46 The Irish Naturalist. April, 



minimum estimates of the ages of the various strata of the crust of the 

 earth were given, these min ma being stated as from 850 milUon years 

 to about twice that number. 



A vote of thanks, warmly passed bj^ acclamation, closed the proceedings. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



December 8. — The Vice-President in the Chair. Dr, G. B. Cra.wford 

 delivered, a lecture illustrated by a large number of lantern-slides, describing 

 " A Voyage on a Dundee Whaler to Greenland and Labrador." Vivid 

 descriptions were given of the habits of the seals and whales observed 

 during the voyage, and Dr. Crawford's own slides in illustration of the 

 scenery were particularly telling. A number of questions were then 

 asked, to which the lecturer replied. 



January 12, 1922. — The Annual General Meeting was held in the 

 Royal Irish Academy House, C. B. Moffat (and subsequently the new 

 President) in the chair. The annual report read by the Hon. Secretary 

 (Mrs. Long) showed that an interesting series of excursions and meetings 

 had been held during the year, and the membership stood at 76. The 

 financial statement (audited by Dr. Crawford) showed a small balance 

 in hands. On the motion of Mr. Praeger, seconded by INIr. Hindi, the 

 report and statement were adopted. The result of the election of Officers 

 and Committee was then read out, Professor Trench being declared 

 President and J. de W. Hinch Vice-President, ISIrs. Long Hon. Secretary 

 and C. B. Moffat Hon. Treasurer, while three vacancies on the Committee 

 were filled by the election of W. F. Rogers Brambell, Athole Harrison, 

 and Philip B. Roberts. The President (Prof. W. F. Trench) on taking 

 the chair addressed the Club on the subject of " Poets' Nature Study," 

 indicating the modern character of the growth towards an appreciative 

 study of Nature as found in the poets, and inviting consideration of the 

 question how far the philosophy of the Wordsworthian school in regard 

 to Nature's teachings was in harmony with the conclusions of science. 

 A vote of thanks to the President for an address that had deeply interested 

 all who heard it was unanimously passed on the motion of R. L. Praeger, 

 seconded by C. B. Moffat. A number of photographs illustrating bird- 

 life in Ireland and the Isle of Man were exhibited by A. Harrison, and the 

 meeting adjourned. 



February 9. — The President in the Chair. At the beginning of the 

 meeting reference was made by the President to the death of a well- 

 known member of the Club (Rev. J. Hamilton) and a message of sympathy 

 was ordered to be conveyed to the Hon. Secretary (INIrs. Long) on her 

 bereavement. A new member, Mr. Seymour C. Harrison, was elected. 

 An interesting paper was then read by Miss Sheila Saunderson on the 

 " Autumn Colours of Trees," explaining the causes to which some of the 

 difference of tints were due, and making special reference to the paucity 

 of published material on the subject. Professor Henry, Miss West, Mr. 

 Hinch, the President, and others took part in the discussion, which 



