The Scottish Naturalist. 149 



proaching. Probably but for him this society had never existed, 

 and certainly but for his wise and earnest management the society 

 had not done its work so well. Our acting president from the 

 first, he never was absent from his place in the meetings of the 

 council or of the society except when prevented by illness. He 

 was a hard worker in the interests of the society. His time, talents, 

 and extensive information were always at our service. He con- 

 tributed a number of papers of special interest and value. He 

 gave a tone to all our meetings. His spirit and example were 

 stimulating, and there are members who will be ready to acknow- 

 ledge their indebtedness to him in their respective departments of 

 study. Nothing was indifferent to him, and every subject brought 

 before us secured his interest and his sympathy. He was most 

 anxious that we should work up the botany, zoology, geology, and 

 archaeology of the district, hence the committees that were formed^ 

 and the Saturday excursions of which, even when beyond the three 

 score and ten years, he was the leading spirit. He thought the 

 society should be mainly local in its researches and its aims, should 

 observe and record what was interesting, and hence he preferred 

 brief papers on local subjects, the reading of which gave rise to 

 questions and discussions. But though the society had never fully 

 realised his idea, he was most grateful for what had been accom- 

 plished. We cannot as yet fully realise the influence he has exerted, 

 and the work he has done amongst us, and consequently cannot 

 fully realise the loss we have sustained by his removal. 



" It is understood that some time ago an eminent literary man, 

 had offered to write a memoir of Mr. Croall, but Mr. Croall de- 

 clined, preferring to do the work himself, and he was engaged 

 upon it when overtaken by his last illness. The narrative, however, 

 comes no further down than 1835. ^ e can now on ty suppose how 

 interesting the work would have been, wiitten by one who was such 

 an ardent lover and keen observer of nature, and who would have 

 invested his pages with the charms of delicate feeling and fancy. 

 He has, however, left sufficient materials for a complete memoir 

 which cannot fail to be interesting and valuable, and which, it is to be 

 hoped, will be given to the world with the least possible delay. 



" I have been favoured with the following genial and inteiesting 

 notice by Dr. Howden, the accomplished Superintendent of Sunny- 

 side Asylum, Montrose, an intimate friend and a great admirer of 

 our late president. " Alexander Croall was born near Brechin in 



