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IrIisH NATURALIST, VoL. XXIII.]

GERALD E. H. BaRRETI-HAMILTON.

To face page 51

THE IRISH NATURALIST

A Hlonthly Aournal

OF

GENERAL IRISH NATURAL HISTORY

ORGAN OF THE

Royal Zoological Society of [reland ; Dublin Microscopical Club
Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club; Dublin Naturalists Field Club
Cork Naturalists’ Field Club; Limerick Field Club ;
Tyrone Naturalists Field Club.

EDITED BY
CHORGE TW. CARPHNTER,; .M.Sc., M.R,LA.,

Poles) PRAEGER, BA, BE, M.R.LA.
AND

ROBERT J. WELCH] M.R.IA.

ViOiee MUTED,

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CONTRIBUTORS

TO THE PRESENT VOLUME.

Oe

ADAMS, JOHN, M.A., Ottawa, Canada.

ANDREws, H. W., F.E.S., Shirley, Welling, Kent.

BARRINGTON, R. M., LL.B., Fassaroe, Bray.

BENSON, Rev. C. W., LL.p., Balbriggan.

Best, Mary G. S., Longparish, Hants.

BoNAPARTE-WysE, L. H., Ealing Common, London, W.
BowELL, Rev. E. W., S. Norwood, London.

Boycott, A. E., M.D., Manchester University.

Buiiock, Epwin, Killarney.

CAMPBELL,’ D. C., Londonderry.

CARPENTER, Pror. G. H., m.sc., Royal College of Science, Dublin.
CoLGAN, N., M.R.1.A., 15 Breffni Terrace, Sandycove, Co. Dublin. '
CUTHBERT, H. G., Dublin.

DweErRyHOUSE, A. R., D.sc., Queen’s University, Belfast.
Foster, N. H., Hillsborough, Co. Down.

GuRNEY, J. H., F.z.s., Keswick Hall, Norwich.

HALBERT, J. N., M.R,1.A., National Museum, Dublin.

Hart, W. E., Kilderry, Co. Donegal.

HavILANp, MAup D., Maidenhead.

Hewitt, THomas R., A.R.c.sc., Royal College of Science, Dublin.
Hincu, J. DE W., National Library of Ireland.

Houston, J. D., Kilrea.

HUMPHREYS, GEORGE R., Kylemore, Co. Galway.

JANSON, OLIVERE., F.E.s., Highgate, London, N.

JouNSON, Rev. W. F., F.E.S., Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh.
Jounson, Pror. T., D.sc., Royal College of Science, Dublin.
KaNE, W. F. DE VISMES, M.A., Drumreaske House, Monaghan.
LANGHAM, CHARLES, Tempo Manor, Co. Fermanagh.

Lett, Rev. Canon H. W., m.a., Loughbrickland, Co. Down.
May, GrEorGE C., Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin.

METCALFE, HELEN M., Enfield, Co. Meath.

MorratT, C. B., B.A., 23 Gardiner’s Place, Dublin.

NicHoits, A. R., mM.A., National Museum, Dublin.

NicHOLson, G. W.,M.D., Oxford and Cambridge Club, London.
PATTEN, PrRoF. C. J., M.p., The University, Sheffield.
PEARSON, W. H., Manchester.

PuHILuips, R. A., Ashburton, Cork.

PRAEGER, R. Lioyp, B.a., National Library of Ireland.
RIDDELSDELL, Rev. H. J., Llandaff.

SCHARFF, R. F., B.sc., PH.D., National Museum, Dublin.
ScuLLY, R. W., Rockfield, Dundrum, Co. Dublin.

List of Contributors.

STELFox, A. W., Donaghadee, Co. Down.

STOKES, HENRY, M.D., Dublin.

TURNER, GERTRUDE, Coxtown,. Bridgetown, Co. Donegal.
WADDELL, REv. C. H., B.D., GREYABBEY, Co. Down.
WEAR, S., Belfast.

WELcH, R. J., 49 Lonsdale Street, Belfast.
WHITEHOUSE, R. H., M.sc.

WILLIAMS, ALEXANDER, R.H.A., Dublin.

Wi.uiams, W. J., Dame Street, Dublin.

WorkKMAN, W. H., Belfast.

PLATES .-AND ; ILLUSTRATIONS.

Major G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton . : . to face page 81
Spines e Myrmica rubra : : - page 94
Section through Genital Ducts of vienna pyrenaica

(Plate I.) - - . - - to face page 205
Vitrina hibernica, Organs of : ; . «pp. 206, 203,) 209

Vitrina pyrenaica, Organs of : : ; Pp. 205, 206

INDEX.

Acherontia atropos, 233, 248.

Adams, J.: Uredo Lynchii—a
Correction, 20.

Amblystegium Kochiiin Ireland, 72.

Andrews, H. W.: Notes on some
Diptera taken in the South of
Ireland, 136.

Arber, E. A. Newell, and others :
“Geology of Clare Island”’
(reviewed), 240.

Barrett-Hamilton, Gerald E. H.:
“ History of British Mammals ”’
(reviewed), 144 ; Obituary notice,
8I.

Barrington, R. M.: Bird rushes
and wrens, 241; Blakeborough
and Pease’s “‘ Life and habits of
the _Badger** (review); 146 ;
Pied Flycatcher at Ballycottin,
148; Fulmars, Gannets and other
seabirds on the Skelligs, 133 ;
Gurney’s “ Gannet, a bird with
a history”? (review), 156;
Wanderings of a Blackheaded
Gull, 50; Waxwings in Ireland, 72.

Bat, Lesser Horse-shoe 153.

Belfast Natural History and Philo-
sophical Society, 28.

Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club: 78,
102, 119, 222, 235, 247 (Jubilee),

253-

Benson, Charles W.: Hawfinch at
Balbriggan, 104; Our _ Irish
Warblers, 149.

Best, Mary G. S., and: Maud D.
Haviland: Bird migration in
Rathlin Island, 12.

Bird migration in Rathlin Island,
12.

Bird rushes, 241.

Blakeborough, J. Fairfax, and Sir
A. E. Pease: “‘ Life and Habits
of the Badger ’”’ (reviewed), 146.

Bonaparte-Wyse, L. H.: Lepidop-
tera and Coleoptera from County
Waterford, 22.

Boulenser, G. Ay eand. @s) L.:
“Animal Life by the Sea Shore ”’
(reviewed), 118.

Bowell, E. W.: Vitrina pyrenaica,
210.

Boycott, :A.! £2) Note» on: the
anatomy of the Irish Vitrina
described as V. pyrenaica or V.
hibernica, 205.

_ Buddleia

Britannic flora, Southern element
in, I60.

variabilis and Hydro-
dictyon utriculatum, 48.

Bullock, Edwin: Coleoptera from
the South-west of Ireland, 105.

Butterflies, early, at Killarney, 160.

Buttonia natalensis, 252.

Campbell, D. C.: Long-tailed Skua
in Donegal, 227.

Carpenter, G. ,H.: Boulenger’s
““ Animal Life by the Sea shore ”’
(review), 118; Death’s-head
moth in northern Ireland, 238 ;
Lamarck’s ‘* Zoological Phil-
osophy ”’ (review), 250; “‘ Life-
story of Insects ”’ (reviewed), 51.

Carpenters G. ~ Hy. sand! y Thomas
R. Hewitt: Some new observa-
tions on the life history of warble-
flies, 214.

Carrion Crow at Ireland’s Eye 124.

Catoptria aspidiscana Hb. at Ard-
rahan, Co. Galway, 50.

Ceratodon purpureus, peristome of,
BZ:

Coles (Gi Ag, Jaaiand)) thers :
“ Geology of Clare Island ’”’ (re-
viewed, 249.

Coleoptera: Cavan and*® Meath,
68; Waterford, 22; Collected
byt the: late: ij B. (Otis 14 ;
Killarney, 39, 122; South-west
of Ireland, 105.

Colgan, Nathaniel: Field notes on
the folk-lore of Irish plants and
animals, 53; Opisthobranch
fauna of the shores and shallow
waters of Co. Dublin, 161.

Cork Naturalists’ Field Club, 27,
224, 237, 254.

Crozophora tinctoria, 253.

Cuthbert, H. G.: Wasps preying
on sawfly caterpillars, 238.

Diptera, South of Ireland, 136.

Dublin Microscopical Club :, 48, 77,
E21, 223,252.

Dublin Naturalists’ Field_Club, 27,
807 £035 °R50,) 223, 253.

Dwerryhouse, A. R.: Wright’s
“ Quaternary Ice-Age ”’ (review)
155-

vi Index

Elk, Irish, and other animal remains
found at Howth and Ballybetagh,
Co. Dublin, 113.

Elliot, i i Translation of
Lamarck’s ‘Philosophie Zoolo-
gique’”’ (reviewed), 250.

Eolis papillosa, 252.

Eosentomon, 49.

Eremonotus myriocarpus, 148.

Erythraea littoralis in Portstewart,
2.

Estuarine clay section at Holywood,
239.

Falcaria vulgaris in Co. Down, 20.

Fieldfare, late stay of, 239.

Fieldfares at Maidens lighthouse,
Co. Antrim, 123.

Flycatchers: Pied, at Ballycottin,
148 ; Spotted, departure of,

23.

Folk-lore of Irish plants and
animals, 53.

Foster, Nevin H.: Breeding of
Canada Goose at Hillsborough,
Co. Down, 239; Departure of
Spotted Flycatchers, 23; Tri-
choniscus vividus in Co. Kerry,
248; Waxwing in Co. Tyrone,
51.

Fuimars on the Skelligs, 133.

Fusarium Solani, 121.

Gannets: Are they destructive
birds ? 212.

Gannets on the Skelligs, 133.

Geese, Canadian: JBreeding at
Dunmurry, Co. Antrim, 228 ;
breeding at Hillsborough, Co.
Down, 239.

Glossina palpalis, puparia, 78.

Gomphiocephalus Hodgsonii, 121.

Guillemots, Black, peculiar nesting
Site, 23;

Gull, Blackheaded, Wanderings of,

50.

Gurney, J. H.: Are Gannets des-
tructive birds? 212; ‘ The
Gannet, a bird with a history ”’
(revieweC), 150.

Halbert, J. N.: Carpenter’s “ Life
Story of Insects”’ (review), 51.
Hallissy, T., and others : “‘ Geology

of Clare Island ” (reviewed), 249.

Hart, W. E.: Death’s-head Moth
in Ulster, 248.

Haviland, Maud D., and Mary G.
S. Best: Bird migration in
Rathlin Island, 12.

Hawfinch at Balbriggan, 104.

Helicigona lapicida in Ireland, 37.

Helosciadium: British forms of,
95; Helosciadium Moorei, tr.

Hemiclepsis marginata, 48.

Hewitt, Thomas R., and G. H.
Carpenter: Some new observa-
tions on the life-history of warble
flies, 214.

Hinch, J. de W.: “ Geology of
Clare Island ”’ (review), 249.

Hinchliff, F. B. : Trout and bumble-
bees (article in Field), 103.

Houston, J. D.: Amblystegium
Kochii in Ireland, 72.

Humphreys, George R.: Roseate
Tern breeding in Ireland, 17,

2274 ¢
Hydrodictyon utriculatum and
Buddleia variabilis, 48.
Hypoderma bovis, 48, 252.
Hypoderma lineatum, 252.
Hypomyces Solani, perithecia of,
wet.

Ichneumonoidea, 64.

Irish birds, recent notices of, 104.

Irish plants: Some notes on rarer
Irish plants in cultivation, 231;

Irish Warblers, 149.

Janson, Oliver E.:
Killarney, 38, 122.

Johnson, Rev. W. F.: Coleoptera
collected by the late H. L. Orr,
14; Lissonota vicina, a’ rare
Ichneumon fly, 122; Some Irish
Ichneumonoidea, 64 ; Some notes
on Irish Lepidoptera, 225;
Teratological specimen of Myr-
mica rubra, 94.

Johnson, T.: Wager’s “‘ Notes on
the Blue-green Algae ’”’ (review),
IOl,

Coleoptera at

Kane, Wm. F. de Vismes: Catop-
tria aspidiscana Hb. at Ardrahan,
Co. Galway, 50. ;

Kilroe, J. R., and others : “‘ Geology
of Clare Island ”’ (reviewed), 249.

Index. Vil

Kirkman, F. B.: “ British Bird
Book ”’ (reviewed), 24; ‘‘ British
Birds’ (reviewed), 26.

Lamarck, J. B.: ‘“ Zoological
Philosophy ’’ (reviewed), 250.
Langham, Charles: Schoenobius

mucronellus in County Ferman-
agh, 21.

Lapwings and KRedshanks at
Maidens lighthouse, Co. Antrim,

123.

Leach, W. G.: References to Irish
land and fresh water shells, 35.

Lemna arrhiza, 78.

Lepidoptera from Co. Waterford,
22.

Lepidoptera, Irish, Some notes on,
225.

Leptoglossum robustum, 409.

Lett, H. W.: Falcaria vulgaris in
Co. Down, 20; plants of the
Saltees—correction, 20.

Licmophora flabellata, 78.

Lineus gesserensis, 121.

Lissonota vicina, I22.

Machilid from Seychelles, maxilla
Of,> 273.

May, George C.: Carrion Crow at
Ireland’s Eye, 124.

Metcalfe, Helen M.: Breeding of
Canadian Geese at Dunmurry,
Co. Antrim, 228; Green Sand-
piper in Co. Kildare, 228; Short-
eared Owl, 248 ; Skua, Richard-
son’s, in Co. Sligo, 227; Skuas
on Lough Arrow, Co. Sligo, 238.

Missel-thrushes at Maidens light-
house, Co. Antrim, 123.

Moffat, C. B.: Barrett-Hamiulton’s
“ History of British Mammals ’’
(review),, 144; Kirkman’s
“ British Bird Book’”’ (review),
24; Kirkman’s “ British Birds ”’
(review), 26; Lesser Horse-shoe
Bat, 153; Obituary notice of
Major Barrett -Hamilton, 81 ;
Westell’s ‘Bird Studies. in
twenty-four lessons’ (review),

Great Saltee Island,
226; Irish land and freshwater,
Templeton’s notes on, 29; land
and freshwater, of the Valley of

the Roe, Benevenagh and
Magilligan, Co. Derry, 125.
Moth, Death’s-head: Northern

Ireland, 238; Ulster, 248.

Myrmica rubra, teratological

specimen of, 94.

Nichols, A. R. : Long-finned Tunny
on shore of Achill Island, Co.
Mayo, 227; Waxwing in Co,
Armagh, 104.

Nicholson, G. W. : Coleoptera from
Cavan and Meath, 68.

Opisthobranchs of Co. Dublin, 160,
161.

er.) Es. Bs
by, 14.

Orthotrichum Lyellii, 49.

Owl, Short-eared, 248.

Coleoptera collected

Patten, C. J. : Lapwings at Maidens
lighthouse, Co. Antrim, 123;
Missel thrushes, Fieldfares and
Redwings at Maidens lighthouse,
Co, Antrim, 123.

Pearson, W. H.: Hepatic new to
Ireland, Eremonotus myrio-
carpus, 148. |

Pease, Sir A. E., and J. Fairfax
Blakeborough : “‘ Life and habits
of the Badger.” (reviewed), 146.

Phillips, R. A. : Helicigona lapicida
in Ireland, 37; Mollusca on the
Great Saltee Island, 226.

Pipit, Tree, in Ireland, 230.

Planarians, Natural history of, 41.

Plants of the Saltees—Correction,
20.

Pleurozia cochleariformis, 77.

Praeger, R. Lloyd: Leptoglossum
robustum, an American fungus
new to Europe, 49; Some notes
on rarer Irish plants in cultiva-
tion, 231; Spiranthes Roman-
zoffiana in Co. Tyrone, 225.

Pseudococcus aceris, larvae, 122.

Redshanks at Maidens lighthouse,
Co. Antrim, 123.

Redwings at Maidens lighthouse,
‘Co. Antrim, 123.

Reviews : Barrett - Hamilton’s
‘“ History of British Mammals,’’
144; Blakeborough and Pease’s
“ Life and Habits of the Badger,”’
146; Boulenger’s ‘“‘ Animal Life
by the Sea shore,’ 118; Car-
penter’s “‘ Life-story of insects,’’
51; ‘‘ Geology of Clare Island,’’
249; Gurney’s ‘‘ Gannet—a bird

Vi11

with a history,” 156; Kirkman’s
“ British Bird Book, 24; Kirk-
mans "> British. airds,” -2b-
Lamarck’s ‘“ Zoological Phil-
osophy,”’ 250; Wager’s “‘ Notes
on the Blue-green Algae,’”’ 101 ;

Westell’s ‘‘ Bird. Studies -in
twenty -four lessons,” 240 ;
Woodward's” “mite Yor)’ the

Mollusca,” 52; Wright’s “ Geo-
logical Survey of Ireland,’’ sheet
II, 211; Wright’s “ Quaternary
Ice-Agé,”’ 155.

Riddelsdell, H. J.: British forms
of Helosciadium, 95; Heloscia-
dium Moorei, I.

Royal Zoological Society: 26, 47,
73, 102, 119, 148, ‘159, 221,°234,
252.

Rumex maritimus in North Kerry,
225.

Sandpiper, Green, in Co. Kildare,
220.

Saxifraga Hirculus in Antrim, 229.

Scharff, R. F.: Testacella scutulum
in King’s Co., 22; Woodward’s
““ Life of the Mollusca ”’ (review),
52.

Schoenobius mucronellus
Feimanagh, 21.

Scully, Reginald W. : Rumex mari-
timus in North Kerry, 225 ;
Seabirds on the Skelligs, 133.

Septoria petroselini, var. apil, 48,
222,252.

Shells, Irish land and fresh water
each’s: Teterences’ to, 35.

Skua, Long-tailed, in Donegal, 227 ;
Richardson’s Skua in Co. Sligo,
227; Skuas on Lough Arrow,
Co. Sligo, 238.

Spiranthes Romanzofhana in Co,
Tyrone, 225.

Stelfox, A. W.: John Templeton’s
Notes on Irish Land and Fresh
Water Mollusca, 29; Land and
freshwater Mollusca of the valley
of the Roe, Benevenagh and
Magillizan, - Co,» “Derry, *) 125%
References by W. G. Leach to
Irish land and fresh water Shells,

in <'*Co.

35:

Stelfox, ‘A>’! W!,:’and* ‘S.' "Wear:
Saxifraga Hirculus in Antrim,
229.

Stokes, Henry : Irish Elk and other
animal remains found at Howth
and Ballybetagh, Co, Dublin, 113.

L[ndex.

Tegeocranus latus, 48.

Templeton, John: Notes on Irish
land and fresh water Mollusca,
29.

Tern, Roseate, in Ireland, a7, 227.

Testacella scutulum in King’s Co.,
22.

Trichoniscus vividus in Co. Kerry,
248.

Trout and humble bees, 103.

Tunny, Long-finned, on shore of
Achill Island, 227.

Turner, Gertrude: Spilocryptus
fumipennis in Co. Donegal, 50.

Uredo Lynchi—A correction, 20.

Ussher, R. -J. > German appregia-
tion of (by Pastor Carl Lindner),
124.

Vitrina, Irish, Anatomy of, 205,
Vitrina hibernica, 205, 210.
Vitrina pyrenaica, 205, 210.

Waddell, C. H.: Erythraea littor-
alis at Portstewart, 21.

Wager, Harold: ‘“‘ Notes on the
Blue-green Algae” (reviewed),
IOI,

Warble-flies, Life history, 214.

Wasps preying on Sawfly Cater-
pillars, 238.

Waxwings: Armagh Co., 104;
Fermanagh Co., 72; Tyrone Co.,
51; Waxwings in Ireland, 72.

Wear, S., and “Al W.8 Stelios
Saxifraga. Hirculus in. Antrim,
229.

Welch,. R. J.:. sEstuammernclay
section at Holywood, 239.

Westell, W. P.: “ Bird-studies in

ts: twenty-four lessons ’’ (reviewed),

& 240.

Whitehouse; — (R2 a@Eiee Natural
history of Planarians, 41.

Williams, Alexander : Early butter-
flies at Killarney, 160.

Williams, W. J.: Late Stay of the
Fieldfare, 2395 - TreeiaBinw sim
Ireland, 239.

Woodward, B. B.: “ Life. of the
Mollusca ’’ (reviewed), 52.

Workman, W. H.: Peculiar nesting
site of Black Guillemots, 23.

Wrens, 241.

Wright, . W. . _B. 2 Giieciogical
Survey of Ireland,” sheet! 11,
(reviewed), 211; ‘“‘ Quaternary
Ice-Age’’ (reviewed), 155.

JANUARY, 1914.

Q sMonthly Fournal

OF

eae GENERAL IRISH NATURAL HISTORY

ce ts“!

ORGAN OF THE
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EDITED BY
Pror. GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B.Sc., M.R.LA.
R. LLOYD PRAEGER, B.A., B.E. M.R.LA.,

AND
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The Arish Waturalist.
VOLUME XXII.

HELOSCIADIUM MOORET.
BY THE REV. H. J. RIDDELSDELL.

In the course of the enquiry preliminary to the writing
of this paper, I have owed much to Messrs. R. Lloyd Praeger,
Hugo Glick, E. G. Baker, G. C. Druce, and others for help,
advice, and information ; most of all I am grateful for the
generous loan of herbarium collections or important sheets
of specimens, amongst others, from the authorities at the
Herbarium, Kew Gardens; from the University of Cam-
bridge, in whose possession is Babington’s collection ; from
the National Museum at Dublin, which has a good collection
of specimens of Helosciadium' Mooret, many of them col-
lected by Mr. Praeger. Mr. Praeger also has put at my
service his own fine series of the form, some fifteen sheets,
gathered in various parts of Ireland. Mr. F. J. Hanbury’s
herbarium, containing Boswell-Syme’s type specimen ; Mr.
Druce’s; Mr. Bailey’s large and useful collection; these
and many others have contributed material for the paper.
To all the gentlemen mentioned and to various correspon-
dents who have given information, or even sent living
specimens, my grateful thanks are due. Without their
co-operation nothing could have been done.

1 The generic name, Helosciadium, is used here, for the sake of con-
formity with an article written by Mr. E. G. Baker and myself, and printed
in the Journal of Botany, June, 1906, on forms of Helosciadium nodiflorum.
But probably it is better to include this genus in Apium, and indeed I
should do so if writing more widely.

A

2 The Trish Naturalist. January,

The history of our knowledge of the plant is as follows :—

Sowerby (English Botany, Ed. III., Vol. 4, pp. 102-3
(1865) ), under Helosctadium tnundatum, Koch, says: ‘‘ Dr.
D. Moore finds in the River Boyne, Co. Cavan, a very
luxuriant form, which is nearly as large as H. nodiflorum,
and has the lower leaves with the segments of the leaflets
mostly linear or strapshaped, not setaceous ; the involucel
of five or six leaves.”

The Supplement of 1891, forming Vol. XIII. of Sowerby’s
English Botany, p. 187, under Aptum inundatum, Reichb. f.,
makes a new variety, viz. : °° var. Mooret, Syme=A. inun-
datum, Reichb. f., var. Mooret, Syme, ex Hanbury in London
Catalogue of British Plants, ed. 8, p. 16 (1886); Heloscia-
dium inundatum, Koch, var. Moore1, Boswell (Syme), in
Botanical Exchange Club Report for 1876, p. 20; 1881,
p. 51; and 1886, p. 153. A large, luxuriant form, nearly
as large as H. nodtflorum, with the segments of the leaflets
of the lower leaves linear or strap-shaped, not setaceous.
Involucel of five or six bracts. Rare. River Boyne, Cavan,
and Downpatrick, Down, Ireland. ...I have not seen
a specimen of var. Mooret, and have, therefore, repeated
the description given of it in Vol. IV., where it is mentioned
without a name. Specimens distributed by Mr. S. A.
Stewart from Quoile River, Downpatrick, Ireland, were
considered by Professor Babington to be var. Moore1, but
Mr. Boswell states that they are ‘not at all like my Jd.
inundatum, var. Mooret, see Exchange Club Report for
T8SL, pct.

Specimens from Dr. Moore are (1) in Herb. Boswell-Syme
(in the possession of* Mr: F: /) J. Hanbury), Jabeted
‘© Helosciadium inundatum, var., Sium inundatum, var.,
River Boyne, Co. Cavan, Dr. D. Moore” ; and (2) in Herb.
C. C. Babington (in the possession of the University of
Cambridge), labelled ‘‘ Helosciadium inundatum. In the
River Boyne, Co. Cavan. D. Moore,” with ‘‘ H. Mooret,
Syme,” added; and (3) in the National Herbarium at
Dublin. These are nearly the stoutest specimens of the
form which I have seen ; the first is that from which Syme
named his variety. But (apparently) earlier than these is a

IQT4. RIDDELSDELL.—/Velosciadium Mooret. 3

specimen of Dr. Moore’s in Herb. Babington, from Lough
Erne, 1857 ; at first called Helosciadium repens ? and after-
wards recognised as Syme’s var. Moorei. This Lough Erne
specimen is peculiar in having capillary segments to the
lowest leaves. There is a yet earlier specimen at Kew,
gathered at Ennis in 1804, by J. T. Mfackay], and forming
part of Hooker’s Herbarium.

The Report of the Botanical Exchange Club for 1876,
p. 20, gives (on a specimen of H. inundatum sent from
Cheshire as ‘‘ Moorei ?’’) J. T. Boswell’s descriptive remark :
‘© The var. Moore: has the leaf segments very much larger,
resembling those of small H. nodiflorum or of H. repens.”

In the Botanical Exchange Club Report, 1881, p. 51, we
find :—

‘* Helosciadium * Moorei’ /—Among grass by the side of
a little rill flowing into the Quoile river, Downpatrick,
Ireland, June, 1880, S. A. STEWART. The Mooret which I
place under inundatum, C. C. BABINGTON. This is not at all
like my H. inundatum var. Mooret. It is a luxuriant state
of ochreatum, approaching the normal form of H. nodi-
florum, J. T. BOSWELL.”

The Report for 1886, p. 153, says :—

‘* Helosciadium inundatum, Reichb., var. Mooret, Syme.
Stagnant marsh, Downpatrick, Ireland, 16th September,
1886, S. A. STEWART. This may be H. Mooret, which is a
plant I do not well understand. It is not that of the
Exchange Club, 1876, but much like other Irish specimens
of Moorei, C. C. BABINGTON.”’

In the Report for 1897, p. 548, occurs :—

‘* Apium inundatum, Reichb. fil. By Renishaw Canal,
Derby, 13th August, 1897. A dry land form, which occurred
in one or two spots above the water level, W. R. Linton.—
I am rather doubtful about this. Is it not A. nodtflorum,
var. repens, E.G. BAKER? In all the mud forms of A.
inundatum which I have seen there are leaflets showing
transitions from the finely cut to the subentire; these
specimens do not show them. From the larger style and
other characters I am inclined to refer this plant to a form
of A. nodtflorum, but riper fruits are needed. In facies it

A 2

4 The Lrish Naturalist. January,

is very like (although smaller) A. smundatum, var. Mooret.
Herr Freyn considers it to be A. enundatum, G. C. DrucE.”

W. R. Linton, in his Flova of Derbyshire, p. 159, says,
under Apium inundatum: ** A form occurs near Renishaw,
on the edge of the canal, with many aerial leaves and no
submerged ones ;”’ but Mr. Druce ‘collected it with wholly
submerged leaves in October ”’ [1g11]; see B. E. C. Rep.,
IOI,"p, 00:

in) BEE, ‘Ch aReport,- 1911, p:’ 20-21... Mr. "Drnterracen
the form to the status of a species, as ** Apium Moorer
(Syme) mihi,’ quoting it from Derbyshire and Lincoln N.
He refers at the end of the paragraph to the foliage, the
larger style (than in H. tmundatum), and 5-6 bracteated
involucel as distinctive; and I agree with him that these
(and other) features collectively may be enough to mark
off a good species. But I venture to dissent from his opinion,
given earlier in the same paragraph, to the effect that :
‘* This has good claims to be considered a species from the
character of its leaves, both in the aquatic and terrestrial
states ;”’ for leaf-character is, in my opinion, quite in-
sufficient of itself, in any case that I can recall, to constitute
a specific differentiation. Moreover, the leaf segments of
Moore in its most characteristic form are very largely a
broadened and lengthened edition of those of imundatum.

In the same report, p. 96, Mr. Druce refers to specimens
actually distributed by him. He confirms his idea of 1897,
that the Renishaw plant is identical with the Irish Moorez,
and adds: ‘‘ Dr. Hugo Gliick this year [1911] had been
gathering the Irish plant, so I took him to see the Renishaw
form, the specimens distributed [now] being the aquatic
form, which grew there rather sparingly. I believe it to
be a distinct species from either nodiflorum or inundatum.”
The specimens bore no inflorescence. ;

At this point I suggested to Mr. Druce the possibility of
Syme’s var. Moore: being a hybrid between the two
common species, A. inmundatum and A. nodiflorum. He
replied by saying that this obvious suggestion was con-
sidered and rejected by him and Dr. Gltick, when at Reni-
shaw, on the ground that they saw ‘‘ no intermediates,” 7.¢.,
as I understood, no forms going off from Moorver towards
nodiflorum or inundatum.

1914. RIDDELSDELL.—Aelosciadium Moorecis 5

In the Insh Naturalist, of 1912, p. 235, Mr. Druce gave
publicity to the fact that he and Herr Gliick had considered
the question of hybridity. It is, however, part of my purpose
in this paper to advance good reasons for supporting the
theory of hybridity. In doing so, I am aware that the
theory cannot be proved. Most likely it cannot be disproved
either; for even if actual experiment should succeed in
producing a cross between the two species Helosciadium
inundatum and nodiflorum which should be quite different
from Mooret, that is very doubtfully conclusive as to what
may happen under the freely working and unartificial con-
ditions of nature. Of course, if artificial cross-breeding
produced Moorez, it would add very strongly to the pro-
bability of the latter being, in its natural habitats, also a
true hybrid in origin. But beyond probability it is (I
believe) impossible to go in this.case. There are, however,
as will be shown, strong reasons for the probable conclusion
that A. Moorez is a hybrid between A. tmundatum and A.
nodiflorum. To this effect I wrote to Dr. Gliick in October,
1912, and when he saw my reasons he was quite ready to
agree with me.

The plant may be described as follows :—

Root perennial, consisting of long white fibres. Stem
often rooting freely from its lower joints, and even to
within two or three joints of the extremity. The autumn
form of the plant is, as in H. nodiflorum, a tuft of leaves.

Plant light green, glabrous; very variable in size (6 to
30 inches).

Stem generally weak, usually erect in the water, or
smaller, more decumbent, and rather stronger. Much
branched from near the base of the stem with long erectish
axillary branches ; surface of stem lightly furrowed.

Leaves pinnate and very varied.

Upper leaves with 7-9 leaflets; leaflets broadly ovate
or obovate to narrowly lanceolate or oblanceolate, or
narrowly elliptic. Leaflets variously cut ; sometimes with
a few broad, blunt teeth, one or two of which may actually
form lobes (especially in the case of the broader leaflets) ;
narrower leaflets cut into narrower and acuter teeth, and
sometimes into narrow, acute lobes, sometimes even into
three subequal lobes.

6 The Irish Naturalist, January,

Lowest leaves, if fine cut, usually larger (in general outline)
than the upper leaves. Leaflets up to eleven in number,
and usually cut into long, acute, linear segments, very
‘rarely into capillary segments.

Middle leaves usually show a gradual progress from the
form of the upper leaflets to that of the lowest leaflets,
though this progress is not always regular.

Ocreae of leaflets sometimes well marked and abrupt ;
sometimes slighter, and formed by gradual expansion from
the petiole. |

Petiole long ; longer or shorter than ‘ blade’ of leaf, but
always well marked.

Sometimes the leaflets are all similar throughout the
plant, but frequently there is a good gradation from the
broad form at top to the pinnatifid or pinnate form of leaflet
on the lowest leaves. Leaflets on a branch are usually finer
cut than those of the leaf from the axil of which the branch
springs, but not always.

The plant is singularly sparse in flowers; as compared
with the supposed parents, the umbels are few to a stem.

Umbels opposite leaves; long-stalked; pedicel nearly
always longer than rays, generally much longer.

Involucral bracts rare, minute. I have never seen more
than one on an umbel.

Umbel rays almost always 2-3, rarely 1, rarely 4.

Umbellules many-flowered (up to 12).

Petals broadly ovate, with a broadish point, very small,
white. |

Bracts of umbellule many (up to 6), very unequal.

Styles (of flower and undeveloped fruit), rather variable,
even on one plant; always intermediate in length between
those of the ‘ parents,’ but, as far as proportion goes, not
varying very much more than that of tnmundatum. See,
however, note below on the Llandderfel plant in Herb.
bruce,

Ripe fru, not seen on any plant. One specimen (Maghery,
Co. Armagh, in Herb. Praeger) shows one fruit beginning
to form on one umbel, but it had not developed when
eathered, and no details are possible. It looks nearer to

igt4. RIDDELSDELL.—Aelosciadium Mooret. 4

inundatum than nodiflorum. This failure to develop is not
due to the plant being a late flowerer; many of the Irish
specimens were gathered in July; flowers are showing,
even in June. Whether the specimen is early or late gathered,
the failure to develope fruit is constant.

Habitat.—The Irish plant grows in ditches or along the
margins of slow streams, generally floating and forming a
tangled mass of stems, the upper portions of which are
aerial, rising several inches (6 or g, if supported by other
vegetation) above the surface. It becomes terrestrial only
during periods of exceptionally low water.

The plant propagates itself vegetatively.—Broken oft pieces
of leaf take root and form separate plants. This is, no
doubt, the reason why in any given area the form found
there is homogeneous.

The range of variation is thus, in some respects, par-
ticularly those which concern vegetative characters, very
great. Taking two well-contrasted forms, say, that from
Tuam, N.E. Galway (which by the kindness of Mr. Praeger;
I have now growing in my garden), and that from Portumna,
S.E. Galway (to be seen in many herbaria from gatherings
made by E. F. and W. R. Linton in 1885), we might
illuminate the subject by naming them respectively /.
subinundatum and f. subnodiflorum. The former is, indeed,
much larger than most tmundatum, and the latter smaller
than most nodiflorum. But the foliage of the former is
clearly near that of inundatum; it is broader and longer
in all its parts and as a whole; capillary segments become
linear, lobes are larger and broader, and even tend to merge
into each other ; but it is of essentially the same character.
The texture of this form is more that of a ‘ water-plant’ ;
whereas in f. subnodiflorum the texture reminds one of small
dry-land (or mud) forms of nodiflorum. This latter form of
Mooret has the leaflets far less cut : in the upper leaves they
are very near nodtflorum in character, but in the lower
leaves are strongly toothed or lobed. The floral characters
separate it from nodiflorum.

The Haxey gathering (G. Webster, 1881 and 1884)
deserves special notice. It differs from all others in one
important respect, its variability, to wit. Most localities

8 The Lrish Naturaliste January,

produce only one form, and that with very slight variations.
At Haxey the plants are all on the small side, but they vary
considerably in leaf cutting and in length of style; some
are extremely near inundatum, but are (as appears from
style-character and lowest leaves without capillary seg-
ments) really Moorei. This means probably (if the hybrid
explanation is right) that in most localities the stock has
originated from one crossing, which has been propagated
vegetatively only; but at Haxey there have either been
several original hybrid-plants, all of which have been re-
produced vegetatively, or else the plant produces fruit ;
or it may be that the ‘ hybrid’ has crossed with one of the
‘parents, perhaps more than once.

The above description has already indicated some of mv
reasons for considering it more probable that the plant is
a hybrid than otherwise. They may be summed up as :—

1. Great range of variation in habit and facies. This is
remarkably impressed on the mind if a line is taken from
the ordinary luxuriant Irish forms (¢.g., those from R. Boyne,
Kilrea, L. Erne, Tuam, Downpatrick, etc.) through those
from Derrymore, Castleconnell, and Renishaw to the curious
little form (apparently characteristic of the Shannon area)
from Portumna and Woodford.

2. Great variability in foliage, which may be traced in
the same series of plants. In specimens from Portumna all
the foliage is of approximately one character, and near that
of nodiflorum, though even here the lower leaves are more
divided than the upper. In one specimen from Lough Erne
(Herb. Babington) the segments of the lower leaves are
capillary.

3. Sterility, almost absolute or absolute. (This has per-
sisted in one year’s cultivation, fide Gliick). The fruit (with
the exception above noted), always after the fall of the
petals, proceeds to wither and eventually to drop off before
any signs of ripening or development take place. (But it
must not be forgotten that vegetative reproduction would
encourage sterility, as in Lysimachia Nummulana and
Cardamine pratensis).

4. Considerable vegetative development, as compared
with shght floral development. There is hardly any ex-

1914 RIDDELSDELL.—/Zelosciadium Moores. 9

ception to this feature (which is in marked contrast with
the character of the * parents *), except, perhaps, 1n some of
the smaller forms.

5. Intermediate position, in many respects, between the
‘parents, with occasional decided approach in part or
whole towards one or the other end of the chain. In some
points it is, of course, not intermediate at all, ¢.g., it has
made for itself a specialised method of propagation, which
entirely compensates for the disadvantage of sterility.

6. I know of no case of its occurrence, except where both
parents exist, either in the near distance, or immediate
vicinity. But I have not been able to work out this point
at all fully.

In giving an account of the distribution of Heloscitadium
x Mooret, as 1 believe we ought to call it, it is interesting
to note that there seems to be norecord of its occurrence
except in Ireland and England (and ? Wales). Dr. Gliick,
in spite of his unrivalled knowledge of aquatic plants,
found it a novelty on his visit to these islands in rorr.
The following account is very largely the work of Mr.
Praeger.

IRELAND.

8. Limerick .. .. Castleconnell, on R. Shannon, coll. R. LI.
Praeger.

g. Clare r .» Ennis, by the Ri. Fergus, 1804, ‘J! Ty Mackay.

Glanquin, 1905, R. LI. P.

15. Galway S.E. .. Portumna and Woodford, 1885, E. F. & W. R.
Linton.

17. Galway N.E. Jo fuam.-onm- Rk. Clare, 169G, Jk. Li. P.

21, aon ¢ -. Royal Canal, Lucan, 1894, R. LI. P.

22. Meath + R. Boyne, D. Moore.

(This record should read so. Mr. Praeger tells me that “‘ no
part of the Boyne lies in Cavan.’’)
Navan; reno, ko LI. P-

33. Fermanagh va i. Hone, 1857, -D. Moore.
34. S. Donegal .. N.W.of Ballyshannon, Hart’s Flora of Donegal
37. Armagh .. riiMaghery, on (R» Blackwater, 1692,;R.. Lh, P.

Marsh near Morrow’s Point, L. Neagh (R. LI.
P.); €yb. dizb.
Mouth or dc. Closet, (R. LL P.).Cyb. Ax.

Ber Oowy ~ © i. .. R. Quoile, and Saul, Downpatrick, 1880 and

1886, S. A. Stewart; and 1887 and 1890,
RL EL. PB;

Se,

10 The Lrish Natus alist. January,

30..Antrim 71%; .. | Derrymore, 6ss6) KSUBIS iP.
Gawley’s Gate, L. Neagh, 1886, R. Ll. P.
Lagan Canal; L.. Neagh, 1802. ik. (alee,
Portmore, D. Moore.
Selshan (S. A. Stewart), Flor. N.E. Iveland.
40. Derr'y oat »; | Kilrea;‘on'K. ‘Banny3so94, Realy re:

It is most frequent in Ulster, though occurring in all four
provinces. It is unrecorded from the extreme west, and
from the ‘whole of the south-east.

ENGLAND.

In England it is much rarer. The only certain records I
can find are :—

32 NORTHAMPTON ) ‘3
Co., and \ Peakirk (on R. Welland), 1913, G. C. Druce.
53 S. LINCOLN me
54 N. LINCOLN .. Haxéy, 1881,.and 1884, G. Webster; valso
Walkerith and Torksey, fide Woodrufte -
Peacock.
57 DERBYSHIRE .. Renishaw, 1897, W. R. Linton.

Specimens in the Cambridge University Herbarium,
labelled ‘‘ near Gainsborough, Yorkshire, coll. G. Webster,”
and in Mr. Hanbury’s Herbarium, labelled ‘“‘ near Brigg,
Lincolnshire, G. Webster,” both August, 1884, are puzzling.
Mr. Webster himself collected the plant at Haxey in August,
1884, and denies having collected it in the other localities.
(The labels were not written by him.) He can only suppose
that a mistake of locality was made by correspondents.

As regards Wales, there are specimens in Herb. Druce
from Llandderfel (near Llangollen), 1882 (coll. W. Pamplin),
which Dr. Gliick named Moorer. . They are four scrappy
pieces which certainly in foliage suggest Moore: strongly ;
but the evidence is inconclusive. The lower leaves are
lacking ; the specimens are only parts of plants. The
umbels are more frequently two-rayed than three-rayed :
in inundatum three-rayed umbels are frequent ; and I have
seen undoubted inmundatum (e.g., from Brittany, in Herb.
Ley) which was nearly as luxuriant in foliage as these
specimens from Barmouth, The most serious objection

told. RIDDELSDELL.—eloscitadium Moorei. EL

against their identification as Moorei is found in the styles,
which are certainly those of inundatum. The record must
remain doubtful; on the whole I rather incline at present
to put the gathering to inundatum, but hope ihe plant
may be found again.

SCOTLAND.

In Herb. Boswell-Syme there is a specimen from Loch of
Drum, Kincardine, 1850, three to eight inches high, which
belongs to the tnundatwm-Moorei series of plants. The
segments of leaflets are not quite capillary ; freit pedicel is
longer than usual in imundatum, and so is the style. I am
not confident, but on the whole think that it is znundatum
and not Moorer.

In Herb. C. Bailey is a plant from Castle Donington, on
the Trent, coll. July, 1885, with the segments of the sub-
merged leaves not capillary ; and I have seen the same thing
in a specimen from near Bristol. These and the like must
be kept under H. tnundatum.

CLAVIS OF HELOSCIADIUM SPECIES.

H. nodiflorum.

H. repens.

H. Moorei.

HA. inundatum.

Stem rooting ; branches
sometimes root

freely, sometimes not.

Leaflets, 3 to 7 or 9;
serrate ; varying in
breadth, but not at
all lobed as a rule.

Umbels, meny ; usually
very shortly stalked,
but not infrequently
with long pedicels.

Involucral bracts, 0 or 1
or 2.

Umibel rays, many.

Styles, long, reflexed
in fr.
Fruit, longer than

broad ; nearly black,
with lighter-coloured
ridges.

Stem end branches

root at every joint.

9 to 11; often sub-
orbicular, strongly

toothed, often
lobed.

Many; very long
pedicels

Many.

Normally 5 or 6.

Long, reflexed in fr.

Smaller. broader
than long ; lighter
brown with ridges
less marked.

Stem tends to root
at lower nodes.

Varying

|
|
|
|

greatly ; |

upper lezves less |

cut, lowest cut into
linear segments.

Few ; long-pedicel-

led.

Rore and minute.

2-3.

Intermediate in
length.

On mud roots freely.
(Generally found in
water).

Upper leaves cut in
wedgeshaped lobes,
lower in capillary
segments.

Many ; long-pedicel-
led,

0,

2(-3).

Very short, stigma
otten nearly s<s-
sile,

Oblong ; tapering
below : ridges

strongly marked.

|
a LT A BE EE ES EL TT

Llandaff.

1 — The Irish Naturalist January,
BIRD MIGRATION IN RATHLIN ISLAND.
BY MARY G. S. BEST, F.Z.S., AND MAUD D. HAVILAND.

During part of September and October, 1913, we were in
Rathlin Island for the purpose of watching bird migration.
Owing to its size, and the nature of the covert, which at the
time of.our visit consisted of standing beans and barley,
the place by no means came up to our expectations as a
station for observation. Possibly, however, the following
notes may be of some interest, as the birds in question are
seldom recorded on migration from the north of Ireland.

WHEATEAR (GZ. @. leucorrhea).—All specimens obtained
from different points of the island between September 15th
and October 1st belong to this large Greenland race. |

WHITE WactTalL (Motacilla alba).—About thirty of these
birds, both adult and immature, were seen on September
12th to 13th at Ballycastle, on the mainland opposite
Rathlin, in company with a much larger number of Pied
Wagtails. A few couples and single birds were seen on
September 15th, 16th, and 18th, also in association with
Pied Wagtails.

MEALY REDPOLL.—On September 25th a female of this
species, was ..procured. It. has,.been .éxamimned) bya wie
Witherby, and pronounced to be of the Greenland race
(Carduelis l. vostrata), which has hitherto only been recorded
from Achill and the Tearaght in Ireland. This bird was
accompanied by a male, which, however, was not secured.

TURTLE Dove.—We saw one bird on September 24th.

E1pER Duck.—Four ducks were noticed swimming off
Church Bay on September 17th and i1gth, and were then
joined by a drake. On the 2oth three birds were shot, and
the others disappeared. On October 1st, however, four
more ducks were seen at the same place. The islanders call
this bird the ‘‘ Shellduck,” probably owing to the parti-
coloured plumage ot the male, and say that it is not un-
common in the spring and autumn round Rathlin. The
lighthouse keepers say that as many as fifty or sixty are seen
together at once.

Towsgs cat BEST AND HaviLanp.—-Bird AVigration. 1

As regards those species that are also resident on the
island, there jwas, we think, some movement among Hedge-
sparrows, and a considerable immigration appeared to take
place on September 28th and 2gth, but all the specimens
procured were of British race.

On September 24th, a Redbreast, which, from the situa-
tion and the behaviour of the bird itself, we believe to have
been a migrant, was flushed among the rocks by the sea-
shore.

The Skylark and the Green Plover are both common
breeding species, but the native birds had left by the second
week of September, and the northern birds did not appear
until the end of the month, when there was considerable
immigration. '

Goldcrests were constantly observed during the latter
part of September, although never in large numbers.
Swallows were only observed once—on September roth—
when three birds were seen. Pied Wagtails were constantly
seen throughout September, but the Grey Wagtail only
appeared on September 26th, when two birds were seen.
Missel-thrushes, in a flock of seven, were observed crossing
the island in a south-westerly direction, on September 25th,
a day when considerable migratory movement was observed
among several species.

Rathlin does not offer much inducement to the marine-
feeding waders. Ringed Plover, Turnstones, and Red-
shanks were common throughout our stay, but the Dunlin
was only recorded on September 19th, and again on the
28th, five birds being seen at one time and two at another.
A male Grey Plover was seen on September 29th and 30th,
Terns were only observed once—on September 16th—and a
single Shoveller was seen on fresh water on September 2oth,
. Regarding breeding species, it is perhaps worth recording
the islanders’ account of the extraordinary diminution of
sea-fowl during the previous two summers. At one time
*‘the birds could not move on the ledges without stepping
on their eggs,” but last year few were seen. This is attributed
to the building operations connected with the new lighthouse
that is being constructed close to the once famous.rock

tA

14 . The trish Natarvalst. es pant January,

stack of Dun-Mohr, but this ought not to make:any difference
to the birds that breed on the north-eastern. cliffs. It is.
worth notieing that it is recorded by Mr. Charles Kirk, in»
the Scottish Naturalist for October, that in 1913: Razorbills.
and Guillemots were both also very scarce upon Ailsa Craig,
on the opposite side. of the North Channel. |

After Professor Patten’s discovery of the Tree-Sparrow in
{nishtrahull, we closely inspected the sparrows of Rathlin,.
but we found no sign of the Tree-Sparrow there. ~The
House-Sparrow is tolerably common, although rather local,
its distribution depending mainly upon the presence of
thatched roofs. It has not yet spread to the lighthouse
buildings on the east coast of the island, although it is
common round the old thatched cabins a quarter ot a mile
away. Bi

Maidenhead.-

COLEOPTERA COLLECTED BY THE LATE
BEN indie toes 8 id ace

BY REY. WF. \JOBNSON,, Mess. Ges.

THOUGH giving most of his spare time to work at the Hyme-
noptera, Mr. Orr picked up from time to time a number of
beetles. Among them I have found many interestinz
species, which, when recorded in the Ivesh Naturalist,. will
form a monument “ aere perennius” to the devotion of
my late lamented friend to the study of nature: Prominent
among these species is that beautiful Carabid, C. nitens.
This handsome insect is very uncommon in Ireland, and there
is no other recent record except that by the late Mr. Buckle
from the Foyle district. It frequents heaths; and I have
been informed is very fond, like others of its genus, of
running over paths at dusk. Letstus.montanus and Pterosti-
chus vitreus are both mountain species: The former has
not been previously: found in Ulster. “It-seems to be fond

L914, .. Jounson.— Caleoplera collected by AH. L. Orr. 15...

of. the summits of mountains, where it is by no means. easy
to catch, as it hides among the heather. The latter, while
showing a predilection for elevated situations, prefers boggy

ground. Bembidiwm concinnum frequents the banks of »
rivers and estuaries, hiding among shingle.’ It is ‘distin-

guished from its allies by its entirely pale antennae. Acpus
marinus is a curious little yellow beetle which like some
others, lives on the sea-shore under stones below high tide
mark, so that they must be at times submerged. Tachinus
pallipes is very rare in Ireland; in fact there is only one
other record of its occurrence, and that is by the late Mr. .
Buckle from the Foyle district. It is of northern distribu-
tion in the main, for the French records are for very high
ground. Bledius spectabilis is one of the largest of its
genus. These beetles burrow in sand or clay, digging
galleries in which they live. Their presence may be detected
by the little heaps of sand thrown up by them in the making
of their burrows. They are generally found in company
with various species of Dyschirius, which prey upon the |
larvae and pupae of Bledius. [I have frequently found |
Bembidium pallidipenne with them, and it probably acts in
the same way as Dyschirius. Bledii are commonly found
on the sea-coast, but also occur 1n suitable localities inland.
I have taken two species at Lough Neagh. The specimens —
of Corymbites cupreus are of the rare entirely green form
and are males, which sex is far more commonly captured
than the female.

The following species have not been previously recorded
from Co. Antrim :—- |

Chlaenius vestitus. Soronia grisea.
Bembidium concinnum. Nacerdes melanura.
Aépus marinus, Anthicus floralis.
Tachinus pallipes. | Apion miniatum.
Philonthus puella. « » Dorytomus maculatus.

Bledius spectabilis.

Two species form new records tor Co, Down :—

Cercyon depressus.
Apion miniatum.

oe ~ a The Trish Naturalist. . January;

In the following list F have taken ‘ Belfast ” as in Co.’

Antrint 22

Carabus nitens, L.—Carnlough.

Chlaenius vestitus, Payk.—Waterfoot.

Leistus montanus, Steph.—Slieve Glah, Co. Cavan.
Badister sodalis, Duft.—Belfast.

Pterostichus vitreus, Dej.—Slieve Donard.
Anehomenus angusticollis, F.—Moira.

Bembidium nitidulum, Marsh.—Belfast.

B. concinnum, Steph.—Waterfoot.

Aépus marinus, Strom.—Larne.

Dromius quadrimaculatus, L.--Shaw’s Bridge.
Hydroporus incognitus, Sharp.—Cave Hill.

Agabus unguicularis, Thoms.—R. Lagan.

A. paludosus, F.—Cave Hill.

Hydrochus elongatus, Schall.—Moira.

Cercyon depressus, Steph.—Strangford.

Aleochara fuscipes, F.—Lurgan.

Tachinus pallipes, Grav.—Ballycastle.

Philonthus umbratilis, Grav.—Belfast-

P. puella, Nord.—Belfast.

Paederus riparius, L.—Holywood.

Stenus bifoveolatus, Gyll.—Belfast.

Bledius spectabilis, Kr.—Belfast.

Silpha dispar, Herbst.—Toome.

Onthophilus striatus, F.—Glenavy-.

Soronia grisea, L.—Ballycastle.

Antherophagus nigricornis, F.—Cave Hill, ‘“‘in nest of Bombus.”
Corymbites cupreus, F.—Hilltown.

Malthodes marginatus, Latr.—Stormount.
Crepidodera rufipes, L.—Ram’s Island.

Rhinosimus ruficollis, L.—New Forge.

R, planirostris, F.—Shaw’s Bridge ; Ballycastle.
Nacerdes mielanura, Schmidt.—Belfast. ~
Anthicus floralis, L.—Portrush.

Apion miniatum, Germ.—Whitehead, Strangford, Newcastle.
Tropiphorus tomentosus, Marsh.—Castlereagh.
Thryogenes nereis, Payk.—Moira.

Dorytomus maculatus, Marsh.—Ballycastle.
Rhopalomesites Tardyi, Curt,—Cave Hill; New Forge.

Poyntzpass.

ee a a

1914. HumPpHREys.—Reseate Tern breeding in Tretand. 17

THE ROSEATE TERN BREEDING IN
IRELAND.

BY GEORGE “RR. -HOUMPHREYS.

For a considerable number of years, the Roseate Tern,
Sterna Dougall: Mont., has been excluded from the list
of Irish breeding birds. |The late Mr. Ussher in his report
on the birds of Clare Island! stated that the Roseate Tern
had been rarely met with in Ireland for the last fifty vears,
but referred to a specimen shot on Clew Bay on the 3rd
August, 1904, which would rather lead one to suppose that
the species was breeding in Ireland at that time. In this
connection Kirkman’s ‘‘ British Bird Book,” page 65,
contains the following passage in regard to Ireland : *‘ There
is a possibility that it still nests among the other terns on
the west coast, although proof is still wanting.” The only
other specimen [ can find recorded is a male which was killed
by striking Hook Tower hghthouse, Co. Wexford, on the
30th April, 1897. This bird is in Mr. Barrington’s collection,
having been sent him in the flesh. ? .

It gives me much satisfaction to be in a position to put
on record the nesting of the Roseate Tern in Ireland in
1913. Unfortunately the time at my disposal was very
limited, and my observations were confined to two visits
to the colony, both of short duration.

During the third week in July, while visiting a breeding
colony of Common and Arctic Terns, I was attracted, almost
immediately on my arrival, by the alarm-note of a tern
which was flying around along with the commoner species.
This note was a harsh “‘ crake,” and quite different from the
note of any tern I had previously heard. The bird kept
uttering its harsh note the whole time it was flying overhead,
and consequently I had not much difficulty in picking it
out, when I at once noticed it had a decidedly lighter
coloured plumage than the rest, and appeared of a more
slender build. By the aid of a pair of prism glasses I

4 Proc. R. Irish Acad., vol. xxxi., part 20, page 39.
* Ussher and Warren, “ Birds of Ireland,” p. 319.

18 The Irish Naturalist. January,

examined it more closely, and now noticed the apparently
black beak. Although the inclination was to put the bird
down, there and then, as a Roseate Tern, I was not quite
satisfied that the beak was black, owing to the poor light
due to an overcast sky. Ina short time, when the clouds
had lifted, and the sun shone out, I returned to the spot.
The bird was again flying about uttering its harsh “‘ crake.”
Lying down on the ground I waited for it to come within
close range of the glasses. Ina few minutes I was rewarded
with a clear view of the bird as it flew past, and was able
to satisfy myself that the beak was quite black except
for a small portion at the base, which was orange-red. I
now noticed distinctly white lines extending down the
primaries while the wings were expanded. During the
whole time the tern was in the air it kept watching me very
closely, and the peculiar movement of the head attracted
my attention. This can best be described as a twisting
movement, and not, strictly speaking, lateral. In about
ten minutes the tern alighted on the ground within a few
yards, when I saw that the tail feathers extended well
beyond the tips of the wings. I was perfectly satisfied
now that this was a Roseate Tern (Sterna Dougallr), not-
withstanding the fact that the rose-pink on the breast
appeared to be absent. While watching this tern I
distinctly heard two others uttering a similar harsh “‘ crake ”
as they flew around.

Soon after alighting the tern ran a short distance and
was lost sight of. Creeping up quietly I had the pleasure
of seeing it rise off an egg. On comparing this egg with
those of the Common and Arctic Terns, I found it was of
the distinct elongated type ascribed to the Roseate Tern,
but remarked nothing peculiar as regards the colouring.

Two days after the discovery, another visit was paid to
the colony. I was now surprised to find a considerable
number of Roseate Terns. After going over the ground care-
fully, I came to the conclusion that there were about eighty
Roseates in the colony, the great majority of them dis-
playing the rose-pink on the under parts. One bird ex-
hibited a much larger portion of orange-red on its beak than
any of the others. I examined trom twenty to twenty-

19—14. HuMPHREYS.—Roseate Tern breeding in Ireland. 19

five undoubted nests of this rare species. These were spread
over five different sites, each accommodating a nesting
colony of Roseate Terns only. The largest number of nests
in any one of these colonies was seven. The only exception
to the foregoing was that of the tern recorded on my first
visit. This bird had its nest nearer the edge of the general
colony than any of the other Roseates, and amongst the
nests of the Common and Arctic Terns. Out of the total
number of nests examined, one contained two eggs ; one
a nestling and an egg just chipping ; two or three single
nestlings ; and the remainder one egg each. _In practically
every instance where there were eggs, incubation was well
advanced. It will be seen from this that the tendency was
to hatch out one egg, although the full.clutch is stated to
consist of two eggs.t It was also apparent that the Roseates
were later breeders than the other species. I have
mentioned ‘‘ nests,” but really no nesting material was used
by any of the birds.

As regards the colour of the eggs, there was little, if any,
marked variation, the ground colour being light stone
spotted and speckled with shades of brown, with underlying
blotches or spots of ashy grey. Although in most cases
the eggs were more elongated than those of the Common
and Arctic Terns, it was difficult to find very much difference
in some.

With regard to the nestlings, these were quite distinct
from the nestlings of any of the other species. In the
first place the upper parts were streaked with dark, on buff
ground, whereas the dark markings on the nestlings of the
Common and Arctic Terns are blotchy, and not so freely
distributed over the surface. There is, however, another
most important distinguishing feature, namely, the colour
of the legs and feet ; these were of a dark purplish-flesh,
but there was a certain amount of transparency about this
colouring giving it the appearance of pink tissue paper
smeared with black ink. The nestlings examined by Mr.
Mackay ,” which had black legs and feet, were no doubt

1 Kirkman’s “‘ British Bird Book,’ p. 66,
2 Auk, xiii., p. 47.

20 3 The fish Naturalist. January,

more advanced in age than those examined by me, none of
which were more than two days old. Dr. Louis Bureau !
says the feet are blackish-brown during first days, and
afterwards black.

Kylemore, Co. Galway.

NOTES.
BOTANY,
Uredo Lynchii.—A Correction.

In the Ivish Naturalist for January, I910, and April, tg11, Uvedo
Lynchii, Plowr..is recorded as an Irish species. Ina recent paper entitled
‘““Mycological Notes,’”’ by W. B. Grove in the Journal of Botany for February
1913, he points out that the fungus was wrongly named, and that it is
really Hemileia Phaj1, Syd. The name Uvedo Lynchii, Plowr., must
therefore be removed for the present from the list of Irish species. -Grove’s
paper also mentions four other Irish species.

J. ADAMS.
Royal College of Science, Dublin.

Plants of the Saltees.—Correction.

In my list of Mosses and Hepatics of the Saltees (Ivish Nat., vol.
XXil., p. 194), delete Hypnum caespitosum, H. curvivostre, and Polytrichum
sexangulare, and insert Hypnum illecebvum and Cephaloziella byssacea.

HW... barr,
Loughbrickland.

Falearia vulgaris in County Down.

It appears that the plant recorded at p. 18 of the last volume of the
Irish Naturalist from Co. Down as Ammi majus, 1s Falcaria vulgaris,
Bernh. (Pyrionoa falcavia of some authors). These two aliens have such
a likeness to each other that the mistake can be easily accounted for.
Falcaria is a native of Europe that has lately appeared in Kent, Hants,
and Jersey, but I do not knowof any record for Ireland. I may mention
that in July last I visited the locality where Dr. Stansfield discovered
the colony, and I was glad to find it flourishing. I took three stems,
one of which I sent to Mr. Jas. Britten for the British Museum, and another
I have given to Mr. Praeger.

H.W. Derr
Loughbrickland.

4 Ornis, vol, ‘xiv., Pp. 302,

1914. Notes. 2t
Erythraea littoralis at Portstewart.

Mr. J. E. Saul and | observed a species of a Centaury growing in damp
spots in the sandhills at Portstewart, Co. Derry, which we both recognised
as E. littovalis, Fries. He was familiar with this species on the Lancashire
coast, and Mr. Somerville had once pointed it out to me growing on the
Ayrshire coast of the Clyde. Mr. Saul found more of the same plant
later on on the flats by the mouth of the river Bann.

FE. littovalis had been found at Bangor and the Copeland Islands by
Templeton and by Millen at Groomsport in Co. Down, and by Mackay
at Portmarnock in Dublin County, but doubt was thrown on all these
records, apparently only because it was considered a form of E. Centaurium.
Whether F. liitovalis be a good species and distinct from Czentaurium is
another matter, but I think there can be no doubt that it should have a
place in the Irish list.

I sent some of our gathering to Mr. J. A. Wheldon, who replied “‘ The
specimens sent are undoubtedly E. littoralis, Fr.,a similar form to that of
our Lancashire coast. It has larger flowers and more scabrous calyx
than original examples of Fries’ plant which I have examined, or than
the examples in Wittrock’s exsiccata sub nom. C. vulgaris. I have in
my herbarium separated this form as var. occidentatis.”’

Ialso found a dwarf form of E. Centauvium growing, not on the sand,
but on marshy banks by the sea, which is evidently the var. capitatum,
and which is probably the plant from Portstewart named £. /atifolius in
Dickie’s Flora of Ulster. This variety seems to be merely a state caused
by the grazing of cattle.

C. H. WADDELL.
Greyabbey, Co. Down.

ZOOLOGY.
Schoenobius mucronellus in County Fermanagh.

I was out collecting Lepidoptera on the shores of Upper Lough Erne
on July 17th last, and about 10 o’clock at night I took one specimen of
S. mucronellus, flying over some Equisetum (I am not certain of the correct
name of the plant, but it was an Equisetum or Hippuris). On looking up
S. mucronellus on Mr. Kane’s ‘‘Catalogue of the Irish Lepidoptera,” I found
that only one specimen of this insect had been taken in Ireland when he
published his book, so determined to try for others. I thought I would
try the next night round some Equisetum growing round the edge of a
small lake on this demesne. Owing to the swampy nature of the bank,
I could not get near the patch of horsetail, so went in a boat, and directly
it was dark I took 7 specimens flying over this plant; I found them
difficult to distinguish on the wing from the innumerable caddis flies and
Hydrocampa nymphaeaia that were also on the wing, but their flight
was somewhat faster. I went again the next night and took 5 more,
but stupidly left this lot in their pill-boxes all night, and next morning
I found they had all damaged themselves and were useless as specimens for

22 The lrish Naturalist, January,

the cabinet. Both nights the flight time only lasted about half an hour.
Unfortunately I had to go away after the second night’s work here, and
did not get back until the insects were “‘ over,’’ but hope to try again
next year and find out more about their habits.

CHARLES LANGHAM.
Tempo Manor, Co. Fermanagh.

Lepidoptera and Coleoptera from County Waterford.

During a week’s visit to Waterford last June from the 1gth to the
26th, I managed to do a little collecting and revisit three of my old hunting -
grounds. At Milepost I found the Greasy Frittilary (Melitaea aurinia),
in the same bit of marshy ground where I had first met with it in 1897.
I also took here a male specimen of Nemeophila vussula, and saw one or
two others. Ina small fir plantation close by I captured a specimen of
the local moth, Bupalus piniaria, and one of Thera variata. To these may
be added to complete the day’s “‘bag,’’ Phytometra viridaria, Phragmatobia
fuliginosa and a few other commoner species. Two visits were paid on
the 20th and 25th to the extensive sandhills near Tramore,and the following
beetles taken amongst others: Byvoscus cephalotes, Harpalus tardus,
Silpha trisiis (one specimen), S. atrvata var. subtrotundata, Aphodius
scybalarius, Aegialia avenaria, Serica brunnea, Phyllopertha horticola, Lacon
muvinus, Timarcha tenebricosa (a dead specimen but intact), Heliopathes
gibbus (common), Otzorrhynchus atroapterus (common), Philopedon gemi-
natus (abundant, a large pale form also occurred), Sttones griseus. <A
couple of hours’ collecting in the woods of Curraghmore on the 24th did
not produce all the good things I had anticipated, doubtless owing to
the unfavourable weather. I only took two moths—Thera variata and
Cidavia populata, but had more success with the beetles. By beating
oak trees and sweeping the under-growth composed chiefly of Vaccinium,
I obtained Adrastus limbatus, Corymbites quercus, Telophorus peliucidus,
T. figuratus*, T. bicolor, T. flavilabris, Rhagonycha limbata*, R. pallida,
Letopus nebulosus (two specimens), Polydrusus tereticollis, P. cevvinus,
Phyllobius oblongus, P. argentatus, Hypeva rumicis.

The species marked with an asterisk are, I believe, new records for
Waterford. My best thanks are due to Messrs. W. F. Johnson and O.
E. Janson, for naming some of the beetles.

L. H. BoNAPARTE WYSE.

/

Ealing Common, London,. W.

Testacella scutulum in King’s County.

Within the last few weeks I have received specimens of Testacella
from two localities in King’s County. No Testacella had hitherto been
found in the central parts of Ireland, all previous records having been more
or less confined to the maritime counties of the south and east. The
geographical distribution of the three species of Testacella found in Ireland
is very clearly indicated by Mr. Praeger’s ingenious method in Mr. Stelfox’s

1914. Notes. 23

paper on Irish Mollusks. (Proc. Royal Ivish Acad., vol. xxix. (B),
1g11r). Although the range of the three species is somewhat similar,
Testacella scutulum has a more distinctly eastern distribution than the two
others. The first specimens were sent to me from Birr by Miss M. J. Delap,
who knew Testacella well, having previously noticed it on her native
Valencia Island. Miss Delap observed it in Birr in an old garden which
had been much neglected for many years and is now occupied by Miss
Stoney. Miss Stoney has kindly forwarded another specimen since.
The orange colour and the characteristic form of the dorsal grooves proved
' these specimens to belong to Testacella scutulum. Another Testacella of
the same species from near Birr in King’s County, was found in an old
garden at Oxmantown, and sent by Mr. Edward Clarke to Professor
Carpenter for identification.
R. F. SCHARFF.
National Museum, Dublin.

Peculiar Nesting Site of Black Guillemots.

During the last two nesting seasons the Black Guillemots (Uria
grylle) have taken to the much frequented piers of Bangor and Ballywalter
both situated in the County of Down, for their nesting operations. In
the Northern Whig for September 20th and 27th, a correspondent gives
a clear description of these birds which nested at Bangor Pier, and my
friend Mr. Hughes of Ballywalter, a most careful observer gave me a full
description of this species, and tells me it has nested between the stones
of the Ballywalter Pier for the last two years and probably longer. I
am glad to say the coastguards protect these birds, and it is quite easy
to get within a couple of yards of them as they sit on the pier wall.

It is a most extraordinary thing that such wild birds as these should
nest in such frequented places. The only way I can account for it is that
their old breeding haunts in KRathlin have become congested, and
these birds have flown over to the County Down shore to look for a
site, but could find no rocky crevices to make their nest in, and took
to the above-mentioned piers as the best substitute for the cliffs.

W. H. WorKMAN.
Belfast.

Departure of Spotted Flycatchers.

Referring to Canon Flemyng’s note (p. 219 ante), it may be interesting
to record the latest date on which the Spotted Flycatcher, Musicapa
griola, was seen here for the past thirteen years, 1I901—11th September;
I902—4th September; 1903—21st September; 1904—oth September ;
1905—10th September; 1906—15th September; 1907—3rd September ;
1908—23rd August; 1909—4th September ‘ 191c—25th August; Iorr—r1th
August; 1912—12th August; 1913—15th August.

NEvIN H.. Foster.
Hillsborough, Co. Down,

24 The lrish Naturalist. January,

REVIEWS.

BIRD BOOKS, LARGE AND SMALL.

