Belfast Natural History Society. 1*5 



should be lent on debentures, in small sums, free of interest, until 

 legitimate funds for annulling it can be procured. Until this 

 be done, it is intended by the members to hold out the same in- 

 ducements to subscribers which they did at first. The subscri- 

 bers of 5 guineas will have the privilege of visiting the collection, 

 and of introducing an unlimited number of their friends, ihe 

 subscribers of 10 guineas will, in addition to this privilege, have 

 the power of attending the various meetings of the Society, ot 

 bringing a friend with them, and of making use of the Library, now 

 containing a considerable number of books, and which contnmes 

 gradualMo increase, both by donations from members and friends, 

 and by purchases. To a subscriber of 20 guineas or upwards, a 

 vote in all proceedings, and every privilege enjoyed by members, 

 is allowed in the fullest extent. In addition to the ordinary mem- 

 bers of this Society, by whom the business is conducted, and who 

 are bound by rule to read in rotation at the meetings, a class ot 

 members has for some time existed, called Visiting Members, who 

 are exempt from any of the labours to which the others are subject. 

 These formerly paid a higher subscription, but they are now ad- 

 mitted at the same rate as the ordinary members, £1 Is. per an- 

 num,— becoming a very numerous class. Since the commencement 

 of this Society, a considerable Museum has been collected; some 

 progress in the formation of a Library has been made, and 222 

 papers have been read at its various meetings. It is intended that 

 the regular meetings of the Society should be held, as they have 

 always been, once each fortnight, on Wednesday evening, at eight 

 o'clock. To these no person will be admitted except members, 

 subscribers of not less ttian 10 guineas, and gentlemen introduced 

 by them ; for a large audience is unsuited, by its very nature, to the 

 calm and deliberate investigation essential to natural science. But 

 the members, in order to extend a taste for those pursuits in which 

 they are themselves engaged, have agreed to give occasional popu- 

 lar lectures on various subjects, and to give increased powers ot 

 introduction on those occasions both to members and 10-guinea 

 subscribers, according to the number which their rooms can con- 

 veniently accommodate; and they expect at these meetings to be 

 honoured with the presence of ladies as well as gentlemen. Y^^first 

 of these Lectures will be delivered on Wednesday evening, the 30th 

 of November, 1831, by Professor Stevelly, on the Winds. The col- 

 lection of objects of Natural History now belont;ing to this Society 

 consists of about yOOO specimens of minerals; a nearly complete 

 collection of native and a considerable number of foreign shells; 

 200 native and foreign birds; about 3000 insects; an extensive 

 Hortus Siccus of indigenous, as well as of American, and other exotic 

 plants; about 200 snakes and lizards ; with some skins, coins, an- 

 tiquities, and miscellaneous articles. Unexpected delays in hnish- 

 ing the building have prevented the collection from being now ex- 

 posed to view, and the dampness of the newly finished walls for- 

 bids any of the most perishable from being removed here for some 

 time to come. They are now, however, in progress for being sci- 

 N.S. Vol. 11. N... 62. Feb. 1832. U ent.hcally 



