THE TOUNG NATURALIST. 



49 



Major Bennett discharged the duties of Croupier. A hearty supper was par- 

 taken of, mingled not a little with good natured jocular remarks, and perhaps 

 washed down with something that would have made Sir Wilfred Lawson look 

 aghast. The chairman opened the proceedings by proposing in loyal and 

 appropriate terms the toast of the " Queen and Royal Family " after which 

 " God save the Queen " was lustily sung. As no member of the Royal 

 Family had found it convenient to attend to respond, the toast of the " Army, 

 Navy, and Volunteers " was proposed, and Major Bennett replied with a 

 speech breathing defiance to Britain's enemies, not unmingled with the spirit 

 of the song 



" We don't want to fight, but by jingo if we do," etc. 

 The "Clydesdale Naturalists' Society" was next proposed by Mr. John 

 Young, F.G.S., of the Hunterian Museum, who congratulated the members 

 on the success which had attended their society, and the great future which 

 he believed was before it. He also remarked upon the prolific nature of the 

 Clydesdale district in all kinds of specimens. Mr. T. J. Henderson, in reply 

 gave a brief sketch of the history of the society, and the work which it has 

 accomplished. Mr. E. C. Eggleton proposed the toast of the "Kindred 

 Associations," and J. B. Murdock, on behalf of the Geological Society, made 

 a very appropriate speech in reply. " Our Corresponding Members " was the 

 next toast, and Mr. Robert Dunlop, in asking the members to drink their 

 good health, mentioned the valuable services which had been rendered us by 

 our corresponding members in various parts of Britain. Mr. Robert Mason, 

 F.L.S., on behalf of the corresponding members, none of w T hom were present, 

 made a suitable reply. The toast of " The Ladies " was next proposed by 

 Major Bennett, who seemed to be a warm admirer of the fair sex, judging 

 his humourous and complimentary speech, which contained not a few beautiful 

 metaphors, such as the "Ladies being the sunshine of our lives." Mr. John 

 Mackay, being the youngest members present, replied for the ladies. He 

 admitted, amidst much laughter, that he did not know much about the ladies, 

 and expressed his conviction that it was because of his " extreme youth " that 

 he was asked to reply to this toast, because older folks would be sure to have 

 some grumble to make about the ladies. He believed that, like himself, they 

 had some good qualities, but he was afraid that unlike himself they had some 

 bad ones. Absolute perfection was very rare in this world, so rare that his 

 friends often did not recognise it when they saw the embodiment of it. " The 

 Committee " was proposed, and Mr. G. G. Mackenzie briefly replied. Mr. 

 Robert Mason asked his friends to drink the health of " The Chairman," be- 

 cause they owed him much for which they should be grateful ; he had occupied 

 the position of chairman since the formation of the Society, and had contri- 