The British Bird Book: Edited by F. B.: Kirkman, B.A. Oxon., Parts
XT, and XIf. London and Edinburgh ~ TC. and E. C)slaeuq

Mr. Kirkman is to be warmly congratulated on the successful comple -
tion of his great task in editing the ‘‘ British Bird Book,’ of which the
concluding’ sections (11 and 12) are now before us. The importance
and value of the book must be universally acknowledged. That there
were features in the scheme of arrangement to which exception might be
taken was obvious from the first, and was hardlya demerit in the scheme
itself. The aim of the contributors generally (but particularly of the
Editor, in those parts for which he is directly responsible), has been to
concentrate attention on the results of field study—in other words, on
the habits of those birds that normally spend part of their lives within
the British area. With this object a vast amount of individual observa -
tion from many sources has been collated and presented so as to form
a trustworthy and readable whole ; and the beauty of most of the illustra -
tions (particularly the coloured plates) is such that we can only repeat
our regret at the exclusion of a few species—for no apparent cause—from
the distinction of having their portraits given.

In parts XI. and XII., we have chapters on the Ducks, Ciconiiformes
(Steganopodes and Herodiones of the more generally familiar classifica -
tion), Petrels, Grebes, and Divers. Most of the articles in these sections
are by Mr. Pycraft, but Mr. Jourdain deals with the Diving Ducks, Spoon-
bill, Glossy Ibis, and Divers, while Mr. Hartert treats of the Cormorant
and Shag, Mr. Kirkman of the Gannet, and the section on the Little
Bittern is the result of collaboration between Messrs. Jourdain and R. B.
Lodge. There are five important supplementary chapters, dealing with -
rare birds, structural characters, migration, the study of bird-behaviour,
and bird-photography. To Irish naturalists (as such) the first of these
will be of interest as exhibiting the attitude of the authors towards those
American “strays” that have sometimes been set down as bona-fide
wanderers to our own shore, and at other times bracketed or ruled out as
either inadequately vouched or quite incredible.

Of these we find that the two Cuckoos (Black-billed and Yellow-billed)
which were bracketed by Mr. Ussher in deference to the specimen of Mr.
Howard Saunders, are restored to their old position as genuine’ stragglers,
while the American Goshawk is placed on the border line as possibly
entitled to like acceptance. Otherwise, the brackets for Irish visitors
correspond to those used in Mr. Ussher’s list. The verdict on the Purple
Martin in the Museum is that it was probably an escaped bird, if genuine.
The suggestion of an escape in the case of such a bird as a swallow sounds
a little far-fetched. Even at the present day it would be one of the
worst possible subjects for transportation in captivity ; and how this
could have been done with an American bird in 1839, when ocean voyages
were much slower than they are now, nearly passes comprehension.

IQT 4. Reviews. 25

The chapter on structural characters is drawn up by Mr. Pycraft,
and will be of much use to those who wish to understand some of the
difficulties attaching to a proper system of classification and arrangement.
The classification followed in the Bird-Book is in the main that of Dr.
Gadow, which is also followed by Mr. Evans in his volume on Birds in
the ‘‘ Cambridge Natural History ’’ ; but in the case of the Passeriformes
the Editor states that the arrangement of Families is new. and based on
the researches of Mr. Pycraft. This makes it the more remarkable that
Mr. Pycraftin his own arrangement concludes the Passeriformes with
the Swallows—a feature in previous lists which he seems to condemn
on p. 559 as due to the desire of amateurs to make an easy transition from
Order to Order by suggesting imaginary links. In his “ key to classifi-
cation’’ Mr. Pycraft does not himself, even as regards Orders, adhere
fully to the system followed in the text of the book, for he suppresses
the ‘‘Cuculiformes,’ and makes the Cuckoosa mere suborder (Cuculi) of the
Order Coraciiformes. The total number of Orders of British birds is
thus reduced to ten,as compared with seventeen recognised in Saunders’
Manual. As all our existing local and county faunas follow the arrange -
ment of the last-named volume, it must for a long time remain the most
familiar to students of bird-life ; but this is no reason why we should not
be pointed out the way to a better grouping, even though, as Mr. Pycraft
admits, the best must yet be regarded as only tentative.

It is, however, as a summary of what is so far known of the habits
of British birds that the fine work now completed will be most prized.
Iniormer, reviews (Ivish.Nat,,. vols.. xix. 248; XX.,.159; XXi., 123; and
XXll., 53), we have drawn attention both to the great merits and to some
of the oversights discernible in the various parts as they successively
appeared. We are still inclined to say that while the accounts of nuptial
displays which make so large a feature in most chapters are of incontestable
value, their bearing on the question of sexual selection is far less clear than
it would be if due attention had also been paid to the manner in which
plumage is either displayed or exposed during combat or defiance. Is
the display before the female, it may be asked, a successful demonstration
of untarnished prowess in war, or has it no other object than to gratify
an aesthetic sense through which all the females of the species have from
time immemorial selected their mates according to a uniform but
apparently quite arbitrary standard of beauty ? Mr. Kirkman himself

does not entirely omit this aspect of the question. In the eleventh
section, for example, he shows that the nuptial display of the Gannet is
in some features a repetition of its battle display. But this subject

has not received, on the whole, its proportionate share of notice. The
meaning of egg-coloration, too, has been very’ spasmodically touched,
and might well have formed matter (especially after what Mr. Kirkman
had said of the eggs of the Guillemot) for a supplementary chapter. But
the Bird-Book is assured of a high and permanent place in our ornitho-
logical literature, and the Editor and all his contributors may be justly
proud of their share in its production,
¢; B..M,

26 The Lrish Naturalist. January,

British Birds : Description of all the Commoner Species, their Nests and
Eggs. By F. B. Kirkman, B.A., Oxon. Illustrated by A. W.
Seaby. (The People’s Books). London & Edinburgh. T. C. and
B.C). Wack. | ence Od.

We cannot complain of the want of cheap guide-books to the study
of British birds, when we have before us the excellent little sixpenny manual
which Mr. Kirkman—one of our best ornithological authorities—has
contributed to the ‘‘ People’s Books” series. Illustrated with copious
wood-cuts due to the skilled hand of Mr. Seaby, it should enable the
beginner to recognise at sight most of the common birds that he is likely
to meet in any part of the British Islands. The plumage, nest, and eggs
of each species are accurately—though, of course, briefly—described,
and the geographical range within the Britannic area is in all cases at least
roughly outlined. The brevity of the references to Ireland would, how-
ever, make it absolutely incumbent on any Irish beginner using Mr.
Kirkman’s book to check it with frequent reference to the “ List of Irish
Birds ”’ drawn up for the Museum by Mr. Ussher. Otherwise he might
be left under the erroneous impression that the Jay is a bird of general
occurrence in Irish woods, and that the Stonechat is scarcely so common
a bird with us as the Whinchat. The phrase ‘‘ exceptional in Ireland,’
as applied to the Short-eared Owl, strikes us as rather vague, but seems,
from its context, to imply that this owl has bred here, of which we have
no evidence. The description of the Tree-Pipit as ‘‘absent Ireland,”
has, of course, ceased to be strictly accurate since the book was sent to
press ; and of the elasticity of the phrase ‘“‘ rare in Ireland ”’ it may suffice
to say that Mr. Kirkman applies it alike to the Green Woodpecker and to
the Kingfisher. But these are matters of no moment, unless to an Irish
tyro who neglects to avail himself of the opportunities at his doors. The
classification followed is that used in the ‘ British Bird-Book,” edited
by the author of this little manual.

C, B. Me.

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. /

Recent gifts include a Rabbit from Miss Egan, a number of Guinea-
pigs from Mr. A. Miller, a pair of Swans from Mr. W. M. Murphy, and
two Barn Owls from Miss G. and Mr. R. Armstrong.

The pair of American Bison given by the Canadian Government are
now on view in an extensive paddock that has been opened up close to
the entrance gate, so that these interesting animals—no specimen of which
has been on view in Dublin for nearly twenty years—are the first seen
by visitors coming into the gardens,

Qr4. Trish Societies. 27

DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

NOVEMBER 18.—Annual Conversazione, in the Royal Irish Academy
House, by permission of the Council. The proceedings opened at 7.30,
when refreshments were served. At eight o’clock the chair was taken
by the Vice-president, N. CoLGAN, in the unavoidable absence of the
President. In his opening remarks, the Chairman referred to the great
loss which the Club and natural history in Ireland had sustained by the
death of Mr. R. J. Ussher. Professor A. HENry then delivered an address
‘‘On some points in the History of Irish Trees.’’ This was illustrated
by lantern slides, and proved highly interesting. He dealt mainly with
the Scotch Fir, Pinus sylvestris, and discussed the question whether it
had become extinct in Ireland and had then been reintroduced. ‘The
remainder of the evening was spent in examining a large series of natural
history exhibits on view.

DECEMBER 9.—-W. F. GUNN (President) in the Chair. A number of
natural history specimens were exhibited, and afterwards Professor
CARPENTER read a paper on the Irish marine Bristle-tails of the genus ;
Petrobius, illustrated by lantern slides. This paper has already appeared
in the Ivish Naturalist (vol. xxil., pp. 229,f.) Nominations of office-
bearers and Committee for I914 were made.

CORK NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JuNE 11. ExCURSION TO THE SHOURNAGH VALLEY.—A party of 17
travelled from Muskerry station to Gurth station, and investigated the
flora of the valley which at this point has considerable interest. Among
the plants were :—Osmunda regalis, Pinguicula grandiflora, Drosera
votundifolia. Having visited some archaeological remains in the neighbour-
hood, including the very large rath at Lis-na-ragh, and two large pillar-
stones at Killowen, the members entered the woods at St. Anne’s Hili,
where many characteristic woodland plants were found. The party
returned from St. Anne’s Station. J. Noonan acted as conductor.

Jury 16. Excursion To Lota LopGEr.—By permission of Mr. A. F.
Sharman-Crawford, his beautiful gardens at Lota Lodge, Glanmire, were
visited. Mr. A. Pearson received the members and showed them over
the grounds.

JuLy 26. ExcuRSION TO MyRTLEVILLE.—A party of members travelled
by train to Crosshaven for the study of marine algae at Myrtleville strand.
The identification of species, floating out of specimens, &c., were explained
by the conductor, Miss E. P. Duke, B.Sc., who was assisted by Miss M.
Dobbin, B.Sc. The following species, most of which were found washed
up on the shore, were noted. (Those marked (r) were found growing on
rocks). RHODOPHYCEAE :—Porphyra laciniaia (r.), Ceramium rubrum,
C. diaphanum, Furcellaria fastigiata, Dumontia filiformis, Delleseria sangut=
nea, D. alata, Nitophyllum laceratum, Ahnfeltia plicata, Gigartina mamillosa,
Chondrus crispus (rt), Rhodymenia palmata (r), Chylocladia articulata (r),
Plocamium coccineum, Lauvencia pinnatifida (r), Polysiphonia fastigiata,

28 The lrish Naturalist. January, 1914.

Dasya coccinea, Covallina officinalis. PHOEOPHYCEAE :—Fucus platy-
carpus (r), F. vesiculosus (r), F. servatus (r), Pelvetia canaliculata (r),
Ascophyllum nodosum, Halidrys siliquosa (r), Dicytota dichotoma, Clados-
tephus verticillatus, Chordaria flagelliformis, Leathesia tuberiformis,
Desmarestia aculeata, Chorda filum, Laminaria digitata, L. saccharina,
Alavia' esculenta. CHLOROPHYCEAE :—Enteromorpha compressa, Ulva
Lactuca, Cladophora sericea.

Juty 30. ExcuRSION TO THE FATHER MATHEW ToweER.—The
members walked from’ Dunkettle Station to the Tower, which was
examined and ascended. Near the Tower are two oak trees, one of
which was planted by Father Mathew 67 years ago. Many interesting
plants were found in the wood adjacent, and in the Dunkathal demesne,
through which the party returned. M. Holland acted as conductor.

AUGUST 23. ExcuRSION TO DUNSCOMBE’s Woop.—A party under
the guidance of John Griffin walked from Wellington Bridge to the wood,
the study of indigenous trees and woodland plants being the chief
object of the visit. In the wood and by the wayside, 26 species of trees
were found. ;

SEPTEMBER 3. EXCURSION TO ARDRUM Woops.—A party. of 25
travelled to Cloghroe railway station, the members being shown through
the woods (which are several hundred acres in extent, and very interesting
from the point of view of forestry) by Miss H. Curry. It was learned that
Squirrels are now well established in the woods, and increasing in numbers.

SEPTEMBER 10. VIsIT TO MuNicipAL MusEuM.—A large party visited
the Municipal Museum, Fitzgerald Park. T. Farrington, m.a., showed
the members over the scientific portion of the collection, its artistic and
archaeological side being in the hands of M. Holland.

NOVEMBER 26. CONVERSAZIONE AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.—Professor
I. Swain presided, and there was a large attendance of members and their
friends. Lectures, with lantern illustrations, were delivered on “ The
Past in the Present,’’; ‘‘ Connecting Links in Plant Life,’’ and “ Pond
Life,’ by Sir Bertram Windle, F:R.s. (President, University College);
Professor H. A. Cummins and Professor Hartog respectively. Professor
Swain showed a number of slides illustrating glaciers. Some botanical,
zoological, and geological objects were exhibited in the Biological Labora-
tory. They include specimens of native marine algae, collected in 1807.
Tea was served in the Students’ Club during an interval.

BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL
SOCIETY. f

Announcement is made that this Society, with a view to encourage
original investigation, is prepared to offer a prize of £50 for the best mono-
graph on any department of the geology of Ulster, and to make grants,
amounting as we understand to £50, in aid of scientific research. We
congratulate the Society on being able to take such a strong line in advanc-
ing natural knowledge, and we hope that much good work may result
from this handsome offer, of which particulars may be obtained from the
Hon, Secretary, Mr. J. M. Finnegan.

WiiIiE.EriAMs & SOW

Naturalists, Furriers, and Taxidermists,

2, DAME-STREET, DUBLIN,

Designers of the Life Groups in the National Museum, Kildare-street.

HEAD AND ANTLERS OF THE GREAT EXTINCT IRISH DEER, CER VUS
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“Vol. xxdii., No. 40° °° geese om pares ae January, 114

CONTENTS. ee ee
b ieenucsan Rete Sper H. iT. RIDDELSDELE, a oR ee
Bird Migration’ in Rathlin Island. Many G.S. Beet RZ. ve arg =

and “Maup D. HAVILAND, ~ etka <a
Coleoptera collected by the late H. L. Orr. —Rey. W. E Jons- See ee
son, M.A:, F E.S., oe : ei pe eeee eo,
The Roseate Tern breeding — a Ireland. —Gr0R6% R. ee
HUMPHREYS, . ae = Se ¥ be See Sere oe te
NOTES: |
Uredo Lynchii—A Correction.—J, ADAMS, M.A., — re coe 20
Falcaria vulgaris in Co. Down, Plants of the Saltees—REv. — she
CANon H. W. Lert, M. Aa es ze 4 20
Erythraea littoralis at Portstewart. —REv. C. H. WADDELL, B.A., .. Fre; =
Schoenobius mucronellus in Co. Fc rmanagh.—CuHas, LANGHAM, .. wee 2y “a
Lepidoptera and = eR from Co, W. terford.—L,. H. eg eee.
WYSE, m5 — ws oa £2°2 am
Testacella scutulum in King’ s County.—R. F. Se, PH 2 8 Pea ae ete 7 : 3
Peculiar Nesting Site of Black Guillemots.—W. H. WORKMAN, .. 23 =
Departure of Spotted Flycatchers.—NEVIN H, FosTER, M.R.LA., .. 2 : naar —

REVIEWS:

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February, 1914. The lrish Naturalist. 29

JOHN TEMPLETON’S NOTES: ON
IRISH LAND AND FRESH-WATER MOLLUSCA.

BY) A. W;, SEELFOX,' M;RiI.A;

A manuscript bearing the title ‘* Catalogue of Irish Shells,
by John Templeton, Esqr.,” in the handwriting of the late
G. C. Hyndman (?), of Belfast, has recently been discovered
in a drawer of the Hyndman collection of shells now in the
Belfast Municipal Museum. The following extracts relate
to the land and fresh-water species mentioned in the MS.,
all of which is in the handwriting of Templeton. Here and
there notes and marks have been added in pencil by Mr.
Hyndman (?). The remainder of the MS. refers to marine
species.

List oF LAND AND FRESH-WATER SHELLS MENTIONED IN
TEMPLETON’S CATALOGUE.
“* Mya.”
13.1 ‘* Margantifera. [Margaritana margaritifera (Linné*)].
In the Lagan and other Irish Rivers.”’
‘*TELLINA,
29. ‘Cornea. T. with a globose smooth horn coloured
shell with transverse furrows.
Lin. Trans. 8, 59. And Lin. Trans. 3. t. 13.
fs 20,1404, -Cyclas Lamarck.
[Sphaerium corneum (Linné). |
Drains in the Bog Meadows.
amnica. T. with an oblique somewhat oval trans-
versely furrowed shell having the hinge
not exactly in the middle but most
towars [sic] one side.
T. yivahs, Lit, Trans, 3.1444. 13. f. 37-
eo... Vol. S500.
{Pisidium amnicum (Miiller).|..
Found in the Lagan near Lisburn. 27 Sep. 1817.”

* The numbers refer to those in the MS. Some species, perhaps added
at a later date, have no numbers prefixed.

* I give the modern synomyn as used in the List of L.-and F. W
Mollusks of Ireland, Proceedings RZ. Acad., Xxix., Section B,, no. 3, 1911.

A

30 The lrish Naturalist. February,

‘* MyTILUs.”’
79. ‘* Cygneus [Anodonta cygnea (Linné). |
Lakes in the C. Monaghan, &c. In the Friar’s
Glen the Reservoir of the Head level of the
Lagan Canal, Sepr. 27. 1817.”
~*~ VOLUTA
86B. denticulata. Lin. Tran. 8. 130. Mon. t. 20. f. 5.
[Phytia myosotis (Drap.), var. denticulata Mont. |
Found by Miss Templeton at Bangor—1818.”
‘* TURBO.”

108. ‘* Ulve. [Paludestrina stagnalis (Baster). ]

Common on the Zostera in Belfast Lough.”

110-1. “* Fontinalis. Lin. Tran. 8. 168. Mont. p.. 22. f. 4-

[Valvata piscinalis (Miller). |
In the Canal &c.”
rro-3. “* Nautileus. Lin: Iran. 8. 166. p. 4. f. 4-
[Planorbis crista (Linné). ]
On the leaves of Potamogeton Natans in the
Rushy bog drain.”

113... ™ Perversus> Lin: Trans 8: 161, Shell@ timers
spires contrary, striated and the aper-
ture without teeth.

[Balea perversa (Linné). |
Common among moss.
114. Muscorum. [? Pupa cylindracea (Da Costa).]
Found but forget to mention where.”
Pel aboieo.<
stagnalts.
| Lymnea stagnalis Lamarck.
[No locality given here. See below. |
115. /planorbis. [? Planorbis umbilicatus (Drap.). |
[No locality given. ] /

116. Vortex. [? Planorbis vortex (Linneé).]
Ditches.
117. Cornea. [? Planorbis corneus (Linné).]
In a rushy bog drain. July 1g. 1810.
r18>, . Contoria. . Lin. Tran; 8. 191. Mou [pal 25.
[Planorbis contortus (Linné).]:
In the Lagan, In the Rushy bog Drain,

1914. STELFOX.—/John Templeton’s Notes on Mollusca. 31

1190, | Fontana: Lin, Tran. 8. f93."° Mon.°462. p: 6. 1. 6:
[Planorbis fontanus (Lightfoot). |
In freshwater, &c.
paludosa. [? Vallonia pulchella (Miller). |

Found composing the covering of Cadworms [sic]
along with Turbo fontinalis, and Helix tenta-
cula.

In the Friar’s Glen. Sepr. 27. 1817.

120. Evricetoerum. [Helicella itala (Linné). |

Sand hills on the shore at Ballycastle and near
Bangor.

121. Rufescens. {Hygromia rufescens, auct. ]

Found among grass and moss in the orchard.
Found common on the Limestone Rocks near
Cork with the Helix virgata by Dr. Flemming.
Wern. Tran. 395. [The latter note is added
in Pencil; but appears to be in Templeton’s
writing. A. W. S.]

22.60 Neens. Lin. Tran, 6. 108.

Found on the rocks at the cave hill. Common
among moss.

[The name Helix mtens probably covers all the
larger species of the genus Hyalinia. A. W. S.]

123. HAispida. [Hygromia hispida (Linneé).]
Among moss.
#24") kontata.» Lain. Yran:8. 199. Mont. ‘t.' 24. f- 3.
[Pyramidula rotundata (Miiller). |

Among moss.

124-1. umbilicata. Lin. Tran. 8. 200. Mont. t. 13. f. 2.
[Pyramidula rupestris (Drap.).]

Found among moss, under the decaying bark
of Trees, &c.

125. Avrbustorum. [Arianta arbustorum (Linné).]

Sandy braes near Larne. Rocks at the Cave
hill, and found by Mary Templeton in Malone
farm.

126. Nemoralis. [Helix nemoralis Miiller.]

Common,

32

127.

130.

134;

132,

133)

The Llrish Naturalist. _. February,

Hortensia. [? Helix aspersa Miller.
Common.”

‘ Bifasciata; Lin, Ttrangs..200,
[Helicella barbara (Linné).
On sandhills about the shore.
Stagnalis, Lin. Tran. 8. 214. Brit. Zool. t. 86. 106.
Dont. 5x. 172, “Moni a67-t. bow ie.
[Limnezea stagnalis (Linné). |
Found on the shore of Lough Neagh.
Lubrica. Lin. frans..3. 213... Brit. Zool. 4; 82. t. 216:
Mon. 3007 t: 227446,
[Cochhcopa lubrica (Miller). |
Found in the orchard, May 16, 1812.
Succinea. Lin. Tran. 8. 218. Don. 168. 1.
HH. puires, Mon, (376.4 16) 4. 4, Don. 168. 1.
[Succinea putris (Linné).
In the mill race at Seymour Hill and many other
places.
Puivis. Lin. Tran,8. .Mon..373; ¢ 16. %.-2
H.. pevegra, Mon, 373.
[Limnaea pereger (Miller). |
Found at Lyster’s spring and many other places.
tentaculata. Lin. Tran. 8. 220. Brit. Zool. t. 86. 140.
Don. t. 93.
[Bithynia tentaculata (Linneé). |
Found at the second lock of the Lagan. July,
, 29, 1799.
Auncularia. {Limnaea auricularia (Linne). |
In the rushy bog drain.
Glutinosa. |Amphipeplea glutinosa (Miiller).|
In the rushy bog drain.”
‘* Bulloida. H. with a smooth shining ae fragile
shell with the spiral turns. contrary
and short... Lin. Trans. 223:
Don., 168, f. 2:
[Physa fontinalis (Linné).
Found by Miss Templeton on the seashore at
the mouth of a rivulet near Bangor. Found

Sn ee eS eS ee. Le —

tog. STELFOx.—/ohn Templeton’s Notes on Mollusca. 33

by myself among reeds thrown out of a drain
at the Rushy Bog, Augt. 26, 1817.”
Re A.
146. ‘* Lacustrvis. [Ancylus fluviatilis Miiller. |
~ “On stones in the Lagan, &c:
147. Oblonga. [Acroloxus lacustris (Linné). |
On the Potamogeton &c. on the drains in the

bog meadows.”

The above records are almost all from the neighbourhood
of Belfast and are of great interest to a student of the local
Mollusca. I feel sure, however, that there are a few cases
of misidentification to be dealt with.

INTERESTING OR DoUBTFUL RECORDS CONTAINED IN THE
MS.

Helix Vortex. I think this must be referred to Planorbrs
spirorbis, L., var. leucostoma, Millet, rather than to
Planorbis vortex, L. The former shell is abundant in
the habitats, such as the Bog Meadows, mentioned by
Templeton and has been frequently confounded with
Planorbis vortex.

Helix Cornea. This can scarcely be Planorbis corneus, L. It
is more than likely that Templeton intended to record
Planorbis carinatus, Miller, or P. umbtlicatus, Drap.

Mya margaritifera. No subsequent writer mentions this
shell as found in the Lagan. There is no need to doubt
the record however. |

Turbo Perversus. It is strange that Templeton should record
Balea perversa and not mention the much more common
Claustlia bidentata. Yet since he states that his T.
perversus has ‘‘ the aperture without teeth” there can
be no doubt that it was Balea which he referred to,
unless he had only seen young shells of Clausilia.

Helix planorbis. This probably refers to Planorbis um-
bilicatus, Drap., which is common in the coastal
marshes between Belfast and Holywood.

Helix paludosa. It is strange that Vallonia pulchella
(=Helix paludosa of Da Costa) could be found com-
posing the covering of caddis-worms, yet this species is

34

The Irish Naturalist. February,

common on the railway bridge over the canal at Moira
station, less than half a mile from the locality mentioned
by Templeton. The shellsof this species are, however,
frequently found in flood debris, and I have on at least
one occasion found them on the covering of a Caddis-
fly larvae. |

Helix Ericetorum. Both the localities given in the MS. for

this species are new to me. It is found at Kinbane Port,
24 miles west of Ballycastle, in Co. Antrim, and no
doubt occurred in former times on the sand-dunes at
Ballycastle. There is, however, no other record for
this species from Co. Down, although its ally Helicella
barbara is frequent round thecoast. Thesandy area near
Orlock Point, east of Bangor, may perhaps contain
some deposit in which dead shells of this species may
still linger.

Helix umbilicata. J am afraid that here we have another

case of misidentification, because ‘‘ Helix umbilicata,
Mont. t. 13. f.2”’ (=Pyramidula rupestris, Drap.) does
not frequent the under side of ‘* decaying bark of
Trees.

It is possible that Templeton may have mistaken
the young ofsome other species for P. rupestyis or that
the shell referred to was the Pupa umbilicata of Drap.
(=Pupa cylindracea, Da Costa).

Helix arbustorum. The ‘‘ Malone farm” referred to as a

habitat for this shell must be somewhere near Shaw’s
Bridge, Belfast.

Helix hortensia. This cannot be referred to Helix hortensts,

Miill., which is very rare in NE. Ireland. Helix aspersa
was of course the Helix hortensis of many early English
writers, such as Pennant.

Helix Auricularia. J have been unable to trace the exact

locality referred to so frequently in the MS. as *‘ the
Rushy; Bog ;,”. but, lk am: inclmed to yreier it\to the
swampy ground between the second lock on the Lagan
Canal and the old pumping station. This would be
within half a mile of Templeton’s house, Cranmore, and
probably one of his favourite hunting grounds. It may

i914. STELFOX.—/ohn Templeton’s Notes on Mollusca. 35

have been in the Bog Meadows, now partially destroyed
by drainage and building operations. Limnaea auri-
cularta is not now known to live in any of the drains by
the Lagan, near Belfast, but it does occur in the Gal-
wolly Pond, Belvoir Park, which is close to the second
lock of the canal, but on the Co. Down side of the river.

Helix Glutinosa. Not now known to live nearer Belfast than
the Lough Neagh basin.

There are many strange absentees from the above list,
such as the various species of Pisidium, Vertigo, Clausilia
bidentata, and the smaller Helices. I am inclined to regard
this MS., therefore, as only showing us a part of Templeton’s
work in this branch of natural science.

Belfast.

GON REEERENCES BY. W..E. LEACH. TO. IRISH
LAND AND: FRESH, WATER, SHEELS.

BY A. Wa. Ste LEOk, MRA.

In 1820, ‘‘ A Synopsis of the Mollusca of Great Britain,
by William Elford Leach, M.D., F.R.S., &c.,” was in the
press ; but owing to the ill health of the author the work
was abandoned. In 1852, however, it was published
in its original form under the editorship of Dr. J. E. Gray,
of the British Museum. It contains several references to
Irish Mollusca, two of which are of considerable interest.
They are as follows :—

Page 71. Teba caperata, Mont. [—Helicella tntersecta,

Poir.].1 ‘‘ Sparingly in the south of Ireland.”

Page 75. Zonttes rupestris, Drap. [| =Pyramidula rupes-

tris, Drap.]. ‘‘ On the Reeks, near Killarney.”
Page 77. Chailotrema lapicida, L. [Helicigona lapicida,
L.]. .‘* In the south of Ireland.”

Page 79. Elismia fascrata, Pennant [ =Heltcella barbara,
L.]. ‘‘ On most of the sandy shores in the south of
Ireland.”

Se

Ireland. Proceedings, R.J. Acad., XXix., Section B., no. 3.

36 oie The Irish Naturalist. - February,

Page 81. Ena obscura, Mill. *‘ I observed it once near
_ the Eagle’s Nest Rock, on the Lake of Killarney.”

Page 98. Alexia denticulata, Mont. [Phytia myosotis,
Drap., var. denticulata]. ‘‘ I found it likewise at the
mouth of the Cork river ; and at Dungarvan, in Ireland,
in abundance.”

Page 116. Planorbis imbricatus, Mill. [ =Planorbis crista,
L.]. ‘‘ I found it in a marsh near Dunloch Gap, and
again at Muccross, near Killarney.”

Page 322. Damars elongatus, Lam. [=Margantana
margaritifera, L.]. ‘‘ In the Ban, Ireland.”

It is evident from the above records that Leach must have
done a considerable amount of field work in the south of
Ireland prior to 1820. Of the above references those to Ena
obscura and Chilotrema lapicida are the most interesting.
The record of the latter species is not, however, given on
the personal authority of Dr. Leach, and is, therefore, of
little value, as Thompson! could not satisfy himself that
C. lapicida had ever been found in Ireland as a native. No
Irish specimens have been forthcoming since the publication
of Thompson’s ‘‘ Catalogue ” in 1840, indeed in vol. iv. of his
“Natural History of Ireland,” the reference to C. lapicida,
referred to in footnote, is omitted. It would seem, therefore,
that the belief that this species lived in Ireland was not well
founded.” It must be remembered, however, that’ in many
of its habitats in England, C. lapicida is not now so plentiful
as in former times, while in not a few localities it has become
Extinct,»

Dr. Leach’s record of Ena obscura from near Killarney
can scarcely be doubted, even though this shell has not been
reported from this district within recent years. It would be
wise, however, before adding the name E. obscura to the
fauna of North Kerry to have the record verified.

Belfast.

1See W. Thompson. Cat. Land and Fresh-water Mollusca of Ireland.
Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hisi., Sept., 1840.
2 [See below Mr. R. A. Phillips? account of his rediscovery of this spécies.
—-EDs. |

1914. PHILLIPS.—f7elicigona lapicida in Treland. 37

HELICIGONA LAPICIDA IN IRELAND.
BY R. A. PHILLIPS, M.R.I.A.

Early in November last I was informed by Mr. E.
Collier, of Manchester, that Mr. L. E. Adams had sent him
specimens of H. lapicida, L., reported to have been collected
in Ireland, along with a short paper, to be read at the
forthcoming meeting of the Conchological Society on
November 12th, saying that they had been taken at Carrig-
a-brick Castle, near Fermoy, Co. Cork, forty-two years
ago by Mr. E. Dukinfield Jones, of Reigate. Through
the kindness of Mr. Jones, the specimens have been de-
posited in the National Museum, Dublin.

In order to verify this report and see if the mollusk
still lives in the locality, I visited Carrig-a-brick a few
days after receiving Mr. Collier’s letter, and was very
pleased to find, after a short hunt, three living and two
dead specimens under stones by a wall at the edge of the
wood near the castle associated with Hyalinia cellaria,
H. lucida, Arion hortensts, A. intermedius, Hygromia ru-
fescens, H. hispida, Pupa cylindracea and Claustlia bidentata.

Mr. Jones states that he also found Ena montana in
the Fermoy district at the same time, but, probably owing
to the short time at my disposal and the lateness of the
season, I found no trace of that species.

These two shells are widely distributed on the Continent,
occurring also in England, chiefly in the southern counties,
and are most interesting additions to the known fauna
of Ireland.

Mr. Collier writes me that Mr. E. Dukinfield Jones is
an entomologist, and only collected a few shells when he
came across them in his rambles, and, so, this record was
not made public until Mr. Adams, who also lives in Reigate,
made his acquaintance and during conversation, got the
news from Mr. Jones, _

A 3

38 The Lrish Naturalist. February,

Mr. A. W. Stelfox informs me that H. lapicida was
recorded from Cove, Co. Cork by Turton, and Ena montana
from Down and Queen’s County by Captain Brown, but
no other collectors have seen them and there are no speci-
mens in existence from these localities, so they have been
omitted from the Irish list by subsequent writers.

Cork,

COLEOPTERA Al (RIVEARNE
BY OLIVER E. JANSON, F.E.S.

On the occasion of a first visit to Ireland in July, 1913,
the greater part of the three weeks at my disposal was
spent on the sea and in touring the very beautiful country
around Glengariff, Bantry, Gougane Barra Lake, and
Kenmare, but on arriving at Killarney, and meeting my
friend, Mr. L. H. Bonaparte-Wyse, the stimulating in-
fluence of a fellow entomologist aroused my enthusiasm
for beetle-hunting, and I devoted nearly the whole of the
time’ of ‘our ‘sojourn’ there, ‘from ‘the’ 16th ‘to the 25 or
July, to collecting. At his suggestion I endeavoured to
obtain as many species as possible with a view of adding
records to the ‘‘ Irish List.”

Nearly all my collecting was done in the *‘ Kenmare
Demesne,” a rather extensive, well-wooded, and somewhat
wild, park-like enclosure, extending from the border of the
town to the eastern shore of the Lower Lake,, to which
access may be obtained by anyone upon the payment of a
small fee. Although a generally admitted unfavourable
year for insects, and some six weeks late for the best season
for Coleoptera, I was certainly disappointed with the
rather meagre results of my week’s work. In places near
the lake shore where a variety of aquatic plants grew,
and great masses of Meadow-sweet and Loose-strife were
in full bloom, and with bright sunshine, an hour’s sweeping

igt4. JANSON.—Colcoptera at Killarney. 39

and beating would often produce less than half-a-dozen
beetles beyond the ubiquitous Rhagonycha fulva, Tele-
phorus flavilabis, and Anthobium ophthalnucum, these and
Anchomenus albipes, being the only species met with in
abundance. The total result of my weck’s work was only
one hundred and sixteen species, about three-fourths
of these being common things of general distribution and
insufficient interest to record. I find my captures include
eight additions to the fauna of Ireland as given in Messrs.
Johnson and Halbert’s very admirable ‘‘ List of the Beetles
of Ireland.” !

HyYDRAENA LONGIOR, Rey.—Not uncommon on the
under surface of fragments of rock in the Lower Lake. This
species has been recorded by Mr. F. Balfour Browne.’

HOMALOTA NIGRICORNIS, Thoms.—One specimen taken
by sweeping on Innisfallen.

H. INTERMEDIA, Grav.—Several examples shaken from
decaying vegetable matter on the lake shore, Kenmare
Demesne.

H. suBTILIs, Scrib.—One specimen taken by evening
sweeping in the Kenmare Demesne. This was the only
addition I made to my collection.

A few specimens taken

PTENIDIUM PUSILLUM, Gyll. } together in a damp, de-

P. LAEVIGATUM, Gillm. caying tree stump, Ken-

mare Demesne.

CYyPHON PALLIDULUS, Bohm.—Swept in some numbers
near Ross Castle and other parts. Apparently common
in the Killarney district. It has been already recorded
from Glencar by my friend, Mr. Donisthorpe, in his account
of the Coleoptera of South Kerry.?

Besides the foregoing, I took, in the Kenmare Demesne,
a specimen of a Meligethes unknown to me, and not agree-
ing precisely with any of the described European species ; it
most nearly resembles M. erythropus. As I devoted
most attention to the smaller things this may probably
account for the rather large proportion of new records

1 Pyoc., R. I. Acad. vol. xxiii., 1902. 2 Ivish Nat., vol. xxi., 1912,
3Ivish Naturalist, vol. xii., 1903.

4o The Irish Naturalist, i February,

for the Irish fauna. Of species not recorded from County
Kerry in the “‘ Irish List,” I met with the following nineteen :
—Hydraena gracilis, in company with this H. longior,
before mentioned ; Callicerus obscurus, Homalota elongatula,
Stenus canaliculatus, S. declaratus, and Trichopteryx inter-
media (lata Matth.) under vegetable matter on the margin
of the Lower Lake; Homalium punctipenne and Rhizo-
phagus dispar under bark of fallen Firs ; Bolitophagus pygmae-
us, Ptenidium nitidum and Melanotus rufipes in decaying
tree stumps; Stilicus similis, Atomaria basalis, Helodes
marginata, Chrysomela hyperict, Centhorhynchus litura and
Phytobius comart by general sweeping, all in the Kenmare
Demesne ; and Thanasimus formicarius in old Hollies on
Innisfallen. Some other species met with, that it may
be of interest to mention were Phlococharis subtilis-
stma in some numbers beneath the bark of dead Firs ;
Hydrocyphon deflexicollis sweeping near the Queen’s cottage
on the Upper Lake, and Rhopalomesites Tardy: common,
and varying greatly in size, in the old Hollies on Innisfallen,
and also in partially decayed Beech trees in the Kenmare
Demesne.

We were fortunate in having fine weather nearly the
whole of the time, and although beetles were scarce and
required hard working for, so that I obtained only a
single species new to my collection, I far from regret
my initial visit to the South of Ireland. The ever changing
and charming scenery on the so-called ‘‘ Tourist’s Route ”’
from Macroom to Killarney vea Kenmare and Parknasilla,
now made easily accessible by the well-arranged service
of commodious motor coaches, and accomplished in two
days if necessary, is, I consider, well worth a visit.

I must acknowledge with thanks the assistance given
me in the determination of the Homalotae by Dr. M.
Cameron and the Hydraenae and Trichopterygidae by Mr.
E. A. Newbery. |

Claremont Koad, Highgate, London, N.

1914. WHITEHOUSE.— Zhe Natural History of Planarians. 4%

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANARIANS.
BY R. H. WHITEHOUSE, M.SC.

CReAY before the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society,
December goth, 1913.)

THERE are three classes of flat-worms, known respectively
as Turbellaria, Trematodes, and Cestodes; the first of
these have not even attracted the attention of the public
sufficiently to have given rise to a popular name; the
second class are popularly called ‘‘ Flukes,” and one or two
of the best known give rise to ‘‘ liver rot”’ in sheep; the
third class are called ‘‘ Tape-worms,’” and are best known
as parasites in domesticated animals. In this paper it
is proposed to deal with the Turbellaria—so-called on
account of the disturbances they produce in the water in
which they live; such disturbances, however, are of course
exceedingly shght. There are three groups of Turbellaria,
viz., Rhabdocoeles, which are aquatic or semi-aquatic ;
Triclads, comprising both aquatic and terrestrial forms ;
and Polyclads, which are marine organisms. The Triclads
are divided into sub-groups according to their habitat, viz.,
Freshwater (Paludicola), Marine (Maricola) and Land
Planarians (Terricola); of the freshwater planarians four
species can be readily obtained in the Belfast district,
though there are doubtless others too. Several marine
forms are found on the shores of Belfast Lough, and Land
Planarians are represented by Rhynchodemus terrestris,
which is very common.! Land Planarians, however,
have their home in the tropics.

The interest and importance of these lowly organised
worms have not been overlooked by men outside the ranks
of academic zoologists; this is evident from the remarks
of Professor J. A. Thomson in his presidential address to
the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh in Ig12, on
‘Professor Bergson’s Biology.” He says : ‘© With clear

-1 For localities and figures, see R. We Scharff, Trish Nat., vol. ix. Axqob;
pp. 216-17.

42 The lish Naturalist. February,

insight Bergson recognizes the extraordinary interest that
_attaches to the early worms—almost the first creatures
to have bilateral symmetry, and the first to have head-
brains, beginning the long process which has enabled us to
tell our right hand from our left. He gives them their
due, those early worms—‘ infinitely plastic forms, pregnant
with an unlimited future, the common stock of Echinoderms,
Molluscs, Arthropods, and Vertebrates.’ ”

Planarians do not make themselves specially evident,
and in searching for them it is necessary to examine the
under surfaces of stones, or leaves and stems of weeds
in ponds; the shaded situations between the leaves and
stems of such submerged plants as flags and rushes are sure
places to find them. Nevertheless, planarians make fre-
quent excursions to the bottom mud, over which they glide
in search of food. They vary in size, but are never very
large ; a specimen one and a half inches in length would,
indeed, be a large one, and many do not exceed one-third
of an inch, at least when at rest. Land planarians are
also lovers of the shade, and live either on the damp humus
of the ground, or on the under surface of old stumps, or
between the leaves and stem of certain plants. They vary
much in size, small ones being less than an inch in length,
while the large ones, found principally in the tropics, may
measure eight or nine inches or more. Marine planarians
closely resemble their freshwater relatives, and are in all
essentials similar to them.

On the general form of planarians nothing beyond the
fact that they are as a rule flat and band-like need be said ;
but something must be said of their colour. As a rule,
freshwater forms are fairly evenly coloured, though mottled
and striped examples are known. The commonest fresh-
water planarian in the Belfast district is a small dark grey
or black creature called Polycelis mgrva, about three-tenths
of an inch in length when fully extended, and about one-
tenth when at rest; brown forms are common enough,
and belong, I believe, to the species Planaria lugubms ;
Dendrocoelum lacteum is a beautiful milky-white creature,
transparent enough to show the dendritic gut through

1914. WHITEHOUSE.— Zhe Natural History of Planarians. 43

the general body tissues; this species is indeed a giant
among the freshwater planarians, specimens often measuring
over an inch; another species common in the streams
on Cave Hill is Planaria alpina, a small animal with lappets
at the sides of the head; it is found in large numbers
on the under side of stones soon after the stream issues
from the chalk. Beauty of colour is at its height among
the tropical land planarians ;_ selections from black, white,
purple, blue, green, yellow, red, etc., are productive of
exquisitely beautiful forms. The commonest arrangement
is the stripe, either longitudinally along the animal or cross-
wise ; sometimes marbled or speckled patterns are shown,
while others are unicoloured Almost invariably the under
surface is paler than the upper, probably because the varied
colouring of the upper surface is not needed on the parts
not exposed to the passers-by. The brilliant colouration
of land-planarians must be looked upon as a warning to
animals likely to prey upon worms; from experiments
with birds they have been shown to be distinctly distasteful,
and Prof. Dendy tells us that he has himself tasted them,
and found them very disagreeable !

The characteristic mode of movement among planarians
is by means of short and indefinitely numerous hairlike
processes called cilia. The planarian does not come into
actual contact with the surface over which it glides, but
lays down a mucus, just as a snail does, and it is on the
smooth surface of its own mucus or slime that it moves;
the slime is produced by glands distributed all over the
lower surface, particularly at the edges. Except for the
head itself, the whole of the lower surface is in contact with
the slime-covered substratum as the animal moves. The
uninitiated person nearly always refers to planarians as
leeches, but this mistake would never be made if the
method of locomotion were observed ; a leech moves by
looping with the aid of a sucker at each end of the body ;
a planarian glides.

The planarian holds its head up in the world; the
anterior end is always slightly raised and waved from side
to side; at the same time the exceedingly mobile and

4A 3 The Lrish Naturalist. — February,

sensitive fringe of the head maintains a continuous wave-
like motion, specially noticeable where. what we may call
‘‘ ears’ are present at the sides of the head. Occasionally,
the animal will stop, raise the whole front end of the body
and wave about gracefully in the water. Such movements
are called testing movements and are specially to be observed
under certain conditions; ¢.g., before coming to rest, the
creature ‘“‘ tests” the surroundings before it relaxes its
muscles and settles down; after resting, it ‘‘ tests” the
neighbourhood before resuming progression ; ail obstacles
are ‘‘ tested” to determine the nature of the impediment,
if it is food it is appropriated, if not it is avoided; if a
bright beam of light is suddenly thrown on the front end
of the animal, it ‘‘ tests’’ it before turning aside; and so
on. |

As soon as an aquatic planarian appreciates any signs
of drying, it first ‘‘ tests” the drop of water it is in, then
curls up:in such a way as to expose as little as possible of
its surface, particularly protecting its sensitive head. If
the drying is continued, it tries to ‘‘ back out’ exactly as
it would if it were on the edge of a pond where evaporation
was going on rapidly.

Similar testing operations are exhibited when the water
in which a planarian is placed is heated gradually. When
the vessel is heated from one end, the animal goes to
investigate the cause of the change taking place and proceeds
towards the source of heat ; without imperilling his safety,
he discovers the locality which is ‘‘ too hot” for him and
retires to cooler quarters. As the heat increases he becomes
more and more disturbed and finally plunges about wildly
in every direction to avoid the danger—not, however,
until all reasonable testing movements have been tried in
vain. An important thing to grasp is that a planarian
moves towards all weak stimuli and ‘‘ tests” them; in
truth it has been said, the planarian “* proves all things,
holding fast only to that which is good.” ‘3

Accidents are likely to happen even in the planarian
world and for some unavoidable reason the flat-worm may
come to be on his back. In such a position the animal

a ——-_ "= ss ee

‘t914. Wurrenousk — Zhe Nalural History of Planarians. 45

shews the same desire as that of the majority of animals
to get right side up, and that quickly ; the creature twists
itself, front end first, so as to bring the under side of the
front end of the body next the surface on which it is moving ;
it then proceeds forwards, gradually bringing more and
more of the under surface in its normal position.

The amateur experimentalist is frequently disappointed
after repeating such apparently simple experiments and
finds that all animals of the same species do not behave
similarly when subjected to the same stimuli, and conse-
quently he discredits the professional worker. But such
experiments are by no means simple; similar animals. will
only react similarly if they are in a similar physiological
state; the simplest way of illustrating this is by watching
the hungry and the satisfied worm deal with food; the
former will greedily devour even poor quality while the
latter may refuse a tit-bit. The determination of the
physiological state of a worm is not a simple matter.

In the same connexion the history of the individual is
an important determinant of a creature’s behaviour towards
stimuli ; in other words, past experience has an important
bearing on an animal’s attitude towards things around it.
Says Bergson, *‘ the present moment of a living body does
not find its explanation in the moment immediately before ;
all the past of the organism must be added to that moment,
its heredity—in fact the whole of a very long history.”
Let us take an illustration. Planaria alpina is found in
swiftly-flowing streams; the animals are always found
attached to the under surface of stones lying at the bottom :
I have never found them on wood, even if it be firmly
fixed in the grave] or wedged between stones. Past ex-
perience has no doubt taught this planarian that wooden
things are liable to subject it to considerable. buffetings,
while stones at any rate are more to be relied on for an un-
‘disturbed existence.

Again, if Planaria alpina and Polycelis nigra (both fresh-
water planarians) be placed in an aquarium, the former
never, while the latter frequently glides along the under
surface of the surface film of the water. The reason is

46 The lrish Naturalist. February,

that Polycelis nigra inhabits the placid waters of ponds,
where a glide along the surface can be enjoyed, and floating
particles of food found. The former lives in rapid streams,
where there is not even a sporting chance of the surface
film remaining sufficiently intact for any length of time
to allow an excursion upon it. Thus, the habits of
animals are largely moulded on past experience. Pearl,
a well-known worker on this subject, says you must know
your planarian as you know a person, intimately, before
you can safely dogmatize on its behaviour.

I do not intend dealing with details of anatomy, but
among other peculiarities of this group of animals the
position of the mouth can be regarded as a feature of
popular interest. This aperture lies about half-way along
the body on the under surface ; it does not lead directly
to the food channel,. but into a cavity in which hangs the
tubular beginning of the gut like a bell. This tubular
structure is capable of considerable extension, and can be
protruded far out of the mouth, trunkwise, ready to secure
any morsel of food that is about; after seizing the food,
this pharynx is retracted through the mouth. A drowned
earthworm is a much appreciated find for Polycelis cornuta,
and numbers of these planarians may be seen enjoying
such a feast. The white protruded pharynx is often
to be seen in the small black form so common in this dis-
trict (Polycelis nigra).

Except as regards the eyes, the sense organs of pla-
narians are puzzling structures, and may be omitted here.
The eyes, however, vary in number from none to thousands
within the Triclad group; when present in large numbers,
as in many land planarians, they appear as small dots
along the front and sides of the head, along the sides of the
neck, and even for a considerable distance along the sides
of the body. They can scarcely be regarded as more than
light perceivers—a real image is not formed by them.
Of the four common local species mentioned, three have
two eyes which are rather highly organized, and one
(Polycelis) has about a score or more arranged round the
front end and for a short distance along the sides of the body
in a single row.

1914. WuiteHousE.—Zhe Natural History of Planarians. 47

I would bring this paper to a conclusion by a very brief
reference to that subject so extensively advanced in recent
years by American workers from studies on planarians ;
I refer to the subject of regeneration. Planarians re-
produce their kind exactly as do other animals by means of
the fertilized egg; however, they may adopt another
method, common enough it is true, known as spontaneous
division. It may occur by accident cr by the deliberate
action of the worm itself; but whatever the cause, the
animal merely becomes cleft in two, and each part builds
up the missing portion, two perfect animals resulting.
Such a method is quite normal; in fact some species lay
eggs in winter and continue reproduction during summer
by constricting and freeing portions of the body. Some-
times the weirdest forms result from this method of repro-
duction and from regeneration, which suggest that the
animal had changed its mind during the process ; we find
wiseacres with two heads, and some people may be sur-
prised that Natural Selection did not perpetuate creatures
endowed with such a double share of intelligence! Double-
tailed forms are common enough—often the result of an
accident. A particularly interesting form with two pha-
rynges and two mouths is occasionally met with, and we can
imagine no more self-satisfied creature.

Queen’s University, Belfast.

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include a Macacque Monkey from Dr. Kingsley O'Sullivan,
. a Marmoset from Mr. Bartlett, four Rabbits from Mr. J. J. Foley, two
Peacocks from Mr. R. G. Nash, a Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot from
Mr. J. P. Watson, and a number of Frogs and Toads from Prof. J. Bayley
Butler. A Brown Capuchin Monkey, a Grey Parrot, a Sulphur-crested
Cockatoo, a Black-headed Conure, and a pair of Yellow-hammers have
_ been bought. A young Wombat has been born in the Gardens.

Many thousands of Salmon and Trout eggs have been received from
the Irish Fisheries Office, and are now undergoing development in the
Hatchery near the Upper Pond.

’

DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

NOVEMBER 12.—The Club met at Leinster House, J. H. WoopwortH
(President) in the chair. d

T. R. Hewitt showed the recently discovered first-stage larva of the
large Ox Warble-Fly (Hyvpoderma bovis), newly hatched from the egg.
The larva, less than Imm. in length resembles an ordinary muscoid maggot
in form, the tapering head region being armed with powerful mouth-
hooks and a sharp central spine directed forwards. The body-segments
have rows of numerous strong spines forming a relatively formidable
armature, especially prominent at the broad hinder end.

R. SOUTHERN exhibited specimens of the fresh-water Leech, Hemiclep-
sis marginata (O. F. Miller), recently added to the Irish fauna, and recorded
amongst the Leeches found in connection with the Survey of Clare Island.
Three specimens were found in Garranbaun Lough, a small lake near
Ballynakill Harbour, by Mr. G. P. Farran. The species seems to be
rare in the British Isles, though it is widely distributed in Europe: It
is characterised by the possession of two pairs of eyes and seven longitu-
dinal rows of yellow spots on the dorsum.

J. N. HacBert exhibited the nymph stage of an Oribatid mite, Tegeocra-
nus latus, to illustrate the great difference which exists between the adult
and young forms. The nymph of this species is very curious on account
of the great forked chitinous processes, and the serrate hairs, with which
the body is ornamented. It was found in company with the fully-
developed mite under the bark of decayed fir trees on Achill Island.

W. F. Gunn exhibited seeds of the flowering shrub, Buddleia vanabilis,
side by side with the fresh-water Alga, Hydvodictyon utriculatum (the
water net), in order to draw attention to the resemblance between them.
Both objects may be described as cylindrical nets tapering towards the
ends, with a solid portion enclosed in the centre. The one, of course,
has no relation whatever to the other, but the close superficial resemb-
lance of two objects so utterly unrelated is very striking.

DECEMBER 10.—-The Club met at Leinster House, the President
(J. H. WoopwortTs) in the Chair.

Dr. G. H. PetHyBRIDGE exhibited seeds of Celery with the pycnidia
of the Celery leaf-spot fungus Septoria petroselini var. apiion them. The
celery leaf-spot disease was first recorded in Ireland by him in 1906,
and during recent years it has spread to a great extent through the
country, mainly, it is believed, owing to the use of affected seed. A
recent examination of samples of celery seed on sale in Ireland showed
that over 78 per cent. of them carried the disease. He also showed the
same fungus on the leaves of the Wild Celery, on which it has not been
found previously in the British Islands. The Celery plants in question
were growing by the sea in the extreme west of Co. Galway, some eight
or ten miles from Clifden. There» was every appearance of the plant
being native in this spot, although the Wild Celery has not apparently
been previously recorded for West Galway. It seems highly improb-
able that the fungus could have spread to wild plants from cultivated
ones.

48 The Lrish Naturalist. aie Febiuary.

cots, ° Trish Societies. , 49

Prof. G. H. CARPENTER showed a species of Eosentomon, one of the
genera of Protura, an order recently founded by Prof. Silvestri, of Naples,
for the reception of some wingless insects probably allied to. the Collem-
bola and Thysanura. Several forms of these interesting creatures have
been found in Great Britain, but they have not yet been observed in
Ireland. The specimens shown were due to the kindness of Mr, C. B.
Williams, of Merton, Surrey, who has lately published a useful summary
of our knowledge of the Protura (Entomologist, 1913).

D. M‘ARDLE showed the leaves of Ovthotrichum Lyellit from the margins
of which protruded numerous brown septate gemmae, some of which were
forked or branched ; these were known to the old bryologists as ‘‘ Con-
ferva Orthotrichi,’”’ and they resemble some of the Conferva such as
Stigonema minuta and others. Kecent researches prove them to be
adventitious protonema, and simply the asexual mode of reproduction in
a moss which is rarely found in fruit on-account of its dioecious character.
The specimens were collected recently in the Co, Wicklow, at an eleva-
tion of more than 1,000 feet, growing on the bark of Oak trees. The exhibit
under a high power showed the early stage of cell-division ; the cells are
mostly bi-nucleated, and growth takes place. outwards from the margin
of the leaves into broad tubes which become septate as they grow. A
further. stage was shown where the gemmae were more matured, some
of them forked in the first stage of branching, and highly coloured ;
these, under favourable conditions, would produce young plants with leafy
stems, which in their turn might bear either male or female fruit, or revert
again to the asexual mode, ana so carry on the life-history. Two ex-
cellent micro-photographs were shown of the specimens exhibited, taken
by Mr. Gunn, and mounted specimens of the moss to show the growth of
the plant. Though evenly distributed in this country, it is rarely found
in fruit ; once it has been seen in that state at Westaston, Co. Wicklow.
It is also found in Great Britain, Germany, and North America; curious
to relate the American plants are almost always without the remarkable
protonemoid gemmae so characteristic in British and Irish plants.

NOTES.
BOTANY.

Leptoglossum robustum, an American fungus new to
Europe.

On December 14, on the top of Montpelier Hill, Co. Dublin, a few
hundred yards south of the ruined shooting-lodge (1,200 feet elevation), I
found several patches of a Geoglossum, which in its shape, robust tufted
habit, and brown colour looked unfamiliar. I sent the plant to Mr.
A. D. Cotton, of Kew, who replies :—“ It is Leptoglossum vobustum Sacc.
(= Corynetes rvobustus, Durand) described by Durand in 1908 from several
localities in U.S.A, It differs from L. atropurpureum in its more robust

50 The Irish Naturalist. February.

caespitose habit, larger spores, and absence of-an epithecium. It is an
addition to the flora of the British Isles, and has not as far as I know
been recorded for Europe. Durand made a very thorough study of the
Geoglossaceae, mastering first the specimens in European herbaria, and
then collecting diligently in his own country, where he discovered several
new things. We found Microglossum avrenosuim in Scotland last year
(first British record) and doubtless other species would turn up if they
were properly searched for. They are rather late in appearing, and all
look much alike externally. I give you Saccardo’s name, not because
I disapprove of Durand’s classification, but because it is in agreement
with that customary in Europe.”

Dublin. R. LLrovp PRAEGER.
ZOOLOGY.
Spilocryptus fumipennis in Co. Donegal.

I wrote to Mr. G. Meade Waldo of the British Museum, asking for
information about a cocoon, found on the mountains not far from here,
which contained within itself other cocoons and the remains of an un-
fortunate caterpillar of the ‘‘ Emperor’’ Moth (Saturnia pavonia). Mr.
Waldo informs me that the small cocoons are those of the ichneumon
fly Spilocryptus fumipennis, Grav., whose larvae feed within the cater-
pillar ‘“‘ after the custom of all such parasites, avoiding the vitals of the
host. In this way a number of the ichneumon larvae can live in the
the large ‘Emperor’ caterpillar without killing it until it has com-
pleted its cocoon, only putting an end to its existence when they are
ready to spin cocoons and pupate themselves.’

Coxtown, Bridgetown, Co. Donegal. GERTRUDE TURNER.

Catoptria aspidiscana Hb., at Ardrahan, Co. Galway.

This Tortrix has been added to the list of Irish Moths by Mr. Jas. W.
Corder, of Ambleside, who writes to me that he took a fine pair of this
very local and usually scarce moth at Ardrahan on the 31st May last
year. The specimens were subsequently compared with a series in Mr.
John Gardner’s collection at Hartlepool, and identified without doubt.

Drumreaske, Monaghan. Wo. F. DE VISMES KANE,

Wanderings of a Black-headed Gull.

A Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) was captured about December
28th, 1913, by a ploughman on an adjoining farm. It was ringed on
May 17th at Ravenglass, Cumberland, as a nestling with one of Mr.
Witherby’s rings—No. 28686.

Fassaroe, Bray. R. M. BARRINGTON,

IQA. Notes. oti

Waxwing in Co. Tyrone.

Mr. Henry Wilson sent me a Waxwing, Ampelis garrulus, shot on
Christmas Day (1913) at Stuart Hall, Co. Tyrone. The bird, which
on dissection proved to be a male, weighed exactly 2 ounces. This is
the first recorded instance of this species having been observed in Co.
Tyrone.

Hillsborough, Co. Down. NEVIN H. FOSTER.

REVIEWS.
INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS.

The Life—-story of Insects, By Gro. H. CARPENTER. Pp. 134, with
illustrations. Cambridge: University Press, i910. Price Is. net.

This little book is one of the most recent of the excellent series of
popular Cambridge Manuals of which no fewer than eighty volumes have
already appeared. Professor Carpenter must have had a most difficult
task in compressing the essential points of so vast a subject within the
limits of a book of this size. It is evident that his practical experience
of the problems of insect life has not failed him in the successful accomp-
lishment of the task. In nine clearly written chapters, the author reviews
the life-histories of the various orders of insects, with special reference
to their wonderful transformations. In the chapter ‘‘ From Water to
Air,’”’ there is an excellent and well-illustrated account of the changes in
the life of a typical dragon-fly, and the chapters dealing with larvae and
pupae of metabolic insects are also of great interest.

The weird question as to whether we should regard the larval stage in
the higher insect groups as an indication of the worm-like nature of their
ancestors, or as an evidence of divergent evolution, is treated at some length
The author believes, with the majority of students, that ‘‘ whatever differ-
ences of opinion may prevail on points of detail, the general explanation
of insect metamorphosis as the result of divergent evolution in the two
active stages of the life-story must assuredly be accepted.”’

In connection with the development of the insect wing, we should
prefer the use of the word “‘ ingrowth ’”’ to ‘“‘ inpushing’”’ where invagi-
nation is understood. Another small point is that the use of English
names for the various leg-segments is scarcely an improvement on the
generally accepted Latin terms. We have failed to find a single misprint
in the book, which is printed in the clear type of the series, and is excellently
illustrated. Some of these drawings originally appeared in Professor
Carpenter’s useful economic reports on Irish insect pests.

J. N. H,

52 The lrish Naturalist. February, 1914.

A HISTORY OF SHELLFISH.

The Life of the Mollusca: By B. B. Woopwarp. Pp. 158, with
illustrations. London: Methuen & Co., 1913. Price 6s.

“This volume gives a popular but accurate summary oi what is known.

concerning the ways, habits, and mode of life of this branch of the Animal
Kingdom, of which the snail, the oyster, and the cuttlefish are familiar
examples.’’ Thus reads the inscription on the cover of Mr. Woodward’s
book, and our expectations are not disappointed on its perusal. ‘The
Mollusks, which comprise upward of 50,000 living species, are of such
economic value, we are brought into contact.with them in so many ways,
and they possess such varied attributes, that a work like Mr. Woodward’s
is sure to attract a good deal of pubhe attention. When we read of one
kind of Mollusk possessing 750,000 teeth, that another lays at one time
one hundred_ million eggs, while some have thousands of eyes scattered
over their bodies, one wonders how it is that these creatures have not
made for themselves a greater reputation, and have not gained a more
important position in the Animal Kingdom. The subject discussed by

Mr. .Woodward is a fascinating one. He has done his best to make

himself understood by the ordinary reader, and yet certain chapters, such
as those on Classification and Reproduction, might perhaps have been
written in a lighter strain. The chapter on Evolution is an excellent
piece of work, with which no fault could be found. A few remarks will
probably fail to enlighten the ordinary reader, for instance (p. 13) that
the Chaetopoda, Gephyrea, Rotifera, Bryozoa, and Brachiopoda belong
to the same division of the Animal Kingdom as the Mollusca, while his
description of the organs of defence among the Aecolididae (p. 123) is apt
to give the impression that these Mollusks are actually furnished with
formidable stinging cells of the type of those found in the jelly-fishes. As
a. matter of fact the stinging cells in those sea-slugs seem to be merely
derived from the jelly-fish on which they feed, and they form no part of
the molluscan anatomy. Under the heading of “ Uses”’ of Mollusks,
Mr. Woodward quotes (p. 144) a few prices given for rare shells, and
remarks that of late years the highest sum spent on a single shell was
£55: paid by the British Museum for a Pleurotomaria. He fails to tell
us that this was quite a cheap bargain for the British Museum. The
same species has fetched £175 in Berlin, while a good Conus gloriamaris
realised £75 in Germany. Mr, Woodward’s little book is free from mis-
prints, and has an excellent index. It is a thoroughly trustworthy
work, and most of it is easily understood by those unacquainted with
the subject, so that there need be no hesitation in recommending it ta
all who require a good elementary treatise,

. ha Fe,

WILLIAMS & SOW

Naturalists, Furriers, and Taxidermists,

2, DAME-STREET, DUBLIN,

Designers of the Life Groups in the National Museum, Kildare-street.

HEAD AND ANTLERS OF THE GREAT EXTINCT IRISH DEER, CEAVUS
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A MONTHLY MAGAZINE,
EDITED BY
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Vol. xxiii., No. 2. | February, 1914.

CONTENTS.

John Ponpiicwd Notes on- ue Land and Fresh-water Mol-

lusca.—A. W. SteiFox, MR.LA, ri as Bere:
On References by W. Leach to Irish Hous and Tien Seis

Shells. —A. W. STELFOx, M.R.LA, oe Fee ees
Helicigona lapicida 1 in Ireland.—R. A. pan eine M. R. 1 Pte oe
Coleoptera at Killarney.—O1niver E. Janson, F.E.S.,

The Natural Patoy of Planarians. —R. H. WHITEHOUSE, M. Sc. iS

IRISH pene :

Royal Zoological Society, he eee Teh Se aNE
Dublin Microscopical Club, a hee ae
NOTES:
Leptoglossum robustum, an Amierican Fungus new to Ireland.—R.
Lt. PRAEGER, . ee e. os
Spilveryptus fumipennis in rae Donegal.— Miss G. TURNER, =
ee aspidiscana at Ardrahan, Co. Galway.—W. F. ae Y. KANE,

Wanderings of a Black-headed Gull.— R. M. BARRINGTON, MAS
Waxwing in Co. Tyrone. - NEVIN H. FosrER, M.R.1.A., .

REVIEWS:
G. H. Carperter’s “ Life-story of Insects.”"—(J. N. H.), “te
BL. B. Woodward’s “ Life of the Mollusca.’’= (R. F. S.), ea

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March, IQI4. The lrish Naturalist. 53

FIELD NOTES ON THE FOLK-LORE OF
IRISH PLANTS AND ANIMALS.

BY NATHANIEL COLGAN, M.R.I.A.
(Read before the Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club, 11th February, 1913.)

Many of the papers read before this Club have been open
to the objection of being so solid or technical as to make
but a feeble appeal to a large section of the members, who
have never specialised in any particular branch of natural
history. The present disjointed notes are intended to
serve as a corrective. They will appeal, I hope, to even
the most unscientific members, and will point out to them
a line of research in which all can display their activity.
The plant and animal lore of the peasant if studied in the
field will be found to be of absorbing interest. Folk-
lore, no doubt, may be sneered at by a critic who adopts
the utilitarian standard; but that is a standard which
will never be accepted by this Club if I rightly understand
its sentiments, and I would go farther and say that many
of us will find in the very uselessness of this branch of
knowledge, one of its greatest attractions. If, again, the
various lines of research which we follow in the pursuit
of knowledge for its own sake be classed in accordance with
their difficulty and the amount and variety of the mental
energies which their prosecution demands, then it may
be easily shown that folk-lore by no means takes a low
place. !

The notes I now proceed to give are almost altogether
original in the sense that all of them have been jotted
down in the field, and but few of them have been published.
In my various tramps and scrambles in the Irish highlands
I have never let slip an opportunity of ‘‘ drawing” any
likely subject I came across in the glens and on the hill-
sides ; and by adopting an attitude of earnest discipleship,
by sitting at the feet of the wise men who condescended
to instruct my ignorance, I have succeeded in gleaning
many curious fragments of folk-lore. It is refreshing to
enter in this way into minds stored with unwritten wisdom
and unwisdom, links in a long chain of oral tradition binding
together distant ages and diverse races of men.

A

54 The Irish Naturalist. March,

PLANT LORE.

To come to the immediate subject of these notes, and
dealing first of all with plants, much of the material may be
-onveniently arranged so as to illustrate two beliefs or
doctrines which appear to be widely prevalent in Ireland.
The first may be called the doctrine of TRANSMOGRIFICA-
TION OF SPECIES, the second the doctrine of SEXES IN
PLANTS, a doctrine far older than and utterly distinct
from the Sexual System of Linnaeus.

In accordance with the Transmogrification Doctrine,
which anticipates and in audacity far surpasses the Mutation
or Discontinuous Variation theory of De Vries, a species
is held to have an innate capacity, within the life-time
of a single individual, of producing another species belonging
to a distinct genus or even to a distinct Order or Class. The
new species is usually held, and not unjustly, to be the
old species gone wild. For instance, at Feenone between
Louisburgh and the Killary, in 1911, a man pointed me
out the Royal Fern, and said, ‘* We call them Wild Rann-
yocks,” the Rannyock proper, the sane and steady Rann-
yock, being here, as everywhere in Gaelic Ireland, the
Common Bracken. Again, in Clare Island, Sparganium or the
Bur-Reed is held to be Wild Shellistring or Flagger. A
countryman near Kilbarrick, Co. Dublin, once assured me
that the common Centaurea mgra or Blackhead grew out
of the Plaintain or Ribwort, and, to cap these instances,
a farmer near Cocles Bridge at Garristown was quite
positive that a flowering plant of Angelica which I pointed
out to him in a ditch had originated in the Flaggers or
Yellow Iris that grew alongside.—‘‘ Sometimes ”’ he said,
‘“them Flaggers blossom out that-a-way ; more times
they don’t. Wild Flaggers they call them.” This last
informant, who was quite enthusiastic about plants, I came
across, or rather he followed me to see what I was at,
as I sought in vain for Rumex maritumus which once grew
along the slow stream or deep channel by which the old
Garristown Bog was drained. I was long puzzled by the
name ‘‘Cocles Bridge”? cut on a slab of the parapet of

1934. CoLGAN.—Folk-lore of Irish Plants and Animals. 55

the bridge which spans this stream, suggesting as it did
Horatius who kept the bridge in Macaulay’s Lay. I was
inclined on the whole to set it down as a joke of the County
Surveyor until I discovered that Coghill is a well-known
form of eel-trap or net often mentioned in Fishery Reports.
The bridge, no doubt, takes its name from the vicinity of
a favourite station for these Coghill or eel-traps.

