156 The Irish Naturalist. August, 
BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
Fiftieth Anniversary. 
The fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Belfast Naturahsts' 
Field Club was celebrated by a series of meetings and excursions, com- 
mencing on May 10, and lasting for a week. The opening function was 
held at Queen's University, Belfast, on the morning of May 10, when the 
President (Rev. Canon Lett) received the delegates sent by sister societies. 
The following societies and institutions were represented : — Birmingham 
Natural History and Pliilosophical Society, Bournemouth Natural Science 
Society, Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Dublin 
Naturalists' Field Club, Geological Survey of Ireland, Geological Society 
of London, Geologists' Association of London, Hertfordshire Natural 
History and Field Club, Limerick Field Club, Liverpool Naturalists' Field 
Club, Malacological Society of London, North Staffordshire Naturalists' 
Field Club, Presbyterian Historical Societ^^ of Ireland, Ray Society, Royal 
College of Science for Ireland, Royal Dubhn Society, Royal Irish Academy, 
Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Royal Zoological Society of 
Ireland, and Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow. Congratulatory 
messages were received from the Cardiff Naturalists and other societies. 
The President extended a hearty welcome to the members and the 
friends who had come to them from England and Scotland. Speakers 
who would follow would tell them something about the doings of the 
Society in the past and the present, and he hoped some of the speakers 
might touch on the point of how to increase the mfluence and membership 
of the society. He would ask Mr. Praeger, who was Vice-President 
of their Societj'-, and delegate from the Royal Irish Academy, to speak. 
R. Ll. Praeger gave an interesting address on the history and. doings 
of the Club since its foundation fifty years ago. The Club, he stated, owed 
its origin to the old Department of Science and Art. It was in i860 
that the system of science classes, which some years previously had been 
inaugurated, was extended to Ireland. During the winter i86c-6i 
the first course of lectures was given — a course of lectures in geolog^' by 
Professor Jukes. In the following year Professor Ralph Tate came to 
continue the lectures. His classes were very well attended, and were 
highly successful. One effect of the lectures and the discussions held 
in connection with them was a letter published in January, 1863, written 
b}' W. T. Chew, advocating the establishment in Belfast of a field club 
such as existed in a number of English towns. It was followed by two 
other letters backing up the proposal, from Hugh Robinson and Samuel 
Alexander Stewart, who for the whole of their lives were active and 
earnest members of the Club. The three writers met in council, and 
as a result a circular was sent round Tate's class, followed by a public 
meeting, at which a large number of members were enrolled, and the 
Club commenced its activities. The first excursion was held in April of the 
same year, when a party of over 100 went to Lame and Islandmagee. The 
geological bent imparted by the lectures was continued during the 
earlier years, and had been continued practically ever since, geological 
