1903- Proceediyi^s of Irish Societies. 103 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY A.ND PHILOSOPHICAL 



SOCIETY. 



March 3.— The President (John Brown, f.r.s.) in the chair. Rev. 

 W. S. Gri^e^n, M.A., delivered a lecture on " The Armada Wrecks on the 

 Irish Coast," illustrated by lantern slides. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



February 7. —Winter Excursion.— In spite of a very stormy morn- 

 ing eleven members turned up at Amiens-street. The 1.55 train was 

 taken to Sutton, whence the party, with W. B. Wright as conductor, 

 proceeded along the shore to the Coastguard station. The old shore 

 line and some very perfect glacial striae were pointed out by the con- 

 ductor. From the Coastguard station the part}' turned inland to Barren 

 Hill, from which the tram was taken round the head. In a cutting 

 near the summit a basalt dyke was seen' penetrating the slates. D. 

 Houston demonstrated in zoology and botany. The party reached 

 Dublin at 5.30. 



February 10.— The Vice-President (F. W. Burbidgb) in the chair. 

 Forty-one members and visitors were present. F. O'B. Ei/l<iSON read a 

 paper on "Queer Ivcaves," which was illustrated by a large number of 

 lantern slides. A short discussion, in which W. B. Wright, G. H. 

 PEThybridge, and F. W. Burbidge took part, followed. Exhibits by 

 H. J. Seymour and W. B. Wright were unavoidably postponed. J. de 

 W. HiNCH announced the finding of shells in Glacial beds two miles 

 further up the Lifife}' valley than had hitherto been recorded. Various 

 objects of interest found on the winter excursion held on the previous 

 Saturday were exhibited, which showed that there was no lack either 

 of material for study or of enthusiastic workers at this time of the year. 

 A. ROYCROFT exhibited a number of Primrose plants in full bloom from 

 Skerries, and W. Dade a series of freshwater Polyzoa and young Trout 

 newly hatched, under the microscope. Six nominations for membership 

 were announced. 



March 7. — Winter Excursion. — The third winter excursion was to 

 Balrothery, the object being mainly to study the esker which runs 

 between the valleys of the Dodder and the I/iffey. In spite of rather 

 frequent hail squalls the party, numberin"^ nineteen, spent a most enjoy- 

 able and instructive afternoon, the success of which was largely due to 

 Mr, MacHenry of the Geological Survey, whose assistance in pointing 

 out the various features of interest in the esker and its gravels was 

 invaluable. 



March 10. — R. Li.. Praeger in the chair. Forty-three members and 

 visitors were present. C B. MoffaT read a paper on the " Spring 

 Rivalries of Birds." Mr. Moffat argued, adducing illustrations, that the 

 male birds compete less for particular females than for the possession of 



