Muscorum, with annotations by the late Mr. Alexander 

 M'Kinlay on the nomenclature of species, &c. 



In conclusion, the Council beg to express the hope that the 

 Session now commenced will prove to be one of increasing 

 interest and diligent work ; and that the individual efforts of 

 the members will be directed to the extension of the Society's 

 usefulness, and the more complete attainment of the objects 

 for which it was instituted. 



The Treasurer (Mr. John Renwick) submitted his annual 

 Financial Statement, which showed a balance of £23 16s. 8d. 

 at the credit of the Society. 



The Librarian (Mr. James J. F. X. King) reported as follows: 



The Books are in good condition, with the exception of the 

 binding of some of the volumes of Sowerby's Botany (as reported 

 last year), which has given way. It is recommended that these 

 volumes should be bound in pigskin leather, seeing that they 

 are more used than any other books in the Library. 



Upwards of 600 separate publications, contributed by our 

 various corresponding Societies, Magazines, &c, have been 

 added during the past Session. 



The Library now contains 756 bound volumes, being an 

 increase of 80 volumes since last report. 



We are sorry to report that there has been a falling off as 

 regards the number of books taken out by Members, as com- 

 pared with former Sessions, 167 books having been lent out (of 

 which half were issued during the summer), as compared with 

 194 in 1884-85, and 189 in 1883-84. 



The Reports were all unanimously approved and adopted. 



The Society then proceeded to the election of Office-Bearers, 

 when Mr. Thomas King was elected a Vice-President; Mr. 

 Robert Broom, a Secretary ; Mr. John Renwick, Treasurer ; and 

 Messrs. A. Somerville, B.Sc, F.L.S., Peter Ewing, James Steel, 



