I903' Proceedi?igs of hish Societies. 313 



at the time of his death. But Professor Symington intimated that he 

 intended publishing a full account of Grattan's methods and machine 

 in the proper scientific journals. Grattan belonged to that group of 

 scientific investigators who had endeavoured to ascertain the physical 

 characteristics of the pre-historic races of this country, and his researches 

 and inventions were calculated to aid in the accurate determination of 

 the differences between the various races of mankind, and the zoological 

 position of man himself 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



October 28.— Annuai. Conversazione —The Exhibition Hall in 

 Botanic Gardens Park was filled with the exhibits. Tea was served from 

 7 to 8 o'clock, and over 350 members and friends attended. At 8,30 the 

 President, W. J. FennEI^i., M.R. I.A.I. , took the chair and delivered a 

 .short address. After welcoming the visitors, he congratulated the Club 

 on the great success which had attended its summer excursions. He 

 mentioned that the efforts of the Club to preserve Greyabbey have been 

 successful, their recommendations receiving prompt attention from the 

 owner. A member of the Club, Robert Bell, had added a new mineral, 

 dopplerite, to Ireland, and many members were taking an active part 

 in the work of the sister organisation — the Ulster Fisheries and Biology 

 Association. He reminded them that the Club was now taking another 

 step iri advance, and that they had secured the use of a room in the 

 Museum, College Square. That room would be open every Wednesday 

 evening from 7 to 9 o'clock, and he asked all who desired to aid the Club 

 to meet there from week to week and exhibit inteiesting objects, raise 

 discussions, or consult the Library. 



Seven new members were elected. One of the- Secretaries then read 

 an Address to William Gray, M.R. I. A, on his retirement from the Com- 

 mittee after forty years continuous service. Mrs. Fennell presented Mr. 

 Gray with a well-filled purse of sovereigns, and Mr. Gray feelingly re- 

 plied. The address had been beautifully illuminated by John Vinycomb, 

 M.R.I.A., Member. 



A lantern exhibition of photographs, taken on the Club excursions, and 

 a cinematograph display of microscopic animal and vegetable life, con- 

 cluded this portion of the programme, and the inspection of exhibits 

 continued. The following is a list of the exhibits :— 



N. CarroTheRS— Collection of mounted Ferns and Flowering Plants. 

 George Donai^dson— North A.merican Ferns. Nevin H. Foster— 

 Varieties of the Lady Fern, Alhyrium Filix-Jcemma. P. F. Gui^bransen— 

 A new method of mounting Plants. W. H. Phii^i^ips— Variations of 

 British Ferns. R. Li.. PraEGER, M.R.LA.— Rare Plants from the Ards, 

 including Glyceria festnavforinis, new to the British Flora ; Rare Plants 

 from Clare Island, Co. Mayo. Rev. C. H. WaddEI,!,, B.D.— Flowering 

 Plants from the Isle of Man ; Rare Mosses of Co. Down. F. J. BiGGER, 

 M.R.LA.— Land-shell pocket material from the Horn Head sand-dunes, 

 containing many Vertigoes. John Cottney— Birds' Eggs, and Nests. 



