2 Transactions. 



Secretary's Report. 



The Secretary (Dr E. J. Chimiock) read the Annual 

 Report : — 



The membership of the Society now numbers 143 ordinary 

 members, of whom 13 have been admitted during the session now 

 closing. There are also 7 life members and 24 honorary members, 

 two of whom, Sir Herbert Maxwell and Mr William Thomson of 

 Kirkcudbright, were elected during the closing session. The 

 Society has sustained the loss by death of three members- --Mr 

 Robert Maxwell Witham of Kirkconnell ; Mr William Hastings, 

 the taxidermist ; and Mr James Williamson, of Maxwelltown. 

 Mr Maxwell Witham was one of the most enlightened gentlemen 

 of the district, and always took a lively interest in this Society, 

 which he evinced on many occasions by exhibiting his collection of 

 antiquities and articles of interest. Mr Hastings for many years 

 contributed interesting zoological notes to our proceedings. His 

 place among the honorary members was filled at our September 

 meeting by the election of Mr William Thomson of Kirkcudbright, 

 one of the most indefatigable investigators in Galloway, both in 

 botanical and antiquarian matters. It is an honour to the Society 

 to have his name enrolled among its members. 



Eight evening meetings and four field meetings have been 

 held during the session. At the former 25 interesting papers were 

 read, all of which shewed laudable research, and some were very 

 valuable. Without detracting from the merit of the other con- 

 tributors, the papers communicated by Messrs Ardson, Barbour, 

 Cairns, Gray, M' Andrew, and Scott-Elliot may be singled out as 

 particularly good. It is a pity that more members do not take 

 part in our proceedings, either in contributing papers or in attend- 

 ing the discussions. 



The thanks of the Society are due to Mr Scott-Elliot for his 

 interest in the herbarium, by his labours in increasing the con- 

 tributions to it and in classifying and naming the plants. The 

 Misses Hannay are also worthy of especial thanks for their care of 

 the plants during the winter months and for mounting and arranging 

 the specimens. The botanists of the district have formed a Field 

 Club, under the presidency of Mr Scott-Elliot, and have had a very 

 successful summer session, if it can be so called. This new club 



