47 



"Spider-Crabs," and "Fiddlers." Here, too, was shown a living 

 specimen of the Spiny Cockle (Cardium echinatum) , dredged off 

 Bangor, on the previous day. It is not unusual to dredge dead 

 shells of this species, but it has not been previously recorded as 

 found alive in our bay. The contents of the Marine Aquarium 

 Avere viewed with considerable interest, the study of the living 

 forms being much more instructive than an inspection of the 

 same objects, when seen, as is usual in Museums, inanimate. 



There was also on view a Fresh- "Water Aquarium, stocked with 

 a hos.t of curious creatures, collected by Mr. Coates and Mr. 

 William Gray, from the trenches in the Bog Meadows. Eev. 

 Dr. Macllwaine showed" the lately -published volumes of the 

 " Montgomery Manuscripts," and beside it lay a section of the ori- 

 ginal manuscript, while Mr. Eobert Young, C.E., had a very fine illu- 

 minated manuscript of the 14th century ; it is on vellum, and the 

 illumination and full page illustrations — of which there are nine — 

 are all in excellent condition. The large photographic view of the 

 Members of the Club at the Giant's Causeway (by Mr. Mack, of 

 Coleraine), was hung up in different parts of the Museum. Mr. 

 Robert Patterson, F.R.S., exhibited the autographs of a number of 

 the leading gentlemen who took part in the proceedings of the British 

 Association at its meeting in Belfast, while much interest was 

 excited by a collection of Silk Worms, belonging to Mr. Frederick 

 Greer. At others about a dozen of microscopes were busily 

 kept at work unfolding to spectators the numberless forms of 

 the microscopic world. We must not omit to mention that much 

 amusement was caused by a live Hedgehog, exhibited by Miss 

 Thomson, of University Square. The collections of specimens 

 which gained the different prizes in connection with the Club 

 were also on view. Mr. Donaldson was successful in Mosses, Mr. 

 Stewart in Cretaceous Fossils, Mr. Swanston in Marine Shells, and 

 Mr. William Gray in Microscopic Slides. In the upper room Mr. 

 Magee had a self-acting Fountain at work, which, without a head 

 of water, threw up a constant jet ; and here also Professor Thomson 

 exhibited the Magnesium Light. On the ground floor refreshments 

 were supplied, in unexceptionable style, by Mr. W. J. Walker, pur- 

 veyor to the Club. Throughout the entire evening the Committee 



