Perthshire Society of Natural Science
Environment, Nature and Cultural Heritage.
Perthshire native James Croll (1821-1890) was born into impoverished circumstances and his scientific achievements were accomplished in spite of poverty, a lack of formal schooling and in the face of chronic ill health. Croll, who achieved significant recognition in scientific circles as a Fellow of the Royal Society, is now almost exclusively remembered for his pioneering work on climate variability based on changes in the Earth’s orbit. Metaphysics was his ‘favourite study’ and ‘first love’.
With the object of exploring the Perthshire hills, and climbing to a summit every year, the group were active until the beginning of the First World War, and appear to have fallen into abeyance thereafter. Amongst the office bearers of the club were the Cairn Master, the Quaich Bearer and the Geometer. The Club was open to members who had ascended to 3000ft, so it was a custom that new members were initiated into the club on a summit where the quaich would be used for the toasts and libations. The quaich carries the name, ‘Perthshire Mountain Club” and the motto, “Salix Herbacea Floreat” (“Let the Least Willow Flourish”) around the rim. The Geometer is inscribed “PSNS (Mountain Club) PERTH.” Would it be used to measure the mountain, or, possibly, to record the pressure to relate to the weather, and also for recording the altitude for specimens found?
