12 Presidential Address. 



of other proposed publications will be appended to the circular 

 and should the replies be sufficiently encouraging, it is quite pos- 

 sible that these original subscribers may become of themselves the 

 nucleus of a local " Record Society." I have already referred to 

 the Burgh Records which are now being arranged by Mr Shirley, 

 and it seems to me, that in the event <if a "Record Society" 

 being an established fact, it would here find much interesting 

 material for work peculiarly its own. 



Returning again to our Society, it is gi^atifying to know that in 

 the last twelve months we have been in a flourishing condition. 

 Our funds at least show a credit l)aiance in hand, the bound 

 volumes of our Transactions testify to the good work done by our 

 members, and our roll of membership has not decreased. We 

 have had, of course, during the period under review to mourn the 

 loss of several members by death, for " Time like an ever rolling 

 stream bears all its sons away."' 



I am sure that it was a great sorrow to us all to learn of Mr 

 Robert Service's severe illness. That so eminent an ornithologist 

 and so enthusiastic a memberof our Society should be thus stricken 

 is a matter of regret to a far wider circle than that comprised by 

 Dumfriesshire and Galloway. It is to l)e hoped that the fund 

 recentlv started on his behalf may meet with a liberal response. 

 Up till now the contributions have been most satisfactory, and it 

 will be gratifying to him to realise in the shape of this testimonial 

 how his services, both in public life and to natural history, are 

 appreciated. 



Rumour mav have reached you of the retirement of our hono- 

 rarv secretarv. Rumour has in this case. I regret to say, been 

 correct. Mr Arnott, after five years' ser\ice in this capacity, has 

 found it impossible to give the reiiuired attention to his private 

 affairs and to carry on his secretarial duties. We are of one mind 

 that our best thanks are due to him for his indefatigable zeal 

 and for his energetic work. I understand that he contemplates 

 writing one or more books, and I am sure the Society wish him 

 every success with these. We shall always remember with grati- 

 tude the labour of love which he has carried on during the pa.st 

 five vears, and the success of our Society during that period is 

 probably more directly due to his efforts than to any other 

 meml)er. As his succes.sor we ha\'e been fortunate in obtaining 

 the services of Mr Shirley, whom I herein warn will have a great 



