i88c-i88i.] 39 



spicula of the Chalk published by the Club, we have also to 

 take credit for the spicules from the mountain limestone 

 of Benbulben, County Sligo, discovered by our members, 

 and described by Mr. Carter in the "Annals of Natural History." 

 If time permitted, I might detail similar work by other members 

 of the Club — such, for example, as Mr. Gault's geological papers, 

 Mr. Tate's contributions on the Liassic and Cretaceous rocks of 

 Antrim, Mr. Swanston's Silurian Graptolites of County Down, 

 Mr. Phillips' discoveries among our native ferns, Messrs. Firth's 

 and Elcock's microscopic preparations — all representing thorough 

 good work that would be creditable to any scientific society. 

 The efforts of the several gentlemen I have re- 

 ferred to, as well as many others of our members, have not only 

 extended our knowledge of the natural history of our own 

 locality, but they have also added new species to the fauna and 

 flora of Great Britain, and in many cases discovered species 

 entirely new to science. When the British Association visited 

 Belfast in 1874, this Club took an active part in entertaining 

 that distinguished body. Our " Guide," presented to the 

 members of the General Committee of the Association, was 

 considered of such importance and value that the plan has been 

 imitated by every town the Association has visited since the 

 Belfast meeting. Hence Glasgow, Dublin, Bristol, Plymouth, 

 Sheffield, and Swansea have prepared their respective '* Guides." 

 Our " Guide " was the original work of our own members, each 

 writing from his own personal knowledge of the subject he dealt 

 with. Our Annual Reports now contain over 150 papers, 

 almost entirely confined to subjects connected with local natural 

 history and antiquities. Our exchange list shows that our pub- 

 lished Transactions are valued by many other kiudred societies, 

 not only in the United Kingdom but on the Continent and in 

 America. It will be unnecessary to enter more fully into details 

 regarding the past work of the Club to demonstrate that we 

 have to the present fairly carried out the purposes of our 



organization From what has already been 



accomplished, and from what is now being done, I think we may 



