208 Ll'roc. B.N.F.C. 



The election of Rev. George Duncan, Messrs. E. Cunning- 

 ham, E. J. Elliott, Thomas M'Gowan, and Philip Johnston to 

 membership brought the procedings to a close. 



Previous to the meeting the usual Science Gossip half- 

 hour was held in the new Club Room. 



♦ ••'♦ 



" BIRDS : THEIR STRUCTURE, FLIGHT, AND 

 HABITS." 



The second business meeting was held on 15th December, 

 in the Museum, when Mr. David C. Campbell, of Londonderry, 

 lectured on " Birds : their Structure, Flight, and Habits." 

 Mr. William Gray, M.R.I. A., who presided, suitably intro- 

 duced Mr. Campbell, who first touched upon birds in general, 

 and showed what an important place they occupied in the 

 economy of nature. The land was cheered by their songs; 

 scenes that were dull and inharmonious were changed by the 

 flash of bright feathers and the fluttering of flying wings. 

 How dreary the winter shore without the gleam of the sea- 

 birds' pinions; how we welcomed the swallow in the spring 

 and admired the robin in winter ! From birds the poets had 

 received inspiration and the wise lessons. So far as scientists 

 had discovered, there were between 12,000 and 13,000 diffe- 

 rent species of birds found upon the globe. Some were only 

 found within comparatively small areas ; some inhabited 

 zones, and were only to be observed within certain parallels 

 of latitude; but many were freely cosmopolitan, and dwelt in 

 every continent. Owing to their marvellous powers of flight 

 and endurance, birds were able to traverse vast regions and to 

 penetrate into parts of the globe hitherto unexplored by man. 

 Should the North Pole ever be reached by an explorer, it was 

 probable that the only warm-blooded animals found in its 

 neighbourhood would be birds. People in the British Islands 

 were particularly well situated for studying bird life, largely 

 owing to their insular position as the outpost of Europe, and 

 also to their comparatively mild winters. Out of a total of 



