2 
typical collection of the animal kingdom. As usual, for 
the past few years, the working classes enjoyed the 
benefit of visiting the Museum on Easter Monday, at a 
trifling admission charge. About 5,000 persons, includ- 
ing a large number of children, were present, and the 
same propriety of conduct was manifested, and the 
same interest in the collections evinced, as had been ob- 
served on previous occasions. 
“The library has been lately enriched with some 
valuable donations; and a large amount of space being 
now rendered available by recent improvements, all the 
books are in course of re-arrangement, to secure more 
easy and ready reference than has hitherto been prac- 
ticable. ; 
“ The 33d session of the society has now terminated; 
and, during its continuance from October, 1853, till May, 
1854, fourteen meetings have been held, nine of them 
ordinary or private, and five of them publie. The fol- 
lowing list will show the varied nature of the subjects 
discussed :— 
“ PAPERS READ IN THE SESSION 1853-54. 
Dr. Dickie.—Subject—The relations of form and co- 
lour in plants and animals. 
Mr. R. Young.—Subject—Drainage: its relation to its 
economic and sanitary aspects. t 
Rey. J. S. Porter.—Subject—State of society, arts, and 
manners among the primeval inhabitants of Ireland. 
Professor M‘Coy.—Subject—Experiments to determine 
the effect of pressure in modifying the temperature 
of fusion, with their application to geology. 
Mr. A. O’D. Taylor.—Subject—The gigantic birds for- 
merly found in the Mauritius and adjacent islands. 
Dr. Stevelly.—Subject—The electric telegraph. 
Mr. Patterson.—Subject—On the instincts of animals. 
Mr. Steen.—Subject—The recent discoveries in astro- 
nomy. 
Mr. Patterson.—Subject—Notes on Chinese mirrors. 
Mr. MacAdam.— Subject— Notes on physical geo- 
graphy. 
Dr. Andrews.—Subject—Composition and properties of 
Ozone. 
Mr. Murphy.—Subject—The mountain chains of Europe 
and Asia, in their physical and political relations. 
Mr. Patterson.—Subject—Uses of animals to man. 
Mr. Millar.—Subject—On the more remarkable plants 
in the neighbourhood of Belfast, 
