1^5 March, 



IRISH SOCIETIES, 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts iuclude a large consigument of animals from the Zoologi- 

 cal Society of Loudon, viz. : — A Puma, a Paradoxure, a Ring-tailed Coati, 

 a Racoon, a Vulpine Phalanger, t\s'0 Cairo Spring Mice, two Vara Parrots, 

 three Macaws, a Roseate Cockatoo, five Parakeets, two Brazilian Cara- 

 caras, and two Black Vultures. An African Civet Cat has been given by 

 Justice H. S. Kelly, and three Indian Lizards by Mr. W. Cross. The 

 photographic medal of the Society for the best set of animal photographs 

 taken in the Gardens has been awarded to Mr. A. M. Geddis. 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL 



SOCIETY. 



February 4. — A meeting was held in the Museum, when a lecture was 

 given by John J. Marshall on the subject : — " The Northern Blackwater : 

 its Scenery, Antiquities, and Battlefields." 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



January 21, — Mr. W. H. Phii,i,ips presided. 



Mr. George E- ReiIvI^y dealt with "Some recent discoveries at the 

 crannoges of Lough Mourne." These consisted of a bronze pin with 

 Celtic ornament, a twisted handle, a wrought fish-hook, specimens of 

 pottery, including fragments of a large crucible, sinking stones, a rough 

 stone axe, and others. The paper gave rise to a short discussion, in 

 which Mr. Gray and Mr. Swanston took part. 



The second paper was by Miss M. K, Andrews, dealing with encroach- 

 ment of the sea on the land. A series of slides was shown in which the 

 genesis of sea stacks could be traced from the cleft in the rock, which the 

 sea enlarged into a cave or natural arch. The work was then taken up 

 by atmospheric agencies, and the crown of the arch ultimately disap- 

 peared, leaving the sea stack or pillar. Coming to the immediate 

 locality, the Co. Down coast, photographs were shown of Black Island, 

 Newcastle. This is now a band of wrack-covered boulders, exposed at 

 low tides, occupied but a century ago by houses and gardens. The 

 present sea wall is over 300 feet behind the ancient wall. Encroachments 

 at Cultra were also described. Reference was made to the work done bj' 

 the committee of the British Association in 1895. 



Miss WAI.KINGTON, LL.D., then gave an account of the district 

 between Newtownards and Knock. Many of the places described are but 

 little known, but on account of their beauty or historic interest are 

 worthy of a visit. 



Mr. James Orr read a short paper on " Sea Urchins," illustrated by 

 lantern slides. 



