PROCEEDINGS OP THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OP NATURAL SCIENCE. 
29 
on, and keeping the end in view, we are sure sooner or 
later to attain the goal, and that goal should be the making 
of our Museum the most perfect local museum in Britain- 
It is not necessary that those members who desire to help 
should know much of the subject—at least to begin with. 
It is not necessary that they should endeavour to name the 
specimens;—that will be done when they are deposited in 
the Museum. But if they will set to work to collect, I hope 
and believe that they will be led on to study, and thus, in 
helping the Museum, help themselves to greater knowledge 
and greater pleasure. Nor is it necessary that one who 
desires to help should be asked to devote a lot of time and 
trouble to the work. The more numerous the specimens 
are the better, but contributions of single specimens will 
be heartily welcome. But be the specimens numerous or 
few, it is of importance that each should he accompanied 
with a note of the place where , by whom, and when, collected. 
Without at least the first of these, the specimen is of little 
use. 
When I began these notes, it was my intention to have 
said something about the means of collecting and preserv¬ 
ing, but on consideration I think that all I could say here 
would not prove of much use. I might mention that plants 
can be easily dried by being pressed between sheets of 
blotting paper, and that it is desirable to ,take roots and 
all, at least in the case of small plants. I might also men¬ 
tion that land and water shells only require to be dropped 
into boiling water, and the animal extracted by means of 
a pin, both of which operations being in the case of small 
shells, unnecessary. But for other organisms, such as in¬ 
sects, a little more preparation is necessary; and it seems 
desirable that anyone desiring instruction in the method 
of preparing them should communicate with the Secretary, 
who will take steps to insure that some qualified member 
shall give the instruction asked for. In the case of quad¬ 
rupeds, birds, and other fleshy animals, the donor had 
better send the specimens in a fresh state to the Secretary, 
who will see that they are preserved. 
Before concluding these remarks, there is one point in 
connection with our local natural history to which I wish 
to call the attention of observers, in the hope of eliciting 
information. The point in question is, how many species 
of bats are natives of Perthshire ? In the interesting 
paper that Rev, Mr Brown gave us at our last meeting, he 
mentions having seen an immense quantity of bats emerg¬ 
ing from their winter quarters, but he does not indicate 
what species they belonged to. Pour kinds of bats have 
been met with in Scotland, but of these only two, so far as 
I know, have been noticed in Perthshire. These two are 
the Common Bat (Vcsperugo pipistrellus) and the Long¬ 
eared Bat ( Plecotus auritus), and it would be interesting 
to know what their distribution is in the Highland districts. 
But there is another bat which is almost certainly a native 
of Perthshire, as it is widely distributed in Scotland. 
This is Daubenton’s Bat (Vespertilio Daubentoni). This 
species is slightly larger than the Common Bat, and has 
certain structural differences, amongst others, the outer 
edge of the ear being only very slightly notched, instead 
of deeply notched, as in the Common Bat. In its habits 
it is so peculiar that, though really abundant, its presence 
may be easily overlooked. The peculiar habit in question 
is that of skimming along over the surface of water, 
scarcely flapping its wings, but vibrating them rapidly s 
and almost touching the water. I hope, therefore, that 
members will be on the lookout for a bat with these habits, 
and if they come across one endeavour to secure specimens 
for identification. Of the fifteen bats that have been met 
with in Britain, it is not perhaps very likely that any but 
the three above mentioned occur in Perthshire. Still a 
lookout should be kept for them, as another species, the 
Reddish-gray Bat ( Vespertilio Nattereri) has recently been 
met with plentifully near Dalkeith. This is larger than 
the Common Bat, and paler in colour. 
I have been tempted to bring forward this subject, as 
bats are especially creatures of the summer, and it is 
desirable that we should endeavour to learn something 
about the Perthshire species without loss of time. In 
addition, however, to looking after bats during their hours 
of flight, - they ought to be searched for in their hiding- 
places, where, moreover, their capture would be easier. 
In conclusion, I would beg members to keep in mind the 
old fable of Hercules and the waggoner. The Society has 
obtained an excellent Museum building; it is already in 
possession of several valuable collections, and it has 
promises of more; but if the Museum is to be worthy of 
the name, if the Society is to carry out the objects for 
which it was founded, every member must put his shoulder 
to the wheel, and, not content with calling upon others to 
do the work, help it on to the best of his ability, ever 
remembering the motto of the Society, “ Whatsoever thy 
hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.” 
