434 [Proc. B. N. F. e., 



later historic period on the shores of Belfast Lough, and sug- 

 gested that investigation might be made by members of the 

 Club as to whether this had been, or was now, accompanied by 

 any oscillation in the level of the land in the North-East of 

 Ireland or not. He then referred to the various objects of in- 

 terest exhibited by the members, and called on some of the 

 exhibitors for a few brief remarks. The purport of these may 

 be best gathered from the description of the exhibits themselves. 



FUNGI. 



Amongst the studies encouraged by the Club during recent 

 years has been that of the various forms of Fungi, and the result 

 was now shown by a large table covered with a magnificent 

 collection of fungi, edible and poisonous, gigantic and micro- 

 scopic, chiefly collected and exhibited by Rev. H. W. Lett, M. A. ; 

 Mr. R. LI. Praeger, and Mr. J. J. Andrew, L.D.S., F.R.C.S. 

 The series was further illustrated by a number of coloured 

 plates hung upon the wall. In addition, there was laid on 

 the table works by Fries, Cooke, , Berkeley, and Smith, 

 to let intending students know what authorities to procure. 

 Most instructive of all was a little catalogue of twenty-two 

 pages, issued by Friedlander, of Berlin, which contains the 

 names and prices of upwards of 900 different publications in 

 various European languages, entirely about fungi. Amongst 

 the specimens was a large puff ball, fully ripe, Lycoperdon 

 giganteuin, that measured 3 feet 10 inches in circumference, and 

 being edible when young and fresh, would have afforded a rich 

 repast for a large family. It was found in Belvoir Park. A 

 piece of oak wood from Tollymore infected with the green 

 fungus, Heldium oraginosum^ which renders it suitable for the 

 inlaid work known as Tunbridge ware, was shown ; also, the 

 potato blight, Peronospora infestans^ was shown on some affected 

 tubers. Beside them lay a branch of laburnum, which had been 

 killed by Cucurhitaria laburuls, and a specimen of the Poly- 

 porus which can be cut into shape and used for razor strops. 



SEA DREDGING. 



Another special exhibit of the Club's work, shown under 



