1901-1902.1 13 



train, and thence took cars to the Valley of the Two Lakes. 

 Time permitted of a tolerably thorough but rapid examina- 

 tion of the many antiquities and of the lake shores, and a 

 very enjoyable day was spent, rain which came on towards 

 evening interfering but slightly with the day's programme. 



On Friday morning the naturalists of the party took the 

 9-15 train to Portmarnock, whence they walked over the sand- 

 hills and northward to Malahide, collecting many of the 

 characteristic plants and animals of that rich locality. The 

 antiquaries visited Christ Church Cathedral, where they were 

 met by Sir Thomas Drew, R.H.A., under whose skilled guid- 

 ance they visited every portion of the buildings. In the 

 afternoon all assembled at the Natural History Museum, 

 where Dr. Scharff, Mr, Carpenter, and Mr. Nichols demon- 

 strated in turn the study collections, the general collections 

 of invertebrate and vertebrate animals, the collection of Irish 

 animals, and the geological and palaeontological collections. 

 Dr. and Mrs. Scharff kindly entertained the party to tea. In 

 the evening the Field Club Conference was held. In the 

 unavoidable absence of Mr. F. J. Bigger, M.R.I. A., President 

 of the Senior Club, the chair was taken by Prof. G. A. J. 

 Cole, F.G.S. The short address which Mr. Bigger had in- 

 tended to deliver was read by the Secretary (Mr. Praeger). 

 Mr. Carpenter followed with a paper on " The Dublin 

 Museum and Irish Naturalists." Prof. Cole gave an address 

 on " Scenery and Geology in Dublin and Wicklow," pointing 

 out, with the aid of a large series of lantern slides, the 

 geological significance of the various natural features viewed 

 on the excursions of the preceding days. Mr. Praeger spoke 

 on " The Present State of our Knowledge of the Irish Flora," 

 and exhibited a series of maps illustrating the history of 

 botanical research, and showing which portions of the country 

 were now most in need of attention at the hands of the field 

 botanist. Mr. R. J. Ussher drew attention to the important 

 work that lay open to Field Club members in the domain of 

 ornithology, and especially emphasised the desirability of 

 extending our knowledge of the distribution of birds, and of 



