PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 375 



The Marine Biological Association, -which I represent, is the 

 baby, and our good wishes will not lack the warmth and spon- 

 taneity of youthfulness. I shall just ask you to pick out what 

 was best and fittest in the speeches of the other representatives, 

 and to credit them to the Marine Biological Association. With 

 reference to the exhibits which our Association is displaying 

 in a neighbouring room, I may say that they consist of a set 

 of optical apparatus which include the most modern lenses and 

 microscopes; there are also shown the plans of the new station 

 that we are going to proceed with. It will be seen that they 

 provide for an extension which increases the station to three 

 times its present size. Regarding the objects which are shown, 

 I hope they will command your interest, and that you will 

 appreciate the skill which has been displayed in the preparation 

 of the preserved specimens. A good deal has been spoken about 

 education, and we are making a practical effort in the way of 

 educating and giving facilities to foster the spread of that 

 inquisitiveness which Sir John Murray referred to. We are 

 aiming at the establishment of classes which shall, as far as 

 possible, give to workers opportunities of acquiring their know- 

 ledge direct from Nature. The Marine Biological Association 

 and the Natural History Society need not in any wa) conflict 

 with one another, for the one is supplementary to the other. 

 Indeed, amongst the membership of our Association we have 

 the President and others of your Society; and the warmth of 

 our good wishes is to some extent on a practical basis, for 

 we realise that so long as such societies flourish the Marine 

 Biological Association itself will not lack supporters. 



Mr. Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President of the Perthshire 

 Society of Natural Science, next addressed the meeting. He 

 said — I am here this evening to represent a Society which has 

 not yet attained the dignity of its jubilee, but which is fast 

 approaching the venerable age, and on behalf of that Society 

 I offer to you their hearty congratulations on the wonderful 

 record which you have to show during the past fifty years, 

 and on the work you have been able to accomplish in that 

 period. It seems to me that the very fact that your Society 

 has continued in full vigour for half-a-century is an absolute 

 proof that its affairs have been guided with energy and oara. 



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