Transactions. 3 



be one of the best in Great Biitain. But while we admire tbe 

 enthusiasm of youtli, we do not forget our old colleague, Mr 

 M'Andrew, whose work in the botanical field would do honour to 

 any man in the country. "We are still favoured with valuable 

 contributions from him, shewing that his energy in observation 

 is quite as -^dgorous now as ever it has been. His valuable 

 botanical lists are now being printed in our Transactions, and he 

 is sending in fresh ones still. Mr Scott-Elliot's classes for botany 

 held during the summer deserve honourable mention in this 

 report. This gentleman's efforts are worthy of all praise, and it 

 is an honour to our Society to possess two such thorough botanists 

 as Messrs M'Andrew and Scott-Elliot. The ladie-s, Miss Han nay 

 and Miss M. Aitken, who are assisting Mr Scott-Elliot in super- 

 intending the herbarium, are deserving of the w.irmest thanks of 

 the Society. 



Last session we had the valuable Baxter bequest of minerals 

 and coins. This year w-e have received an equally valuable 

 donation, that of the late Robert Dinwiddie's scientific library, 

 from his son, Mr Rol'ert Dinwiddie, of New York. Mr Din- 

 widdie's affection for his native town is another illustration of 

 Horace's line — " Caduin, non animiim, mutal qui trans mare 

 currit." We have now the nucleus of a good scientific library, 

 iind thanks to the exertions of our librarian the books arc ready 

 for use by the members whenever they like to avail tiiemselves 

 of the privilege. Another valuable donation is that of Mrs 

 Walter Grierson, who, since the death of her husband, and 

 carrying out his wish as well as lier own, has presented to the 

 Society the valuable collection of plants made by her late son, 

 Dr Frank Grierson. This has been placed under tiie care of Mr 

 Scott^Elliot, and added to our iierbarium. I Ind the pleasure 

 since the last meeting of conveying to Mrs Grierson the thanks 

 of the Society for her donation. 



The exhibition of the Baxter minerals and coins, together with 

 a collection of portraits of Dumfries and Galloway worthies, held 

 in November^ was a decided success. This success was greatly 

 due to the exertions of Messrs Barbour, Davidson, and Lennox. 

 It is hoped that the attempt to form a permanent collection of 

 portraits of old Dumfriesshire and Galloway celebrities will be 

 borne in mind and prove a reality. For this purpose funds are 



