PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XC1X 
The average attendance at the meetings has considerably im¬ 
proved, being 49. The greatest number at one meeting was about 
100, on 13th February, 1896, and the least 24, on 14th November, 
1895. Sixty-four new ordinary members have been added to the 
roll during the year, making a total membership of 369, including 
2 honorary, 11 corresponding, and 26 associate members and 5 
associates. 
During the summer months 8 excursions were held, at all ot 
which the attendances were very gratifying. The Council take this 
opportunity of thanking those proprietors and tenants who kindly 
granted the necessary permission for the carrying out of some of 
these. A very successful Excursion was again held jointly with the 
Scottish Natural History Society of Edinburgh, this time to Burnt¬ 
island and Kinghorn, and it was a great pleasure to meet so many 
enthusiastic Naturalists from this kindred Society. As the desire 
for another joint Excursion has again been expressed by the Scottish 
Natural History Society, your Council hope to be able to arrange 
one for the coming summer. 
The Museum was publicly opened by Sir Wm. H. Flower, K.C.B., 
D.C.L., &c., on 29th November, and has since been visited by large 
numbers, many of whom, your Council are glad to think, are not 
idle spectators, but who seem to study the specimens and labels 
carefully and take a considerable interest in the general arrangement. 
As a large number of working men were frequent visitors, several 
meetings were arranged with them, at which various gentlemen have 
explained the arrangement of the Museum and given lectures on 
different branches of Science, and your Council have thought it 
advisable to reinstate the old class of Associate Membership, so as 
to afford facilities to any desirous of joining the Society, to whom 
the annual ordinary subscription was somewhat of a burden, 
on easier terms, viz., 3/- per annum, and the Council hope to see 
this class of membership largely taken advantage of by working men 
and the elder scholars in some of the schools. Already 26 Associate 
Members have been enrolled. 
Your Council have again to mourn the loss of several who have 
done much for the Society in the past. Chief among these was 
Col. H. M. Drummond Hay of Seggieden, who was long a member 
of the Society and one of its most ardent supporters and workers, 
and who, during the last few years, devoted much of his time to the 
arrangement of the Birds, Nests, and Eggs in the Museum, which 
are such an attractive feature, and which he was happily spared to 
complete. The Society also laments the loss of Mr. John Young, 
C.E., who was for a period of 11 years, from 1874 to 1885, the 
Honorary Secretary. 
The use of the Lecture-Room has again been granted, as in 
former years, to various societies whose aims and objects are of an 
educational nature, and whose operations are for the general welfare 
of the community. 
REPORT OF TREASURER. 
(See Balance-Sheet , page cxv.) 
