44 



[Proc. B.N.F.C. 



" The Quaternary Ice Age," by W. B. Wright, is now in 

 the Library. Those who heard the author lecture to the Club 

 will thus have an opportunity of following up the subject. 



In 1 91 3 the Committee authorised the preparation of a 

 Card-Catalogue of the Club's Library and procured drawers for 

 the same. This has been almost completed — only a few books 

 require going over. It has been arranged into various groups, the 

 following being the chief: — "Titles and Authors" (of the Books); 

 "Botanical"; "Geological"; "Zoological"; "Archaeological"; 

 " Microscopical " ; and " Miscellaneous " The unbound Pro- 

 ceedings of other societies are not included in this Catalogue ; 

 only the bound books in the Library. 

 (Signed) 



Sylvanus Wear, Librarian. 



Report of the Botanical Section. 



During the Winter Session two meetings were held in 

 connection with this Section. The first meeting was held on the 

 10th February, when our Chairman (Rev. C. H. Waddell, B.D., 

 M.R.I.A.) gave an interesting address on "Some Plants of the 

 County Down Coast." After giving a general account of some of 

 the coastal plants of the Ards collected last season, he pointed out 

 the distinguishing features of these Ha/ophytes, and how they 

 resemble in many respects the Xerophytes of mountains and peat- 

 mosses. They are succulent, with leaves thick and fleshy, and 

 more or less translucent. Forms of ordinary Mesophytes, such as 

 Lotus corniculatus, become modified by the dry saline soil, and a 

 form near the var. crassifolius is found on the Co. Down coasts, 

 strikingly different from the ordinary Bird's-foot Trefoil. The 

 Grass-wrack {Zostcra marina) forms great masses on muddy banks 

 in Strangford Lough. Brent Geese feed on its succulent stems, 

 which they pull up, and masses are floated to the shore. Unlike 

 Seaweed, it is not of much value for manure, but is valuable 

 as a covering for potato-bins in Winter, for which it is extensively 



