1903. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 51 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY A.ND PHILOSOPHICAL 



SOCIETY. 



December 17.— Robert Young, J.P., in the chair. R. J. Ussher read 

 a paper entitled " Evidence of the Caves " before a large audience. He 

 described the deposits of stalagmite, clay, &c., found in caves, and the 

 important evidence they yield of the past history of the fauna of the 

 country, including primitive man. The explorations carried out in 

 certain well-known caves, such as Kent's Cavern, were described in 

 detail, and special attention was directed to Shandon Cave and Ballyna- 

 mintra Cave, in Ireland, the deposits of which, and the interesting 

 remains which they yielded, being fully described. Turning to the 

 work recently carried by the Irish Cave Committee under the chairman- 

 ship of Dr. Scharff, the caves of Keishcorran were referred to, and an 

 account given of the digging carried out there in 1901 under the superin- 

 tendence of the speaker. These researches added a new animal, the 

 Arctic Lemming, to the Irish fauna, and proved the abundance of the 

 Bear in old days. A vote of thanks was passed on the motion of John 

 M. Dickson, seconded by Prof. Symington. 



January 6.— John M. MacCormac, M.D., read a paper on " Heredity 

 in its relation to the Nervous System." 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



December 16. — The President, F. J. BiGGER, in the chair. R. J. 

 Ussher lectured on '' Birds and their Breeding Habits." The position 

 of nests and its relation to the colour of eggs was dealt with, and the 

 variation in number, size, and shape of eggs was discussed. The 

 peculiar behaviour of nesting birds and of their young was alluded to, 

 and the relation existing between the date of nesting and external con- 

 ditions, such as food supply, was emphasized. Nests are built in very 

 different positions, such as roofs and chimne)'s, trees, herbage, holes and 

 burrows, shingle, moors, marshes, cliffs, and sea-caves. The various 

 kinds of nests which birds build include swinging nests, domed nests, 

 fortified nests, adapted nests, floating nests ; while many birds build no 

 nest at all. The well-known parasitism of the Cuckoo was referred to. 



A number of slides illustrating the life of the young Cuckoo were shown 

 by Robert Patterson at the conclusion of the lecture, which was 

 illustrated by a very fine series of slides,^ mostlj' by Robert Welch. 



A vote of thanks was passed on the motion of Wii,i,iam Gray. The 

 President referred to the advantages of the Field Club Union, which 

 aided in the securing for the Club of such a lecturer as Mr. Ussher. 



Botanical, Section. — December 19. — The study of our native ferns 

 was continued. Mr. H. C. MarshaTvL, read an interesting and instructive 

 paper on " Fern Propagation and Growth," and afterwards described a 

 number of species, principally of the North-east district. The next 

 meeting of the Section was announced to be held on Friday evening, 

 i6th January. 



