248 Anniversary Address. 



cuttings, and on railway embankments, while the sections of 

 the earth's surface, displayed to the eye of the geologist, are 

 often instructive as well as interesting. The entomologist, 

 too, may observe many of his insect friends pursuing their 

 allotted functions in the comparatively vraste ground often 

 afforded by the sides of railways. 



I trust I may, in conclusion, be permitted to say a few 

 words on the present position and composition of our club, 

 and I do this with the more freedom as I am an old member. 



We are now a very numerous body, and new members are 

 admitted at almost every meeting, but it appears to me that 

 we are becoming rather a heterogeneous body also. No 

 doubt our meetings are very pleasant reunions, but I fear we 

 may have departed from the original idea and character of 

 the club by admitting members who are not, strictly speak- 

 ing, naturalists or antiquaries. 



In making these observations, I believe I speak the senti- 

 ments of several of the older members of the club, and I 

 think it is worthy of our serious consideration, whether, in 

 zeal for the prosperity of the club, we may not have too largely 

 and indiscriminately added to our numbers. At any rate, 

 let us hope that in future more of our members will become 

 ''working members," and will lend their aid in making 

 those researches and forwarding those objects for which the 

 club was instituted, viz., the elucidation of the natural history 

 and antiquities of the eastern Borders. 



And now, gentlemen, it only remains for me to thank you 

 for the honour you conferred upon me in appointing me your 

 President — an office which I fear I have very unworthily 

 filled. 



