WINTER SESSION. 



CONVERSAZIONE. 



i^-jjHJ N the 2nd November, the Winter Session of the Club 

 was entered into in an agreeable and appropriate 

 manner by a conversazione in the Free Library. The 

 various rooms were made use of to the best advantage, and 

 looked extremely handsome. 



Tea was served in the newsroom from tables ranged along 

 two sides of the walls, some of the lady members acting as tea- 

 makers. After leaving the tearoom the members were directed 

 to the exhibits in the Grainger Room, where Robert Bell had 

 a collection of fossil sponges on exhibit. H. L. Orr exhibited a 

 choice collection of land and fresh- water shells ; some live 

 lizards which he exhibited attracted attention. Round another 

 table in this room excitement ran high over John Hamilton's 

 toads and slow-worms, which proved interesting to all. . Many 

 members visited the Art Galleries, where the pictures of the 

 Art Society were on exhibition. Ultimately the members 

 gathered in to the reference library, which was admirably laid 

 out for the various displays. Tables were arranged along the 

 ambulatory round the room, leaving the large central space free 

 for a lantern exhibit. At the left of the entrance door Robert 

 Welch displayed a large collection of shells collected this 

 summer in County Kerry, as well as living specimens of the 

 Kerry Slug, which he explained was found only in Kerry and 

 Portugal. On the same table the Hon. R. E. Dillon had a fine 

 collection of lepidoptera exhibiting protective mimicry. These 

 moths and butterflies were beautifully mounted with small 

 portions of their habitats, which showed how closely the 

 colour or shape of each approaced that of its natural home, 

 and it was easy to imagine how much such similarities would 

 contribute to their safety and render them obscure to their 