My first acquaintance with the peculiar SEXUAL SYSTEM
in plants, which finds credence all over Ireland, was made
in rgoI, when botanizing and hunting for Gaelic plant-
names on Carlingford Mountain, above Omeath. Here I
was told of a He-Slanlus and a She-Slanlus, but unfor-
tunately had no time to procure samples of the two sexes.
Stn Lur, I need hardly say, perhaps, is the name current
almost throughout Ireland for the Common Ribwort or
Plantain.

Four years later, while driving from Skerries to the Man-
of-War, I came on the track of a He- and She-Bulkishawn,
or Ragweed. My informant was the car driver. The She-
Bulkishawn, he told me, was an ingredient in a famous
horse medicine, which appeared to be quite as potent as
Don Quixote’s Balsam of Fierabras, and far more complex
in its constitution. No less than twelve “‘ erribs” went to
the brewing of this medicine. There was Garlic and Fether-
few, and Yarrow and Broom, and He-Bulkishawn and
She-Bulkishawn, and six other “‘ erribs,’’ he disremembered
the names, but the She-Bulkishawn was the best of them.
He wouldn’t say himself that all the twelve ‘‘ erribs ”’ were
indispensable, but I gathered from him that not even the
most advanced thinkers would venture to omit any of
them. ‘‘ What is the She-Bulkishawn like ?” I inquired.
‘‘Oh,” he answered, ‘‘ it’s something like the He-Bulkishawn,
the Ragweed that grows everywhere, but it hasn’t any
flowers and it’s a sight harder to find.’ He was instructed
to keep a sharp look-out for her, and, finally, as we
approached Balrothery, he stood up and, pointing eagerly
with his whip to a tuft of the Common Tansy growing on a
roadside bank near a field gate, cried out—‘‘ There she is !””

A2

56 The [rish Naturalist. March,

In Clare Island, in 1910, I made the acquaintance of a
He- and She-Arctium, or Burdock, a Cpéo4n fipeann
and a Cpdévdn vinnean. But these two sexes were not
assigned to plants of different genera, as in the case of the
Datcaipedn, but to different states of the same plant, the
Cysvdn fipednn being the fruiting plant, the C. binnesn the
plant with large base-leaves before the fruiting stem has
shot up. There was a cure in this plant, but it was only

found in the Cpéodn binnean. Next year, on the opposite

mainland, at Carrowmore and Bunowen, I again came on
the He- and She-Crawdhawn, and farther on along the
coast, at Roonah, encountered a He- and She-Nyanthoge,
or Nettle, a Neantos fipeann anda N. binnean. I failed to
get specimens of the two Nyanthoges, but was told that
the She-Nyanthoge was a kind plant, while the He was a
coarse, stinging one.

All endeavours to arrive at any fixed principle under-
lying this sexual system are as fruitless as endeavours have
hitherto been to find an absolute standard of human con-
duct. This much alone is certain, that in the folk botany
of Ireland a male and female element is recognised, as in all
systems of morality there is a recognition of a right and
wrong. This folk idea of a sexual system in plants is
obviously no echo of modern scientific doctrine. It is, no
doubt, the outcome of a primitive analogical instinct which
has urged man in all ages to expect to find and to seek
for in the plant world distinctions parallel to those which
daily impress themselves upon him in the animal world.
The working of this instinct may be traced far back in
human history ; and we still have with us a few survivals
in such names as Male Pimpernel and Male Fern. For us,
however, these are but petrifactions of thought and language.
The spirit is gone from them, while the names given by the
Gaelic peasant to his male and female plants are the
expression of a living belief.

THE ELDER, OR BorE TREE.—In Gaelic Ireland this is
usually known as the’ Trom or Tromaun, but in some parts
of the west and in the north the name common in the Scotch
lowlands and in the northern counties of England, variously

a —

¥ é
aes ae ee ee. ee —

i914. Corcan.—Folk-lore of Lrish Plants and Animals. 57

pronounced Bo-three, Bore Tree, or Bottry, is used. In
Fast Ireland, Elder is’ the name: generally used... The
reputation of this tree or shrub is uncertain. Though
credited with an extraordinary number and variety of
medical virtues, including the cure of rheumatism by merely
carrying on the person a branch of the tree, it has in many
places an evil repute and is said to be the tree on which
Judas hanged himself. The grimmest belief associated with
the tree is one I met with in Co. Dublin, near Baldongan.
I was driving here one day with the carman who introduced
me to the She-Bulkishawn, when we passed a clump ot
Elder in a hedge. ‘‘ What do you call that tree ?’’ I asked
ithe aai@h thats oohe Elder Tuft?’, he; answered. | “* It’s
a bad thing to give a man a scelp of that. If you do, his
hand’ll grow out of his grave.”

THE House Lrex.—We are all familiar with the
appearance of this plant on cottage roofs, and with the
belief that it preserves the house from lightning and fire.
This belief is an old one. Sir Thomas Browne mentions it in
his Garden of Cyrus, published in 1658. How to secure
the full benefit of the plant is not sufficiently well known.
It was in 1897, when botanizing in Glen Inagh, in Conne-
mara, where the plant is known as Duacailt a Tige, or the
Boy of the House, that I first learnt how to make use of the
plant. I was told that it had no effect at all in protecting
a house unless it had been stolen from the previous owner,
or, at all events, taken without his knowledge. If you were
made a present of the plant it wasn’t a bit of good.

ANIMAL LORE.

Passing from these random notes on the folk-lore of
plants, I come to the second division, that dealing with
animals. My examples are taken chiefly from marine
zoology, and the first, the Common Star-fish, Uvaster
vubens of science, suggests an interesting linguistic problem.
On the Dublin coast at Skerries this species is commonly
known by the Gaelic name Cpordén, while some twenty
miles south, at Dalkey, in the same county it is known as
the Cporos. Why is the affix or termination an changed

58 The Irish Naturalist. March,

into og as one passes south? The phenomenon is not an
isolated one. It recurs again at Clare Island, where the
Common Periwinkle is known as the faoédn, while on the
opposite coast, at Achill Sound, some four miles distant,
it becomes the f4ocos. Similarly, among plants the Bilberry,
known as fyp4océn in Dublin and Kerry, takes on the name
Lpaocos in Mayo. This is a problem I must leave to
Gaelic scholars to solve.

We are all of us familiar with the JELLY FISH, which in
the summer months often swarm in our inshore waters and
from time to time are found stranded on our beaches.
When dredging off Rush one day, some five or six years
ago, a large specimen of the species Rizzostoma pulmo went
wobbling past our boat. ‘‘ What do you call that ?” I
asked the boatman. ‘‘ Oh, that’s the Sun Jelly. We call
them Swalders.”’ At Howth, again, I found the same name
‘* Swalders ”’ in use among the fishermen, while at Kings-
town it became altered and shortened to Squalls, very large
specimens being called ‘‘ Parliament Men,” why I could not
discover, and can only surmise that it was suggested by
their invertebrate inconsistency. Now the name Swalders is
an old East English name for the Jelly-fish, which has been
somehow imported into East Ireland. Sir Thomas Browne
used it some 250 years ago in a slightly altered form in’the
following passage :—‘‘ Stellae marinae, or Sea Stars, in great
plenty about Yarmouth. Whether it be bred out of the
Urticus, Squalders, or Sea Jellies, as many report, we cannot
affirm ; but the Squalders in the middle seem to have some
lines or first draughts not unlike.”

The true BARNACLE, Lepas anatifera, is occasionally cast
up on our shores. In September, 1911, while exploring
the coast from Roonah towards the Killary, I came across
a fine bunch stranded near Roonah Lake. Two countrymen
who happened to be close by gathering seaweed gave me
the native name as Siupds. I was unable, however, to
draw from them any views as to the nature of the animal.
We all know the old belief associated with this pelagic cirri-
pede and preserved in its specific name, the belief that it
gives birth to the Barnacle Goose. A very circumstantial

i914. CoriGan.—Folk-lore of Irish Plants and Animals 59

account of the metamorphosis is given by Giraldus Cam-
brensis in his famous 12th century ‘‘ Topography of Ireland,”
where he tells us he has seen with his own eyes more than
1,000 embryos of birds of this species on the sea shore. He
does not approve of bishops and men of religion eating these
geese on fast days on the plea that their fishy origin takes
them out of the category of flesh. Giraldus does not object
on the ground that he holds the origin of these geese to be
‘‘fishy’’’? in the modern slang sense of that term. He
accepts the marine origin of the geese as fully proved, but
maintains, nevertheless, that the geese are flesh.

On this same coast, beyond Roonah, where Inishturk,
Caher and Clare Island open out so grandly across the great
smooth rollers on a fine day, I found the boys had distinctive
names for the Cormorant and the Shag, Caitleac Oud for
the first and Cperdn for the second, while the Common
Limpet or Patella known here, as it is all round the Irish
coasts, by the name Uaipnesc, was firmly believed to
develop out of the Acorn-shell or Balanus which studs the
rocks. The same opinion is held at Loughshinny, on the
Dublin coast.

I have already claimed the attention of my hearers so
long that I refrain from further reference to the folk-lore
of Irish animals known to science, so that I may have a few
minutes left to devote to some of our animals which still
await scientific description and nomination. There is
reason to believe that these enjoy no more than a subjective
existence. The first of these subjective animals, as we may
call them, is the CARRABUNCLE. It is an aquatic animal,
and the first reference I can find to it is a rather vague one
in Smith’s History of Kerry, published in 1756. Speaking of
the Killarney Lakes, Smith says:—‘‘ The common people here-
about have a strange, romantic notion of their seeing in fair
weather what they call a carbuncle at the bottom of the
lake in a particular part of it which they say is more than
60 fathoms deep.”” Smith, erroneously as I believe, assumes
this Carbuncle of the common people to be the precious
stone so named, and in a footnote expresses doubt as to
whether any such stone exists.

60 The Trish Natu alist. March

¢

The next reference to the ‘‘carrabuncle” is found nearly
30 years later in Mr. Henry Hart’s paper on the ‘‘ Plants
of some of the Mountain Ranges of Ireland,” published in
the R. I. Academy’s Proceedings for 1884. He there tells
us how a countryman who accompanied him on Brandon
Mountain in 1883 told him that in Lough Veagh, one of the
lakes under Brandon, the people get pearl shells. These
come off an enormous animal called the ‘‘ Carrabuncle”’
which is seen glittering like silver in the water at night. The
animal has gold and jewels and precious stones and shells
hanging on to it, and has never been caught. Hart hopes
that sometime a specimen will reach our National Museum.
(I am informed that it is still a desideratum in that fine
collection of Irish animals.)

On a visit paid to Brandon five years later, in 1888, I
had the good fortune to meet Hart’s informant on the
mountain side, and lost no time in ‘‘ sounding” him on the
subject of the Carrabuncle. He told me it was a kind of
snake that lived in Lough Geal, not L. Veagh, and made
the lake shine, and threw off shells with precious stones in
them. He never saw the Carrabuncle, but if you could only
catch it you would get some things of great value that
follow after it. On returning that night to Cloghane, where
we stayed in Connor’s small publichouse and lived on eggs,
griddle bread, and stewed cockles, Connor gave us further
information about the Carrabuncle. He had never seen
it himself, but had often heard tell of it. It was only seen
once in seven years and was “‘ like a cashk rowlin’ about
in the wather.”’ Mrs. Connor always thought the carra-
buncle was a fish, and she remembered men coming some
years before and getting pearls in the lakes and rivers,
‘out of them shells called breallacans.’ The Dpeattacin
is evidently Unto margaritifer. Dinneen gives the word in
his Dictionary, and explains it as ‘‘ a sort of oval shell-fish ””
without attempting to identify it. The next day the local
postman confirmed the existence of the Carrabuncle. It
lit up the whole lake, he said, and the pearls found in the
river that flowed out from Lough Geal came off the Carra-
buncle.

1914. CoLGAN.—Folk-lore of Trish Plants and Animals. 61

Lough Geal, or the Bright or White or Shining Lake, lies
at 360 feet under the spurs of Brandon on one’s left as one
descends Connor Hill to Cloghane. You catch sight of it
just as you pass on the right of the road the little Cum
Caoé, or Blind Glen, where lies the lonely tarn known as
Loé « Peotané, or the Pedlar’s Lake, which takes its name
from a pedlar who was murdered there many years ago.
Lough Geal is connected with a higher lough, Lough Duff,
and discharges by a stream which gathers all the waters from
the grand central cirque of Brandon, including those of
Lough Avoonane in Glanshanacuirp, before reaching the
sea at Cloghane. By Glanshanacuirp, the Glen of the Old
Dead Body, there hangs no doubt some tragic tale like the
story of the Pedlar’s Lake; but its memory had passed
away from the Cloghane folk, and the origin of the name
still remains for me a mystery.

To sum up, the Carrabuncle would seem to be a highly
developed form of the P1art, or great serpent or dragon,
which inhabits, or at all events ‘did inhabit in less sceptical
times than ours, many of our Irish lakes, as their names
suggest. There are at least two stations for the Jo1art in
Kerry, Loughnapiast, in the Kenmare peninsula, and
Cumeennapiast, high up in the Reeks. But if the aquatic
animal denoted by the name Carrabuncle be indigenous in
Ireland, at least as a subjective animal, its name (which is
apparently unknown to Gaeldom outside of the Kingdom
of Kerry) is obviously exotic. Whence, then, came this
name? The question seemed to me absolutely insoluble
until a year or so after my visit to Brandon, when reading
Wallace’s Travels on the River Amazon I came across a
curious reference to a South American ‘‘ Carrabuncle,”’
which, as the French would say, gave me furiously to
think. The reference occurs in the chapter on the aborigines
of the Amazon, where, discussing the legend of the female
warriors or amazons said to inhabit the upper reaches of
the great river, he says :—‘‘ I fear the story of the Amazons
must be placed with those of the Curipura, or Demon of the
Woods, and Carbunculo of the Upper Amazon and Peru.”
Here we have the Spanish and Portuguese word ‘“‘ Car-

A3

62 The lrish Naturalist. March:

bunculo”’ applied to what would appear to be a mysterious
aquatic animal, and the well-known fact that the Spaniards
had long-continued intercourse with south and south-west
Ireland suggested the possibility of working out an
interesting connection between Lough Geal and the remote
Amazon Valley. It might very well have been that some
of the followers of the intrepid Spanish conquistadores who
had fought in Peru had settled in, or at all events visited,
Kerry, and brought with them the name of the mystic
Amazonian ‘‘ Carbunculo.” Such a fine mouth-filling word
would have caught the fancy of the Kerryman and ousted the
less sonorous ]14fT.

Keen to follow up the scent, I at once wrote to Dr.
Wallace, asking for further particulars of the Carbunculo,
but he dashed my hopes by replying that he had forgotten
all about it, though he thought it likely that Mr. Bates,
his companion in much of his Amazon travels, would be
able to assist me. Mr. Bates, then Secretary of the Geo-
graphical Society, was written to, but with no better result.
He knew nothing about the Carbunculo, and had long since
ceased, as he told me, to take any interest in such things.
So the question still remains open and may be recommended
as an interesting one to engage the activities of any member
of this Club who may be in touch with the Jesuit missions
of the Upper Amazon. Sir Thomas Brown, discussing the
Carbuncle, the precious stone, not the inhabitant of Lough
Geal, says, in his Vulgar Errors, that most fascinating
treatise on Unnatural History :—‘‘ Whether a carbuncle
doth flame in the dark or shine like a coal, though generally
agreed on by common believers, is very much questioned
by many.”

This long-winded discussion of the ‘‘ Carrabuncle”’ is
given here as an admirable example of a folk-lore wild-goose
chase.

The next of my subjective animals is the €a¢ Uirse,
or the Water Horse. This appears to be quite a rare animal
in Ireland, though common in the Western Highlands of
Scotland, where the ‘‘ Carrabuncle” is unknown. Campbell
of Islay in his famous West Hishland Tales has much to say
about the @aé tipse, and tells us that descriptions of the

io14. Concan.—Ffolk-lore of [rish Plants and Animals. 63

animal given by Gaelic eye-witnesses are so minute and
circumstantial that English sportsmen looking for some-
thing to kill have gone in quest of it. Campbell himself
was fortunate enough to get a full description from a High-
land man who when out fowling one day caught sight of
the animal in a lonely loch. He waded out into the water,
hoping to get a shot at the monster, then seventy yards
distant, but failed. The animal disappeared, yet not so
quickly but that the Highland man had time to note that
its neck was 2 feet 11 inches long. Campbell regrets that
the Highland man had not taken his long bow with him on
this occasion instead of his fowling piece. If he had he
might have bagged the €s¢ Uirse.

I have only once come on the track of the €a¢ Uirse in
Ireland. It was in Connemara in 1897. I was out on Lough
Inagh one evening near nightfall dragging for [soetes echino-
spora from a boat rowed by my landlord, Joyce of Cloona-
cartan, and when returning (without the Jsoetes echinospora
but with an interesting variety, falcata, of the common
species) Joyce pointed me out a grassy land-spit running
into the lake where some years ago a friend of his had seen
the water-horse emerge from the lake. Having pranced
about and shaken his mane for a few seconds, the animal
returned with a mighty splash to his accustomed habitat.

MacDougall, in his Folk and Hero Tales of Argyle thus
endeavours to rationalise the @ac¢ Uirse :—‘* The Water
Horse, I believe, is nothing else than the personification of
the sudden blast of wind or whirlwind which sweeps over
the surface of the lakes of the winding glens of the highlands.
The whirlwind strikes the water suddenly, leaves behind it
a ripple like the wake of a living creature swimming beneath
the surface, and then, halting for a moment, raises a few
inches above the surface a dark crest of little waves which
bear a remote resemblance to the back and mane of such a
creature.’ This may very well have been the occasion of
individual appearances of the Water Horse, but no doubt
the existence in legend of the animal long ante-dated such
particular appearances. The idea of the animal, in fact,
must have been already in the mind of the observer when
the whirlwind brought the animal itself to his startled

64 ; The Lrish Naturalist. March,

vision’; and I am inclined to believe with Campbell of Islay
that the idea did not originate in the Highlands, but was
more probably inherited with modification from far distant
ages when water gods found a place in mythology.

Sandycove, Co. Dublin.

SOME IRISH ICHNEUMONOIDEA.
BY REV. W. F. JOHNSON, M.A., F.E.S.

I have managed during the past year to pick up a few
more of these interesting insects, though I did not meet
with as many species as I had hoped for.

The season was not a good one for insects as far as I
was concerned, probably on account of the great humidity
of19g12. Ihave, however, been fortunate enough to capture
some rare species, and among them some which Haliday
described from specimens taken in Ireland. As our
knowledge of the distribution of the sub-order in Ireland
is very meagre, and anything but complete in Great Britain,
the term ‘‘ rare’’ must be taken only as applying to our
present knowledge.

Most of my captures were made here, either in my fields,
or on the road between my house and Poyntzpass, the
latter locality being indicated by the word “‘ hill.”

I was greatly struck by the remarkable preference
shown by these insects for flowers of Umbelliferae. Though
there were other flowers the flies quite neglected them,
and congregated on the Umbelliferae. I have again to
thank Mr. Claude Morley, F.E.s., for kind help in the de-
termination of critical species.

ICHNEUMONINAE,

Cratichneumon rufifrons, Grav.—Poyntzpass hill in June.

C. fabricator, Fab.—Coolmore in September. These specimens, which are
males, appear to be referable to the var. impugnatoy, Wesm., with
the hind femora black.

IQT4. JOHNSON .— Some Lrish Ichneumonoidea. 65

C. annulator, Fab.—Poyntzpass hill in June.

Melanichneumon nudicoxa, Thoms.—Coolmore on the roadside, in Sep-
tember, rare; recorded on the Continent from Germany, France,
Spain, and Italy.

Barichneumon albicinctus, Grav.—Coolmore on Umbelliferae on the
roadside in September.

B. lepidus, Grav.—Coolmore on Umbelliferae in September.

Ichneumon sarcitorius, Linn.—Poyntzpass hill in May.

I. stramentarius, Grav.—Poyntzpass in fields at Angelica in August, not
common.

I. extensorius, Linn.—Carlingford under a large stone on a bank in July.

I. gracilentus, Wesm.—Coolmore on Umbelliterae, in September, rare.

I. primatorius, Forst.—A specimen of this fine fly was taken by Mr. L.
H. Bonaparte-Wyse at Tramore, Co. Waterford, in July.

I. caloscelis, Wesm.—Poyntzpass, in fields at Umbelliferae, in July.

Probolus alticola, Grav.—Poyntzpass hill in June.

Herpestomus brunnicornis, Grav.—Coolmore on sandhills at Umbelliferae,
in September.

Phaeogenes cephalotes, Wesm.—Poyntzpass hill in July, rare.

Colpognathus celerator, Grav. Poyntzpass, in fields at Angelica, in August.

Hemichneumon elongatus, Ratz.—Poyntzpass, at Angelica, in fields in
July and August, rare.

CRYPTINAE.

Cubocephalus fortipes, Grav.—Poyntzpass, in fields in July, rare ; recorded
from the New Forest and Devonshire.

C. brevicornis, Tasch.—Poyntzpass, at Angelica, in August, rare.

Microcryptus perspicillator, Grav.—Poyntzpass hill, in June.

M. graminicola, Grav.—Poyntzpass, at Angelica, in August.

Glyphichnemis profligator, Fab.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in August.

G. brevis, Grav.—Poyntzpass, in fields in August; Coolmore, at Um-
belliferae, in September.

Phygadeuon nitidus, Grav.—Coolmore, on roadside, in September.

P. fumator, Grav.—Coolmore, on the sandhills, in September.

Hemiteles cingulator, Grav.— Jerrettspass, on Umbelliferae at roadside, in
June.

H. similis, Gmel.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July.

H. ridibundus, Grav.—Coolmore, on roadside, in September.

Stilpnus gagates, Grav.—Poyntzpass hill, in June.

Atractodes compressus, Thoms.—Coolmore, on roadside, in September ;
taken by Haliday at Holywood, Co. Down.

Pyenocryptus peregrinator, Linn.—Poyntzpass hill, in June.

PIMPLIN AE.

Pimpla similis, Bridg.—Coolmore, on roadside, in September, rare ;
recorded from Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry.

66 The lish Naturalist. March,

Glypta elongata, Holmgr.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July, a variety with
black abdomen occurred.

G. fronticornis, Grav.—Poyntzpass, at Angelica, in August, rare.

G. genalis, Moll.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July, very rare. Mr. Morley
says :—‘‘ The only specimen I have seen is a female in Marshall’s
collection in the British Museuami; it is labelled by Billups—‘ From
Taentocampa miniosa Mr. Fenn ’—and on the same card is its own
transparent papyraceous cocoon, which is cylindrical and nearly
colourless.” [I took it at Coolmore, as already recorded, Ivish
Naturalist, xxii., p. 140. This species is remarkable for the peculiar
beak-like production of the face owing to the great length of the
cheeks.

G. annulata, Bridg.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July ; rare.

G. bifoveolata, Grav.—Coolmore, on roadside, in September.

Lissonota bellator, Grav.—Coolmore. I obtained a curious variety of
this common species with the areolet pentagonal.

L. errabunda, Holmgr. | | |
L. dubia, Holmgr. { Coolmore, in August, 1912, at Wild Carrot.

TRYPHONINAE,

Homocidus cinetus, Grav., var. lateralis, Thoms.—Poyntzpass hill, in
June. This variety has the three or four basal segments of the ab-
domen with the lateral angles alone pale. I also took a variety with
the abdomen entirely black.

H., tarsatorius, Pauz.—Poyntzpass hill, in June. A very widely distributed
species extending eastwards to India.

H. fissorius, Grav.—Poyntzpass hill, in June. Haliday’s MS. mentions
it as common in Ireland.

H. pictus, Grav.—Poyntzpass, hill, in June.

Promethus scutellaris, Bridg.—Poyntzpass, emerged on July 31st from
pupa on a blackberry leaf, which Mr. Morley tells me is that of a
Syrphid ; rare. Mr. Morley notes it from Surrey and Devon.

P. cognatus, Holmgr.—Poyntzpass, at Angelica, in August.

Mesoleius semicaligatus, Grav.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July and August

Tryphon trochanteratus, Holmgr.—-Poyntzpass, in field, in July.

Exenterus aurifluus, Hal.—Coolmore, on Umbelliferae, on roadside, in
September, rare. Haliday records it as occurring in Ireland on
willows from May to September. It has been taken at Enniscorthy
and at Louisburgh, but the only English locality given is the marshes
at Brandon, Suffolk, vide Morley, Brit. Ich., iv., p. 210.

Mesoleptus typhae, Fourc.—Poyntzpass, on Angelica, in August.

Euryproctus notatus, Grav.—Coolmore, on roadside, in September, Car-
lingford, in May.

Perilissus filicornis, Grav.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in August.

P. rufoniger, Grav., var. vernalis, Grav.—Jerrettspass, on Umbelliferae
on roadside, in June. This variety has the abdomen pale from apex
of first to base of fifth segments.

IgI4. Jounson.—Some Lrish Ichneumenotdea. 67

Polyblastus variitarsis, Grav.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July and in August,
at Angelica. This genus is remarkable as being the only one in which
the female carries the eggs or larvae extruded on the apex of her
abdomen. It is not yet clearly ascertained how long the eggs or
larvae remain with the female, nor how they are conveyed to their
host larva, which is said to be that of a Tenthredinid. Mr. Morley
suggests that ‘‘ in order to avoid individual death through the super-
abundance of their host's vitality, whole broods of these parasites
are deposited at once on their host larva.’ These eggs or larvae
are very curious-looking objects. I found some on a female that I
captured. They were somewhat oval in shape, about half a milli-
metre in length, and attached to the parent by a little peduncle,
while at the opposite extremity there was a thread-like process
projecting outwards. These objects had to me the appearance of
eggs, but, of course, being dead it is hard to be certain.

Erromenus punctulatus, Holmgr.—Poyntzpass, in fields, on Angelica, in
August ; rare.

OPHIONINAE.

Anomalon cerinops, Grav.—Muckross, Co. Kerry; taken by Mr. L. H.
B. Wyse in June.

Cymodusa leucocera, Holmgr.—-Coolmore, on roadside, in September.

Meloboris rufiventris, Grav.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July. Coolmore,
on roadside, in September.

Angitia fenestralis, Holmgr.—Coolmore, on a roadside in September.

BRACONIDAE.

Bracon variator, Nees.—Poyntzpass hill, in August.

B. osculator, Nees.—-Coolmore, on Umbelliferae, in September.

Microplitis medfana, Ruthe.—Poyntzpass, in August ; Belfast, in June.

M. globatus, Nees.—Poyntzpass, in fields, in July.

Microgaster tibialis, Nees.—Poyntzpass, on Angelica, in August.

Eubadizon flavipes, Hal.—Poyntzpass, on Angelica, in August: rare.
Rev. T. A. Marshall, in his ‘‘ Monograph of British Braconidae,’’
Trans. Ent.. Soc., 1889, p. 153, says ‘‘ Inhabits north Ireland but
rarely, Haliday ;”’ and mentions a single English specimen, “in
Fitch’s collection.”’

Diospilus oleraceus, Hal.—Coolmore, on umbelliferae on roadside, in
September. Taken by Haliday on Brassica Rapa and Sinapis nigra.

CYNIPIDAE.

Figites scutellaris, Rossi.—Poyntzpass, on Angelica, in August.
Amblynotus femoralis, Cam.—Poyntzpass, on Angelica, in August.

Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh.

68 The Trish Naturaltst. March,

COLEOPTERA FROM CAVAN AND MEATH.
BY G. W. NICHOLSON, M.A., M.D.

I spent the latter half of September, 1913, in Ireland,
and stayed at Cloverhill, Co. Cavan, from the 13th to the
22nd. I then went to Balrath, Co. Meath, where I re-
mained until the end of the month. I found many in-
teresting species of beetles in both placés, and propose
to give a list of these in the present paper. 2 walldiree
describe my County Cavan captures, and then those from
the County Meath.

t; COLEOPTERA AT -CLOVERHILD, “Con-CAvAN:

Nearly all my collecting was done around the shores of
the lakes in the demesne of Cloverhill House. I spent one
morning pulling moss in a wood 300 or 400 yards from the
house. I may note the following species :—Blethisa multi-
punctata, L.,common in very wet places at the edges of lakes;
Bembidium femoratum, Sturm., a few in a turf-bog; B.
v.-striatum, Gyll., one specimen under the bark of a log;
Badister sodalis, Duft., one in moss ; Pterostichus aterrimus,
Pk. : it was with great joy that I found a solitary female
of this exceedingly interesting species under a loose stone
on the extreme edge of one of the lakes in the demesne on
September 19th. This part of the lake is used as a
watering place by the cattle. | My impression is that this
specimen had been disturbed in its winter quarters, and had
taken refuge under this stone while in search of a fresh
hiding-place. Although I found an ideal swamp close by,
which swarmed with Blethisa, yet did diligent search
produce no more specimens of the Pterostichus either here
or in other very wet places around the lake. The
only other Irish record of this species is from the Co.
Cork,! where a few specimens, some of which are probably
in the Haliday collection, were taken in the thirties of last
century. In England it used to be common in _ the

Johnson and Halbert, Proc. Royal Irish Academy (3) vol. Vi., 1902, p. 571.

Pog A Pee Ma

i914. NICHOLSON.—Coleoptera from Cavan and Meath. 69

Cambridgeshire and Norfolk fens before they were drained,
but was supposed to be extinct until Professor Beare took
a specimen at Stalham, in Norfolk, in 1g10.' P. minor,
Gyll., not uncommon in wet places; Anchomenus gracilis,
Gyll., common by sweeping; A. puellus, Dej., common
on very marshy ground. Deronectes depressus, F.; Hy-
dvoporus umbrosus, Gyll., in moss by the side of a lake ;
Rhantus exoletus, Forst., in a ditch.

Omalium vile, Er., one in moss; O. caesum, Gr., several
specimens in a large fungus on an old elm; O. punctipenne,
Th., under the bark of a log; Actdota crenata, F., one in
moss in a wood ; Stenus fuscipes, Gr., S. carbonarius, Gyll.,
S. btfoveolatus, Gyll., in moss by the side of a lake (the
last two species have been already recorded from the Co.
Cavan, see Johnson and Halbert, /.c.) ; Evaesthetus rufica-
pillus, Lac., very plentiful in company with the preceding ;
Paederus riparius, L., not uncommon in hay-refuse ; Lath-
vobium quadratum, Pk., five specimens in moss by side of
lake; L. terminatum, Gr., plentiful with the preceding ;
Othius melanocephalus, Gr. ; O. myrmecophilus, Kies. ; Ac-
tobsus cinervascens, Gr., very common in swamps, and in
wet moss; Philonthus umbratilis, Gr., P. fumanus, Gr.,
by shores of lake; Staphylinus caesareus, Ceder.; S.
evythropterus, L.; Myllaena dubia, Gr., in damp moss ;
Oligota. inflata, Mann. ; Aleochara succtcola, Th.

Rybaxis sanguinea, L., very common in wet moss by
the side of a lake. Most of the specimens were somewhat
immature ; Bythinus bulbifer, Reich. ; B. validus, Aubé, two
specimens in moss in a wood; Pselaphus dresdensis, Hbst.,
two specimens by the side of a lake in a piece of moss that
had been scraped up by a rabbit. Although I devoted
considerable time in an attempt to find more of this species,
I was unsuccessful. Neuraphes elongatulus, Miill., one in
moss in a wood.

Choleva agilis, Ill., one in flood refuse; C. Wilkinz,
Spence, several in moss in a wood; Agathidium margina-

* Ent. Mo. Mag., xlvi., p. 281.

70 The lrish Natwi alist. March,

tum, Sturm., one ina fungus on an elm ; Sericoderus lateralis,
Gyll., with the preceding; Scaphisoma agaricinum, L.,
several in a boletus.

Octhebius pygmaeus, F.; Hydraena Brittent, Joy, in moss
by the side of a lake.

Cryptophagus scamcus, L., in profusion at the bottom
of haystacks, and in a fungus on an elm; in the latter
place I found four specimens of the var. patruelis, Sturm. ;
C. afimis, Sturm., together with the preceding ; Ephistemus
gyrinotdes, Marsh., in a Boletus ; Enicmus histrio, Joy: 1
took two specimens of this species, which I have recently
added to the Irish list,’ from a tuft of hay that was lying
ina meadow. I have no doubt that it is common in Ireland.
and confused with E. transversus, Ol. Cis mtidus, Hbst.,
common in a large Boletus; Parnus luridus, Er. (= P.
prolifericornis, Brit. Coll.) ina swamp ; Corymbites cupreus,
F., one specimen, which was hibernating, in a turf stack.
This is, in my experience, a very unusual time of year to
take the imago of this species.

Phyllodecta vulgatissima, L., by sweeping at edges of
lakes; _Phyllotreta exclamationis, Thunb., by sweeping ;
Mmoplila muscorum, Koch., a nice series from moss in a
wood.

Sciaphilus muricatus, F., in moss in a wood; in the
same spot I found several Liosoma ovatulum, Clair., and one
specimen of the var. collare, Rye; Hypera trilineata, Marsh,
in hay-refuse ; Anthonomus comart, Crotch, by sweeping.

2. COLEOPTERA AT BALRATH, Co. MEATH.

Although I have, during the last few years, worked this
locality pretty consistently on my visits to Ireland, I am
still constantly turning up new species here. I now have
great pleasure in bringing forward the following additions
to the Irish list :—

1. Quedius fulvicolis, Steph.—One specimen out of

* Ivish Naturalist, xxil., p. 49.

ee ee eee

a ae

1914. NICHOLSON.—Coleoplera from Cavan and Meath. 71

66 y)

very wet sphagnum on the ‘‘ Home Bog” on September
26th, and another on the next day within a couple of feet
of it.

2. Tachyporus transversalis, Gr.—Three specimens shaken
out of a large tuft of sphagnum on the ‘‘ Home Bog” on
September 27th.

3. Gyrophaena pulchella, Heer.—A short series from
some ground fungi under pine trees in the ‘‘Bog Wood”
on September 26th.

4. Ips. tv.—punctata, Hbst.—One from under a dead
squirrel in the ‘‘ Bog Wood” on September 26th.

5. Ceuthorrhynchus chalybaeus, Germ.—Three specimens
by sweeping Sisymbrium officinale on September 23rd.
If I had known at the time that this species is new to
Ireland, a fact which I did not discover until I had named
my specimens, I could, no doubt, have procured many
more.

In addition the following species deserve mention :—
Pristonychus terricola, Hbst., under the bark of a dead
Ash ; Hydroporus vittula, Er., not uncommon in a ditch;
Agabus affinis, Pk., three specimens in wet sphagnum on
the ‘‘ Home Bog” ; Omalium vile, Er., in plenty under the
bark of logs; Syntomium aeneum, Miill., one by sweeping
on the ‘‘ Home Bog”’; Actobius cinerascens, Gr., a few in
sphagnum ; Philonthus mgrita, Nord., several in sphagnum
on the ‘‘ Home Bog”’ ; Staphylinus erythropterus, L., I had
never met with this species here before; Mycetoporus
lepbidus, Gr., one by sweeping ; Hygronoma dimidiata, Gr.,
not uncommon by sweeping over very damp places on
the ‘‘ Home Bog’”’; here also I secured a nice series of
Gymnusa brevicollis, Pk., both by sweeping and by wringing
out the wettest sphagnum I could find.

Epuraea obsoleta, F., in a Boletus on an Ash-stump ;
together with it there occurred Rhizophagus perforatus, Er. ;
Cryptophagus setulosus, Stm., by sifting pine-needles ;
Ephistemus gyrinoides, Marsh., common in some fungi.

Phyllotreta exclamationis, Thunb., by sweeping ; Longz-
tarsus holsaticus, L., an occasional specimen by sweeping

72 The Irish Naturalist. March,

on the ‘‘ Home Bog”; Cassida vibex, L.; one in the same
place, by sweeping.

Hypera polygon, L., one in wet sphagnum; Ceutor-
rhynchus floralis, Pk., common; Poophagus sisymbrit, F.,
abundant on Nasturtium ; Ovobitis cyaneus, L., in moss ;
Anthonomus comari, Crotch, by sweeping ; Apion haema-
todes, Kirby ; A. Gyllenhali, Kirby, by sweeping.

Oxford and Cambridge Club, London, S.W.

NOTES.

BOTANY.
Amblystegium Kochii in Ireland.

[ have found this mass growing in small quantity, in a marsh adjoining
one of the lakes, near Kilrea. A specimen has been sent to Mr. H. N.
Dixon, who has kindly verified its identification.

J. °D.. Houston,
Kilrea,

ZOOLOGY.

Waxwings in Ireland.

The incursion of Waxwings (A mpelis gavrulus) which has been recorded
from many parts of England—beginning about November 1oth—has also
extended in a lesser degree to Ireland. Mr. Foster has recorded one from
Tyrone, and on January 20th Mr. Thomas Plunkett, of Enniskillen, kindly
sent me a specimen killed (shot) near Blaney Bay, Lough Erne, Co. Fer-
managh. These incursions of Waxwings have lately occurred in Ireland
at intervals of ten years, 7.e., winters 1893-4, 1903-4, 1913-14. If we
omit the records for these years, there would appear to be only about six
occurrences in Ireland since the fifties of the last century. East Prussia
has also been invaded by Waxwings this winter.

ROBERT M. BARRINGTON.
Fassaroe, Bray.

Waxwing in County Fermanagh.

The ‘‘ Nature Notes’”’ column of the Northern Whig, of 31st January,
1914, records the capture of a Waxwing near Ely Lodge, Lower Lough
Erne, ‘‘ about a fortnight ago,’’ This is the first record of this species from
Co. Fermanagh,

iota. Trish Societies. 93

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

JANUARY 28.—ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING was held at Leinster House,
Sir C. Bat (President) in the Chair. The Secretary (Prof. CARPENTER)
submitted the Annual Report and moved its adoption.

The statistics of attendance of Members and Visitors at the Zoological
Gardens during 1913 (162,618) show a rather considerable decrease when
compared with those of 1912 (185,265). The decrease of £133 in gate
money, as compared with 1912, is more than counterbalanced by the
increase of £180 in Members’ entrance fees and subscriptions. The falling
off in the numbers of visitors was due to the labour troubles in Dublin
and the partial dislocation of the tramway service during August—usually
one of the most profitable months in the year. The large influx of new
members during 1913 justifies abundantly the Council’s action a year
ago in proposing an extension of the members’ privileges. It is especially
gratifying to record the election of twenty five new Life Members, twice
as many as joined the Society during 1912.

With the deepest regret will members of the Society miss one most
distinguished name from the list of Past Presidents, for in November,
1913, Sir Robert S. Ball, F.R.S. died. Like his father and brothers, he
took for many years a great interest in the Society, serving on its Council
from 1874 till 1902, and holding the position of President from 1go1 until
he resigned the Royal Astronomership of Ireland to become Lowndean
Professor at Cambridge in the next year. His love for the Royal Zoological
Society and his interest in its welfare and progress were true and sustained ;
whenever he revisited Dublin he was a welcome attendant at the Council,
whose members all realise that in his passing hence another link is severed
with the group of great Victorian men of science who worked hard and
faithfully for the Society.

The year 1913 has also brought a much felt loss to the Society in the
death of Patrick Supple, the faithful and devoted keeper of the Monkey
House, who had worked in the Zoological Gardens for more than fifty
years. The unwearying care which he bestowed on the creatures under
his charge were known to all, and he leaves a memory of willing and
efficient service which the Council warmly appreciate. It is interesting
to note that he came into the Gardens as a boy helping his father, and
that he is now succeeded by his son, John Supple, whom he had himself
trained as his assistant.

The Hon. Walter Rothschild’s great Chimpanzee, “‘ Tom,” continues
in excellent health, and his temper shows some improvement since he
first became an inmate of the Monkey House. Two smaller Chimpanzees
were purchased during the year; the male, unfortunately, died in
December, but the female is still lively and well. <A very attractive pair
of Orang-utans were also bought; both remained well and cheerful for
the greater part of the year, but in the last week of December the female
died. These losses are much regretted by the Council, as 1s also the death

74 The Irish Naturalist. March,

of the Hoolock Gibbon generously given in igiz by D. J. M. Falkiner.
Several deaths of smaller monkeys have taken place, including one of the
Vervets on deposit from the King’s African Collection, and a Red Howler,
which lived only for a few weeks in the Collection. Among gifts a fine
Yellow Baboon from Captain Furnell is noteworthy. Our collection of
Lemurs is still extensive, and a beautiful specimen of the curious Aye-aye
from Madagascar, very rarely seen alive in Europe, was purchased early
in the year, and is still in excellent health. It feeds freely on soaked
cake, which it slowly collects with the long and slender third finger, whose
normal function is to pick succulent grubs out of timber.

The famous collection of Lions has been well maintained during the
year, the only death being the first cub of ‘‘ Conn” and “ Mitze,’’ born—
a solitary female—in March, and dying the day after her birth. In August
the same pair had two healthy cubs—male and female—which are doing
well. Two families of cubs were born at the beginning and the end of the
year respectively, “‘ Red Hugh” and “ Nigeria’’ being the parents. On
January 22nd there were three males and two females, and on December
25th a litter of one male and three females. The very valuable gift of a
pair of wild West African cubs was received from Lieutenant Ackland,R.N.
These handsome animals, on arrival, were remarkable for the sleek texture
and deep brown colour of their hair; after a few months’ residence in the
Lion House the coats became paler and somewhat more furry. As usual,
some of the stock has been exported during the year. The young Lioness,
““ Dido II.,’’ and a pair of the “‘ Red Hugh ’’—“ Maive”’ cubs (born in
1912) were sold. The other pair of the same litter were selected for pre-
sentation to the newly-established Zoological Park at Edinburgh. This
gift was made with special acknowledgment to the invaluable services
rendered to the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland by one of Edinburgh’s
most distinguished men of science—the late D. J.‘Cunningham. From
the five “‘ Red Hugh ’’—“ Nigeria’ cubs born in January, 1913, a pair
were sent to the Toronto Zoological Gardens in exchange for Beavers.

The stock of Lions now stands at twenty-three—twelve males and
eleven females.

A serious loss has been sustained by the death of the Tiger “‘ Rajah,”
which the Nizam of Hyderabad gave to the Society in 1900. A splendid
tame Cheetah, given and personally brought home by Captain H. C.
Dobbs, is a most welcome addition, as it is many years since one of these
interesting beasts was on view in Dublin. The Council would record
their warm thanks also to Major Kirkpatrick, who secured a pair of Snow
Leopards from the Himalaya, and presented them to the Society; un-
fortunately these valuable animals both died before their shipment from
India had been arranged. The collection of Pumas has increased, as three
handsome and healthy cubs were born in August. The birth of six more
Dingo puppies is also worthy of record. One of the young Pumas has been
exchanged for a Himalayan Bear, and a very tame and lively Brown Bear
—‘‘ Nelson’’ by name—was received as a gift from Messrs. Wallis, of
London. A young Sea-lion was bought during the year,

19i4. Trish Societies. 45

The female Indian Elephant, “‘ Roma,” purchased in 1912, continues
in good health and has grown to a fair size. The Council are deeply grateful
to the Maharajah of Mysore for generously giving a young female, three
years old, “‘ Sandari’’ by name, and sending an Indian keeper to Dublin
in charge of her. She is a docile and healthy animal, remarkable for the
rich growth of hair still apparent on head and back. The Maharajah
gratified the Society by accepting its gold medal.

Among the hoofed animals, the pair of Bison—offered to the Society
by the Government of the Dominion of Canada in a letter from the late
Lord Strathcona, and brought to Dublin late in August under the super-
intendence of Mr. Maxwell Graham—form a most welcome and valuable
addition to the collection. It is eleven years since an American Bison
was on view in Dublin. The pair now acquired come from the large herd
kept by the Canadian Government on the extensive park near Banff,
Alberta. The warmest thanks of the Society are due for this generous
gift, the transport of which was kindly facilitated by the Canadian Pacific
kailway and the “‘ Head’”’ Line of steamships, by which the animals were
conveyed safely and at a reduced freight direct from Montreal to the
Liffey. Another noteworthy event of the year was the birth in August
of a second Grant-Burchell Zebra male foal ; like the previous hybrid off- |
spring of the same parents, this specimen’s richly striped coat resembles
that of the father (Grant’s Zebra) rather than that of the mother(Burchell’s
Zebra). The month of December brought two serious losses to the collec-
tion of Ungulates in the death of the Brindled Gnu, the gift of the Duke
of Bedford, which had lived in the Gardens since 1905; and of the
Dromedary.

From the Zoological Gardens of Toronto six Canadian Beavers were
sent in the summer in exchange, as mentioned already, for a pair of Dublin
Lion-cubs. One of the Beavers died on the voyage, two others quickly
after their arrival in June, and two more in the succeeding month, so that
only one now survives. He finds satisfactory quarters in the end com-
partment of the Seal Pond, where a house-box and a number of logs have
been provided for his use. Several Squirrels of different species have been
acquired during the year, including a group of ten American Grey
Squirrels, for which a small enclosure near the Nesbitt Aviary has been
made. Three Tree Porcupines were bought, and in June a young one was
born in a new open-air cage beneath the Haughton House. But,
unfortunately, all these died: before the close of the year. The Hairy
Armadillos are still the only representatives of the Edentata in the collec-
tion. In October Mr. H. B. Rathborne kindly presented a Tamandua
Ant-eater, but it survived only a few weeks. Another pair of Black-tailed
Wallabies were born in March but one of the older females has since died.

The stock of larger Birds has been replenished by the purchase of a pair
of Flamingoes and a pair of Storks. Three young Rheas were hatched in
the spring, and the White Swans reared nine cygnets. The pair of Black-
necked Swans on the upper pond brought out two cygnets, which promised
remarkably well for a few weeks, and then, unhappily, died. The most

76 ; The Lrish Naturalist. March,

serious loss among the Birds was the death of the South American Cariama
given by Sir Robert Casement. Little has to be recorded of the collection
of cold-blooded creatures. The two Tuataras from New Zealand still form
the most noteworthy feature among the Reptiles, and the Axolotls con-
tinue to breed freely. The first season of operations in the Fish Hatchery
has passed with considerable success. The Fisheries Office gave 10,000 ova
of the American Rainbow Trout, among which there was heavy mortality,
but enough fry survived to stock well, with the addition of grown fish
‘ given by Mr. F. C. Stenning, the large fish-pond and some of the aquarium
tanks. The Brown Trout and Salmon ova given by the Department
throve well; only among the undeveloped salmon eggs received in
December, 1912, was there any considerable mortality. At the end of
the hatching season 20,000 salmon fry and 1,000 Brown Trout fry were
handed over to the Riparian Owners of the Liffey.

The improvements to the Haughton House were successfully com-
pleted by mid-summer of the past year, and the whole outside of the
House has been repainted. The enlarged Members’ Room has proved
very popular with those privileged to use it; while the increased size
of the kitchen and the provision of a new store-room, make the work
of the staff far easier than formerly. In consequence of the extension
of the whole width of the upper floor of the building, 10 ft. towards
the north, a spacious covered area has been made available for the use
of large parties visiting the Gardens. And the additional open-air
cages beneath the extended balcony have been well occupied.

Small, but important and necessary, pieces of work carried out during
the year have been the construction of a new roof and the installation of
new heating apparatus for the Elephant House at a cost of £60, and the
erection of several small dens for bears and other Carnivora on the area
behind the Seal Pond. A larger den, open for the most part to the air, for
the Brown Bear, “‘ Nelson,’ now rapidly growing, will be undertaken
immediately. A large paddock for the newly-arrived Canadian Bison
has been enclosed in front of the Hospital and close to the entrance gate.
Into this paddock the Bison were readily turned out from the small
isolation pen to which they had been confined after their arrival, and
the animals much appreciate their comparative liberty.

Foreseeing the need of increased space in the future, and the desirability
of exhibiting animals, whenever possible, in large paddocks rather than in
confined pens, the Council has requested the Commissioners of Public
Works to take into favourable consideration the possibility of granting an
extension of land to the Society on the north side of the Gardens. Such
an extension would bring the Garden boundary close to the road passing
the Constabulary Depot—a road which runs at the extreme edge of the
Park, and is virtually a public thoroughfare, so that from it a sight of
many animals in the Gardens might be obtained by passers-by. An
extension of the Phoenix Park tramway line along this road, bringing the
cars to within a few yards of the entrance gate of the Zoological
Gardens, would be a great advantage to the Society and a boon to the
public,

1914. Tish Societies, a7

The Treasurer (Dr. MACDowEL CosGRAVE) seconded the adoption of
the Report. The balance in hand of £636 at the beginning of 1913 has
been replaced by a debt of £88 at the end of the year, during which expendi-
ture was very heavy, including £408 for purchase of animals, {1,220 for
provisions, £1,262 for salaries and wages, and {925 for new buildings.

The Report and Statement of Accounts were then adopted.

The President presented the Society’s silver medal for the best set of
photographs taken in the Gardens during the year to W.N. Allen; a
special bronze medal was awarded to H. Hanna, K.C. On the motion of
the President, General the Hon. Sir Neville Lyttleton, G.C.B., was elected
an Honorary Member of the Society. The Officers and Council for 1914
were then chosen, M. F. Headlam, S. F. Cochrane, and J. Laidlaw filling
the usual three vacancies caused by retirement. At the subsequent
Council Meeting Dr. R. F. Scharff was elected a Permanent Vice-President
of the Society, having served continuously on the Council for twenty-two
years, during eight of which he acted as honorary secretary.

Professor J. A. Scott described the principal events of the year at the
Zoological Gardens, showing in illustration an excellent series of lantern
slides and some cinematograph films.

A young female Gorilla, with a small male Chimpanzee as its companion,
was bought immediately after the Annual Meeting. The Gorilla is by far
the scarcest of the Anthropoid Apes in captivity, and this specimen,
believed at present to be the only member of its species in Europe, is
exceptionally healthy and friendly. Those interested in the animals
which approach Man most nearly in structure should not miss the oppor-
tunity now afforded them of seeing in the Dublin Monkey-house a Gorilla,
three Chimpanzees, ana an Orang-utan.

DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

January 14.—The Club met at Leinster House.

D. M‘ARDLE (Vice-President) in the chair, showed the cell structure of
Pleurozia cochleariformis ; on account of the large hyaline trigones and
deep red or purple colour of the cell walls it is an attractive object. The
priacival exhibit was the lobule which is attached to the lower portion
of the leaves ; it is ovate-utriculate in shape, and besides containing a
supply of moisture for this large liverwort, which often grows in exposed
places, it has one of the most remarkable contrivances for catching small
insects it is possible to imagine. On the inner face of the lobule is a deep
fold having at the base a slit with two decurrent wings which hang free
within, one of these is concave at the base; beneath the slit (the only
entrance which an insect can creep through) the lid opens with the
slightest pressure and closes after the prisoner has been secured; the
remains of insects are frequently found in these lobules. A portion of
the tissue over the trap was raised off with the dissecting knife to show
the lid, which is formed of the most delicate tissue. A drawing of the

78 The Llrish Naturalist. March,

lobule was exhibited showing the longitudinal fold, the two decurrent
wings, and the slit at the only entrance to the interior of the lobule.
Specimens of the plant were shown collected in Co. Wicklow.

Prof. G. H. CARPENTER showed puparia of the Tsetse-fly Glossina
palpalis (which carries the Trypanosoma of sleeping-sickness) from
Uganda, East Central Africa. The female of this species gives birth to
a mature larva which pupates among dense vegetation near the lake
or river banks. Though the flies are now not scarce in museums the
puparia have been collected only by the few entomologists who have
studied the problems presented by tropical diseases in Africa.

Sir F. W. Moore exhibited Lemna arrhiza, the most minute of all
Phanerogams. Each little plant consists of a tiny globular mass of
tissue, sometimes rather flattened, smaller than a grain of No. 8 shot.
It is found floating on the surface of the water in small ponds, and is
very local. In winter many of these tiny plants sink to the bottom,
and rise again when they commence to increase by budding. Flowers
had not been seen on any of the plants cultivated by the exhibitor. The
species is found in the south of England, but is unknown in Ireland.

W. F. Gunn showed a slide of the diatom Licmophora flabellata (Sm.)
using the dark ground method of illumination in which the central rays
of the cone of light are stopped out and the lateral rays converge on
the object. Licmophora flabellata is one of the two known British species.
The frustules are wedge shaped and produced on the tips of a branched
stipes or stem, which are expanded into a curved disc-like shape. As
the frustules remain after division, attached to the ends of the branches,
they spread out laterally and form a beautiful and regular fan. According
to the authors of the Micrographic Dictionary ‘“‘ the development of the
stipes to which the frustules of many genera are attached is at present
altogether a mystery.” ‘

BELFAST NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JANUARY 20.—R. J. WELCH in the chair. R.H. WHITEHOUSE, M.Sc.,
read the paper with which he had opened a discussion at the British
Association Conference of Delegates held at Birmingham last summer.
First giving a general account of what took place at the Conference which
he had attended as representative of the Club, the lecturer then read the
paper he had delivered on ‘“‘ The Best Means of Preventing the Extinction
of Local Species.’’ He said the reformer would experience great difficulty
in devising any practicable scheme to reduce the destruction of animals
and plants wrought by thoughtless members of the community. Dis-
cussion of the best means to be adopted would be the more profitable if
they placed themselves in the position of people affected by any measures.
Unfortunately some people were inclined to regard any prohibiting measure
as an interference with their personal liberty, and reformers must take
this into consideration. Destruction of animals and plants sometimes
occurred over which they had no control; the construction of public
works, like reservoirs, often affected a whole area, Drainage schemes,

1914. Irish Societies. 79

the construction of railways, all those caused extinction of plants, and
left them with no remedy to prevent it. Transplanting had been sug-
gested, but that was not a scientific remedy, as natural distribution was
thereby affected. |

Among the people who were accused of causing the annihilation of
plants from a neighbourhood was the teacher of nature study. There were
instances known where a class of children had been seen rooting up every
specimen of a rare plant to secure specimens, but an exhaustive inquiry
would most probably show that such occurrences were extremely rare.
Nature study teachers as a rule were the people who were most anxious to
preserve the local fauna and flora, and were the first to do what they could
to prevent their extinction. Still it would be well to emphasise the fact
that the teaching of botany could be as well accomplished, usually better,
with the commonest plants as with the rare.

The professional collector was generally regarded as a serious offender,
but did not the fault really lie with the purchaser ? If our natural history
societies could undertake the supply of rarer material, they might here
find a remedy against ytter destruction. If every society possessed itself
of a complete list of the fauna and flora of its neighbourhood interchange
of specimens might be brought about through the societies. With sucha
list it would be quite possible to inform all the teachers and others in-
terested in biology of the rarities of a locality (without indicating the exact
spot), so that such might be carefully avoided and so protected. Much
valuable assistance against wholesale destruction of plants might be
obtained from the Press—most of the daily papers published nature notes
and here it might be strongly emphasised that it was desirable to cultivate
a real pride in the district’s possessions in the way of animals and plants.
It was a moral claim they had to make, and that was usually the most
difficult to accomplish. More harm than good would arise from legislative
reforms; the Britisher refused to allow the country to be Russianised.
It is everybody’s duty to do his best to cultivate a pride in the fauna and
flora of his district, and do his best to prevent ruthless destruction, except
where animals and plants had been clearly proved to be harmful.

The CHAIRMAN, opening the discussion on the paper, said that there
was no doubt that many local species became exterminated by the extension
of large towns, and that in this case it seemed hopeless to try to save the
rarer plants. On the other hand, much could be done by education. First,
educate the teachers of nature study, and they in their turn would un-
doubtedly influence their pupils. He himself knew of at least one district
in England where this plan had succeeded beyond all expectations. A. W.
STELFOX said he was sure that all members of the botanical section would
agree in the main with Mr. Whitehouse’s paper, especially where he
recommended no artificial preservation for preventing the extinction of
plants. One serious source of danger to the fauna and flora of parts of the
country, especially in England, had not been mentioned by Mr. White-
house, and that was the serious effect the dust from roads which had
been covered with tar macadam had on them,

80 The Lrish Naturalist. March, 1914.

JANUARY 28.—GEOLOGICAL, SECTION.—Dr. DWERRYHOUSE, F.G.S.
lectured on “‘ The Coal Reserves of the World.’ Some interesting figures
based on the report of the International Geological Congress in Canada,
were placed before the meeting, and proved reassuring to those who went
to the meeting prepared to hear the worst. In the course of his remarks
the lecturer pointed out that coal is by no means confined to the Coal-
measures, the highest division of the Carboniferous system, in. which it
occurs almost exclusively in Great Britain, but is found on all geological
horizons from the Devonian to the Tertiary systems. The discovery quite
recently of a 4 foot seam of brown coal some eighteen feet from the surface
in the Tertiary near Portrush was alluded to. A discussion followed the
lecture, in which the chairman (Robert Welch), W. A. Green, Miss M. K.
Andrews, and others took part.

FEBRUARY 4.—ARCHAEOLOGICAL SECTION.—A lecture on Irish Bells
was delivered by F. J. Biacrr. Commencing his lecture by recounting
some of the legends connected with Irish bells, Mr. Bigger followed with
the quaint old story of the lost bells of Limerick and the buried bells of
several old churches. The Columbian and Patrician cycles were also
dealt with, and, among many other items the "origin and use of ancient
round towers for bell.ringing. ;

DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JANUARY 20.—The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING was held in the Royal
Irish Academy House, the Vice-President, N. Corcan, M.R.I.A., in the
Chair. The annual report, read by the Hon. Secretary, G. R. HUMPHREYS,
showed a membership of 81—a decrease of 15—and gave in other respects
a good account of the year’s work. Five excursions and six evening
meetings had been held and reported in the Ivish Naturalist. The Hon.
Treasurer’s statement showed a small balance. Officers for the year were
elected as follows :—President, N. CotGcan, M.R.I.A.; Vice-President,
Professor G. H. CARPENTER, B.Sc.; Hon. Treasurer, C. J. BATEMAN;
Hon. Sec., C. B. Morrat. A special vote of thanks was passed to H. G.
Cuthbert on his retirement from the office of Hon. Treasurer, held by him
for the long period of 17 years.

R. LL. PRAEGER gave an address on the “ Distribution of some rare Irish
plants.’ The plants dealt with were chiefly those of the Lusitanian and
American groups, and the argument for their antiquity as members of the
[rish flora was shown to be strongly based on a discontinuous distribution
in Ireland as well as elsewhere. Specimens of the plants discussed were
handed round and examined with much interest, and attention was called
to the striking difference between the Irish form of ‘“‘ Fox’s Cabbage ”’
(Saxifraga umbyosa) and the South European form grown in gardens as
‘“ London Pride.’’ <A discussion followed in which the Chairman, C. B.
Moffat, and Professor Carpenter took*place. Some Australian plants
were afterwards exhibited by Mrs. Long,

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April, 1914. The [rish Naturalist 81

MAJOR G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMILTON,
B.A. (CANTAB.), F.Z.S., M.R.I.A.

It is difficult to contemplate a more severe loss than
that which has befallen both Irish and British zoology
through the wholly unexpected death of Major G. E. H.
Barrett-Hamilton, of Kuilmanock, Co. Wexford, which
took place in South Georgia Island, on the 17th of last
January. The best and most important fruits of his long
application to the study of Mammals were only beginning
to appear, and a work which should have marked an epoch
in British vertebrate zoology has been reduced to the
dimensions of a fragment. Though only forty-two (the
same age that proved fatal last year to Dr. N. H. Alcock)
Barrett-Hamilton had contributed enormously by his
scattered writings to the knowledge possessed on this
subject by the scientific world ; but those who were looking
forward to a collected presentation of this knowledge in
the popular form that was promised must feel with peculiar
keenness the blow of the gifted author’s death.

Irish by parentage, but born in India in 1871, Gerald
Edwin Hamilton Barrett was three years old when his
parents settled at Kilmanock, which was thenceforth to
be his home. His father, Captain Samuel Barrett (who
assumed the additional name of Hamilton in 1887) was a
son of Hill Hamilton Barrett, of Dublin, and of Sarah,
daughter of William Hutcheson, of Woodside, Armagh.
His mother was Laura, daughter of Childers H. Thompson,
of The Mount, York.

So strong was his early love for nature that bird and
flower notes had to be made for him before he was able to
write ; and a diary of natural history observations in his
own handwriting was begun before he was ten.

In 1885 he went to Harrow School, where his house-
master was the late Dr. R. Bosworth Smith, an enthusi-
astic ornithologist and a great encourager of natural history
in the boys under his charge. With him young Barrett-
Hamilton formed a lasting friendship, and correspondence

between them only ceased with Dr. Smith’s death in 1908.
y

82 The Trish Naturalist. April,

But it was in Ireland that the tastes which were to
dominate his life found their most important stimulus.
As early as 1886 we find him in active correspondence
with A. G. More, to whose ever helpful influence he always
admitted that he owed more than to any other source in the
guidance of his youthful studies. The environment of his
Wexford home had also a great effect on him. His interest
was quickly aroused by the discovery that black rats
were not uncommon about Kilmanock. Naturally enough
(until set right on the subject by More) he supposed them
to be the ‘‘ Old English Black Rats ”’—late survivors of
a species regarded as on the point of extinction. His first
note to the Zoologistt—like More’s own, which recorded a
supposed ‘‘ Fire-crested Wren’ 2—was therefore based
on a mistaken identification. But from that time onward
we may date his special attention to the subject of
Thompson’s Mus hibernicus, which had occupied a strangely
ambiguous position for the fifty years that had elapsed
since it was first introduced to notice. A few years later,
in collaboration with W. Eagle Clarke, he produced the
important paper3 which proved the “‘ Irish Black Rat” of
Thompson to be a melanistic variation—somewhat more
common in the S.E. of Ireland than elsewhere—of the
common Mus decumanus. One can only guess how far
the black rats of Kilmanock contributed towards the
concentration of his interest in later years on the Mammals
in general, and the Muridae in particular.

But we are anticipating. He was still a Harrow school-
boy, whose investigations into Irish natural history had
to be limited to the time allowed by school vacations.
With A. G. More as his director and referee, he devoted
these chiefly to explorations after plants, tracing with
special zeal the range of Cochlearia anglica, which was
found to be unexpectedly prevalent in the estuaries of the
. Suir and Slaney. He soon had materials for several papers
on the flora of his neighbourhood, in which he was ably
assisted by his friend and neighbour, Miss Louisa 5S.

1 Zool., 1887, p. 426, 2 Zool., 1849, p. 2526, ° Zool., 1891, Pp. I.

1914. Morrat.—Major G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 83

Glascott. He was indefatigable in seeking out other corres-
pondents who shared his tastes. Ussher was soon as great
an encourager as More. Before leaving Harrow he began
(under the name ‘‘ Lepus Hibernicus’’) to edit a natural
history column in the Irish Sportsman, and this he con-
tinued for several years, while pursuing his undergraduate
course at Cambridge. A little book produced by him in
1892 on ‘‘ Harrow Birds’’ was the subject of the first
review that appeared in the newly founded Jvish Naturalist
written by the friendly hand of A. G. M.

Entering Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1890, Barrett-
Hamilton immediately came under the notice of Professor
Alfred Newton, who became one of his firmest supporters
and more than once stated that he had never met with a
young naturalist of greater promise. Another remark-
able friendship which he formed at Cambridge was with
Edward Adrian Wilson, destined to be the artist in later
years of his ‘‘ History of British Mammals,” and sadly to
perish with the other heroes of Scott’s last Antarctic
Expedition only a few months before Barrett-Hamilton
himself sailed for the far south to a fate as deeply mourned.

After graduating 1st Class in the Natural Science Tripos,
1894, Barrett-Hamilton helped to contribute a new sur-
prise to the zoological world when, in 1895, he and Mr.
Oldfield Thomas announced their discovery that the Stoat
of Ireland was specifically distinct from that of Great
Britain. In the spring of the same year a visit to Morocco
attracted him to the study of geographical variation in
the House-Mouse, and further stimulated him on the line
of research that so strongly characterises his work. Then
came his appointment (in 1896) as one of the two British
Commissioners on the Bering Sea Fur Seal Commission,
which occupied him for the greater part of that and the
following year. By his observations on the Fur-Seals of the
Pribilof Islands during the two long breeding seasons (1896
and 1897) that he spent among them Barrett-Hamilton
revolutionised many of the standard conceptions of the
social life of the seal-community, and no writer on the

84 | The Lrish Naturalist. April,

habits of these animals can now afford to neglect his
remarkable record.!

During the intervals of absence permitted hie by the
Seals when they quitted their breeding-resorts, Barrett-
Hamilton visited Japan, Kamchatka, and various islands
of the North Pacific, besides visiting Egypt on one of his
journeys home. The results of these excursions are
scattered through many journals, for mammals, birds,
fishes, and a few insects, as well as plants, formed some of
the subjects dealt with, and some observations on the
Salmonidae in Kamchatka (where he also made out-a new
species of Nutcracker) Nucifraga kamchatkensis), suggested
to his mind a theory as to the origin of secondary sexual
characters,2 of which he never afterwards quite lost sight.
In the Ghizeh museum he inspected what is probably the
oldest specimen of ornithological portraiture in the world—
the Maydoom fresco, with its figures of six geese, the
inspection of which by a competent eye had been pro-
nounced by Professor Newton in his Dictionary of Birds3
to be a much-needed desideratum. The result of Barrett-
Hamilton’s examination of them appeared in the Jbis.4

After three years devoted to critical—and, indeed,
strenuous—work on European mammals, he was again
called from home by the South African War, in which he
served (1901-2) as Captain of the 5th Royal Irish Rifles.
South Africa had an important influence on the remainder
of his life, for after the war he married, in 1903, Maude,
the only ‘daughter of F. 5. Eland,” of Kavensham
Transvaal. |

For the next ten years (1903-13) he lived quietly at
Kilmanock, devoting all the time that the busy life of an
enterprising agriculturist allowed him to the preparation
of his work on British Mammals—a work which he had
long had in contemplation, and of which an early hint had

1 See Natural Science, 1899, pp. 17-41.
2 See Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc., 1900, p. 279.
° Introd., p. 2.

* 1897, p. 484.

* ep aa neem

rer

toi4. Morrat.—Jajor G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 85

been dropped in the pages of the Irish Naturalist* in the
course of his review of Lydekker’s ‘‘ Handbook” in the
spring of 1895.

It is by what he has given us of this book that Barrett-
Hamilton will now be chiefly remembered. It began to
appear in parts in October, Igto, and had only reached its
fifteenth part when the series was cut short by the author’s
untimely death. We have, therefore, only the Bats, the
Insectivora, and a small number of the Rodents, from
which to estimate the merits and value of the work had
it been completed by him. It has ceased just as it was near-
ing the point where the author’s greatest qualities would
have been called forth in all their strength. He had to trace
the past story of the Wild Cat, the Bear, and the Wolf, as
well as to solve the ambiguous records of the Squirrel in
Ireland and of the ‘‘ Old English Black Rat ”’ in the British
Islands generally. He had to make intelligible to the general
reader the fruits of his peculiarly close study of variation—
especially geographical variation—among British Mice
and Voles, and to give us a comprehensive view of the
effect of what Mammals—both living and extinct—tell us
regarding the probable past history of these islands. The
book would certainly have expanded in his hands to more
than three times its present bulk, and would have increased
in interest towards the end. But it is impossible to dip
into any of the parts already before us without being struck
with the extraordinary amount of research that has been
bestowed on their preparation.” |

In August last the fourteenth part of the “ History of
British Mammals”? appeared with a touching obituary
notice—doubly touching when re-read six months later—
of the gifted artist of the work, Edward Adrian Wilson.

The careers of the two men—the writer and the subject
of the notice—had been curiously interwoven. ‘* Author
‘and artist ’’—as Barrett-Hamilton says in his apprecia-
tion—‘‘ had at Cambridge attended the same lectures,
frequented the same laboratories, and finished equal in

1 vol. iv., p. 92.

