266 TJic In's/i Xa/ura/isf. Xovember, 



WORK IN THE NATURAL HISTORY vSECTlONS. 



SKCTTOX C— GROT.OGY. 



The work of the Geological Section (C) was carried out with 

 undoubted briskness. The excellent lantern arrangements 

 rendered illustration easy and eifective, and the numerous 

 field-excursions in the afternoons gave visitors a clear idea of 

 the geology of Belfast. Some papers of great geological 

 interest, like that by Mr. James Porter on the Cork valleys, 

 found their way into the Geographical Section ; and few of the 

 active geologists could manage to attend also in another sec- 

 tion. The presidency of Lieut.-Gen. C. A. MacMahon, F.R.S., 

 was marked b}' certain heroic qualities, as he was recovering 

 from a street accident, and his eyesight had also recently 

 become affected. Notwithstanding, he was regularly at his 

 post, and the Vice-presidents were but little called on. Some 

 of the most successful papers were those in which colonial 

 districts were described ; but, as usual, the Section preserved 

 a decidedly professional character, and the papers and discus- 

 sions reminded one of the meetings of the Geological Societ}^ 

 of London. Whether this is entirely desirable in a body 

 whose object is to stimulate scientific tastes in the locality in 

 which it meets is a question for the organisers of each Section. 



SECTION D — ZOOLOGY. 



The meetings of Section D attracted a goodl}' company of 

 zoologists to support Professor Howes, who most ably pre- 

 sided over their deliberations. His address, entitled the 

 *' Morphological Method and Progress," abounded in brilliant 

 passages, which, whether acceptable to all his hearers or not — 

 he ran a-tilt at the Okapi, and expressed his belief that Lhnuhis 

 is not an Arachnid — always provided food for thought. His 

 concluding reference to the work of William Thompson must 

 have delighted Ulster naturalists. Onlj^ on two occasions was 

 the Section crowded- -on Friday, 12th September, when Pro- 

 fessor Herdman gave a ver}^ interesting account of his adven- 

 tures in Ce3'lon while investigating pearl-fisheries ; and on 

 Wednesday, 17th, when a spirited discussion on natural 



