Anniversary Address. 195 



I must also mention the publication of a work by one of 

 our most able and distinguished members, David Milne 

 Home, Esq., of Wedderb urn, which well deserves the attention 

 of the members of the Club, entitled " The Estuary of the 

 Forth, and the adjoining districts, viewed geologically." 



And now, Gentlemen, on this, the fortieth anniversary of 

 the existence of the Club, it would not be out of place to 

 make a few remarks upon what has been done, and what 

 might be done by such a Club as ours. It is exactly forty 

 years this month since the first meeting of the Berwickshire 

 Naturalists' Club was held at Bankhouse, under the presi- 

 dency of Dr Johnston. In the earlier years of this Club's 

 existence, nearly all the members were enthusiastically 

 occupied in some particular branch of Natural History, or 

 Archaeology, and nearly all contributed the result of 

 their observations to the Proceedings. Now, although of 

 late years we have added very largely to the number of 

 members, that, of itself, is very desirable and much for 

 the good of the Club, as producing funds for the im- 

 provement of our Proceedings, by means of illustrations ; 

 but that is not enough, and what I regret to find is — that the 

 members who interest themselves personally in the objects for 

 which the Club was founded do not increase in the same 

 ratio as our new members are proposed. We have most cer- 

 tainly a number of most energetic and painstaking observers 

 in the Club ; but what I would like to see is — that, instead 

 of allowing a few members to do most of the work, both in 

 the field and by contributions to the Proceedings, that each 

 and every member should do a little. There is still plenty to 

 do before us. Although we have been working away for these 

 last forty years, we have not by any means exhausted the re- 

 sources of our district. In every branch of Natural History 

 there are still unexplored fields ; and I hope that next year 

 we will find among our contributors some fresh names who 

 have hitherto been among our non-working members. 



Gentlemen, let me again return you my most sincere thanks, 

 for the kindly feeling you have shown to me, during the year 

 in which I have had the honour to hold the position of 

 President of the Club. 



