20 The Irish Naturalist. [Jan. 



veteran resident there, Mr. Gatke. The nesting habits of some of the 

 birds were described, and views of some favourite nesting-places 

 exhibited, these and the other views adding an artistic attraction to an 

 interesting and instructive lecture, which was listened to with attention 

 throughout by a most appreciative audience. 



Dr. Redfern had pleasure in moving a very hearty vote of thanks to 

 the President. Mr. J. F. Shii^i^ington seconded the motion. Mr. 

 Patterson pointed out that it was not their custom to pass votes 

 of thanks to their own members, but he was very grateful for the kind, 

 words used by Dr. Redfern and Mr. Shillington. 



December 3rd. — Mr. George Coifey, B.L., lectured to a large audience 

 on the subject " P'rom Egypt to Ireland : a chapter in the History of 

 Ornament." 



BEI.FAST NATURAI.ISTS' FlETvD CivUB. 



November 19th. — The opening meeting was held, when the Presi- 

 dent (Mr. F. W. LOCKWOOD. C.E.), delivered his inaugural address. Mr. 

 Ivockwood took as his subject, " The Interdependence of the various 

 Branches of the Club's Work." The address first touched upon the in- 

 creasing prosperity of the Club, as indicated by the activity of the various 

 sections, and though some of the older members had doubts as to the 

 wisdom of the recent changes, Mr. Lockwood himself felt none. The 

 President then referred to the different nature of the work done now to 

 what was open to the students of thirty years ago, which necessitated 

 sometimes a change in method. He then went on to show the depen- 

 dence the various branches had upon each other. To take an instance, 

 that pursuit which has brought the Club a very considerable reputation, 

 microscopy, and more especially that branch so successfully pursued by 

 Mr. Joseph Wright, the foraminifera, he (the President) thought it 

 certain that Mr. Wright little considered his investigations into the white 

 chalk powder in the flints would ultimately lead to discoveries necessi- 

 tating careful reconsideration of the theories as to the origin of boulder 

 clay. Mr. Lockwood then referred to the careful and minute work 

 required in tracing out the erratic blocks to their parent formation. 

 Broad questions of meteorology are well worth working at in order to 

 help to solve such problems as why Greenland should be covered with 

 an ice-cap and Siberia quite dry. The President next touched upon the 

 engrossing subject of botany, and pointed out that although such work 

 as that done by Messrs. Stewart, Corry, and Praeger cannot be done over 

 again, very valuable results, indeed, could be obtained from the almost 

 unknown deposits of plant-remains between the lava- flows of the upper 

 and lower basalts. Good work also remains to be done in tabulating 

 these outflows, such as the rhyoHtes and pitchstones. Referring to the 

 work done by the Duke of Argyll, Starkie Gardner, and some of the Club's 

 members, Mr. Lockwood suggested that the fauna be especially searched 

 for in these old lake-bottoms. The Carboniferous period should also 

 yield further results, from the Tyrone and Ballycastle coal-measures, and 



