1890-91.] 253 



specimens is greatly diminished by their being unmounted and 

 unclassified, and that several of them are erroneously named. 

 Further, there is an undesirable and unnecessary repetition of 

 the commonest species, as in the case of Hypnutn cupressiforme, 

 which is represented by no less than fourteen separate speci- 

 mens. The task of examining the collection is thus rendered 

 more difficult and less instructive, and the objects contemplated 

 by the Club in these competitions are not so fully attained as 

 should be. 



Prize 6. Best collection of Ferns, Equiseta, and Lycopods. — 

 Mr. W. D. Donnan is a competitor, with a series of 32 specimens. 

 This collection represents 21 species of Ferns, 7 of Equiseta, and 

 4 of Lycopods. It thus includes two-thirds of the vascular 

 cryptogams which are native in Ireland, and we consider it to 

 merit the prize offered for these plants. 



Prize 8. In competition for this prize Miss Sydney M. 

 Thompson submits a number of fossils, representing 24 species. 

 These specimens were obtained from the Chalk and Greensand 

 rocks of the County of Antrim, and include the greater part of 

 the most characteristic fossils of the Irish Cretaceous strata. 

 Miss Thompson has complied with all the conditions of the 

 competition, and we consider that her collection merits the 

 prize, which is now awarded to her. 



Prize 11. Miss Thompson has sent in a collection in com- 

 petition for this prize also, which consists mainly of Graptolites 

 from the Silurian schists of County Down. There are specimens 

 of the much-disputed Oldhamia from the Wicklow Cambrian 

 rocks, and 14 species of Graptolites. Taking into account the 

 labour and difficulty involved in obtaining such a series, we 

 consider the collection highly creditable to the collector, and 

 have no hesitation in awarding the prize to Miss Sydney 

 Thompson. 



Prize 1 6. For this competition Rev. S. A. Brenan, B. A., has a 

 series of Beetles which we consider deserving of the prize. The 

 specimens number nearly 400, and represent 182 species, which 



