PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
15 
March 3rd, 1881, 2 p.m. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
Dr Geikie, F.R.S, President, in the Chair. 
NEW MEMBERS. 
Mr William Ellison; Mr J. Sidney Earquharson; Mr 
William Hall, Perth, were elected Ordinary Members; 
and Mr Patrick Geddes, F.R.S.E., Edinburgh, a Corres¬ 
ponding Member. 
NOMINATIONS. 
Mrs Robert Pullar and Mr Keith were nominated for 
election as members of the Society. 
Mr S. H. Ellison exhibited a piece of willow wood to 
show how the caterpillars of Dicranura furcula make their 
cocoons to imitate the bark; and the Secretary showed 
a “ dust ball ” (carbonate of lime) found in the stomach 
of a horse. 
The following Annual Reports were then read:— 
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. 
The Council, in presenting its Fourteenth Annual Report, has 
to congratulate the members on the continued prosperity of the 
Society. During the past session six ordinary meetings were 
held, the average attendance at which was seventeen. During the 
session eleven papers were read, the number of authors being 
also eleven. Seven new members have beeD added to the Society 
during the past year. 
Four excursions were successfully made during the past sum¬ 
mer, the districts visited being—1. Dunsinnane Hill and King’s 
Seat; 2. Small Glen, Amulree, and Strathbraan; 3. Farragon; and 
4. Muthill and Drummond Castle. At all these excursions care 
was taken to insure the attendance of members able and willing 
to give practical demonstrations of the natural history and 
geology of the district visited, greatly to the advantage of the 
members who were present. Though at most of the excursions 
there was a fair attendance, the Council hopes that during the 
coming summer a still larger number of members will endeavour 
to participate in the benefits afforded by these opportunities of 
conjoined field-studies. To afford opportunity to members de¬ 
sirous of having more frequent practical instruction in collecting 
and studying, the Council will endeavour to arrauge for a series 
of shorter and more frequent excursions, under competent guid¬ 
ance. Members desirous of taking part in these should give their 
names to the Secretary. 
It is with much pleasure that the Council is able to allude to 
a fact which shows that there exists in the district an increasing 
desire for scientific research, as shown by a spontaneous move¬ 
ment to establish a microscopical branch of the Society. It is 
quite unnecessary to dilate upon the importance that the micro¬ 
scope has now acquired as one of the tools of the naturalist, and 
the Society is to he congratulated that it is now in a position, due 
to the liberality of its members and the public generally, to offer 
facilities for microscopical work. 
The new Museum buildiDg in South Tay Street is now nearly 
completed, and though, owing to the severe weather that has 
been experienced this winter, great and unexpected delay has 
taken place in the work, it is yet hoped that the last meeting of 
this winter-session may be held in our new lecture-room. By 
the liberality of the subscribers to our museum scheme enough 
money has been raised to defray the cost of the building. Fur¬ 
ther funds are, however, necessary to furnish and, endow the 
Museum, and, to raise these, arrangements had been made to have 
in September next the bazaar advertised so long ago as April, 
1878. As promises of assistance from nearly one hundred Perth¬ 
shire ladies had been secured, the bazaar seemed certain to prove 
successful; but on hearing that the promoters of another bazaar 
(to be held in October) had expressed themselves as much 
aggrieved, the Committee decided to postpone our bazaar 
till December, not wishing that any charge of unfairness 
(however unfounded) should be brought against it. The Council 
feels satisfied that the public will put the proper value upon such 
a sentiment, and respond all the more liberally (when the time 
comes) towards the objects the Society has in view. 
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN. 
BY MR GEOROE YOUNG. 
During the past year a good many books have been added to 
the Library, most of which have already been noticed at the 
ordinary meetings. Amongst them are the publications of 
several other Societies which have been received in exchange. 
As the proposals for exchange have in every instance been made 
to (and not by) our Society, the exchanges acquire additional 
value, as testifying to the success of our efforts in the advance¬ 
ment of natural science. The countries to which the various 
Societies, with whom we exchange, belong, include Scotland, 
England, France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Canada, and the 
United States. 
Though in previous reports the Librarian has been unwilling 
to complain of the miserable accommodation for his department 
that its present contracted quarters afford, he has not been un¬ 
aware that the Libraty, in common with other parts of the col¬ 
lections, has in the past had many difficulties to contend with, 
and has consequently not been able to attain that degree of per¬ 
fection which the flourishing state of the Society would other¬ 
wise have ensured. Now that with enlarged and appropriate 
accommodation a new era of increased prosperity seems to be 
drawing near for the Society, it is to be hoped that the Library 
will form no mean part of the general machinery for carrying out 
