PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
205 
And now, in conclusion, one word of warning to the 
Society. It has sometimes happened—instances can be 
found throughout Britain—that a Society which has 
formed a Museum has eventually sunk into the position of 
being merely the custodier of the Museum, and has, other¬ 
wise, to all intents and purposes, ceased to exist. Let us 
be warned in time, and never fail to keep in mind that the 
Museum is only ati adjunct to the Society, and one means 
among many of accomplishing the objects for which the 
Society was founded. 
Colonel Drummond Hay, in moving a vote of thanks to 
Dr Buchanan White for his address, said that what 
he had stated with regard to the desirability of ex¬ 
tending the Museum was quite the case. He only 
trusted that the members of the Society would take 
the matter up in the way it should be, so that ere long 
they might see the additions to which Dr White had 
referred completed, because if it were done in the days of 
those who had been at the founding of the Museum they 
would be better qualified to see it properly completed, or 
at least put in the proper way for completion, than any 
strangers would be. He thought it would be a great 
thing to try and get it started at all events. As they no 
doubt were all aware, the Society had sufficient ground 
for the purpose at the back of the present buildings, if 
they only had the money. 
Mr John Stewart, in seconding the motion, said 
that every one admitted the desirability of the exten¬ 
sion being made. Dr White had remarked that it was a 
very important thing to know the expense, but it was a 
much more important thing to know where the money was 
to come from. 
Mr Andrew Coates said that he saw nothing.in Dr 
White’s remarks which indicated that the Society were 
prepared to go into the matter without money. Dr White, 
he considered, had rendered a great service to the Society 
in bringing forward the matter, and in making the sugges¬ 
tions which he had done. Dr White merely looked upon 
this as being the first step towards what might possibly 
become ultimately a very great benefit to the Society. 
The matter must be ventilated in the first place. Unless 
the public knew that the Society really desired an extension 
of their Museum, it was not likely they would take any 
interest in the matter. If it was brought before the public, 
he had no doubt but that there were many parties who, 
realising the great advantages that the Society was 
likely to confer, would assist them in getting up the 
means with the view at all events of making a com¬ 
mencement to the extension of the Museum, in order 
that the Society might thoroughly accomplish the 
objects it had in view. The extension, he thought, was 
absolutely necessary. They could not begin too early to 
ventilate this matter, and let the public know they wanted 
an addition to the Museum in order to make it valuable 
for the purposes of education. The Society was one which 
was gaining very much in public favour, and was looked 
upon as one of the most valuable educational Institutions 
in the city. 
April 2nd, 1885. 
F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S., President, 
in the Chair. 
NEW MEMBERS. 
The following were nominated:—Mr R. Stewart Menzies 
of Hallyburton and Mr Leslie Macdonald, St Ninian's 
School. 
The following were elected :—Mr John Livingstone, 
Barossa Place; and Mr John Moncrieff, Balhousie Terrace. 
DONATIONS. 
The following were announced :— 
I. Perthshire Collection —Swan, from Sir Robt. Menzies, 
Bart. ; water vole, from Mr D. Dewar, Remoney; water 
vole, from Mr T. Marshall, Stanley; Rhagium (a beetle), in 
its burrow, in a piece of wood, from Colonel Colquhoun of 
Clathie; shell of Cyprina Islandica, from Mr J. Stewart. 
II. Index Collection —Young pigeon, with malformation 
of head, from Mr L. Horsfall, Perth; rat, with abnormal 
teeth, from Mr Cairns, Balthayock. 
The Chairman said that he had also much pleasure in 
announcing that the “Duncan Trustees,” in reply to an 
appeal made to them by the Council, had very generously 
given a donation of £150 to the Society’s funds, and he 
moved that a special vote of thanks be given to the 
Trustees for this renewed expression of appreciation of the 
way in which the Society’s work had been carried on. 
EXHIBITIONS. 
Dr F. Buchanan White exhibited the skull of a rat 
which he had prepared from a specimen sent by Mr 
Cairns, gamekeeper, Balthayock, to Colonel Drummond 
