1906. 
P roceedings of Irish Societies* 
107 
IRISH SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF BIRDS. 
This Society has issued in pamphlet form the address on the history 
and present state of bird protection delivered at the annual meeting in 
January by Mr. George May ; and also in very handy form a little leaflet 
summarizing and explaining the various bird protection Acts, and 
instructing persons interested in birds as to how they can assist the 
cause of bird protection. Copies of both may be obtained from Miss 
Constance Pirn, Hon. Sec, Charleville, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. 
BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
February 14.— GeoIvOGical Section.— The Chairman of the section 
(G. C. GouGH, B.Sc, F.G.S.) gave a talk on the "Age of the Earth," 
the President of the Club (Mr. W. H. Phillips) being in the chair. 
After the address a long discussion took place, those taking part being 
C. A. Cunningham, W, Gray, W. J. C. Tomlinson, John Carson, and T. 
Anderson. Mr. Gough having replied, the proceedings closed. 
February 20.— The President (W. H. Phillips) in the chair. A. 
Deane, the Curator of the Municipal Museum, lectured on " Wood, its 
Natural History and Identification," illustrated by specimens of timber 
and lantern slides. The physiology of the structure of wood was 
thoroughly explained in minute detail. The lecturer laid stress upon 
the fact that any one taking up the classification of wood, as a study, 
would have the satisfaction of finding himself practically on untrodden 
ground. A scientific key was wanted, but until more investigation was 
accomplished, such a ke}' could not be attempted in a satisfactory way. 
R. Welch, W. Gray, and H. L. Orr spoke to the paper, and the lecturer 
replied. 
February 28.— Robert Patterson (Vice-President) in the chair. 
Hugh LamonT Orr read a paper on "Simple Mounts for Common 
Objects," and showed a large number of specimens which he had 
mounted by his method, including birds' eggs, birds' nests, butterflies, 
beetles, etc. He gave a practical demonstration of how to make one of 
his mounts, which was much appreciated by the members present. The 
Vice-President, \\\ Gray, W. H. Gallway, N. H. Foster, R. May, and W. H. 
Robinson, all spoke after the demonstration, testifying to the value of 
Mr. Orr's paper and to the neatness of his mounts. G. Donaldson (Hon. 
Sec.) afterwards gave a demonstration of another method of mounting 
specimens. 
March 7.— The President (W. H. Phillips) in the chair. J. C. 
ToMi^iNSON read a paper on "The Evolution of the Mourr.e Mountains." 
He referred to the origin of this group of granite mountains, and con- 
trasted their mode of formation with that of the basaltic hills of Antrim, 
and went on to point out the subsequent causes to which they owed their 
present form. W. H. Milligan, W. Gray, J. Strachan, R. May, Rev. P. 
Ouail, and Robert Patterson, discussed the paper. 
