1891-92.] 4 01 



places he used to send for his hawks to Carrickfergus. Mr. 

 Collins then proceeded to trace the continuance of hawking 

 through subsequent reigns down to George II., relating some 

 suitable anecdotes. James I. was an enthusiastic sportsman, 

 and especially delighted in hawking, spending large sums in its 

 perfection and furtherance ; also in cormorant fishing, which he 

 practiced at the same time. A sketch of a cormorant establish- 

 ment was then given, and the mode of training and fishing 

 with cormorants described, illustrated by specimens. James I. 

 had large ponds constructed on the banks of the Thames for the 

 accommodation of his cormorants, this being the origin of the 

 first Westminster Aquarium, on the site of which the Houses 

 of Parliament now stand. The last member of the Royal 

 family said to have sent for or received hawks from abroad was 

 Frederick Prince of Wales, son of George II. This Prince used 

 to occupy the Palace of Durdans, at Epsom, now the residence 

 of the Earl of Rosebery, and hawked on the Downs. The 

 reader then spoke of some old customs, laws, &c, that originated 

 with falconry. He then proceeded to describe the species of 

 birds used in hawking, their chief characteristics, and mode of 

 training ; also giving a sketch of the method of capturing 

 falcons, as annually practiced by professional falconers in 

 Holland. Mr. Collins described some flights with falcons about 

 Belfast by the late Mr. Wm. Sinclair and Mr. Langtry. The 

 paper was illustrated by specimens of mounted birds, drawings, 

 and articles used in falconry. 



Mr. Wm. Swanston, F.G.S., who was then called upon, stated 

 that he had been asked to say a few words about a nodule con- 

 taining plant remains that was upon the table. The nodule 

 had been found in the Boulder Clay during the progress of the 

 excavations at the Water Commissioners' works at Stoneyford, 

 Co. Antrim, by Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger. The leaves, &c, in the 

 nodule are so crushed together that unfortunately no single 

 species can be identified. There is no doubt, however, that 

 it is similar to the nodules so frequently met with along the 

 southern shores of Lough Neagh, and was like them derived 



