38 
PROCEEDINGS OP THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OP NATURAL SCIENCE. 
raising of a fund to carry out his cherished idea. 
With this object a large and influential Committee 
was appointed, a canvass for subscriptions organised 
(Mr Robert Pullar renewing his munificent offer), plans 
prepared, and a site secured. 
To return for a moment to the Society (for it must 
be remembered that the Museum Committee, though 
naturally composed for the whole, or most part, of 
members, is yet a body outside the Society). Dr 
Geikie, F.R.S., succeeded Sir Thomas MonCfeiffe in 
the presidency, and almost as a matter of course devoted 
his first official address to the subject so immediately be¬ 
fore the members; and sketched from his large experience 
the lines on which the arrangement cf a local Museum 
should be planned. At the same meeting, our Curator, 
Colonel Drummond Hay, had the satisfaction of announc¬ 
ing that, in consequence of the prospect of a proper build¬ 
ing being provided, very numerous and valuable donations 
illustrative of the Natural History of Perthshire, had been 
promised. We need not detain you with an account of 
the details of the subscription-list, which I now lay on the 
table. It will be sufficient to say that the total amount of 
the subscriptions promised up to the present date amountto 
nearly £1800—(more exactly £1787); and that the contracts 
for erecting the building (which do not, however, include 
painting, nor a variety of other incidental expenses) 
amount to about £1720. To meet the excess of expendi¬ 
ture over receipts, the Committee venture to hope that 
some additional subscriptions may yet be forthcoming. 
In conclusion, it may be mentioned that the build¬ 
ings have been vested, for behoof of the Perthshire 
Society of Natural Science, in the following trustees:— 
Andrews Coates, Esq.; Colonel Drummond Hay of Seg- 
gieden; Magnus Jackson, Esq.; John M‘Gregor, Esq.; 
Robert Pullar, Esq.; Horace Skeete, Esq.; F. Buchanan 
White, Esq., M.D., F.L.S.; Colonel Williamson of 
Lawers; C. L. Wood, Esq. of Freeland; and John Young, 
Esq., C.E. 
Mr Robert Pullar next addressed the meeting. 
He said—An important and pleasant duty has been 
deputed to me to perform on this occasion, viz., the handing 
over of the title-deeds of the Natural History Museum 
Buildings to the trustees of the Institution. May I be 
permitted for a few minutes to refer to the various parts 
of the building:—I. The Lecture-Room. This I consider 
a most important part of the institution. A local Society 
should not exist merely or mainly for the formation of a 
museum. A museum can be formed (and many of the 
best are) without the assistance of any Society. There¬ 
fore, a Society which exists merely as an adjunct to a 
museum is not worthy of the name. As a supplement to 
the lecture-room, the laboratory, and library, a museum 
is most useful. Demonstration, experiment, and dis¬ 
cussion are the real means of teaching; so the lecture-room 
of our Society has ever been the centre of our working, 
and in the improved accommodation all the other rooms 
will cluster around this, and I trust much good 
work may be done. I am happy to say that the 
lecture-room is not to be used exclusively by our own 
Society. We have already given the use of it to a 
Literary Society in town, and I am sure the Council will 
always be desirous to give accommodation of this kind to 
other Societies, when the room is disengaged. 
II. Laboratory or Workroom. This was much needed, 
and here members will have an opportunity for exercising 
the practical study of natural science. The necessary imple¬ 
ments and apparatus for the investigation of the structure, 
anatomy, and composition of plants, animals, minerals, 
&c,, will be provided; and experienced members of the 
Society will give instruction and assistance as required. 
Some may say this work could as well be done by members 
at their own houses, but in the laboratory they will find 
not only necessary implements and books, but also an op¬ 
portunity of undisturbed study, as well as meeting with 
those who are engaged in similar pursuits ; and, further, 
after the outdoor excursions, every appliance will be found 
here for preserving specimens for the Museum, and in¬ 
structions will be given in the best methods of preserving 
and mounting specimens. 
III. The Library is contiguous to the workroom, and 
is to be furnished with books of reference, scientific maga¬ 
zines and journals, and writing tables, for the use of 
members studying or preparing papers or lectures. I need 
scarcely say the Secretary will most thankfully receive 
donations of scientific books or journals. 
IY. The Museum is a room admirably suited for its 
purpose, and it is intended ere long to be filled with an 
interesting and instructive collection of Perthshire objects, 
where our citizens may learn what their own neighbour¬ 
hood produces. The highest authorities say that the 
proper work of a local Society is the study of the 
local natural history, and that a local museum ought 
chiefly to be devoted to this. The promoters of the 
Perthshire Society of Natural Science have kept steadily 
before them hitherto this idea, and mean to do so more 
and more in their new and commodious premises. 
In addition to the museum accommodation at present 
provided, a large space of ground remains unoccupied 
behind the Museum buildings, where, if necessary, two 
or more large halls could be built. At present it is proposed 
