The Irish Field Clubs. 249 



maintained. The second annual report, presented to the 

 members on nth April, 1893, shows a membership of 50. 

 Three winter meetings and seven excursions had been held ; 

 the very sensible suggestion is made, that one well organized 

 meeting per month is as much as should be attempted. The 

 want of a Club Room, and of accommodation for the Museum 

 are referred to. The principal office-bearers were again re- 

 elected ; Mr. T. Farrington, m.a., succeeding Dr. Knight as a 

 Vice-President. The Treasurer reported a substantial balance 

 in hands. 



Of the present year, the most important event has been the 

 three-day excursion to Fermoy and Lismore, held in con- 

 junction with the Dublin and Limerick Field Clubs, on which 

 occasion the Cork Club was represented by two Vice- 

 Presidents and the Secretary, as well as seven other members. 

 The attendance at the other excursions has not been so large 

 as hitherto, and the membership at present does not exceed 

 40, but this decrease does not necessarily signify any dimin- 

 ution in the Club's efficiency. While a society is new, there 

 will always be found people who will join it, only to drop 

 away when the novelty has worn off. Such members leave 

 but little trace behind them, and indeed their sphere of useful- 

 ness is generally limited to the amount of their subscriptions. 

 The Workers are more constant in their affections, and, 

 though it is encouraging to have a larger audience before 

 whom they may lay the result of their labours, the} 7 displa} 7 

 none the less zeal because the circle is diminished. 



Of the youngest of our Clubs, the Limerick Naturalists' 

 Field Club, the story is soon told. It owes its origin to Mr. 

 Francis Neale, formerly a useful entomological member of 

 the Dublin Club. On his removal to Limerick, four years 

 ago, he found in Mr. Joseph Stewart and Dr. W. A. Fogerty, 

 two men whose tastes were somewhat similar to his own ; and 

 as a result of various conversations, a meeting was summoned 

 by circular for 13th December, 1892, when the promoters 

 brought forward their suggestion for the formation of a 

 Naturalists' Field Club in Limerick, and submitted a simple 

 set of rules. The meeting, which was attended by some 20 

 persons, adopted the suggestion therewith ; Mr. Archibald 

 Murray was appointed President ; Dr. Fogerty, Vice-President ; 



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