PROCEEDINGS-PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. Clll 
WINTER SESSION, 1901-1902. 
14th November, 1901. 
Henry Coates, F.R.S.E., President, in the Chair. 
Mr. James Menzies exhibited a specimen of Carex divisa, Huds., 
gathered by him in a marsh near Montrose, and identified by Mr. 
Arthur Bennett, Croydon. This sedge was recorded by George Don 
more than 80 years ago, but had not been found subsequently until 
Mr. Menzies came upon it in August last. He said it was peculiarly 
gratifying that Don’s accuracy in this, as well as in many others of 
his records on which doubts had been cast, had been vindicated 
against his detractors, and that justice was now being done to one 
of the most eminent botanists that Scotland has produced. 
The President was appointed, as representative of the Society, to 
attend the Jubilee Celebration of the Natural History Society of 
Glasgow on 4th December next. 
The President delivered the following Opening Address :— 
Ladies and Gentlemen,— I take it that the chief function of a 
President’s Opening Address at the beginning of our winter session 
should be to afford an opportunity for recording in our Proceedings 
from year to year any natural phenomena affecting the Natural 
History of our district, and also any occurrences affecting the welfare 
of our society. Under the first of these categories come the following 
SEASONAL NOTES. 
As the summer of 1900 was characterised by its dulness, so the 
summer of 1901 has been distinguished by a remarkable continuance 
of sunshine. Although, as will be seen from the following comparative 
tables, the average temperature was not greatly higher, and the total 
rainfall was only about 25 per cent, less, yet the impression produced 
by the long-continued sunshine and the cloudless skies made the 
difference appear very much greater. 
The effect produced on animal and plant life, and upon the health 
of the community, by these meteorological conditions has been very 
marked. Flowers have been very abundant and bright in colour, and 
remained in bloom until far on in the season. This was particularly 
noticeable in the case of the roses. Foliage was exceptionally heavy, 
and remained long on the trees, but the autumn tints were not so 
brilliant as they sometimes are. Apples and pears were plentiful and 
of good quality, and so also were small fruits, such as gooseberries 
and currants, but stone fruits, such as plums, were by no means a 
heavy crop. Insects of all kinds were more than usually abundant, 
and this was specially noticed in the case of bees and wasps. Probably 
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