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that the Club are preparing an album for the latter, which 

 they wish to render the most complete illustrated epitome of 

 the natural history, antiquities, topography, and scenery of 

 this country to be found in Ireland. 



On the table was also the Club's portrait album, which, 

 though it still requires a number of contributions to render it 

 complete, yet, under the direction of their member, Mr. E. T. 

 Church, already contains a number of familiar faces, some of 

 the originals of which have since carried the repute of the 

 Naturalists' Field Club into other and distant lands. Last, 

 but not least, the walls of this room were adorned by a 

 number of very effective water-colour drawings and sketches, 

 kindly lent for the occasion by members of the Ramblers* 

 Sketching Club. 



OPENING ADDRESS. 



The first ordinary meeting of the session was held in the 

 Museum, on loth November, when the President (Rev. Canon 

 Grainger, D.D., M.R.I.A.), gave an opening address, taking for 

 his subject " Extinct wild life." The rev. speaker considered 

 the study of extinct wild life, both in the animal and vegetable 

 world, an appropriate one for naturalists, though they more 

 frequently and justly occupy their thoughts with still existing 

 forms. One special feature of all field clubs is the wonderful 

 regard in which its members hold all rare forms of plant and 

 animal. The love of the beautiful is ever strong in the breast 

 of the true naturalist, but the preservation of the rare though 

 humble species has always his especial care and respect. It 

 was, perhaps, a kindred feeling that prompted the members 

 of that admirable society — the Society for the Prevention of 

 Cruelty to Animals — to take under their care our feathered 

 friends, an act which will save many of our rarer birds from 

 extermination by the bird-nesting proclivities of thoughtless 

 boys, or of men who consider the wanton destruction of life 

 " sport." The diminution of forests was noted as an important 



