49^ [Prec. B N.F.C., 



to Ireland, as well as several additions to the flora of the 

 North-East of Ireland. This collection received special 

 mention. Mr. H. L. Orr's collection of land and fresh-water 

 shells also contained some new species as well as a good 

 representation of more usual forms, all neatly mounted and 

 carefully named, and secured the prize offered. Miss Finlay 

 secured a prize for flowering plants. The honorary treasurer 

 submitted accounts for the year, which showed the Club was in 

 a good financial condition. William Gray spoke on the report 

 and accounts, which were passed, and will be printed and 

 circulated among members as usual. The election of officers 

 for the coming year was proceeded with as follow : — Rev. 

 C. H. Waddell, B.D., President, F. J. Bigger, Vice-President ; 

 W. H. Phillips, Treasurer ; William Swanston, Librarian. 

 A vacancy having occurred by retirement of a Secretary, 

 William Gray, M.R.I. A., was unanimously elected to the post 

 along with W. D. Donnan, M.D. The new Committee 

 comprises — George Donaldson, W. J. Fennell, John Hamilton, 

 F. W. Lockwood, J. St. J. Phillips, S. A. Stewart, 

 F.R.S.E. ; Miss S. M. Thompson, John Vinycomb, Robert 

 Welch, and Joseph Wright, F.G.S. Suggestions were received 

 and discussed as to places of interest for summer excursions. 



W. H. Phillips gave an address on British ferns, in which 

 he showed how the study of ferns is most interesting and 

 fascinating, being half botany and half horticulture. The 

 Counties of Antrim and Down are full of glens, mountains, 

 and roadsides well stocked with varieties. Ferns belong to the 

 order of flowerless plants, and are distinguished from others in 

 this class by the nature and position of the cases in which the 

 spores are contained. These spore cases are formed mostly on 

 the back or margin of the leafy portion or frond. The roots 

 are always fibrous, and in their younger portions are covered 

 with fibrils or soft hairlike bodies, which give them a downy 

 appearance. The stems assume two forms called the caudex 

 and the rhizome. In the caudex the fronds rise from 

 the termination of the axis of growth either in a single 



