214 The Irish Na tura list. 



In their report for 1891, presented at the sixth annual 

 meeting, 12th January, 1892, the Committee are again able to 

 record an increase in the roll of members, which now numbers 

 109. On account of the lamented death of Mr. Chandlee, Mr. 

 J. K. Palmer undertook the duties of Treasurer. It may be 

 noted that in this year the experiment was tried of holding 

 small extra excursions for the study or collecting of particular 

 groups of plants or animals by those specially interested in 

 them. During the first year of the Club's existence a similar 

 scheme had been attempted, a number of sections having been 

 started, each devoted to the stud)- of some special department 

 of natural history ; but in neither instance was the scheme 

 carried out for more than a single season ; probably a much 

 larger membership would be necessary before such a scatter- 

 ing of the limited scientific resources of a small Field Club 

 would be either advisable or successful. 



Dr. M'Weeney was elected President for the year 1892 ; the 

 other officers were re-elected, and the Club continued to 

 prosper. It was early in this year that the suggestion was 

 made by Mr. Carpenter that a magazine devoted to Irish 

 natural history should be founded ; and from the first, the 

 Dublin Field Club showed an active and friendly interest in 

 the undertaking, and the existence of the Irish. Naturalist in 

 its present form is largely due to their prompt sympathy and 

 generous assistance. 



At the beginning of 1893 the Club numbered 126 members; 

 Mr. J. M. Browne succeeded Mr. Carpenter as Secretary, 

 and Professor Johnson, Mr. Palmer as Treasurer. Once again 

 there followed a year of steady progress, the most noticeable 

 events being the opening of the winter session with a Conver- 

 sazione, which was in every respect successful, and will prob- 

 ably become an important annual event, as it is with the Bel- 

 fast Club ; and a three-day excursion to the neighbourhood of 

 Newry and Carlingford, carried out in conjunction with the 

 Belfast Field Club, which was considered, hy those members 

 who had the good fortune to be present, to be one of the most 

 enjoyable and instructive trips which have, so far, been held 

 by either of the Societies engaged. 



And this brings us to the beginning of the present year, 

 when Mr. Carpenter succeeded to the Presidential chair, with 

 Professor Cole as Vice, and the present writer was elected to 



