1903. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 87 



Taking the forty botanical divisions of Ireland, and tbe estimated total 

 flora wbicli might be expected in each, they found that an average of 



90 per cent, represented the state of their knowledge at the end of 1900. 

 In the two years that had since elapsed that figure had, by the finding 

 of over 250 plants new to the various counties, been increased to quite 



91 per cent., a higher degree of working out than could yet be claimed 

 for either England or Scotland. Mr. Praeger then referred in detail to 

 the more interesting plants added to the flora of the Ulster counties 

 during the past two years, and showed specimens. 



Rev. C. H. Waddeli., R. WEr^CH, and the President made some 

 brief remarks on the paper read. The election of two new members 

 brought the proceedings to a close. 



January 16. — BotanicaIv Section. — The Section met to continue 

 the study of our native ferns. A. MiiyL,iGAN presided, and the attention 

 of the class was directed to various features of fern structure, parti- 

 cularly in relation ^to the terminology of the subject. A number of 

 species were afterwards examined in detail. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



JANUARY2I.— Ann UAI.GENERAI, Meeting. —The President (Mr. W. F, 

 DE V. Kane, D.L.), in the chair. Twenty-nine members and visitors 

 were present. The retiring Honorary Secretary (H. J. Seymour) read 

 the annual report for the year 1902, while the Treasurer (H. K. G. 

 Cuthbert) presented his annual report and balance-sheet. Both re- 

 ports were unanimously adopted. The Ofiicers and Committee for the 

 year 1903, previously nominated, were then declared by the President 

 duly elected, no other nominations having been received. Dr. G. H. 

 Pethybridge and J. de W. Hindi are thus doing duty as Secretaries 

 in the place of H. J. Seymour and W. B. Wright, while the places of 

 the retiring members of the Committee, Miss Hensman, Dr. A. H. 

 Foord, and Greenwood Pim are taken by Miss Knowles, D. Houston, 

 and W. F. Gunn. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing officers 

 and members of Committee, and to the Council of the Royal Irish 

 Academy, for granting the use of the Academy House for the evening 

 meetings of the Field Club. A new ^rule enabling bona fide students, 

 artizans, &c., to become associate members of the Club at a reduced 

 entrance fee and annual subscription was unanimously adopted. 



The Secretary gave a resitmi' of the statement prepared by the Irish 

 Field Club Union, which is published in full in this number of the Irish 

 NaUiralist. Tlie PRESIDENT then delivered his annual address, dealing 

 with the current opinions on the probability of the transmission of 

 acquired characters to off"spriiig. G. H. Carpenter discussed the 

 address, and proposed a vote of thanks to the President, which was 

 carried by acclamation. 



Exhibits were shown by Miss Singi^ETon and Mr. Praeger, 



