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Auatural Bistory & Philosophical Society. 
THE annual meeting of shareholders, convened by public 
advertisement in the Belfast newspapers, was held in the 
Museum, on the afternoon of Thursday, the 5th June, 
1873, at 3 o'clock. Joseph John Murphy, Esq., F.G.S., 
occupied the chair. There were also present—Professor 
Hodges, Robert Lloyd Patterson, Esq. ; Professor R. O. 
Cunningham, Professor Purser, W. J. Hancock, Esq. ; 
A. O’D. Taylor, Esq.; Dr, Henry Burden, Robert 
M‘Adam, Esq., &c. 
Apologies for non-attendance were sent from W. H. 
Patterson, Esq., and John Anderson, Esq. 
Mr. TayLor read the following report, to which is ap- 
pended a list of donations to the Museum and the Library 
for the past year :— 
‘ REPORT BY THE COUNCIL OF THE NATURAL HISTORY 
AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, BELFAST, FOR THE 
SESSION 1872-73. 
**In reviewing the past twelve months, the Council 
have but few items of moment to lay hefore the share- 
holders. The fifty-secona session of the society has now 
terminated, and during it a full average number of com- 
munications has been brought forward, several of them 
extremely interesting. But the council still perceive a 
want of new members willing to join the reading staff, 
and they wish to reiterate their desire that young men of 
scientific tastes should join the society, and, by the infusion 
of their fresh ideas, stimulate the interest taken in the 
proceedings. 
“‘ There have been eight evening meetings held during 
the past session, of which a record is appended. By the 
courtesy of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club share- 
holders and members are also granted the privilege of 
personal attendance at the Club’s evening meetings, of 
which six took place. Add to this the privilege of 
admission for one’s self and family to the Museum in the 
day-time, and the advantages derived by either a share- 
holder or a guinea subscriber seem well worth the ex- 
penditure, 
