192 [l-'roc. B.N.F.C, 



Workman, Thomas Workman, with F. Herdman as Treasurer, 

 and Ralph Tate and W. T. Chew as Secretaries. 



At the first meeting of the Committee, on the 13th March, 

 John Grainger (afterwards the well-known Canon Grainger) 

 was elected Chairman, thus heading the long list of 

 Presidents. 



On the 6th April, 1863, the first excursion of the Club 

 was held, and 88 members left for Ballycarry, and crossed 

 over to Islandmagee and on to Barney's Point, to the Lower 

 Lias, some even reaching the Gobbins. The day was wet, 

 and the minutes state that " heavy rains somewhat damped 

 the ardour of the naturalists," but it did not destroy if it 

 damped, for even now "Field Club weather " is wisely 

 regarded as almost continuous sunshine. The minutes also 

 record for this excursion large botanical and geological 

 collections by the members. Barney's Point has been a 

 favourite hunting-ground ever since, a magnificent nautilus 

 being found there this season — and shown at our last Con- 

 versazione by Mr. Robert Bell. 



On the 21st April Sections were formed for the better study 

 of Zoology, Geology, Botany, and Archaeology, and they seem 

 to have set to work very quickly, their Committees meeting 

 constantly between the excursions. 



The second excursion, on the 16th May, was to Randals- 

 town and Shane's Castle and was attended by 50 members 

 and their friends, the route taken being througii the demesne 

 of the Rev. C. O'Neill, along the banks of the Main Water 

 River to Lough Neagh, and thence to Shane's Castle. The 

 Round Towner at Antrim was afterwards visited, and the 

 party returned to Belfast by the 5-40 train. A long account 

 of the work done is entered in the minutes, and the inspection 

 of an ancient canoe recently found near Toome. 



The prize list for the first year offered special inducements 

 for research in the Botanical, Zoological, and Archaeological 

 Sections. 



The third excursion was held on the 30th May and was a 

 notable one, the locality selected being Comber and Castle Espie. 



