138 The Irish Naturalist. [June, 



Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. 



April 25.— The thirty-sixth Annual General Meeting of the Club 

 was held. Rev. C. H. Waddell, B.D. (President), in the chair. The 

 Secretary read the annual report, which stated that the work of the Club 

 had been carried on successfully during the year by excursions and 

 evening meetings. A feature of interest was the appointment of a field 

 lecturer, whose explanations and short lectures given during the 

 excursions were much appreciated by the members. A new feature in 

 connection with the winter meetings was the institution of a science 

 gossip half-hour before each meeting. These half-hours were well 

 attended, and gave beginners in natural history or archaeolog}' an 

 opportunity of getting information on subjects in which they were 

 interested. 



Three collections submitted in competition for prizes were of consider- 

 able merit, one by Mr. Adams containing a plant new to Ireland, as well 

 as several additions to the flora of the N.B- Ireland. This collection 

 received special mention. Mr. H. L- Orr's collection of land and fresh- 

 water shells also contained some new species as well as a good repre- 

 sentation of more usual forms, all neatly mounted and carefully named, 

 and secured the prize offered. Miss Finlay secured the prize for flowering 

 plauts. The Hon. Treasurer submitted accounts for the year, which 

 showed the Club was in a good financial condition. 



Mr. Wm. Gray spoke on the report and accounts, which were passed, 

 and will be printed and circulated among members as usual. A cordial 

 vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Phillips for the effective services he 

 had rendered the Club as Hon. Secretary. His " talks " to the Geological 

 section were of practical value in the laboratory, and his demonstrations 

 in the field were most instructive and useful. 



The election of officers for the coming year was proceeded with, as 

 follows:— Rev. C. H. Waddell, B.D., President; F J. Bigger, Vice- 

 President; W. H. Phillips, Treasurer; William Swanston, Librarian. 

 A vacancy having occurred by retirement of a secretary, Mr. Wm. Gray, 

 M.R.I. A., was unanimously elected to the post, along with W. D. 

 Donnan, M.D. The new Committee comprises George Donaldson, W. J. 

 Fenuell, John Hamilton, F. W. Lockwood, J. St. J. Phillips, S. A. 

 Stewart, F.B.S.E. ; Miss S. M. Thompson, John Vinycomb, Robert 

 Welch, and Joseph Wright, F.G.S. 



Suggestions were received and discussed as to places of interest for 

 summer excursions 



Mr. W. H. Phillips gave an address on British ferns, in which he 

 showed how the study of ferns is most interesting and fascinating, being 

 half botany and half horticulture. The Counties of Antrim and Down 

 are full of glens, mountains, and roadsides well stocked with varieties 

 A description of the different genera and species was then given 

 showing the salient points of structure and the difference of each ; and 

 many examples were shown and explained after the lecture. 



