10 Presidential Address. 



though, as I have said, our balance-sheet shows a prosperous 

 condition, there are plenty of outlets for expenditure if we had a 

 sufficient surplus. Excavations of certain old forts, the publica- 

 tion and editing of old manuscripts, the equipping and maintain- 

 ing of a local museum, the possibility of having our summer 

 excursions farther afield, and the increase in our periodical 

 library, are all desiderata which might then be considered. Let 

 us try and obtain more members, which Avould probably mean 

 more papers, greater attendance at our ineetings, and certainly 

 more funds. 



I cannot help thinking that it might be adwintageous in the 

 future, if our Society could be brought into closer contact with 

 other kindred societies. If we could occasionally meet with, say 

 the Glasgow, or the Cumberland Natural Hi.story Societies, or the 

 Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, I am .sure it would be of mutual 

 benefit. The exchange of opinion with comparative strangers 

 would be sure to educate, and would tend to keep our Society 

 from becoming isolated and possibly lethargic. 



Speaking of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club reminds me 

 that that society was the first of its kind to be inaugurated in Great 

 Britain. Ours, I believe, was the first to be founded in Scotland ; 

 and it has continued till to-day, with but a short break from May, 

 1875, to November, 1876. As you know, the jubilee of the 

 Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian 

 Society will take place on 20th November, 1912. This date may 

 seem to vou a long way off, but I should like to see that occasion 

 suitably celebrated. You may, or may not, know the volume 

 published by the naturalists of the Clyde Area in 1901, on the 

 occasion of the \isit of the British Association to Glasgow that 

 vear. This volume, entitled " The Fauna, Flora, and Geology 

 of the Clyde Area " (and in which your late President, Professor 

 G. F. Scott-Elliot, took an important part), would, to my mind, 

 be an ideal pattern for us to follow, in a commemorative volume. 

 But although certain branches of natural science locally may be in 

 a position to be worked up, I fear that as a whole such a publica- 

 tion would be impossible. I venture to think that, under the cir- 

 cumstances, a suitable compilation might be made of the follow- 

 ing : (a) A complete alphabetical index to the whole series of our 

 published Transactions, (b) A complete list of the members of 

 our Societv from its commencement, (c) A catalogue of the books 



