102 The Irish Naturalist. June, 
" Lusitanian " flora. On the menu cards, painted for the 
occasion by Mr. Alexander Wilhams, were charming pictures 
of Irish birds and plants — the design on the cover of this 
Journal being artistically reproduced—- minus the Kerry 
Slug — on one card. 
At the conclusion of the dinner, speeches were dehvered 
by the hosts and others congratulating the editors on the 
zeal and persevering courage with which they had directed 
the Journal for so long a time, and on the high standard 
of merit which it was acknowledged to have maintained 
under their guidance. Allusions were made to the diffi- 
culties which had attended former efforts to promote the 
advancement of natural history in Ireland, when " splitters " 
and " lumpers " were apparently afraid to meet together lest 
breaches of the peace should occur ! The editors, in their 
turn, expressed willingness to continue the efforts of which 
such appreciation had been shown — acknowledging at the 
same time the importance of the help rendered by the pub- 
lishers, and of late years by the guarantors' committee in 
freeing them from financial responsibility. 
An interesting discussion then took place on the question 
whether fresh means could be suggested for improving the 
circulation of the Irish Naturalist. Amongst those who 
took part in this discussion were the Chairman, Sir Charles 
Ball, Canon Lett, Major Barrett-Hamilton, Professor 
Johnson, Dr. Scharff, Professor Bayley Butler, Mr. Adams, 
and the three editors. Various suggestions on minor 
points were approved, but all idea of any fundamental change 
in the direction of " popularising " or lowering the tone of 
the Journal was strongly deprecated. 
There is reason to believe that the dinner and discussion 
may not be without fruit in insuring further encouragement 
to the Irish Naturalist in its useful career, to which all true 
nature -lovers must wish abundant success. 
C. B. Moffat. 
