I900,] • 153 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



Royal Zooi^ogicai. Society, 



Recent gifts include a Markhor, and a Urial from Lord Roberts, a 

 number of Gold-fish from Mr.H.Pim, three Japanese Fowl from Mrs. C. B. 

 Marla)^ a number of small birds from Master Despard, a Golden Pheasant 

 from Mr. W. J. Williams, a Common Pheasant from Captain J. Carroll, 

 a Black Rat from Dr. H. FitzGibbon, a pair of Pigeons from Mr, C. 

 MacNaughten. Eleven hj'brid colts, between Horse and Zebra, were 

 most kindly lent to the Gardens by Professor Kwart of Edinburgh. A 

 Bactrian Camel has been born in the Gardens. A Genet, a Suricate, a 

 Hairy Armadillo, two Californian Quails, six Parrakeets, and a Rock 

 Mynali have been bought, 



26,322 persons visited the Gardens during April, 



Bei^fast Natural, History and Philosophicai, Society. 

 April, 3. — Under the chairmanship of Mr. Robert Young, C.E., Vice- 

 President, a paper, entitled " Some of the Work done by Committees of 

 the British Association," was read by Professor M. F. Fitzgeral,d, 

 B.A., M.I.C.E. In the course of his lecture the Professor said the real 

 and permanent value of the Association lay largely in the work not done 

 at the conferences, but elsewhere during the intervals between. Since 

 its inauguration the Association had granted about ;!f64,4oo for the 

 furtherance of inquiries of great public importance, while the eminent 

 scientists connected with it had freely granted their services. Every, 

 where the practical men of the world had to turn to the theoretical men 

 for their ideas and opinions. Through the efforts of the Association 

 Committees research and experiments of extreme importance had been 

 carried out in regard to electrical standards, steam navigation, steamship 

 performances, strength of iron and steel, requirements of provincial 

 museums, systems of teaching, inspection of elementary schools, 

 chemical subjects of a wide range, and numerous other matters ; while 

 at present a committee was engaged in testing w^hat dyes w^ere fast and 

 what fugitive. The influence of the Association in national matters had 

 not been by any means a negligible quantity, and had brought about 

 many reforms. It was by neglect of the advice of the Association that 

 many serious disasters occurred. The Association had placed before the 

 Board of Trade the necessary data for the framing of regulations on 

 various subjects at one-twentieth the cost which would otherwise have 

 been involved. At the conclusion of the paper, on the proposition of 

 Mr John Brown, seconded by Mr. C. M. Cunningham, a hearty vote of 

 thanks was accorded Professor Fitzgerald. Subsequently, through the 

 courtesy of Mr. E- A. MacGeorge, J. P., the members had an opportunity 

 of inspecting a large bomb found recently at a depth of eight feet in 

 estaurine clay convenient to the Scottish Provident Buildings, 

 Wellington-place. 