2 The publishers announce that Mr. M. C. Hinton of the British
Museum has undertaken to complete the work.

86 The Irish Naturalist. | April,

the Tripos of 1894. Both were candidates to the scientific
staff of Scott’s first Antarctic Expedition (1901-4) for
which one alone could be appointed. To the rejected
applicant fell the consolation of compiling for the use of
his successful rival the chapter on seals in the Antarctic
Manual (rg01).”’ One stage was yet to be added to
complete the parallel.

In October, Barrett-Hamilton sailed for the Southern
Ocean, having been appointed as commissioner from the
Colonial Office and the Natural History Museum to report
on questions arising out of the indiscriminate slaughter of
whales in the seas round the Falkland Islands and South
Georgia. While discharging the duties of this appointment
on the last-named island he was attacked by pneumonia,
and died on the 17th of January, 1914. His-remains were
brought home and laid to rest in the churchyard of Dun-
cannon, Co. Wexford, on Monday, the 2nd of March.

Of his personal qualities this is scarcely the place to
speak, but it is not an exaggeration to say that he leaves
a gap which will ever remain in the hearts of those who
knew him. His keen interest in sport, agriculture, politics,
&c., made his circle of acquaintances very wide, even apart
from his devotion to natural science, on which, of course,
his correspondence was most extensive. The charm of his
manner was as strongly brought out in his letters as in his
conversation, and no one was ever readier to accept a little
criticism in the best possible spirit, or to indicate where
full information on a particular subject was to be obtained.
He had a decided power of interesting popular audiences
on natural history subjects, as will be remembered by
those who attended the afternoon lectures he occasionally
delivered for the Royal Dublin Society, on subjects that
ranged from the Seals of the Pribilofs to the Bats of the
British Isles.

Of the value of his many scattered zoological writings
there may, of course, be two views—especially as regards
some of the latest, in which his genius for “‘ splitting ”’
proved a stumbling-block to a certain school of thought.
Some of the best known of his papers were written in early

1914. Morrat.—JMVajor G. E. H. Barvrett-Hamilton. 87

years, and two of these (that on Sabine’s Snipe! and on
the Introduction of the Magpie into Ireland?) were of
sufficient importance to be cited by Professor Newton in
his Dictionary of Birds; while those on the Irish Black
Rat3 and Irish Stoat4—in which, however, he had the
co-operation respectively of Messrs. W. Eagle Clarke and
Oldfield —Thomas—possess an interest and authority that
cannot be ignored. His contribution to the Clare Island
Survey series’ is also a paper deserving close study ; and
in some of his short notes isolated facts are brought to
notice (such, for instance, as the coincidence of the Wexford
and Pembrokeshire local names of the Corncrake®) that
might otherwise long have escaped attention among those
whom they would specially interest. |

Of the enormous number of subspecies that he has added
to the list of European, Asiatic, and African mammals it
may suffice to say that no man could be more willing than
Barrett-Hamilton himself to admit that the amount of
meaning which underlies his distinctions is open to the
widest range of interpretation. He brought out his own
point of view clearly and well in his reply‘ to some strictures
from Dr. Lonnberg, of Upsala, who objected to his “‘ splits ”’
among the Hedgehogs and Weasels. ‘‘ Even if I were to
find that I had made numerous bad subspecies I would
vastly prefer to be on the side of those who attempt to
unravel the «atysteries: of vdtiation or »'.(rather than
to cultivate the icy scepticism of the modern school of
lumpers, to whom the many phases of animal variation
are like the ripples of the ocean to the navigator—things
to be detested in proportion as their magnitude makes
them troublesome.” He did not care whether his splits
were called subspecies, races, or phases, but insisted that
they were, in any case, worth tracing out and recording.
Be this as it may, it was an inestimable boon to the student
of Irish zoology that the writing of what was to be the

Divish Naty 0805, p. .E2: *Zoolt, 1805.1 P2 F24:
2 Zool 189%, “p. 2473; * Proc. RI. Acad., vol. xxxi.; pt. 17.
3 Zool., 18G1,:p. 1. 6 Zool., 1909, p. 30.

7 Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) vol. vi., pp. 244-5.

88 The Irish Naturalist April,

new standard work on British Mammals should have been
entrusted, by common consent, to one who added to all his
other high qualifications for the task that of having from
his earliest years had his interest specially centred on the
fauna of Ireland. From this point of view his loss is irre-
parable. Whoever may be found to complete the work
begun by Barrett-Hamilton, he cannot bring to the task
the special knowledge Barrett-Hamilton possessed of the
animal life and local legends and literature of this western
island, and it is unnecessary to add that this is a loss not
only to Ireland but to Europe at large.

C. B. MOFFAT.

List OF THE SCIENTIFIC WRITINGS OF G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMILTON.

1887.—Carex Boenninghauseniana in Co. Wexford. Journ. Bot., vol.
KAV.. Pp. 846:
i, Clinopodium vulgare in Co. Wexford. ié.c., p. 248.
3 Black Rat in Co. Wexford. Zool. (3), vol. xi., p. 426.

1888.—Jay and Squirrel in Co. Wexford. Zool. (3), vol. xii., p. 67.
“3 Starling in Ireland. f.c., p. 106.
% Hybrid Rats (supposed). ¢.c., pp. 141-2.
5 Tree Sparrow breeding at Harrow. t..c, p. 353.
a Golden Oriole at Harrow. t.c., p. 393.

1889.—(With Miss L. S. GLAScoTT). Plants found near New Ross,
Ireland. Journ. Bot., vol. xxvii., pp. 4-8.
¥ (with W. EAGLE CLARKE). The so-called Mus hibernicus. Zool.
(3); twol.oaml,,, pp. 38a:
a Ornithological Notes from Co. Wexford. i.c. pp. 144-5.
* Woodcocks in Ireland. i.c., p. 233.

1890.—(with Miss L. S. Grascott). Plants found near Kilmanock,
Co. Wexford. Journ. Bot., vol. xxviil., pp. 87-9.”
4, Bottle-nosed Whale in Wexford and Wicklow. Zool. (3), vol.
KIVs IDs 72.
uJ Sperm Whale in Mayo. it.c., p. 72.
* Ornithological Notes from Co. Wexford. ié.¢., pp. 103-5:
White-sided Dolphin in Ireland. f.c., p. 384.

1914. Morrat.—Major G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 89

1891.—(with W. EaGLE CLARKE). On the Identity and Distribution of

the Irish Rat, Mus hibernicus, Thompson. Zool. (3), vol.
XV., pp. I-9.

» (with same). Melanism in Mammals and the Irish Rat. t.c.,
Ppp. 59-60.

xi The Introduction of the Magpie into Ireland. t¢.c., pp. 247-9.

+ Leaping powers of the Irish Hare. t.c., pp. 60-1.

nf Great flight of small birds to westward. f¢.c., pp. 107-8.

re Ornithological Notes from Co. Wexford. t.c., pp. 170-2.

5 Sibbald’s Rorqual on the Irish Coast. f.c., pp. 306-8.

1892.—Harrow Birds. Harrow School Scientific Society.
= Wood-Wren in Co. Wexford. Irish Nat., vol. 1, p. 126.
as Breeding Habits of the Otter and Squirrel. t.c,. p. 127.
se Mus hibernicus on Lundy Island. t.c., p. 172.
- (with C. B. Morrat). Notes on Wexford Plants. Journ. Bot.,
vol. Xxx., pp. 198-200.

e (with same). Characteristic Plants of Co. Wexford. TJvish Nat.,
vol. i., pp. 156-8, 181-3.
és Mus alexandrinus in Ireland. Zool. (3), vol. xvi., p. 75.

ys Lesser Rorqual in Kerry. 7.c., p. 75.
re fEquoreal Pipe-fish (Nerophis equoreus) at Waterville, Kerry.

Ran es 77:
re Young Squirrels. 7¢.c., p. 328.

1893.—Hoopoe in Wexford. Irish Nat., vol. ii., p. 177.
ie Black Redtail in Wexford. f.c., p. 177.

4 Western variety of the Red-breasted Snipe, Macrorhamphus
griseus, in Ireland. f.c., 323-4.

- Waxwing in Cambridgeshire. Zool. (3), vol. xvil., p. 109.

5 Marten in Lincolnshire. ¢.¢., p. 354.

1894.—The Marten in Ireland. Zool. (3), vol. xviii., pp. 134-42, 187.
bs Bittern in Co. Wexford. Irish Nat., vol. iii., p. 47.
2 Introduction of the Common Toad into Ireland. t.c., p. 68.
4 Jays (English and Irish). ¢.c., p. 68, and Zool. (3), vol. xviii., p. 61.
fs Long-tailed Duck in Co. Wexford. Ivish Nat., vol. iii., p. 138.
: The Magpie in Ireland. i¢.c., p. 68.
ef Rabbit on Irish Isles. ¢.c., p. 68.

* Helminthia echioides in Co. Wexford. f.c. p. 261.
_ Waxwing near Newmarket. Zool. (3), vol. xviil., p. 152.
2 Polecat in Lincolnshire. .c., p. 303.

1895.—Sabine’s Snipe. Irish Nat., vol. iv., p. 12.
$5 Irish Mammals [reviewing Lydekker’s “ Handbook of British
~ Mammals’’] if¢.c., pp. 65-72, 85-92, 167.
(with OL_pFIELD THomas). The Irish Stoat distinct from the
British species. Zool. (3), vol. xix., pp. 124-9; and Ann.
& Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 6), vol. xv.

A3

go The lrish Naturalist. April.

1895.—Irish Hare turning white in winter. Zool. (3), vol. xix., p. 185.
yy Introduction of English Hares into Ireland. JIvish Nat., vol. iv.,
Dp. 1224:
> Stock-Dove and Crossbill in Co. Carlow. t¢.c., p. 296.
©; Carriage of legs by Birds of Prey during flight. Jb7s (7), vol. i.,
p. 166.

1896.—On remains of the Norway Lemming (Myodes lemmus) from
Portugal. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. pp. 304-6.

a Variation in pattern of the teeth of the common Field Vole. t.c.,
PP. 598-9.
6 On the existence in Europe of two geographical races or sub-

species of the Common Field Vole. f¢.c., pp. 599-603.
- The Great Auk as an Irish Bird. Jvish Nat., vol. v., pp. 121-2.
e Irish Hare going to ground. i.c., p. 119.
5 Bank. Vole-am jersey.) Zool, (3)5. vol.“ xx,, Jp. Oe.
i On wild forms or sub-species of Mus musculus. Zool. (3), pp.
178-81.
1897.—Account of journey to the Fur Seal Islands of the North Pacific
in 1896. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., pp. 190-2.
On the Pacific Walrus, Trichecus obesus, with observations on the
Cetaceans and Seals of the North Pacific. t.c., pp. 266-7.
On the species of Geese on the fresco found in a tomb at Maydoom.
Tbis.( 7), Vol. dil., 2p. 44.
(with Professor D’ARcy THompson). Report of the Bering Sea
Seal Fisheries Commission. (Parliamentary Paper).

1898.—Description of a new species of Nutcracker (Nucifraga eae
Kensis): © LOis-(7), Vol. ive, qo20432-

(with J. L. BonHoTe). On ie sub-species of the Arctic Fox
(Canis lagopus). Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), vol.1., pp. 287-9).

On the Beech-Martens of the Palaearctic Region. f.c., pp. 441-3.

On a new Hare from Algeria. Ann. and Mag. N. H. (7), vol. ii.,
PP. 422-3.

European Dormice (genera Muscardinus and Glis). ¢.c., pp. 423-6.

Notes on the introduction of the Brown Hare into Ireland, with |
remarks on other introductions of Hares in the British Isles.
Ivish Nat., vol. vii., pp. 69-76.

Ornithological Notes from Kilkenny. f.c., p. 88.

Spotted Crake in Wexford. i.c., p. 125.

Ferruginous Duck and Buzzard in Ireland. i.c., p. 252.

Little Bittern in Wexford. ?#.c., p. 152.

1899.—On European Squirrels. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., pp. 3-6.

On the change in colour of the Varying Hare. t.c., p.p. 598-9.

On the species of the genus Mus inhabiting St. Kilda. ¢.c., pp.
77-88.

On the Water-Voles of Bosnia, Asia Minor, and Western Persia.
Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist (7), vol. iii., pp. 223-5.

On the Sicilian Dormice of the genera Eliomys and Glis, ¢.c., pp.
226-8,

1914. Morrat.— Major G. &. H. Barrett-Hamilton. gi

1899.—Harvest-Mice of the Palaearctic Region, ¢.c., pp. 341-5.

Beech-Marten and Badger of Crete. Ann. and Mag. N. H. (7),
vol. iv., pp. 383-4.

Notes on Bird-bones from Irish Caves. Irish Nat., vol. viii.,
pp. 17-8.

Lesser Rorqual off Co. Cork, ¢.c., p. 27.

Introduction of the Black Grouse and of some other birds into
Ireland. ¢.c., pp. 37-43, 230.

Cohas edusa in’ Co. *Wexiord)'t.c., p: 220.

Golden Oriole and Night Heron in Co. Wexford. fé.c., p. 230.

Woodpigeon cooing by moonlight. #.c. p. 231.

History of the European Fauna (review of Dr. Scharff’s book),
t.c., pp. 239-46.

Kamchatka (many references to mammals, birds, and plants).
Scottish Geographical Magazine, pp. 225-50.

” (with H. O. Jones). Visit to Karaginski Island, Kamchatka.
Geogr. Journal, vol. xii., p. 280.

Habits of the Northern Fur-Seal. Nat. Science, vol. xv., pp. 17-41.

A Portugese parallel to Neomylodon listeri. Zé.c., p. 462.

1900.—The Birds observed during three visits to Kamchatka in 1896 and
1897. Ibis (7), vol. vi., pp. 271-98.

European Dormice (genus Muscardinus). Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.,
pp. 85-7..

On the Variable Hare, Lepus timidus. f¢.c., pp. 87-92.

On a small collection of Mammals obtained by Capt. Deasy in
South China, Turkestan, and Western Tibet. f¢.c., pp. 196-7.

On the Geographical and Individual variation of Mus sylvaticus
and its allies. i#.c., pp. 387-428.

The Weasel, Putorius nivalis, and some of its sub-species. Ann.
and Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 7), vol. v., pp. 41-50.

The Common Hedgehog and its sub-species. i¢.c., pp. 360-3.

The Harvest Mouse and its geographical varieties. ¢.c., pp. 527-30.

Variation in the Weasel and Hedgehog (a reply to strictures by
Dr. Lénnberg, of Upsala). Ann. and Mag. N. H. (7), vol. vi.,
Pp. 243-0.

A suggestion as to a possible mode of origin of some of the Secondary
Sexual Characters in Animals, as afforded by observations on
certain Salmonide. Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc., vol. xx.,
Pp. 279-85.

New Irish locality for Leisler’s Bat. Ivish Nat., vol. ix., p. 134.

Influence of Man and Civilisation on Birds. f.c., p. 161.

Ranunculus parviflorus in Co. Wexford, f.c., p. 198.

Birds singing during a thunderstorm. Zool. (4), p. 188.

1g901.—Seals of the Antarctic Regions—report on the Southern Cross
collections. Antarctic Manual, pp. 209-24.

On the Eliomys of Sardinia. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist (7), pp. 340-1.

Coloration of the Variable Hare. Zool. (4), vol. v., pp. 221-2.

Note on the origin of Sexual Dimorphism, and of nuptial weapons
and ornamentation. ¢.c., pp. 420-2.

g2

The L[rish Naturalist. April,

1901.—Irish Hare entering a burrow. Ivish Nat., vol. x., p. 73.

Probable occurrence of the Lesser Rorqual (Balenoptera rostrata)
off the coast of Co. Wexford. é.c., p. 74.

Black-tailed Godwit in Co. Wexford. ¢.¢., p. 93.

Note on Local Variation in the Common Hedgehog. Ann. Scott.
Nat. Hist., Jan., pp. 2-3.

Field-mice and Wrens of St. Kilda and Shetland. Nature, vol. 63,
Pp; 299:

Seals (Voyage de S. Y. “ Belgica,’ Zoologie), Buschmann.

1902.—Report on the Natural History Collections of the Southern Cross.

Mammalia (revised and enlarged from “‘ Antarctic Manual ”’
report of previous year), pp. I-66. British Museum.
Investigations upon the Life-history of Salmon, and their bearing
on the phenomena of Nuptial and Sexual Ornamentation in
the Animal Kingdom generally. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist.
(7), vol. 1x., pp. 106-20.
Black-tailedGodwit in Co. Wexford. Tvish Nat., vVol.sx1., p-. 22.
Large extinct Red Deer of Ireland. t.c., p. 25.
Breeding habits of the British Squirrel. ¢.c., p. 26.

1903.—Abstract of a Physiological Hypothesis to explain the Winter

Whitening of Mammals and Birds inhabiting Snowy Countries,
and the more striking points in the distribution of White in
vertebrates generally. Proc. R.I. Acad., vol. xxiv., sect. B.,
part 4, pp. 303-314.

Observations on the Flight of Flying Fish (Exoccetus, spp. incertae).
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), vol. xi., pp. 389-93.

An Addition to the list of British Boreal Mammals (Evotomys
skomerensis). Proc. R. I. Acad., vol. xxiv., B., pp. 315-9.

Remarks on the Flight and Distribution of the Albatrosses of
the North Pacific Ocean. Ibis (8), vol. iil., pp. 320-4.

On the position occupied by the legs of birds during flight.
Zoologist (4), vol. vil., pp. 139-49.

A Winter Song-Thrush’s Nest. JIvish Nat., vol. xii., p. 138.

Irish Black Rat in England. t.c., p. 167.

Pine Marten in Co. Wexiord. “7.c., p. 320;

The Hares of Crete and Cyprus. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (ser. 7),
vol. Xi., pp. 126-7.

On two new Voles of the sub-genera Pitymys and Microtus. {,c.,
pp. 306-7.

1904.—Winter Whitening of the Stoat in Britain. Zool. (4), vol. viii.,

p. 190.
Note on an undescribed Weasel from the Atlas Mountains, and
on the occurrence of a Weasel in the Azores. Ann. & Mag.
Nat.. Hist. (ser. 7), vol. xi., pp. 323-5.
Some new species and sub-species of Mustelide. ¢.c., pp. 388-95.
On the noise made by Waders during flight. Jbzs (8), vol. iv., pp.

474-5.

‘

194. Morrat.—Vajor G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 93

1905.—Notes on sub-species of European Shrews (Sorex and Neomys).
Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7), vol. xv., pp. 505-8.
< On the Mus orthodon of Hensel. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7),
vol. xvil., pp. 452-3.
3 A query regarding the Noctule. Zool. (4), vol. ix., p. 307.

1906.—Descriptions of two new species of Pterygistes. Ann. & Mag. Nat.
Hist. (7), vol. xvil., pp. 98-9.
* British Distribution of the Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus).
Zool. (4), vol. x.,’ p. 349.

1907.—Descriptions of two new species of Plecotus. Ann. & Mag.
Nat. Hist. (7), vol. xx., pp. 520-2.

1908.—Stachys Betonica in Co. Wexford. Jvish Nat., vol. xvil., p. 205.
- Stock Dove in Co. Wexford. i¢.c., p. 206.
a Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus) in Co. Wexford. ¢.c., p. 207

1909.—Local (Irish and English) Name of the Corncrake. Zool. (4),
Wool. xit., "p.. 30:
4 Long-tailed Field Mice in Ireland. Irish Nat., vol. xviil., p. 207.
a4 trish Otter: ‘7.¢:, p: 208.
i Number of young of Stoat. t.c., p. 208.
2s Former occurrence of the Goshawk in Ireland. f.c., p. 244.

1g9g10.—A History of British Mammals, Part I. London: Gurney and
Jackson (13 further parts in three succeeding years).
= The American Facies of the British and Irish Fauna. Irish Nat.,
VOL, xix. Dp. 2.
45 Common Shrew on Scottish Islands. Zool. (4), vol. xiv., p. 267.
3 Greater Horse-shoe Bat in Wiltshire. ?¢.c., p. 307.
a Description of a new species and a new sub-species of European

Bats. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), vol. v., pp. 291-3.

Ig11.—Names of the Hare (extract from Wright and Halliwell’s Reliquiae
Antiquae). Zool. (4), vol. xv., pp. 25-6.

es Status of Dormouse. f.c., p. 69.
ne Former Occurrence of the Wild Cat in Ireland. Jvish Nat., vol.
Bx D> 55:

1912.—IThe Mammalia of Clare Island (Part 17 of Clare Island Survey).
Proc. F&F: Acad., vol. xxxi, pp. (17); I—14.
Migration of small birds (Chaffinches) across the Channel. Irish
Net. i VOl ) xxi4/ D:,.47-
% The Weight. of Irish Hares.. #.¢.; p..234.
s Habits of Dormouse. Zool. (4), vol. xvi., p. 33.

1913.—Daubenton’s Bat in Co. Waterford. Jvish Nat., vol. xxil., p. 63.
~ Grey-lag Goose in Co. Wexford. i.c., p. 63.
x (with M. A. C, Hinton). Descriptions of new subspecies of
Evotomys and Microtus. Proc. Zool. Soc., Lond,, pp. 827-34.
i (with same). Three new Voles from the Innner Hebrides. Avnn.
and Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), vol. xii., pp. 361-8.

94 . The Irish Naturalist April,

A TERATOLOGICAL SPECIMEN OF
MYRMICA RUBRA.

BY REV. W. F. JOHNSON, M.A., F.E.S.

Among some specimens of the above ant, which is
the common little red ant so often found under stones,
I have found a worker which has a most curious develop-
ment of the propodeal or epinotal spines. These spines
are two in number and project from the hinder part of the
thorax backwards over the petiole or waist of the insect.
They are usually curved and tapering to a point without
any break in their outline (fig. 1). In this particular
specimen the left-hand spine (looking at the insect from the
front) has about midway of its length a small thorn-like
projection at right angles to the spine. This little pro-

2 2

jection is not as long as the remainder of the spine and
presents a very remarkable appearance (fig. 2). I have
never before met with anything of the sort, and on con-
sulting Mr. H. St. J. K. Donisthorpe, F.E.s., who has given
a great deal of attention to ants, he kindly informs me
that he has never seen such a development of the spine
though he has seen the spines of different lengths or blunted.
He suggests that the cause of this abnormal growth was
some injury to the larva or pupa. The specimen belongs
to the race ruginodts of M. rubra. It was taken by me
en Clare sisland in June, ont.

Poyntzpass.

1914. RIDDELSDELL.— Zhe British Forms of Flelosciadium. 95

THE BRITISH FORMS OF HELOSCIADIUM.

BY THE REV; HH. J... RIDDELSDELL,
[Largely based on a paper read before the Cotteswold Club, at Glouces-

ter, 17th March, 1914, from which the quotations, below unacknowledged,
are taken. |

Since writing a paper on Helosciadium forms, in con-
junction with Mr. E. G. Baker, for the Journal of Botany
(1906, p. 185), I have devoted a good deal of time to the
genus. At the present moment, as a large number of
specimens are at my disposal, through the kindness of
Messrs. Bailey, Hanbury, Praeger, Druce, and other botanists,
it seems opportune to put together and make public some
of the conclusions to which my further studies, in the
field and in the herbarium, point. The conclusions are,
some of them, final, some tentative : some of them must be
tested by cultivation of forms, especially in the case of H.
nodiflorum and H. repens. What is here said can there-
fore, in some cases, be only regarded as a stage on the
way to further investigation : but all of it seems likely to
have a value in that direction, and it is better therefore to
publish it as a whole.

H. NODIFLORUM, Koch.

1. Habitat : varies greatly, within certain limits. ‘‘ It
is always a plant of watery places, though its foliage and
inflorescence are almost always raised above the surface
of the water.” Its most characteristic spot is some
deepish, rather shaded ditch, which normally has some
small depth of water: but almost any fresh-watery spot
will do ; ** rough, swampy ground, either shaded or occupied
by a good deal of varied low-growing vegetation ; muddy
margins of ponds; parts of grassy or heathy hillsides,
which are wet in winter and dry in summer ; the damper
parts of the flat, sandy ground behind dunes, which com-
pletely dry up in summer, though they are under water
at other seasons. Its roots are probably always within
easy reach of water.” It thrives in competition with other
species. :

96 The Irish Naturalist. April.

2. Forms.—The forms are numerous and _ puzzling.
Mr. Baker and I (loc. cit.) described as varieties, vulgare,
F. Schultz ; ochreatum, DC. ; pseudo-repens, H. C. Watson ;
longipedunculatum, F. Schultz; repens, Koch. But now
certain conclusions have at length ripened in my mind,
which are rather at variance with that arrangement. The
first is that these varieties “‘ represent only a few out of
numerous forms, all equally capable of description, which
the plant assumes. The varieties named happen to have
been pitched on by collectors in past years, and described ;
and so they have got into our hand-books. They repre-
sent, in fact, certain stages, or steps, or extremes, of varia-
tion in a few directions, but leave the student uninformed
of the large variety of directions and degrees in which the
species varies. The number of characters in which varia-
tion occurs is of course great ; ¢.g., size of plant, vigour,
compactness, production of roots or rootlets at the nodes,
direction of stems or branches (2.¢., prostrate, ascending, &c.),
shape and number of leaflets, length of peduncle, presence
and number of involucre-bracts, number of rays in umbel,
and so on. The degree of variation in each of these
characters, again, differs considerably. Now, it is a fact
that a large number of the possible combinations of these
variations of character may be found in a long series of
specimens”’; and to describe and name every distinct
form would be a very large undertaking.

A second conclusion is this: that there are often found
‘“ upon one plant, springing from one root, more than one
of these distinct forms.” To take the rooting-character
as an example. ‘‘ H. nodiflorum normally consists of a
root, from which a more or less upright flowering stem
proceeds ; and there are numerous nearly prostrate side
stems or branches from the root, each of which may both
flower and root.” ‘‘ The rooting character may be present
jn all the side stems, of course at the nodes only; even
if for any reason the stems or branches are not actually
prostrate, if e.g., they are carried up a hedge, or held up’
among herbage, they often show little embryo roots or
processes which in contact with the ground might develop

1914. RIDDELSDELL.—7he British Forms of Helosciadium. 97

their true character. It is quite common for the signs of
rooting to extend to the end of the branch, though ap-
parently sometimes with omissions in the middle. But
sometimes these side stems, even if prostrate on bare ground,
show no evidence of the rooting chaiacter. Again, on
different flowering branches of one and the same plant
the rooting character is strongly present, and nearly
absent.” ‘At one time, I thought the rooting character
a means of diagnosing the soil rather than the variety
of H. nodiflorum; but that opinion now appears to me
at variance with actual facts. It seems impossible at
present to explain the variations of this feature.

Other characters, e.g., length of peduncle, shape of leaflet,
are as untrustworthy as that of rooting, for purposes of
critical diagnosis. | The form taken by the species is very
largely determined by the surrounding vegetation, and by
the amount of water present. It is a common thing to find
the same series, or even the same plant, changing suddenly
from the small- or medium- leafed form, with its compact
foliage and low growth, as it runs among the open grass by
a tiny rill, to the large ditch-form, with its tufts of great
upright leaves, and large coarse stems and branches: the
change being due only to the shade of a copse or bramble.”’

Again, where large plants of vulgave have been broken
off short during the summer, if the water has (as in IgII
and 1913) receded, and left the plants on mud, the later
growth from the same roots takes the form of a small, com-
pact plant, rooting at the joints, which would have to be
placed very close to pseudo-repens, H. C. Watson. The
circumstances have changed, at least in one vital respect,
and the plant has changed with them.

From this is derived, with some hesitation, a third
conclusion, which needs, especially in some directions,
to be submitted to the test of cultivation. ‘‘ Some of the
supposed varieties at any rate are simply transient forms
due to special circumstances ’’: though I think there is
at least one exception. ‘“‘ My belief is that almost
all the named varieties of H. nodiflorum are simply states
due to difference of soil, water supply, and cover. They

98 The lrish Naturalist. April.

should therefore be altogether excluded from our British
lists,” or if mentioned should be given their true status.
The one exception referred to is var. longipedunculatum,
F. Schultz, the best known localities for which are Gullane
Links, Haddingtonshire, and Duddingston Loch, Midlothian.
Herbaria contain a good many instances of it, more or less
disguised, from scattered localities ; but I believe that, in
spite of their disguise, they are all forms of one thing, again
varying with the surroundings. The most interesting fact
here relevant is that it sometimes closely simulates H.
repens, Koch. Botanists often apply this latter name
to a compact, strongly rooting form of H. nodiflorum
type which bears no resemblance to H. repens ; less often
but far more excusably, to a form of var. longipedunculatum
which is very much like H. repens. For in exposed parts
of some of the localities where this variety grows, say, in
muddy spots, or in the more central parts of shallow pools
(as at Gullane), it assumes a form which I will venture to
call f. semulans (valde simulat H. repens, involucrum
autem, et foliolos, et tructum var. longipedunculatt habet ;
necnon in horto culta vertitur in var. longipedunculatum).
This form corresponds in essentials to the variety, but is
small, prostrate, and rooting; its habit very strongly
resembles that of H. repens, but it goes off by degrees to
the ordinary form of the variety, as is shown by a study
of all the available material from Gullane. The variety,
indeed, behaves just as does type nodiflorum, varying under
the influence of its surroundings, even to the extent of pro-
ducing more than one form from the same root (see M.
Cowan in B.E.C. Report, 1910, p. 564-5). And f. semulans
from Port Meadow was grown on in a garden, and produced
var. longipedunculatum.
The localities to which I am able to trace the variety
in its different shapes are :—
Oxon. (Port Meadow and Binsey Meadows, Hb.
Druce).
Cambs. (Sturbridge Fair Green, and Upware, Hb.
Babington ; and Haddingham sp. comm. Prof.
Gliick.)

—= —T Ve

to14. RIDDELSDELL.— The British Forms of Helosciadium. 99

SUFFOLK (Bungay, Hb. Kew; Bradwell, Hb. H.
C. Watson).

NorFo_k (Fakenham, Hb. Bailey

NortHAnts, (Foxhail, Hb. Druce

CHESHIRE (Nantwich, Hb. Bailey).

HADDINGTON (Guillon = Gullane = N. Berwick —
Luffness).

MrpLoruiANn (Duddingston Loch).

).
).

H. REPENS, Koch.

Differs from all forms of H. nodiflorum, including the
last-mentioned, in its fruit. The fruit of H.vepens is broader
than long, smaller than in the other species, a pretty
chestnut all over, even on the ridges, and nearly the same
colour even in internal section. The faces of the fruit
are puckered into false ridges, situated midway between the
true ridges ; there seem thus to be ten ridges in all, five rather
more marked than the rest. But the fruit of the commoner
species is longer than broad, very dark brown to black, with
five light-coloured prominent ridges. H. repens is a good
species, for it not only has this most important fruit-char-
acter, but it is apparently far more stable in form than
H, nodiflorum and its variety, if I may judge from a good
series of continental specimens ; the number and shape of
leaflets, the constancy and size of the involucre, again
mark it off, though, in any doubtful case, a good series .
of sufficient specimens is necessary before a definite judg-
ment can be passed.

Recently, through the kindness of Mr. Webster, of York,
I have had the pleasure of finally confirming the occurrence
of H. repens in Britain. Some specimens of his from
Skipwith, Yorks, had the characteristic H. repens fruit—
the first I have seen from a British gathering. The same
species may occur in Oxon (Port Meadow, &c.), and at
Kinghorn Loch, Fife (coll. Syme, 1870, in Hb. Hanbury),
The Fifeshire plant looks more like H. vepens than that from
Oxford, but in both the fruit is wanting: and I should
hesitate to make a final decision without this important
evidence, unless the plants were tested by cultivation.

Too The [rish Naturalist. April,

H. INUNDATUM, Koch.

. A variety which I do not find in English manuals is var.
fimitans, Fr., Novit. Fl. Suec.. p. 182 (4832-42)57 sits
simply the type plant with al/its leaves divided into capillary
segments. There is a specimen in the British Museum
named by Fries himself, and I have therefore no hesitation
in placing to this variety plants from E. and W. Gloster
(Canal at Sapperton and Cirencester), and Isle of Wight
(Hb. Bailey) ; from Connor, Hill, Kerry (1853) cole:
Oliver); R. Maam, Galway (Hb. W. A. Shoolbred), R. Clare,
at Tuam, Galway (Hb. Praeger). Mr. Bailey has also
specimens from Cumberland and Connemara which must
be placed under the variety. As however, intermediates
occur in Gloster between the type and the variety, it may
be doubtful whether var. fuitans, Fr., is really anything
better than a‘ state.”

Resuming the conclusions of my paper on Helosciadium
Moore (Irish Nat., Jan., 1914), I venture to rearrange the
British forms of Helosciadium on the following lines :—

Helosciadium nodiflorum, Koch.

f. vulgare.

f. ochreatum.

/. pseudo-repens.

var. longipedunculatum, I. Schultz.

f. simulans.

H. repens, Koch.
x H. Moorei Riddelsdell (mundatum x nodiflorum).

/. subnodiflorum (f. quae potius H. nodiflorum

simulat quam H. inundatum, {oliolis minus tenuiter
dissectis).

f. subinundatum (forma plerumque elatior,
foliolis inferioribus tenuiter dissectis, caule tener,
etc.; simulans H. inundatum). f

H. inundatum, Koch.

var. fluitans, 7.

As Helosciadium is usually grouped in this country under
Apium, it is as well to publish the same list under that

1914. RIDDELSDELL.— Zhe British Forms of Helosciadium. ol

generic name, so that the responsibility for the arrange-
ment may in both cases be traced to the right quarter.

Apium nodiflorum, Rezchb. fu.
f. vulgare.
f. ochreatum.
/. pseudo-repens.
var. longipedunculatum, F*. Schultz.
/. simulans.
A. repens, Reschb.
x A. Moorei, Riddelsdell.
f. subnodiflorum.
f. subinundatum.
A. inundatum, Rezchb. fil.
var. fluitans, Fv.

Old Registry, Llandaff.

REVIEW.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE.

Notes on the Blue-Green Algae. With a key to the species of Oscillatoria
and Phormidium. By Harotp WaGER, F.R.S. Pp. 48. London,
Hull, and York: A. Brown & Sons, 1914: Price, 2s. 6d.

Students of this interesting group of algae have placed before them a
useful guide by the publication of the “‘ Notes’’ by H. Wager, whose
cytological work on the group is well known. As the guide is mainly
intended to aid the preliminary identification of the species of the two
genera Oscillatoria and Phormidium it may seem out of place to regret
the omission, from the account given of the life-history of the group, of
the movements of Oscillatoria, etc., of the ecological features of the
group (e.g. that O tenuis, var. natans, is at first a member of the
benthos and later of the plankton); and of the economic importance
of the group (e.g., relation to drinking water). The price (2s. 6d.) seems
high for a book of 48 pages, without illustrations even, to students to
whom the larger illustrated works quoted are not available. Gomont’s
Monograph is twice mentioned without the accent in Oscillariées, one of
few errors in an otherwise well-produced key.

Ireland is a most promising and neglected field for the study of the forms
described in this encouraging book,

Tide

102 The Llrish Naturatist. April,

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include a Rhesus Monkey from Mr. F. G. Brien, a Lemur
from Lady Waterford, a pair of Siamese Cats from Mrs. Thorneley, a
Leopard from Mr. T. A. Finch, a Badger from Mr. J. H. McConnell,
Rabbits from Mrs. Duggan, Mrs. Whelan, Messrs. B. Scott, L. West, and
Freeman; Rose-tinted and Silky Starlings and Chinese Mynahs from
Messrs. Cross, a Mannikin and three Weaver Birds from Mr. Geo. Low,
an Amazon Parrot from Mr. J. T. Bernard, a Grass Parrakeet from Mr.
T. C. Dickie, a pair of Wood Pigeons from Mr. A. H. R. Sproule, a Merlin
from Dr, Cecil Digby, a Geometric Tortoise, some Edible Frogs, Green
Tree Frogs, Fire-bellied Toads, and Natterjack Toads from Prof. J.
Bayley Butler, several thousands of Salmon and Trout ova from the
Irish Fisheries Office, and Trout ova from Col. Claude Cane.

A young female Gorilla, two young male Chimpanzees, a Grivet
Monkey, a Marmoset, a pair of Ravens, a pair of Half-moon Conures, a
Reeves Pheasant, and a Swan have been bought. Six Dingo puppies and
a Wombat have been born in the Gardens. |

At present the centre of attraction in the Monkey-house which contains
an exceptionally interesting set of Anthropoid Apes, a Gorilla, three
Chimpanzees, and an Orang-utan. The Fish-hatchery also, where there
are thousands of Salmon and Trout larvae, is well worth a visit.

BELFAST NATURALISTS’ PIELD CLUB,

FEBRUARY I1.—GEOLOGICAL SECTION.—At this meeting a number
of interesting specimens were brought together for exhibit and discussion.
ROBERT BELt exhibited haematite, beautifully encrusted with clear
quartz crystals, obtained from trial borings on Sheve Gallion, County
Tyrone. Miss M. K. ANDREWs showed a number of micro-sections of
local rocks. Miss BLACKwoop, specimens of marbles, &c., from Italy.
Dr. DWERRYHOUSE, erratics from the Glacial drift of the neighbourhood
of Belfast. S. WetrR, fish remains from the Old Red Sandstone of Cro-
marty, plant remains from the Coal-measures near Glasgow, and fossils
from the indurated Lias at Portrush. RoBERT May showed a number
of interesting things, including a polished slab of altered limestone
from Cave Hill, which might easily have been mistaken for one of the
expensive Italian marbles. Among the exhibits was a coloured diagram
showing a typical section of County Antrim, such as might occur in the
neighbourhood of Cave Hill. This was prepared by WILLIAM GRay,
M.R.I.A. It showed clearly the talus slope beneath the basaltic es-
carpment resting on Lias clay, the cause of many landslides, picturesque
and otherwise, in County Antrim. After the exhibits had been examined
and discussed, S. Weir officiated at the lantern, and views of geological
interest by various members of the section, were thrown on the screen,

1914. Trish Societies. 103

DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

FEBRUARY 11.—N. CoLGAN (President) in the chair. A number
of natural history specimens were exhibited, including the African Dragon-
fly Hemianax ephiphigey, caught in Herbert Park in October last, shown
by J. N. Halbert. The President read a paper—“ Field Notes on the
Folk Lore of Irish Plants and Animals.” This paper, which broke
new ground for the Field Club and was listened to with the deepest interest,
appeared in the last number of the Irish Naturalist. In the discussion
that followed W. F. Gunn, R. LI. Praeger, Miss E. White, H. W. D.
Dunlop, and C. B. Moffat (Hon. Sec.), tock part.

NOTES,
ZOOLOGY.

Trout and Bumble Bees.

Mr. F. B. Hinchliff, of Instow, North Devon, writes in the Field of
December 27, 1913 :—‘‘ While dry-fly fishing on a lake in the west of Ire-
land last September, I killed a Brown Trout weighing 2lb. 20z. on a black
gnat, these insects being fairly plentiful on the water at the time; and
on examining the contents of its stomach I was surprised to find that it
contained, besides other food, five bumble bees—two large females and
three males. Now, I had noticed a good many of these bees on the
water in the morning, and, when the fish came on the feed in the afternoon
at the black gnat, I noticed that every now and then a fish would make
an extra large boil at something, and I could not understand the reason
why. But after finding these five bees in the stomach of the only trout
I killed that day, I came to the conclusion that the bees were probably
responsible for the very large and rather splashing boils. Although this
is the first time that I have found trout actually taking bumble bees,
yet I have often seen trout boil at, without taking, them. And I always
thought that the reason was that in their younger days they had pro-
bably been stung, and consequently did not wish to repeat the unpleasant
dose. As trout usually swallow insects alive, it seems to me incredible
that one, at least, of these five bees had not stung the trout internally ;
but perhaps fish are impervious to stings. I remember once killing a
trout of 44lb. on the same lake before lunch, and on examining its stomach
about seven o’clock the same evening, I found that it contained about 300
red ants, one beetle, and a common honey bee. These I spread out on
a sheet of paper in the sitting-room, where there was a fire, intending
to count them, but dinner was announced, so I postponed the counting
until after the meal, when to my surprise | found the insects crawling
all over the place, the heat of the room apparently having helped them
recover consciousness. And practically every one of them recovered
although most of these had been imprisoned in the stomach of the trout

104 The Lrish Naturalist. April, 1914.

for about seven or eight hours. So that, with reference to the first
mentioned fish, one might reasonably draw the conclusion that these five
bumble bees lived for some time in the interior apartments of the trout,
and so had ample opportunities of stinging him.”’

Waxwing in Co. Armagh.

A female Waxwing (Ampelis garrulus) shot ina field at Tanaghmore
North, near Lurgan, co. Armagh, on January 2nd, 1914, has been pre-
sented to the Dublin Museum by Dr. J. Singleton Darling; it had been
feeding largely on the fruit of the wild rose. Five Waxwings have
now been recorded this winter from the North of Ireland—one from each
of the five counties Londonderry, Tyrone, Down, Fermanagh, and
Armagh (Ivish Naturalist, March, 1914, and British Birds, March, 1914).

A. RR, Nienons:
National Museum, Dublin.

Hawfinch at Balbriggan.

On the 14th February a working man brought me a male Hawfinch,
which had been killed the night before by flying against the canvas on
the hoarding round the grounds of the Coursing Club here. Although I
have seen small flocks of these birds in the Phoenix Park, when in company
with Mr. Godden, the Park Ranger, they were so shy that we could not
get near them. Once only have I had a satisfactory view of this bird,
and that opposite the “‘ Yellow House,’’ at Rathfarnham.

CHARLES W. BENSON.
Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.

Recent Notices of Irish Birds.

In the Zoologist for July, R. Warren notes the usual spring visit of
White Wagtails to Bartragh Island, Mayo, and records a Squacco Heron
shot in the preceding May near Skibbereen, Co. Cork. In the same
journal for September, Prof. Patten publishes an article on the Asiatic
Skylark from the Tuskar. In British Birds for December, G. R. Hum-
phreys publishes the paper on the Roseate Tern breeding in Ireland,
which he also contributed to these pages. Miss Best and Miss Haviland
publish notes on migrants in Rathlin Island (which appeared in enlarged
form in our January issue), and Dr. Benson has a note on Turtle-Doves
at Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. In British Birds for November, R. M.
Barrington publishes captures of the Tree-Pipit and Pied Flycatcher at
Rockabill, and of Little Auks in August in Donegal and Kerry.

Naturalists, Furriers, and Taxidermists,

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A Teratological Specimen of Myrmica ‘Tubra. —Rev. W. Bee
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Hawfinch at Balbriggan.—Rev. CHAs. W. BENSON, LD. ee ee
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May, 1914. The [rish Naturalist. 105

COLEOPTERA FROM THE SOUTH WEST OF
IRELAND.

BY EDWIN BULLOCK.

Being a resident in Killarney for the last two or three
years I have had great opportunities for collecting Coleoptera
in Kerry. This part of Ireland which abounds in such
excellent natural habitats for insects having only been
worked hitherto by naturalists paying short visits, it is not
surprising that many species have for long escaped notice.
In the appended list of three hundred or more, twenty-three
have apparently not been previously recorded from Ireland.
They are :—

Lebia crux-minor L. Bibliporus bicolor Denny.
Callicerus rigidicornis Er. Euplectus aubeanus Reich.
Homalota aequata Er. E. piceus Mots.

H. linearis Grav. Cephennium thoracicum Miill.
Agaricochara laevicollis Kr. Agathidium seminulum L.
Myllaena infuscata Matth. Cerylon ferrugineum Steph.
Stenus argus Grav. Rhizophagus bipustulatus Fab. ath.
Acrulia inflata Gyll. Leptidia brevipennis Muls.
Megarthrus affinis Mill. Phyllobius urticae DeG.
Bythinus Curtisi Denny. Hypera alternans Steph.

B. securiger Reich. Rhinoncus gramineus Herbst.

B. Burrelli Denny.

Lebia crux-nminor, the most interesting beetle in the list,
I found crawling on a pathway in the Muckross demesne.
Though I have examined carefully the surrounding woods,
rotten stumps of trees, faggots, &c., I have not as yet
been successful in finding more specimens. This rare
beetle will, no doubt, be discovered in other parts of the
west.

The only interesting Longicornia I have met with in the
Kerry district are Leptidia brevipennis and Callidium
violaceum, which I secured by sweeping Hawthorn flowers.
The latter has been previously recorded by Mr. Bouskell, who
found it under the bark of fir trees at Caragh Lake, Co.
Kerry. Special attention given to the family Pselaphidae

A

106 The lish Naturatst. May,

by the careful examination of moss from selected localities,
bark, garden refuse, &c., resulted in the discovery of no
less than six additional Irish species. Some of the others
are interesting from a distributional point of view, such as
Melolontha Iippocastam, &c.

I must thank Mr. G. C. Champion, F.z.s., for kindly
naming all critical species for me, and Mr. J. N. Halbert
for much useful assistance.

LIST OF SPECIES.

Carabus glabratus Payk.—Purple Mt., Killarney.

C. clathratus L.—Bull Mt., Killarney.

Leistus ferrugineus L.—Mangerton.

Nebria Gyllenhali Sch.—Common on the Killarney mountains.

Pelophila borealis Payk.—Common on wet and boggy lake _ shores,
Killarney.

Blethisa multipunctata L.—Less common than Pelophila in the same
locality.

Elaphrus uliginosus F.—A few specimens from a small lake-shore in the
Gap of Dunloe.

Badister sodalis Duft.—Banks of the Shannon close to Limerick, also
Killarney. .

Chlenius nigricornis F.—Killarney.

C. holosericeus F.—A single specimen, lake-shore in Gap of Dunloe.

Bradycellus placidus Gyll.—Shannon banks, Limerick.

Pterostichus gracilis Dej].—Killarney.

P. minor, Gyll.—Killarney.

Amara fulva Dej.— Youghal, Co. Cork.

A. similata Gyll.— Killarney.

A. lunicollis Schiod.— Killarney.

Calathus flavipes Fourc.— Youghal, Co. Cork.

C. melanocephalus v. nubigena Hal.— Killarney mountains.

Anchomenus angusticollis F.—Banks of Shannon, Limerick.

A. oblongus Sturm.—Very common in damp places around Killarney.

A. atratus Duft.—hKimerick ; also Killarney.

A. micans Nic.—Very common on banks of the Shannon around Limerick ;
a few specimens also at Killarney.

A. piceus L.—Very common in Killarney district.

Bembidium quinquestriatum Gyll.—Cork, rare. ;

B. doris, Panz.—Killarney, moderately common in damp places.

B. affine Steph.— Youghal, Co. Cork, rare.

B. monticola Sturm.—Quite common on lake shores, Killarney.

B. varium Ol.— Youghal, Co. Cork.

Trechus rubens F.—Gap of Dunloe, Killarney.

1914. BuLLOCK.—Coleoptera from the S.-W. of Lreland. 107

Lebia crux-minor |..—This interesting insect was found crawling on a foot-
path near Muckross, Killarney.

Dromius meridionalis Dej.—Cork, also at Killarney.

Ilybius ater De G.—Killarney.

I, obscurus Marsh.—Limerick.

I, aenescens Thoms.—Killarney.

Rhantus exoletus Forst.—Killarney.

Orectochilus villosus Mull—Common under stones near small lakes in the
Gap of Dunloe, Killarney.

Paracymus nigroaeneus. Sah!.—Killarney.

Philydrus nigricans Zett.—Common under stones near small lakes in the
Gap of Dunloe, Killarney.

P. coarctatus, Gred].— Killarney.

Chaetarthria seminulum Herbst.—Killarney.

Hydrochus angustatus Germ.—Limerick.

Cercyon obsoletus Gyll.—Killarney.

C. quisquilius L.— Killarney.

C. nigriceps Marsh.—Killarney.

C. terminatus Marsh.—Killarney.

Aleochara brevipennis Grav.—Killarney.

Ocyusa incrassata Kr.—Killarney.

Oxypoda alternans Grav.—Killarney, in fungi,.

Phloeopora reptans Grav.—Common under bark, Killarney.

Ilyobates nigricollis Payk. me }

Myrmedonia limbata Payk. \ Killarney, found in company with ants.

M. collaris Payk.—Killarney, in moss.

Calodera aethiops Grav.—Killarney, in moss, common.

Callicerus obscurus Grav.—Killarney.

C. rigidicornis Er.—Killarney.

Homalota currax Kr.—Cork.

H. pavens Er.—Killarney.

H. gregaria Er.—Killarney.

. luridipennis Mann.—Killarney.

. elongatula Grav.—Killarney.

. graminicola Gyll.—Killarney.

. aequata Er.—Killarney and district, moderately common under wet

- bark.

. linearis Grav.—Killarney.

H. elegantula Bris.—Killarney.

H. cuspidata Er.—Killarney, moderately common under bark.

H. eremita Rye.—Mangerton.

H. gemina, Er.—Killarney.

H. exilis Er.—Killarney.

H. hepatica Er.—Killarney.

H, trinotata Kr.—Killarney.

H. fungicola Thoms.—Killarney.

H. palustris Kies.— Killarney.

H. pygmaea Grav.—Killarney.

= marr

A2

108 The lrish Naturalist. May,

Homalota fungi var. clientula Er.—Killarney.
Gnypeta labilis Er.—Killarney.
Autalia rivularis Grav.—Killarney.
Encephalus complicans Westw.—Limerick ; also Killarney.
Agaricochara laevicollis Kr.—Killarney, in fungi.
Leptusa fumida Er.—Killarney.
Oligota pusillima Grav —Killarney, in moss.
O. punctulata Heer.—Killarney, garden refuse.
Myllaena dubia Grav.—Killarney.
M. infuscata Matth.—Killarney, in moss.
Conosoma pubescens Grav.—Kilrush, Co. Clare; also Killarney.
C. pedicularium Grav.—Killarney, common in lakeside moss.
Tachyporus obtusus L.—Kilrush, Co. Clare.
T. formosus Matth.—Kilrush, Co. Clare; also Killarney.
Cilea silphoides L.—Killarney.
Tachinus humeralis Grav.—Killarney, common in fungi.
Bolitobius trinotatus Er.—Killarney.
B. exoletus Er.—Killarney.
B. pygmaeus F.—Killarney.
Mycetoporus lepidus Grav.—Killarney.
M. splendidus Grav.—Killarney.
Quedius umbrinus Er.—Killarney.
Ocypus compressus Marsh.—Killarney, moderately common.
Philonthus carbonarius Gyll.—Killarney.
P. concinnus Grav.—Killarney, common in garden refuse.
. eruentatus Gmel.—Killarney.
. longicornis Steph.—Killarney.
. higrita Nord.—Killarney.
. fumarius Grav.—Killarney, local on lake shores.
. Micans Grav.—Killarney, common on lake shores.
. trossulus Nord.—Killarney.
Cafius fucicola Curt.—Kilrush, Co. Clare, common in seaweed.
Actobius cinerascens Grav.—Killarney.
Xantholinus fulgidus F.—Cork.
X. ochraceus Gyll.—Killarney.
Lathrobium elongatum var. fraudulentum 1..—Killarney, not rare under
stones and rubbish.
. punctatum Zett—Killarney, rather common on lake shores.
. filiforme Grav.—Killarney, not common.
. quadratum Payk.—Killarney, common.
. terminatum Grav.—Killarney, rather rare.
var. immaculatum Fowler.—Common.
L. multipunectatum Grav.—Killarney, rare.
Cryptobium fracticorne Payk.—Killarney.
Medon melanocephalus F.—Kilrush, Co. Clare.
Paederus riparius L.—Shannon banks, Limerick.
Evaesthetus ruficapillus Lac_—Common in moss, Killarney.
E. laeviusculus Mann.—Killarney, in moss, less common.

gio uwuud

SUS cos

1914. BuLLocK.—Coleoptera from the S.-W. of Ireland. 109

Dianous coerulescens Gyll.—Cork and Killarney.
Stenus guttula Miill—Killarney, common.
S. Guynemeri Duv.—Killarney.
melanopus Marsh.—Limerick, Cork, Killarney.
. hitens Steph.—Killarney.
. fuscipes Grav.—Killarney.
. vafellus Er.—Killarney, common on lake shores.
. crassus Steph.—Killarney, not rare.
var. littoralis Thoms.—Killarney, rare.
S. argus Grav.—Limerick.
S. ossium Steph.—Killarney.
S. flavipes Steph.—Limerick.
S. bifoveolatus Gyll.—Killarney, not rare.
S. cicindeloides Grav.—Killarney.
S. paganus Er.—Killarney.
S. latifrons Er.—Killarney.
Haploderus coelatus Grav.—Castletown Bere, Co. Cork.
Trogoploeus areuatus Steph.—Kiallarney.
T. elongatulus Er.—Killarney.
T. corticinus Grav.—Killarney.
Syntomium aeneum Miill.—Killarney, under bark, rare.
Lesteva longelytrata Goeze.—Killarney.
L. pubescens Mann.—Killarney, under small waterfalls.
Olophrum piceum Gyll.—Killarney.
Lathrimaeum unicolor Steph.—Killarney.
Coryphium angusticolle Steph.—Killarney.
Omalium pusillum Grav.—Killarney, common under bark.
O. punctipenne Thoms.—Killarney, rare.
O. vile Er.— Killarney.
O. iopterum Steph.—Killarney, rare under bark.
Acrulia inflata Gyll.—Killarney, very rare.
Anthobium ophthalmicum Payk.—Killarney, very common.
Proteinus ovalis Steph.—Killarney.
Megarthrus affinis Mill._—Killarney.
Phloebium clypeatum Miill.—Killarney.
Phloeocharis subtilissima Mann.—Kilrush, Co. Clare; also at Killarney.
under bark.
Pselaphrus dresdensis Herbst.—Killarney, winter months in wet moss.
Tychus niger Payk.—Limerick ; also Killarney.
Bythinus puneticollis Denny.—Killarney, common in moss.
B. validus Aubé.—Killarney, moss under trees.
B. Curtisi Denny.—Killarney, in moss.
B. securiger Reich.—Killarney, garden refuse.
B. Burrelli Denny.—Killarney, in moss.
Bryaxis sanguinea L.—Killarney, in moss on lake sides.
B. haematica Reich.—Kenmare ; also at Killarney.
B. juncorum Leach.—Kenmare ; also at Killarney.
Bibloporus bicolor Denny.—Killarney, under bark.

ANNNN

II0 . The Lrish Naturalist. May,

Euplectus aubeanus Reich.—Killarney.

E, sanguineus Denny.—Killarney, garden refuse.

E, piceus Mots.—Killarney, rare under bark.

E. ambiguus Reich.—Killarney, common in moss in damp places.

Claviger testaceus Preyss.—Crosshaven, Co. Cork, in ants’ nests.

Scydmaenus scutellaris Mill.—Killarney, in moss.

S. exilis Er.— Killarney, under bark.

Euconnus hirticollis 111.—Killarney, in moss.

Eumicrus tarsatus Mill.— Killarney.

Cephennium thoracicum Mill.—Killarney, in garden refuse.

Agathidium nigripenne Kug.—Killarney, under bark.

A. seminulum L.—Killarney, under bark.

A, laevigatum Er.—Castletown Bere, in moss.

Liodes humeralis Kug.—Kiliarney, under moss on bark.

Anistoma parvula Sahlb.— Killarney.

Silpha tristis I1l.—Castleconnell, Co. Limerick.

Choleva cisteloides Frohl.—Limerick.

C. agilis I11.—Killarney.

Hister cadaverinus Hoff.—Killarney.

H, carbonarius [11.—Killarney.

H. neglectus Germ.—Killarney.

H. bimaculatus L.—Killarney.

Sericoderus lateralis Gyll.—Killarney, garden refuse.

Adalia obliterata L.—Killarney.

Halyzia xxii-punctata L.—Killarney.

Mycetaea hirta Marsh.—Killarney.

Epuraea pusilla Er.—Killarney.

Omosita colon L.—Killarney.

O. discoidea F.—Killarney.

Meligethes lumbaris Sturm. —Killarney.

Cerylon histeroides F.—Killarney, under bark, fairly common ; very large
specimens.

C. ferrugineum Steph.—Killarney, common under bark.

Rhizophagus cribratus Gyll.—Killarney, under moss on bark.

R. perforatus Er.—Killarney.

R. dispar Gyll.—Killarney, very common under bark.

R. bipustulatus F.—Killarney, rare under bark.

Silvanus surinamensis L.— Killarney.

Corticaria pubescens Gyll.—Killarney.

C. elongata Humm.—Killarney. |

Melanophthalma fuseula Humm.—Killarney.

Antherophagus nigricornis F.— Killarney, rare.

Cryptophagus distinguendus Sturm.—Killarney, under chips in Syulae:

Atomaria umbrina Er.—Killarney:

A. basalis Er.—Limerick, in flood refuse.

A. berolinensis Kr.—Killarney, in garden refuse.

A. mesomelas Herbst.—Killarney, common in wet moss.

A. ruficornis Marsh.—Kilrush, Co. Clare.

1914. BuLLocKk.—Coleopicra from the S.-W. of Ireland. EFT

Attagenus pellio L,—Limerick ; also Killarney, in old houses.

Aphodius foetens F.—Killarney, common.

A, scybalarius F.—Killarney.

A. lapponum Gyll.—Killarney, common on high land.

A, sticticus Panz.—Killarney.

Geotrupes typhoeus L.—Killarney, common.

Melolontha hippocastani F.—This northern species seems to be of com-
moner occurrence in the Killarney district than M, vulgaris,

Cryptohypnus dermestoides Herbst.—Killarney.

C. quadriguttatus Lap.—Killarney.

Melanotus rufipes Herbst.—Killarney.

Athous niger L.—Killarney.

Sericosomus brunneus L.—kKillarney, rare.

Helodes marginata F.—Killarney.

Hydrocyphon deflexicollis Mull—Common on plants growing on the
banks of mountain streams near Killarney.

Podabrus alpinus Payk.—Killarney.

Thanasimus formicarius L.—Killarney, locally common.

Niptus hololeucus Fald.—Limerick, Cork, and Killarney.

N. crenatus F.—Limerick.

Probium castaneum F.—Killarney.

[Rhizopertha pusilla F. (Introduced).—Corn store, Limerick.]

Cis festivus Panz.—Killarney, under bark.

Aromia moschata L.—This fine Longicorn is locally common in the
Killarney district.

Callidium violaceum L.—Killarney, rare.

Leptidia brevipennis Muls.—Killarney.

Rhagium inquisitor F.—Killarney.

Grammoptera tabacicolor De G.—Killarney, very common on flowers.

G. ruficornis var. pallipes Steph.—Rather rare, found with the type, Kil-
larney.

Leiopus nebulosus L.—Killarney, a few specimens.

Pogonochaerus dentatus Fourc.—Killarney, on furze.

Bruchus villosus F.—Killarney, common on broom.

Donacia crassipes F.—Killarney, common on Nymphaea.

D. versicolorea Brahm.—Killarney, common on Potamogeton.

D. limbata Panz.—Cork.

D. vulgaris Zsch.—Killarney, a few specimens.

Lema septentrionis Weise.—Killarney.

Lamprosoma concolor Sturm.—Killarney.

Chrysomela hyperici Forst.—Killarney.

Gastroidea polygoni L.—Killarney, very common.

Galerucella nymphaeae L.—Killarney.

_ G. calmariensis L.—Killarney, common on Alders.

Adimonia tanaceti L.—Killarney, rare.

Longitarsus atricillus L.—Kenmare and Limerick.

L. femoralis Marsh.—Kilrush, Co. Clare.

L. gracilis Kuts.—Kilrush, Co. Clare.

112 The Lrish Naturalist May,

Longitarsus pellucidus Foudr.—Killarney, common.
Phyllotreta exclamationis Thurb.—Killarney.

Aphthona lutescens Gyll.— Killarney.

Phaleria cadaverina F.— Youghal, Co. Cork.

Tenebrio molitor L.—Limerick. .
-Clinocara undulata Kr.—Sparingly under bark in the Killarney district.

This insect is very hard to capture as it is very agile in its movements. |

Nascerdes melanura Schmidt.—Cork. ;
Anaspis rufilabrus Gyll.— Common on Umbellifera, Killarney.
Rhynchites minutus Herbst.—Killarney.

Deporaus betulae L.—Killarney.

Apion miniatum Germ.—Killarney.

A. nigritarse Kirby.— Kenmare.

A. radiolus Kirby.— Youghal, Co. Cork.

Caenopsis Waltoni Schon.—County Kerry, very common.

Phyllobius urticae De G.—Killarney.

Hypera alternans Steph.—Killarney.

Liosoma oblongulum Boh.—Kenmare.

Orchestes quereus L.—Killarney.

O. alni L.—Killarney.

O. salicis L._—Killarney.

Gymnetron beccabungae L., var. veronicae Germ.— Killarney.
Orobitis cyaneus L.—Killarney.

Cryptorrhynchus lapathi L.—Killarney.

Acalles turbatus Boh.—Killarney.

Ceuthorrhynchus quadridens Panz.—Killarney.

Ceuthorrhynchidius floralis Payk.—Killarney.

Rhinoncus gramineus Herbst.—Killarney.

R. castor F.—Killarney.

Phytobius comari Herbst.—Killarney.

P. quadrituberculatus F.—Killarney.

Balaninus pyrrhoceras Marsh.— Youghal, Co. Cork.

Calandra oryzae L.—Youghal, Co. Cork.

Hylastes ater Payk.—Killarney.

H. opacus Er.—Killarney.

H. palliatus Gyll.— Killarney.

Phloeophthorus rhododactylus Marsh.—Killarney.

Pityophthorus pubescens Marsh.—Killarney.

Trypodendron domesticum L.—Blarney, Co. Cork ; also Killarney.

Erin Hotel, Killarney.

IOI As StokEs.—/rish ik Remains from Co. Dublin. 113

ON IRISH ELK AND OTHER ANIMAL REMAINS
FOUND AT HOWTH AND BALLYBETAGH,
ER CIN:

BY ..HENRY STOKES; M.D.

My first attempt to search for the remains of Irish E)k
(Cervus giganteus) was prompted by the accidental discovery
of the head and antlers of that creature in the Bog of the
Loughs at Howth in 1906. Anxious to know whether
further remains could be unearthed, some friends and myself
commenced operations shortly afterwards which resulted in
our finding in this locality an almost perfect skeleton of an
Irish Elk, and also three vertebrae which have since been
identified as belonging to the same species. Encouraged
by this satisfactory result of our labours, and knowing that
the head and skeleton of a female Elk had been taken in
this bog about twenty years previously, I engaged a labourer
in Igii to renew the excavations and discovered a second
skeleton close by. In the following year operations were
conducted on a more extensive scale. Three men were
engaged to dig for five weeks continuously, but except a
few odd vertebrae, a few shed antlers and a nearly pulverised
skull, nothing was found.

The experience thus gained in the explorations of peat
deposits however proved of much benefit in subsequent
researches which were commenced in 1913 on Ballybetagh
Bog, near Kilternan, Co. Dublin. Thirty-five years
previously, Mr. Moss and later on Mr. Williams had
discovered there a large quantity of Irish Elk remains,
and it seemed likely therefore that the ground should yield
further material, The land on which this bog lies belongs
to Mr. Roe, and arrangements were made with his per-
mission for further excavations. After consulting Dr.
Scharff, he allowed James Duffy, one of his staff in the
Museum, to superintend the work, and the latter conducted
the operations with skill and great care. The exceptionally
dry summer aided us in our work, which proved not only to

>

ro)

114 The Irish Naturalist. — May,

be interesting but most successful. Altogether the remains
of twenty-eight Elks, of several Reindeer, and of a few
birds and beetles were found in Mr. Roe’s bog and in a
neighbourmg one in the County Wicklow belonging to Mr.
Mulligan. The great majority of these remains were,
of course, in a very fragmentary condition, but it may be
of interest to give the results of all the excavations in a
tabulated form as follows :—

HowrTH, BoG OF THE LOUGHS.

frish Elk.
1886-87. Skull of Female, and skeleton.
1906. Skull of Male, and skeleton of young animal,

2 very large shed antlers, and 3 vertebrae
(probably) of a female.

sO pete (1) A skeleton of a young animal; (2) 2 shed
antlers of a very young animal; (3) A
pulverised male skull which did not belong
to skeleton.

The depth varied from 4 to 8 feet, the strata were arranged.
as follows from above :—

Peat ol eu Dey feet.
Peat and Marl a =? feet.
Marl °S a 3 feet.
Sand si be inches.

Large stones and peak marl to unknown depth.

All remains were found on or in the layer of sand. The
upper layer of marl contained remains of trees. The
bones were wrapped and often lined by an envelope of
vegetable matter.

BALLYBETAGH, SOUTH-EAST Boa.
(Worked for seven weeks).
Irish Elk.

1913. 22 skulls (mostly broken).
14 shed antlers (all broken).
1 skeleton (made up of the bones of many Elks). .

ford. SroKkrs.—/rish klk Remains from Co. Dublin 115

8 rst cervical vertebrae.

a°omds. «J; nr

2 4th = ‘,

2 5th * Bs

ay Ga ae Y»

1 1st dorsal +

eon 3

2 coccygeal * y |

4 scapulae, 1 pelvis, 1 1st phalanx, 1 radius,
1 metacarpal, 1 tibia, 6 hyoids, several costal
cartilages and a large number of ribs.

Also remains of Reindeer, including part of a skull, bird
bones, and bones of Red Deer were found.

The depth of the pits varied from 3 feet 6 inches to 11
feet. The strata were usually arranged as described by
the late Mr. W. Williams, 7.¢., from below :—

A. Boulder-clay.

Fine tenacious clay.
Yellowish grey clay.
Brownish clay
Greyish clay.

Péat:

ae

The remains were all found in layers 1, 2, or 3, the great
majority lying on No. 2.

Nearly all the bones were sound but badly broken, math
the exception of lower jaws and feet bones. The heads
were also much broken but sound. The majority of the
heads were found 4-6 feet deep, the majority of the bones
5-7 feet. The bones were scattered and arranged in no
order. The proportion of ist cervical vertebrae and
hyoid bones was high and the proportion of large long bones
was low. Pits were sunk in the centre of the bog to the
depth of 11 feet down to the Boulder-clay (Williams), but
little or nothing was found. All the remains, with the

' Geological Magazine, August, 1881.

TI6 The Lrtsh Naturalist. May,

exception of 2 shed antlers were of large male animals.
The 2 shed antlers belonged to a very young animal. .__

BALLYBETAGH, NORTH-WEST Boa.
(Worked for three days in 1913.)

Four pits were sunk, the deepest to 14 feet. Fragments of
bone, which could not be identified except one which seems
to be a rib of Irish Elk, shells and wood were found.

The strata from above were in the following order :—

Peat af. ie sicek:
Peat and Marl ty, Guteet.
Sandy Marl to unknown depth.

In this bog the bones of domestic animals recently buried
were also met with.

MULLIGAN’S Boe.

This bog (which is situated about 500 yards east of Bally-
betagh S.E. bog) was worked for three weeks in 1913, the

following specimens of Irish Elk being obtained :— _,,

6 skulls of males.

5 shed antlers.

2 complete skeletons.

Many ribs and various odd bones.

The strata consisted of the following deposits from above
downward :—

Te eae.
Peat and clay.
2. Brownish clay (Williams No. 3).
3. Fine tenacious clay (Williams No. 1).

The depths of the deposits varied between 3-6 feet. The
skulls were found in the shallow parts, whilst complete
skeletons were beside them in two cases. The skulls were
not broken but very fragile. The bones were entire, one
skeleton being in perfect order. The second was absolutely

1914. StoKkEs.—/rish Elk Remains from Co. Dublin. 117

soft in fact so much so as to make its removal impossible.
The remains, except for one small shed antler, belonged to
large male animals.

In digging these bogs, one is struck by the fact that in
all the localities examined the formation is different. Apart
from the peat which covers all, we found that at Howth,
the bones lay on sand while no layers of yellowish-grey clay
or brown clay existed. At Ballybetagh S.E. bog, all the
deposits were present. At Ballybetagh N.W. bog (where we
found no definite remains of Elk, but Mr. Williams in his
paper implies that remains have been found, and local
information tends to confirm this) to a depth of 14 feet we
found only sandy clay with shells. At Mulligan’s bog
there was no greyish clay lying over the bones, but the peat
and brownish clay (Williams 3) were directly superimposed.

