1913-1914.] 63 



you this evening. I venture to think that even those among you 

 who may not readily agree with all the theories I have advanced 

 in order to explain certain facts of distribution, will acknowledge 

 that such studies as these tend to advance our knowledge in many 

 directions. The most humble collector will feel that his work 

 may be of some practical use quite apart from the mere pleasure 

 and gratification his pursuit gives him. Every new fact he 

 accumulates may be of importance in the solution of problems 

 connected with the origin and past history of his country. It is 

 one of the principal functions of a Club like the Belfast Naturalists' 

 Field Club, whose Fiftieth Anniversary we are celebrating, to note 

 the habits and distribution of the animals and plants surrounding 

 the City of Belfast. In few areas in the British Isles has this 

 work been done more energetically and more systematically than 

 in Ulster. You have had a splendid series of distinguished 

 naturalists like William Thompson, Haliday, and a host of 

 others whose life-work has been to observe nature and collect 

 information concerning the living creatures surrounding them. 

 And yet here we are gathered together after fifty years hard work 

 ready to continue the same kind of studies for many years to 

 come. And there is ample work left for future generations. 

 May the Club long continue to gather information and thus 

 spread knowledge and enlightenment among the community. 



Ur. Smith Woodward, of the British Museum, expressed 

 very warmly his appreciation of the way in which Dr. Scharff 

 had dealt with the subject he had brought before them, and 

 remarked how the many questions of distribution yet to be 

 settled added zest to naturalists in their work. He wished 

 to know if any Reindeer bones had been found with marks of 

 teeth on them, as this might throw some light on contempor- 

 aneity of Mammals whose bones have been found. He also 

 pointed out that many apparently tropical animals can withstand 

 cold climates, such as the Tiger, remains of which have been found 



