204 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



In 1885 " The Flora of the North-East of Ireland/' by 

 S. A. Stewart and the late T. H. Corry, was published under 

 the direction of the Club, and is a lasting mark of the labours 

 of these men, who worked so thoroughly for the Club, and to 

 do more than mention this book would be superfious, as it 

 is still a standard work, and much sought for, and, with the 

 exception of the work already mentioned, and the two Guides, 

 is one of the few scientific publications as yet produced by the 

 Club. It is a memory often recalled with sadness that one 

 of its gifted authors, young Mr. Corry, met an untimely death 

 while investigating his favourite subject. Like a true man ne 

 died in harness, and the Club mourned the loss of one of its 

 sincerest builders. I remember well his paper on sensitive 

 plants, the only time I ever saw or heard him, and his thrill- 

 ing, rapturous manner and his expression of reverence for the 

 Great Creator's work made a lasting impression on me. 



At this point I should like to have it clearly understood 

 that in bringing forward the names of the more prominent 

 workers I by no means undervalue the works of the large 

 battalions that followed their captains in the field. 



We have all heard the story of the mutual work of the 

 organist and his bellows-blower, how when the latter said 

 "Didn't we play that well?" he received a rebuke which 

 made him, in the middle of the next piece, stop blowing to say 

 to the Musical Doctor, "Is it we now, sir?" A facetious 

 hodsman once actually said to me, "Ain't we building that 

 spire well, sir?" These men were at least doing their duty, 

 and without them the tune could not be played, nor the spire 

 erected. 



If anyone wants to know what these lesser Club builders 

 do, go out into the field with them, especially on the excur- 

 sions of the sections, and you will soon learn. Perhaps you 

 will find, as I did, how much they can teach you, and how 

 willing and strong their helping hands are, especially to be- 

 ginners who seek to work beside them. 



If I omit now a complete roll-call of them it is because, 

 as I said, I must condense everything, to keep within an hour. 



