1901-1902.] 31 



on the first summer excursion to Scrabo. It was a late hour 

 when the members dispersed, so great was the interest shown 

 in the exhibits. 



TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PROFESSOR TATE. 



The Club held the first meeting of the Winter Session 

 on Thursday, 28th November. Before the formal business 

 of the night, a number of the members gathered in the room 

 for the " Science Gossip " Half-hour. As usual this proved 

 one of the best means for furthering the objects of the Club, 

 in giving members an opportunity of discussing points of 

 interest, and several members brought natural history objects 

 to exhibit. At eight o'clock the President took the chair, 

 and called upon the Secretary to read a communication. Mr. 

 J. St. J. Phillips said the communication referred to the 

 death of one who might be considered the father of the Belfast 

 Field Club, a man who had been guide and friend to the 

 older members, and was still the model of a scientific man 

 whose achievements the younger members would find hard to 

 approach, if not actually impossible to rival. The communi- 

 cation was prepared by an intimate friend of our founder, 

 and we are sorry that Mr. Stewart does not feel able to read 

 the following himself : — 



" It is with feelings of the deepest regret that I, this 

 evening, have to announce the death of a distinguished 

 scientist. Professor Ralph Tate, F.G.S., F.L.S., the virtual 

 founder of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. As many of 

 those who have been added to this Club in recent years are 

 unaware of the circumstances which led up to Mr. Tate's con- 

 nection with Belfast and its Naturalists' Club, I shall very 

 briefly state how it came about. The Government Depart- 

 ment of Science and Art was originated in 1852 with the 

 object of spreading scientific and artistic culture throughout 

 the country. One of its methods was by originating courses 

 of scientific lectures where such were desired. In pursuance 



