REPORT 
Of the Council of the Belfast Natural History Society, read 
before a Meeting of Members and Visitors, at the opening of the 
Museum, College.square, 1st Nov. 1831. 
Tue Council of the Natural History Society have been directed, 
by their fellow-Members, to bring forward, on the present oc- 
casion, a concise report of their past progress, their present 
state, and their future prospects, for the information of those 
friends by whose aid the present building has been erected. 
The Natural History Society was first formed at a meeting 
held in the house of Doctor Drummond, on the dth of June, 
1821. At this time, it consisted of only eight Members, who 
met, at stated periods, at the house of Doctor Drummond, un- 
der whose care and zeal, as President, it has continued gradu- 
ally to advance, while the number of Members has regularly 
increased, and now amounts to 91, exclusive of those residing 
in other parts of the kingdom, and in foreign countries. The 
objects for which they were established, were the cultivation of 
Zoology, Botany, and Mineralogy, in all their branches, and 
more especially the investigation of the Natural History and 
Antiquities of Ireland. At first, as might be expected, the 
papers read, consisted of little else than compilations from 
authors of established character, and of discussions and inqui- 
ries arising out of the matter thus brought forward. It was 
not until a more advanced state of existence, that original in- 
formation was introduced, except that communicated by their 
President, Dr. Drummond. The Council dwell, with pleasure’ 
on the unassuming commencement thus made, in hopes, that 
the friends of science in other parts, may be encouraged to be- 
gin a similar career, although their numbers may be small, and 
their knowledge circumscribed. On the 16th October, 1822, as 
Dr. Drummond was then removing from the house he had been 
occupying, application was made to the Managers and Visitors 
_ of the College, for permission to hold the future meetings of 