The fact that at Howth three skeletons and three skulls
have been found is a striking contrast ta Ballybetagh, where
twenty-two heads and one skeleton were discovered, the
latter being made up from several animals. Again in the
Mulligan bog, six skulls and two perfect skeletons were
found, each skeleton lying in a small area with the bones
often still articulated. At Howth the bones were not
broken though rather soft ; at Ballybetagh the bones were
all broken though sound ; at Mulligan’s some bones were
perfect and sound, while others were perfect but quite
soft.

A curious fact that we found at Ballybetagh was that
whenever the points of the antlers would have stuck up
into the overlying greyish clay, they were broken off and
were usually to be found on the tenacious layer beneath. In
the three bogs in which Irish Elk was met with we also dis-
covered the remains of other animals at the same depth and
sometimes actually in contact with the Elk remains. In
all places the remains were more plentiful in the shallower
parts.

I am convinced that the skeletons in Ballybetagh Bog
S.E. have been removed away, and are not in the bog as
in every case we sank down to the Boulder-clay (Williams).
I mention this because some previous diggers had not sunk

118 The lrish Naturaltst. May,

all their pits so far, as is proved by the fact that we found
a very good pelvis underneath a previous digging, and also
a workman (Ned Kavanagh) told me that this was so.
In one place many of the points of the antlers and some of
the bones showed curious markings caused probably by
rubbing against stones, but generally there were no signs
of friction on the specimens. |

In conclusion, I may mention that caution must be taken
in sinking pits near old diggings, as the walls are apt suddenly
to fall in. Water seems to lie in an old pit indefinitely
and often leaks through cracks and hinders or prevents
further work.

Dublin.

REVIEW.

MARINE ZOOLOGY.

Animal Lifs by the Sea-shore. By G. A. BouLENGER, LL.D., D.Sc.,
F.R.S., and C. L. BouLENGER, M.A., D.Sc. Pp. xii. + 84, with
gi illustrations. London: Offices of ‘‘ Country Life.’’ Price 5s. net.

In their modest preface to this admirable little book the distinguished
authors tell us that ‘‘ they have only tried to provide those untrained
in Zoology with a means of identifying the principal of the innumerable
forms of animal life ’’’ to be observed on the beach or between tide-marks.
Yet the naturalist will find in these pages many interesting notes on
structure and life-history of members of the shore fauna. Except for
the Protozoa and a few other very minute animals all great groups of
animal kingdom are included in the survey. There are but few “ objects
of the sea-shore’’ whose nature could not be at least approximately
determined from the descriptions and illustrations. Necessarily some
omissions will be noticed by the student of special groups; Flustra is
the sole representative of the Polyzoa ; among the insects it is surprising
to find two species of Aepus mentioned, while nothing is said of the
interesting bug Aepophilus, nor of the midge Clunio, one of the most
completely marine of all insects. The Pycnogonida, several species of
which may be found in rock-pools are not mentioned at all. There are
classificatory statements which may be open to criticism, such as the
inclusion of the Chitons among the Gastropoda and one absolute mistake
is the designation of the marine Geophilid centipedes as “‘ millipedes.”’
All lovers of the shore and its inhabitants will feel indebted to the authors,
whose descriptions are supplemented by many excellent illustrations,
some being photographs well reproduced and others line-drawings.

Gs WAG;

t9t4. Trish Socteltes. IIg

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include two Rabbits from Mr. RK. F. Millard, a Brambling
from Mr. W. J. Williams, four Peafowl from Miss M. Rafter, and a pair
of Sable Antelope horns from Mr. E. P. Roe. A Rhesus Monkey has
been born in one of the open-air cages. The young female Gorilla continues
in excellent health, and is growing taller and stouter. She plays actively
with her companion Chimpanzee, whom she challenges to more or less
friendly combats by drumming on her chest.

BELFAST NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JUNE 14, 1913.— EXCURSION TO THE LAGAN CANAL.—Under the guidance
of R. H. WHITEHOUSE and J. MAXWELL, a party of thirty travelled along
the canal from Hillsborough to Lisburn and collected numcrous examples
of freshwater animals which were subsequently demonstrated and classific d
in the biological laboratory of the Queen’s University, Belfast.

JuLy 26.—ExcuRSION TO GARRON PoINT.—A small party, guided by
R. WeEtcH and Dr. A. R. DWERRYHOUSE went by rail to Parkmore and
thence drove to Garron Point, where the woods and cliffs were explored
and the geological structure of the country studied.

NOVEMBER 18.—The President (REv. CANON Lert), delivered an
address entitled ‘‘ A chat about Linnaeus.’ He dealt with the life and
work of the great Swedish naturalist, and especially with his influence
on the progress of natural science. Rev. C. H. Waddell and William
Gray spoke on the paper, which was preceded by an exhibition of natural
history and archaeological specimens.

DECEMBER 16.—The Vice-President (RK. LL. PRAEGER), in the chair.
G. LivEeNs read a paper on “ Plants in relation to their surroundings,”’
which dealt particularly with the alternation of generations as found in
the main groups of the vegetable kingdom.

FEBRUARY 17, I914.—Professor AUGUSTINE HENRy, M.A., F.L.S.,
M.R.I.A. (Royal College of Science for Ireland), read a paper on ‘‘ The
History of Irish Woods and Trees,’’ before a large and representative
audience. The chair was occupied by the President (Rev. Canon Lett).
Professor HENRy, in the course of his lecture, said the history of the woods
of modern Ireland began after the Ice Age, and during this period all the
vegetation and mould were destroyed, a barren, sterile soil being every-
where left. | He explained the occurrence of the submarine forests, found
all round the coast, and of the great forests in the peat, which were formed
in the Neolithic period, at the time when the climate was drier than now.

I20 The lrish Naturalist. May,

There were pine trees, however, in the great Leinster forest, in IOIO A.D.,
which were carried to Kincora on the Shannon to make masts for the
ships of King Brian. Firs grew, according to a note on an old map,
on the mountains of Downin 1570. The association of the pine with the
Capercaillie in Ireland was striking,as this beautiful bird gradually became
extinct with the increasing rarity of the pine woods. Ireland always had
plains on which trees never grew, like the Curragh of Kildare, Lecale in
Down, and the great plain of Roscommon. During the Bronze Age man
began to clear the forests for the cultivation of cereals and flax, and the
agricultural area increased in succeeding centuries. Half the island
was probably covered with forest at the time of the Norman Conquest.
The woods were remorselessly cut in the seventeenth century, as timber
was the main source of profit to the adventurer, who exported oak staves
abroad, and established ironworks all over the country, and who con-
sumed for charcoal all the smaller trees. Remnants of the old woods
still existed in many parts, and are characterised by a peculiar flora
and fauna, which is non-existent in plantations on wooded ground.
Professor Henry gave a list of these plants, and alluded to the lingering
of two species of Pyrola in a few spots as indications of former pine woods.
These little plants were dying out, and would become extinct like the
Capercaillie. One slug and six kinds of snail were localised in old woods.
Professor Henry gave many instances of remarkable woods in Ireland,
as the oak and holly woods of Castlewellan, out of which £500 of holly
timber was sold in one year. A remarkable oak wood at Glasslough,
in Monaghan, in 1801, was reported to be the finest in Europe at that
day, being worth {1,000 an acre. Crab trees of great age were common
a century ago along the shores of Lough Neagh, and the largest oak that
was ever known in Ireland was felled at Portmore about 1750. The most
celebrated tree in Ireland is, however, fortunately still alive. This is the
famous Yew in the grounds of Crom Castle, in the townland of Crom,
in Fermanagh. This tree is remarkable for its enormous spread of
foliage, over 200 people being able to sit down to a banquet under its
shade. The lecturer had discovered an early reference to this tree in
O’Clery’s ‘‘ Contention of the Bards,’’ 1620, where the Yew of Crom is
said to have.been discovered on the day when Conn of the Hundred Fights
was born. This tree has probably an antiquity of over 1,500 years, and
may have been associated with the worship of the pagan idol Crom Cruach.
A discussion ensued, in which J. M. Dickson, Rev. J. SHiErs, S. A,
BENNETT, A. McI. CLELAND, and R. WELCcH took part.

MarcH 17.—The President (REV. CANON LeETT), in the chair. N. H,
FosTER read a paper on ‘“‘ How to recognize our common Woodlice,”’
in which the specific characters of the British species were pointed out
with the aid of lantern slides. R. Wetcu followed with a paper entitled
‘The History of the Rosapenna Sand-dunes,” in which the origin and
character of these blown sands and of their fauna and flora were discussed.
The papers were discussed by A. M'‘I. Cleland, Miss E. Andrews, and
W. J. C. Tomlinson.

neti

IgT4. Trish Societtes. I2I

DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

MARCH 11,—The Club met at Leinster House, J. H. WooDworTtH
(President), in the chair.

Prof. G. H. CARPENTER showed specimens of Springtails collected in
December, 1911, at Granite Harbour, South Victoria Land, 77° S. lat.,
by Messrs. Griffith, Taylor and F. Debenham of the second Scott
Antarctic Expedition. The insects vere found on the surface of small
pools, under stones clustered on a film of ice. All appear to belong to
Gomphiocephalus Hodgsoni, Carpenter, the species found in moss at
the same locality by the first Scott Expedition in 1906. The specimens
now collected are, however, in much better condition than those brought
home previously and it is hoped that a fairly complete account of this
most southerly known insect may be published shortly,

W. F. Gunn showed the fruiting bodies of a fungus observed in the
decomposed tissues of a potato which had been kept in a glass cel! for
several months, It had been kindly identified for the. exhibitor by
Dr. Pethybridge, who stated that the red bodies in the decomposed
potato are the perithecia of a fungus known as Hypomyces solani which
according to Reinke and Berthold, has as its coindial stage Fusarium
solani, Sacc. If the perithecia are gently squeezed under a cover glass,
the two-celled diamond shaped ascospores are forced through the termi-
nal pore on the neck of the perithecium. At an earlier stage the
perithecia contain asci, each with eight ascospores, but the asci liberate
these spores whilst they are still within the perithecium. Hence to
see them one must break open a young perithecium.

In confirmation of the views of Renike and Berthold quoted above,
it may be mentioned that the potato before being put into the glass
box was badly attacked by the dry rot caused by Fusarium solani,
but a little water was placed in the glass and a wet rot supervened
through the agency of bacteria and other organisms.

APRIL 8.—The Club met at Leinster House, J. H. Woopwortn
(President), in the chair.

N. CoLcan exhibited a species of Nemertine worm in course of
development from a mass of ova found attached to a stone at low-
water near Bullock, Co. Dublin, on the tr4th March. The bright
yellow ova were contained in flask-shaped capsules, from one to
seven in a capsule, and the whole mass, made up of about 100 capsules,
was enveloped in an oblong general envelope of clear and very tenacious
gelatinous mucus. Several of the ova were found to have fully hatched
out after twenty days, the young worms creeping actively and showing
two eyes. The young worm, the eggs, and the capsules agreed perfectly
with the figures in Plate xxiii. of Mackintosh’s “‘ British Annelids,’”’ Part i,
illustrating the development of Lineus gesserensis, though the period of
development which he observed for this species was much longer, extending
to some six weeks. At maturity L. gesserensis has numerous eyes, but
for a long time after hatching out the young worm shows but two.

122 The [Irish Naturalist. May,

Pror. G. H. CARPENTER showed larvae of Pseudococcus aceris, a ‘‘ mealy
bug,” which had been found in numbers on apple shoots in Co. Armagh
in May, 1913. The species, not hitherto recorded from Ireland, appears
to be rather uncommon in Great Britain where it is found on a variety
of plants notably on Furze.

NOTES.
ZOOLOGY.
Lissonota vicina, a Rare Ichneumon Fly.

On April 1st I noticed a small Ichneumon fly crawling up and down
the window of my dining room. I duly captured it, and on examining
it found that it was Lissonota vicina, Holmgr. As this isa very rare
species in the British Islands I sent the specimen to Mr. Claude Morley,
I.E.S., the well-known authority on these insects, and he has confirmed
my determination. This isasmall species being only about five millimetres
in length, black with part of the abdomen red and the legs red with coxae
and trochanters black. It is somewhat like the common L. bellator, but
has the vertical orbits immaculate which in L. bellator are marked with
white. It has only been once recorded as British by Mr. Bridgman from
Earlham near Norwich, in 1893. It is said to be sparsely distributed in
northern and central Europe. Its appearance so early in the year is
remarkable, for Mr. Morley states (‘‘ British Ichneumons,”’ vol. iii., p.
185) “‘ nearly all our species are found only in the late summer and
autumn ;’’ and this I have found to be the case with my own captures
which have mostly been made in August and September. This specimen
probably flew into my dining room as the day was fine and the window
where I found it had been open.

W. F. JOHNSON.

Acton Glebe, Poyntzpass.

Coleoptera at Killarney.

In explanation of a discrepancy in my notes under the above heading
in the February number of this Journal, where the number of additional
records for Ireland is stated as eight and only seven appearing, I may
mention that the omitted species is Ptinus tectus, Boield., of which I
captured a specimen on a window of the New Hotel, Killarney, on July
22nd, but, as Prof. Carpenter informs me, the species has already been
recorded by him from Co. Dublin (Econ. Proc. Royal Dublin Soc., vol. i.,
1908, p. 587), and by Dr. Nicholson from Co. Meath (l7vish Naturalist,
vol. xxii., 1913, p. 49). This insect, apparently a recent importation
from Australia, is becoming rapidly spread over the British Islands.

OLIVER E. JANSON.
Highgate, London, N,

—
————

1914. Notes. 123

Lapwings and Redshanks at Maidens Light-house, Co. Antrim.

On Wednesday night March 25th, great numbers of Lapwings and
Redshanks appeared round the lantern. Most of the Lapwings came in
close ; several, brushing obliquely against the glass, went off but little
injured. But I saw four strike hard and descend stunned to the sea.
At 10.40 p.m. I picked up a dead Lapwing at the foot of the tower, and
at 4 a.m. procured another, a badly wounded one, on the balcony. The
Lapwings were more plentiful than the Redshanks, but the latter more
often struck the lantern. Many Redshanks came in contact with the
glass, and after fluttering up and down went off strong on the wing ;
but I saw six strike hard and fall over the balcony down to the sea. I
picked one up dead at the foot of the tower at 10.30 p.m. These records
of the Redshank appearing in great numbers round and actually striking
the lantern will no doubt interest Mr. Barrington, who, writing of this
bird’s migrations says—““ A bird as to whose migrations the evidence of
the light-stations is practically nil. It has never been reported as striking,
and only two specimens have been received, of which one was shot, and
the other killed by a cat.” (Migration of birds at Irish Light-stations,
Analysis of Reports, 1881-1897, p. 218).

C. |: BATTEN,
University, Sheffield.

Missel Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings at Maidens Light-house,
Co. Antrim.

On Tuesday night, March 31st, Redwings and Fieldfares appeared in
large numbers very close round the lantern. Very few actually collided
with the glass, and when they did so, generally glanced off obliquely or
after striking backed away for a foot or so and then bumped against the
glass, repeating this performance several times before leaving altogether.
At 12.20 a.m. I picked up a Redwing and at I a.m. a Fieldfare. Both
these birds struck the glass and fell wounded on the balcony.

About 1.30 a.m., Friday, April 17th, a small number of Missel Thrushes
appeared in the rays of the lighthouse lantern, and one struck the glass.
The birds frequently uttered their harsh alarm note. This species of
thrush did not come under my notice at either Tuskar or Inishtrahull,
and, unlike other species of British Thrushes, appears to have been
comparatively scarce at lanterns.

C.. J. PATTEN:
University, Sheffield.

124 The lrish Naturalist. May, 1914.

Carrion Crow at Ireland’s Eye.

On the 2oth April I was at Ireland’s Eye, and saw a bird there which
I believe was the black Carrion Crow. It was sitting on a rock near the
Stack when I first saw it; it immediately rose and flew round the Stack
Rock for a short time. I had a good opportunity of observing it
through a pair of very strong Goerz field glasses. Its flight was slow
and heavy, like a Raven’s, and the primary feathers of the wing seemed
to be more separated than in the case of a Rook ; the head was like that
of Carrion Crows I have seen in Wales, with short feathers at the base’ of
the bill. On being mobbed by Herring-gulls it made off over the island,
and as it passed over the ground Green Plover rose in alarm and stooped’
at it. It finally settled on a rock at the eastern end of the island. I
saw no other bird of the crow tribe. It seemed to be quite alone.

GEORGE C. May.
April 23, 1914.

A German Appreciation of R. J. Ussher.

In the Ornithologische Monatsschrift,Vol. xxxix., No. I, appears a notice
of R. J. Ussher from the pen of Pastor Carl Lindner, from which we
translate the following :—‘‘ In him Ireland has lost an ornithologist of
wide attainments, who devoted himself to the natural history of his
own country. With his far-reaching knowledge he combined a delight-
ful kindliness of disposition, and he never hesitated to sacrifice his:
personal comfort in the pursuit of science. By means of frequent trips
of varying length he kept in constant touch with ornithological
specialists and with a large body of observers all over the country
whom, he himself had organized, and by these means he amassed a
great body, of valuable notes. This material, much of which still
remains unpublished, he sifted with scrupulous care. His forte was
his highly-trained power of observation, which was reinforced by an
indefatigable energy, which shrank from no exertion. Those who had
the privilege of making acquaintance with Ireland under the guidance
of this kindly veteran, as was the good fortune of myself and my
brother, will not soon forget the weeks spent in his delightful society.”’

— WNILTIAMS & SOW

: Naturalists, Furriers, and Taxidermists,
> 2, DAME-STREET, DUBLIN,
Designers of the Life Groups in the National Museum, Kildare-street.

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Vel. xxili., Ne. 5.

CONTENTS.

C: leoptera from the South-West of Ireland. Supe BuLnocx, nents

On Srish Elk and other Animal Remains found at Howth er
Ballybetagh, Co. Dublin.—Henry Sroxes,M.D. sy.

REVIEW : 3 ae
G.A. aud C. L,. Boulenger’s ‘“‘Animatl Life by the Sea-shore ” (G.H.C.), =

IRISH SOCIETIES :
Royal Zoological Society. Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club, .
Dublin Microscopical Club, mS ae ese oe

NOTES:

Lissonota vicina, a Rare Ichneunon Fly.—Rev. W. F. JOHNSON,

M.A,, ee ee ay eu a Ce pay ee

Coleoptera at Killarney.—OLivEk E. JANSON, F.E.S., .. a

Lapwings and Redshanks, Missel Thrushes, Fieldfares and Redwings |
at Maidens Lighthouse, Co. Antrim. —Prof. C. J. PATTEN, M.D...

Carrion Crow at Ireland’s Eye.—G. C. May, .. AS ;

A German Appreciation of R. J. Ussher, Rees a oe

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June, 1914. The Llrish Naturalist. 125

LAND AND FRESHWATER MOLLUSCA OF THE
VALLEY OF THE ROE, BENEVENAGH AND
MAGILLIGAN, CO. DERRY.

BY A. W. STELFOX.

ALTHOUGH eighty-eight species of land and freshwater
shells have been reported to occur in the County of London-
derry,' no locality lists, such as those existing for the adjoining
counties of Antrim and Donegal, have been published.
Therefore I take this opportunity of recording the species
collected during a week’s stay in the Roe Valley, at Easter
1913, when in the company of Messrs. R. J. Welch, Nevin
H. Foster, S. Wear, and a few other members of the Belfast
Naturalists’ Field Club. At the same time I include the
work done by Messrs. J. N. Milne, R. J. Welch, and myself
at Benevenagh and on the Magilligan flat from Downhill
to Walworth Wood, on various occasions in years past.
This district is extremely varied in its geological features.
On the east it is overshadowed by the north-western escarp-
ment of the great basaltic plateau of Antrim and Derry,
of Eocene age, which covers deposits of Chalk and Triassic
sandstone. Near Dungiven the Roe cuts in places through
sandstone of Carboniferous age, while between the Roe and
Lough Foyle on the west, the pre-Cambrian schists form
low hills, outhers of the Sperrin Mountains to the south.
These schistose rocks are frequently intersected by great
belts of crystalline limestone of the same geological age.
The greater portion of the ground is covered by Glacial
drift, composed mainly of schistose rock-fragments and of
Carboniferous and Triassic sandstones ground into a pasty
mud, which does not much attract a variety of mollusks.
Where, however, the limestone outcrops occur, and especially
in the glens of Banagher and in Benady Glen, south of
Dungiven, splendid natural ground is to be found, which
shelters a luxuriant molluscan fauna. In the localities just
mentioned the majority of the alah are shade-loving ;

1Stelfox: <A List of the L. and F.W. Mollusks of oe Pl micbedinds
Rul Agta Vol Exix;, Soct:: 5B. -No: rs: a

A

126 The Lrish Naturalist. June-

but on the sandy area between Downhill and Magilligan
Point, the xerophile species are well represented. Several
species which occur in the Holocene deposits in these.sand-
hills have not, up to the present time, been taken in the |
county in the living state.

In those districts in the north, south or west of Ireland,
between which and the great central plain occur barriers—
such as mountains, where fresh-water species do not find
congenial dwelling-places—one always finds a scarcity of
fresh-water shells. This cannot be explained by the absence
of suitable habitats and one is forced to the conclusion that
(1) after the Glacial Period had passed away, the fresh-water
mollusca in Ireland took up their headquarters in the great
waterways and marshes of the central plain, and (2) from
this centre they are still spreading or attempting to spread
north, south, and west. Where they dwelt during the Ice
Age, and by what route they subsequently reached the
central plain, are matters which cannot even be commented
upon in such a small paper as this. The Roe Valley and
the marshes about its estuary furnish similar evidence in
favour of the above conclusions to those districts of Kerry,
Galway, Mayo' and Donegal, which are in a lke manner
isolated from the central plain. Ubiquitous species, such as
Limnaea pereger, L. palustris, L. truncatula, Ancylus fluviatilts,
Planorbis leucostoma, P. crista, Valvata piscinalis, Aplecta
hypnorum and various species belonging to the genus
Pisidium, are of course to be met with here ; but of 15 species,
Acroloxus lacustris, Limnaea stagnalis, Amphpebplea glutinosa,
Planorbis albus, P. carinatus, P. umbilicatus, P. contortus,
P. fontanus, Physa fontinalis, Bithynia tentaculata, Valvata
cristata, Anodonta cygnea, Sphaertium corneum, S. lacustre
and Pisidium amnicum, which occur in the basin of the Bann
to the east and whose distribution in Ireland is mainly
central or their occurrence more common in the central
counties, only five—Planorbis contortus, Physa fontinalts,
Valvata cristata, Bithynia tentaculata and Sphaertum corneum
—have succeeded in establishing theniselves. I would explain

1Sce Report on L. and F.W. Mollusca, Clare Island Survey. Pro-
ceedings R. I. Acad., vol. xxi., part 23, pp. 44, 43.

T9l4. STELFOX.—Mollusca of County Derry. 127

this by the fact that between the Bann and the central
plain there is no real barrier to the migration of freshwater
species, while to reach the present district it would be
necessary for species to cross the Sperrin Mountains, or
travel circuitously by the Bann or Foyle basin and then
spread along the coast, which in the former case would,
under present conditions, be impossible ; or be carried by
chance means of dispersal from some habitat to thesouth.
While touching on the subject of chance dispersal, I should
like to point out that if birds were responsible for the carry-
ing of freshwater shells, the marshes of the Roe Estuary
should yield a large list of species, since the shores of Lough
Foyle have long been considered among the best districts
in Ireland for the observation of migrating species.1

A close study of the Irish distribution of the five
‘central’? species, which do occur in the present district,
will show that they are among the most widely distributed
members of the ‘‘ central”? group. In the neighbouring
county of Antrim, three of them—Planorbts contortus,
Physa fontinalis and Bithynia tentaculata—with Planorbts
albus and P. carinatus, alone represent the “‘ central ”’
species in the basin of the Bush ; and Physa fontinals and
Planorbis contortus occur on the island of Rathlin in the
same county. 7 | |

LIST OF SPECIES.

Limax maximus, Fér.—Near Limavady, Roe Park, Walworth Wood, and
very common in the glens about Dungiven. NNN.?

L. cinereo-niger, Wolf.—Recorded by Mr. Milne from Walworth W ae
and without doubt will be found in the glens of Banagher, near
Dungiven. NNN.

L. flavus, L.—Under slates in the yard of the hotel at Dungiven; also
in Roe Park (Milne), near the old mill. Probably introduced. ***.

1[ do not wish to deny that birds may carry freshwater shells from one
pond to another close by ; but I do not believe that freshwater shells owe
their present distribution to transportation by chance means of dispersal.

2 The signs following the localities where each species has been found
indicate the standing of the species in the district, according to Praeger’s
formula. See R. Ll. Praeger: Report on Phanerogamia and Pteridophyta,
Clare Island Survey. Proceedings, R. I. Acad., vol. xxxi., part To, p. 38,

A 2

128 The Llrish Naturalist. June,

Limax arborum, Bouch.-Chant.—Dungiven, Walworth Wood, and Roe
Park ; no doubt generally distributed. NNN.

Agriolimax agrestis, L.—Abundant throughout the district. NNN.

A. laevis, Mill.—In small glen cut through Triassic sandstone on the
western slope of Benbradagh, at 440 feet alt.; also found in the
marsh by the river below Dungiven Abbey. NNN.

Milax gagates, Drap.—By the old church at Tamlaght—typical form—
arid in refuse from the town by the river at Limavady—brown form.
In the latter station its standing is ***; but at Tamlaght Church
it may be NN*.

M. Sowerbyi, Fér.—Plentitul near Downhill Ry. Station (Welch, Febr.,
1900), Standing doubtful, probably ***.

Vitrina pellucida, Mill.—Benevenagh, Magilligan, Glens of Banagher, and
Roe Park. No doubt common in winter. NNN.

Hyalinia cellaria, Mull_—Not generally distributed and only common in
the Glens of Banagher. Also recorded from Benady Glen, Tamlaght
Old Church, and the escarpment at Umbra. All specimens may be
referred to the usual large Irish form. NNN.

H. alliaria, Miller—Common in Tamlaght Woods and Walworth Wood,
also at Benevenagh and in the glens about Dungiven. NNN.

H. nitidula, Drap.—Generally distributed. NNN. .

H. pura, Alder.—Also of general occurrence in the district. NNN.

H. radiatula, Alder.—Common in Walworth Wood, frequent about
Dungiven ; also at Umbra and in the Limavady marshes. NNN.

H. crystallina, Mull.—Common almost everywhere. NNN.

Zonitoides excavatus, Bean.—Common in Walworth Wood—type and
var. vttvina ; also in Roe Park, Limavady (Milne)—var. vitrina only.
NNN.

Euconulus fulvus, Mull.—Never abundant, but frequent about Dungiven,
in Walworth Wood, and at Benevenagh. NNN.

Arion ater, L.—Common. NNN.

A. subfuscus, Drap.—Common. NNN.

A. intermedius, Normand.—Common where found; Benevenagh, Wal-
worth Wood, and about Dungiven. NNN.

A. hortensis, Fér.—Very common in some places about Dungiven, but
appeared quite absent from neighbouring situations. Thus it was
abundant in the Glens of Banagher and yet was not seen in Benady
Glen, a few miles to the east. It occurred on Chalk south of Ben-
bradagh, at an altitude of 1,200 feet. Also found at Limavady,
Tamlaght, Roe Park, and Umbra. It is always with great satis-
faction that I record this species as ‘“‘ undoubtedly native,” since
there are so many districts, especially in the west, where it has all
the appearance of a recently imported alien. NNN.

A. circumscriptus, Johnst.—Of general occurrence in the district. NNN.

Punctum pygmaeum, Drap.—In moss in Benady Glen. Common in flood
débris inside the “‘intake’’ at Limavady Junction (Welch, 1903).
NNN.

Sphyradium edentulum, Drap.—Tamlaght Woods, Walworth Wood, and
about Dungiven, apparently local. NNN.

1914. StTRLFOX.—Mollusca of County Derry. 129

Pyramidula rotundata, Miill— Very common. NNN.

Helicella itala, L.—Common on the sandhills of Magilligan. By the
railway at Limavady Junction. NNN.

H, intersecta, Poir.—Abundant in places, from Magilligan Point to Down-
hill. On the boundary wall of Tamlaght Woods (Milne). NNN.

H. barbara, L.—Common on the Magilligan sand-dunes, the western form.
The eastern form, var. bizona, so abundant at Portstewart, does not
occur west of the river Bann so far as Iam aware. NNN.

Hygromia fusca, Mont.—In the gullies, between 1,000 and 1,100 feet alt.,
on the cliffs of Benevenagh. Common in the glens of Banagher,
Walworth Wood, Tamlaght, and Umbra (Milne). NNN.

H. hispida, L.—Generally distributed, to 1,000 feet on Benevenagh and
1,200 feet on Benbradagh. NNN.

H. rufescens, Auct.—Two colonies of this species exist in the district at
least ; but it is evident that 1t owes its origin in both cases to man.
The two stations are (1) on rubbish thrown out of gardens, by the
river at Limavady, and (2) by the wall of Sir Harvey Bruce’s demesne,
above Downhill station. ***,

Acanthinula aculeata, Mill.—Common in Walworth Wood, Roe Park, and
in woods between Umbra and Magilligan station. NNN.

A. lamellata, Jeff—Abundant in Walworth Wood and in the Glens of
Banagher. Very common in Tamlaght Woods (Welch, 1904). NNN.

Vallonia pulchella, Mu!l.—Common on the sand dunes of Magilligan. Neat
Downhill and abundant in flood débris at Limavady Junction (Welch,
1903). NNN.

V. costata, Miill—On dry sandhills at Magilligan (Milne, 1892). NNN.

Arianta arbustorum, L.—Very common on limestone by the ford over
the Owenrigh, below Carnanbane, in the Glens of Banagher. At
Dungiven Abbey and on damp river bank in Benady Glen, two miles
above the Abbey, where the river appears to have cut through a
Glacial lake-deposit. Hitherto A. avbustorum has been found in
Derry, only near Coagh. It will, no doubt, be found to inhabit the
glens on the Tyrone slope of the Sperrins. While the specimens
taken on the limestone near Carnanbane were of a rich brown colour,
those from Benady Glen were very pale, some brown, some greenish-
yellow, and all very fragile. NNN.

Jelix aspersa, Mull.—Seems absent from the sandhills where one would
expect to find it if it were native in the district. It, however, occurs
in Roe Park (Milne) and on the railway at Limavady Junction. ***,

H. nemoralis, Mill.—Frequent in the woods, common on the sand-dunes;
and occurs on the basaltic cliffs of Benevenagh and Benbradagh to
an altitude of at least 1,050 feet. NNN.

H. hortensis, Mill.—Common by the roadside above Downhill, and taken
by Mr. Welch in the adjoining glen. All the specimens so far observed
have belonged to the vars. lutea or lutescens. Those referable to
the former are of an extremely rich yellow, while the few belonging
to the latter form have an almost greenish-white appearance. All
are unbanded, and thus resemble the form of this shell which is found

130 | The Trish Naturalist. June,

about Strabane and Newtownstewart, twenty-five miles to the south -
west, in Co. Tyrone. To the east the nearest known habitat for this
shell is thirty-five miles distant, where it occurs in the neighbourhood
of Slemish, in Antrim. In the Antrim station the five-banded typical
form has alone been found up to the present. It is thus evident that
long ages must have elapsed since these various colonies were isolated
from each other. NNN.

Cochlicopa lubrica, Mill.—Of general occurrence, but seems unusually
rare on Benevenagh, and was not seen by me there until the occasion
of my third visit. Abundant on the sand-dunes at Magilligan Point
(Milne). NNN.

Pupa anglica, Fér.—Common in places about Dungiven and in Walworth
Wood, Tamlaght Woods, and very common below cliffs at Downhill
(Welch). NNN.

P. cylindracea, Da Costa.—Common everywhere. NNN.

P. muscorum, L.—Common in flood débris in the “ intake ’’ at Limavady
Junction (Welch, 1903). Magilligan Point (Welch, 1896), and near
Downhill (Milne and Welch, 1900). On the boundary wall of Tamlaght
Woods (Milne), and one specimen actually in the woods (Welch),
probably brought inland with sand to “‘manure”’ the fields. All
the specimens are referable to the western form of the species.
NNN.

Vertigo substriata, |cif—Frequent in moss in Benady Glen, Dungiven.
Near Downhill (Welch, 1900). NNN.

V. pygmaea, Drap.—Does not appear common in the district. Walworth
Wood (Milne), and in the marsh by the river below Dungiven Abbey.
NNN.

[V. pusilla, Mull—Holocene. In shell-pockets in the sand-dunes of
Magilligan (Welch and Milne)].

[V. angustior, Jeff—Holocene. In shell-pockets in the sand-dunes of
Magilligan (Welch and Milne). ]

Balea perversa, L.—On Benevenagh and on the parapet of bridge on the
road from Dungiven to Maghera, near Cashel. Bellarena and Wal-
worth Wood (Milne). NNN.

Clausilia bidentata, StrOm.—Generally distributed. NNN.

Succinea putris, L.—By the edge of a drain on the Magilligan flat (Milne).
NNN.

S. Pfeifferi, Rossm.—In the marshes by Limavady Junction. NNN.

Carychium minimum, Mill.—Generally distributed and common. Not
seen at Benevenagh. NNN.

Phytia myosotis, Drap.—On the sea dyke, near Limavady Junction. Type
with the vars. denticulata and vingens. NNN.

Ancylus fluviatilis, Mill.—Plentiful in the Roe at:O’Cahan’s Rock, near
Limavady (Welch). In a small stream by the station at Magilligan
(Milne). NNN.

Limnaea pereger, Mill.—Frequent in the Roe Valley as far up as Benady
Glen, and common in the marshes about Limavady Junction. In
the Holy Well by the old church of Tamlaght, this shell is abundant,
while it occurs also in the lakelet above this spot. NNN.

1974. STRLFOX.—Mollusca of County Derry. 131

Limnaea palustris, Mill—Fine specimens in the marsh by Tamniarin
Bridge, which crosses the Roe two miles above Dungiven. In ponds
near Magilligan Point (Welch, 1896. Also Milne). NNN.

L. truncatula, Miill.—-Frequent, to 600 feet on Keady Mountain. NNN.

Planorbis crista, L.—Formerly common in the pond by the railway at
Limavady Junction (Milne); but none were seen by me in this spot
in June, 1909, though Mr. Welch took a few here in 1904.

P. leucostoma, Millet (= P. spivorbis, Auct.)—In drains by the railway at
Limavady Junction’; in the marsh below Dungiven Abbey ; and in
drains on the Magilligan flat. NNN.

Some years ago specimens of this species, P. leucostoma Mill., collected
by me on Gorteen Point, Dog’s Bay, West Galway, were named by the
late Dr. Boettger ‘‘ true Planorbis spirorbis of Linné.”’ As, however, I
was able to connect these shells with typical P. leucostoma by specimens
of intermediate form, I came to the conclusion that we had only one
species in Ireland, and that, though very variable in form, all our specimens
belonged to the P. spivorbis of Linné. Since that time I have seen con-
tinental examples of the supposed true P. spivorbis, which appear to differ
specifically from our common Irish shell. Moreover, I have taken a
Planorbis in the marsh at Ballyphehane, near Cork—Mid Cork—which
agree with these continental specimens, and between which and P.
leucostoma I have been unable to find intermediates. Jam now, therefore,
inclined to consider that the P. spivorbis of British authors must be split
into two, viz., Planorbis spirorbis of Linné and Planorbis leucostoma of
Millet. Mr. A. S. Kennard, F.G.S., of London, adopted these two
species some time ago, and it is thanks to his help that I have arrived at
the above conclusion. Besides those from Cork, I have a single example
of the true P. spivovbis from the canal near Shalford, in Surrey, which
was taken within a few yards of a marsh in which P. leucostoma was
abundant. Although I believe the two species are distinct, they closely
resemble each other, and I have no doubt that many continental records
for P. spirorbis should really be referred to a large-whorled form of P.
leucostoma, since I have received from the continent more than one lot
of the latter under the name of “ P. spivorbis, Linné.”

P. contortus, L.—Occurs in the lakelet by the path leading up to Bene-
venagh from Tamlaght Old Church, about 200 feet above sea-level.
Also taken on Magilligan Point (Welch, 1896). NNN.

Physa fontinalis, L.—In ponds on the Magilligan flat (Milne, 1893). NNN.

Aplecta hypnorum, L.—In marshes about Limavady Junction and
Magilligan, but it appears very local. NNN.

Paludestrina Jenkinsi, Smith.—Abounds in the drains about Limavady
Junction, where it was first seen (Welch and Milne) in the year, 1904.
In former years it was never seen there by Mr. Milne, though during
the ‘“‘nineties’’ he collected extensively in the district. NNN.

P. stagnalis, Baster—Common by the shore of Lough Foyle. NNN.

Bithynia tentaculata, L—In the ponds on the Magilligan flat (Milne,
1893). NNN.

Valvata piscinalis, Mill.—Occurs in drains near Magilligan station. NNN.

132 The lish Naturalist. June,

Valvata cristata, Mull.—Very common in shallow drains near the police
station at Bellarena (Welch, 1904). NNN.

Acicula lineata, Drap.—Below the cliffs of Benevenagh, at 900 feet alt. ;
by the waterfall at Lignapaeste, in the Glens of Banagher; in damp
moss in Benady Glen, Dungiven; and in the woods near Umbra.

NNN.

Sphaerium corneum, 1.—In ponds on the Magilligan flat (Milne, 1894).
NNN.

Pisidium pulchellum,

Jenyns. All five species have been identified by
P. casertanum, Poli. L Mr. B. B. Woodward among specimens
P. obtusale, Pfeiffer. { collected by Mr. Milne in Walworth Wood.
P. nitidum, Jenyns. All are NNN.

P. personatum, Malm.

Species of Pisidium have been taken by me in the following localities,
but they have not been identified :—In the lakelet above Tamlaght Old
Church, with Planorbis contortus ; in the marsh below Dungiven Abbey,
with P. leucostoma ; in the marsh at Tamniarin Bridge, near Dungiven,
with Limnaea palustris; and in a wet field on Keady Mountain, with
Limnaea truncatula.

ERRONEOUS RECORDS FOR THE DISTRICT.

Ovatella bidentata, Mont.—Owing to a mistake this species has been
recorded by me from Derry in the Irish List. This was because I
thought that Mr. Milne had taken the species on the shore of Lough
Foyle. Mr. Milne, however, tells me that he never saw it in Derry.

Paludestrina ventrosa, Mont.—Supposed specimens of this shell were
taken some years ago by Mr. Welch in a brackish marsh near Lima-
vady Junction. They are now regarded by Mr. Welch as abnormal
specimens of P. stagnalis.

I think that there are but two species absent from the
above list that I need comment upon ; these are Zomtotdes
mitidus and Vertigo antivertigo. It is almost impossible
to believe that they do not occur in the marshes of the Roe
Estuary, and yet neither Mr. Milne, Mr. Welch nor myself
have seen them there. Moreover, their shells were not
found by Mr. Welch in the débris which he collected here
after the disastrous floods of 1903. We can only imagine,
therefore, that for some peculiar reason they are exception-
ally rare in this district.

In conclusion, I have to record my thanks to Messrs. J.
N. Milne and R. J. Welch for the help which they have
given me in the preparation of these notes.

Belfast.

1914. BARRINGTON.—Sea-birds on the Skelligs. 133

FULMARS, GANNETS, AND OTHER SEA-BIRDS
ON? THE SKELLIGS:

BY R. M. *BARRINGTON;' M.A., F.L.S.

Mr. P. J. McGIntey, lightkeeper on the Great Skellig, a
well-known rocky island, about nine miles west of
Valencia, Co. Kerry, writes on March 16th :—*‘‘It may
interest you to know that the Fulmar is nesting here again
this year. When I acquainted the late respected Mr.
Ussher of their first visit last season, there was only a small
colony of about Ir or 12 pairs. This year the number
has increased to upwards of 70 birds. The colony has
divided, one section consisting of about 18 birds going to
nest at a different point from those of last year—they have
chosen the same side of the rock with a northerly aspect ;
the new position taken up is inaccessible, being directly
under the ‘ Needle’s Eye.’ !

‘They first arrived on February 2oth, and increased some
days afterwards. Guillemots appeared on February 27th,
Razorbills and Kittiwakes on March 14th, the Shearwater
was first heard on March 8th, but there is no sign of the
Puffin yet. Two pairs of Oyster-catchers are going to nest
again this year.”

In a second letter, dated the 19th of April, Mr. McGinley
Says :—

‘*' When I left the rock the other day the Fulmar was
sitting. All the other birds that frequent the Skelligs are
far more numerous this year than they have been for some
years past. The Razorbills are in the majority, whereas
last season and previous years the Guillemots were most
numerous.

‘The Oyster-Catcher is becoming plentiful, seven pairs
are here now. The ‘‘ Parrot’’ (Puffin) was first seen on
April 1st, and before April 19th they had taken up their
burrows. Several Shearwaters were also in their burrows.”’

* The ‘‘ Needle’s Eye” is a narrow passage on the face of the rock
near the summit (710 feet) of the Great Skellig, through which anyone
ascending to the top must pass.

43

134 The lrish Naturalist. June,

THE GANNET.

‘‘ This bird,” writes Mr. McGinley, ‘‘ has now extended
its breeding-range to the S.W. side of the Little Skellig,
and if they keep on extending as they have been doing for
the past few years, the Little Skellig will soon be literally
covered with them. As it is, from the N. through E. to
S.S.W., the rock is white with Gannets. There remains but
a very limited space on the S.W. point that is not actually
covered with them, and they have now appeared at this
point for the first time. They are becoming more numerous
every year.”

The Little Skellig is the oldest breeding-station in Ireland,
bemg known to Smith in 1756. Thompson, in 1850,
estimated the number breeding at 500 pairs. In 1880, I
estimated there were only 30 to 4o pairs. In 1882, Sir
R. P. Galway’s estimate was 150 pairs ; in 1884 they were
increasing ; in 1890 Mr. Turle considered there were several
thousand pairs. In 1906, when sailing round the Little
Skellig, and by counting the birds in a given area, |
estimated the total number from 15,000 to 20,000, thus
probably exceeding in numbers any other colony on the
West Coast of Europe.

THE FULMAR.

In the Imsh Naturalist for August, 1911 (p. 148), the late
Mr. R. J. Ussher first recorded the Fulmar as an Irish breed-
ing bird. In the September number of the Journal, he
gave details of his most interesting discovery on July roth
of the same year when in company with Herr Lindner,
an experienced German ornithologist. They counted
eighteen birds sitting on the face of a north Mayo cliff
one mile east of Portacloy.

_ Mr. Ussher then stated that about twenty Fulmars were
said to have been seen about an ‘‘ Ulster Cliff” the previous
year, I9g10, and remained there during the breeding season.
This ‘‘ Ulster Cliff” is situated on the N.W. side of Horn
Head in Co. Donegal. I visited it on June 27th, 1913, and
found about 70 pairs of Fulmars nesting. Mr. Ussher told

1914. BARRINGTON.—,Sca-birds on the Skelligs. 135

us that this locality described by Mr. G. V. Stoney of
Raphoe (Ivish Nat., September, 1912) is the same as that
which he, himself, referred to (Ivish Nat., September, IgITI,
pp. 150-151).

Mr. Stoney has kindly written to say that he saw several
pairs of Fulmars flying round this cliff in April, Ig1o, and
that in May, Ig1r, he received two Fulmar’s eggs, taken
on the Stags of Broadhaven, almost opposite to Portacloy,
Co. Mayo. The man who sent them called the bird the
‘* Great Shearwater.”

Mr. Stoney was therefore the first ornithologist to detect
the Fulmar breeding in Ireland, for he saw them in April,
1910, at Horn Head, and in May, Ig10, obtained eggs from
north Mayo. MHe did not publish his discovery nor inform
Mr. Ussher, who, independently, when searching for the
Golden Eagle in company with Herr Lindner, discovered
the Fulmar on the mainland, opposite the Stags of Broad-
haven, and published this fact in the Jvish Naturalzst,
August, IgII, as above mentioned.

In British Birds, July, 1913, I recorded twelve pairs of
Fulmars breeding on the Great Skellig, Co. Kerry. In
the Ivish Naturalist, August, 1913, p. 164, Mr. Ussher
mentions Tory Island as a second Donegal station, and
incidentally refers to the taking of Fulmars’ eggs on a
precipitous island on the Mayo coast. This refers to the
Stags of Broadhaven.

Reviewing the above data, I am of opmion that the
Fulmar first settled in Ireland on Horn Head in Co.
Donegal, then extended to Co. Mayo, and finally to Kerry,
a distance of about 300 miles in three years.

There is not the slightest necessity to protect this species ;
its range has been extending southwards on the west coast
of Europe for many years. Its wonderful gliding powers,
its graceful and buoyant flight, circling round and round
with almost motionless wings, render the Fulmar a
peculiarly attractive bird.

Fassaroe, Bray.

136 The Lrish Naturalist. June,

NOTES “ON *“SOME*"DIPTP RA” TAKEN “Nie
SOUTH OF TRELAND:

BY H. W.-ANDREWS,- F.E.S.

In view of the paucity of records of Irish Diptera generally,
the following lists of species taken in the course of several
holiday visits will, I trust, be of sufficient interest to justify
their publication. I should mention, however, that as I
was working with a view to increasing my own. collection
rather than compiling a list for publication, I have omitted
to note in my later visits several species I had already taken
on my earlier ones. I would further mention that a good
many of the records are based on single specimens, and
that I maimly. confined my collecting. to the famulies
mentioned in the lists following. Finally, I would thank
those kind friends who helped me in the task of identifi-
cation, especially Mr. Collin, Mr. Grimshaw, Mr. Malloch,
and Mr. Wainwright, while Colonel Yerbury, by sending me
a copy of his ‘‘ List”? of 1901 put me in possession of
much useful information as to localities.

The localities and dates of my visits were as follows :—

Stradbally (Co. Waterford), 3-11th August, 1906; 22-
30th June, 1907 ; 19-25th July, 1908.

Kenmare (Co. Kerry), 1-5th July, 1907; 26th July—Ist
August, 1908.

Glengariff (Co. Cork), 2-8th August, 1908, and 20-26th
May, IgII.

The two latter localities are well-known tourist resorts,
and have also been worked for Diptera by Colonel Yerbury’
in 1g01. Stradbally, however, is off the main road, a
coastal hamlet between Waterford and Dungarvan about
four miles from the latter town. Most of my collecting
here I owe to the kindness of Mr. J. G. Beresford, who gave

1 Ivish Naturalist, vol. xi., pp. 74-93-

1914. ANDREWS.—Some Diptera in the South of Leland. 137

me permission to collect on his private grounds consisting
of a well-wooded valley with a small river running through
it and coming out on the coast into a sandy cove about a
quarter of a mile across ; one of the few breaks in the series
of high cliffs that form so grand a feature of the scenery of
this part of the coast.

The records of my first two visits emphasise the great
difference due to favourable weather or the reverse, and the
danger of judging a locality on a single visit. In 1906 the
weather was fine and warm during the whole of my stay ;
in 1907 there were showers almost every day either in the
morning or afternoon, a general lack of sunshine, and a
low temperature, and whereas in 1906 I had taken examples
of 7 species of the genus Syrphus, and in 1go1 Col. Yerbury
had met with 14 species, in 1907 I did not see a single
specimen of that genus. The unfavourable weather con-
ditions were also probably responsible for the absence of
those Tabanidae which were noted by Col. Yerbury as
abundant at Kenmare in Igor at the same time of the
year as my visit in 1907. In this latter year the Umbelli-
ferae heads, usually so favourite a resort for Diptera, were
devoid of all but the very commonest species, such as
Empis tessellata and Lucilia caesar, and not unfrequently
even these were absent. Speaking generally, the Anthomy-
idae and Dolichopodidae seemed less susceptible to the
weather than the other families to which I paid attention,
and I again noticed this fact in regard to the Anthomyidae
on my visit to Glengarriff in tg1z, when I only got three
days collecting out of the six of my stay.

In the following lists the nomenclature, excepting in the
Tachinidae, is based on Mr. Verrall’s ‘‘ List’ of rg0r. S.=
Stradbally ; K.=Kenmare; G.=Glengarriff. The year
only is given, the other dates being already mentioned in
my prefatory remarks. The great majority of the insects
are in my own collection with the exception of the Tachi-
nidae, which were handed over to Mr. C. J. Wainwright.
Those species mentioned in Col. Yerbury’s list of Igor are
marked with an asterisk.

138

The Lrish Naturalist.

June,

STRATIOMYIDAE.

Oxycera Morrisi Curt.—sS. ’o8.
*Sargus flavipes Wg.—S. ’o0.
*S. iridatus Scop.—s. ’o6.
*Chloromyia formosa Scop.—

5. 082

Microchrysa cyaneiventris Ztt.—
S507"
*Beris vallata Forst.—K. ’07.
B. fuscipes Mg.—S. ’07.
Chorisops tibialis Mg.—S. ’08.
(a very dark form).

LEPTIDAE.

*Leptis scolopacea L.—S. ’07.

*L. lineola F.—K. ’07.

*Atherix marginata £.—S. ’06;
Ga08:

*Chrysopilus cristatus I’. (auratus
of Verrall’s list)—S. ’06 and
08) SK 207;

TABANIDAE.

*Haematopota pluvialis L.—S.’07
(a pest).

*H. crassicornis Wh/lb.—S. ’06 and
"07.5, Loo bridge o7.. (G. 507.

*Therioplectes montanus Mg.—
Loo Bridge ’08 (only two
specimens ep: Col:
Yerbury’s list).

seen

*Tabanus sudeticus Zell. var.
perplexus Verr. (female)—S.
06, + KK. andiG,. 168.

*Chrysops relicta Mg.—S. ’06 ;
Oe.

ASILIDAE.

Neoitamus cyanurus Lw.—S. ’07.

EMPIDAE.

Hybos femoratus Mull.—s. ’06 ;
Comeragh Mts. ’07; K.’07.

H. culiciformis Fab.—S. ’06 and
08.

Cyrtoma nigra Mg.—G. ’11.

C. intermedia Lund.—Comeragh

“MES O75
C. pilosa Lund.—Comeragh Mts.
{O77

Rhamphomyia nigripes F.—G. ‘11.
R. stigmosa Mcg.—G. ’11.
Empis tessalata F'.—S. ’06.

*E, livida L.—S. ’06.

E. stercorea L.—K., ’07.
E. pennatia Fin.—S. ’07.
E. grisea Fin.—S. ’07.

Hilara maura F.—S.’07; G.’11I
(Waterford ’11, two or three
flew into the railway carriage).

H. pubipes Lw.—S. *07.

H. chorica Fln.—K. ’07 and.’o8.

*Ocydromia glabricula Flw.—sS.

’

07.

Clinocera fontinalis Hal.—G. ’11.
C. nigra Mg.—S. ’07.
Tachypeza nubila Mg.—G., ’11.

DOLICHOPODIDAE.

*Psilopus platypterus F’.—S. ’07 ;
K. ’o7 and “os,

Hygroceleuthus diadema Hal.—
i077,

1914. ANDREWS.— Some Diptera

*Dolichopus atratus Mg.— Com-
eragh. Mts. j07);, KK,’ 707;

D. melanopus Mg.—K. ’07.

D. picipes Mg.—S. ’08.

D. lepidus Staeg.—S. ’o6.

. atripes Mg.—S. ’06 ;

Gog, A

D. vitripennis Mg.—K. ’07.

discifer Stan—S. ’07 ;

IS 107.

D. Wahlbergi Z##.—S. ’06; K.
‘a7« G08,

D. pennatus Mg.—S. ’07.

Die populansoW --S...-06i.. IK
ory ere TR. a8.

D. signatus Mg.—S.’06; S.’07;
Aso:

D. urbanus Mg.—K.’07 and ’o8.

D, trivialis Hal.—S..’o7.

D. festivus Hal.—S. ’07.

D. nitidus Fin.—S.’06; K.’07.

D

D

D

1, Wrote fa

. nubilus Mg.—K. ’07 and ’o8.

. simplex Mg.—K. ’07.

. aeneus Deg.—S. ’07.
Tachytrechus notatus Stan.—

SO

Hercostomus nigripennis Fln,—
De) OF,

Hypophyllus obscurellus Fln.—
is) Of:

*Gymnopternus cupreus Fln.—

07 eG Barr.
G. metallicus Stann.—K. ’07 ;
Comeragh Mts. ’o07.

in the South of Lreland. 139
Gymnopternus celer Mg.—K. ’07.
G. assimilis Staeg.—S. ’06.

*G, aerosus Fin.—S. ’07; K. 07

and ’08; G. ’o08.
Chrysotus neglectus W.—Water-
ford ’07.
C. cilipes Mg.—S. ’08 ;.K. *08.
C. gramineus Fln.—S,’07 ; G.’08.
Diaphorus oculatus Fln.—K.’o7.
*Argyra diaphana F.—S.’06 and

‘py.

*A. leucocephala Mg.—S. ’06;
yO) 3G 08);

A. argentina Mg.—S. ’06 and
"Oar a OF:

Leucostola vestita W.—G. ’o8.
*Raphium longicorne Fin.—G. 11,
Machaerium maritimae Hal.—

Ie 2or3

Porphyrops crassipes Mg.—S.
OF

Xiphandrium caliginosum M¢.-S,
08,

X. appendiculatum Z#t.—S. ’06
and’) Og 7) \IK.) 67%

Syntormon pallipes F.—K. ’07
and ’08; G. ’o8.

*Liancalus virens Scop.—sS. ’o07

and ’o8.

Campsicnemus curvipes F’/n.—S.
08.

Aphrosylus celtiber Hal.—S. ’o07
and,"08's! 'G, 708;

A .técox, Hal-—S. 1.08,

IL.ONCHOPTERIDAR,

*Lonchoptera trilineats Ztt.—K. ’07.

PIPUNCULIDAE.

*Pipunculus furcatus Egg.—S.’07.
P. modestus Hal.—K. ’08.
*P. flavipes Mg.—S. ’06 and ’07,

*P. confusus Verry.—S. ’o7.
*P. varipes Mg.—G. ’o8.

SYRPHIDAE,

Pipizella flavitarsis Mg.—S. ’07.
P. virens F.—K. ’07.

*Pipiza noctiluca L.—S. ’o06 and
OF: ike 708,

140

Pipiza lugubris F'.—S. ’o06, ’07.

*Liogaster splendida Mg.—S. ’06;
K. ’07 and ’08.

*Chrysogaster splendens Mg.—S.
FOO Res 605.

*C. hirtella Lw.—S. ’06; K, ’07.
Cometagh Mts..’07; G. "11.

*C. Solstitialis Fln.—S. ’06.

Chilosia antiqua Mg.—S. ’07.

*C. scutellata, Fin.—-S- 06:

*C. illustrata Harry.—S. ’06; S.
707 and K. 08 (the red form
mentioned by Col. Yerbury
in his “ List”? was not taken
by me).

C. impressa Lw.—sS. ’08.

C. Bergenstammi Beck.—S. ’08.

*Platychirus scutatus Mg.—Com-
eragh Mts. ’07.

*P, albimanus F.—S.’06; K.’o07;
G. 1D.

*P, clypeatus .Mg.—K. ’o07 and
08.

*P. angustatus Zit.—S. ’o6.

*Pyrophaena granditarsa Forst.—
Sem Op

*P. rosarum, FS. foo.

*Melanostoma mellinum L.—S.
*00.5) KK 07 and? 08.

*M. scalare F.—S. “06.

*Leucozona lucdrum L.—S. ’06
(common); S. ’07 and ’o08
(scarce).

*Ischyrosyrphus glaucius L.—S.
’06 (common) ; S. ’08 (scarce).

*I. laternarius Mull.—S. ’06 and
08.

*Cataboma pyrastri L.—K_ ’08.

*Syrphus grossulariae Mg.—S. ’06.

*S. ribesii L.—S. ’06.

*S. vitripennis Mg.—S.

The Trish Naturalist. June,

*S) ‘auricollis “Me. "06:

*Sphaerophoria menthrastri L.—
5. ’06; Comeragh Mts. ’07;
G, "08;

*Baccha obscuripennis Mg.—S.’o6
and ’o7.

*B. elongata F'.—<S. ’06.

*Ascia podagrica F.—S. ’o6.

A. dispar Mg.—S. ’06.

*Rhingia campestris Mg.—Com-
mon generally.

*Volucella bombylans L. and var.
plumata—sS. ’o08.

*V. pellucens L.—S. ’o6.

*Eristalis aeneus Scop.—s. ’08.

*E, tenax L.—Generally common.

*E. pertinax Scop.—sS. ’06.

*E. intricarius L.—S. ’o6.

*E. arbustorum—S. ’06.

E. nemorum L.—S. ’o6. —

*E. horticolor Deg.—S. ’06 and ’08
(common).

*F. cryptarum F.—G. ’I1T.

*Myiatropa florea L.—S. ’06;
Kt 207,

*Helophilus pendulus L.—S. ’06 ;
Ge fea.

*Criorrhina berberina F.—S. ’07.

C. oxycanthae Mg.—sS. ’07.

*Xylota segnis L.—S. ’06 and ’07;
Ke 0S:

X. lenta Mg.—sS. ’07.

*X. sylvarum L.—S. ’06 and ’08.

*Syritta pipiens L.—K. ’07.

*Chrysoclamys cuprea Scop.—s.
107.

*Sericomyia borealis Fin.—S. ’06;
G. 708.

*S. lappona ~.—G. ‘11.

*Chrysotoxum arcuatum L.—G.,

406, 08.
*S. balteatus Deg.—S. ’06. *C. festivum L.—K. ’@8. °
S. cinctus Fin.—S. *06. *C. bicinctum L. —S. ’06, ’07 and
*S. cinctellus Zi##.—S. ’06. 08.
CONOPIDAE.

*Conops quadrifasciata Deg.—s.
"06.
Oncomyia atra F.—S, ’06.

*Sicus ferrugineus L.—S. ’06;
G. 708;

ee

1914. ANDREWS.— Some Diptera in the South of Ireland. 141

TACHINIDAE.

: (Mr. C. J. Wainwright has been kind enough to revise this list of

Tachinidae).

*Echinomyia fera L.—S. ’o6.

*E. grossa L.—S. ’06.

*Micropalpus vulpinus Fall.—s.
06.

Gymnochaeta viridis F/n.—G. 11

*Ernestia radicum /f.—S. ’06;
G.. "9B;

E. consobrina Mg.—S. ’06; G.
08.

E. connivens Z¢#t.1—S. ’oo.

Panzenia rudis Fall.—sS. ’ao.

Exorista glauca Mg.—S. ’06 and

1083) G. ’o8.
Epicampocera succincta Mg.—
8: ’o6.

Phryxe vulgaris Fall.—S. ’o6.

Tachina larvarum L.—S. ’06;
K- 708:

T. impotens Rond.—G. ’08.

Histochoeta marmorata F.—G.
08.

Voria curvinervis Ztt.—G. ’08.

Bucentes geniculata Deg.—S.’06;
K. 08,

Actia pilipennis Mg.—K. ’o8.

Degeeria collaris Fall. var.
ornata Mg.—G. ’08.

Bithia spreta Mg. (Demoticus
frontatus Boh.)—S.’ 06; K.
08.

Ocyptera brassicaria F.—G. ’o8,
(very rare—C. J. W.)

*Thelaira nigripes Fab. (leucozona
Panz.)—S. ’06.

*Dexiosoma caninum Fal/.—S.
406 = 1: *O8:

'*Prosena sybarita F.—G. ’o8.

Rhinophora lepida Mg.—S. ’08.

Sarcophaga brachiata Pand.?—
S. eb.

*S: catnaria. £.—S. "08 :1G: ’08.

S. vicina Vill3—S, ’06.

S. melanura Mg.—G. ’08.

Brachycoma devia Fin.—S. ’06.

*Miltogramma punctatum Mg.—
Se. O8.

*Metopia campestris Fall.—S. ’06.

Onesia aculeata Pand.—G. ’11.

*Gymnosoma rotundatum L.—
G. ’08. (Very rare—C. J. W.)

Alophora hemiptera F.—S. ’07
and ’o8.

MUSCIDAE.

*Stomoxys calcitrans L.—S. ’o6.

*Haematobia stimulans Mg.—sS.
’06, ’07, and ’08.

Pollenia vespillo F.—K. ’08.

*P. rudis #.—Generally common.

*Myiospila meditabunda F.—S.
075 Koy 07-3\G. “og,

*Graphomyia maculata Scop.—s.
’06 and ’07.

Musca corvina F.—S. ’08.

Morellia simplex Lw.—S. ’06;
K. ’08.

M. hortorum Fin.—S.’06; G. 08.
*Mesembrina meridiana L.—S. ’o6.
Pyrellia cadaverina L.—S. ’07.
P. cyanicolor Ztt.—S. ’07.
Euphoria cornicina F.—S.

K: /o7.
Calliphora vomitoria L.—S. ’o6.
Lucilia ruficeps Mg.—S. ’o8.
L. caesar L.—S. ’07.

,

O75

1 Very rare, but possibly only a variety of consobrina Mg.—C. J. W.

«

2 A pair taken
present.—C. J. W.

“in cop” are the only British specimens known at

3 One of our commonest species, usually mixed with carnaria L. in

collections.—C. J. W.

142

The Trish Naturalist.

June,

ANTHOMYIDAE,

- *Polhietes lardaria F. ) Generally

*Hyetodesia incana W i¢ common.

H. lucorum Fin.—s.’07; K.’08.

H. marmorata Ztt.—S.’07.

H. serva Mg.—S. ’07.

H. dispar Fin.—K. ’08.

H. Goberti Mik.—K..’07.

H. obscurata Mg.—S. ’07; G.
"To OSs

H. variabilis—K. ’08.

H. umbratica Mg.—S.’07 and ’08;

Wateriordsco7i yaks 05% 4G,

08.

H. lugubris Mg.—G. ’11. ;

H. semicinerea W.—G. ’08; G.
Soe

H. errans Mg.—G. ’I1.

H. signata Mg.—S.’07; K.’07;
S. 208)

H. basalis Ztt.—S. ’08; G. ’08;
K. 708.

H. rufipalpis Mcqg.—S. ’08.

H. scutellaris Filn.—sS.
Gait.

H. pallida F.—S. ’o7 and ’o8.

H. vagans Fin.—K. ’07 and ’08.

Mydea urbana Mg.—Generally
common.

M. vespertina Fin.—S. ’07.

U .
oF 5

M. tincta Ztt.i—K. ’07; G. ’08;
5.107.

M. nigricolor Fin.—K. ’08; G.
’08.

M. impuncta Fln.—S. ’06 and
07 3. Watertord’’67 6 TK: 407;

M. pagana F'.—S. ’06, ’07.

Spilogaster nigrinervis Z#t.—K.

708) 2) G08.
S. duplicata Mg—sS. ’06 and
08.

*S, notata Fin.—S. ’06.
S. trigonalis Mg.—S.’08 ; G. ’08.

S. communis Dsv.—S. ’06 and
507,
S. quadrum F.—S. ’06 and ’07;
IK, 7083 Gy “08;

S. consimilis Fln.—K. ’07.
S. demigrans Zi##t.—S.’07; K.’07.

Limnophora solitaria Ztt.—G. ’o08*
and ‘11 (not uncommon on
rocks in I9g1I.)

L. contractifrons Zit.—S. ’o8
(common on wet .places: on
cliffs. )

L. septemnotata Zit.—S. ’o8.

L. aestuum V721l,—S. ’07 (on the
sand at sea margin).

Limnophora (two other species
unidentified).

Hydrotea ciliata F.
"085.43 308;

H. cyrtoneurina Ztt.—S. ’o6.

H. irritans Fln.—S. ’06, ’07 and

ORT NISC O7e

dentipes F.—S. ’06 and ’08 ;

Ke .0712 \Geand:

H. similis Mde.—S. ’06, ’07 and

S.’07 and

2

(08,2 IK .08.

H. militaris Mg.—S.’o07 and ’08 ;
G08 3 nlse7 083

H. albipuncta Ztt,—Waterford
OF.

Ophyra leucostoma W.—S,. ‘06
and “07,

*Drymia hamata Flu.—S. ’06 and
08's, VG. OB Karlose

Trichopticus pulcher Mds.—S.
"075 (Gs 08.

T. hirsutulus Ztt.—Comeragh
Mts. "07:

Hydrophoria conica W.—S. ’07
and “oSs "Geir

H. socia Fln.—G. ’08.

Hylemyia flavipennis Fin.—sS.
’06 and ’08; G. ’o8.

H. variata Fln.—K. ’07.

H. seticrura Rnd.—S. ’06 and
08:2 UKE 708;

H. strigosa :-=S)) 06 ae 077;
Giri

Mycophaga fungorum Deg.—S.
07. *

Anthomyia radicum L.—K. ’07 ;
S, 08.

A. pluvialis,—S. ’07.
*Phorbia’ floccosa iMicg.——S; {07
and “08 > 4k.) 08.

IgI4.

Phorbia pudica Rud.—S. ’07.
P. discreta Mg.—K. ’08.

P. neglecta Mde.—K. ’08.

P. ignota Rnd.—S.’06; K.’07;
Ger Sky.

Pegomyia bicolor W.—S. ’06 and

"08 =: “KK. ’o7 and *o8; G. 31.

P. transgressa Zit. ( ? )—G. ’08.
P. flavipes—S. ’06 and ’08; G.

= cs
Homalomyia hamata Mcg.—S.
‘e7- Kh. *G7.

H. fuscula Fin.—K. ’07.

ANDREWS.—Some. Diptera in the South of Ireland.

*H. canicularis L.

143

H. similis Stein.—S.’o07; G.’11.
S..07,, ’08.
H. aerea Z#t.—S. ’07.
H. coracina Lw.—S. ’o8.
Azelia Macquarti Staeg.—S. ’07.
*Caricea tigrina F.—Waterford
07? -S.,and K. /os.
Coenosia sexnotata Mg.—Water-
iord, O07 5. 5., 08.
*Fucellia maritima Hal.—S. ’o6,
'o7. anu 08; G..’o8.
F. fucorum Fln.—S. ’06 and ’07.

ACALYPTERATA.

(As so few of these were taken, they are not divided up into

families. )

Cordylura pubera F.—S. ’07 and
"08.
*Scatophaga scybalaria L.—S. ’06.
*S. stercoraria L.—S. ’07.
*Orygma luctuosum Mg.—S. ’07.
Coelopa pilipes Hal ( ? )—S. ’o8.
Phycodroma sciomyzina Ha/.—
08.
Helomyza montana Lw. (fusci-
cornis Zett.)—K. ’07.
Heteromyza commixta Coll.—G.
’o8 (taken hovering in small
groups about 8.0 p.m., on
6th August, 1908).
*Actora aestuum Mg.—S. ’08.
*Dryomyza flaveola F.—G. ’II.
Sciomyza cinerella Fin.—S. ’o8.
*Tetanocera elata F.—S. ’06;
| RSG

Shirley, Welling, Kent.

*T. laevifrons Lw.—S. ’07.

*T. umbrarum L.—K. ’07.

*Limnia unguicornis Scop.—K.
’07 and ’o8.

Elgiva dorsalis F.—K. ’08.

Tetanura pallidiventris Fln.—sS.
"OF-

*Loxocera albiseta Schrk.—S. ’06.

Calobata cibaria L.—S. ’07.

*Rivellia syngenesiae F.—K. ’07.

*Pteropaectria frondescentiae L.—
Ke 707.5 oO. Ga.

*Peplomyza Wiedemanni Lw.—sS.

OF.
*Sapromyza longipennis F.—S.
07; K. ’07.

*S. fasciata Fin.—S. ’08.
S. pallidiventris Fln.—S. ’o7.
Phora abdominalis Fln.—S. ’07.

144 The Lrish Natusalisi. June,

REVIEWS,
IRISH AND BRITISH BEASTS.

A History of British Mammals. By Geracp E. H. Barrett-HamiLTon,
B.A. (Cantab), M.R.I.A., F.Z.S. London: Gurney and Jackson.
Parts’ V. to: XV.

