1898.] Proceedhigs of Irish Societies. 25 



screen two slides by Dr. Joly's process. At 9.30 a lantern exhibit was 

 given, when archseolog}', geology, botany, and bacteriology, were repre- 

 sented and explained in a series of slides. 



BoTANiCAi, Section. November 20. — The monthly meeting of the 

 section was held, when the UnibelliferiB were discussed. It is intended 

 to study the British natural orders, beginning at the point where they 

 were suspended last session. 



Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei.d Ci.ub. 



November 9. — The first business meeting of this Club for the winter 

 session was held in the Royal Irish Academy Rooms, the chair being 

 taken by the President (Prof. G. A. J. Coi<E, F.G.S.) A large number of 

 members and their friends assembled. 



Mr. G. Coffey, M.R.I. A., Curator of the Archaeological Collections in 

 the Science and Art Museum, read a paper entitled, " A Prehistoric 

 Field Club." Mr. Coffey showed a series of lantern-slides illustrating 

 the view of M. Houssay, that certain forms of decoration of Mycense 

 pottery represented the South European water-plant, Vallisneria spinalis, 

 and indicated a knowledge of the relationship of the male and female 

 flowers of the species. Another series of slides illustrated the Barnacle 

 Goose legend which, it was contended, could be recognised in Mycense 

 pottery. An interesting discussion, in w^hich Prof. Cole, T. Greene, lyL.B., 

 Rev. Maxwell Close, F.G.S., and Prof. Haddon took part, followed. The 

 thanks of the meeting were accorded to Mr. Coffey for his interesting 

 paper. 



Prof Haddon, D.Sc, next gave an account as the Club Delegate of 

 the meetings of the Corresponding Societies of the British Association 

 for the Advancement of Science at Toronto last August. He stated that 

 there were two meetings of the Corresponding Societies' Committee, 

 but he was able to be present at the last only. At the Conference in 

 Liverpool last year, the question of federation amongst the local Natural 

 History Societies of Great Britain was discussed, and the Corresponding 

 Societies' Committee was asked to report thereon ; their Report was 

 read at the first meeting of the Committee in Toronto. A circular had 

 been sent to the sixty-six Corresponding Societies, and to fifty-eight 

 others. After two applications only thirty-four replies w^ere received, of 

 which nine already belonged to Unions, nine were generally unfavour- 

 able to Unions, and nine were unfavourable in their own cases. The 

 Report expressed some disappointment at the slightness of the interest 

 manifested in federation, but it is to be hoped that the effect of the 

 enquir}' will be to direct attention to the advantages of this course. 

 A discussion followed the reading of the Report. 



(In Ireland we have, thanks to the eftbrts of Mr. Praeger, a very 

 effective system of federation). 



Prof. Herdman requested delegates to urge their Societies to give 

 attention to the investigation of the causes of the colouration of green 

 oysters. Mr. Hoyle urged the importance of the accurate use of generic 

 and specific names in the publications of Local Societies. 



