1891-92-] 4*9 



The special excursions were interesting and instructive, and the 

 meetings held during the winter have been well attended. The 

 membership of the Section now numbers 58, it having risen 

 almost double since the first meeting, and it is a matter of con- 

 gratulation that many new members of the Club have joined in 

 order to become members of this Section. There were two 

 excursions held during the summer; the first was to the Lagan, 

 and the second to Donaghadee. They were both held on Satur- 

 day afternoons, and both were productive of many interesting 

 specimens. The lagoons beside the Lagan produced a number 

 of species of the lower forms both of animal and vegetable life ; 

 while from Donaghadee material for making many interesting 

 slides was obtained. One beautiful minute specimen oiAsterina 

 gibbosa, measuring about *o5in., was obtained, as well as a 

 number of larger specimens. The brittle stars (Ophiocoma) 

 were also laid under contribution, as well as the palates of 

 different molluscs, many sponges, a number of barnacles, and a 

 quantity of Foraminifera. The first of the winter meetings, on 

 October 28th, was taken up with a discussion on the merits of 

 the different microscopes exhibited and explained by members, 

 followed by a demonstration of mounting by Messrs. Gray and 

 Firth. At the second meeting, held on December 9th, Mr. 

 Joseph Wright, F.G.S., gave a most interesting account of 

 ' Foraminifera ; what they are, and where to get and how 

 to prepare them for microscopical slides,' and illustrated his 

 remarks by beautiful diagrams and splendidly-mounted slides, 

 and, with the assistance of Messrs. Donaldson and Welch, showed 

 how they were selected and mounted. Mr. William Hanna, 

 B.A., was to the front at the third meeting, held on Wednesday, 

 3rd February, giving a most interesting account of the way lo 

 stain and section animal tissues, practically illustrated. After 

 all these meetings there was a show of slides in illustration of 

 the different subjects brought forward." 



On the motion of Mr. William Swanston, F.G.S., seconded 

 by Mr. John Brown, the report of the Section was adopted. 

 After some announcements by the secretaries, the President 



