1878-1879.] 34i 



In zoology, Mr. Thomas Workman had a case of British and 

 foreign Arachnidse or spiders, a class of animals not very popular, 

 but when mounted and arranged as those shown in Mr. Work- 

 man's case are found to possess points of great interest. Mr. John 

 Hamilton showed two cases containing various species of silk- 

 producing moths and their cocoons, reared by him from the 

 larval state. Mr. Thomas Darragh had an interesting ornitho- 

 logical rarity. That gentleman was so fortunate during the past 

 season as to secure a specimen of the red-backed shrike 

 Lanins collurio) or butcher bird, the first-known instance of 

 its occurrence in Ireland. Dr. Rea contributed two oval cases of 

 novel design containing stuffed birds, the work of a French 

 taxidermist, which made very effective wall ornaments. Mr. 

 Edward M'Fee placed on the table several live musquitoes, 

 captured during the past summer in the neighbourhood of White- 

 abbey. 



In the upper room of the building a series of successful experi- 

 ments were conducted by Mr. J. O'Neill by means of a magneto- 

 electric machine. Mr. O'Neill also exhibited the Geissler and 

 vacuum tubes, water hammer, and other scientific novelties. A 

 set of plans and drawings of old Belfast, kindly lent by Dr. Chas. 

 Purdon, and a series of geological maps and sections by Mr. Wm. 

 Swanston, F.G.S., were also exhibited here. Various other inter- 

 esting objects, which it would be impossible to enumerate in 

 detail, were scattered throughout the rooms. As usual several 

 members presided at their microscopes during the evening, and 

 illustrated the various branches of natural science, each being a 

 centre of attraction. The brilliancy of the rooms was much 

 enhanced by the number of paintings which adorned the walls. 

 With his usual kindness, Dr. James Moore, one of the oldest 

 members of the Club, and a Royal Hibernian Academician, 

 exhibited a selection from his extensive series of studies from nature. 



