1882-1883.] i69 



The display of microscopes was as varied and interesting as 

 usual. Mr. Firth exhibited wood sections, Mr. Gray fossil 

 woods and varieties of silica ; Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., 

 exhibited a number of rare foraminifera, recently dredged by 

 him off Dublin. Three of the former— - viz., Miliolina trian- 

 gularis, Haplophragmium agglutinans^ and Lagena casirensis^ 

 were additions to the British fauna, the last of these {Lagena 

 castrensis) being of especial interest, as it has hitherto been 

 only known as a recent species from off the Australian coast. 



Several members devoted their microscopes to the exhibition 

 of miscellaneous objects. 



Mr. Vinycomb showed two beautiful specimens of flower 

 painting on terra cotta, Miss Sara T. Greer some examples of 

 painting on china, and Mr. W. H. Patterson, M.R.I.A., a set of 

 etchings of his own, mostly illustrating local scenes. 



An extremely interesting object was shown by the Rev. H. 

 W. Lett, M.A. This consisted of a common straw beehive, 

 nearly full of wax cells, of which a colony of wasps had taken 

 forcible possession, driven out the bees, and then, in the middle 

 of the comb, built their own bag-like nest of delicate brown 

 tissue. Whether the intruders more fitly deserved the ap- 

 pellation of Land Leaguers, or Emergency men, was a point 

 which caused some amusement and discussion, and was left 

 ultimately to be decided according to the individual tastes or 

 politics of the members present. 



In the course of the evening a meeting was held, under the 

 presidency of W. H. Patterson, Esq., M.R.LA., vice-president 

 of the club, who called attention briefly to the various objects 

 of interest exhibited. The continued popularity of the club was 

 shown by the election of fourteen new members. 



Refreshments were served during the evening by Mr. 

 Walker, and as the company separated it was admitted on all 

 hands that a most auspicious commencement had been made 

 to the Belfast Naturalists' Winter Session of 1882-3, and that, 

 having now nearly attained its majority, it would enter, it 

 was hoped, upon a long, vigorous, and useful career. 



