42 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



selves into a Society for its practical investigation." A further 

 proof of the Society's interest in the Club is to be found in the 

 names of its members who joined the Club at its formation, 

 amongst whom in addition to the two gentlemen whose names 

 I have already quoted, were Professors Wyville Thomson and 

 James Thompson, Messrs. John Anderson, J. J. Murphy, A. 

 O'D. Taylor, and Robert Young. 



From that date the favourable conditions afforded to the 

 Club have, with some slight modifications, been continued, and 

 it is to this fact that much of the success of the Club is due. 

 The first Winter meeting was held on 5th November, 1863, the 

 subject for the evening being il The aims and progress of the 

 Society," the author being appropriately Mr. W. T. Chew, 

 whose letter, to which I have already alluded, led to the Club's 

 formation. 



In the following Spring the Club lost the services of both of 

 its first Secretaries, Mr. Chew leaving for London, to occupy a 

 new business position there, and Mr. Tate to enter upon the 

 Assistant Secretaryship of the Geological Society. Mr. Tate's 

 leaving was made the occasion of the presentation to him of an 

 address from his former pupils and other friends, one sentence 

 of which may appropriately be quoted : " As persons desirous 

 of acquiring a knowledge of Natural History, we take a lively 

 interest in every effort made to facilitate its study, especially in 

 our own neighbourhood, and therefore cannot allow the present 

 appropriate occasion to pass without alluding to your exertions 

 for the establishment of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, the 

 existence of which, we have reason to know is largely owing to 

 your agency." 



Mr. Tate's connection with the Geological Society was not 

 of long duration, for we soon find him engaged in a more 

 remunerative occupation in making a Geological and Mining 

 Survey of Nicaragua ; and soon after he received an appoint- 

 ment worthy of his abilities, as Professor of Natural History in 

 the University of Adelaide. As his old pupils look back to the 

 days when he first led their footsteps into the mystic paths of 

 science, they may well apply to him the words of Oliver 

 Wendell Holmes in his " Farewell to Agassiz " : 



