1875-1876.] I 5 I 



■ The Committee have much gratification in recording the fact 

 that at all the meetings, with one exception, the papers read 

 have been brought forward by members who appeared for the first 

 time before the Club in that capacity. They are glad to find 

 additional members bringing forward the results of their investiga- 

 tions in natural science, and trust that others who have been 

 engaged in the elucidation of special subjects will follow the good 

 example thus set them. 



The exchange of publications with other societies has been 

 maintained during the past year, and never at any former period 

 has this exchange been so extensively conducted. The Club has 

 during the year received various publications from no fewer than 

 thirty-two different societies, and the Committee have pleasure in 

 stating that not only from Great Britain, but also from America, 

 they have received additional applications for exchanges. The 

 Committee would here express their obligations to the Smithsonian 

 Institution, Washington, for the facilities afforded them by that 

 body in the distribution of the publications of the Club, and the 

 collection of parcels for it in the United States — an advantage 

 which has now been enjoyed for several years. In addition to the 

 exchanges, the Committee thankfully acknowledge the receipt of a 

 donation of valuable publications of the Geological Survey of 

 Canada, by the courtesy of His Excellency Earl Dufferin, 

 Governor-General of Canada; and also a copy of "Reliquae 

 Aquitanicse," presented by the executors of the late Henry Christy, 

 Esq., through the kindness of Professor T. Rupert Jones, F.R.S. 



Messrs. S. A.Stewart, William Swanston, William Gray, M.R.I.A., 

 and F. W. Lockwood, were requested by the Committee to act as 

 judges of the collections submitted in competition for the Club and 

 other prizes. The following are their reports : — 



" We have examined the specimens of Marine Shells sent in by 

 Mr. Thomas Workman, and have to report that this collection 

 fulfils the conditions annexed to prize No. 9, and we accordingly 

 recommend that the prize be awarded. Mr. Workman's Shells 

 have mainly been obtained by dredging, and amongst them are 

 several of the rarer species. At a former period Belfast was famed 



