Cxi PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
renewed, it is fitting that special mention should be made of the 
Students’ Union, who through their secretary, Mr. James Barlas, 
have recently made a valuable donation of io works, all of which 
will form a welcome addition to the shelves. 
REPORT OF EDITOR. 
The Fourth Part (Vol. II., New Series) of the Transactions and 
Proceedings has been published and issued to members during the 
past year. 
The following Office-bearers were elected :— 
President —Henry Coates, F. R.S.E. 
Vice-Presidents —Lieut.-Col. Duthie, J. Ritchie, LL.B., W. A. Paterson, 
C.E., Atholl Macgregor. 
Secretary —S. T. Ellison. 
Treasurer —John Stewart. 
Librarian —James Coates. 
Editor —William Barclay. 
Councillors —James Bridges ; Alfred Brown ; Dr. Andrew Thomson, 
F.R.S.E., F.C.S., F.I.C.; James Morison. 
Curator —Alexander M. Rodger. 
The President delivered the following Address :— 
Gentlemen,— I have to thank you for the honour you have 
again done me in electing me your President for another year. 
I had hoped that after completing my fifth year of office, as I have 
now done, I might have been allowed to retire to my former position 
as a private member of the Society, as I feel very strongly that it is 
not to the advantage of any society that its chief offices should 
remain too long in the same hands. However, the view of your 
Council was that, having taken a considerable part in the extension 
of the Museum, I ought to remain at my post until the outcome of 
our labours in that direction should be placed on a permanent and 
satisfactory footing. I trust, therefore, both for your sakes and for 
my own, that this result may be accomplished before the close of the 
present year, after which I shall have much pleasure in making way 
for one better able to fulfil the duties of President than I am. 
Regarding the work of the Society during the past session, the 
Reports which you have just heard read speak for themselves, and 
it is therefore unnecessary for me to do more than congratulate you 
on the continued prosperity and activity of the Society in all the 
branches of its work. There is one feature which has been parti¬ 
cularly gratifying to myself, and that is the interest which our new 
Associate Members have taken in the meetings. I can only trust 
that others with similar tastes may be induced to take advantage of 
the privileges offered by the Society in the same way. 
The only feature in the Reports which is unsatisfactory is the 
debt which has been incurred by the Treasurer of the Museum Fund. 
In this, however, there is no cause for anxiety, as there will be no 
