PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. XIII 
The President delivered the following Address :— 
Gentlemen,— From the Reports which you have just heard read 
you will have perceived that, though during the past year the history 
of the Society has not been very eventful, it has on the whole been 
not unprosperous. The average attendance at our meetings has 
increased, showing, I hope, an increasing interest amongst our 
members in the affairs of the Society. It may be mentioned that the 
attendance at the meetings, although it is small in proportion to the 
number of our members, is, however, up to the average attendance at 
the meetings of similar societies, and very probably surpasses those of 
many of them. An increasing interest is also, I think, shown in our 
excursions, not so much, perhaps, in an increase in the number of those 
attending them, but that those who do attend take a more active part 
in the work of the excursions. In addition to the official excursions 
of the Society—those which find a place in the Syllabus—many other 
excursions have been made by members, which is a good sign of 
vitality. On the other hand, it is to be deplored that our annual 
returns show a slight decrease in the number of our members during 
the past year. Death has deprived us of several, while the names of 
others have had to be removed from the list on account of failure to 
pay the annual subscription. Though, of course, it is our desire that all 
members of the Society should take a part in its work, we are far from 
making this imperative. In fact, if it was not for the pecuniary sup¬ 
port derived from the subscriptions of those who join the Society 
without having any active interest in its labours, we should be under 
the necessity of shutting up the Museum and Library. Any decrease, 
therefore, in the number of subscribing members is hurtful, not only 
to the interests of the Society, but of the public generally, who have 
not been slow to take advantages presented by a free Museum. It 
is to be hoped, therefore, that during the year which begins to-day 
there will be an increase in the number of those who will not grudge 
the small sum of five shillings and sixpence a-year in support of an 
institution, which, I think, we do not claim too much in terming one 
of public utility. 
The number of visitors to the Museum has been about the average 
of former years. Since it was opened to the public, three years and 
two months ago, upwards of 20,000 persons have been admitted to it 
without charge. While throughout the year there is a good attend¬ 
ance, it is of course chiefly on the public holidays that the majority 
of visitors come. Thus, on last New Year’s Day and Handsel Monday 
upwards of 3000 persons inspected the Museum, and when are 
remembered the small facilities that Perth affords for profitably, or at 
least harmlessly, spending a holiday—especially in winter—free of 
expense, we ought to feel gratified at thus being able to do some 
benefit to our fellow-citizens. On these grounds it has been suggested 
that we have some claim to a share of the support that will probably 
be given by Perth to some object of public utility in this Jubilee year. 
I think, however, that, while we do not deny our claims, it would be 
prejudicial to our interests to accept any support of this kind if it were 
offered, and for the following reason. Any money thus bestowed 
would almost necessarily be administered by a committee of trustees. 
