2l6 [Proc. B.N. F. C, 



Natural History might be copied with success. When it is 

 considered that upwards of 120 excursions have now been held 

 by your Club since its commencement, most of them in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of Belfast, it may be thought that the 

 interest in the locality is almost exhausted ; such, however, is far 

 from being the case ; the change of season, or slight alteration 

 in the programme, with the influx of new members, or the 

 giving of more prominence to some special department of 

 research, always adds fresh interest to even familiar scenes. 



The following is a list of the places visited, with the dates of 

 each excursion : — 



I. — May 1 2th, ... .. Giants' Causeway. 



II. — June 2nd, ... ... Cultra and Rockport. 



III. — June 23rd, ... ... Glenavy and Ram's Island. 



IV. — July 17th and i8th, ... Killeavy, Slieve GuUion, and Carlingford. 



V, — August i8th, ... ... Carnmoney and Whiteabbey. 



VI. — September i8th, ... ... Shane's Castle, for a Fungus Foray. 



The Winter Session was in every way an admirable one. It 

 was inaugurated early in November by a social meeting, which, 

 though a departure from the familiar conversazione, proved a 

 success, and we trust gave satisfaction to the general members. 

 Seven ordinary meetings were held during the winter for papers, 

 at which nine distinct communications were brought forward. 

 The following is a list, and summaries of them, together with 

 notices of the excursions, will appear in your Proceedings : — 



I. 13th Nov. — Social Meeting — Various Short Communications. 



., fVi n i " Notes on Antiquities in Mayo, Galway, and the Arran Islands," by 



' Mr. Charles Elcock. 



jj, jy I "A bit of Groundsel examined Microscopically," by Rev. H. W. 



.i,22n jan j Lett, M.A., T.C.D. 



( " Magilligan Strand after a Storm," by Canon Grainger, D.D., 

 *' " \ M.R.I.A. 



IV. 19th Feb. — *' A Recent Trip to America," by Mr. John Marsh. 



V. 26th Feb. — do., Second part, do. 



VT 8 K M i " Ants — Illustrated by Diagrams and Formicaria," by Mr. Charles 



^"^'1 Bulla. 



VIT Rth A "1 i "The Age of the Basalts of the North-East Atlantic," by Mr. J. 

 ^" ■ 1 Starkie Gardner, F.G.S., M.G.S. France. 



