PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
257 
March 4th, 1886. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
F. Buchanan White, M.D., F.L.S., President, 
in the Chair. 
NEW MEMBERS. 
The following were elected :— 
Mr John Macgregor, Melville Street; Mr Robert 
Wright, Balhousie ; and Mr John Robb, Athole Street. 
The following were nominated :— 
As Ordinary Members.— Mr Matthew, Walnut Grove; 
Miss Macdonald, Kinfauns Gardens; Mr James Lochead, 
solicitor, Blairgowrie; Mr D. S. Lowson, M.A., head¬ 
master of Blairgowrie Public School. 
As an Associate Member. —Mr J. M'Bryde, jun., Dun- 
keld, recommended by the Council. 
DONATIONS. 
The following donations were announced :— 
Perthshire Collection. A buzzard—-from Sir R. Menzies, 
per Mr J. Macdonald, Rannoch Lodge; a grouse—from 
Mr Wedderburn of Birkhill; mineral and rock specimens— 
from a friend, per Dr B. White ; water vole—from Mr 
Wood of Freeland; raven—from Mr J. Robertson, jun., 
Kinnaird. 
Index Collection. Minerals—from a friend, per Dr B. 
White. 
REPORT OF COUNCIL. 
The Council, in presenting its Nineteenth Annual Report, is 
again able to congratulate the members on the flourishing 
condition of the Society. 
During the past Session 7 ordinary meetings have been held, 
and 16 papers were read, in addition to several shorter contribu¬ 
tions. The average attendance at the meetings was 33, being a 
slight increase on former years,—the greatest number being 60 
at the January, 1886, meeting; and the least 20 at the November, 
1885, meeting. 
During the past Session 29 new names have been added to the 
roll of the Society as ordinary members and 1 as a corresponding 
member, making a total membership of 327, including 2 
Honorary, and 9 Corresponding Members, and 9 Associates. The 
total shews a decrease of 2 compared with last year, but this is 
to be accounted for by the roll from which last year’s return was 
made up containing many names which had to be removed 
owing to the death of some and the resignation or removal from 
the district of others. 
Seven excursions were made during the past year, an eighth 
one arranged by the Council having to be postponed owing to 
wet weather. The Council take this opportunity of thanking 
the gentlemen who most kindly granted the members permission 
to go over their estates, or who otherwise assisted in making the 
excursions successful and pleasant. 
The Conncil has held 7 meetings during the year. 
The Museum continues to attract a considerable number of 
visitors, about 5000 having visited it during the year, bringing 
up the total number of visitors since the opening in December, 
1883, to about 13,000. As in former years, the Council has had 
pleasure in granting the use of the Lecture-Room to other Asso¬ 
ciations for meetings and courses of lectures. 
The Council trust the members will continue to take an ever- 
increasing interest in the welfare and prosperity of the Society, 
so that the coming year may shew even greater marks of progress 
than any that have yet preceded it. 
REPORT OF THE TREASURER. 
BY MR JOHN STEWART, 
The income of the Society for the year amounted to 
£95 11s Id, and the expenditure to £90 5s lid, leaving a 
balance in favour of the Society of £5 5s 2d. 
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN. 
BY MR JAMES COATES. 
There is but little to report about the Library, as it remains 
very much in statu quo, and that little cannot on the whole be 
described as an advance. Scarcely any books have been added 
since last report, and the number of readers is under that of 
former years. It can scarcely, however, be expected that this 
state of matters can be improved in the present condition of 
funds, as, in order to maintain interest and vitality, it would be 
necessary to keep up a constant supply of new books. In the 
case of a scientific, more than any other description of library, 
it is essential to keep pace with the times. To this end an 
adequate Library Endowment Fund would be necessary, and 
although there seems no prospect of attaining this at present, 
there can be no other means of placing the Library on a progres¬ 
sive basis. 
REPORT OF THE CURATOR. 
BY COLONEL H. M. DRUMMOND HAY. 
In tendering my report as Curator, I am glad to inform you 
that since this time last year the several departments, though 
slowly, have steadily progressed, and that the Museum still con¬ 
tinues to be a source of attraction not only to visitors at a dis- 
