i887-i888.] 41 



in the room down stairs, which then formed the Library of the 

 Museum, the chair being, if I recollect aright, occupied by Dr. 

 Samuel Browne. The meeting was large and enthusiastic, and 

 a considerable number of members whose names do not appear 

 on the list I have read, were enrolled. I believe I am correct 

 in stating that Mr. William Gray, who has already occupied 

 the Presidential chair, and who for so many years efficiently 

 acted as Secretary, was one of them. 



At this meeting rules were adopted, a Committee and officers 

 appointed, and excursions arranged for ; the first Secretaries 

 being Messrs. Ralph Tate and W. T. Chew ; the Treasurer, the 

 late Mr. A. F. Herdman ; and the Chairman, my predecesor, 

 Rev. Canon Grainger, then Mr. John Grainger. The pro- 

 gramme of the first year's excursions and other early particulars 

 of the Club are unfortunately out of print, and I have been 

 unable to see a copy. The Report for the following year, 

 1864-65, a tiny pamphlet of some eight pages, however, gives as 

 an appendix, a short account of the previous year's field work, and 

 from it we learn that much was done, the first excursion being 

 to Islandmagee and the shores of Larne Lough. During the 

 Summer the Committee entered upon negotiations with the 

 Natural History Society w T ith the view of obtaining accommoda- 

 tion for the Winter meetings. It might have been supposed 

 that the older Society would either look upon the younger one 

 as a competing rival in the same field, or on the other hand as 

 being of so small importance as to deserve little consideration 

 at its hands. No such view was taken, for we find from the 

 Society's report for the year that the right hand of fellowship 

 was at once extended to us, as the following extract will show : — 

 " This new Club, in whose welfare your Council feels much 

 interest, expressed a desire to be affiliated in some way with the 

 Natural History and Philosophical Society." After detailing 

 the arrangements made, the report goes on to say : — il The 

 Council trust that the Club will have a prosperous career, and 

 that the ranks of the Museum Society will, from year to year, 

 be reinforced by accessions from the young men who are thus 

 showing their interest in Natural History by grouping them- 



