1883-1884.] 253 



alike in sea and fresh water. In describing the various shells, 

 Dr. Grainger stated that there did not now seem to be nearly 

 such a variety of species as when he first used to collect on the 

 shore, thirty years ago. He also said that, of the millions of 

 shells with which the sands were strewn, the vast majority were 

 the representatives of three or four species only. In exhibiting 

 some of the shells with holes bored in them, he described the 

 habits of the various boring mollusca, some of which, like the 

 Teredo and Pholas^ bore into wood or stone, whilst others bore 

 into various other shells for the purpose of preying upon their 

 inmates. An animated discussion followed, in which the mem- 

 bers of the Club were strongly urged to bring forward com- 

 munications of a similar nature to the two just read, and a hope 

 was also expressed that the Club might, during one of its 

 excursions, soon have an opportunity of visiting Magilligan 

 Strand. 



On the 19th and 26th February — Mr. John Marsh read an 

 account of an excursion over a large extent of the Continent of 

 North America. The places visited by the lecturer included 

 the White Mountains in the State of Maine, Niagara, the 

 Canadian Pacific Railway, as far as it was then formed, to the 

 foot of the Rocky Mountains, the Red River and Saskatchewan, 

 St. Paul's on the Mississippi, Kansas, Denvir, Utah, Salt Lake 

 City, and the Mormon Settlements, California, San Francisco, 

 the Yosemite Valley, &c. The return journey was made by 

 the frontiers of Mexico, and along the Gulf to New Orleans — 

 thence to Mobile and back to New York by Atlanta, Knoxville, 

 and Washington. 



The papers were illustrated by numerous photographs, 

 specimens of Indian work, samples of ores, &c., and contained 

 many acute criticisms upon the present state, and suggestions as 

 to the future prospects of the vast regions visited during the 

 excursion. 



