PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. xliii 
the sap again rises to these delicate tips next spring, and clothes the 
whole with verdure once more. Another effect of the abnormal 
conditions has been seen in the autumn tints, which this year have 
been exceptionally brilliant, but very late, and short-lived. So rapid 
indeed was the change that, in some cases which I noted, trees were 
entirely stripped in one night, before they had time to change colour. 
Leaving these stray notes on some of the workings of Nature 
around us, I come now to matters which more immediately concern 
our Society. 
During the past summer the programme of official excursions 
was very successfully carried out. These will be reported on in 
detail by Dr. Buchanan White at our next meeting,* but in the mean¬ 
time I should merely like to say that the plan which the Secretary 
adopted, of sending post-cards to all who expressed a wish to be 
present at any of the excursions, was carried out with excellent results. 
There was a good attendance on each occasion, and, as the weather 
was invariably propitious, those who came could not fail, I think, to 
spend an enjoyable afternoon, whatever the Editor may have to 
report regarding the scientific results of their labours. I only trust 
that next summer the Secretary may have a still longer list of those 
desiring to have reminder post-cards sent to them. This reminds 
me that the Secretary has made another suggestion which I think 
is worth the attention of the Council. It is that for each excursion 
a leader should be named, whose duty it would be to make himself 
acquainted with the ground beforehand, to make the preliminary 
arrangements, and to conduct the party to the most productive parts 
of the ground chosen. 
Turning next to the work of the Museum Committee, I think 
I may safely say that though much remains to be done, yet they 
have not been idle during the past summer. Schemes of decoration 
have had to be thought out, plans of cases adapted to all the different 
collections have had to be designed, diagrams and photographs have 
been prepared for the walls, etc. These and many other details 
have required daily, and almost hourly, attention. In this connec¬ 
tion I would refer specially to the untiring labours of our Honorary 
Curator, Col. Drummond Hay, who has lately been re-labelling all 
the birds, in anticipation of their removal to the new cases. 
It was with much satisfaction that the Committee received 
a visit from Sir William Flower, of the British Natural History 
Museum, and heard his favourable comments on the result of their 
labours. Since his visit he has written to say that he considers the 
Museum “ Quite the best I have seen anywhere for a Museum of the 
size of yours.” He also gave valuable suggestions regarding the 
cases, etc., some of which have already been carried out. 
We have lately had pleasing indications of the interest which our 
educational authorities are now beginning to take in Museums as 
educational institutions. In one of the recent codes, applicable to 
Schools in England, a clause has been introduced authorising teachers 
* Such was Dr. White’s intention, but before the next meeting, alas ! he had 
passed away. A report of the extensions for 1894, however, was compiled from 
various sources, and appeared in Part I. of the Proceedings , p. xxx.—E d. 
