10 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



with devotion and perseverance various branches of natural 

 history. Among these were Thomas Gray, in the department of 

 conchology, who had gathered a magnificent collection of shells; 

 his brother, John Gray, devoted to entomology; Robert Gray, 

 no relation of the already-mentioned Grays", great in birds, and 

 the author of a standard work, The Birds of the West of Scot- 

 land ; Wm. Gourlie, distinguished in botany, and also a good 

 conchologist ; Dr. W. S. Lorrain, interested in general natural 

 history; James R. Fraser, with geological proclivities; my 

 brother, Thomas, entomology and birds; my own subjects, 

 botany and geology. There were others, whom I have forgotten, 

 but these were all very closely allied, and met often at each 

 other's houses, and on holiday excursions, to help and encourage 

 one another in our various fields of investigation. 



It was out of this association of congenial pursuits that 

 the Natural History Society originated, and my brother has 

 preserved among his notes an account of its birth. It was on 

 the 2nd July, 1851, and here is the note — "J. P. Fraser having 

 called a meeting of naturalists for to-night in the Thistle 

 Coffee Room, it was very well attended, all who were asked 

 having come forward, viz. : — Mr. Gourlie, four Grays, Dr. 

 Lorrain, Bell, and I, and we immediately set about forming 

 an association for the purpose of having excursions, &c., and 

 several rules were unanimously agreed to." 



Then again on the 9th — " There was a meeting of the Natural 

 History Society to-night, at which Dr. Scouler, of Dublin, was 

 elected honorary president, and delivered an essay ' On the 

 Symmetrical Arrangement of Plants and Animals,' which was 

 listened to with great attention and interest." 



The original members of the Society were thus: — 



Dr. Scouler 



Wm. Gourlie. 



Dr. W. B. Lorrain. 



John Gray, j^''^"- 

 Robert Gray, 



Thomas Gray,^ 

 Archd. Gray, J 



J. P. Fraser. 

 Wm. Ferguson, "» 

 Thos. Ferguson,/ 

 Wm. Keddie. 

 H. Colquhoun. 



Twelve in all. 



