1886-1887.J 539 



the development of the prothallus from their apices by simple 

 extension of growth. It will thus be seen that the fact has been 

 established that this beautiful Aihvrmm forms a new link 

 between the ferns and the flowers. The subject of hybridisation 

 of ferns was then explained, and the mode of raising new 

 varieties by judicious mixture of spores from plants of different 

 varieties. 



A great many specimens of ferns were shown, giving illus- 

 tration of the two parent plants and the resultant cross, thus : a 

 Polystichum divisilobum and P. cristatum producing P. divisi- 

 lohum cristatum. Some of the crosses were of great beauty, 

 and the notes of the raisers most interesting. Ferns and 

 their allies are perhaps the most popular and attractive 

 department of botany. Mr. Phillips, however, in his paper 

 opened up quite a new field of observation to their admirers 

 and cultivators, and the clear and comprehensive manner in 

 which he brought his subject forward will no doubt stimulate 

 many to follow the line of investigation which his paper 

 suggested. 



The Fourth Meeting of the Winter Session was held in the 

 Museum on Tuesday evening, February 1 5th — the Rev. Canon 

 Grainger, D.D., M.R.I.A., President, in the chair — when a 

 paper was read by Mr. W. J. Knowles, M.R.I.A., on " The 

 Worked Flints from the Raised Beach at Larne, and elsewhere 

 in the North of Ireland." 



Mr. Knowles, in the introduction to his paper, complained 

 that Mr. William Gray, M.R.I.A., in his paper on " Erroneous 

 Statements," read before the Field Club on 24th April, 1884, 

 gave extracts from a paragraph of a paper read by him (Mr. 

 Knowles) in June, 1883, before the Royal Irish Academy, from 

 which he excluded certain qualifying phrases, without giving 

 any indication that part of a sentence was dropped. In the part 

 most complained of, Mr. Knowles had said — " In the majority 

 of sections I have had the obportunity of examiiiing^ there is a 

 general absence of any stratified arrangement, such as would 



