PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, diii 
a matter for congratulation that some new names appear upon the 
list. This is as it should be, and shows that the Society is fulfilling 
its function in stimulating new workers to come forward and take the 
places of those whom we have lost. Those of us who are now 
among the older members of the Society, and whose names have 
appeared pretty frequently in the lists of papers from year to year, will, 
I am sure, be only too pleased to give place to others willing to take 
up the study of some branch of natural history. One mistake which 
members frequently make is in thinking that it is not worth while to 
bring a communication before the Society except in a paper of con¬ 
siderable length, whereas the interest of our meetings would be much 
enhanced if a number of members would bring forward notes, no 
matter how brief, on matters of personal observation. 
In conclusion, I shall now give a brief 
REPORT ON THE SUMMER EXCURSIONS OF 1897, 
with the assistance of notes from some of those who acted as leaders 
on different occasions. 
In addition to the excursions set down in our programme, two or 
three others were held in the early part of the season in connection 
with the Botany Classes which Dr. William G. Smith had held during 
the winter. These were to localities in the immediate neighbourhood 
of Perth, and took place on Saturday afternoons. Although it was 
too early for any except the earliest flowering plants, yet many most 
interesting facts in plant physiology were illustrated and explained by 
Dr. Smith. 
The official excursions of the Society were, on the whole, hardly 
so well attended as during the previous season, though they were 
thoroughly enjoyed by those who were present. The localities 
chosen were sufficiently varied in interest, and the weather was, as 
a rule, all that could be desired. 
No. 1, 20th May (Queen’s Birthday),—to the Banks of the Tay, 
from Dalguise to Dunkeld. This excursion was held jointly with 
the Botany Class just referred to, and the leader was again Dr. W. G. 
Smith. The attendance was very large, about 30 being present, in¬ 
cluding several local members. Amongst these, Mr. Charles MTntosh, 
of Inver, and Mr. Greig, keeper to the Duke of Atholl, deserve to be 
specially mentioned for their services as local guides. Dr. Smith has 
kindly sent me the following notes :—“ As the excursion was one of 
a kind where the acquiring of general impressions was aimed at, more 
than the collecting of specimens, there is no real list of ‘ finds ’ to 
record. It was too early for the flora of the Islands and Beaches, 
places of particular interest in the Dunkeld district of the Tay Valley. 
We had, however, a good example of this on the Woody Island, to 
which we had an excursion ten days before. The Backwater Flora 
was just beginning to make its appearance, Viola palustris being the 
most noticeable. The woods were particularly suitable for observing 
the spring condition of the various trees. This was especially 
the case where the short halt for lunch was made, and where 
