Transactions. 101 



year, and owing to the arrangements for the new premises being 

 under consideration, they were not deposited in the Observatory 

 Museum. The donations of books were more numerous. In 

 addition to the annual reports or transactions of the following 

 Societies — The Smithsonian Institution, New York Academy of 

 Sciences, the Peabody Museum, the University of Christiana, the 

 Geographical Society of Scotland, Edinburgli Geological Society, 

 Glasgow Archaeological Society, Glasgow Natural History Society, 

 Perthshire Natural History Society, Berwick Natural History 

 Society, The Essex Field Club, Hudderstield Natural History 

 Society, and the South London Microscopical Society — we 

 received nine parts of the Linnean Society's Transactions from 

 Mr Robinson-Douglas, one part of the Microscopical Journal 

 and seven parts of the Edinburgh Botanical Society from Dr F. 

 Allan,' and a number of pamphlets on Archaeological subjects 

 from Mr G. F. Black. The Society has made an important 

 addition to the Library by purchasing Vols. I. and II. of Bain's 

 Calendar of Documents. All these books have been circulated 

 among tlie members, but imperfectly owing to the want of 

 proper library accommodation. 



Having thus briefly narrated what has been done in the past, 

 let me add a word or two with regard to the future. I expect 

 we shall have a sufficient number of communications to fill up the 

 ordinary meetings of the ensuing session, and therefore we sliould 

 utilise our rooms by having a course of bi-weekly meetings, or 

 lectures, for the benefit of the junior members. We iiave suffi- 

 cient accommodation for specimens of all the local birds and 

 fishes, as well as for innumerable beetles, butterflies, and other 

 insects. If each member would undertake to add to our collection 

 a single specimen, the present empty cases would be well filled by 

 our next annual meeting. We would then liave a better oppor- 

 tunity of studying the lower creation, and learning that — 



" In these Thy lowest works, yet these declare 

 Thy goodness beyond thought and power divme." 



This report was cordially adopted, and the Secretary awarded 

 a vote of thanks for his honorary services. The Rev. Mr Weir, 

 in seconding the motion, expressed on behalf of the Presbytery 

 of Dumfries, the satisfaction which that body felt at the altera- 

 tions and improvements made by the Society on the Presbytery 

 House. 