It is only with a sense of deep sadness that a reviewer can address
himself to the writing of a brief notice of the more recently published
parts (V. to XV., inclusive) of the work that Major Barrett-Hamilton
has not been spared to carry further. The characteristic style and manner
of the author are so noticeable on every page that he seems to start into
life as we follow his careful study of the spoor of the Irish Hare, his valuabie
notes on that animal’s seasonal colour-change, or the concise yet elaborate
dissertation in which he treats of the slow approach to accuracy that
has been made in distinguishing the many genera, species and sub-species
of that generally unpopular family the Muride. The beautiful drawings
and coloured plates by the hand of Edward Adrian Wilson must excite
similar feelings in the minds of many. Of these, however, we may expect
to see many more as the progress of the work continues, for it is stated
in Major Barrett-Hamilton’s fine appreciation of his friend the lost artist
which appears as a preface to Part XIV. that only “a few drawings were
still wanting to finish the scheme ’”’ when Wilson started on his fatal
expedition to the Antarctic. It would scarcely be possible to find a more
pleasing specimen of his skill as an animal painter than the picture of
the South Orkney Grass Mice (or Voles, if we may still make an occasional
use of a name which Major Barrett-Hamulton has found it necessary to
discard from zoological use) appearing in the same part with the
announcement of his death.

The parts that have appeared since a previous review? comprise the
last sub-division of the Bats (Rhinolophidae), the Insectivora, and that
comparatively small section of the Rodents (Duplicidentata) whose only
present representatives in the British Islands are the Hares and Rabbits
(Leporidae). In the latest parts we just touch the fringe of the Simplici-
dentata, reaching the genera Muscardinus, Evotomys, and Microtus.
Of the animals dealt with only five are species occurring in Ireland.
These are the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat, Hedgehog, Pygmy Shrew, Rabbit,
and Irish Hare. It is well known that the last-mentioned of these
animals had long been a subject of special interest to the author, who
was favourably situated for observing its ways, and his account of it
could not be surpassed for accuracy and care. Major Barrett-Hamilton
has no hesitation about assigning it full specific rank, giving his reason
as follows :—

‘The Irish Hare is given full specific rank because it is a completely
isolated form of considerable antiquity, which owes its survival to
preservation from competition in an insulated area; it is absolutely
distinguishable at a glance from its nearer relatives, with which it cannot

\ Ivish Nats, Wol, Xx.) pp..80-7.

1914. Reviews. 145

naturally intermingle, and never intergrades or overlaps in characters.
When transported to localities inhabited by other hares, as the Island of
Mull, and Vaynol Park, North Wales, it retains its distinctness. It
appears to have directly descended from the late Pleistocene L. anglicus ;
the relationship implies a geologically recent connection between England
and Ireland.”

It is probable that this reasoning would not be accepted at first sight
by zoologists of a lumping tendency, without fuller information as to,
for instance, the length of time for which the Irish Hare has been known
to “retain its distinctness ’’ when “ transported to localities inhabited
by other hares”’ so nearly allied to itself as the Blue Hare of Scotland.
On another page, however, we are given the supplemental information
that the colony on the Island of Mull, where the Scottish and Irish Hares
may still be seen together and keep their specific characters, dates from
the introduction of twelve specimens from Wicklow “‘ about 1860,” and
so has retained its characteristics for a sufficient time to give considerable
strength to Major Barrett-Hamilton’s argument.

Of that singularly interesting and, until lately, much neglected animal
the Lesser or Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus) the account given is somewhat
Shorter than might have been desired. Although many interesting
particulars are given—some of them on the strength of the author’s own
personal and careful investigation, and others as the result of the important
researches carried on by Messrs. L. E. Adams, G. H. Caton Haigh, A. H.
Cocks, and other students of the lesser forms of British mammalian life—
still, the statement that “in its habits, so far as our scanty knowledge
goes, the Pygmy does not differ widely from the Common Shrew,” cannot
but strike the reader as somewhat unsatisfactory, in view of the remarkable
abundance of the Common Shrew in Great Britain—where Mr. Cocks
regards it as “ probably by far the most numerous mammal in the British
Isles ’’—and the comparative scarcity of the smaller species, not only in
England, where it might be looked on as kept down in numbers by the
competition of its larger relative, but also in Ireland, where it has no
other Shrews to compete with, and might therefore be expected, if really
similar in its ways to Sovex avaneus, to become as common, or nearly
so, as that species is where it prevails. Some unascertained but important
difference in habits must, one would think, exist to explain this difference
in the numbers of the two animals, and the need for further close attention
to the ways of Shrews is evident.

Major Barrett-Hamilton accepts as proven nearly to demonstration the
conclusion arrived at by Mr. Lionel Adams?! that Shrews are “‘ annuals,”
and that the autumnal mortality of both S. avaneus and S. minutus is
due simply to the fact of the entire adult shrew population having reached
the term of their natural life. Mr. Adams made out, as was shown in
this Journal, a strong case for this remarkable conclusion, and no facts,
so far as we are aware, have since come to light that are out of harmony
with it; but the possibility that a few of the older Shrews hibernate

1 Mem. and Proc. Manchester Lit. and Philosoph. Soc., liv., 10, tae.
See also Ivish Naturalist, vol. xix., pp. 121-6.

146 The lrish Naturalist. June,

each winter has at any rate not yet been disproved, and would agree
with what is known of the Dormouse, in which species the older animals
hibernate much more successfully than the young ones. On this point,
also, the ground for further investigation is open. Though it has been
shown that young Shrews are active during the winter, the conclusion
may have been too hastily arrived at that the old ones would be equally
active if they were alive.

The Lesser Horse-shoe Bat (Fhinolophus hipposideros minutus, as the
Britannic form is styled in the work before us) is another animal to which
it is clear that Irish naturalists ought to pay more particular attention.
Its range in this island is confined to the limestone regions of the West,
where F. J. Foot and J. R. Kinahan made some meritorious observations
on its history half a century ago, and it has in more recent times been
thoroughly well studied in one of its British resorts—the Cefn Cave,
Denbighshire—by those indefatigable naturalists, Messrs. Charles Oldham
and T. A. Coward.

The Rabbit or Cony—Major Barrett-Hamilton was a stickler for the
revival of old English names—is the subject of a long and very interesting
chapter in which the author’s views on protective and warning colours
are shown to be not altogether in harmony with those of Darwin and
Wallace. The difference, however, does not seem to be very vital.
Wallace probably made a mistake in writing as though he thought the
white upturned tail of the retreating rabbit was meant to be followed by
other members of the colony. But that the “ signal-flag’’ has a value
as a warning to run—though each of the warned animals runs its own
way—is admitted by the author to be at least possible. And in treating
of the Hedgehog Major Barrett-Hamilton practically adopts the theory—
originated by Mr. Pocock—that it is endowed with properties (some
appealing to the ear and some to the nose) corresponding to the warning
colours of more diurnal creatures. |

If the remaining parts of this work (which Mr. Hinton has undertaken
to complete) attain anything like the high level of excellence of those
already published it will indeed be an invaluable addition to the scientific
literature already existing which treats of the subject of European

Mammals.
CJ: Baakis

THE BADGER.

The Life and Habits of the Badger. By J. FAtrRFAx BLAKEBOROUGH
and “Sim «Awel1-e2BASEY. DART. Illustrated. London : * The
Foxhound ”’ Offices.

This volume consists of 112 pages of large type and thick paper, divided
into an introduction, seven chapters, and an index. Written by a sports-
man, it does not profess to deal with the Badger from a scientific stand -
point. It adds little to our knowledge since the smaller and more original
book entitled ‘‘ The Badger ’’ was written in 1898 by Sir A..E: Pease, M.P.

1914. Reviews. 147

The illustrations are few and have no special merit. One naturally looks
at first to ascertain if any additional light has been thrown on the great
Badger puzzle, 7.e., its period of gestation; and it is very disappointing
to find that with an increasing number of sportsmen—naturalists and
zovlogists all over the world—we appear to have advanced not a single
step during the past century. Sir Alfred Pease is still of opinion that
the Badger goes with young ‘“‘ about nine weeks.’’ Bell, in his ‘‘ History
of British Quadrupeds,”’ 1874, avoids the subject. Flower and Lyddeker
writing in 1891 give the period as eleven and a half months; and Sir
Harry Johnston, in 1903, as six months. Probably none of our country-
men have had forty years experience of keeping Badgers like Mr. Alfred
H. Cocks. In his chapter on Mammals in the “ History of Buckingham -
shire,’ he arrives at the remarkable conclusion that the period “‘ may
be anything between, under five or over fifteen months ;”’ but he finds
that whatever the period is, in over twenty cases all the young were
born between February roth and March 21st. He thinks the young are
born at varying periods of maturity. lice:

One cannot help regretting that owing to Major Barrett-Hamilton’s
lamented death we are left in ignorance of the opinion he had formed
amidst such a conflict of testimony—his great work on British Mammals
being unfinished. |

Truly Sir Alfred Pease has well said in his earlier book that there is
“less known about the Badger than any wild animal left in England
at the present time.’’ The life history of the Eel lay hidden for centuries.
What embryologist will first give an explanation, sufficient to reconcile
the conflicting opinions which have just been quoted ?

Attention is drawn to the difficulty of killing a Badger, the toughness
of its leathery hide, and the tremendous power of its jaws. It can be
readily despatched by a blow on the nose, though its snout is unaffected
by any number of wasp stings, for it buries its head with impunity in
_a large nest of Vespa vulgaris or germanica, the grubs of which form a
favourite part of its diet.

There are chapters on the habits of the Badger and exciting accounts
of its capture by men with dogs, tongs, spades, and sacks. The authors
are of opinion that mangy badgers are rare, that they are very cleanly
animals, and instead of causing injury to foxes by infecting them with
mange, contribute to their increase by the formation of suitable earths
which the Fox subsequently occupies. Badgers are said to be almost
extinct in Scotland, and local in England. In Ireland the reviewer is
aware of their increase in some counties, and there is no doubt that they
occur in almost every district. Both Mr. Blakeborough and Sir Alfred
Pease defend the Badger from most of the accusations brought against
it, and plead for its protection, by stating their experience, and that of
others, as to its comparative harmlessness. Gamekeepers and_ their
employers should read the volume with interest, and naturalists will be
pleased to think that one of our native wild animals has two such capable
advocates.

Sat 3 R. M. B.

148 The lrish Naturalist. June, 1914.

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include a Macacque Monkey from Mr. John Gilmer, a
Leopard Cub from Miss Moulton, Rabbits from Mr. Duggan, Mr. Bertie
Scott, and Mr. G. Clifton, a pair of Peafowl from Mrs. Leech, and a Grass
Parrakeet from Mrs. Tew. Another Macacque Monkey and a Bonnet
Monkey have been received on deposit, and two Ring-tailed Lemurs have
been born in the Gardens, one of which is surviving and likely to do well.

NOTES,

BOTANY.

A Hepatic new to Ireland— Eremonotus myriocarpus (Carr).
Lindberg and Kaalaas.

Mr. John Hunter of Ballasalla sent me, a short time ago, a number
of hepatics to examine, and amongst them I found the above species,
which is new to Ireland. It was discovered by the late Dr. Carrington
on Ben Venue, Scotland, and has since been found in several other parts
of Scotland by Mr. Macvicar and others, also in Westmoreland and North
Wales. Dr. Spruce speaks of this as being one of the happiest discoveries
of Dr. Carrington ; it is a very curious plant and has been placed in several
genera, Diplophyllum by Dr. Carrington, Hygrobiella by Spruce ; but
has found its true place in a genera proposed by Lindberg and emended
by Kaalaas. It grows by streams in crevices of moist rocks in subalpine
localities in company with Hygrobiella laxifolia (Hook.). It is a dioicous
species and only the plant has been met with in Mr. Hunter’s specimens.
Locality :—Rocks, Bulbein Mountain, Innishowen, N. Donegal, (Division
34 1.), August 22nd, 1911, leg. J. Hunter.

W. H. PEARSON.

Manchester.

ZOOLOGY.
Pied Flycatcher at Ballycottin.

On the 19th of April, I received from Ballycottin Lighthouse, Co. Cork,
an adult male Pied Flycatcher in full breeding plumage. This is the
thirteenth specimen I have received from light stations, and the only
spring specimen obtained in Ireland, with the exception of the adult
female procured by Mr. Warren at Moyview, Co. Sligo, in April, 1875.

The occurrence of this second spring specimen leads one a step forward
towards suggesting that it may yet be found breeding in Ireland.

RicuD. M. BARRINGTON.
Fassaroc, Bray.

————

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July, 1914. The Irish Naturalist. 149

OUR IRISH WARBLERS.

BY REV. CHARLES W. BENSON, LL.D.

To my mind the family Sylviadae or Warblers are the
most interesting of all our songsters, though most of them
are with us and vocal for only about three months in the
year. The Rev. C. A. Johns in his excellent history of
‘‘ British Birds in their Haunts,” of which I am glad to see,
a new edition has lately appeared, speaks of warblers as
‘“small and delicately formed birds, most of which are
migratory, frequenting in summer groves and woods and
feeding principally on small insects which they collect among
herbage on the bark of trees or on the ground.”

As their name denotes, the majority are musical. The
greater number of these birds arrive in Ireland early in the
spring, and sing during April, May, and June, a very few
in July. Our resident warblers such as the Redbreast and
the Hedge Sparrow may be heard in any month in the year.

The ‘‘ three feathered Kings of Song,” as they have been
called, are the Nightingale, the Blackcap, and the Garden
Warbler. The first of these has never occurred in Ireland,
and the other two are comparatively rare.

Our lamented friend Mr. R. J. Ussher, in his great work,
tells us that the BLAcKcaAP has now a wide range in Ireland,
and that there are few counties in which it has not been
observed. I have myself only identified it at the Dargle,
at Bray, at Killiney Castle, and in the neighbourhood of
Templeogue. It breeds, however, in the grounds of Mr.
Rk. M. Barrington at Fassaroe, near Bray, every year.
According to Mr. Harting the song is simply “‘ delightful,”’
rich and wild, and charming, but all too short, and in this
respect my friend the late A. G. More remarked to me
that Blackcaps, for some reason or other, did not seem to
sing as well in Ireland as in England, where Gilbert White
declared the song to be “‘ full, sweet, deep, loud, and wild.”
It is said that some Americans came over to England
especially to hear this famous songster, and found great
difficulty in ascertaining its whereabouts, as so few in the

country knew of its existence.
A

150 The Irish Naturalist. July,

Next tothe Blackcap, and to my mind before it, comes the
GARDEN WARBLER, of which Mr. More speaks in his ‘“‘ List
of Irish Birds”? as a rare summer visitor and very local.
I went a good many years ago to hear it at Mr. Parker’s
demesne at Castle Lough on the Tipperary side of Lough
Derg, and I heard there several birds of this species, and
Mr. Parker assured me that as many as twelve pairs had
bred in the vicinity. The only other place where I heard
this famous warbler was at Lord De Vesci’s demesne at
Abbeyleix. At Castle Lough it usually makes its appearance
in May and continues in full song until June. Its song
then begins to decline, though Mr. Parker has heard it as
late as the 20th August. Mr. Robert Gray describes the
song as ‘‘a wild, yet mellow Blackbird song.” The Rev.
F. O. Morris says that it is “‘ exquisitely sweet, rich, and
flute like.’ Its notes are more sustained than those of the
Blackcap, whose song often consists of only a few phrases.
It sings also for three months or more in the year. The
‘* Grasmiicke,”’ as it is called in Germany and Switzerland,
is a great favourite everywhere there, and frequently a
cage bird. I have heard it all day long in Switzerland, and
for consecutive weeks, long after other birds had ceased to
sing. I hope that search will be made for it by some of
our bird lovers, it is worth seeking.

We come now to other, perhaps, less gifted songsters,
but much more plentiful in Ireland.

Of these four are plentiful and comparatively well known—
Chiff-Chaff, Phylloscopus collybita.
Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus.
Whitethroat, Sylvia communts.
Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenoboenus.

And two others are known but to a few :—

Wood Warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix.
Grasshopper Warbler, Locustella naevis.

The Cuirr-CHaFF is usually first or second of the spring
migrants to arrive on our shores. My earliest date at
Balbriggan is March 12th. His well known cheery notes
may be heard up to September, when he prepares to take

toi4. BENson.— Our Lrish Warblers. 151i

his leave. In Normandy the bird is called from its note
‘‘compteur d@’argent,”’ which is in harmony with the word
collybita derived from the Greek for a money changer. If we
approach the Chiff-Chaff closely the song usually ceases,
and instead of it we hear only a low chattering sound,
‘‘ cheep,” ‘‘ cheep,” ‘‘ cheep.” The alarm note, according
to Meyer, is represented by the word “‘ hoo-id,” a note
which can only be distinguished by a practised ear from
that of the Willow Warbler. This is the smallest of all our
migratory birds, its length being only four inches and a half.

WILLOW WARBLER.—This is a delightful songster, and
very widely distributed in Ireland. We hear it everywhere,
but in Switzerland I find it very seldom. We do not prize
this songster as we ought ; its song is certainly unique.

Mr. Burroughs, the American naturalist, says of it :—
‘*“ The most melodious strain I heard, and the only one that
exhibited to the full, the best qualities of the American
songsters, proceeded from a bird quite unknown to fame,
in the British Islands at least; I refer to the Willow
Warbler.’ And Mr. Hudson says :—‘“‘ The dying fall in its
song is indeed affecting, no other bird is so touching in this
respect, dying away as it does ina gentle murmur.” This
bird ceases to sing towards the end of July, but often resumes
its song before its departure in September.

THE WHITETHROAT next claims a word, a bird of the
thickets and lanes and green hedges, sallying ever and anon
into the air singing all the while, a lively and merry warbler
indeed, and with some very sweet notes as it sits still fora
few moments to soliloquize. We often are first aware of
its presence by a solemn warning “‘ chaw ” as we pass down
acountry lane. ‘‘Babillard” they call him in France.
“That” said a dealer to me, ‘‘is the great Impayrial
Polly-Whitethroat.”

THE SEDGE WARBLER, often styled the “‘ Irish
Nightingale,’ breeds in every county in Ireland, and is a
‘*mocking bird”’ of no mean repute. Mr. Ussher quotes
Mr. Kinahan as saying that it imitates the Blackbird,
Whitethroat, Wagtail, Titlark, &c. Gilbert White calls it ‘‘a
delicate polyglot,’ and says that “‘it sings incessantly

152 The Lrish Naturalist. july,

imitating the Skylark, Sparrow, Swallow, &c., in a strange
hurrying song.” Mr. Atkinson calls it “‘ this everlasting
little songster.”’

THE Woop WaARBLER.—tThis beautiful bird is com-
paratively rare in our country. Mr. Ussher observes that
it has for the most part occurred in the Co. Wicklow. I
have heard it at the Dargle, Powerscourt, and Glendalough ;
its song once heard is not likely to be forgotten, and it is
frequently followed, and sometimes preceded, by a curious
‘‘ jee, jee, jee,” in a shrill tone so different from its song,
that I have found it difficult to convince a hearer that it
was uttered by the same bird.

THE GRASSHOPPER WARBLER is the last of our rarer
warblers which I should like to notice, for the Icterine
Warbler, a wonderful songster, has only once certainly
occurred in Ireland. The Grasshopper Warbler derives its
name from its curious note, for, as Mr. Johns says, “* it is
but an exaggeration of the Grasshopper’s note, and resembles
the noise produced by pulling out the line from the winch
of a fishing rod.”

It is best heard on hot summer evenings, and on such
occasions I have heard it in the Phoenix Park, at Balbriggan,
and at Portlaw in the Co. Waterford, where, in company
with my friend, Rev. W. W. Flemyng, I noted as many as
five different songs in one evening. Gilbert White says :—
‘‘ The country people when you tell them that it is a bird
will hardly give you credence.”

Before concluding these somewhat discursive remarks I
wish to say a word about a warbler, one of the most common
on the continent, which yet never seems to have found its
way to England or to Ireland. I mean Bonelli’s Warbler,
Phylloscopus Bonelli, so called from the distinguished
naturalist, Chevalier Bonelli, from whom also an eagle
takes its name. When first I saw this bird I took it for
a Wood Warbler, but could not understand the difference
in its note. I only learned its name, when.in company
with the distinguished naturalist, Mr. Warde Fowler, I heard
it onthe Axenstein near Brunnen on Lake Luzern, and he
exclaimed ‘‘ there is Bonelli.”

19t4. — BENSON.— Our lrish Warblers. 153

I have heard it every year since when on my summer
holiday, and have often wondered that it has failed to cross
our ‘‘ silver streak of sea,’ and add another to Britain’s
delightful company of warblers.

The voices of boys and of birds have always had an
inexpressible charm for me. And whenever I have listened
in England and elsewhere to the Nightingale, or at home
to the Blackbird and Willow Warbler, the words of ‘‘ rare
old Izaak”’ occur to my mind :—‘“‘ Lord, what music hast
thou provided for the saints in heaven, when thou affordest
bad men such music on earth!”

Balbriggan.

THE LESSER HORSE-SHOE BAT.
A NOTE ON THE NUMERICAL RATIO OF THE TWO SEXES.
BY C. B. MOFFAT, B.A., M.R.I.A.

THERE is a singular point in the natural history of the
Lesser Horse-shoe Bat on which, as the late Major Barrett-
Hamilton in his work on British Mammals shows, Irish and
English observers of this local species seem to be in complete
agreement, and which yet needs to be looked at with a
sceptical eye in view of the surprising consequences to which
its acceptance would point. This is the remarkable dis-
proportion that seems to exist in the numbers of the sexes.

Foot and Kinahan, exploring the Clare caves inhabited
by these bats in 1861, collected fifty-four specimens, of
which fifty were males and four females. Similarly, of
twenty specimens examined by Foot in 1859, nineteen
were males and only one was a female. In the Cefn Cave,
near Denbigh, Messrs. Oldham and Coward collected fourteen,
and of these twelve were males and two females. In
Devonshire, Mr. E. Hollis, by searching limestone rocks in
a number of different localities, obtained six specimens, and
of these five were males. All the evidence apparently

A 2

154 The Irish Naturalist. july,

points one way. In the four cases quoted we have a total
of ninety-four Lesser Horse-shoe Bats collected by different
observers in England, Wales, and Ireland, and of these
eighty-six were males and only eight females—a proportion
of practically eleven to one.

Now there is no British mammal that could worse afford
so anomalous a wastage. In the case of prolific creatures
like rats and mice, a large predominance of males would be
no impediment to the full maintenance of the numbers of
the species. All that is necessary to keep up the number
is that each female shall rear successfully enough young to
include one female descendant. But unless she can do that
the species must gradually die out. How long, then, must
a female Lesser Horse-shoe Bat live to insure the rearing
of one daughter? Major Barrett-Hamilton makes it clear
that the animal is an extremely slow breeder. Breeding
does not begin till the third year; and as only one young
one is produced in a season the average age of a female
Lesser Horse-shoe would have to exceed four years even
if the young of both sexes came in equal proportions. But
it would appear from the evidence as to the extraordinary
predominance of males that she must live long enough to
bear young in at least twelve different seasons in order to
insure the birth of one daughter. Her minimum average
age would therefore have to be fourteen ; and as allowance
must be made for some mortality amongst the young, and
also amongst the full grown, it is not unreasonable to say
that. a natural term of twenty years must be allowed to
this little animal’s life if her species is not to disappear.
Is it possible that there should be such a difference in the
ages of two of our smallest mammals—the Pygmy Shrew
and the Lesser Horse-shoe Bat—as that one of them should
need to live twenty years to fulfil her hfe-task, while the
other expires of old age at the end of one year, or at most
fourteen months °

It is to be hoped that the question may be solved by
further research in the haunts, both Irish and British, of

Rhinolophus hipposideros.

Dublin.

19h 4 Reviews. 7 155

REVIEWS,

THE GLACIAL PERIOD.

The Quarternary Ice Age. By W. B. Wricut. London: Macmillan
and Co., Ltd., 1914. Pp. xxiv. + 464, 155 figures and xxii plates.
Prité 17s: net.

Since the publication of Professor James Geikie’s ‘‘ Great Ice Age ’”’
there has been no general comprehensive account of the state of our know-
ledge of the glacial phenomena of the Pleistocene period, and so many
are the newer observations and so numerous the facts recorded since the
appearance of that volume, that Mr. Wright’s work will be received with
gratitude by those who though interested in glacial geology have been
unable to keep pace with recent progress owing to the difficulty of access
to much of the literature.

The opening chapter contains a clear and useful summary of our
knowledge of existing glaciers and their classification to which so much
has been added in recent years by Arctic and Antarctic exploration. On
page 6 is a somewhat startling statement: “‘ A glacier terminating on
land can for obvious reasons never form an esker.’’ This statement is,
it is true, somewhat qualified on a later page, but it seems to the writer
that there are eskers in many places where it would be difficult to demon-
strate the existence of standing water at the time of their formation.

Attention is called to the fact that a large ice-sheet once established
necessarily determines its own meteorological conditions, a point which
has been largely neglected in discussing the climatic condition of the
Pleistocene. Amongst the many matters of interest mentioned with
regard to ice-sheets not the least in importance are their nourishment
by snow from an otherwise clear sky, and the fact that the great Ross
Barrier is afloat.

Difficulties have often been raised as to the relatively small proportion
of scratched stones in the moraines of Alpine glaciers, but these should
be finally set at rest by the clear statement of the proportion of striated
to non-striated stones in the different types of moraine.

The use of the term “ Giants-Kettle,”’ on page 33 to designate the
closed depressions in the surface of a drift sheet, and usually known as
“‘ Kettle Holes,’ is unfortunate, as the former term has already been
adopted for a different formation.

So much has been written lately of interglacial periods that it is good
to have such a concise statement of the facts relating to the supposed
three-fold arrangement of the drifts, as is here given. The glaciation of
Ireland receives attention and recent work upon it, including much which
is due to Mr. Wright’s own labours is described for the first time. The
question of the older and newer drifts of England is discussed, and the
extremely slender nature of the evidence in favour of interglacial periods
is brought into prominence. The author contrasts the monotonous sheet
of boulder-clay of the Southern Midlands of England with the drumlin-

156 The Lrish Naturalist. july,

esker-moraine substance of the newer drift as typified by the Central
Plain of Ireland, but so far as we can see offers no explanation of the
difference.

In the chapter on the glaciation of Europe attention is again directed
to the contrast between the older and newer drifts particularly as regards
the fact that the loess and the remains of Palaeolithic man are confined to
the surface of the former. There follows an excellent and most readable
account of the stages of retreat of the ice, and of the relative levels of the
sea at the different stages. The Quarternary Mammals and Man each
form the subject of a chapter, and the various theories of the Ice Age
receive full and lucid treatment. This portion of the work includes an
extremely. interesting discussion of the isostatic theory and its adequacy
to explain the facts relating to the warped shore-lines of North America,
and the raised beaches and submerged forests of Northern Europe. Post.
glacial changes of climate also receive attention, and the volume concludes
with an attempt to correlate the various sub-divisions of the American
Drifts with those of Europe.

As regards the cause of the Ice Age, we are left as much in the dark
as ever. It must be admitted that, among the theories that have been
brought forward to account for the phenomena of the Ice Age, there is
not a single one which meets the facts of the case in such a manner as to
inspire confidence.

In conclusion, we congratulate Mr. Wright on having produced a
most important contribution to the literature of Pleistocene geology,
and one which cannot fail to stimulate interest and activity in that most
fascinating field of research.

AL. ®.
GANNETS.

The Gannet—A Bird with a History. By J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S. London:
Witherby and Co., 1913. Pp. lil. 4+ 568. Price 15s.

This bulky and weighty volume of about 620 pages, including index
and historical preface, is full of information, and although there are 4%
pages of ‘‘ Notanda and Corrigenda,”’ it is carefully written. At any
rate there is evidence of a desire to be accurate. The book is illustrated
with over 120 photographs, some very interesting, and maps. It is
divided into 22 chapters, the first two of which deal with the names of
the Gannet, and its distribution. There are 8 chapters on its various
breeding-places, and the remaining 12 chapters treat of its numbers,
nidification, nestlings, habits, food, flight, mortality, age, plumage,
osteology and anatomy. To those who enjoy reading a monograph full
of extracts, ancient as well as modern, and giving the latest information,
the work is bound to remain for years to come an invaluable storehouse
for reference. We are told that the nesting-places are all on islands,
and that the difference between the colour of the young and of the adult
is greater than in almost any other bird.

tor4. Reviews. 157

The author considers that owing to the mortality among the young,
not one bird in a hundred dies a natural death, and that “it may
well be that this one Gannet reaches an advanced age, one, two, or three
hundred years.’’ What becomes of the dead birds generally is a mystery
which Mr. Gurney thinks has never received a satisfactory solution (p. 429).
He considers that of late years Gannets are increasing (p. 434). That
the supply of fish for human food is in no way diminished by Gannets
is strenuously and rightly insisted upon. Omitting the Canadian islands,
with an estimated Gannet population of 10,000, there are only fourteen
breeding-stations, Lundy Island having been abandoned. Mr. Gurney
estimates the number of Gannets in the world at ro1,ooo, and regards
the Little Skellig, Co. Kerry, as one of the largest nesting-sites, with at
least 16,000 birds. Recent information sent to reviewer shows the birds
at this locality are even more numerous and still increasing.

The summer distribution of the Gannet is said (p.39) to correspond
with that of the Great Auk in former times, if we omit one small Icelandic
breeding-station within the Arctic circle.

The Gannet requires a longer period of incubation, and a longer period
elapses before leaving the nest than with most birds; the period of
incubation is given as 42 days (6 weeks), and when hatched, the young
one is fed for 13 weeks, and then, being very fat, remains in the nest
without being fed by its parents for ten days (p. 370) when it takes its
first flight, and then is said not to fly again for two or three more weeks,
during which time there is no evidence to show that it takes food (p. 372).
Apparently there is some contradiction in the author’s statements (pp.
369 and 374) since in one place it is said that at twelve or thirteen weeks
old, the parents consider the young are quite fat enough, and desist from
feeding them, and on page 374, the period from the hatching of the
egg to the departure of the nestling is given as ten weeks.

There is a remarkable statement on p. 97 that Gannets probably often
remain on the wing in winter from forty to fifty hours at a stretch without
alighting, and we are told (p. 382) that it can hardly be doubted that
soaring birds sometimes sleep on the wing, the Gannet amongst the
number. That they have been got in fishermen’s nets at great depths
has often been alleged, and depths of from seventy to ninety feet have
been recorded. Mr. Gurney has timed the bird, and finds that it usually
remains under water from five to ten seconds after the plunge. The
height of the plunge is under 140 feet (p. 396).

The fall in the price of Gannet oil is said to be- due to the fact that
Scotch farmers now dip their sheep in chemicals instead of smearing
them with grease.

Peter Swave, a Dane, is quoted (p. 181) as stating in 1535 that the
Gannet hatches its egg under its foot in a standing position, and Mr.
Booth of Brighton, who kept this species in confinement (‘‘ Rough Notes,”
vol. iii.), observes that the old bird spreads the web of one foot carefully
over the egg before sitting down (p. 353). John Ray, the celebrated
naturalist (1661) is given (p. 206) as an authority for the statement that
young Gannets were considered a choice dish and sold for 1s. 8d. each

158 The Trish Naturalist. July,

plucked, and as to their eggs, the author considers them better eating
than Guillemots’, which may well be the case. The rent of the Bass Rock
in Ray’s time was {130 per annum; it is now only £17, the tenant
recouping himself not by the sale of birds, but by visitors’ fees.

Attention is drawn to the very poor sense of smell and hearing in the
Gannet, there being no external nostrils and the ear orifice being less
than the one-tenth of an inch, and capable of contraction to the size
of a pin’s head. Its sight is marvellous, since from a height of from
100 to 140 feet it can plunge into the sea and capture a fish several fathoms
beneath the surface.

Chapter xvii. deals with mortality amongst Gannets, and that this
is excessive amongst the young is well known, but one of the contributory
causes does not seem to be directly mentioned, i.e., the difficulty a young
Gannet must experience in learning to plunge successfully from a height
of too feet. Fortunately when it leaves the nest it weighs more than
half as much again as its parent, roughly 8 lbs. to 5 lbs. (p. 494), and
being surrounded by a layer of fat can exist for some weeks without
food. As to the age of maturity, there is, according to Mr. Gurney, a
great diversity of opinion. Howard Saunders says 6; Booth, 41;
M'‘Gillivray, 2; and Gurney, 24 to 3 years.

The comparative scarcity of immature Gannets about the breeding
stations is well known, but it is nothing at all to what takes place in the
case Of the Kittiwake, the young of the previous year being never seen
except on the rarest occasions anywhere near the cliffs in summer. The
late Mr. A. G. More was persuaded that the young Kittiwakes, and probably
the young Gannets also went far out to sea during the breeding season,
an Opinion which is corroborated by the fact that on four occasions,
when the reviewer was crossing the Atlantic, numbers of immature or
‘““Magpie ’? Gannets were seen several hundred miles from shore, and
around Rockall ali the Kittiwakes observed were immature.

There are some interesting footnotes—for example :—Mr. Gurney,
junior, ascertained that in 1898 24,229 Fulmar Petrels were taken in the
Westmann Islands, a Gannet-breeding station, and although a Gannet
takes from May 15th, when the egg is laid, to September 25th, when it
first begins to fish (p. 375), a young Albatross is ten months old before
it can fly at all (footnote, p. 374).

The difficulty of killing an adult Gannet by choking is not alluded to.
This is probably due to the numerous air-cells which surround the Gannet’s
body and communicate with the lungs.

The last two chapters on the Gannet’s. osteology and anatomy show
the wonderful structure of the skeleton, and the system of air-cells above
mentioned, without both of which the tremendous force of the impact
with the water would stun the bird when plunging from a height of 100 feet.

If the book has any fault, it is, perhaps, due to occasional repetition—
this may have been unavoidable. It should be on the book-shelf of
every naturalist who takes an interest in one of the most remarkable
birds in our British avifauna.

Ro M, .B;

1914. fish Soctettes. 159

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include a Rhesus Monkey from Miss Johnston, Badgers
from Mrs. Sikes and Mr. R. H. M‘Keown, a Palm Squirrel from Mrs.
Cairnes, a Rabbit from Mr. B. Pringle, Bramblings from Prof. C. J. Patten
and Mr. J. L. Dobbin, and three Peafowl from Miss Roe. Two male Lion
cubs have been born, the parents being ‘“‘ Conn”’ and “ Mitze.’’ A Mous-
tache Monkey, a Red-eared Monkey, and two White-nosed Monkeys from
the Belgian Congo have been acquired by exchange.

DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

MarcH 3.—N. CoiGan (President) in the chair. R. M. BARRINGTON
exhibited a number of interesting and rare birds, chiefly from light-
stations ; after which W. B. WRIGHT gave an address, illustrated by care-
fully prepared blackboard diagrams, on ‘‘ The Occurrence of Trees in
Peat-Bogs.’’ The lecturer traced the order in which the different kinds
of trees had appeared, and correlated the succession with changes of
sea-level and of climate, as well as with stages in the pre-historic human
record. Prof. Henry, A. C. Forbes, R. M. Barrington, R. LI. Praeger,
and the Chairman took part in the discussion.

MarcH 7.—ExXCURSION TO THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—About thirty
members and friends collected inside the gate at 2.30 p.m., under
the conductorship of Professors G. H. Carpenter, Dr. B. B. Ferrar, and
Professor J. Bayley Butler. Delightful weather prevailed, and the
gardens were seen to great advantage. Special demonstrations were
given at the enclosure containing the Bisons, at the Monkey House (where
the distinctions between the Gorilla, Chimpanzee, and Orang-utan were
carefully pointed out), at the Fish Hatchery, and at the Reptile House.
By the hospitality of the President, tea was enjoyed in the Members’
Room at the Haughton House. After tea a visit was paid to the Aye-
aye, whose nocturnal habits forbade any earlier disturbance ; the inter-
view with this curious animal was, however, very brief.

APRIL 21.—The concluding meeting of the winter session was held at
the Royal Irish Academy House, the President in the chair. R.H. WHITE-
HOUSE, of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club, delivered a lecture of great
interest, illustrated with lantern slides, on “‘ The Structure and Life-
History of a Sea-Squirt.”’ The history of the various discoveries and
researches which had thrown light on the character of the Ascidians was
told in chronological order, and special attention was drawn to the evidence
pointing to a process of degeneration. A discussion followed, in which
Professor Carpenter, W. F. Gunn, Miss Stephens, the President, and the
Hon. Secretary took part, and the lecturer replied. Mr. Selbie exhibited
a supposed larval form of one of the Hermit Crabs (Glaucothoe), and
Mr. Whitehouse showed an ascidian (Ctona intestinalis).

160 _ The Lrish Naturalist. July, r914.

NOTES.

ZOOLOGY.
The Opisthobranchs of Co. Dublin.

We propose to issue about August 15th a special double number of the
Ivish Naturalist (for August and September, 1914) consisting of a full
account of this section of the marine molluscan fauna of Co. Dublin, by
Nathaniel Colgan, M.R.1.A., who has devoted several years’ study to the
‘group from both the systematic and bionomic standpoints.

Early Butterflies at Killarney.

The remarkable spell of perfectly calm hot weather which made its
appearance in April was much enjoyed at Killarney where the hottest
days were the 2oth, 21st and 25th, and the maximum shade temperature
of 72°, F. was recorded. Butterflies were numerous all over the district,
especially Tortoiseshells and Peacocks, and on the sunny side of Cow
Island, Lower Lake, I watched from a boat for some time a pair of freshly -
born Brimstones flitting through the leafy glades and frequently returning
to sun themselves on the hot rocks near the water’s edge. A few of the
specimens seen were faded and ragged hybernated individuals, but the
majority were in beautifully fresh condition evidently hatched out by the
unusual heat.

ALEXANDER WILLIAMS.

Dublin.

BOTANY.

The Southern Element in the Britannic Flora.

A paper of more than usual interest to students of geographical
distribution in this country, from the pen of Dr. Otto Stapf appears in
the Festband fur A. Engler recently issued as a supplementary volume
of the Botanische Jahrbucher. Its title is ““ The Southern Element in
the British Flora.” Dr. Stapf has analyzed the flora of the British Isles

from the point of view of its distribution in Europe, the natural and’

proper standpoint, suggesting, as it does, the origin of the elements of
our flora, where intra-British analysis, such as that of Watson, only leads
us to a dead end. Putting on one side all British species which occur
in Northern or Central Europe (in a wide sense), he concentrates attention
on the remainder, 2.e., plants which are confined to the British Isles,
France, Spain, or the Mediterranean. These he divides into a Western
(Atlantic) and an Eastern (Mediterranean) type, and he traces the range
of these along the south, east, and west coasts of Great Britain and
Ireland. We cannot here go into Dr. Strapf’s figures; but we may say
that as regards the origin of our southern flora in space and in time he
believes that it migrated as a whole into the British Isles from the south-
west in post-glacial times, and he strongly opposes Clement Reid’s theory
of recent accidental dispersal of the forms of discontinuous distribution,

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August-Sept., 1914. The Lrish Naturalist. I61

THE OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF THE SHORES
AND SHALLOW WATERS OF
COUNTY DUBLIN.

BY NATHANIEL COLGAN, M.R.I.A.

The present paper is based chiefly on the results of
numerous dredgings and shore gatherings made on the
Co. Dublin coasts within the past nine years during which
special attention was paid to the Opisthobranch group of
marine mollusca. The most important section of this group,
the Nudibranchs, had been but little studied on the Dublin
coasts when the systematic exploration of their mollusca
was taken in hands by the writer towards the close of 1905.
At that time only 26 species of Nudibranchs proper, were
on record for the county fauna, not a single member of the
Ascoglossa, now usually classed with the Nudibranchs, was
known to inhabit the area, and the total of Opisthobranch
species for Dublin waters stood at 43. To-day the Opistho-
branch fauna of the county numbers 69 species, including
45 Nudibranchs proper, and 4 Ascoglossans; and there is
reason to believe that further exploration would add several
species of this most interesting and beautiful group to the
already rich fauna of the Dublin coasts.

The seaward boundary of the marine area dealt with in
the following pages has been fixed at the conventional
limits of what are known as territorial waters, or roughly
at a distance of 3 miles from low water mark of the Dublin
shores, and the inshore waters of Lambay, an island lying
24 miles distant from the nearest point of the mainland,
have been included in the county limits. This area is a
distinctly shallow water one. In some points, as off Howth
Head, off Dalkey Island and off the Nose of Lambay, sound-
‘ings up to 18 fathoms may be had; in many places and
over considerable tracts the soundings range from Io to 15
fathoms ; but nowhere does the depth attain to 20 fathoms,
and the greater part of the area gives soundings ranging
from 3 to 8 fathoms only. The form of the shores and of
the sea bottom is sufficiently varied. At Howth Head, at

A

162 The Trish Naturalist. August-September,

Lambay, and at Dalkey the coast is rocky and in parts
precipitous ; large oozy creeks or inlets are found at Rogers-
town, at Baldoyle and at Malahide, and extensive sandy
tracts are laid bare at low water at Portmarnock, at Port-
rane, and on the inner shores of Dublin Bay north and south
of the Liffey mouth. The range in latitude of the area is
barely 30 miles. |

The most interesting of the Dublin dredging grounds,
having regard to the rarity of the species yielded and to
the narrow limits of the area, is the Malahide River, as the
channel is called by which the large Malahide creek or
lagoon is alternately filled and emptied at the rise and fall
of the tide. This is the locus classicus of Proctonotus mu-
crontferus, Favorinus albus and Galvina Farrant which were
first made known to science from specimens taken here in
1844 by Joshua Alder, one of the authors of the famous
Monograph of the British Nudibranchiate Mollusca, while
dredging with Dr. Farran. In addition to these, the
following species have been taken in the Malahide River,
making up a total of 26 members of the Nudibranch group
for this restricted area of a few hundred yards of narrow
estuary varying in depth from 14 to 2 fathoms :—

Elysia viridis. Dendronotus frondosus.
Limapontia capitata. Archidoris tuberculata.
Folis papillosa. Aegires punctilucens.
Amphorina caerulea. Polycera Lessonil.
A. aurantiaca. P. quadrilineata.
Galvina picta. Acanthodoris pilosa.
Coryphella Landsbergii. Lamiellidoris aspera.
Favorinus Drummondi. I... bilamellata.

__ F. coronata. Adalaria proxima.
Antiopa cristata. Goniodoris nodosa.
Doto coronata. G. castanea.

Ancula cristata.

Of the species recorded for Malahide River, one, Adalania-
proxima, has here its only Irish station so far as our present
knowledge of the Irish Nudibranch fauna extends.

Two other dredging grounds on the Dublin coast, one in
the south, Dalkey Sound and its immediate vicinity within
a mile radius of the little harbour of Coliemore, the other

1914. CoLGAN.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 163

in the north, Skerries Bay and its islands, have been well
worked and have yielded respectively 28 and 32 Nudibranch
species.

So wide is the distribution of marine organisms in general
that it would be idle to seek for any well marked local
groups within the limits of the Dublin area. Though a few
species are apparently absent from one or other of the three
localities which have been most fully examined, Skerries
in the north, Malahide in the middle, and Dalkey Sound
in the south, there can be little doubt that further explora-
tion would show that all of the Opisthobranch species here
recorded are distributed throughout the area. So no
attempt has been made here to trace out local peculiarities
of distribution. But the living organism has been studied
so far as opportunity offered ; and in the following pages
the usual details as to habitat and frequency have been
supplemented by the results of personal observation and
research on the bionomics, variation, embryology, and
anatomy of a large number of species which the writer
succeeded in maintaining alive for periods ranging from
a few days up to ten weeks.

The nomenclature of Nichols’ List of the Marine Mollusca
of Iveland, so well known to Irish students of the group,
has been adopted here, and following the example of the
List the specific name used .by Jeffreys in his British Con-
chology has been added in italic type where it differs from
the List name. Previously unpublished results of the
writer's own dredgings and shore gatherings are distin-
guished by the initials, N.C., and to obviate somewhat the
vagueness inseparable from the use of such terms as “‘ rare,”
‘* frequent,’ and ‘‘ common” as indications of the standing
of the various species, details are given of the number of
specimens taken and of the number of dredgings in which
the non-littoral species occurred. The maximum size
attained by each species has been noted in most cases, the
measurements being given uniformly in millimetres of 25
to the inch.

In the preparation of this account of the Dublin Opistho-

branchs [ have received valuable aid from Mr. A. R. Nichols
A2

164 The Lrish Natua alist. August-September,

of our National Museum who has at all times freely placed
at my disposal his critical knowledge of our marine mollusca.
I am also indebted to Miss A. L. Massy and Mr. G. P. Farran
of the Irish Fisheries Office for useful notes and references,
and to the Dublin Marine Biological Committee for material
taken on its various dredging cruises.

LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL BOOKS AND PAPERS RELATING
TO THE OPISTHOBRANCH FAUNA OF COUNTY DUBLIN.

Citations from these works are distinguished in the text of this paper
by the contracted titles set out below on the right hand margin.

ApAMS, Rev. B. W.:

Marine Mollusca ot Counties of Dublin and Wicklow. Brit. Assoc.
Guide, Dublin, 1878 ak Adams ’78.

ALDER, JosHuA, and HANCOCK, ALBANY:

Description of a new genus of Nudibranchiate Molnidéa with some
new Species of Eolis. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., xiil., pp. 161-66,

1844 i 35. Ald... & Hane: 744.
A Monograph of fe a Nudibranchiate Mollusca. Ray
Socy., 1845-55 af 2 ies . & H. Monograph.

BeEAuMONnT, W. I.:
Opisthobranchiate Mollusca of Valentia Harbour. Proce Kil;
Acad. (3) Vol. v., pp. 832-54, I900_—lx. Beaumont, 1900,
Co_GAN, NATHANIEL :
New Marine Mollusca for Co. Dublin. Iv. Nat., xv. p.172, 1906.

Colgan ’o6.
Marine Molluscaof Lambay. Jy. Nat. xvi. pp. 32-42, 1907

Colgan ’07.
Some further Additions to the Marine Mollusca of Co. Dublin.
ly, Nat, XVA-; Pp. 3260, 5907 0. ss Colgan ’o07A.

. Dublin Marine Biological Committee. Coe Account of Dredg-
ing Operations, 1907, with special Notes on Mollusca. Ir. Nat.
XVli., pp. 105-114, 1908 33 AI Colgan ’o8.

Contributions towards a Revision of thie Soe Lomanotus. Ann.
Mag. Nat. Hist. (8) Vol. ii., pp. 205 and 392, 1908. Colgan ’o8B.
Dublin Marine Biological Committee. Report for r908. Ir. Nat.
XVlil., pp. 166-177, I909 .. ate 5 Colgan ’oo.
Notes on Locomotion and the use of Slime Threads in the Marine
Mollusca. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), Vol. iil. pp. 354-362,

1909 ay <n a ae Colgan ’oga,
Notes on the Deveopaent of Actaeonia. Ir. Nat. xxi., pp. 225-31,
1912 ie a - " 52 Colgan ’12,

1914. CoLGAN.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 165

COLGAN NATHANIEL—continued.
Adalaria proxima, an addition to the Irish Nudibranch launa.

Ir. Nat. xxii., pp. 33-35, 1913, <F is Coigan ’13.
Some Additions to the Nudibranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. Tr.
Nat. Xxii. pp. 1695-08, 1913, ee w(t) Colpan/ 13a;

DUERDEN, J. E.:

Notes on the Marine Invertebrates of Rush, Co. Dublin. TJ.
Nat., ili., p. 230, 1894 = Pe o. Duerden ’94.

FARRAN, G. P.:

Nudibranchiate Mollusca of the Trawling Grounds off the East
and South Coasts of Ireland. TF ishervtes, Iveland, Scientific
Investigations, 1907, vi. (1909) wd eS Tarran ’og.

PaAnpow,. A.C. S

Preliminary Report on the Fauna of Dublin Bay. Proc R. I.
Acad., iv., pp. 523-531, 1886 oF ve Haddon ’89.

PART, dC,

Notes on Marine Mollusca collected on the Shores of Donegal and
Dublin. Zoologist (3), Xvi., pp. 51, 105, 139, and 181, 1892
Hart ’92.
FIASSALL, A. 1: :
A List of the invertebrates found in Dublin Bay and its vicinity.
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ix., pp. 132-134, 1842 .. Hassall ’42.

JEFFREYS, (fi. G.*
British Conchology, iv., 1867 .. “f oe Jefireys ’67
British Conchology, v., 1869 .. ~ zt Jeffreys 60

KINAHAN, J. R.:

Report of the Committce appointed to dredge Dublin Bay. Report
Brit. Assoc. for 1860, pp. 27-31, 1861 a. iinahan, ‘Or.

Massy, ANNE L.:

Report of a Survey of Trawling Grounds on the coasts of Counties
Down, Louth, Meath, and Dublin. Part iii. Invertebrate Fauna.
Fisheries, lreland, Scientific Investigations, 1911 (1912) Massy ’12.

Nicnots, A. R.:

A List of the Marine Mollusca of Ireland. Proc. R. I. Acad. (3), v.,
1900 o. re f are -. Nichols rgoo.

THOMPSON, WILLIAM :

Additions to the Fauna of Ireland. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., v.,
pp. 6-14, 1840 ae a ay Thompson, ’40,

166 - The Lrish Naturalist. August-September,

THOMPSON WILLIAM—continued.
Contributions towards a knowledge of the Mollusca Nudibranchia

and Mollusca Tunicata of Ireland. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. v.,
pp. 84-102, 1840 _ .. of Thompson 740A.
Additions to the Fauna of elaner Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. xiii.,
Pp 430-440, 1844 .. he Thompson ’44.
Additions to the Fauna of ieianal! Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. xv.,
pp. 308-322, 1845 ... tials ae Thompson ’45.

TURTON, WILLIAM :
Irish Conchology, classically arranged. Dublin Examiner, i.»
Lp. 230, 1836 ae me a Ae Turton ’16.
WALPOLE, WILLIAM WHITE:
Catalogue of Marine Mollusca inhabiting the Dublin Coast. Zoologist

Xi., pp. 4101-4106, 1853 55 +h .., Walpole’ 53.

WrIGut, E. P: :
Notes on the Irish Nudibranchiata. Nat. Hist. Review, vi., pp:
56-88, 1859 ait a6 as ais Wright ’59,

Order—OPISTHOBRANCHIATA.
Sub-order—-TECTIBRANCHIATA.

Actaeon tornatilis (Linné).

Shells frequent in drift and occasional in dredgings up
to 17 f.; seldom taken in a living state within the area.
Largest shell, 25 mm. long.

Tornatina obtusa (Montagu).
Utriculus obtusus.

Shells occasional in dredgings and locally abundant in
drift, as on the North Bull where 90 were taken in a single
gathering in 1906; living specimens occasional between
tide-marks. Largest shell, 4-5 mm. long.

Var. lajonkaireana Basterot.—Occasional on the North

Bull, 1905-06 : N.C.
T. mammillata (Philippi).
Utriculus mamnullatus.

Rare; shells only. Three shells taken in 13 f. off the
Muglins : Colgan,’074. One shell in drift on N. Bull, 1907,
and 12 in 16‘ off Muglins, 1908: N.C. Largest, 2-5 mm.
long.

to14. CoL_GAN.—Opfuisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 167

T. truncatula (Bruguiére).
Utriculus truncatulus.

Shells occasional in drift and locally abundant in dredgirgs,
as many as 210 having been taker in a single haul in 16 f.
off the Muglins in 1908. Only once taken in a living state,
a single specimen in Io f. off Bullock in 1g12: N.C. Largest,
4 mm. long.

Cylichnina umbilicata (Montagu).
Cylichna umbtilcata,

Rare, Dublin Bay: Turton, ’16. Twice dredged off
Dalkey and Skerries, 4 shells, in 12-13 f., Ig06-0g; one
shell in drift, N. Bull, 1907: N.C. Largest, 4 mm. long.

Volvulella acuminata (Bruguieére).
Cylichna acununata.

Very rare and not found recently. Portmarnock, very
scarce: tart, 192.

Seaphander lignarjus (Linné).

Common, living on oozy bottoms all along the coast in
from 4 to 14f.; often cast up living during easterly gales
at N. Bull, S. Bull and Portmarnock, where shells are
abundant. Largest, 63-5 mm. long.

Bulinella cylindracea (Pennant).
Cylichna cylindracea.
Shells not infrequent in dredgings up to 17 f. and in drift

at Rush, Portmarnock, N. Bull, and S. Bull, 1905-09:
W.C.' Largest, 14:5 mm. long.

Diaphana hyalina (Turton).
Utriculus hyalinus.

Rare in drift and in dredgings. At Portmarnock (Mr.
Warren), Thompson, ’44. Dalkey Sound (Dublin Museum),
Nichols, 1900. Two shells in drift, Lambay Harbour,
Colgan, ’07. One shell in 16 f. off Muglins, 1908, and 3 in
drift, N. Bull, 1g06-08 : N.C. Largest, 3:5 mm. long.

168 | The Lrish Naturalist. August-September,
Bulla hydatis (Linné).

Very rare. Balbriggan, very rare: Turton, ’16. Bal-
briggan (J. Adair), Adams, ’78.

Acera bullata (Miiller).

Locally abundant. Balbriggan: Turton, ’16. Swords
estuary, in pools at low water near the north-west shore,
where I found hundreds alive (J. Adair), Adams, ’78—a
few here near Lissen Hall, 1910: N.C. Baldoyle: Hart,
’°92. Malahide Island, opposite the Arches: Miss A. L.
Massy.

Philine aperta (Linné).

Locally abundant living on oozy bottoms all along the
coast ; shells abundant in drift after easterly gales, as at
N. Bull, 5. Bull, and Portmarnock, 1905-13: N.C. Largest
shell, 21 mm. x 14°5 mm.

P, scabra (Miller).

Rare in drift and in dredgings. At Portmarnock (Mr.
Warren), Thompson, °44. Dalkey Sound: Walpole, ’53.
Five shells in drift, North Bull, r on S. Bull, and 1 in tof.
Dalkey Sound, 1906-11: N.C. Largest shell, 5-5 mm.
long.

P. punctata (Clark).

Rare, both living specimens and shells, in dredgings and
between tide-marks. Dublin Bay: Jeffreys, 67. Port-
marnock : Adanis, °78. Seven shells taken in four drift
gatherings at Lambay, Portrane, Rush and N. Bull, 1g06-
07; 6 living specimens in from 8-17 f. off Skerries and
Dalkey, 1906-13; and one living specimen at low water
mark, Bullock, 1912: N.C. Largest, 2:5 mm. long.

In captivity this species is an active crawler and much
given to floating foot upward on the water surface.

1914 COoLGAN.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 169

P. pruinosa (Clark).

Rare. One shell, 3 mm. in length, found in drift on the
North Bull, 1906 : Colgan, ’06.

P. catena (Montagu).

Rare, living in dredgings and between tide marks, shells
in drift and in dredgings. Dalkey Sound, very rare: Wal-
pole, °53. One shell in each of four drift gatherings at
Lambay, Portrane, Portmarnock and N. Bull, 1906; off
Dalkey, 3 shells, ro-16 f., and one living specimen in 17 f.,
1906-08 : N.C. One living, in a half-tide pool, Shennicks
Is. : Colgan, ’09. One, living, in Dublin Bay : Massy, ’12.
Largest, 3 mm. long.

Runcina coronata (Quatrefages).
R. Hancock.

Locally abundant, living between tide-marks and not
infrequent in shallow water dredgings. Several specimens
on S.W. shore of Lambay Island (H. J. B. Wollaston),
Colgan, ’07. Eight specimens dredged in 2 f. in Malahide
River, 1907-08 ; 43 specimens taken between tide marks,
Bullock and Dalkey Islands, 1907-12: N.C. Largest, 6:5
mm. in motion.

This species was found to be frequent between tide-
marks along the Dublin coast for at least 8 months in the
year from November to June inclusive. Several individuals
taken at Bullock were found to have slender, pear-shaped
bodies of whitish colour protruding from the head, the back
and the foot. These were probably the egg-sacs of parasitic
copepods. Like many of the true Nudibranchs Runcina
is able to suspend itself from the water surface by a slime
thread and to regain the surface by climbing the thread.
In May, 1908, one was observed to mount in this way for
half an inch in the space of two minutes : Colgan, ’ogA.

Aplysia punctata (Cuvier).

Occasional in dredgings ; sometimes abundant between
tide-marks. Dublin (R. Ball), Thompson, ’40. Dredged 10
A 3

170 | The lrish Naturalist. August-September,

times off Dalkey and Howth Head in from 7 to 14 f., 1907-
13, a total of 20 mature and 2 juvenile specimens: N.C.
On the 2nd July, 1908, this species was observed to have
made a remarkable invasion of the tidal waters between
Shennicks Island and the Skerries mainland. No less than
300 individuals of large size, ranging from 5 to 7 inches
while in motion, were counted at low water crawling over
the sands or about the base of Chorda filum in water a few
inches deep. By the 28th of the same month only 50
specimens could be found here, the majority having probably
migrated to deeper water. Although no trace of the species
could be found here in July, 1910, or August, IgItI, it re-
appeared in abundance in July, 1913, when 141 specimens
were seen, as many as 70 within a space of 50 yards.

The juvenile specimens, each 5 mm. long, dredged off
Dalkey in August, I9II, were a vivid carmine in colour,
the black eyes were very conspicuous, the margins of the
median flaps or wings were bordered with black, and
sprinkled with opaque white spots, while similar spots
appeared at the tips of the tentacles and formed vertical
lines along their sides. This juvenile form is no doubt
Aplysia nexa of Thompson, and A. vosea of Rathke. Mature
Dublin specimens range in colour from blotched citron
through light brown to almost black.

In Ireland the spawning season of this species is some-
times prolonged far into autumn. In 1913 I took a freshly
laid spawn coil in ro f. off Bullock so late as the 5th Novem-
ber, and in 1911 several fresh coils on the shores of Clew
Bay on the 23rd September. On the 6th July, 1912, coils
were found to be frequent on fucus serratus in half-tide
pools at Skerries, a rough computation giving for one large
coil a total of 30,000 embryos at an average of 5 per egg,
the embryos in this coil ranging from 3 to 7 per egg. The
eggs hatched out freely in captivity, producing swarms of
reddish brown veligers. The spawn is deposited on various
supports, vegetable and animal. At Skerries I have found
it on Zostera on Chorda filum, on Fucus serratus, and Ff.
vesiculosus ; at Dalkey I have dredged it twice in from ro f.
to 12 f. attached to Hydrallmania falcata and once wound

IQT4. CoLGAn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 171

round a one inch specimen of the Common Ascidian, A.
mentula. Though usually a dull pink or red brown I have
twice found coils of a clear yellow. The food of the Aplysia
appears to consist chiefly of the smaller littoral sea weeds.
The stomach contents of two large Skerries specimens kindly
examined for me by Mr. A. D. Cotton, of Kew Herbarium,
were found to be made up for the most part of Polystphonia
nigrescens and Ceramium rubrum.

The radula of this species well illustrates the changes in
form and numerical relations which that organ undergoes
in the process of growth. Dissection of three individuals
A, B, and C, respectively 12 mm., 38 mm., and 175 mm. in
length (while alive and in motion) gave the following

results :—
A. B. re

Leneth of radula .. .. 2:5 mm. 5 mm. 9 mm.
Peptabsetmea, 9s. se. 0et X.8O-8°10°” 26 3014-1+54 ° 46% 17+ 1 4T7
In counting the lateral teeth the 3 or 4 simple plates
forming the extreme outer members of the row were in all
cases included.
Along with these numerical changes a marked change
took place in the form of the median tooth. In the youngest
individual (A) the tooth was hollowed out by a deep posterior
sinus or bay into which the denticulate central cusp of the
tooth projected for its whole length. In the oldest indi-
vidual (C) the bay had become almost obsolete by an increase
of the basal portion of the tooth so that the central cusp
altogether lost its prominence. These changes are in
general agreement with those described and figured by
Mr. Walter Garstang in his ** List of the Opisthobranchiate
Mollusca found at Plymouth,’ + where he contends that
A. depilans is but a luxuriant form of A. punctata.

Pleurobranchus membranaceus (Montagu).

Rare. Dublin Bay: Kinahan,’61. Portmarnock: Adams,
°78. One specimen 70 mm. in diameter dredged in 7 f. in
Dalkey Sound, May, 1913; three specimens 35-45 mm. in

1 Journ. of Marine Biol, Assoc., 1890.
A 4

1 The lrish Naturalist. August-September,

diameter dredged off Church Island, Skerries, July, 1913,
two in 14 f., the other in 15 f.: N.C.

The Dalkey and Skerries specimens were all similar in
colour, the mantle being netted with chestnut brown on a
yellowish ground, the brown colour surrounding the
numerous large and small tubercles which studded the
mantle surface. The wide foot with flexible waved margins
projected somewhat beyond the mantle and was pale buff
in colour with faint pinkish lines and blotches. At its
posterior end was a conspicuous wedge-shaped slightly
depressed area, the apex pointing forwards, and in form
resembling the reflexed tail of a crab. The tubercles of
the mantle were highly extensile. Dome shaped while
retracted, they were frequently protruded into fleshy cones
up to 5 mm. inlength. The mantle epidermis was stiffened
by spicules, irregularly stellate and usually 5-rayed. These
were large and thickly aggregated round the bases of the
tubercles, small and thinly-sown in the interspaces. The
radula and tessellated jaws were very similar to those of
P. plumula, the dental formula of the largest specimen
Being 57%, 79.0 75:

When placed in large jars soon after capture all of the
three specimens taken were seen to float foot upward in the
water and to progress by gentle undulations of the foot-
margins. The largest specimen lived in captivity for two
days, and at intervals protruded a long and flexible proboscis
extending fully an inch in advance of the tentacles. The
animal crawled very slowly, adhering only by the extreme
posterior end of the foot, its rate of travel being I inch in
2 minutes,

P. plumula (Montagu).

Not infrequent under stones between tide-marks. Dublin
Bay : Kinahan, ’61. Portmarnock (Warren Coll., Dublin
Mus.), Nichols, 1900. Three specimens at low water, Red
Island, Skerries, 1906, and 3 others at Shennicks Island,
1906-08 ; 10 specimens at low water, Sandycove, 1908-14 :
N.C. Largest, 61 mm, long while in motion,

1914. CoiGan.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 173

A specimen taken at Sandycove in June, 1909, lived with
me for 17 days, and on the 5th Juiy deposited an elliptic
spawn coil of two turns measuring 45 mm. x 29 mm. The
cream-coloured eggs were irregularly disposed in a double
layer in the ribbon which was g mm. wide, and attached
by its edge like the spawn coil of Archidoris tuberculata.

Sub-Order—ASCOGLOSSA.,

Hermaea dendritica (Ald. and Hanc.).

Rare. A single living specimen 3 mm. in length taken
on coralline at low water, Bullock, April, 1908 : Colgan, ’og.
One specimen, 3:5 mm. long, at low water, Dalkey Island,
May, 1913: N.C.

Elysia viridis (Montagu).

Not infrequent, living, between tide-marks and in shallow
water dredgings. Four specimens taken in 2 f., Malahide
River, May—November, 1907-08: Colgan, ’o8 and ’o9.
On small seaweeds in half-tide pools at Bullock where 35
specimens were taken in Io gatherings, Ig09—13, from I te
“Wu a eathernne: IV.C:

The largest of the Dublin specimens, one taken at Mala-
hide in May, 1908, was fully 26 mm. long when in motion ;
another taken at Bullock, January 23rd, Ig09, was 22 mm.
This latter specimen lived in captivity for two months and
a half, and on the 3rd March laid a flat spawn mass of 3
coils, irregularly circular or rather rounded quadrangular
in outline, and measuring 7 mm. x 6mm. The ribbon,
which was not attached by its edge but laid flat, was about
Imm. in width and crossed at intervals by translucent
bands apparently marking breaches of continuity in the
process of spawning. The eggs were bluish-white in colour,
small and very numerous, a rough computation giving a
total of 10,000 for the whole mass. The radula in this
species matures early. It was examined in three Dublin
specimens, one 12 mm., the others each 20 mm. long in
motion. There was a total of 20 teeth in one of the larger

174 | The Irish Naturalist. August-September,

specimens, and 21 in the other, while the smaller specimen
had 20 teeth in its radula with fully 20 discarded worn
teeth in the ascus.

In Dublin this species varies much in colour. Bright
green specimens are much less frequent than those of dull
olive or reddish brown tints. As Pelseneer has shown for
the variety or form aurantiaca, these colours are derived
from the food plant. Emerald green individuals placed
by him on red sea-weeds were found to have changed colour
from green to the red-brown of aurantiaca in the space of
18 days. On the Dublin coast the typical green form was
found to feed on the green sea-weed, Cladophora rupestris.

Limapontia capitata (Muller).
L. nigra.

Locally abundant in stagnant pools between high-water
and half-tide marks, almost invariably on Cladophora
vupestris ; occasional in shallow water dredgings. In half-
tide pools at Bullock, where 47 specimens were taken in
three gatherings, May—June, 1908 ; one specimen dredged in
2 {., Malahide River, May, 1908; several specimens at
Red Island, Skerries, and 2 on Shennicks Island, July,
1908: Colgan, ’o9. Nine specimens at Dalkey Island,
June, 1908 ; 107 at Bullock in 8 gatherings, 1909-13, from
1 to 52 ina gathering ; 9 at Rush ir 1910, and 7 at Skerries,
July-August, 1910-12: N.C. Largest, 5mm. long in
motion.

This species spawns very freely in captivity, the egg-
masses being elongate, pear-shaped, slightly curved, and
from 2 to 6mm. in length. They contain numerous (from
50 to.100) small globular eggs with a yellow yolk suspended
in clear fluid. A single pairing is sufficient for the fertiliza-
tion of several egg-masses. A specimen from Bullock
isolated on the 19th June, 1912, laid no less than Io distinct
ege-clusters between that date and the 30th of the same
month. Although in many cases development proceeded
up to the stage of rapid revolution of the embryo within
the egg, in no instance did the veliger succeed in breaking
free from the shell. Some of the specimens were found to
be infested with parasites, apparently copepod crustaceans

i914. CoLcAn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. — 175

the body of the animal being studded over with prominent
shortly-stalked knobs which under the microscope showed
yellow granules within, the whole resembling copepod egg-
sacs. The favourite food of Limapontia on the Dublin
shores, at all events, is Cladophora rupestris. Fresh sprays
of this weed placed with living specimens of the animal
were observed within a few days to be completely stripped
of their green matter, only the translucent frame-work of
the leaves remaining.

An examination of the radulae of 12 Dublin specimens
showed the total number of teeth to vary from 9g to II.
Meyer and Mobius found the total in their largest Kicler-
Bucht specimens 8 mm. long to vary from 16 to 18.

Actaeonia Cocksi (Ald. and Hanc.).
A. corrugata and Centa Cockst (Ald. and Hanc.).

Locally abundant in rather stagnant half-tide pools,
always on Cladophora and usually associated with Lima-
pontia.. Between October, 1907, and May, 1913, I31
specimens were taken in 16 shore gatherings. The follow-
ing are the details of the various gatherings :—Ten speci-
mens at Bullock, October-November, 1907 (Colgan, ’o8) ;
I at Shennicks Island, and another near Loughshinny
(Colgan, ’09); 8 in a pocl between Dalkey Isiand and the
Lamb, June, 1908 (I7ish Naturalist, xvii., p. 164); 16 near
the Martello Tower, Rush, Ig10; 95 in 12 gatherings at
Bullock, January, 1909—May, 1913, from I to 35 in a
gathering. Largest, 6 mm. long while in motion.

The earlier gatherings at Bullock as well as those madc
at Skerries, Loughshinny and Dalkey Island were recorded
as A. corrugata, but further study, including observation
of the development from the egg almost up to the fully
adult stage, has convinced me that A. corrugata is but an
immature state of A. Cockst. The two species of Alder
and Hancock have accordingly been united here. They
were described and figured simultaneously and for the first
time in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History for
June, 1848, under different genera as Actaconia corrugata
and Cenia Cocksi. The genus Cenia was subsequently
(1869, in Jeffreys’ Brit. Conch., vol. v.) abandoned by Alder,

176 The Trish Naturalist. August-September,

and its single species trausferred to Actaeonia under the name
A. Cockst. As Actaeonta (Ceuta) Cockst was described and
figured from a mature individual it seems best to adopt for
the two species here fused into one the name A. Cockst
rather than the contemporaneous A. corrugata, founded,
as I believe, on an immature specimen.

