44 [P">e. B. F. N. C, 



either, but to recognise practically a community of interests and 

 aims by the joint meetings. Coincident with this arrangement 

 was the undertaking on the part of certain members of the 

 Field Club, the re-arrangement of the local collections in the 

 Museum, which was completed some years after. The joint 

 meetings to which I have referred began with an address by Dr. 

 Wyville Thomson, u On the aims of Natural History Societies 

 and the uses of Local Museums," and continued for some two 

 years. It was found, however, that the identity of each Society 

 was becoming imperilled, and after mature deliberation by the 

 managing bodies of both, it was decided to revert to the former 

 plan of separate meetings, arrangements being made by regular 

 alternations to avoid any possible clashing. The same friendly 

 feelings continue to exist, while each Society is free to pursue 

 its own particular path. In 1869 we find Mr. Greer Maleomson 

 assuming the office of Treasurer, which he held for many years 

 with much advantage to the Club. In this year an important 

 change was made in our rules, to the effect that the members 

 should elect annually a President and Vice-President, in lieu of 

 the former arrangement by which the Committee elected a 

 Chairman from their own number. The first to receive the 

 title of President was Professor James Thompson, who had for 

 several years conducted our meetings under the old title. 



The Report for 1869-70 evidences another new departure, as 

 with it was issued the first of our il Appendices," that by 

 Professor Tate, entitled " A List of Irish Liassic Fossils." 

 These Appendices contain a series of most valuable papers, and 

 the recent issue of them in a collected form as the first volume 

 of " Systematic Lists of the Fauna, Flora, and Antiquities of 

 Ireland," is a work of which any Society might feel proud. 



Some three years later another change in our rules was made, 

 empowering the Committee to exchange the publications of 

 the Club with other Societies of a similar nature. It was found 

 that, as year by year the Annual Reports of the Club became 

 more voluminous, increased applications for them were made. 

 A system was adopted by which our Reports were regularly 

 forwarded to the leading Societies, as soon as issued, and a glance 



