CXXXV1 PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
There have been held during the past year 7 meetings, at which 
7 papers were read, in addition to various shorter communications 
and the two usual addresses of the President. 
The average attendance at the meetings has been 43, the greatest 
number at one meeting being 60, on 10th March, 1896, and the 
least 28, on 5th November, 1896. There have been added to the 
roll of membership 27 Ordinary and 3 Associate Members, making 
up a total of 368, including 2 Honorary Members, n Corresponding 
Members, 29 Associate Members, and 5 Associates. 
Twelve excursions were arranged for the summer months, most 
of which took place and were largely attended. The exceptions 
were No. 5, to Balvaird Castle, for which a sufficiently large party 
could not be secured, and No. 7, the joint excursion with the 
Scottish Natural History Society of Edinburgh to Ben Lawers, which 
had to be put off on account of the weather. The thanks of the 
Society are hereby tendered to the various proprietors who gave 
permission for some of these excursions. 
Last month a very enjoyable Conversazione was held jointly with 
the Students’ Union, at which the members of both Societies had 
the opportunity of inspecting various scientific exhibits, and at the 
same time of having pleasant social intercourse with each other. 
In accordance with the wishes of the members of the Society, 
expressed at an Extraordinary General Meeting, held on 18th 
August last, your Council offered to the Town Council of the City the 
Society’s Buildings and Museum as a free gift to the citizens, and 
the Town Clerk, writing on behalf of the Town Council, stated that 
while thanking the Society for the offer, they had decided to leave 
the question of taking it over in abeyance for 12 months. Your 
Council do not anticipate, however, that the representatives of the 
citizens will ultimately refuse such a valuable gift, and one which is 
calculated to bestow such benefits of an educational and recreative 
nature on the City and County. 
The Museum continues to attract a large number of visitors, 
very nearly 10,000 persons having visited it since last March. 
The Society’s Rooms have again been readily lent to various 
Societies for their meetings. In this connection it may be men¬ 
tioned that the Museum has on several occasions been thrown open 
to parties having social meetings in the Working Boys and Girls’ 
Hall, and that this privilege has been much appreciated by those 
taking advantage of it. 
REPORT OF TREASURER. 
(See Balance-Sheet , page cxlix.) 
REPORT OF TREASURER OF MUSEUM FUND. 
(See Balance-Sheet , page cl.) 
The result of this statement is very clear. The normal expendi¬ 
ture under the Museum Extension Fund may be stated as about 
^180 per annum. There are no Endowment Funds to produce an 
income in the way of interests, etc., to meet this; and, while the 
