ANNUAL MEETING 
109 
of rare birds must be decreasing rapidly. Sometimes the shoot- 
ing of these was the only record they had of them. Some of the 
rarest animals, species like the zebra, the white rhinoceros, and 
the small lynx had become practically extinct. This, unfortu- 
nately, applied to rare plants also. A great danger in the latter 
case was the habit of the confiding collector, when he came on 
a unique specimen, of making the discovery known, say for pur- 
poses of exchange. This publicity had often the most serious 
results. About forty years ago there was discovered between 
Dalwhinnie and Dalnaspittle, on the borders of Inverness-shire, 
a kind of blue heath [Menziesia ccerulea) which had disappeared 
from human view for a number of years. Between 1850 and 1855 
it was come upon in considerable abundance, and it was such 
a beautiful plant that the finder in his delight injudiciously made 
his discovery and its habitat public. Next spring a Scottish 
market gardener came along and dug it all up by the roots. He 
did not know what punishment would be adequate for that man, 
who had probably long since passed away and received the 
reward of his deeds. It was melancholy to think that the pro- 
cess of extinction in such cases was proceeding rapidly. Some- 
thing, it is true, was being done to save the aquatic plants, 
but the plants of the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District and 
Wales were disappearing very rapidly. Some of them, indeed, 
remained in inaccessible places, but this merely because they 
were out of human reach. He wished to recommend to their 
sympathetic consideration whether something could not be done 
by means of the Legislature. Austria had done something, and 
he thought that in Switzerland also measures had been taken 
lor the preservation of rare plants. He thought this idea 
deserved their most serious consideration ; and it might be 
extended to birds, though some little had already been done 
for the preservation of wild birds, especially seabirds. He com- 
plimented the Society on its flourishing condition and on the 
growth of its balance. The favourable position of the Selborne 
Society and kindred fraternities was a strong evidence of the 
growing sensibility of the masses of the people to Nature’s 
beauties, and the necessity for preserving them (loud applause). 
Professor Boulger, in proposing a vote of thanks to the 
Chairman, said that Mr. Bryce had taken up the important 
duties of Chairman at very short notice. Mr. Bryce had said 
that he had no address to give them, but he (Professor Boulger) 
ventured to think Mr. Bryce had given them a very excellent 
address indeed. They might congratulate themselves in having 
found such a splendid substitute for Lord Avebury on such 
brief and insufficient notice. 
The vote was seconded by a member of the audience and 
carried with enthusiasm, and Mr. Bryce briefly responded. 
After an interval for refreshments, Mr. Fred. Knock, F.L.S., 
F.E.S., gave a demonstration illustrated by his latest series of 
photographs from living insects, which was fully appreciated by 
the audience. 
