174 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



civilization we must remember, too, that the crannog occupiers 

 were in part, at least, contemporaneous with the men who 

 carved the old Irish monumental crosses, and produced the 

 priceless illuminated MSS. Life and property must, never- 

 theless, have been in those days very insecure, as is testified by 

 the multitude of earthen ring forts which still remain. Not- 

 withstanding the influence of sages and bards, and the efforts 

 of the missionaries of the early Church, it was only by very 

 slow and halting steps that civilization made good its advances 

 against barbarism. 



At the close of the meeting Mr. W. A. Firth exhibited speci- 

 mens of the diatoms from the diatomaceous deposit at Lough 

 Mourne, which was recorded many years ago, but its locality 

 could not recently be found until the late drainage works. 



Mr. J. Wright, F.G.S., also showed a new British foraminifer 

 {Rhabdogonitwi tricarinata)^ which was found in a dredging 

 taken by him and Mr. F. P. Balkwill, off Lambay Island, in 

 fifty fathoms water. 



The second meeting of the Winter Session was held on the 

 19th December, when a paper " On the Public Libraries Acts 

 and the possible consequences of their Adoption in Belfast," 

 was read by Mr. W. Gray, M.R.I.A. The chair was occupied 

 by Mr. W. H. Patterson, M.R.I.A., and there was a numerous 

 attendance. 



Mr. Gray said that when he had the honour of filling the 

 chair of president of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club he 

 thought it his duty to open the sessions on both occa- 

 sions with addresses. On the first occasion, in the winter 

 of 1879, he delivered an address on "The Aims and Ob- 

 jects of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club," and on the 

 second occasion he endeavoured to enlarge upon that idea by 

 showing what material aids were necessary to accomplish the 

 objects they had set before them. He showed that in order to 

 fulfil their position it would be necessary to have in Belfast a 



