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lections of Palaeozoic fossils in competition for the prize offered by 

 the Club. The former gentleman carried off the prize, but Mr. 

 Gray's collection was of such high merit that a special prize of 

 equal value was awarded him. Both collections included Carbon- 

 iferous and Silurian fossils. Mr. Swanston's collection of Silurian 

 Graptolites from Donaghadee were of great interest, while Mr. 

 Gray's fish teeth, from Armagh, formed a lich collection. Both 

 these exhibitors had a great variety of Trilobites, from Pomeroy, 

 County Tyrone. Mr. Gray also exhibited twenty-five carefully 

 mounted microscopic slides, for which the prize was awarded. Mr. 

 Henry Knight obtained the prize for the best collection of Mosses, 

 the value of which was much enhanced by their being mounted as 

 specimens for the microscope. He also exhibited a series of micro- 

 scopic slides, mainly botanical, Mr. George Donaldson's prize 

 collection of Lepidoptera, included a much greater variety of 

 butterflies and moths and many more beautiful species than are 

 commonly supposed to occur in this neighbourhood, yet all the 

 specimens shown were collected within a short distance of Belfast 

 during the last twelve months. This gentleman also carried away 

 the prize for native Ferns, of which he exhibited twenty species. 

 Mr. F. W. Lockwood exhibited two studies from nature, illustrative 

 of archaeology. They displayed considerable merit, and gained the 

 prize offered by Dr. J. Moore, H.R.H.A. Mr. J. J. Phillips was 

 awarded the president's (Rev. Dr. MTlwaine) prize for an interest- 

 ing series of drawings illustrating his recent researches at Inch 

 Abbey, Downpatrick. A case of rare British moths was shown by 

 the Rev. John Bristow, A.M. Much attention was attracted by an 

 American Black-billed Cuckoo, which was exhibited by Dr. John 

 Rea, by whom it was shot in the parish of Killead, County Antrim, 

 in 1873. We understand it is the first specimen of this bird which 

 has been obtained in the three kingdoms, and the second in Europe. 

 Some neatly-mounted aquaria were shown by Mr. Thomas Darragh. 

 They were very tastefully fitted up, and contained a great variety 

 of local fish, shells, and water plants. Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S. r 

 exhibited a valuable assortment of microscopic fossils from the 



