11 PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
the “ Proceedings,” which will be soon issued, so that it is unneces¬ 
sary to go into details of them. I wish, however, to allude to one 
feature of the excursions of last summer, which, although not alto¬ 
gether novel, was yet on a more extensive scale than hitherto 
attempted. This was the association of other Societies in our excur¬ 
sions—a scheme which, though perhaps, from one reason or another, 
not so successful as it might have been, yet was sufficiently fruitful as 
to merit another trial. The Societies which, either practically or 
theoretically, joined our excursions were the Dundee, Largo, Kirk¬ 
caldy, Newburgh, and Stirling. Of the advantages that ought to 
result from such combinations of forces it seems unnecessary to 
speak. Before leaving the subject of the excursions, it is desirable 
to take this opportunity of expressing the gratitude of the Society to 
all those proprietors of land and others who, as usual, kindly gave 
assistance. 
I have said that reports will soon be issued. To this there 
is one exception, and as it is the report of the most ambitious 
excursion yet undertaken by the Society, a short account of it now 
may not be out of place. 
It has been our custom to have—every year, if possible—at 
least one mountain excursion, but hitherto it has been restricted 
to one day. This year we so arranged that, whilst those mem¬ 
bers who could give one day only should have a good excursion 
of this kind, others who had more time at their disposal should 
be able to profitably spend several days. Thus, making Killin 
our headquarters, the better part of a week was passed in exploring 
the neighbouring hills, with eminently successful results. There 
is something peculiarly enjoyable in alpine naturalizing. The fresh¬ 
ness of the air, the large scale on which the scenery is built, and 
the boundless freedom of the hills, all combine to make such explo¬ 
rations very entrancing. The penalty to be paid is that, after a run 
on the mountains, lowland excursions seem very dull. But the 
delights of the hills are not to be attained without labour, There is 
the “ long, long pull ” up the lower slopes, often very steep, and 
“baking foment the sun.” And these slopes are not as a rule very 
prolific in a great variety of interesting plants and animals, or at least 
with the prospect of what is ahead they do not seem so, to the per¬ 
spiring, panting climber. But when, after a walk of four or five 
miles, an altitude of over 2000 feet above sea-level has been attained, 
and the line of rugged precipices that guard the higher summits has 
been reached, then comes the reward. Flowers of glowing colours 
adorn the grassy ledges, and thrill the heart of the botanist with 
delight; insects, less brilliant in hue, but exquisite in their soft blend¬ 
ings of colour, flit from rock to rock; while the scream of the pere¬ 
grine falcon, the croak of the raven or ptarmigan, and the twitter of 
the mountain finch, break a silence that is otherwise made more 
intense by the plashing of the burns through the rocky ravines. 
But, to get on with an account of our doings. Our party varied in 
number from day to day, as some arrived and others departed. It also 
varied in its constituents, for some were “ old hands,” while for others 
everything had the beauty of novelty. One of the latter, indeed, was 
