70 
PROCEEDINGS OP THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
ner be discouraged by the vastness of the science which he 
desires to cultivate. Let him reflect that not by the 
thoughtful labour of one or two but of many minds has the 
Temple of Science grown to its present dimensions. And 
there is no one who need despair of becoming moderately 
well-acquainted with its general outline, and deeply versed 
in some particular portion of the great structure. All that 
is required are method and perseverance. Do not attempt 
too much at first. Select some special branch of inquiry, 
and work at that with all diligence. The future of the 
earnest and honest student will take care of itself. 
But I have detained you long enough with these some¬ 
what rambling and disjointed remarks. I should be well 
pleased, however, if anything I have said could induce 
some of the younger members to become workers as well 
as listeners. Dor my own part, I never cease to bless the 
day when I first turned my thoughts to the study of Nature. 
Indeed, I cannot realise what life is with those who have 
no intellectual hobby. So long as youth endures, indeed, 
the world will not cease to be attractive. But when the 
lightness is passing away, the busy man ceases by and by 
to find any solace in the idle amusements that once oc¬ 
cupied his vacant hours. Release him ere long from his 
daily labour in the counting-house or mart, and very soon 
he begins to break up and go to pieces. But if he should 
have had the good fortune to have inclined his ears early 
to the teaching of Nature, he has resources within himself 
that will keep his heart green and his brain actively em¬ 
ployed to the last, There are comparatively few who can 
devote all their life to the study of science, but 1 feel per¬ 
suaded there is not one who cannot if be choose follow 
some scientific pursuit in his hours of leisure. Happy, I 
say, is that man who elects to do so. 
But I find that my address is passing into a kind 
of preaching. Still, as this is the last time I shall 
speak to you from this chair, I was anxious to gain 
the ear of our young friends in the hope of wooing them 
to our ranks as naturalists. I am persuaded that the 
young folk of this neighbourhood could hardly be better 
placed for the purposes of Natural Science study. Sur¬ 
rounded by beautiful scenery, which of itself is enough to 
enkindle a love of Nature, they have enormous advantages 
over the dwellers in less picturesque districts. But your 
county is net only beautiful—it is full of instruction to the 
geologist, the botanist, and the zoologist. A whole world 
of interest is at your very doors; and when I think of all 
your many advantages in this respect, I wonder why Perth 
has not produced a larger number of naturalists. The dawn 
of better things, however, has come. This Institution, of 
which your Society is the fortunate possessor, is one which 
many larger towns might well envy, and it will doubtless 
greatly stimulate the study of Natural Science in your 
midst. It has been a very sincere pleasure to me to have 
been with you, and to have shared all the hopes and fears of 
the past few years. When our late esteemed President first 
broached the scheme which has since been so happily 
realised, it seemed to many to be rather utopian. “ It 
was too much to expect in Perth,” I was told again and 
again. But Perth is not quite the “sleepy hollow” it may 
at one time have been. The intellectual stir which has 
wakened up the world at large has reached even the banks • 
of the Tay. And I am much mistaken if in the future 
this Institution does not become a very considerable factor 
in the intellectual advancement of this part of Scotland. 
I look upon it as the nucleus of what will some day become 
a most important school of science. 
And now, in conclusion, I have only to thank you for 
your kindness in having so patiently listened to me. I am 
sorry that the time has come when I must cease to be an 
active member of this Society. Prom one and all I have 
received invariable courtesy and kindness, and have formed 
friendships which are not likely to be interrupted on this 
side of time. Your beautiful county I have come to know 
as well as many of yourselves know it, and to love with a 
fervour hardly less intense than that of a real native. 
But as Edinburgh, to which I go, is hardly a hundred 
miles from Perth, I cherish the hope of returning now and 
again to review my acquaintance with the Pair City, and 
take part in your proceedings here. Meanwhile, I must 
say farewell, and in doing so I fervently wish you all God 
speed. 
April 13th, 1882. 
Mr Magnus Jaukson, Vice-President, in the Chair. 
NEW MEMBERS. 
The following were nominated for election as members 
of the Society:—Dr Urquhart, Murray House; Councillor 
Whittet, Councillor Love, and Mrs Baxter, St Leonard 
Bank. 
The following new members were unanimously elected : 
—Captain Smythe, Mr Brooke, Miss Stewart, Mr Keillor, 
Mr Hunter, Mr Donald, Mr John Campbell, and Mr 
Leslie. 
DONATIONS. 
The following donations were intimated :—Prom Mr 
Logie, Rannoch—two golden plovers; Thomas Marshall, 
Stanley—one woodcock ; Sir W. Baynes, Bart., Merfield 
