xxviii ANNALS OF PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 



Several of these excursions, especially those to lochs and to 

 difterent points on the coast, were undertaken for the purpose of in- 

 vestigating the breeding haunts of certain birds. 



It is interesting to note that three societies whose influence has 

 spread over the greater part of the country have been founded 

 within the precincts of the Society's building. These are the 

 Cryptogamic Society of Scotland, the East of Scotland Union of 

 Naturalists' Societies, and the Scottish Photographic Federation. 

 Within the Society itself three inner circles have been formed, 

 namely, the Mountain Club, the Photographic Section, and the 

 Junior Section. The last-named was the outcome of the Children's 

 Essay Competitions, of which eight have been held, with a total of 

 1074 competitors. 



From the foregoing summary it will be seen that the Society has 

 accomplished a considerable amount of work since its inauguration in 

 1867. Much however still remains to be done in working up the 

 natural history of the region. There is scope, for instance, for 

 original research in investigating the life-history and development of 

 the various forms of animal and plant life, as well as the more 

 obscure problems of structure and function. Studies such as these 

 demand leisure and patience, as well as skill and experience ; but 

 even small additions to the sum of human knowledge are of value in 

 the progress of scientific truth. 