In some of its earlier stages, while the head appendages
are as yet imperfectly developed, Actaconia is very similar
in form and colour to Limapontia. The eggs and egg-
clusters, in the two genera are, however, strikingly dis-
similar. In Actaeonia the clusters are rounded elliptical,
while the eggs are some six times as large as those of Lima-
pontia and much less numerous, an average of 12 being
given by 23 clusters laid in captivity by Irish specimens.
The bright orange yolk is immersed in a milky medium,
so that the clusters appear as white spots about 2 mm. in
diameter standing out far more conspicuously from the
Cladophora twigs to which they are usually attached than
do the elongated pellucid clusters of Limapontia.

The specific character relied on by Alder and Hancock
as distinguishing A. corrugata from A. Cocksz is the form of
the head appendages. These are described as short, flat,
whitish tentacular processes in the first species, and as
linear cylindrical tentacles of moderate length in the second.
A first examination of many living Dublin Actaeonias
showed that they possessed the short, flat tentacular pro-
cesses distinctive of A. corrugata ; but on a second examina-
tion made from 3 to 6 weeks later these short flat processes
were found to have developed into the linear and cylindrical
tentacles of A. Cockst. One egg-cluster of 12 eggs taken
at Bullock was successfully hatched out on the 19th March,
1g12, and the gradual development of the head appendages
of the young animals was kept under observation for a
period of seven weeks during which they passed through the
form characteristic of A. corrugata into that distinctive
of A, Cocks"

At no time during the development of these eggs was
any trace of shell or veliger stage observed. The young

1 for further details as to the behaviour of 4A. Cocksz in the early

stages of its development after leaving the egg, see Colgan ’12.

1914. CorGAN.-—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 177

Actaeonias when they left the egg differed from the adult
in little more than size and the absence of tentacles. This
striking peculiarity, the absence of any larval metamor-
phosis in the development of A. Cockst was pointed out
by Pelseneer in his paper La Condensation embryogémque
chez un Nudibranche in which the embryology of the species
is lucidly described and figured.4

Sub-Order—NUDIBRANCHIATA.

Aeolis papillosa (Linné).

Not infrequent living under stones about low-water
mark ; occasional in dredgings. ‘“* Three individuals were
found by Dr. Lloyd at Malahide; also found by myself at
Lambay Island”: Thompson ’40A. Fifteen specimens
taken in 10 gatherings at Lambay, at Rush, at Skerries,
and at Bullock, 1906-14; 1 dredged in tof. at Bullock,
1906, and another in 14 f. off Howth Head, 1907: N.C.
Largest, 62 mm. long.

This species, as is probably the case with many others
of the Aeolidian nudibranchs, travels by floating with the
tide, as well as by crawling. At Rush in May, 1906, I saw
a large individual drifting in rapidly with the tide, half
floating and half swimming with a wriggling motion
of the body. The number of embryos in the egg varies
considerably. Alder and Hancock (Monograph) give the
number as 2 or 3. Pelseneer (Embryologie des Gastropodes? )
says there are normally 3 or 4, that sometimes 5, 6, 7 or 8
are found, and that once he observed 12 in a single egg.
On the Dublin coast 3 appears to be the normal number ;
but in a coil taken at Skerries in 1913, I found the number
to vary from 3 to 7 in each egg, the usual number being 6.

In three individuals, respectively, 25, 50, and 65 mm.
long when in motion, the number of teeth in the radula

1 Travaux de la Station Zoologique de Wimereux, vii. pp. 513-5201,

1899.
*Mémoires de l’ Academie Roy. de Belgique. Ser. 2. Tome iil., 1911,

A5

178 The [rish Naturalist. _ August-September,

was found to vary from 18 to 24, and the denticles in the
widest tooth of each from 40 to 47. In the largest, and
presumably the oldest specimen, many of the denticles
towards the centre of the widest teeth were distinctly
bidentate and occasionally tridentate.

Aeolidiella glauea (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolis glauca.

Rare. One specimen trawled in 14-15 f. 3 miles east
of Kingstown, May, 1907: Farran, 09. Twice dredged in
14f. off Church Island, Skerries in July, 1913, one specimen
in each haul, both 22 mm. long: N.C.

The radula in these specimens agreed well in its general
form with Alder and Hancock’s figure ; but the denticles in
the majority of the teeth were more numerous, ranging
from 35 to 46 in each half of the double arch. The teeth
numbered 19 in one specimen and 21 in the other. In
captivity the last-named specimen spawned while floating
foot upwards on the water surface. The ribbon was -75
mm. wide and 125 mm. in length when opened out, a rough
calculation giving for the coil a total of 11,000 eggs.

Ae. Alderi (Cocks).
Eolis Aldert.

Rare. <A single specimen 30 mm. in length, found under a
stone at low tide, Dalkey Island, May 16, 1913: Colgan,’13A.
Another, 20 mm. long, taken here in April, 1914: N.C.

This species is very similar to its congener Ae. glauca,
and doubts as to their distinctness have been expressed by
more-than one authority. The best discriminative character
is found in the radula, not so much in the form of that
organ as in its numerical relations. While Ae. glauca has
about 20 teeth with from 33 to 46 denticles in each half of
the double arch, Ae. Alderi has usually but 15 teeth, with
from 23 to 25 denticles. These differences might very well
arise from differences of age and development in individuals
of one and the same species. Yet since the specimens of
the supposed two species of Aeolidiella here recorded ap-
peared to havereached about the same stage of development,

tot4. COLGAN.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 179

it is reasonable to infer that the differences in their radulae
are permanent. So, for the present, at least, it seems
inadvisable to fuse the two species.

Cratena amoena (Ald. and Hanc.).

Eolis amoena.

Rare. Dredged four times off Skerries and Dalkey, a
single specimen in each dredging, in 13 f. off Church Island,
August, 1911, in 2 f. off Colt Island, and in 14 f. off Church
Island in July, 1913, and in 14 f. south of Dalkey Island
in the same year and month: Colgan, °13A.

All of the specimens agreed in form with Hancock’s plate
in the Monograph, though in none was the colour of the
papillae so distinctly green. It varied from dull brown to
sage green. The brown band on the rhinophores was
present in all, and the radula agreed closely with the figure
in the Monograph, the number of teeth ina 5 mm. specimen
examined being 16, and in a 6-5 mm. specimen, the largest
taken, 20. The horn-coloured buccal bulb showed clearly
through the pellucid tissues of the body, and the hepatic
branches seen passing along the back into the papillae
formed a pale coloured zig-zag pattern resembling, though
less conspicuous, that so distinctive of Tergipes despectus.
In the largest specimen a monstrosity appeared in the
fusing for one-third of their length of two of the larger
papillae, the free ends diverging in a wide fork.

C. viridis (Forbes).
Eolis northumbrica (Ald. and Hanc.)

Rare. Dredged twice off Church Island, Skerries, in
from 13 to 14f., once in August, Ig1I, when 4 specimens
were taken, the largest 6 mm. long, and again in July, 1913,
when a specimen 5 mm. long was taken: Colgan, 13A.

In form and colour these specimens agreed well with
Hancock’s figure in the Monograph. The radula of the
5 mm. specimen was examined. It was long and slender,
and made up of 35 teeth, each with about 5 denticles on
either side of the shghtly prominent median denticle, which

180 | The Irish Naturalist. August-September,

arose far back on the tooth plate so as to give the appear-
ance of a hinder projection. The channelling of the tooth
plates, each of which bears a lateral depression on its face
for the reception of answering projections on the neighbour-
ing plate, is not well shown by Hancock. It appears clearly
in Sars’ plate of a congenercus species, Cratena olivacea,
Tab. xvi., pl. 8, Moll. Reg. Arct. Norveg.

Observed under a low power, the green colour of the
papillae in this species and of similarly coloured lines on
the body was seen to be due to the granular contents of
the hepatic vessels. At intervals a rapid streaming of
these green granules from the papillae into the hepatic
ducts and vice versa could be made out with the greatest
clearness, and on one occasion this stream of granules was
observed to pass from one of the papillae through the body
and out through the vent. After a time the papillae and
the hepatic vessels of the body lost much of their green
colour and faded to a yellowish white, while the watch
glass in which the animals were kept became thickly strewn
with green granules.

Tergipes despectus (Johnston).
Eolis despecta.

Locally abundant, chiefly on hydroids in shallow water
and in association with Galvina exigua. In Kingstown
Harbour: Haddon, ’86. In the shallow channel between
Shennicks Island and the mainland at Skerries this species
occurs in abundance on Obelia dichotoma which is found
there thickly investing the floating tips of the common
séa-weed, Chorda flum. In August, 1911, I took 63 speci-
mens here, in July of the following year, 176, in July,
1913, 114, and in, July 1914, 291, as many as 220 in a
single gathering: N.C. Largest 6 mm. long.

The body of this nudibranch is very pellucid. In some
individuals examined in 1912 the granules could be seen
streaming up and down within the papillae, and the radula
working to and fro as the Obelia heads were drawn in and
devoured. The papillae in most of the specimens numbered
only from 5 to 6, and were capable of change of form to a

I9I4. CoLiGAn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 181

remarkable degree. The tail is very long and flexible, and
acts most effectively as a prehensile organ. The colours
are so admirably protective that it is almost impossible ta
detect the animal when at rest, so well do its tints harmonize
with the capsule-bearing Obelia on which it feeds. Its
presence is usually betrayed by the numerous white egg-
clusters, for the species spawns with great freedom. No
less than 70 distinct kidney-shaped clusters were counted
in July, 1913, on an 18mm. length of Chorda filum clad
with the Obelia, and an individual isolated on the 12th
July of that year laid 5 distinct egg-clusters within 48
hours. Examination of the radula in g specimens from 2
to 4mm. long showed that the number of teeth ranged
from 16 to 25.

Embletonia pallida (Ald. and Hanc.).

Rare. In August, 1911, while examining some hydroids
collected off Shennicks Island, Skerries, I detected two
specimens of Embletonia, one 2:5 mm. the other 2 mm.
in length, associated with Tergipes despectus and Galvina
exigua on Obelia dichotoma. ‘The larger specimen had on
either side of the body a double row of yellow papillae
tipped with orange, those towards the central part much
longer than the others; the smaller specimen was a pale
whitish yellow in colour, and bore only a single row of
papillae on either side. The first agreed in form and colour
with Alder’s original description of EF. pallida in Jeffreys’
Conchology, vol. v., 1869, and differed only in its brighter
coloration from Hancock’s figure of that species given in
Part VIII. of the Monograph (Ray Socy., 1910) ; the second
agreed perfectly with that figure in colour, but differed
from it in the absence of a second row of papillae. The
larger specimen may safely be referred to E. pallida, and the
smaller may perhaps have been an immature state of the
same species : Colgan, ’13A.

In the Fauna der IXieler Bucht of Meyer and Mobius, 1865,
this species is recorded with a figure and full description,
and the record has been accepted by Alder in his account
of the British Nudibranchs in Jeffreys’ Conchology, 1869.

A 6

182 The lrish Naturalist. August-September,

From the figure and description of Meyer and Mobius it
would appear, however, that the Kiel Bay Embletonia
belongs to a different species, since the head appendages are
quite distinct in form from those of E. pallida as figured by
Hancock (loc. cit.)

Amphorina caerulea (Montagu).
Eolis caerulea.

Rare. Two specimens dredged in 2 f. in Malahide River,
one in August, 1907, the other in July, 1908: Colgan, ’08 and
09. One in 12 f. off Skerries, August, 1911, N.C.

A. aurantiaca (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolis aurantiaca.

Rare. A single specimen 6 mm. long taken on the sponge
Halichondria panicea in about 2 f., Malahide River, Juve,
1908: Colgan, ’o9. This specimen was quite as highly
coloured as that figured by Hancock in the Monograph,
and stood out a brilliant orange red from the yellow sponge
to which it clung. In only two minor poirts did it differ
from Hancock’s plate: the rhinophores were more con-
spicuously wrinkled, and the tips of the papillae were white
not orange, as has been noticed in specimens taken in
Valentia Harbour, at Plymouth, and in the Isle of Man
(Beaumont, 1900, p. 836). The animal, which lived in
captivity for 5 days, was rather sluggish. It has been taken
in the Irish Sea off the Dublin coast, but outside of the 2
mile limit in from 19 to 27 1., 1907) Farran,’ 09...

Galvina exigua (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolis exigua.

Not infrequent ; usually between tide-marks. Kings-
town Harbour : Haddon, ’86. One specimen in a rock pool
Rush Harbour: Duwuerden, ’94. Found associated with
Tergipes despectus on Obelia dichotoma in the channel between
Shennicks Island and the mainland, July-August, 1910-14,
80 specimens taken, 2 to 12 in a gathering : N.C.

All of the mature Skerries individuals agreed perfectly
in colour and in general form with Hancock’s plate in the

1914. CoLGAN.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 183

Monograph, but the papillae were fewer, in no case exceed-
ing 10. Many of the juveniles were colourless, save for
the papillae which had creamy hepatic lobes. A specimen
isolated on the 25th July, 1912, laid 4 distinct egg-clusters
within 24 hours. According to Meyer and Mobius the
species attains to 21 mm. inthe Kieler Bucht. My largest
specimen was 6 mm. in length, and in 4 specimens examined
the number of rows of teeth ranged from 38 to 52.

G. tricolor (Forbes).
Eolis tricolor.

Frequent in dredgings all along the coast in from 8 to
17 f. ; quite absent from the littoral zone. About 20 speci-
mens taken in 14 f. between Burford Bank and the Bailey
Light, Howth, and 28 specimens in 10 f. off Dalkey, July,
1907: Colgan, ’o8. One specimen in 10 f. off Bullock in
Apri, and another in 14 f. off Skerries in July, 1908 : Colgan,
?09. Taken in 15 other hauls in from 2 to 17 f., IgII-1I4, a
total of 55 specimens: N.C. Largest, 39 mm. long.

One of the most plentiful nudibranchs of the Irish Sea
between Io and 42 f.: Farran, ’o9.

G. Farrani (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolis Farrant.

Locally abundant near low-water mark on Obelta dichotoma,
investing Zostera marina, Chorda filum and Laminaria
saccharina. ‘‘A single specimen of this pretty species was
found with the preceding ” | Folis alba, taken at Malahide,
1843]. ‘‘We have named it after Dr. Farran of Dublin, a
gentleman well known for hislove of natural history. To his
kindness we are indebted for the opportunity of procuring
these interesting additiors to the British fauna”: Ald.
and Hanc., 44. Four specimens on Zostera at Shennicks
Island, July, 1908: Colgan, ’09. Common in the channel
between Shernicks Island and the mainland, where 154
specimens were taken, 1907-13, as many as 28 in one gather-
ing, the largest 23 mm. long: N.C.

In its Dublin head-quarters off Shennicks Island this
species is highly variable in colour, The white form with

184 The lrish Naturalist. August-September,

orange-tipped papillae (figured in the Monograpi) is by no
means so common there as forms suffused all over the body
with orange tints of varying intensity. Another frequent
colour form is one freckled or mcttled with brown or the
body, the papillae, and the rhinophores, this colour being
associated on the back with spots and blotches of deep
orange. The orange tips to the papillae are almost always
present, yet two specimens, cream-coloured in the body,
were found to have pure white papillae with colourless tips.
Monstrosities were noticed in three individuals. All of
these bore one or two forked papillae, and one a further
monstrosity in the shape of a forked oral tentacle. The
forked papillae were in all cases due to the fusing of two
adjacent papillae, as was evident from the presence of
double hepatic lobes, parallel below and diverging into
the terminal forks.

The species continues to spawn at intervals for several
days. One individual isolated on the 6th July, 1913, laid
5 distinct egg coils by the 14th July: another isolated on
the 22nd of the same month laid 4 coils within 24 hours.
The colour of the eggs varied from pure white to cream,
and in one instance to a very pale pink. On the 17th July,
1913, | had an opportunity of watching from start to finish,
the operation of spawning as carried on by a full-grown
specimen floating foot upward in a glass dish. The emission
of the ribbon was not continuous, but intermittent, by a
series of muscular efforts, each marked by a twitch or jerk
of the animal’s head. The coil reached the water surface
through a deep sinus in the flexible foot margin, the body
being throughout bent into a crescent shape. The whole
operation occupied 30 minutcs, and the egg ribbon when
finally laid and left floating on the water surface was dis-
posed in a coil and a half which, opened out, had a length
of 11 mm. The successive stages of egg deposition were
clearly marked in regular frillings or indentations of the
mucous envelope of the coil, a feature which is apparent
also in Galvina exigua and less clearly in Doto coronata.
I observed egg deposition in one instance to take place in
from 15 to 20 hours after pairing.

athe

torgz. ConGAn.—Opfisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 185

Doubts have more than once been expressed as to the
distinctness of this species from G. ¢ricolor. In spite of
many points of agreement with that species, it certainly
differs from it in general aspect and colour as well as in
habitat. The present species appears to be almost exclu-
sively littoral, while G. tricolor, which is larger and more
clumsy in its proportions, appears to be confined to fairly
deep water. The most obvious: distinction is in colour,
the violet tints which are almost invariably present in
G. tricolor being absent from all of the numerous specimens
of G. Farrant taken at Shennicks Island. Tothese colour
distinctions, which in themselves are insufficient as specific
characters, may be added certain anatomical distinctions
of perhaps greater value. An examination of the radulae
and jaws of 12 specimens of G. Farvani and Io specimens
of G. tricolor showed that the teeth in the first species ranged
from 35 to 54 1n number with an average of 42, in the second
species from 60 to 80 with an average of 68. A large speci-
men of G. Farrani had 40 teeth in the radula, while a much
smaller specimen of G. tricolor had 60. These differences
would appear, then, to be constant and not due to different
stages of development in two colour varieties of one and the
same species. In the form of the mandible edges, too, (the
Kaurand of Bergh) a further distinction was noticed. The
armature of the edge in G. Farrant was more distinctly
dentate than in G. tricolor in which the edge was broken by
a series of prominent tubercles rather than the row of deep-
cut, flat-topped teeth which appeared in G. Farrani, and
are well figured by Bergh (Bettr. zur Kenntn. der Lolid., v.,
1878, Taf., xiii). On the whole, then, G. Farrant seems
to be entitled to specific rank.

G. picta (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolis picta.

Apparently rare. A single specimen taken at Malahide
(Mr. Alder and Dr. Farran) Thompson, 44. One specimen
dredged in 12 f. off Church Island, Skerries, July, 1908:
Colgan, ’o9. Taken in 8 hauls off Skerries and Dalkey,
1912-14, in from 8 to 14 f.,a total of Ig specimens the
largest 7 mm. long: N.C.

186 The lrish Naturalisi. August-September,

A small papilla thrown off by this 7 mm. specimen
continued for 24 hours to make automatic vital movemen‘s.
The radula in this specimen had 48 rows of teeth, ard all
of the Dublin specimens agreed perfectly in colour with
Hancock’s plate in the Monograph.

Coryphella rufibranchialis (Johnston).
Eolis rufibranchialis.
Rare ? Dublin Bay, not uncommon : Hassall, ’42. Two
juvenile specimens 5 mm. in length dredged in 1o f. off
Skerries; July, 2o7a ENG

C. gracilis (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolis gracilis.

Not infrequent. Dredged six times in July, 1913, five
times off the Skerries islands in from 2 to 15 f., a total of
10 specimens, and once in 14 f. off Dalkey, a single specimen.
The specimens ranged in length from 3 to 6mm., and the
papillae were a clear orange rather than the reddish brown
tint shown in Hancock’s plate. One specimen, 13 mm. in
length and spawning taken on Halecium halecinum in 5 f.
off Kingstown East Pier, May, 1914: N.C.

The rows of teeth in the radulae of three specimens dis-
sected varied in number from 10 to 14. There were usually
5 denticles on either side of the large median teeth, and
from 6 to 8 in the laterals. The spawn coil of the largest
specimen measured 25 mm. when extended with a width
of hardly 1 mm. and was constricted at intervals like the
coil of Eolis papillosa. The eggs which were arranged
usually in 4 rows, numbered on a rough count 1,500 for the
whole coil. The rounded-elliptic otoliths were found to
be about 25 in number.

C. Landsbergii (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eohts Landsburgt.

Rare. Of this species, perhaps the most beautiful of all
our Eolids, a juvenile specimen 5-5 mm. long was dredged
in Malahide River attached to the common sponge Halichon-
dria panicea in about 2 f. in September, 1911, and another,

1914. CorGan.—Ofisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 187

a mature specimen 20 mm. long, was taken in 7 f. in Dalkey
Sound in May, 1913: Colgan, 713A.

In form and in delicate amethystine colour both of the
specimens here recorded were precisely similar to Hancock’s
figure in the Monograph. The oral tentacles were distinctly
longer than the wrinkled though not perfoliate rhinophores.

C. lineata (Lovén).
Eolis lineata.

Rare. Kingstown Harbour: Haddon, ’86. One speci-
men (probably this species) in a rock pool, Lambay
(H. J. B. Wollaston) Colgan, ’o07. Off the Dublin coast, but
outside of the 3 mile limit Mr. Farran finds this species to
be not uncommon in from 15 to 44 f. : Farran, ’og.

Favorinus albus (Ald. and Hanc.).
Eolts alba.

Rare. ‘‘ This is an extremely graceful animal. Two
specimens were obtained” |at Malahide in 1843]. Ald.
and Hanc., 44.

Not found within the Dublin coast limits since its original
discovery at Malahide, the locus classicus of the species.

Facelina Drummondi (Thompson).
Eolis Drwnmonadt.

Not infrequent. In Kingstown Harbour: Haddon, ’86.
Two specimens in Malahide River in about 2 f., one in June,
the other in November, 1908 ; 8 specimens in 6 f. off Colt
Island, Skerries, and r on Zostera at low water, Shennicks
Island, July, 1908: Colgan, 09. One specimen at low
water, Shennicks Island, 1g10, and another at Red Island,
1913; taken in 5 hauls off Dalkey and Skerries, 2-14 f.,
Ig12-13, a total of 7 specimens: N.C. One specimen in
g-12 f.. 3 miles east of Balbriggan, and another off Ireland’s
Eye, 1902 ; taken also in the Irish Sea at a depth of 43 f.

in Lambay Deep: Farran, ’o9.

The largest Dublin specimen, one 29 mm. in length taken
off Colt Island, showed a monstrosity in a distinctly forked
papilla. In captivity this species is remarkably active,

188 The Irish Naturalist. August-September,

the rhinophores, the long labial tentacles, and the papillae
being kept in constant, rapid, serpentine motion. The
papillae when thrown off or detached from the body of the
animal retain their vitality for a long time. In one instance
a papilla thrown off at 12 noon on the 25th July, 1908,
continued, without external stimulus, to make automatic
vital motions up to 8-30 on the following morning, or for
a period of 20} hours. When another detached papilla
of the same species was cut into two parts the upper part
continued for 21 hours to manifest automatic motions
similar to those effected by the detached but undivided
papilla. For a gastropod, this animal is quite a rapid
eliimber and crawler. A specimen which had suspended
itself by a slime thread 2 inches below the water surface
was seen to remount to the surface in one minute by climbing
the thread, and, crawling up the side of a glass tube, it
covered one inch in 13 seconds (Colgan, ’09gA).

A spawn coil of this species laid in captivity, somewhat
in the form of the Grecian key pattern as shown in Han-
cock’s plate in the Monograph, was found to measure 7
inches (175 mm.) in length by barely 1 millimetre in width
when stretched taut. The number of teeth in the radulae of
3 well grown Dublin specimens dissected was found to range
from 13 to 16; the otocysts contained very numerous (from
75 to 100) otoliths of two forms, about a dozen large and
ovate, the remainder round and hardly one-third the size.

F. coronata (Forbes and Goodsir).
Eolis coronata.

Not infrequent within tide marks. ‘“‘ Found to be
common at Malahide by Mr. Alder and Dr. Farran”’ :
Thompson, 44. Several specimens on Halidrys siliquosa, at
Rush: Duerden,’94. One specimen, Lambay : Colgan, ’07.
Under stones at Lough Shinny,at Shennicks Island, and at
Red Island, Skerries, eleven specimens taken, 1906-11: N.C.

Antiopa eristata (Della Chiaje).

In dredgings, rare. One in 10 f. off Bullock, September,
1906: Colgan, (074. \ Three im.o 74, Dalkey ‘Sound; tee
Colgan,’og. One in 2 f, Malahide River, September, 1911.

iot4. CoLGAN.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. — 189

and 2 off Skerries, July, 1912, one in 12 f., the other in
16 f.: N.C. One specimen in from 9-12 f., 3 miles off Bal-
briggan, 1907: Farran, ’o9.

The largest of my Dublin specimens was 31 mm. in
length and all agreed well with Hancock’s figure in the
Monograph. The body was pellucid allowing the valvular
action of the heart to be seen both from the foot and the
back. The slender hepatic branchings, too, were visible
through the body, and were seen to start from in front of
the rhinophores. Numerous bright orange copepods similar
in form to those inhabiting the branchial plumes of many
Dorids were found clinging to the papillae. These were
probably Lichomolgus doridicola.

A. hyalina (Ald. and Hanc.).

Kare. Thnee specimens were dredged in to f. off Bullock
in September, 1906: Colgan, ’07A.

Proctonotus mucroniferus (Ald. and Hanc.).

Rare. A single perfect specimen and another much
injured obtained by dredging in shallow water at Malahide
in September, 1843, adhering to the common sponge Hali-
chondria panicea: Ald. and Hanc., ’44, and Monograph.
Two specimens, +3 inch (21 mm.) under a stone at
Malahide : Haddon, ’86. A single specimen g mm. in length
and paler in colour than that figured in the Monograph
occurred to me in a dredging made in 12 f. off Dalkey Island
im, Agigust,, r9n3.: N.C.

This appears to be one of the rarest Nudibranchs of the
British Isles. So far as I can ascertain, within the 70 years
which have elapsed since it was first discovered at Malahide
only seven individuals have been placed on record for the
Britannic marine area, and six of these are for Irish stations.
The Britannic distribution as at present known is the follow-
ing : Dublin, two stations, Malahide and Dalkey ; Galway,
Ballinakill Harbour; Lamlash Bay, Arran, in the Clyde
area. In captivity the Dalkey specimen was observed to
assume the peculiar attitude noticed by Mr. Farran at

190 wine The lrish Naturalist. August-September,

Ballinakill, the animal as it. floated on the water surface
being coiled into a close ring with the papillae extended
radially so as to simulate an Actinia.

Lomanotus marmoratus (Ald. & Hanc.).

L. Genet Verany. L. portlandicus Thompson; L. Hancocki
Norman ; L. flavidus, Ald & Hanc.

Not infrequent in dredgings in from 10 to 18f. One
large specimen 45 mm. long and translucent rosy orange
in colour dredged in tof. off Bullock in October, 1906:
Colgan, ’o7a. Twice dredged off Church Island, Skerries,
four specimens, ranging from 4 to 12 mm. in length, in
131., August, 1911, and seven ‘others, ‘one 6 amsiaue
the others ranging from 1-5 to 2-5 mm. on Antennularia
in 104i; ;July, 1912; N.C. One. specimen,-a mile sogri-
east of Ireland’s Eye, 13-18f., 1902, and another in 14-16f.
two miles off Dalkey, 1903 : Farran,’og (as L.portlandicus).

In addition to the two last-mentioned stations, Mr.
Farran has dredged a large Lomanotus which he refers
to L.portlandicus no less than nine times in the Irish Sea
outside of the Dublin three-mile limit, and chiefly in or
about Lambay Deep. Some 20 specimens ranging up to
33 mm. in length and usually of a whitish colour suffused
with orange red were taken between 1902 and 1907 at
depths ranging from 20 to fully 48f. (Farran ’og.)

Although a good deal of attention has been given of
late to the interesting genus Lomanotus, opinion is still
much divided as to the number of species to be admitted.
Large and small forms which differ markedly in coloration
without offering any constant satisfactory distinctions in
form or structure occur not infrequently within the Britannic
marine area, and it has been suggested that the small
forms, which in general aspect fall under either L. mar-
moratus or L. flavidus, should be regarded as immature
states of the larger forms which are usually assigned to
L. Genet, equated with L. portlandicus and L. Hancocki.
A recent authority, W. Garstang, reduces all six European
species of the genus to one, fusing with the five species

tot4. CoLiGaNn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. — 191

already mentioned, the Mediterranean L. Evsigit of Trin-
chese (Journ. Marine Biol. Assoc., vol. i., p. 184-9, 188),
Another authority, W. I. Beaumont, admits two species,
one L. Genet, including all the large, the other, L. marmoratus
all the small forms (Beaumont, 1900). Again, Sir C. Eliot,
in his Notes on some British Nudibranchs (Journ. Marine
Biol. Association, vii., 1906), accepts provisionally three
species, one, L. Gener for the large forms, two others, L.
marmoratus and L. flavidus, for the small. The present
writer in the belief that the extension of the pallial margin
into a caudal, fin-like process in L. portlandicaus and L.
Eisigu, might be a sufficient specific character, united
these into one species under the name L. portlandicus,
while referring all the other forms, large and small, to a
second species for which he retained the name L. marmora-
tus as having priority over L. Genei (Colgan, ’08B). Finally,
G. P. Farran, influenced chiefly by marked numerical
differences which he has detected in the divisions of the
radulae, allocates the large Irish specimens to two species,
one L. portlandicus for the Eastern or Irish Sea form, the
other, L. Genet, for the dark coloured Atlantic or west
Irish form. Sir C. Eliot (Part viii. Ald. & Hancock's
Monograph, Ray Soc., 1910) failing to find the differences
pointed out by Farran, does not admit their constancy
and continues to regard L. Genet and L. portlandicus as one
species.

As for the eleven small and presumably immature speci-
mens taken at Skerries in Ig1I~12, they fall under three
of the described species which are here, provisionally at
least, fused into one. Two specimens, one 4 mm., the
other 12 mm. in length, with brown marblings on a whitish
ground, agreed closely in general aspect with L. marmora-
tus ; a third, 7 mm. long, in colour light yellow with
brown flecks on the papillae, agreed perfectly in form and
colour with L. flavidus ; seven others, the small specimens
taken in July, 1912, ranging from 1-5 to 6 mm. in length, and
translucent white flushed with pink, were clearly juvenile
states of the large Irish Sea form referred by Mr. Farran to
L. portlandicus, a form with which the large Bullock specimen
of 1906 agreed perfectly. The last or eleventh of the small

1g2 The Lrish Naturalist. August-September,

specimens was intermediate in colour between L. flavidus
and L. marmorvatus. The publication by Sir Charles
Ehiot (Part viii., Monograph) of Hancock’s figure of L.
portlandicus convinces me that I was not justified in regard-
ing the caudal extension of the pallial margin there shown
as a sufficient specific character. This species is accord-
ingly merged here with the other Britannic species of
the genus under the name L. marmovatus which has
priority.

As shewing the wide range of variability in the radula
due merely to age, it may be of interest to note here that
an individual 2-5 mm. in length (one of the seven juveniles
taken at Skerries in 1912), yielded on examination the
dental formal 20 x 6-0-6, as contrasted with the formula
40 x 58-0-58 given by one of Mr. Farran’s Irish Sea
specimens 33 mm. long. In the juvenile Skerries speci-
men, the number of teeth in the first of the 20 rows was
but 2 on either side of the centre, increasing to a maximum
of 6 on either side in the zoth row. The larger teeth —
bore on either side from 10 to 12 denticles against 25 found
by Ehot in ‘the, teeth of a mature Plymouth speeniem
The jaw tesselations in the juvenile Skerries specimen were
perfectly formed, the outer slightly curved edge of each
tessellation being minutely and regularly dentate or rather
crenate.

On the whole, the evidence at present available would
appear to warrant the conclusion that we have in Britannic »
waters but one highly variable species of Lomanotus
which presents itself in two leading forms or colour varieties.
If L. favidus should prove to be a mature form, and not,
as ihere is good reason to believe, a juvenile, then it may
be entitled to rank as a distinct species.

Doto coronata (Gmelin).

Locally abundant in shallow water dredgings and between
tide marks ; occasional in deeper water. Found in Dublin
Bay by Mr. Alder ; Thompson, ’44. In 2f. in Malahide
River, June, 1908, 33 specimens on Hydrallmania ; Colgan,
"09g. Taken in 30 dredgings in from 2 to 15 f. at Skerries,

1914. ConGAn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 193

Dalkey and Malahide, rg06-14, a total of 98 specimens,
as many as 39 in one haul in 2f. off Skerries ; in 13 shore
gatherings at Shennicks Island, Skerries, Ig06-13, a total
of 207 specimens collected or noticed, 90 being counted
in the course of an hour’s collecting in July, 1913, the
majority on Obelia dichotoma investing Chorda filum and
Laminaria saccharina ; N.C. Largest 12:5 m.m. long.
Though usually with pink markings, many specimens were
taken of almost pure cream colour. Individuals only
4 m.m. in length were found spawning. The readily
detached papillae of this species when cast off by the
animal displayed independent vital motions, quite as
remarkable for their persistence as those already noticed
under Facelina Drummondt. One papilla detached at
3.40 pm. on the 24th July, 1908, from a specimen dredged
off Skerries continued to make periodic automatic move-
ments up to Ir a.m. on the following day, or for upwards
of 19 hours, these movements not being confined to the
papilla as a whole, but extending to each of its black-tipped
tubercles. After swimming for some time on the surface in
the dish of sea water, where it progressed by a series of
twitches 0° spasms, the papilla sank to the bottom and rest-
ing there erect on its base proceeded at intervals to nod or
bow with a curious simulation of purposeful action its
body swinging through an angle of some 30 degrees, while
the tubercles carried on a proper motion of thei: own.
On examination of the radulae of six specimens from
3mm. to 5:5 mm. in length the number of teeth was
found to range from about 70 to 110. ~——In all six the mouth
cavity underneath the radula contained loose teeth from
5 to 15 in number. Bergh found up to 21 of such loose
teeth in D. fragilis (Beitr. zur Kenntn. der Aolid. ix. p.

27, 1888).

D. fragilis ‘Forbes).

Not infrequent in dredgings. One specimen on Anten-
nularia in 8 f. off Chu ch Island, Skerries, 1908 ; Colgan, ’oo.
Taken in five hauls in from 2 to 15 f. off Skerries, July,

194 The lrish Naturalist. August-September,

1912-13, a total of 17 specimens, all on Antennularia, N.C.
Several Specimens on Halecium inside of Burford Bank,
1904, and one specimen in 14 f. a quarter of a mile off
Howth, 1907; G. P. Farran. Largest 30 mm. long.

In three specimens examined the number of teeth in the
radula was found to vary from 75 to 110, each tooth bearing
on either side of the median cusp four blunt denticles.

Dendronotus frondosus (Ascanius).
D. arborescens.

Frequent in dredgings in from 2 to 18 f. | Several speci-
mens taken by Mr. Alder and Dr. Farran at Malahide ;
Thompson, °44. One specimen in 14 f. off Howth Head
and another in 6 f. in Lambay Sound ; Colgan, ’08. Taken
in 15 hauls at Malahide, Skerries, and Dalkey in from
2 to 18f., 1906-13, a total of 21 specimens, the largest
27 mm. long. On the 25th May, 1908, a very fine speci-
men of this species fully 89 mm. (34 inches) long was
brought to me by a Bullock fisherman who had found it
that day in one of his lobster pots sunk off the harbour
at a depth of 5 fathoms. I can find no larger specimen
on record.

The radula was examined in three specimens, a, 0, and c,
respectively, IO mm., 25 mm., and 89 mm., in length,
with the following results: (a) 38 rows of teeth with 8 to
10 uncini on either side ; (b) 40 rows with the uncini equal
in number to those of (a); and (c) 30 rows with Io to
II uncini. Here a departure from the general role of
increase in the number of teeth with increase of age and
size of the animal was exhibited, the very large Bullock
specimen having 8 rows of teeth less than were found in
the small, 10 mm. specimen. The large specimen, a giant
for its species, had no doubt reached the age, seldcm,
perhaps, attained by a nudibranch, when the growth of
new teeth has either ceased or become too feeble to balance
the loss by wear of the old teeth. In this old specimen
too, a remarkable change in the form of the uncini was

1914. CorGAn.—Ofisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 195

noticed. Their tips were quite smooth-edged, though
in the younger and smaller individuals (a) and (6), they
were sharply denticulate. |The mandible-edges, armed
with a row of tubercles in the smaller specimens had, like
the uncini, become quite smooth in the large specimen.

Tritonia Hombergii (Cuvier).

Rare. ‘“‘A specimen about 4 inches in length, with
the examination of which I have been favoured by Mr.
Ball, was dredged with oysters some years ago at Howth”:
Thompson, 40 A. A single specimen in deep water, Dublin
Bay: Hassall *42. One specimen in tof. off Bullock :
Colgan, “o8—this specimen lived in captivity for more
than a month, feeding on Antennularia. Taken in associa-
tion with Alcyontum digitatum in two hauls in 14f. off
Church Island, Skerries in July, 1913, a total of three
specimens, I mature, 92 m.m. long, the others juvenile,
nearly pure white and from Io to 15 m.m. long.

In the large Skerries specimen the buccal mass was found
to be of relatively enormous size, measuring fully 18 mm.
x II mm., and occupying nearly one-third of the body
cavity. The radula had 70 rows of teeth, the widest
having 220 uncini in each half row. The coarse serrations
of the mandible-edges in this specimen were not simple, but
made up of aggregations of smaller teeth which in the
younger specimens were arranged in several rows as in the

adult T. plebera.

T. plebeia (Johnston).

Rare. Four specimens, the largest 18 mm. in length,
found nestling at the foot of a large mass of Alcyonium
digitatum attached to an old Pecten shell dredged in 14 f.
off Church Island, Skerries, July 27th, 1912: Colgan, *13A.
Three specimens, the largest 20 mm. in length, dredged in
a'most the same locality as the preceding in July, 1913, in
a dredging which contained many specimens of Alcvonium
digitatum,

196 The Trish Naturalist. August-September,

The radula shewed the usual variations due to growth.
In a specimen 6 mm. in length, it was made up of 26 rows
with 50 uncini on either side of the widest row ; in one of
of 20 mm. it had 38 rows with up to 70 uncini in each
half of the widest row. The mandible-edges were armed
with from 4 to 5 rows of tubercular teeth.

Doris testudinaria (Ald. & Hanc.)

Two specimens of this species occurred to me under stones
at low-water mark, Skerries, in July of the present year.
When in motion the animals measured respectively 50
mm. x25 mm. and 65 mm. x32 mm., with a height ranging
from 10 to 12 mm. Compared with other Dorids, they were
very active, progressing with a beautifully smooth, gliding
motion, unaccompanied by the slightest undulation of the
cloak margins, at the rate of fully 66 mm. or rather more
than 21 inches per minute. : |

Both specimens agreed well in form and colour with the
large Plymouth specimen (A.) described by Sir C. Eliot at
p- 102 of his Supplement to Alder and Hancock’s Monograph,
but the underside of the Skerries specimens were not white,
but arich yellow. A hasty dissection of one of the specimens
showed that it was destitute of labial armature, that the
fragile, colourless radula had about 28 rows of teeth, that the
minute otoliths numbered about 60 and that the cloak was
stiffened by densely set granules and straight rods.

The larger specimen laid a small spawn coil in captivity,
and two other and much larger coils were found alongside
the animals when taken. Comparison of these with the
smaller coil showed that they belonged to the same species.
All three coils were of a dull cream colour : they were fixed
by the edges and formed a frilled spiral similar to the coil
of Archidoris tuberculata. The eggs were thickly and
irregularly disposed in the ribbon, and the embryos in each
egg were usually 2 in number though frequently 3 or 1.
The largest coil when opened out and laid flat measured
290 mm. x I4mm., and a careful estimate, made by the
method here described in the case of Archidoris tubcrculata,
gave a total of fully 480,000 embryos for the whole coil,

i9i4. CorcAn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 197

In spite of superficial resemblances the present species is
distinguished from Archidoris tuberculata by many characters.
Of these the form of the tentacles and of the anterior lamina
of the foot are in themselves sufficient. From D. planata
of Ald. & Hance. it appears to differ in little more than size
and colour, and it may be that Alder is correct in holding
that species to be the young of D. testudinaria. As an Irish
species Doris testudinaria was first discovered by Mr. G. P.
Farran in the spring of the present year (in West Ireland,
on the shores of Blacksod Bay). It is now recorded for East
Ireland, and further exploration will probably show that it
extends all round our shores.

Archidoris tubereulata (Cuvier).
Doris tuberculata.

Generally distributed but nowhere abundant under
rocks and stones between tide-marks; occasional in
dredgings. At Ireland’s Eye (R. Ball & Thompson) :
Thompson ’40a. A total of 42 specimens taken in 21 shore
gatherings at Lambay, Skerries and Dalkey, 1906-14,
from I to 4 in a gathering ; one specimen in 2 f. Malahide
iver, 1907; another in 13 1. oft Skerries, 1911, and a third
1 Ta TEATS VINA

The largest of the Dublin specimens taken was 4 inches
long while in motion. Pure yellow forms are uncommon,
the usual coloration being dull brown or pinkish blotchings
on a buff ground. A pure yellow specimen was taken in
the Malahide River attached to Halichondnia panicea and
assimilating very closely to the colour of the sponge,
Though usually littoral, this species has been twice trawled
at a depth of 22f. in the Irish Sea (Farran ’09). The
radulae of seven specimens varying in length from Ig mm.
to 60 mm. were examined. The number of rows of teeth
was found to range from 27 to 45, while the laterals on
either side in the widest row ranged from 36 to 7o.

The size of the egg ribbon in this species and the number
of included embryos is very much under-stated by many
authorities. Alder and Hancock (Monograph) found the
ribbon to measure ** when uncoiled as much as nine inches

198 The hish Naturalist. August-September,

in length and nearly an inch in breadth, while the ova
amounted to about 50,000,” and quote Bouchard Chantereux
as having found a coil 12 inches long with 80,000 ova in
what appears to be a variety of the same species. Sir
Charles Eliot (Part vin., Ald. & Hancock Monograph) says
the coil may be as much as 15 inches long when extended.
Four coils taken by me at Bullock and Dalkey Island in
April, 1914, when opened out carefully without stretching
were found to have lengths of 32 inches, 28 inches, 264
inches and 17 inches, respectively, with a breadth varying
from ? to 13 inch. The number of ova in the longest of
these ribbons was found to be fully 645,000, the calculation
being made as follows. A piece of the ribbon exactly
one-eighth of an inch square was cut out and subjected
to gentle pressure between two glass slides so that the
ova were well separated. Carefully counted, the ova in
this piece were found to number 360. The total area of
the ribbon was found to contain 1,792 pieces one-eighth inch
square and, assuming the ova to be, as they appeared to
be, quite evenly distributed in the ribbon, a simple multiph-
cation gave the total as 645,120.

Darwin (Voyage of the Beagle, chapter ix., footnote) has
calculated at 600,000 the number of eggs in the ribbon
nearly 20 inches long of a Falkland Island Doris and gives
this as an instance of the fallacy that the numbers ofa
species depend on its powers of propagation. Our native
D.tuberculata offers an equally good illustration of the fallacy;
for it is no more abundant than the Falkland Island species
and much less so than, for instance, Actaeonita Cockst whose
egg clusters contain usually but a dozen eggs.

Jorunna Johnstoni (Ald. & Hanc.)
Doris Johnstonz.

Between tide-marks ; rare. ‘In July last Mr. Hynd-
man procured a specimen of this Doris on Fuci at Skerries ”
Thompson °45 (sub. D. obvelata). Three specimens, the
largest over two inches (50 mm.) long, under a ock at low
tide, Dalkey Island, June, 1908: Colgan, ’o09. One speci-
men at Shennick’s Island, Skerries, July, 1910, and another

to1g. COoLGAN.—Opisthobvanch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 199

at Red Island, July, 1913; two specimens each 38 mm.
long at low water, Bullock, May, 1913, on Halichondria
panicea and closely assimilating with the sponge in colour
and! texture :"NVC:

On dissection, two specimens; one 15 mm., the other
30 mm. long, gave radulae with 15 and 20 rows respectively,
the laterals on either side of the widest row numbering 20
in the smaller, and 27 in the larger specimen.

Aegires punctilucens (d’Orbigny).

In dredgings, rare. | Two specimens taken in 1907, one
in November in 2 f. in Malahide River, another in December
in 10 f. off Bullock: Colgan, ’08. There is a specimen
in Dublin Museum collected by R. Hanna at Howth in 1898:
Nichols, 1900. One specimen 20 mm. in length taken in
2f. in Malahide River, December, 1912: J. Bayley Butler.
One specimen in 5 f. off Kingstown Pier, May, 1914: N.C.

This is a very sluggish animal in captivity. I have
seen it remain motionless for two hours with rhinophores
and branchial plumes fully extended, and the fastest rate
of progression observed was one inch in 3 minutes. The
radula in a mature specimen had 21 rows of teeth with about
20 uncini on either side in the widest row.

Polycera quadrilineata (Miiller).

Locally frequent between tide-marks ; occasional in
dredgings. Malahide and Dublin Bay: A. & H. Mono-
graph, 1851. Salthill: Haddon, ’86. Off Howth, 4f.:
Nichols, 1900. Between tide-marks off Shennicks Island,
Skerries, 29 specimens, the largest 25 mm. long in motion,
were taken in 9 gatherings on Zostera, Fucus serratus, and
Chorda filum in the month of July, 1907, Ig1o, and 1913:
N.C.

In only 2 of the Dublin specimens was any tendency
observed to assume the black lineations which are usually
borne by this species in the Kieler Bucht. These two
specimens, taken at Skerries, were dotted and streaked
all over the body with minute black markings which did

200 The hish Naturalist. August-September,

not, however, arrange themselves in lines. The number
of rows of teeth in the radula of this species appears to
vary but little with age. Taking the maximum number
of half rows as the standard, for the number of such rows
is not always equal on either side of the radula, 13 out of 14
Dublin specimens dissected were found to have 10, only
one had 11. These specimens ranged from 6 mm. to 25
mm. in length. The smaller individuals had usually but
3 lateral plates with a rudiment of a fourth, the largest
had 5. . Bergh found the rows of teeth in 4 specimens to
vary from 14 to 15; Meyer and Mobius found the usual
number to be 12 or 13; and Alder and Hancock give 15.

P, Lessonii (d’Orbigny).

Frequent in dredgings, both the type and the variety
occllata. ‘** Mr. Alder dredged 2 or 3 specimens of this
species in Dublin Bay, August, 1843, along with P. ocellata”’
Thompson ’44. Three specimens taken in ro f. off Bullock
and one in 8 f. off south side of Howth Head: Colgan ’08.
Dredged ten times in Dalkey Sound in from 7 to 14 f., Ig06-

13, a total of 17 specimens, N.C. The largest of my Dublin
specimens was 29 mm. long.

Var. ocellata, Ald. and Hanc.—*‘ Mr. Alder, by means of
the dredge, took this species commonly and of all sizes in
Dublin Bay in: August last, and subsequently obtained a
specimen at Malahide”: Thompson,’44. Six specimens,
taken in 9 f. off Bullock: Colgan ’og. Dredged nine times
off the Muglins and in Dalkey Sound in from g to 15f.
1906-13, a total of 25 specimens: N.C. The largest
specimen of this variety, one 14 mm. in length, laid in
captivity in Sep ember, I91I, a spawn mass of 34 coils
which was cream-white, not pink as is said by Alder and
Hancock to be usually the case.

In 6 specimens of the type examined, the duane of rows
in the radula varied from 13 to 14, and the laterals from
5 to 7 in each half-row. The lateral plates are distinctly
toothed at the tips as is well shewn by Meyer and Mobius
in their plate iv. for the var. ocellata. These authors

1914. COLGAN.-—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 201

found from 13 to 15 rows in the radula of the variety with
from 5 to 7 laterals, while Bergh in 4 specimens of the
type found from 16 to 18 rows with a uniform 8 laterals
in all 4.

Acanthodoris pilosa (Miiller).
Doris pilosa.

Rather common between tide-marks, usually on Fucus
serratus ; frequent in dredgings. ‘‘ The first Irish specimen
of this Doris that I have seen was found in Dublin Bay
by G. J. Allman, Esq.” Thompson ’40A. Very common
round Salt Hill: Haddon ’86. Frequent at low water,
Skerries, Portrane, Malahide, and Sandycove, 1908-13, a
total of 103 specimens taken, as many as 38 in a single
gathering ; dredged six times off Skerries, Ig11-13, in from
2 to 15f., a total of 20 specimens ; one specimen dredged
in tof. off Bullock, 1911: N.C. Largest 41 mm. long.

This species varies greatly in colour on the Dublin Coast
as elsewhere. Several shades of brown are common and
often assimilate closely with the Fucus on which the animal
was found spawning freely in July, but shades passing
from mouse-colour to light lavender and cream white are
frequent. All of the deeper water individuals dredged
off Bullock and Skerries in rof., 13 f., and 16 f. were pure
cream colour with yellow rhinophores. On dissection of
12 Dublin specimens, ranging from 9 m.m. to 25 m.m. in
length (in spirit), the number of rows in the radula was
found to vary from 24 to 30; the lateral plates were 3 or
4 in number in each half row of the smaller specimens,
and 5 in the largest. Bergh, in Alaskan specimens, found
from 3 to 6, and Meyer and Mobius, in Kieler Bucht speci-
mens, from 5 to 7 laterals in each half-row.

Adalaria proxima (Ald. & Hanc.)
Doris proxima.

Two specimens each Ir mm. in length were dredged in
Malahide River on the roth December, 1912, by Professor
Bayley Butler, This is the first Irish record for the species

202 The Irish Naturalist. August-September,

which is closely similar in aspect to Lamellidoris aspera
though quite distinct in the form of its radula. Originally
placed under Doris by Alder and Hancock, it was made
the type of a new genus, Adalaria, by Bergh in 1878:
Colgan 713.

The radula of this specimen was found to be made up of
40 rows with from 8 to 9g lateral plates in each half row
in addition to the large lateral spine.

Lamellidoris aspera (Alde ®& Hanc.)
Doris aspera.

In dredgings and between tide-marks, rather rare.
‘“Mr. Alder procured specimens during an excursion in:
December last with Dr. Farran of Dublin, to Malahide” :
Thompson °44. Two specimens at Lambay (H. J. B.
Wollaston): Colgan ’07. One specimen in 8f. Dalkey
Sound and another in g f.-off Bullock : Colgan ’08 and ’og.
One specimen in g f., Dalkey Sound, 1906 ; 1 at low water
Sandycove, 1909; I in Malahide River, 2f., 1911: and
2 off Bullock in 10 f., 1911-12: N.C.—Largest 8 mm. long.

L. bilamellata (Linné).
Doris bilamellata.

Rather common in dredgings and between tide-marks.
Between tide-marks on Lambay: Thompson ’40A. In ~
great abundance at Wilhamstown above low water
mark: Hassall °42. Very abundant on _ stones, old
shells, and boot-soles in 13 f. off the north side of Howth
Head: Colgan ’08. Abundant, chiefly on old Lutraria
valves, in 5 f. off Skerries, where 47 specimens were taken in
a single haul in July, 1907 ; also found abundant a few days
later on flat stones at low water, Shennicks Island, Skerries,
where as many as I5 juveniles were taken on one small
stone; one specimen in 2f., Malahide, 1908: N.C.—
Largest 19 mm. long.

When dredged this species was usually found arranged
in close groups of 3 or 4..— The colour is usually brownish,

1914. ConGAn.—Opisthobranch Fauna of Co. Dublin. 203

but occasionally almost white with brown branchial plumes.
The number of rows of teeth in the radula of four specimens
dissected varied from 22 to 25.

L, inconspicua (Ald. & Hanc.)
Doris inconspicua.

Rare. Dublin Bay: Wright ’59—the only record.

Goniodoris nodosa (Montagu).

Frequent between tide-marks and in shallow water
dredgings. ‘* Between tide-marks at the island of Lambay,
June, 1838”: Thompson ’40A. At Seapoint, in great
numbers just below low-water mark: Hassall’ 42. sie:
Alder found this to be plentiful at Malahide in 1843”:
Thompson °44. Salthill, fairly plenti ul: Haddon ’86.
Twice dredged in Malahide River in 2 f., 1907, 9 specimens
in August, and 2 in November: Colgan’o8. One specimen
in 9 f., Dalkey Sound, 1906; one at low water, Skerries,
1907, and 4 in from 8 to r1of. off Bullock, 1912-13 : N.C.—
Largest 15 mm. long.

In a juvenile specimen I mm. in length, dredged in rof.
off Bullock in August, 1913, the cloak margin, which is
obscurely waved in the adult, was found to be deeply
scalloped with 12 regular bays defined by sharp points.
From each of these points a radial line ran almost to the
centre of the back. These indicate the radial lines of
spicules which are so distinct a feature in the adult.

G. castanea (Ald. & Hanc).

Rare. One specimen agreeing perfectly in colour with
Hancock’s plate in the Monograph was dredged in 2 f. in
Malahide River, November 16th, 1907: Colgan ’08. This
appears to be the only record for East Ireland. The
specimen was Ir mm. long (in spirit), and the radula was

204 . The Lrish Naturalist. August-Sept., 1914.

made up of about 28 rows. The lateral plates bore at
the top a hooked tooth which distinguished them from
the laterals of G. nodosa which are merely sinuate at top.

Idalina aspersa (Ald. & Hanc.)
Idaha aspersa.

Rare. One specimen 22 mm. in length dredged on
o0zy bottom in 8 f., Dalkey Sound, July, 1908 : Colgan ’og.

The radula of this specimen was found to have 35 rows
of bright yellow teeth. Alder and Hancock give only
21 rows, but the specimen examined by them was probably
a much smaller one of 12mm. The labial armature was
closely similar to that figured by Sars for Idalia pulchella
(Moll. Reg. Arct. Norveg., Tab. xiv.)

Ancula cristata (Alder.)

Rare. Dublin Bay (Mr. Alder): Thompson °44. One
specimen 19 mm. long dredged in 2 f., Malahide, July, 1908 :
Colgan ’o9. Two specimens, the longest 5 m.m. long,
dredged in 14f. off Skerries, July;1913, one with <a
monstrous forked rhinophore ; one specimen in 1of. off
Bullock, August, 1913: N.C. Also dredged in Lambay
Deep off the Dublin coast, but outside of the county marine
limits, in 39 f.: Farran ’oo.

Triopa elaviger (Miiller).

Rare. <A single specimen II mm. in length dredged
in 2f. in the channel between Colt Island and Church
Island, Skerries, July 18th, 1913: Colgan 713A.

The radula was made up of about 45 rows with g lateral
plates in each half row ; and the auditory capsules contained
25 ovate otoliths.

Sandycove, Co. Dublin.

(ona tg ae Ries aad

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October, 1914. The Irish Naturalist. 205

A NOTE ON THE ANATOMY OF THE
IRISH VITRINA DESCRIBED AS V. PYRENAICA
OR V. HIBERNICA.

BY 7A. Es BOYCOTT,
PLATE. I.

Two different accounts have been given of the morphology
of the proximal parts of the generative apparatus of the
new Irish Vitrina discovered by Mr. P. H. Grierson' in
Co. Louth, which was originally identified by J. W. Taylor?
as V. elongata (Drap.), subsequently by E. W. Bowell? as
V. pyrenaica (Fér.), and finally redescribed by J. W. Taylor‘
in conjunction with Simroth as a new species under the
name of V. hibernica.

Fig. 1.—Proximal parts of the generative apparatus,

In figure I is represented what may be readily seen
on gross dissection of the species in question. Into the
end of the atrium (at.) or vestibule are inserted four obvious
organs. The oviduct (ov.) after receiving the duct of the
spermatheca (sp.) is clearly seen opening into the atrium -

1 Journ. Conch., xi. (1904), p. 125.

Sivtse Nat; xvi, (1907), Dp. 225.

3 Ivish Nat., xvii. (1908), p. 94.

4 Monogr. Brit. Land and Fresh-water Moll., iii. (1914), p. 449.

A

206 The lrish Naturalist: October

the vas deferens (v.d.) convoluted above, runs downwards!
along with it, and appears to terminate at or near the
junction of the organ X with the atrium: on the opposite

Fig. 2.—The organs of V. hibernica, after Taylor and Simroth.

side of the atrium opens the organ Y. According to Simroth-
Taylor, an outline of the relevant parts of whose figure
is shown in figure 2, the vas deferens (v.d.) does in fact
end at its junction with X into which it opens ‘‘ about
midway’: X is identified as the penis, and Y as a “‘ dart
gland.” = According to Bowell (see figure 3) the organ

Fig. 3.—The organs of V. pyvenaica, after Bowell.

X is a dilatation of the vas deferens (v.d.) in the form of a
sigmoid flexure ; its cavity does not open into the atrium
but is continuous with a lower section of the vas deferens

17.e. towards the genital orifice,

1914. BoycorTr.—Anatomy of Vitrina. 207

(v.d. ’) which crosses to the other side of the atrium, and
opens into organ Y, which is to be regarded as the penis
(Y) surmounted by a flagellum (Y’).

These two accounts are hardly compatible with one
another, and the points at issue appeared to be worth
further investigation. This I have been able to undertake
through the great kindness of Mr. P. H. Grierson, who
made a special expedition to Collon on my behalf, and of
Mr. A. W. Stelfox, who placed at my disposal a number
of specimens preserved in alcohol.

At first sight it was difficult to understand how two
such different anatomical descriptions could have been
derived from the dissection of the same species, and it
seemed probable that the material dealt with by Bowell
must have been essentially dissimilar to that examined
by Simroth. Actual dissection, however, soon showed
the origin of both descriptions. I was unable, with needles
and a dissecting lens, to definitely trace the vas deferens
beyond the neighbourhood of the angle between the proximal
ends of the free oviduct and X, and on the surface no
continuation of the vas deferens towards Y could be found.
Thus far the appearances were those described by Simroth-
Taylor. On opening up the upper end of the atrium
however, a stout white band was seen running from near
the apparent termination of the vas deferens towards Y
along the inner wall of, and projecting into, the atrium.
This band was thickest at its origin, and tapered off gradually
as it approached Y, and I was indeed unable to satisfy
myself that it made a definite connection with Y. The
appearances, however, were certainly not incompatible with
Bowell’s description.

Any fuller interpretation being beyond the range of gross
dissection, a complete series of microscopical sections was
cut in paraffin from the lower part of the atrium to a point
well above the tip of Y and the spermatheca. A study
of these sections has I think shown what the facts really are :
they are represented in a highly diagrammatic form in
figure 4. | The vas deferens passes downward to the base

of X, where it becomes deeply imbedded in the wall of
A2

208 The Trish Naturalist. October,

that organ: it here, without making any connection with
the lumen of the atrium, turns sharply round and, still
hidden in the wall, runs right up to the apex of X. Here
it again turns and opens into the lumen of X. _‘ Following
down this latter, it is clear that the lumen of X opens freely
into the lumen of the atrium. The band, which was
interpreted by Bowell as a continuation of the vas deferens to
Y appears in the sections as a thickening of the wall of the
atrium ; it has no lumen, and forms no definite connection
with Y.. A _ transverse section through the organs
approximately along the line M in figure 1 is shown in
Plate I. The free oviduct (ov.) and the descending
free part of the vas deferens (v.d.d.) appear as separate

a:

>

Fig. 4.—Diagram of the course of the vas deferens.

organs: in the organ X there are two lumina lined with
epithelium, one (pen.) the main cavity, continuous below
with the cavity of the atrium, the other (v.d.a.) much
smaller, is the ascending part of the vas deferens which
connects v.d.d. to pen.

My results therefore agree with those of Simroth-Taylor
in so far that I regard X, and not Y, as the penis: but the
vas deferens opens into the extreme apex of this penis and
not laterally. In this way the arrangement~in the Irish
species becomes more like that found in V. pellucida, in
which the vas deferens is closely bound down to the penis
though not actually incorporated in its wall. The organs

igr4. Boycotr.—4xatomy of Vitrina. 209

of a specimen of pellucida from Marple are sketched in
figure 5, the vas deferens having been separated from the
penis. I see no reason to doubt that the organ A is the
penis: it certainly receives the vas deferens at its upper
end, and opens into the atrium below. In correspondence
with his interpretation of the Irish Vitrina, Bowell regards
A as a dilatation of the vas deferens, and an organ similar to
Yas thereal penis. This latter I have not seen in pellucida :
renee points out that it is often atrophic and difficult to
nd.

Fig. 5.—Organs of V. pellucida,

The sections also show that the duct of the spermatheca
(sp.) is short, and opens high up in the free oviduct, thus
differing rather markedly from pellucida.

On the nature of the organ Y it seems useless to speculate :
it is certainly rash to call it a “‘ dart gland ”’ without further
evidence that it corresponds either functionally or morpho-
logically with the well-known helicid organ. __In its upper
part it has glandular walls and a capacious lumen, containing
some quantity of semi-amorphous debris: glandular tissue
of similar appearance is found in the penis. Its lower end
is thick-walled and highly muscular, with quite a small
opening at the tip of the papilla.

Victoria University, Manchester,

210 The Irish Naturalist. October,

VITRINA PYRENAICA.
A SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE.

BY. .E.. W. ~BOWELE,

In May, 1908, my account of the anatomy of Vztrina
pyrenaica was published in the Ivish Naturalist. Recently
I have been enabled to review the subject, with the kind
assistance of Dr. A. E. Boycott. Briefly, I find that I
was in error with regard to the two organs opening upon
the atrium: the large object which I described as penis
and flagellum is undoubtedly the homologue of the dart
sac found in Helicids, and the object I have marked d.v.d.1
(7.c., diverticulum vasis deferentis) is undoubtedly the
penis, as other authors have described it.2 The coiled
object joining the bases of these two organs, which I believed
I had proved to be tubular and lined with epithelium, is
in reality a portion of the fascia lining the cavity. I
ereatly regret that these errors of interpretation have been
perpetuated. The plate (Plate 4, vol. xvii.) represents
the actual appearance of the organs in question, each item
having been drawn by means of the Abbe camera. Figure
H represents the dart sac and penis, both separated from the
atrium, and the coil joining them is merely fascia. The
other figures may be taken as they stand, changing the
names of the two organs which I erroneously identified.
(I may add that in the first place I drew and described them
under the usual names).

The following may serve to elucidate the lettering,
which I am told has caused some. trouble to readers :—

Fig. B.v.p. means reflected peristome.
Fig. D, b. means balancier ; g.o. genital orifice.
Fig. E, rv. radula,

y.s. radular sac.

yt. reflected integument (twice).

g.o. genital orifice.

1 In Jvish Nat., vol. xvii., pl.-4, fig. Hy
2 See the paper by Dr. Boycott, supra, pp. 205-9,

1914. BowELL.— Vitrina pyrenatca. 211

Se eve.

y.m. retractor (penis) muscle.

d.v.d. (really the) penis. (See above).

aty. atrium.

v.d. vas deferens.

oe. oesophagus.

s.g. Salivary glands.

p.g., p.g. pedal ganglia.

sth. spermatheca.

s.d. spermathecal duct.

(d.v.d. just below this should be deleted).

p. and ff. are placed on the proximal and distal parts of
the dart sac organ.

p.g. (below this) pedal groove.

v.d. (under the spermatheca), vas deferens.

f.e. “female epididymis.”

m.e. male epididymis.

In Fig. F, besides those already explained :—
a.gl. albuminiparous gland.
h.d. hermaphrodite duct.
In Fig. G, o.t. ovotestis.

The large cells in this dart sac organ are very much
like those met with in flagellar dilatations, but I was too
hasty in presuming that they afforded a kind of histological
test. That was in fact the beginning of my error. Dr.
Boycott bas kindly permitted me to see his paper (now
published) in MS., and I agree entirely with his conclusions.

South Norwood, London, S.E.

REVIEW.

THE DUBLIN DISTRICT.

Geological Survey of Ireland.—Sheet 11. Map to scale of 4 miles
to one inch, reduced from the One-Inch Maps of the Geological Survey,
Ig10, under the supervision of W. B. Wricut, B.A. Ordnance
Survey Office, Southampton, t913. Price 2s. 6d. net.

This clearly printed map showing the country from Baldoyle to Leighlin,
and from the coast to Portarlington and Castlecomer, will prove
a great boon to geological students. It is a reproduction with a few
necessary corrections from the former work of the Geological Survey of
the district.

212 The Irish Naturalist. October,

ARE GANNETS DESTRUCTIVE BIRDS?

BY J. H. GURNEY, F.Z.S.

In his valuable and important remarks on the Gannet
(Sula bassana) Mr. R. M. Barrington, reviewing my lately
published monograph on this species,' alludes to the supply
of fish required for human food not being diminished by
what Gannets eat. Iam glad that he considers that this
point has been rightly insisted upon, in the work just
mentioned, and that he takes the view he does about it,
which is undoubtedly sound, if the whole subject be con-
sidered in its broadest sense. As the alleged destructive-
ness of Gannets is a matter about which very strong and
very different views have been held, anything bearing
upon the question is important, in support of the contention
that there are fish enough in the sea for man and the birds
too. All scientific enquiry, undertaken by Professor Huxley
and others subsequently, indicates that however many
fish Gannets and Cormorants may eat, the extraordinary
fecundity of fish will speedily make good the loss. The
fish about which we are principally concerned is the Herring,
which, in our seas, is the chief food-fish of the Gannet,
whether on the coast of Ireland or of Great Britain, in
both of which countries the Herring industry is very large.
Indeed few people who have not gone into the actual
figures, have any conception of the extent to which this
trade has now reached, or of the magnitude of the capital
embarked in it by fish merchants. Let me quote from
the authorized fishery returns. During the year 1912
the Fishery Board of Scotland returned the total catch
of Herrings, brought into Scottish ports, at 5,201,300
cwts., and. during the ,season., jollowing (1013s sae
4,449,323 cwts.” This latter being somewhat the
lowest record for eleven years. Taking the first of these

1“ The Gannet, A Bird with a History.’’ London (Witherby & Co.)
See supra, pp. 156-8.
2“ Scottish Fisheries. Thirty-second Annual Report,” V.

1914. GURNEY.—A re Gannets Destructive Birds ? 213

two returns as nearly an average year, and allowing
250 Herrings to the hundred-weight (which I am told is
about right) we have a gross total of over thirteen hundred
million (actually 1,300,325,000) Herrings taken in twelve
months, not necessarily in Scottish waters, but all brought
into Scottish ports.

Be it remembered that this takes no account of the
English and Irish fisheries, which are very extensive also.
There is no port in the world into which so many Herrings
are brought as Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk ; and Lowestoft
is not far behind. In 1912 the Herrings landed at these
two ports together numbered 1,361,000,000, and in 1913
I,362,000,000, and many come to Grimsby also. In 1913
the return for Grimsby was 75,487,000. Probably the
number brought into all ports in the British Isles was close
on three thousand million Herrings, in twelve months—a
number too great to grasp!

Surely these prodigious numbers, which are really
almost beyond human realization, are enough to convince
the enemies of the Gannet that at present the supply of
sea-fish remains inexhaustible, and that there are Herrings
enough in the sea for everybody and everything.

The more they are caught, the more do the remainder
which escape the nets, multiply, especially the Herring.
The truth is that but for Gannets, Cormorants, Gulls,
Guillemots, Puffins, and Divers there would soon be a
surfeit of fish. The part played by these sea-birds is just
as important in the economy of nature’s kingdom, as is
that which birds-of-prey play in keeping down rats and
mice, or small birds in suppressing the generation of myriads
of insects. That Gannets and Cormorants may do some
harm locally, that is to shore fishermen who never go far
out, where they are numerous, is quite possible. None
will deny that that may be the case, but that their depre-
dations have the slightest effect on the stock of Herrings
and Mackerel as a whole, is hard to believe, with such
figures before us as those here quoted.

Keswick Hall, Norwich,

al4 The Trish Naturalist. October,

SOME NEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE LIFE-HISTORY
OF WARBLE-FLIES.

THE ENTRANCE OF THE MAGGOT INTO THE Host’s Bopy.

