ANNUAL CONVERSAZIONE. 



The Annual Conversazione was held on Wednesday, 4th May. 



( The following is Extracted from the Local Papers.) 



The Seventh Annual Conversazione in connexion with the 

 Belfast Naturalists' Field Club took place in the Museum. The 

 attendance was large and fashionable, and the very complete arrange- 

 ments in connexion with the re-union presented no new feature from 

 those of previous years. As usual, the decorations were of a chaste 

 and attractive character. The hall and staircases were clothed with 

 evergreens and banners; while the large apartment in which the ex- 

 hibition proper takes place was ornamented inaverybeautiful manner 

 with evergreens, shields, banners, heraldic devices, &c. The refresh- 

 ment-room was also neatly trimmed. To the sub-committee the 

 credit of the decorations is due. A leading object of interest at 

 the Conversazione this year was the two collections which, in com- 

 petition amongst the Members, had been awarded prizes. The 

 successful competitors this year were Miss Lester (of Belfast), who 

 showed a fine case of Lepidoptera, and Mr. S. A. Stewart, who 

 exhibited an excellent collection of Mosses. Foremost in import- 

 ance amongst the other exhibitions were the deep-sea dredgings 

 shown by Dr. Wyville Thomson. They are a portion of the results 

 of the Porcupine exhibition of last year, and embrace a number of 

 star-fish and sponges from the depth of 1,000 to 2,500 fathoms. 



