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



young are hatched as miniature adults, and do not go through 

 a metamorphosis, as in. the insecta. The habits of spiders, 

 their use as weather prophets, their instinct and apparent reason- 

 ing powers, and their perils, and the way they protect them- 

 selves were all dealt with in the exceedingly able and interest- 

 ing lecture. Mr. A. R. Hogg manipulated the magic-lantern, 

 and the pictures thrown upon the screen made the lecture 

 doubly interesting. The Chairman, Rev. C. H. Waddell, 

 B.D. ; Messrs. John Hamilton, and C. M. Cunningham,, L.D.S., 

 referred to the lecture, and asked a number of questions, all of 

 which were answered by Mr. Gough. The election of a new 

 member brought the proceedings to a close. 



"the AMERICAN CONSUL ON AMERICAN MOUND BUILDERS. 



The usual Wednesday evening meeting of the Club 

 was held in the Museum, College Square North, on March 

 28th, the chair being occupied by the President (Mr. W. H. 

 PhiUips). 



The feature of the evening was a paper by Mr, Knaben- 

 shue, the American Consul in Belfast, the subject being "The 

 American Mound Builders." The lecture was listened tO' with 

 great attention and interest by a large audience, so large in- 

 deed that the use of the lecture hall had to be taken. 



Mr. Knabenshue said that a century and a quarter ago, 

 when the conclusion of the war with the mother land allowed 

 the people of the United States tO' turn to the development of 

 the country, a remarkable Westward emigration began. Cross- 

 ing the mountain barrier of the Alleghanies, the hardy pioneers 

 poured into the eastern portion of the Mississippi basin. The 

 most valuable routes led into the valley of the Ohio River. 

 The country was largely covered with heavy forests. Here the 

 settlers found numerous works in the way of earthen ramparts, 

 circles, and mounds, with here and there on some commanding 

 hill site walls and structures of dry stone, evidently built for 



