38 



[Proo. B.N.F.C., 



foremost place among the pursuits of a Club like this : even if it 

 is scarcely a Science, it is certainly a most interesting hobby, and 

 may become a Science in time to come. Belfast and the country 

 around have much to tell us regarding the Archaeology of the 

 British Islands, and I am sure there are in the Club competent 

 members who could throw a great deal of light on the very remote 

 past of Ireland. The second point is that every Naturalists' 

 Field Club or Scientific Society should work in conjunction with 

 the local museum. The conditions in Belfast are no doubt 

 perfect. You are all, of course, interested in the Belfast Museum, 

 and I understand you have erected, or are about to erect, a fine 

 building to contain your antiquities. 



In England circumstances are not always so favourable. I 

 go about a good deal and come in contact with some of the 

 provincial societies : what I find is that where a local Society is 

 in working order the Museum is not ; and where both are weak 

 they are usually fighting. That is a sad state of affairs. A 

 museum is as necessary to such a Society as a dissecting theatre 

 is to a hospital, and I hope the great example set by Belfast will 

 be copied not only in Ireland, but also in Great Britain. 



In conclusion, let me say that my departmental colleagues at 

 the British Museum send their hearty greetings to the members 

 of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, while I myself hope to 

 renew friendships made some years ago on two or three previous 

 visits to Ireland, and make new friendships during this expedition. 



Mr. R. M. Barrington, Delegate from the Dublin Naturalists' 

 Field Club and the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland, said : — 

 Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen — I am sure you will not 

 consider it any disrespect to the other speakers if I say that by 

 this time you must be getting a little tired. Most people begin, 

 no matter how interesting the addresses are, to get weary after 

 two hours. I hope, therefore, you will bear with me during the 

 three minutes at my disposal. First of all I congratulate the 



