PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY" OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
f)9 
in the places where they are now found, been introduced, 
or having escaped from some private pond. This we know 
to be the case in the instance of a carp and tench men¬ 
tioned in the papers recently as having been caught in the 
Tay near the mouth of the Almond. These were escapes 
from the curling pond at Scone. The fish, on the pond be¬ 
ing cleaned out last summer, were placed within a dam in 
the burn, which having been carried away by a spate, they 
all got off to the Tay. 
Insects. In an inland district, such as Perthshire, 
insects form an important part of the fauna, not only 
because, as in all parts of the land surface of the globe, 
they are most numerously represented, but are more 
easily obtained for the purposes of study. At present one 
order only of insects is at all well represented in the Perth¬ 
shire collection —namely, the Lepidoptera (or butterflies 
and moths). As specimens of these are easily injured by 
exposure to light, it is necessary to keep them in drawers, 
but these drawers are so contrived as to be open to the in¬ 
spection of any one interested, without any special leave 
having to be asked of the custodian. In this respect we 
claim that our Museum affords facilities which most other 
museums do not possess, as in them the insects are kept 
locked up, and out of view. We have, at the same time, 
g o managed that our specimens are secured against injury. 
At present the collection of Lepidoptera, though far from 
complete, is far enough advanced to give a good idea of 
what Perthshire can produce in this respect. As insects 
often vary, according to the locality, it is desirable that 
specimens of the same species, from various parts of the 
district, should be preserved in the Museum, and hence 
space has been kept for numerous specimens of each 
kind, and assistance from all who collect insects is re¬ 
quested to fill up the spaces in the proper manner. As in 
most other departments, common species, as well as rare, 
are asked for, but they must be Perthshire examples. 
Though none of the other orders of insects have been ar¬ 
ranged, some specimens have been obtained, and any gifts 
of more will be thankfully received. 
Mollusca (the Snail Family). From the geographi¬ 
cal position of Perthshire we are necessarily restricted 
in a great measure to the land and fresh water 
species of Mollusca. We already possess most of these, 
a nd they have been arranged; but as it is desirable 
to have them represented by specimens from various 
parts of the county, donations will always be acceptable. 
Other Invertebrates (or Animals without a Backbone). 
These are either not many, or else they are so difficult to 
preserve and exhibit that little as yet has been done among 
them. It is to be hoped that more attention will even¬ 
tually be directed to them, though they have not been 
entirely neglected. 
The Vegetable Kingdom. Perthshire, from its varied 
surface, is very rich in plants, and as most of them 
are of easy preservation, they can be well shown in a 
museum. To begin with the larger specimens— 
the native trees of Perthshire—the true natives, excluding 
those that have been introduced by the agency of man, are 
not very numerous, and it is intended to illustrate these by 
specimens of the wood. To do this properly, three speci¬ 
mens are necessary—one to show the bark, the other the 
wood longitudinally, and the third in cross section. In 
addition, each will be illustrated by characteristic photo¬ 
graphs of the tree itself. The native trees are oak, ash, 
elm, birch, aspen, willow, holly, alder, hawthorn, and 
Scots fir. Of these we have already, birch, aspen, and 
Scots fir represented by good specimens; and if any one 
will send us a good thick trunk, about three or four feet 
long, of native specimens of any of the others, we shall be 
much obliged. Of the flowering plants and ferns we have 
already got an almost complete collection, so far as speci¬ 
mens of nearly all the species to be found in Perthshire 
go; but as it is very desirable there should be specimens 
of each kind from many localities, for the purpose of illus¬ 
trating the local effects of soil, position, elevation, &e., 
the herbarium may be increased almost indefinitely. As it 
is, we have already many thousand specimens, and most of 
these are arranged in their proper places. As for the 
lower plants (mosses, lichens, fungi), specimens are being 
accumulated, but, as yet, there has been no time to arrange 
them, which, however, will be done as soon as possible. 
Oeology. In this department we are not quite so advanced 
as we could wish, still a good beginning had been made, 
and, by the kind assistance offered by Professor Geikie. 
we may hope in time to have it very complete. But to do 
this we must at the same time set to work ourselves, and 
all members interested in the study of geology, it is to b e 
hoped, will give a helping hand. This may be done, in 
one way, by getting the lessees of quarries, in their own 
neighbourhood, to help, by sending specimens a few inches 
square, of the various forms of stones in their several quar. 
ries; and others might help by sending specimens of any re¬ 
markable rock or boulder in their own vicinity, or a selec. 
tion of stones from any good section of till or boulder clay, 
with a note of the locality, position, &c. In'conclusion, for I 
fear I have taken up your time too long already, I would 
only add a few words, as I wish strongly to impress 
upon the members of the Society the impossibility of get¬ 
ting up a complete Perthshire collection in all its branches, 
without help from every quarter; and I have no hesitation 
