PROCEEDINGS-PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. CXXXV 
believed, judicious selection of scientific works, both technical and of 
popular interest, has now been placed on the shelves, and it remains 
with the members to show their appreciation of what has been done 
by largely taking advantage of the new books. It is hoped that, 
should funds admit, a complete new catalogue will now be printed and 
circulated amongst the members, and should be an important means 
of bringing the claims and privileges of the Society under more 
extended notice. The number of volumes in the Library is now 
about 850, of which number about 600 belong to the Lending 
Department. The readers during the year have numbered about 
30, and about too books have been taken out. These figures ought 
certainly to be largely increased. 
REPORT OF EDITOR. 
The Fifth Part (Vol. I., New Series) of the Transactions and 
Proceedings is the only publication which has been issued by the 
Society during the past session. 
The Council for 1892-93 was elected as follows :— 
President —Henry Coates, F.R.S.E. 
Vice-Presidents —T. M. M‘Gregor, R. Dow, J. Morison, and Dr. A._ 
Thomson, F.R.S.E., F.C.S. 
Secretary —S. T. Ellison. 
Treasurer —John Stewart. 
Curator —Colonel H. M. Drummond-Hay, C.M.Z.S. 
Librarian —James Coates. 
Editor —F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S. 
Councillors —R. Brown, F.E., R.N.; W. Barclay; W. Ellison; and 
D. M. Barker. 
The retiring President then gave the following valedictory 
address:— 
Gentlemen,— In resigning to my successor the presidential 
chair which by your favour I have occupied so long, I desire to say 
a few words by way of a valedictory address. 
Since to-day sees the end of the first quarter of a century of the 
existence of the Society, it seems to be a proper occasion on which 
to take a brief retrospect of its history. Such retrospects have 
already been made at two eventful periods of our career—namely, 
in 1881, when we had but recently entered into possession of this 
building, and again in 1888, when we came of age. Still, however, 
I think it will be advantageous to give a short history of our doings 
during the past five-and-twenty years. 
Up to November, 1881, 114 ordinary monthly meetings had been 
held. Since that time the number of these meetings has been 71, 
making a total of 185. In this total conversaziones, dinners, and 
