50 FRANCIS BUCHANAN WHITE. 



specialisation that now so largely threaten to leave no place for the 

 wider outlook, more healthy though less minute, of the older type 

 of naturalist. But while thus most in sympathy with the latter 

 type, he showed himself to be a most accurate worker in several 

 lines, usually distributed among different specialists. Numerous 

 publications from his pen demonstrate his minute acquaintance 

 with the structure and the biology of various groups both of insects 

 and of plants, as well as the width of his knowledge of a more 

 general kind, not only in zoology and botany, but also in geology. 

 He was probably unequalled in his knowledge of the natural history 

 (in the wide sense) of Scotland, largely gained during residence for 

 a time in various localities from Colvend, on the Solway Firth, to 

 Strathglass, in Inverness. But while thus familiar with many 

 parts of Scotland, he devoted his energies with especial zeal to the 

 investigation of his native county. There is probably no part of it, 

 however difficult of access, that he had not visited, and of each 

 locality he noted, so far as opportunity permitted, the characteristic 

 features and the more interesting animals and plants. 



He also endeavoured to secure tbe goodwill and co-operation of 

 otbers in the study of the natural history of Scotland; and with 

 this aim he took a leading part in the formation, in 1867, of the 

 Perthshire Society of Natural Science. From that date onwards 

 he was officially connected with this Society, during many years as 

 its President, and for a shorter period as its Secretary. His relation 

 to the continued progress of the Society in numbers, in usefulness, 

 and in prosperity, which has brought it into the front rank of local 

 Societies, and has equipped it with excellent rooms, a library, and 

 an admirable local museum, is shown by the following resolution, 

 passed on Dec. 13th, 1894 : — "The Society records with profound 

 regret its sense of the irreparable loss which it has sustained by the 

 death of Dr. F. Buchanan White, F.L.S., F.E.S., who was one of 

 its founders, and who, during all the years of its existence, has 

 guided its affairs with untiring devotion. In the service of the 

 Society he spared neither time nor Libour, and his large store of 

 scientific knowledge was ever at the disposal of its members. To 

 his energy and skill are mainly due both the I'eputation which the 

 Society and its museum have acquired, and the popularity which 

 the study of natural science has gained in our city and county." 

 His addresses as President and his reports as Secretary dealt either 

 with the progress of the Society and its museum, or with work 

 requiring to be done by the Society ; and, whatever their subject, 

 were always suggestive and helpful. He took a leading part in the 

 excursions of the Society, that have done so much to advance its 

 aims ; and on his initiation the Perthshire Mountain Club was 

 formed as a branch of the Society to promote the exploration of the 

 mountains of the county by one or more excursions to them 

 annually. He was also one of the founders of the Scottish Crypto- 

 gamic Society and of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists' 

 Societies. 



In 1871 he induced the Perthshire Society to set on foot the 

 Scottish Naturalist, whiqh he edited until the close of 1882. After 



