148 The Scottish N'aturalist. 



given of Sir Thomas's desire to oblige others, even at great 

 l^ersonal inconvenience. It had been arranged that the Club 

 should meet on the top of Ben Ghlo, a high and remarkably 

 steep mountain in Athole. As some of the members were 

 located on opposite sides of the mountain, it was agreed to meet 

 at the summit. When the day arrived — a very hot and fatiguing 

 day — Sir Thomas was ill and in bed, at the foot of the hill ; but 

 knowing how much disappointment his absence would cause, he 

 got up, managed to crawl up the hill in some manner, though so 

 weak that he could scarcely cross the various burns on the way, 

 attended the meeting, and returned to Forest Lodge to go im- 

 mediately to bed again ! 



Finding so much pleasure to himself in the study of nature, 

 and thoroughly impressed with the belief that others would be 

 benefited by similar studies, it was but natural to a man of Sir 

 Thomas Moncreiffe's kindly disposition to cast about for a 

 method in which that desire might be realised. This he thought 

 might be accomplished by establishing in Perth a good educa- 

 tional museum of the natural productions of the county, the 

 museum being, however, but the centre round which should be 

 clustered in course of time lecture and class rooms, laboratories, 

 and other aids to the study of science. He therefore took ad- 

 vantage of his position as President of the Perthshire Society of 

 Natural Science, to advocate in one of his annual addresses a 

 scheme for the establishment of such an institution. Though he 

 has not lived to see his cherished project realised, yet, thanks to 

 the skill and energy with which he advocated it, and the support 

 that it has received, it bids fair to be soon an accomplished fact, 

 the more especially as it is felt that such would be a fit and 

 desirable memorial of the originator of the idea. 



Though gone from amongst us, the memory of Sir Thomas 

 Moncreiffe will ever be held in loving remembrance by those 

 with whom and for whom he laboured ; and when we wander 

 amongst those scenes of nature which he so dearly loved, in the 

 bosky woods or on the heather-clad hills, our thoughts will often 

 turn to the quiet spot where all that was mortal of him reposes. 



F.^ B. W. 



