PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. d 
number of our photographic members, but chiefly to Messrs. Wm. 
Ellison, A. Nicol, R. Kidston, and H. Coates. 
On the north wall are the beginnings of our Invertebrate Collec¬ 
tions, but only two cases are as yet complete, namely, the Hemiptera, 
by Mr. T. M. M‘Gregor, and the Eepidoptera, the work of Mr. S. T. 
Ellison. The Society is also much indebted to the former for his 
very handsome donation of Perthshire Hemiptera. I am in hope 
that before many weeks elapse we shall add to these cases our 
Coleoptera, after which I trust to begin the Spiders, Neuroptera, and 
Hymenoptera. 
The Mollusca, as far as the conchology of the district goes, is 
illustrated fully in a desk case, and is the work of Mr. H. Coates. I 
hope to be in a position before long to show also some of the forms 
as preparations, to illustrate their conformation and anatomy. 
And now to pass to the ground floor of the Museum. Here the 
Birds have been arranged according to Dresser’s classification; they 
are almost complete for the county as regards species, but a number 
require to be represented by the different sexes and by fledglings; 
and, further, I wish to arrange alongside each family a typical 
skeleton. This would add very materially to their scientific and 
educational value. J 
I would just like to add, in speaking of these cases, that I have 
twice had occasion to remove birds because of mould; this is, 
however, nothing to be alarmed about—in fact, to be expected, as 
the cases are new, and are bound to give out a certain amount of 
damp. A little care and watching is all that is necessary in order to 
prevent it spreading. 
In the next cases we possess an almost complete series of nests and 
of the eggs of birds breeding in the county. As for the exceptions, we 
have had their stands set out with labels, in order that gamekeepers 
and other ornithological friends may see our wants, and already quite 
a number of county neighbours have offered to keep a look-out in 
order to provide us with the specimens which are now conspicuous 
by their absence. 
Many and great are the changes since last year, and I cannot 
submit this, my first Official Report, without reference to one 
whose place, in relation to our Museum, no one who comes after him 
can fill. Most of you knew Col. Drummond Hay for a much longer 
period than it was my lot to know him, but you can scarcely entertain 
greater respect for his memory, nor feel more sorrow for his loss, 
than one who, for the best part of a year, served under his kindly 
orders, and worked under his wise and helpful directions. 
The additions to the Ornithological Department during the past 
year have been numerous and valuable. The following are a few of 
the more notable :— 
The beautiful nest and nine eggs of the Merganser, a rare bird in 
this county, got last spring in Black Mount by Colonel Campbell ; 
also, from the same donor, a Swift’s nest with two eggs—common 
enough, but at all times difficult to procure. 
A nest of the Chiff-Chaff, not a common breeding bird with us, 
from Mr. William White. 
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