KEPORT OF MEETING- OF THE EAST OF SCOTLAND UNION 

 OF NATURALISTS' SOCIETIES AT LAEGO, 



(On Thursday and Friday, 2nd. and 3rd. August, 1888). 



MR. JOHN GILMOUR of Montrave, near Largo, as President 

 of the Union for the year, occupied the chair, and in a short 

 address welcomed the delegates and members from the different 

 Societies, most of which were represented at the meeting, to Largo. 

 He remarked that in previous years the Union had met in the larger 

 towns, but that this year they had met in a quiet country village, 

 in a neighbourhood that teemed with natural beauty and with 

 objects of interest to the student of natural science. The local 

 Society was very proud of the historical associations of the im- 

 mediate vicinity. The lands of Largo were, in 1493, granted by 

 James III. to Admiral Sir Andrew Wood in reward for his gallant 

 victory over an English fleet. Largo was also the birthplace of 

 Alexander Selkirk, the prototype of '' Robinson Crusoe." 



Among the interesting relics of the neighbourhood were the 

 Standing Stones of Lundin, which formed an admirable subject of 

 speculation. He then stated that the Largo Field Club is 

 endeavouring to form a collection of local objects ; and suggested 

 that the specimens obtained during the excursions of the present 

 meeting should be given to the secretary of the Club, for preserva- 

 tion in the Largo Museum. 



There was a good attendance of ladies and gentlemen at the 

 public meeting. It was intimated that there was ^5 at the 

 credit of the Union. It was resolved that Working Men's 

 Societies should be eligible to join on the same terms as other 

 Societies. The Council agreed to petition the Government against 

 the clause in the Scottish Universities Bill transferring the manage- 

 ment of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden to the authorities of 

 Edinburgh University. 



Mr. R. Brown was appointed delegate from the Union to the 

 approaching meeting of the British Association in Bath. Mr. 



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