2 Opening Address. [Sess. 



meetings in the room of the Society up-stairs. The Council 

 hope that the great majority of our members will join this 

 section, as if they do, they may hope to obtain much infor- 

 mation that is invaluable to every naturalist. 



When T had the honour to read to you last year my open- 

 ing address, I had occasion to refer to the advantage that 

 would accrue to our members if we had committees appointed 

 to devote special attention to each of the following subjects — 

 viz., Plora, Fauna, Geology, Archaeology, and Microscopy. I 

 am sorry to say we are still without any of these committees, 

 except that for Microscopy. I hop_e the matter may not be 

 lost sight of, as I feel sure the subjects above enumerated are 

 not likely to get the full attention they deserve until we 

 appoint some properly constituted authority to give them 

 special attention, and at the same time direct the efforts of 

 our younger members in whatever line of study they may 

 desire to take up. 



It is with great satisfaction that I see the printed ' Trans- 

 actions ' of the Society for last year now ready, as it completes 

 our first volume, which records the labours of five years, and 

 represents a large amount of creditable and useful work on the 

 part of some of our members. I wish every one connected 

 with our Society would give us contributions ; and I can 

 assure them that it will give us the greatest pleasure to print 

 any special scientific information they may possess. I am 

 sure you will all join with me in expressing thanks to our 

 joint editors, Mr Andrew Moffat and Mr John Lindsay, for the 

 able and careful way in which they have seen our publications 

 through the press. 



There is only one other matter to which I need refer be- 

 fore proceeding to the subject proper of my address, and that 

 is the summer excursions of next year. We are all most 

 anxious to make these interesting and successful ; and with 

 the object of attaining this end, a committee has been appointed 

 to consider the matter, and make suggestions. If any members 

 can give information regarding places not previously visited by 

 the Society, or have any suggestions as to the way in which 

 our field meetings may be made more useful and interesting, 

 they might kindly write the Secretary, who will lay their 

 suggestions before the committee. 



