i89»-99-] 497 



arriving at New York on the 23rd April, after a voyage ot 

 fifteen days; but this claim cannot be sustained, because the 

 s.s. Sirius, 412 tons, sailed the same month direct from Cork 

 Harbour, and reached New York on the 23rd April, and 

 thereby to the Irish boat is due the credit of being the first 

 steamer to cross the Atlantic. Mr. Gray described the various 

 places of interest in and around Bristol, as well as the places 

 visited on the excursions, including Strandon Drew, Raglan 

 Castle, Tintern Abbey, Salisbury, Old Sarum, and Stonehenge. 

 His descriptive sketches were very fully illustrated by original 

 lantern slides, with special reference to the Anglo-Norman 

 invasion of Ireland, under Strongbow. 



After the lecture the Chairman and other members joined in 

 a short discussion. 



The Secretary announced the gift of 123 dried plants from 

 Mr. R. L. Praeger, M.R.I.A., and a geological map from Mr. H. 

 J. Seymour. 



GENERAL MEETING. 



The thirty-sixth annual general meeting of the Club was held 

 on the 25th April in the Museum. Rev. C. H. Waddell, B.D., 

 President, occupied the chair. The Secretary read the annual 

 report, which stated that the work of the Club had been 

 carried on successfully during the year by excursions and 

 evening meetings. A feature of interest was the appointment 

 of a field lecturer, whose explanations and short lectures given 

 during the excursions were much appreciated by the members. 

 A new feature in connection with the winter meetings was the 

 institution of a science gossip half hour before each meeting. 

 These half hours were well attended, and gave beginners in 

 natural history or archaeology an opportunitv of getting 

 information on subjects in which they were interested. Three 

 collections submitted in competition for prizes were of 

 considerable merit — one by Mr. Adams, containing a plant new 



