PRINCIPAL CLERKS AND RECORDERS. 533 



their own hands. Mr Duncan is well known to the mem- 

 bers as being thoroughly acquainted with the history of the 

 Society, and as a most zealous and obliging ofificial. He 

 was regularly trained to business, having been, before enter- 

 ing the service of the Society, for upwards of three years in 

 the office of Mr George Cruickshank, Solicitor, Banff". Mr 

 Menzies has, on various occasions, mentioned the success 

 of the general shows as being greatly owing to his untiring 

 zeal and ability. The catalogues of the shows, the main 

 work of which falls on him, are considered quite an authority 

 for correctness. He compiled an index to the first, second, 

 and third series of the Transactions, and a History of the 

 Society's Veterinary Department. The first was published 

 in a separate volume in 1869, and the second was included 

 in the Transactions for 1879. 



The office of Junior Clerk was created in 1867, and is 

 still held by the gentleman then appointed — Mr JOHN 

 MacDiarmid. On the occasion of the distress in 1877, he 

 was intrusted with the distribution of provisions sent to St 

 Kilda ; and the Directors were so satisfied with his report 

 on the state of the Island that they had it published, his 

 knowledge of the Gaelic language having enabled him to 

 get valuable information, though only one clear day on the 

 Island. 



Miscellaneoits Offices. 



The other existing office-bearers are as follows : Pub- 

 lishers — William Blackwood & Sons ; Printers — Neill & 

 Co. ; Stationers — G. Waterston, Sons, & Stewart ; Silver- 

 smiths — Hamilton, Crichton, & Co.; Medallists — Alexander 

 Kirkwood & Son ; Inspector of Works — John Watherston 

 & Sons ; Messenger — William Simpson. 



