have been made. The hot summer of 1868 seemed to 
have an especial influence in bringing out several 
species not seen here before ; but the comparatively 
cold summer of 1869 seems not to have added many 
species to the list. To the list of plants, also, there 
have been several species added, and many new 
localities discovered for the rarer species, not only of 
the local Flora but of the Fauna as well. Much, 
however, remains still to be done in working up com¬ 
paratively unexplored districts, and the neglected 
branches of natural history. One district very likely 
to add considerably to the local lists if thoroughly 
worked is what I may term the maritime portion 
of Perthshire—that is, that portion of the county 
bordering on the estuary of the Tay. From what 
little I have seen of this district, I feel persuaded 
that if we had tolerably full lists of its zoological and 
phytological productions, we would be astonished at 
the number of interesting species indigenous to that 
part of the county. The vicinity of the sea is, as you 
are all aware, inhabited by species not found in more 
inland parts, and as Perthshire has no sea coast proper, 
it is to this part that we must look for the produc¬ 
tion of any of these species. Another fruitful source 
of interesting species should be the great beds 
of reeds {Arundo Ph'aqmites) that border certain 
portions of the Tay in this district. In those parts of 
England where reeds abound many species of insects 
who derive their sustenance from that plant occur, 
and I have reason to believe that the reed-beds of the 
Tay will not be found unproductive. To encourage 
the working up of this likely district, therefore, I 
beg to offer a prize for the best essay on the natural 
productions of the maritime portion of Perthshire. 
One of the neglected branches to which I wish to 
call attention is the great order of the Fungi, of 
which there is said to be about 4000 British species. 
Hitherto, one great drawback to this order has been 
the want of an inexpensive and complete manual of 
the British species. This want, however, is now 
likely to be supplied by Mr M. C. Cooke’s forthcom¬ 
ing work on the subject; and as we know but little 
regarding what species are indigenous to Perthshire, 
