PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
XV 
REPORT OF TREASURER. 
(See Balance-Sheet , page xxxix.) 
REPORT OF TREASURER OF MUSEUM FUND. 
(See Balance-Sheet, page xl.) 
REPORT OF CURATOR. 
Perthshire Museum. —The additions to the collection of Perthshire 
Vertebrates have been numerous, considering how few known blanks 
there were in the cases. As I explained in a previous report, the 
skeleton of an animal conveys more to the student than does a 
stuffed specimen. It is desirable, therefore, that we should have a 
series of typical skeletons, and to the attainment of this a beginning 
has been made. The body of a Fox was sent to us for maceration, 
and this when cleaned will be mounted and placed alongside the 
carnivors, and will form a valuable and instructive addition. In 
course of time I shall introduce typical skeletons at the commence¬ 
ment of each order of the Perthshire birds and mammals. The 
body of a mute swan was given to us by Major Drummond-Hay. 
This has been prepared and mounted, and its skeleton is now in the 
case. 
The storage of the reference collections of Perthshire Insects 
has received considerable attention. The cupboards underneath 
the bevelled cases on the north wall of the gallery I am converting 
into insect cabinets. By introducing a centre-board, two tiers of 
glassHopped boxes can be placed in each cupboard. The sides of 
the boxes are grooved and fit into corresponding fillets at the sides 
of the centre-board of the cupboard, giving us a minimum loss of 
space between each box. The system admits of the cases being 
interchanged throughout the whole series. Eighteen boxes are 
fitted into each cupboard, two of which are completed and contain 
the Hymenoptera , Diptera , and Odonata of Perthshire. These 
will be added to as time and funds will permit, so as to bring the 
other groups of insects into their proper places in the series, instead 
of, as at present, having them scattered, some here and others there, 
throughout the building. The thanks of the Society are due to 
Messrs. Kirkcaldy, M‘Gregor, Lawson, Wilkie, Wylie, and Rodger 
for additions to the groups Hemiptera , Coleoptera , Lepidoptera , 
Hymenoptera , Diptera , Odonata. 
Index Museum. —Three groups have received special attention, 
viz., the E chino derm a ta , Crustacea , and Mollusca . These groups are 
arranged systematically in the upright cases, Nos. 7, 8, 9, and 12. 
The specimens have been carefully chosen, so as to show the basis of 
classification, etc., in the limited space. The method adopted is one 
which I have mentioned on more than one occasion, namely, the 
tablet system. The advantage of this method is the ease with which 
labelling can be done, the way in which groups can be brought 
together, and yet each specimen retains its individuality. 
