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PROCEEDINGS OF NATURAL-HISTORY SOCIETIES. 
EDINBURGH BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 
The second annual report of the Edinburgh Botanical Society for 1887—8 
represents this Institution in a very flourishing and prosperous state. The Queen 
has been graciously pleased to become its patron; and “ they trust that under 
her auspices the Society may attain even a greater degree of prosperity than has 
distinguished its progress hitherto.” 
The number of Members at the date of the last annual report, amounted to 
132. During the period between the 13th of April, 1836, and the 12th of July, 
1833, 78 new Members have been enrolled; but, owing to the decease of one 
Member, the whole number at the latter date was only 199, consisting of six 
British Honorary Members, 20 Foreign Honorary Members, 75 Resident Fellows, 
67 Non-resident Fellows, three Life-Members, 27 Foreign Members, and one 
Associate. 
In consequence of the flourishing state of the Society, and the difficulties which 
have heretofore been experienced in accomplishing its objects, it has now been 
resolved, that an Assistant-Curator, with a competent salary, shall be permanently 
employed; and as part of his duty will be to prepare the specimens for the 
annual distribution, Members are solicited to transmit their parcels as early as 
possible, in order to facilitate the work, and prevent the recurrence of any delay 
beyond the appointed time for despatching parcels to them in return. At the 
end of the Proceedings is a list of contributors to the herbarium, to whom the 
thanks of the Society are gratefully returned. The Society are again indebted 
to the Countess-Dowager of Dalhousie for a valuable addition to her former 
donations, consisting of the remainder of the East-Indian herbarium presented 
last year—of plants collected by her ladyship in Canada—and of a collection 
made at the Cape of Good Hope by Mr. Bowie. The Committee also record, 
in an equally special manner, a very splendid donation by William Christy, 
jun., Esq., of London. It comprises nearly the whole of his valuable herbarium, 
which for several years he has been engaged in forming, with much labour and 
at great expense. The principal portion of it has already been forwarded to 
Edinburgh, consisting of about 8,000 species, and upwards of 15,000 speci¬ 
mens, chiefly derived from the collections of the Unio Itineraria, of Drummond, 
Mathews, Cummings, Schomburgk, Bridge, Wight, Harvey, Shuttleworth, 
Lippold, &c. Amongst the other Members who have contributed largely to the 
