230 



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



with a view of pointing out the directions in which supplementary 

 research might most profitably be carried out, and the edifice 

 completed which he laboured so perseveringly to rear. 



Coming to the period of the 'nineties, it was shown that this 

 was the time of maximum prosperity not only in the Belfast 

 Naturalists' Field Club, but in the Dublin Club ; while the spread 

 of the desire for natural history studies was shown by the found- 

 ation of similar clubs in Cork, Limerick, Dungannon, and Omagh. 

 At this time also was founded the Irish Field Club Union, 

 designed for the promotion of intercourse between the different 

 clubs; and in 1895 was held the first of those joint triennial 

 conferences and excursions which did so much to stimulate the 

 study of the natural history of our country. 



Since the beginning of the present century there has been a 

 slow but steady decline in the prosperity of all the Irish Field 

 Clubs, and the possible causes of this decline were reviewed. 

 The speaker expressed his opinion that in spite of a loss as 

 regards material prosperity, the amount of scientific work done by 

 the Field Club members does not show diminution as compared 

 with past periods. 



The Club's record of research carried out in the subjects of 

 geology, zoology, botany, and archaeology was set forth, and it 

 was pointed out how in each of these sciences the Club's work 

 has to a great extent pursued certain lines which were set early in 

 its history — such as the study of Flowering Plants, Mosses, and 

 Hepatics in botany ; while large sections of work, such as many 

 branches of Marine Zoology, Lichens, Algae, and so on, have 

 received but little attention. 



Coming to the present work of the Club, it was pointed out 

 that the field of research has greatly extended, owing to the 

 effects of the Union Conferences, to greater facilities of travel, 

 and so on. Members who in the old days would have been 

 content to study a group as found in Antrim and Down now took 

 the whole of Ireland as their province ; while others were busily 

 engaged at collections from the Tropics or the Polar Regions. A 