BY PROF. GEORGE H. CARPENTER, M.SC., AND
THOMAS R. HEWITT, A.R.C.SC.I.

The life-history of the Ox Warble-flies (Hypoderma bovis
and H. lineatum) has been for many years a subject for
enquiry by naturalists and veterinary surgeons as well as
by farmers. Those interested in the progress of research
into the question will find the main results obtained up to
the end of last century well set forth in an article by Imms.}
It was then established that the eggs are laid attached
to the hairs of the cattle, that the second-stage maggots
may be found abundantly in the sub-mucous coat of the
eullets of oxen and heifers from. August onwards, and
subsequently wandering through various tissues in the
dorsal and lumbar regions, and that in this second stage
they arrive beneath the skin of the back, where in late
winter and spring the third-and fourth-stage larvae are
familiar objects, inhabiting the swellings or ‘‘ warbles,”’
each pierced by a central breathing-hole through which
the ‘‘ripe”’ maggot works its way for pupation on the
ground. So far, however, the first-stage maggot was known
only from Riley’s figure? of an unhatched specimen, and no
certain knowledge had been obtained as to its mode of entry
into the host animal’s body, Formerly it was generally
believed that the female fly lays her eggs on the back, and
that the maggots bore their way in directly through the
skin. But the observations of Curtice and Riley that in
North America the female H. lineatum lays her eggs mostly
on the heels and that second-stage maggots appear com-
monly in the gullet, have led in recent years to a general
belief (at least among entomologists) that the eggs—-or, as

1 Journ. Econ, Biol., vol. i., 1906, pp. 74-9
2 Insect Life, vol. iv., 1892, pp. 302-17,

1914. CARPENTER & Hewirr.—Hislory of Warble Flies. 215

in the case of Horse Bot-fly (Gastrophilus equi), the newly-
hatched maggots—must be licked in by the cattle, bore
through the mucous coat of the gullet, and, after resting
awhile in its sub-mucous coat, work their way to the final
position beneath the skin of the back.

In order to ascertain if possible the exact method of the
young maggot’s entrance, experiments and observations
have been carried on for the past ten years, mostly at the
Agricultural Station, Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan, under the
auspices of the Department of Agriculture and Technical
Instruction. Three reports on the work done have already
been published,! and a fourth is now in course of prepara-
tion. The experiments from which the most important re-
sults were expected consisted in keeping a number of calves
through the summer in the field by day, muzzled in such
a manner that it seemed impossible for them to lick them-
selves, and tied up by night with their necks in ‘“‘ bales”
and with broad aprons so that they could not touch their
fore-limbs with their tongues. Along with these animals a
number of others were allowed to graze naturally. It was
considered that if the warble-maggots enter by the mouth,
calves muzzled in this way ought to be protected, and to
show no warbles in the succeeding year.

A summary of the results of these muzzling experiments
may be instructive. In the summer of 1906 six calves were
muzzled and six unmuzzled grazed in the same field. In
the spring of 1907 the former had on an average 15°3
warbles each, the latter 10°8 ; the muzzled calves were thus
apparently unprotected, and the result was considered to
‘‘ afford strong support to the old view of the method of
entrance directly through the skin.”’ In 1907 the experiment
was repeated, with a very different result. Of the calves
subjected to the muzzling test only two survived till the
next spring, when these were found to be entirely free from
warbles, while the twenty-nine unmuzzled animals, on the
other hand, had an average of 7°7 warbles each. This might

+ Journ. Dept. Agric. Tech. Instr. Iveland, vol. viii., 1908, pp. 227-246 ;
vol, ix, 1909, pp. 465-476; vol. x. IgI0, pp. 642-650,

216 T. he Irish Naturalist. October,

be taken to support the view that the maggot enters the
host-animal by the mouth, though the fact that the
experiment was carried through on two animals only makes
any conclusion on the subject very doubtful. In 1908 the
same course was pursued, and it was found that in the
spring of Ig09 the six beasts which had been muzzled
showed, on an average, 9°16 warbles each, and the thirty
‘‘controls’’ 12 each. Here, therefore, with a fair number
of experimental calves, the result resembled that of 1906-7,
and once again supported the theory of entrance by the
maggot through the skin.

During the summer of 1909 the experiment was repeated
with the additional precaution of a strong wire cage sur-
rounding each leathern muzzle, so that the leather could not
touch any part of the animal’s body, and the bare possibility
of eggs or maggots being sucked in through the breathing-
holes was obviated. Five calves were thus muzzled, and
fifteen were left untreated ; in the spring of 1g10 the former
had an average of 2 warbles per head, the latter of 6:3,
and it was found that all the maggots from the animals that
had been muzzled were extracted in April, none being
visible at the second count of warbles in May. In the
summer of Ig1I the same arrangement was tried again, ten
calves being muzzled and seventeen left to graze normally,
the average for the former lot was 8:4, for the latter, 12°09,
and again it was found that all the maggots in the beasts that
had been muzzled ‘‘ ripened”’ early ; none were extracted
at the second count. These results suggested that muzzling
might give at least partial protection.

In all the summers thus far mentioned the muzzled calves
and their ‘‘ control’? companions were allowed to wander
at will all over a certain field. It was noticed that the
muzzled calves—probably on account of not being able to
graze—were often assembled at the edge of thé pasture,
where they were sheltered by hedges or trees, while the
‘*control”’ animals were wandering in the middle of the field ;
as the warble-flies are on the wing only in bright sun-
shine, the latter were, in such conditions, clearly more open
to attack than the muzzled beasts. When the experiment

1914. CARPENTER & HeEwirr.—History of Warble Flies. 217

was started again last year (1913), therefore, it was arranged
to confine all the calves to open ground by means of wooden
hurdles, so that the muzzled ones should not have the
indirect protection of shelter. The result in the spring of
this year was an average of 21 warbles each for ten muzzled
cattle and 15 each for eleven unmuzzled. Instead of two
counts only as in previous years, five separate extractions
of maggots were made at various dates from March 27th
to June 3rd. At the first two dates the unmuzzled animals
were quite free from warbles ; at the last count five of the
muzzled ones were free and two others had but a single
maggot each. The result of these later experiments tends
to show, therefore, that muzzling confers no protection
when the general conditions are similar for both muzzled
and ‘‘control’’ animals. We cannot yet see why the
muzzled beasts should be—as they apparently are—attacked
earlier in the season than the ‘‘ controls ;” but it seems
clear that the freedom of the muzzled animals from warbles
at the late counts inIg1o andigi12 may be explained by an
increasing tendency on their part to seek the shade as the
summer advanced and the weather became hotter. The
larger proportion of warbles in the unmuzzled animals in
the especially carefully conducted experiment of 1913-14
suggests not only that the maggots enter the cattle by boring
through the skin, and that the normal mode of entrance
cannot be by the mouth, but that the beast’s tongue,
instead of aiding the maggot in its career, is an important
factor in reducing the numbers of the parasite. Cattle may
be observed to lick the place where eggs have been laid, and
many of the eggs are probably thus knocked off and killed.

During the last two seasons we have done our best to
supplement the results of the muzzling experiments by
direct observation on the mode of egg-laying and hatching
of the young maggot. The result of our work in this
direction during 1913 has been (by permission of the Depart-
ment) published in a recent paper! where we have given
an account, with figures, of the newly hatched maggot of
Hypoderma bovts (from eggs that had been kept for four days

1 Sct. Proc. R. Dublin Soc., vol, Xiv., 1914, pp. 268-290, pls. xxi=-xxvi.

218 . The Irish Naturalist. October,

in an incubator). The eggs are laid by the female Hypo-
derma on the legs, and more rarely on the flanks ; we have
never seen a fly strike at a beast’s back—the region popularly
supposed to be the place of egg-laying. The eggs of Hypo-
derma bovis are laid singly attached to a hair near its base ;
those of H. lineatum are laid in rows of seven or more on the
hair about half-way up. This difference in the habit of
the two species has been recently pointed out by Glaser,}
and we can confirm his observations, made in Germany, on
this point; also that the eggs are hatched while attached
to the hairs, for empty shells, spht at the distal end, where
the larvae have emerged, have been several times seen by
us.

Unfortunately the tiny maggots obtained in the summer
of 1913 only survived for a few hours, and we had no oppor-
tunity of studying their behaviour. The newly-hatched
maggot is less than 1 mm. in length, with sharp, powerful
mouth-hooks and a strong, spiny armature on the body-
segments. In the paper just mentioned we remarked that
this well-armed though tiny larva ‘‘ could, perhaps, bore as
readily through the skin as through the mucous coat of the
gullet, and we may eventually find the former to be the
usual mode of entrance.” During the summer of this year
we have obtained positive evidence that the newly-hatched
maggot does bore through the skin of cattle, and with the
kind permission of the Department, we think it advisable
to publish our observations on this fact of the life-history—
as to which clear knowledge has for so long been wanting—
without delay. ‘

Besides the experiments at Ballyhaise, a number of
observations on warble-flies and maggots have been carried
on at the Athenry Agricultural Station by our colleague, Mr.
James Duncan, B.Sc., who has received much valuable help
from Mr. R. Y. Smith, the farm manager, and Mr.’Lang, the
cattle-herd. At Athenry Hypoderma lineatum appears to
be the common species, whereas at Ballyhaise H. bovrs is

1 Mitt. des Ausschusses zur Bekimpfung des Dasselplage, Bern. No, 3
4, 5, 1912-13.

1914. CARPENTER & HeEwirt.—f7/7slory of Warble Flies. 219

the more abundant; and it is well known that the latter
species appears later in the summer than the former. In
the first week of June Mr. Duncan told us that eggs of H.
lineatum were plentiful on cows at Athenry, on the hairs of
the thighs not far below the root of the tail, and that a few
days after the eggs had been laid Messrs. Smith and Lang
observed a soreness in the neighbouring region of the skin
with a discharge of matter. One of us (G. H. C.) accordingly
went to Athenry accompanied by Mr. T. K. Reddin,
M.R.C.V.S., who is associated with us in this enquiry. The
region of the body where these eggs were laid was very
convenient for examination, and the milch cows, standing
quietly in the byre, were much better subjects for observa-
tion than restless calves in the field. We found that the
cow’s skin near the newly-hatched eggs was perforated by
minute holes from which flowed a watery discharge which
hardened on the surface to a scaly deposit, and that after
a day or two the region affected became covered with small
pimples ; these disappeared a few days later. On squeezing
the skin of the earliest ‘‘ case’ that could be obtained, some
clear, watery fluid exuded, and a smear of this examined
microscopically was found to contain a newly-hatched
maggot of Hypfoderma lineatum.

This satisfactory observation incited to further work at
the problem later in the summer with H. bovis at Ballyhaise,
where one of us (T. R. H.) has been in charge of the experi-
ments during the past two seasons. In July twenty-four mag-
gots were hatched in the incubator, and some of these were
used for observations as to behaviour when placed on a calf’s
body. Glaser, in 1913, had tried to carry out observations of
this kind, by placing maggots on a shaved portion of a cali’s
skin; he found that they made no effort to bore through.
Instead of being shaved, a small patch on the shoulder of
one of the Ballyhaise calves was clipped, so as to have the
conditions as normal as possible, and newly-hatched maggots
of H. bovis were placed onit. Immediately they started
crawling down the clipped hairs to the skin, and, as soon as
they reached the surface, they began to burrow. On
account of their small size it is hard to discern them, but by

220 The lish Naturalist. October,

careful watching through a lens it was seen that they enter
perpendicularly to the surface, evidently cutting into the
epidermis with their mouth-hooks and occasionally bending
their bodies. Mr. R. G. Whelan, A.R.C.Sc,I., Superinten-
dent of the Ballyhaise Agricultural Station, kindly helped
in the observations and confirmed them. Six hours after
having been placed on the calf, the maggots disappeared
completely. Next morning the spots where they had entered
were marked with little pimples, like those on the Athenry
animals, easily to be seen with the naked eye. These
increased slightly in size, but soon healed up, and in less than
a week not a trace of the maggots’ entrance could be found.
The boring-in of the maggots seemed at first to cause the
calf a little pain, but the symptoms of discomfort soon
passed away.

We believe, therefore, that no further doubt is possible
as to the entrance of the young Hypoderma larva into its
host through the skin close to wherever the eggs may have
been laid, and the results of the muzzling experiments show
that effective entrance by the mouth is unlikely. The
question arises whether these observations of ours lend
support to the view put forward by some Continental
students that the second-stage larvae found in the gullet
have entered by the mouth, but can never make their way
to the back, and perish before attaining their full size. On
the whole, the period (October-March) during which these
larvae are found in the gullet suggests that this organ is
truly a resting-place for them in their wanderings through
the tissues—wanderings that are well known to be wide-
spread. We have still to find out what happens to the
first-stage larva after it has bored into the skin and how
far it travels before it undergoes its first moult. Glaser
found that some eggs of Hypoderma lneatum laid on his
trousers hatched, and that a maggot bored right through
into his own skin. From symptoms of swelling and pain
in various regions he concluded that this maggot travelled
to his gullet, and he finally extracted it (in the second stage)
from his mouth! Dissections of slaughtered heifers from
Athenry have shown that the entrance-holes made by the

tor4. CARPENTER & Hewirt.—Aistory of Warble Flies. 221

maggots penetrate through the epidermis, but they can
only be traced to the superficial layers of the dermis. So
far our colleague Mr. Reddin has not found the first-stage
maggot anywhere inside the bodies of cattle, and on
account of the minute size of this larva its discovery there
will prove a difficult task. This problem it is hoped may be
cleared up by future work; for the present, by certifying
the direct boring of the young maggots into the skin, we
are glad to have made some contribution towards settling
a long-disputed point in the life-history of the Warble-flies.

Royal College of Science, Dublin.

IRISH SOCIETIES.

ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include three Chimpanzees, one on deposit and a pair by
exchange ; a Green Monkey from Mrs. Lofmark, a Macacque Monkey
from Mrs. Stenson, three Capuchin Monkeys, a Marmoset and a Hutia
from Dr. E. Bate, a pair of Tiger cubs from Col. Combe, a Badger from
Mr. H. G. Constable, a Brown Bear from Capt. Howard Bury, a pair of
Tawny Owls from Mr. W. J. Williams, two Silver Pheasants from Mrs.
Low, a pair of Sand Grouse from Mr. H. B. Rathborne, a pair of Wild
Ducks from Mr. Butler, Kestrels from Mrs. Ellis and Miss Brandon,
Sparrow Hawks from Miss Leggatt and Messrs. J. C. MacLean and H. W.
Shanahan, a Viper and a Slowworm from Mr. Head, a Tortoise from Mr.
E. N. Green, and a number of Carp from Mr. A. E. Goodbody. A pair of
White-fronted Geese, a Bar-headed Goose, a White Swan, a pair of Black
Swans, and a Brazilian Hangnest have been acquired by purchase or
exchange.

The acquisition of the three new Chimpanzees brings the stock of these
apes up to five, the largest number ever on view at one time in Dublin.
The male lately arrived is older and larger than any former inmate of the
ape house, except the recently deceased “‘ Tom.”’ He differs considerably
in colour and expression from the other Chimpanzee, being dark-skinned
and broad-faced ; probably he will prove to belong to the rare “‘ Bald ”’
species or Koola-Kamba (Anthvopopithecus caluus). The Hutia given by
Dr. E. Bate is a West Indian rodent allied to the well-known South
American Coypu; but while the latter is aquatic, the Hutia is a tree-
climber. These arrivals are very rarely seen in zoological gardens, and
none has ever before been shown in Dublin.

222 ‘The trish Naturalist. Octobe¥,

BELFAST NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

May 30.,—Tur Hare’s Gap.—tThe second excursion of the season took
place, when over forty members and their friends went to Newcastle by
the 9.35 a.m. train. Robert Bell and Joseph Maxwell were the conductors
on this occasion. On arrival the party proceeded by brakes to the mouth
of the Trassey Valley en route for the Diamond Rocks, The brakes were
left behind above the Trassey Bridge, and the remainder of the excursion
was continued on foot. In about half an hour the Hare’s Gap, the narrow
col joining Slieve Bearnagh and Slieve-na-Glogh, was the most prominent
feature in the landscape. After lunch the journey was continued right »
over the Gap and round the southern slope of Slieve-na-Glogh. Then a
further ascent of about 300 feet brought the party to the Diamond Rocks.
With the help of some quarrymen,and a geologist working a Io lb. sledge,
they began at once looking for the minerals which are the special charac-
teristic of the granite in this locality. Many specimens were found, and
the members were able to bring home more or less excellent examples of
beryl, topaz, clear, smoky, and black quartz, mica, and also the commoner
minerals.

During the afternoon Dr. Dwerryhouse, of Queen’s University, gave a
short address, in which he dealt with the geological features of the Mourne
Mountains. The party highly enjoyed the al fresco lecture.

The view of the mountains at this point was charming. Looking south,
over the head of the Silent Valley rose the fine crest of Sheve Bingian, the
greatest mass of any single mountain in the whole range. To the left rose
the broad shoulders of Sheve Commedagh, backed by the towering form
of Slieve Donard, the monarch of the range. On the right, the tors crowning
the summit of Slieve Bearnagh completed the panorama.

On the way back to the cars attention was drawn to the weathered
slopes of Slieve Bearnagh, where the granite appeared like walls of gigantic
masonry. While, of course, the chief interest of the day was geological,
the botanists of the party made some collections of plants, including the
following :—Listera cordata, Juniperus nana, Hymenophyllum Wulsont,
Saxifraga stellavis, Ulex Gallii, Lycopodium Selago. At the subsequent
business meeting at the Slieve Donard Hotel several new members were
elected including Mr. J. W. Manning, formerly of Rosapenna, but now
manager of the Slieve Donard Hotel.

JuNE 13.—CASTLE Ropin.—A party of over fifty members and friends
left the Great Northern Station at 2.30 p.m. for Derriaghy Halt, whence
they proceeded on foot to their destination—Castle Robin—a distance of
about three miles.

A short description and history of the place was given by Robert May,
who mentioned that the ruins still remaining were those of a castle erected
some hundreds of years ago by one Roger Norton, an officer in Essex’s
army. The prehistoric mound or tumulus close by the ruins of the castle,
and upon which the party was standing, was known as “ Lis-na-Robin ”’
long prior to Norton’s day, and it doubtless gave its name to the castle.

Leaving what remains of the castle behind, the members, under the
leadership of Robert Bell, proceeded to the neighbouring quarries. The
quarries are in the Lower Basalt, and an intrusive dyke of amygdaloidal

igt4. Trish Societzes. Fs

basalt was examined. Amongst the mineral constituents pointed out
were analcite, natrolite, and chabazite, with crystals of calcite in cavities
or pockets in the rock.

Leaving the higher ground, the party then proceeded to Lisburn, where,
after tea, a brief business meeting was held. Nevin H. Foster, M.R.I.A., in
the chair. Five new members were proposed and duly elected.

DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

May 13.—The Club met at Leinster House, D. M‘ARDLE (Vice-President)
in the chair.

Dr. G. H. PETHYBRIDGE showed seedlings of celery plants having the
pycnidia of the parasitic fungus Septoria petroselint var. apit on their
cotyledons. These seedlings were raised from celery “seeds” having
pycnidia on their surfaces containing viable spores, and the assumption
hitherto made that the leaf-spot disease of celery can be transmitted by
sowing affected seed has now been proved to be well founded.

Prof. G. H. CARPENTER showed the maxilla of a new species of Machilid
from the Seychelles, demonstrating the extreme complexity and beauty
of the “ brush ”’ carried on the “‘ head ”’ of the inner lobe or lacinia; the
“brush ”’ in this insect consists of more than fifty flexible spines, each
slightly enlarged towards the tip, and then tapering to a delicate point.

D. M‘ARDLE exhibited the peristome of Cevatodon purpureus a moss
which is conspicuous at this time of the year in exposed places on the
Hill of Howth, where the material was recently collected; it grows in
large patches, yards in extent, and 1s attractive from a distance on account
of the numerous bright red coloured seta or fruit stalks. It is evenly
distributed in Ireland on wall-tops and barren ground. One slide showed
a portion of the teeth, of which there are sixteen, deeply divided and
composed of two differently coloured lamine, the outer one bright red,
more solid and narrower than the inner one, which is yellow. The outer
one is crossed by transverse ridges which are continuous at the base of
the peristome, forming a broad ridge; towards the apex they become
more distant; when mature the teeth become covered with minute
spicules and the inner lamina shrivels up. <A second slide showed the
large annulus which is deciduous and has a double row of obovate cellules,
sixteen cells in circumference and three or four cells thick Both parts
of the peristome are noted by authors as beautiful microscopical ob jects.
The name Ceratodon is derived from the horn-like teeth which have been
aptly compared to the horns of a goat.

DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

APRIL 25.—EXCURSION TO THE BOTANIC GARDENS, Glasnevin.—A bout
thirty members and friends took part in this excursion, the special object
of which was to study the Alpine plants. Sir F. W. Moore acted as
conductor, and earned the hearty thanks of the party by the care with
which he explained the minutest points of interest, both at the Rock
Garden and in the nurseries,

224 The Trish Naturalist. October,

May 23.—EXCURSION TO MALAHIDE.—Favoured by fine weather, a
party of about twenty members and visitors left Amiens Street by the
1.45 train, reaching Malahide at 2.5. They were then guided by their
conductor, J. de W. Hinch, along the sea-shore towards Robb’s Walls,
where the rocks and stones below high water mark were found to be rich
in corals of the Lower Carboniferous ; while the living animals, eggs, and
shells were demonstrated by Miss Massy, and the sea-weeds by Miss
Knowles. The tide being low, some successful collecting was made of
the eggs of marine animals, notably of Natica cutena, which the President
was desirous of rearing. Two pairs of the Tree Sparrow were recognised
by A. Williams. The interest being so varied, the party regretted the
shortness of the time available, returning in time to have tea in Malahide
before catching the 5.40 train home.

JUNE 20.—EXCURSION TO JOBSTOWN AND SEECAUN.—On account of
the unsettled weather only six members assembled at Terenure to take
part in this interesting walk; but despite a few rather heavy showers
the day proved enjoyable and profitable. After driving to Jobstown the
party walked over the high hill road to Ballinascorney Gap, where in a
small bog W. B. Bruce pointed out Orchis incarnata, new to District 7 of
Colgan’s ‘‘ Flora of Co. Dublin.’”’ Tnence the party ascended Seecaun
(2,161 feet) whence an extensive view was obtained. A number of stone
rings and Bronze Age burial cysts were noted on the summit, where a
brief collecting time among the invertebrates yielded Lithobius variegatus
and Acantholophus morio. Descending by the ridge to Bohernabreena, a
flock of Swifts was noticed flying at a good elevation. An ornithologist
of the party stated that these birds habitually scour the hills by day,
returning to the city in the evening. Listera cordata was seen in flower,
and some early spring-blooming plants, such as Draba verna and Ranun-
culus Lenormandi, were observed to be still in bloom on the high ground.
At Bohernabreena tea was provided by Mrs. Hely, after which the walk
was continued along the Dodder bank to Tallaght where the steam tram
was taken for home.

CORK NATURALISTS’ PIELD CLUB.

May 4.—ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.—Thos. Farrington, M.A., presided.
The Hon. Secretary, J. Noonan, and Hon.Treasurer, W. B. Lacy, submitted
their reports, which were adopted. The election of officers and com-
mittee for next session resulted as follows :—President, Prof. I. Swain ;
Vice-Presidents, Prof. M. Hartog, T. Farrington, Wm. H. Johnson, R. A.
Phillips, H. Lund; Hon. Secretary, J. Noonan; Hon. Treasurer, W. B.
Lacy. Committee :—Miss Blanche E. Duke, B.Sc., Miss M. Dobbin, B.Sc.,
Miss M. E. Bergin, M. Holland, R. Blair.

May 13.—ExXcURSION TO BLARNEY.—A party of twenty- four travelled
from Muskerry Station, M. Holland acting as conductor. Blarney Castle
was visited and its history related. By permission of Sir George Colthurst
the ‘‘ Rock Close ”’ (said to have been a famous place of Druidical worship)
was visited. It contains a fine collection of yew trees. A visit was also
paid to the lake, which was at one time a well-known source of supply of
the Medicinal Leech (Hivudo medicinalis), which is not now known to exist
in Ireland.

4.) ee SS

on

IQI4. Notes. 225

NOTES.

BOTANY.

Spiranthes Romanzoffiana in Co. Tyrone.

By the discovery, on a Belfast Field Club excursion, on July 25th, of
Spiranthes Romanzoffiana, at Washing Bay, Co. Tyrone, this rare plant
is now known to grow in all five counties which surround Lough Neagh,
viz., Down, Antrim, Derry, Tyrone, and Armagh. It is here essentially a
lakeside plant, the stations more than a mile from the lake shore being
beside rivers which flow into or out of Lough Neagh. In the present
instance the plant was first detected by Mr. N. H. Foster, and subsequently
traced by the party for a distance of a mile, at least a hundred specimens
being seen, occurring sometimes singly, sometimes in little colonies of up
to a dozen. The habitat was the usual one—marshy meadows.

Ke Er... PREAEGER,
Dublin.

Rumex maritimus in North Kerry.

While walking with a friend along the north side of Tralee Bay towards
the close of last July, we came upon a fair quantity of this rare Dock
growing in a small swamp near the sea ; this swamp is probably a pool for
the greater portion of the year. As at present known, Rumex maritimus
appears to be confined in Ireland to a few of its southern counties. In
addition to this North Kerry record, it is only known to occur in single
stations in Counties Limerick, Cork, and Wexford. Mr. Colgan considers
this Dock to be now extinct in Co. Dublin, while several other old records
are regarded as doubtful.

REGINALD W. SCULLY.

Dundrum, Co, Dublin.

ZOOLOGY.

Notes on Some Irish Lepidoptera.

Vanessa urticae, L., has commenced to hybernate much sooner than
usual. I noticed specimens coming into my house during the last fortnight
in July, fully a month earlier than usual. Possibly this is a sort of aestiva-
tion, for I have observed Pararge egeria, L., coming in during the latter
part of August; as the butterfly is on the wing till the middle of October
in favourable seasons, it is remarkable to see it going into winter quarters
so soon.

Acherontia atropos, L.—A specimen of this fine moth was sent to me by
the Rev. J. Jennings, B.D., on June 24th. He tells me that it flew into
his rectory some days before he sent it, and remained quiescent. It has

226 The Trish Naturalist. October,

a curious penchant for entering houses and in many cases causes great
consternation by its entry. I heard of one case where a whole household
save one more courageous man fled before the advent of one of these
moths. The aforesaid man not only faced the intruder, but captured it,

put it in a paper bag, and sent it to me !

Chaerocampa porcellus, L., and C. elpenor, L.—Specimens of these hand-
some moths were sent to me in June by Mrs. Trinder. They had flown
into the rectory at Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal, and had been captured by
her and very kindly sent to me. The former, according to Mr. Kane’s
Catalogue, seems to have been chiefly found in the more southern parts
of the county. I took it here, but I do not know of any record of its
occurrence in Donegal.

Macroglossa bombyliformis, Esp.—I received an example of this moth
from Wakefield Richardson, Esq., which he had taken at the Wood House,
Bessbrook, Co. Armagh, on May 28th, 1914. He tells me that he has taken
its congener, M. fuciformis, in Co. Louth, but as I have not seen the
specimens I cannot vouch for the correctness of his determination, and
as Mr. Kane says it has never been obtained in Ireland, caution is necessary,

Hyponomeuta padi, Zell. Sta.—I was sent a nest of the larvae of this
moth by Miss Gertrude Alexander, which she had found at Newcastle, Co.
Down, on a tree which, as well as I could make out, was some species of
Prunus. The larvae duly spun up and moths began to emerge on July
12th. Along with them were a couple of species of _Ichneumon flies, to
which I hope to refer in a future communication. I have not met with
this species before, though I have taken its congener, H. cognagellus, H.,
at Loughbrickland, Co. Down, and reared it from larvae found in Spindle-
tree, near Tanderagee, Co. Armagh.

Plutella cruciferayum, Zell. Sta.—Larvae of this moth occurred rather
too plentifully on cabbage in my fields this summer. The moths began to
emerge on July 19th. The larvae lived in little webs, and eat holes in the
cabbage leaves. Professor Carpenter, Economic Proceedings R.D.S., 1901
and 1907, reports attacks on this moth on turnips, to which it occasions
great damage.

W. F. JOHNSON.

Poyntzpass.

Mollusca on the Great Saltee Island.

On June 21st, in company with some friends, and in very dry weather,
I spent a few hours on the Greater Saltee Island. The object of our visit
was to see the seabirds which were breeding there in great numbers, so I
had very little time to collect mollusca, and the following is a list of all
I found :—Limax maximus, Agriolimax agrestis, Vitrina pellucida, Hyalinia
crystallina, Arion ater, Arion intermedius, Pyramidula rotundata, Helicella
virgata, H. intersecta, Hygromia hispida, Helix aspersa, H. nemoralis,
Cochlicopa lubrica, Pupa cylindracea, Limnaea pereger, L. truncatula,
Planorbis spirorbis, Paludestrina Jenkinsi and Pisidium pusillum. The
freshwater species, including Paludestrina Jenkinsi, were all taken in the

914. Notes. 227

outlet of a well near the house. All the shells are similar in form to those
of the same species found on the adjacent mainland. Eleven of them are
additions to the short list published by Mr. Praeger last year (I.N., xxii,
218).
KA? Parreres:
Cork.

Long-finned Tunny on Shore of Achill Island, Co. Mayo.

A specimen of the Long-finned Tunny (Thynnus germo, Lacép.) was
found on the shore at Dugort, Achill Island, last August, and kindly sent
to the Dublin Museum by Mr. J. R. Sheridan. A slightly larger specimen,
found on the coast of Wexford in the autumn of 1go1I, was described and
figured by Dr. Scharff in the JIvish Naturalist (vol. ix., p. 105). This
would seem to be the only previous record of the occurrence of the Long-
finned Tunny on the Irish coast. The Dugort specimen measures 2 feet
from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail, and the pectoral fin is
9 inches in length; the corresponding measurements in the Wexford
specimen being 2 feet 7 inches and 11 inches respectively.

A. R. NICHOLS.
National Museum, Dublin.

Long-tailed Skua in Co. Donegal.

On 30th May last Mr. J. M. Harvey saw a Long-tailed Skua, Ster-
corarius parasiticus, L., at the island of Doagh, Innishowen. He hada
very powerful glass, and was able to examine it minutely. From his
description it was an adult bird.

D. C. CAMPBELE,

Londonderry.

Richardson’s Skua in Co. Sligo,

Mr. D. P. Hope Johnstone, of Laragh, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, informs
me that he observed a Richardson’s Skua on Lough Arrow, on May 3Ist#
On June 6th he also observed and photographed a Buffon’s Skua, also on
Lough Arrow. This bird was “‘ remarkably tame, and after the photo-
graph had been taken, and when all the films were used, it swam up
within about six feet of the boat and took a May fly on the water.” I
have seen the photograph mentioned, and it is remarkably clear, though
small.

HELEN M. METCALFE,

Enfield, Co. Kildare.

The Roseate Tern in Ireland.

In the current volume of the Irish Naturalist, p. 17, I recorded the
discovery of a breeding colony of Roseate Terns, Sterna Dougalli, Mont., in
Ireland last year. I regret to say that this year the birds did not return to

228 The Trish Naturalist. October, 1914.

the locality to breed. On the 5th June last two pairs of Roseate Terns
and an odd bird were seen, but they had disappeared by the time the next
visit was made to the locality, 7.e., on 6th July.

Gro. R. HUMPHREYS.
Kylemore, Co. Galway.

Green Sandpiper in Co. Kildare.

On July 21st, whilst walking along the Blackwater river, near Metcalfe
Park, Enfield, Co. Kildare, a bird rose almost at my feet from the edge
of mud, along the water side, the river being very low. It flew away
from me, down stream, and from what I saw of it I describe it as follows :—
The upper parts bluish-grey, under parts white ; rump and tail-coverts

white, and very conspicuous in flight ; tail short, and black and white ; _

bill brownish and slightly curved, and rather long. Flight erratic, like
that of a Woodcock, with slightly arched wings. Size of bird somewhat
larger than a Snipe. I sent a description of the bird to Mr. E. Kay
Robinson, F.Z.S., and he is of the opinion that it was a Green Sandpiper ;
this was also my own idea, strengthened after I had heard from him, and
also looked up the Green Sandpiper in Professor Patten’s Aquatic Birds
of Great Britain and Iveland. I may mention that the above description
and the account sent to Mr. Kay Robinson were both purposely given
before I had referred to any book.
HELEN M. METCALFE.
Enfield, Co. Kildare.

Breeding of Canadian Geese at Dunmurry, Co. Antrim.

It may interest the readers of the Ivish Naturalist to know that almost
every year a clutch, and sometimes two clutches, of Canadian Geese
(Bernicla canadensis) are reared on the lake at Ballydrain, Dunmurry,

Co. Antrim. The birds are now (whatever they may have been originally) —

in a perfectly wild state, very wary, and difficult to observe. This year
there were twelve birds in all, and as they always divided and went about
in two parties of six each, I presume they were two clutches. These geese
do not come to the lake every year, and in 1911 and 1913, when I was at
Ballydrain, they were not there. They usually come every second year or
so, and Miss Montgomery informs me that they arrive in the spring and
remain to breed, leaving again some time in August. This year I saw
them every day from July 31st to August 6th ; after that date they disap-
peared, and so far as I know have not returned since. If Canadian Geese
were originally introduced on this lake, it must have been a very long time
ago, as the birds which have bred there for a considerable number of years
do so in an entirely wild state. It would be interesting to know if these
geese breed elsewhere in Ireland as they do at Ballydrain.

HELEN M, METCALFE,
Enfield, Co, Kildare,

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Vol. xxii, Now 10. 60 82) id IL a
| CONTENTS. ae:
A Note on the Anatomy of the Irish Vitrina described as vee oe ae

pyrenaica, or V. hibernica.—A. E. Boycort, M D. (PLATE a
Vitrina pyrenaica: A Supplementary Note.—Rev. E W..
BowE 1, M.A., ia ms Ag

REVIEW :
Geological Survey of Ireland. Sheet 11.

Are Gannets destructive Birds ?—J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S. ae
Some New Observations on the Life-history of Warble Flies.—
Prof. G. H. CARPENTER, M.Sc., and T. R. Hewitt, A.R-C.Se.1,

TRISH SOCIETIES ;

Royal Zoological Society, oi “5 .

Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club. ake pa ‘s

Dublin Microscopical Club, Lie sie ye

Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club bs Fs ‘

Cork Naturalists’ Field Club, ae ae a ;
NOTES: | K

Spiranthes Romanzoffiana in Co. Tyrone.—R. LL, PRAEGER, M.R.LA.
Rumex Maritimus in North Kerry.—R. W. SCULLY, F.L.S.
Notes on some Irish Lepidoptera.— Rev. W. F. JOHNSON, M.A.
Mullusca on the Great Saltee Island,—R, A. PHILLIPS, M.R.I.A.
Long- Sorte fdas. on the Shore of Achill Island—A._ R. NICHOLS,

es

Long-tailed Skua i in Co. Doucpal ai as Since. qs P
Richardson’s Skua in Co. Sligo,— HELEN M. Ne Ree
The Roseate Tern in Ireland.—Gro. R. HUMPHREYS,’

Green Sandpiper in Co. Kildare. Breeding of Canadian Geese in
Co. Antrim,— HELEN M, METCALFE, A bp Fi ty

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November, 1914. The Irish Naturalist. 229

SAXIFRAGA HIRCULUS IN ANTRIM.

BY A. W. STELFOX AND S. WEAR.

On 6th July last we visited Mr. Praeger’s station on the
plateau above Glenariff, Co. Antrim, for this rare plant
which, though searched for several times, has not been seen
here by local botanists since 1886. The habitat lies at an
altitude of about 1,100 feet, between Crocknavar and Big
Trosk, a little to the west of the Inver River. Here Mr.
Praeger found the plant in July, 1885, and again visited the
place in July, 1886. Upon the occasion of our visit it was
not yet in flower, but thanks to Mr. Praeger’s directions we
had no difficulty in finding the plant. The habitat is an
almost flat spongy bog of about twenty yards in diameter,
surrounded by wide, undulating moorland, in which Calluna
is dominant. The spot has the appearance of having been
a small pool, but is now filled with vegetation, so that one
may walk all over its surface. The centre fifteen yards
is brown with Hypnum revolvens,’ which must comprise
seventy-five or eighty per cent of the total vegetation in
the centre of the marsh. Outside the area occupied by this
moss no specimens of Saxifraga Hirculus were seen by us.
The following notes on the plants associated with the
Saxifraga may not be out of place :—

LIisT OF PLANTS FOUND IN MARSH WITHIN THE AREA
OCCUPIED BY SAXIFRAGA HIRCULUS.

Dominant.
Hypnum revolvens.

Locally or sub-dominant.

Prunella vulgaris. Juncus acutiflorus.
Menyanthes trifoliata. Carex glauca.

with
Ranunculus Flammula, frequent. Bellis perennis, abundant.
Cardamine pratensis, frequent. Scirpus setaceus, frequent.

1A specimen of this moss was identified by the Rev. C. H.
Waddell, M.R.I.A. ,
A

230 The lrish Naturalist. November,

Cerastium triviale, frequent. Carex flava, sub-dominant
Saxtfraga Hirculus, common. in places.
and
Pinguicula vulgaris, occasional. Carex panicea, occasional.
Taraxacum officinale, rare. C. limosa, common round
A species of Hepatic belong- edge.

ing tothe Marchantiales group. C. Goodenovi, occasional.

LIST OF OTHER PLANTS FOUND IN THE MARSH, BUT OUTSIDE
THE AREA OCCUPIED BY SAXIFRAGA HIRCULUS.

Linum catharticum. Potamogeton polygontfolius.
Sagina procumbens. Triglochin palustre.

Drosera rotundifolia. Schoenus nigricans.
Epilobium palustre. Carex ampullacea.
Vaccinium Oxycoccus. C. pulicarts.

Selaginella selaginoides.

List OF PLANTS FOUND IN MOORLAND SURROUNDING
MARSH WHERE SAXIFRAGA HIRCULUS GROWS.

Dominant.
Calluna vulgaris.

Sub-dominant.

Molima caerulea. Scirpus caespitosus.
with

Viola palustris. Carex ampullacea.

Polygala vulgaris. C. stellulata.

Potentilla Tormentilla. C. panicea.

Agrostis vulgaris. C. Goodenovi.

Poa (2) pratensis. C. pulicanis.

The following plants which occur in somewhat similar
marshy spots in the neighbourhood were noted as absent
from the above spot :—

Galium saxatile. Pinguicula lusitanica.
Drosera anglica. Pedicularis sylvatica.
Enca Tetralix. Narthecium ossifragum.

Belfast.

1914. PRAEGER.—Rarer [rish Plants in Cultivation. 231

SOME NOTES ON RARER IRISH PLANTS
IN CULTIVATION.

BY R. LLOYD ‘PRAEGER.

AT one time or another I have had in cultivation many
of our rarer Irish plants, and possibly the following dis-
cursive notes on them may be of interest to some readers.
It may be premised that the soil in my garden in Dublin
is light, loamy, and limy; the plants never suffer from
excessive moisture, but often from drought ; plants which
naturally affect damp ground, such as Trollius, Meadow-
sweet, Astilbe, Mimulus, speedily die out unless planted
in tubs without drainage; while the limy nature of the
soil precludes the cultivation of Heaths, Pyrolas, Ledums,
and so on, except in specially prepared peat beds.

To begin with alpine and mountain plants, which are
always favourites; many of these, such as Thalictrum
alpinum (from South Mayo), Alchemilla alpina (from Lough
Ouler), Saxtfraga atzoides, Sedum Rhodiola, Polygonum
vivtparum (from Ben Bulben), Oxyria digyna, Salix herbacea,
Poa alpina (from Brandon) give no trouble, and make
neat and ornamental plants. Dvraba incana, Arenaria verna
and various Hieracia sow themselves freely—the last almost
too much so. Dryas octopetala and Arctostaphylos Uva-
wurst make large mats when established, but are rather
slow to start on account of the difficulty of collecting
small rooted plants. Saussurea alpina (from Clare Island)
and Vaccinium Vitis-Idoea (from Mount Leinster) make fine
clumps in peat, but my peat gets too dry for Rubus Chamae-
morus (from Norway), and Saxifraga nivalis (from Ben
Bulben). S. Hirculus (from Garron Point) and S. stellaris
did well with me for some years in wet peat inatub. Silene
acaulis, a great difficulty in many gardens, will grow any-
where with me. Saxtfraga oppositifolia (from Ben Bulben)
makes a large mat, much smaller in growth and with
fewer flowers than most of the cultivated forms. Of
Juntperus nana | introduced a small piece of a particularly
prostrate form from Connemara ; it is now two feet high,
growing quite upright with short spreading branches, and

A2

252 sO .:. The Trish. Naturalist.--~ 2 November,

spreading leaves. Saxifraga decipiens from Clare Island
is a valuable plant in the garden, forming a striking cushion
of soft greyish green. Of alpine ferns, Polystichum Lon-
chitis and Asplenium viride give no trouble.

Of Connemara plants, the three famous heaths, along
with the hybrid E. Stuarts and the double FE. Mackaun
(known as FE. Crawfordit) flourish in dry peat. Avabis
ciliata grows tall, and sows itself. Ajuga pyramidalis
(from Bunowen, near Slyne Head) is a wanderer, appearing
constantly in new places on the shady side of beds. Allium
Babingtoni is a nuisance unless all bulbils are removed
before they get a chance of falling.

To take the Burren plants next: Helianthemum vineale
and Astragalus Hypoglottis are easy and pleasing. Asperula
cynanchica sows itself abundantly. Potentilla fruticosa
should be in every garden. Neotinea intacta I have had
now for seven years; it has outlived all my other Irish
Orchids. Ophrys muscifera and Eptpactis atrorubens lasted
only a couple of seasons with me; and with Sfivanthes
autumnalis I could not succeed at all, nor with O. apifera,
which is notoriously difficult.

Among the plants brought from the South-west, the
numerous hybrids and varieties of Saxtfraga umbrosa and
S. Geum are very interesting. Pinguicula grandiflora is
difficult to keep through the winter, because the roots as
well as the leaves die off, and the little bulb-like buds get
loose and perish. Jam growing it under a mat of Anagallis
tenella to keep the plants in place, and this device promises
success. Euphorbia hiberna is a very handsome spring
plant in the garden. Szsyrinchium angustifolium, and its
ally S. californicum (from Wexford), while sowing them-
selves freely, show no inclination to spread widely, but
form compact colonies. <Asplenium Adiantum-mgrum var.
acutum seems very sensitive to light, and only succeeds
in deep shade; I never found it wild save in quite shady
situations. Sedum dasyphvllum (from Cork) is established
on my garden wall, and makes very dainty patches of
pinkish gray, contrasting with the bright green and purple
of Evinus alpinus from Downpatrick.

19l4. PRAEGER.—Aazrer Lrish Plants in Cultivation. 233

From Ben Bulben came Avenaria ciliata and Polygala
grandiflora. The former makes a most dainty cushion
loaded with flowers, of which the slugs are very fond. I
have found it hard to establish any of the Milkworts, but
P. grandiflora, once established, has sowed itself about.

Plants from the North include Scilla verna, which is a
pleasing and easy little plant. Rosa hibernica has formed a
large bush, which fruits freely. Circaea alpina is curiously
enough a common weed in northern gardens, and a trouble-
some weed too, getting into the centre of a clump where it
is impossible to eradicate it. Poterium officinale from
Donaghadee grows freely, and Carum verticillatum is worth
growing for sake of its elegant foliage ; my present plants
came from the Pyrenees. So far I have not succeeded well
with any of the Irish Pyrolas, on account of the difficulty
of securing well-rooted pieces: but P. rotundifolia var.
arenaria from near Southport grows freely. Sfivanthes
Romanzoffiana I twice tried, making a little wet bog for its
accommodation, but slugs could not be kept from it.
Carex Buxbaumi I obtained from Glasnevin Botanic
Gardens, where no doubt the stock is derived from original
specimens collected on Lough Neagh by Dr. Moore; it
runs about extensively, and has to be ruthlessly weeded
out each season. My garden is too dry for Tvollius euro-
paeus, which I brought from Lough Melvin. Linana
vepens from near Rostrevor proved a pestilential weed.

Maritime plants mostly do well in my light soil. Glau-
cium flavum and Statice occidentalis increase by natural
seeding. Euphorbia portlandica grows exuberantly, E.
Paralias not so freely. Convolvulus Soldanella grows easily
in sand, but is difficult to flower. Avtemtsia maritima
makes a beautiful mass of silvery gray, and sows itself.
Mertensia maritima is lovely, but slugs are inordinately
fond of it. Atriplex portulacoides, Crithmum maritimum,
Inula crithmoides and Diotis candidissima languish, and I
have not succeeded in making them feel at home.

Of other plants, mostly from the east or centre of Ireland,
the following may be mentioned :—Viola lutea (from the
Dublin hills) is a delightful plant in cultivation, with a pro-

234 The Lrish Naturalist. November,

fusion of flower. Hypericum Iirsutum and Agrimonia
odorata flourish, but are not interesting in the garden.
Inula salicina from Lough Derg is quite a weed, making an
extensive network of underground stems from which arise
a grove of annual flowering shoots. Scrvophularia umbrosa
from the Liffey grows quietly, producing seedlings each
year. My soil is too dry for Wahlenbergia hederacea, and
perhaps also for Teucrium Scordium, which has not grown ;
but curiously enough Carex Pseudo-cyperus, mostly found
in very wet places, grows, and has even seeded itself.
Lastrea Thelypteris also, is making headway ina particularly
dry spot. Thymus Chamaedrys is very showy in the
garden, and a white form from Killough, in Co. Down,
makes a fine snowy carpet. Colchicum autumnale from
Kilkenny has too much leaf and too Ittle flower to be a
valuable accession in the garden. The rare Lastrea remota
from S.E. Galway does well in half shade. Glyceria
festucaeformis, from Strangford Lough and the Shannon,
stood for a year, and produced seedlings, but the ground
was too dry for it, and it died out.

Dublin.

IRISH SOCIETIES.

ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include a Hoolock Gibbon from eleven members of the
Council, a Galago from Dr. A. Merrin, a Brown Bear (Chinese Turkestan)
from Captain Bury, a Rabbit from Mr. S. Gibson, a Hooded Crow from
Mr. W.-Eddison, a pair of Pigeons from Mr. G. Mitchell, a Ring-Dove
from Mrs. Barry, a Wood-Pigeon and a Grass Parrakeet from Mr. S.
Leonard, two Peacocks, a Peahen and Chicks from Mrs. Lyster Smythe,
and a Sparrow-hawk from Mr. J. Duggan. Many gifts of fruit and
vegetables for feeding the animals have been received ; owing to the
present high prices of food and the reduced receipts of the Society on
account of the war, such gifts are most acceptable to the Council.

The Hoolock Gibbon is a remarkably fine specimen, very tame and
able to perform many clever tricks. Its arrival makes it possible for
visitors to see, for the first time in Dublin, all four types of Anthropoid
Ape together—Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Orang and Gibbon. It is indeed
doubtful if such an assembly has ever been found in any menagerie.

I9t4. Trish Socieltes. 235

BELFAST NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

Juty 11.—ExcursIoN TO DRUMAHAIRE.—On this date the annual
“long excursion’’ of the above Club commenced, the members, under the
conductorship of N. H. Foster, starting from Belfast by the 9.30 a.m. train,
their numbers being augmented en route till they amounted to eighteen
on arrival at Enniskillen. Here the party were entertained to lunch on
the Fort Hill by Thomas Plunkett, M.R.I.A., an Honorary Member of the
Club, and afterwards resumed their journey to Drumahaire. On arrival the
President, R. Ll. Praeger, and Mrs. Praeger were awaiting them, and the
party were driven to the Abbey Hotel. After tea the cars were remounted,
and a short drive brought the party to the landing stage on the River
Bonnet, where a motor boat was waiting, and in a short time the members
were speeding down Lough Gill and viewing the entrancing scenery of the
eastern end of this lake. The afternoon was spent cruising in Lough Gill,
a short halt being made to enable the members to collect on Goat Island,
where that rare fern Polypodium semilacerum was found. Many birds were
observed on the lake, but interest chiefly centred in the broods of Teal
and Red-breasted Mergansers which, in company with their parents, were
seen at close quarters. On reaching the landing-stage the cars were again
mounted and the party returned to the hotel for dinner at eight o’clock.

No programme was fixed for Sunday, and the members were free to
spend the day in whatever way best agreed with their inclinations. Some
went to church or strolled about the village and its environs, while most
of them paid a visit to the extensive ruins of Creevelea Abbey (close to the
hotel), a Franciscan monument in a good state of preservation.

Some of the party paid a visit to the far-famed Glencar, with its waterfall
and Swiss Valley, and returned delighted with their long day’s outing.

At 9.30 on Monday morning the party left the hotel in cars bound for
the southern shore of Lough Gill. On reaching the head of Slish Gap, an
eroded valley due to the weathering down of a pre-Carboniferous dyke of
soft serpentine in the metamorphic rocks, a halt was called, and, after a
half-hour devoted to collecting, the President briefly described the geo-
logical features of the district. Mr. Praeger then proceeded to demonstrate
the differences in the fauna and flora easily recognisable in the plants
growing in the metamorphic area as contrasted with that in the neigh -
bouring calcareous strata. He also exhibited a number of the most in-
teresting plants collected within a few yards’ distance, these including
the Bog-asphodel, the Mountain Everlasting, nine species of orchids, and
that rather local fern, the Moonwort. Again mounting the cars, the
members drove down Slish Gap to the shore of Lough Gill, on the way
observing the profusion of bloom on many plants such as the Valerian,
Convolvulus, Rosa arvensis, Mimulus, and the Purple Loosestrife, while
several fine clumps of the Royal Fern were noted. On reaching the shore
of the lake, the members had an hour’s interval for collecting till lunch
was served, after which some of the party walked to Doonee Rock. Others
climbed the hill behind Doonee. Most of the party, however, spent the
time in Slish Wood, where many treasures were collected. The profusion

236 The Lrish Naturalist. November,

of vegetation in this wood was marvellous, and ferns of many species were
seen. In this group the dominant species was doubtless Lastrea aemula ;
but L. Filix-mas, L. dilatata, Asplenium A diantum-nigrum, A. Trichomanes,
Scolopendrium vulgare, Polystichum angulare, Pteris Aquilina, Ceterach
officinarum, Blechnum Spicant, Polypodium vulgare, and the Filmy Fern,
Hymenophyllum unilaterale, were also noted. A heavy thunder shower
drove most of the members to various shelters, but by the time of departure
the rain had ceased, and the members returned to Drumahaire in brilliant
sunshine, After dinner the usual business meeting was held, and the
conductor made several announcements relative to the proceedings for the
morrow. The excursion had been arranged to terminate by departure
from Drumahaire on Tuesday afternoon, but by unanimous consent it
was decided to.postpone the departure till Wednesday morning, thus
affording a longer time for the Tuesday’s programme. Starting at nine
o’clock from the hotel, the party was driven to Sriff Point, a limestone
promontory at the eastern end of the lake, and here given an hour for
collecting. Remounting the cars, members were driven to O’Rourke’s
Castle, an extensive ruin on the northern shore of the latter. Here the
members had time for an hour’s collecting on the lake shore or in the
woods till lunch was served in the castle, and concluded in a drenching
downpour. On the almost simultaneous conclusion of lunch and rain the
party were conducted to the entrance to Newtown Alt, a glen which, in
the opinion of all the members, exceeds in beauty any of the glens with
which they were acquainted. This glen, provided with a well-made path,
ascending the hill for almost a mile along the now dry river’s bed, which
was clothed with mosses looking their very freshest after the heavy rain of
the previous night, has its sides embowered with various species of ferns
and many flowering plants in wild luxuriance. The sides, now perpen-
dicular cliffs and anon sloping banks, rise to an altitude of about two
hundred feet from the bed of the stream, and as one climbs the easy
gradients of the winding path fresh beauties are revealed at every turn.
Strange it is that this glen, so easy of access from Mr. Jeiter’s comfortable
hotel, is apparently little known. On reaching the road at the top of the
glen the cars were waiting, but a heavy downpour drove all to shelter for
upwards of an hour, and the party returned direct to the hotel for dinner.

On Wednesday morning the party left by the 10.53 train. On arrival
at Enniskillen, where there was an hour’s wait, the members were enter-
tained to tea, and departing from Enniskillen at 1.30 reached Belfast at
5 o'clock, experienced “ long-excursioners ’’ maintaining that never had
this one been surpassed.

Large collections in many groups were made, and the scientific details
of the excursion will be published in the Club’s proceedings. It is known
that many new county records have been obtained, both for Leitrim and
Sligo, among which may be mentioned the finding in Leitrim of the
American Blue-eyed Grass, Sisyvinchium angustifoium, this discovery
further confirming the idea that this plant is a true native species,

Igt4. Trish. Societies. + 237.

CORK NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JUNE 13.—POND-HUNTING ExcurRsIon.—A party of members, con-
ducted by Prof. Hartog, walked from St. Luke’s Cross to “ Bennett’s
Bog,” near Mayfield, which, owing to the prevailing drought, was found
to be partially dried up. In the bog and in a stagnant pool near it were
found Spirogyra, gnat larvae, and Catenula in abundance, as well as
Arcella, Difflugia, and Euglena. From a spring well a large quantity of
Oscillatoria was obtained.

JUNE 17.—ExcuRSION TO CARRIGROHANE.—Prof. Swain gave a detailed
account of the formation of the “‘ river-terraces ”’ of the Lee to a party of
members who had travelled out by train.. Walking back to Cork by
Inchigoggin Lane, attention was drawn to the magnesian limestone quarry
south of the Old Ballincollig Road, from which, up to a short time ago, a
local mineral water factory derived its supply of magnesia. Near the
Munster Institute, at the northern end of ‘‘ Kate Shea’s Lane,’”’ a fine
deposit of Boulder-clay, containing striated stones, was met with, and in
the quarry south-west of Dennehy’s Cross “ bedding ’”’ was explained,
and examples of flint and red marble were shown.

”

JuLy 1.—ExcuRSION TO HARTLANDS’ NuRSERIES.—Mr. J. S. Treseder
showed a large party over the nurseries at Ardcairn, Ballintemple. An
examination of Beaumont quarries, Spee lie south of the nurseries, was
reserved for another occasion.

JuLy 15.—ExcuRSION TO INCHERA.—A pleasant afternoon was spent
at Inchera, near Dunkettle station, when the members were shown over
the grounds and gardens by permission of Mr. Charles E. Murphy. A
fine specimen of the Flame Tree (Embothrium coccineum), was seen in
flower. The party walked to Little Island station, from which they
returned by train, visiting Wallinstown Castle, also the old church and
pretty lake in the demesne near it, on the way. Here, and at Inchera,
the remains were found nearly as Crofton Croker described them in the
thirties.

AUGUST I2.—EXCURSION TO OVENS CAvEs.—A party of twelve,
conducted by T. Farrington, M.A., and James Noonan, travelled to
Killumney station. The entrance to the caves is about a mile distant,
and nearly halfway between Athnowen Church and Ovens Bridge. The

‘members were here supplied with bicycle lamps and candles. Twine

was paid out as they went along underground, as a precaution against
losing their way on returning. The south-eastern gallery only was fully
explored. Atits end the murmuring of the River Bride could be distinctly
heard overhead. Mass used to be celebrated at this spot in Penal times.
Curious honeycomb-like markings on the walls of the caves are attributed
to the action of gravel borne along by floods. Leaving the caves the
members walked to Ballincollig (three miles), and visited Ballincollig
Castle. [Notes on these caves appeared in J. N., xx., 179-180].

238 The Irish Naturalist. November,

NOTES,
ZOOLOGY.

The Death’s-head Moth in Northern Ireland.

The Death’s-head Moth and its caterpillars may be found in most
summers in the southern counties of Ireland; this year it has appeared
in several northern localities. Besides the moth recorded by Rev. W. F.
Johnson from Co. Armagh (pp. 225-6), a specimen was caught at Dowros,
Co. Donegal, in September by Mr. F. B. Dixon, while a caterpillar was
taken near Drogheda by Mr. W. Osborne.

G. H. CARPENTER.
Royal College of Science, Dublin.

Wasps preying on Sawfly Caterpillars.

Early in the month of June, 1914, I noticed that the gooseberry bushes
in my garden had been attacked by great numbers of grubs of the
Gooseberry Saw-fly (Nematus ribesi1). When taking steps to get rid of
them by picking and spraying I noticed that these larvae were the subject
of the attentions of various queen wasps. On examination these proved
to be mainly Vespa rufa var. austriaca, together with V. norvegica and
a very few V. germanica. About the 2oth these queens were supplemented
by numbers of workers of norvegica, and a few workers of rufa. I located
one nest of the latter in the Botanic Gardens of Trinity College, about
half a mile distant, but there must be many others in the neighbourhood.
Later on I should expect that the males of V. rufa var. austriaca will
be abundant here. I saw them in numbers on the flowers of Umbelliferae
in Co. Wexford last year, during August.

H. G. CuTHBert.

Dublin.

Skuas on Lough Arrow, Co. Sligo.

I am informed by Mr. D. P. Hope Johnstone, of Laragh, Maynooth,
Co. Kildare, that on June 6th, 1914, whilst fishing on Lough Arrow he
observed and photographed a Long-tailed Skua. ‘The bird was
exceedingly tame, and after the photos had been taken, and all the films
used, it swam up within about six feet of the boat, and took a Mayfly
on the water.’”? He also observed a Richardson’s Skua on May 31st,
1914; “it flew past about eighty yards from the boat, and did not
settle ; the day was very stormy, and it was impossible to keep it under
observation for long.’’? Mr. Hope Johnstone asked me to make any use
I liked of these records, so I send them, as they may be of sufficient
interest to insert in the Ivish Naturalist.

HELEN M. METCALFE,

Enfield, Co. Kildare.

1914. Notes. 239

Breeding of Canada Goose at Hillsborough, Co. Down.

About twenty years ago a pair of Canada Geese, Bernicla canadensis,
came to Hillsborough Park and bred near the lake. They were said to
have escaped from Castlewellan demesne, where, I am told, this bird is
kept. Since their advent here one or two pairs have nested almost every
year. Two broods were successfully hatched off this year. The birds
are not protected in any way save for the security of their habitat—inside
a private walled-in park—and exist in a truly feral condition. They
frequently fly about the surrounding country and many of them have
fallen victims to the sportsman’s gun. The birds, unlike those at Bally-
drain, seven miles distant (p. 228 ante), appear to remain in the vicinity
of their nesting ground all the year.

NeEvin H. Foster.

Hillsborough, Co. Down.

Tree Pipit in Ireland.

On the 2ast May, close to Portumna Bridge, on the Shannon, I heard
a bird singing in a solitary tree in the centre of a field. On approaching
and listening for some time [f identified it as a Tree Pipit by its melodious
song, as I frequently heard this species singing in Wales. It was taken
at the Tuskar by Professor Patten, September, 1912, and received from
Rockabill by Mr. Barrington, September, 1913. I do not think this species
has yet been obtained in any of the inland counties of Ireland.

W. J. WILLIAMS.

Dublin.
Late Stay of the Fieldfare.

One of our local birdcatchers brought me a Fieldfare on the 15th July
he had taken in a net the previous night. The bird was in good condition,
and uninjured. Mr. Pycraft kindly examined the body, and reported it
as a male, but no indications of having bred this year. }

W. J. WILLIAMS. |

Dublin.
GEOLOGY.

Estuarine Clay Section at Holywood.

During a visit to the gasworks at Holywood, Co. Down this month
(September) I found contractors busy at the foundations for a new vertical
retort house. This system requires a very deep pit to be dug for the
coal-elevating machinery, and the foreman in charge gave me the Ss
notes of the beds passed through :—

Garden soil, 6 to 8 inches.

Mottled red and grey clay, 2 feet 6 inches,

Sandy blue clay, 4 feet.

Unctuous blue clay, very pure and free from shells, 30 feet.

240 The lrish Naturalist. November, ror4

At base of the latter large oyster shells were numerous in a hard
grey sand, two feet thick, resting on hard red clay. I could find no other
shells in the material I examined. The sandy blue clay had a few shells.
in a very fragmentary condition. I got one perfect valve of a small
bivalve. The mottled red and blue clay had many fragments of chalk ;
and of course the surface soil had some of the usual Kinnegar rude
(Neolithic ?) flints and also chalk fragments.

| R. J. WEtLcH.
Belfast.

REVIEW,
THE BIRDS AND THE SCHOLARS.

Bird Studies in twenty-four Lessons. By W. P. WESTELL, F.L.S., M.B.O.U.,
late Lecturer in Nature Study to the Cambridgeshire County Council.
(Cambridge Nature Study Sertes). Pp. 152. Price 2s. 6d. net.

This little book consists of twenty-four ‘‘ lessons,’’ not so much on
birds as on how to study them, arranged in the order of the seasons, and
written, as Mr. Westell tells us, for the use of young people and their
teachers in schools where nature study is included in the curriculum.
The author says he has found the lessons helpful to his own classes ;
and certainly any student who, as he goes through the book, sets himself
to solve the series of “‘ problems ’’ appended to each of the lessons will,
long before he has finished, have learnt to make pretty good use of his eyes
when out in the fields. On the other hand, the boy who was expected to
answer so many questions in writing at the end of each walk would with
equal certainty, in nine cases out of ten, vote bird-study as great a plague
as trigonometry. Some of the “lessons’’ are rather thin; that on the
making of census maps for nesting birds is perhaps the best, and an interest
in this subject would undoubtedly save a good many of our birds the
misfortune of being robbed. The author adds a list of books recommended
for popular and school use. It is a serious fault in this list that somany
of the wonderfully cheap and really good books which are now given to
the public through the medium of shilling and sixpenny “ Libraries ”’
appear to have been wilfully ignored. For instance, Pycraft’s Bivd-Lzfe, in
Hodder and Stoughton’s ‘“ Useful Knowledge Series,” and Kirkman’s
British Birds, in E. & C. Jack’s “ People’s Books,” are unmentioned,
though larger and more expensive books by the same authors are duly
honoured ; and it is equally singular that while recommending Jefferies’s
Gamekeeper at Home, Mr. Westell should only name a tos. 6d. edition,
though the book (with all its original illustrations) is obtainable for a
shilling in the well known Nelson series, and has several other editions
much below the price quoted. White’s Selborne seems to be the only book
for which the author has gone out of his way to name a cheap edition,
and here it would be hard to give any reason for the selection made.

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CON TENTS. —

Saxifraga. Hirculus in Antrim. ae W. Bs piiore M.R,I. ae and fe ae L Es
S. WEAR, Oe aay ee 4 ieee i $b. Se ec. Betty =} : 229 ( 4
Some Notes* on rarer (eek, Plants in naCuatiinataaan —R. tes xs} ESA
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IRISH SOCIETIES,: | se
Royal Zoological Society, ete ine ae ne eh Sane 234
Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club... ae 5 cua ea Tae S| .
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NOTES: :
The Death’s-head Moth in Northern Ireland. -—Prot.G, He ae
CARPENTER, Ag aL oy aeRO EN
Wasps preying on Saw- fly ‘Catenin. Hc. “Conant, st aa i xe8
Skuas on Lough Arrow, Co. Sligo.—Miss H. M. METCALFE, a Sai
Breeding of Canada Goose at Hillsborough, Co, Down. —N. H, Bi bely Som
FOSTER, M.R.LA,., .. wt SSH 3B 2
Tree Pipit in Ireland. Late Stay of ‘Fieldiaae: _w. : are tends 2aO
Estuarine Clay Section at Holywood.—R, WELCH, M.-R.1.A. a ‘ag G0 bes
REVIEW : ; 3 z
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December, 1914. The Lrish Naturalist. 241

BIRD RUSHES AND WRENS.
BY R. M. BARRINGTON, M.A., F.L.S.

On the night of the 16th-17th of October of this year
the moon was in her dark phase, and the sky was overcast.
For certain birds the period of what might be called the
maximum density of their autumnal migration was near.
Therefore it might reasonably be anticipated that a con-
siderable rush would be observed at light stations.

This proved to be the case, and a remarkable immigration
into Ireland took place along a coast-line of over 270 miles,
extending from the Fastnet on the south coast, past the
Tuskar Lighthouse and the South Arklow Lightship, to
Rockabill on the east coast. A single specimen from South
Rock, Co. Down, proved that the dimensions of the wave
of migrants had there dwindled to the vanishing point.

Commencing with the Fastnet, the well-known Co. Cork
lighthouse, eight miles from shore, the lightkeeper, Mr.
Murphy, writes :—

‘**On the night of the 16th and morning of the 17th of
October, a great flight of birds took place. There were
thousands flying through the rays of hght the whole night
through until about an hour before sunrise, when they
gradually disappeared. Blackbirds and Thrushes appeared
to be present in greatest numbers, but Landrail [probably
Water-Rail.—R. M. B.], Chaffinches, Wrens, Waterhens,
Pigeons, Woodcock, Larks, and Starling were also observed.
Curlew and Golden Plover were heard whistling overhead.
About 40 Blackbirds and Thrushes were killed striking,
and I captured a Golden-crested Wren and a RKedbreast
perched on the sash bars, but released them. Wind N.E.,
light, cloudy, misty.”

No specimens were forwarded.

The lightkeeper at the Tuskar, Mr. Johnston, describing
the rush at that station, writes :—

‘* I beg to state that on the night of the 16th and morning
of the 17th inst., between 10.30 p.m. and 2 a.m., a large lot
of birds were about lantern, the majority of them Thrushes,
Blackbirds, Starling, Chaffinches, a few Redcrest Wrens

A

242 The Lrish Natusalist. December,

[|Goldcrests.—-R. M. B.], also a great flock of the common
brown Wren, and Larks. Next morning, everywhere you
looked on the rock you would see the Wrens, and on Sunday
morning, October 18th, before daylight, they had all left.
Wind very light N.E.; overcast, gloomy.

‘‘'When going around the rock on Sunday at 2 p.m., I
came close to a large brown owl, but it got away. I saw
a Black Redstart and Snipe, and also a lot of Chaffinches.
Some remained on rock, and are dying, owing to there being
no fresh water.”

He forwarded 72 birds, comprising 13 distinct species,
V1Z. -—

Chaffinch (8) Stonechat (x)
Wren (10) Blackbird (6)
Goldcrest (2) Golden Plover (z)
Skylark . (34) Grey Plover (2)
Snipe (x) Starling 3)
Black Redstart (1) Thrush (2)
Redwing (1)

Of the 34 Skylarks, 9 were males, 23 females, and 2
. doubtful. Of the Chaffinches, one was male, and 7 female.
Of the Wrens, one was male, 4 female, and 5 doubtful.

This great variety of species all migrating together on
the same night is not unusual. About a year before, when
the moon was also in her dark phase, on the 28th, 29th, and
30th September, 1913, Mr. Martin Kennedy, lightkeeper
at the Fastnet, forwarded 97 birds killed striking the
lighthouse. They consisted of the following 16 species :—

Ring-ouzel (3) Grasshopper Warbler (2)
Water Rail (rr) Robin (x)
Storm Petrel (x) Greenfinch (2)
Thrush (z) Goldfinch (z)
Wheatear (62) Goldcrest Peed 3)
Pied Wagtail (5) Garden Warbler (2)
Grey Wagtail (z)e Skylark (1)
Sedge-warbler (2) Meadow Pipit (1)

This rush was also observed at the Tuskar, 160 miles to
the east, where the lightkeeper, Mr. Glanville, notes :—

1914. BARRINGTON.—Aivd Rushes and Wrens. 243

** Swarms of Goldcrests, Chiff-chaffs, Whitethroats, Sky-
larks, Thrushes, Wheatears ; a few Blackbirds, Ring-ouzels,
Grasshopper Warblers, Stonechats, Pipits, Black Redstarts;
and Starling, Quail and Wren, one specimen of each,
obtained on night of 28th Sept. Wind N.E. Cloudy, misty.”
Though 15 species are here mentioned, no specimens were
forwarded.

The four records from the two light-stations, Fastnet and
Tuskar, are tabulated below.

1913. IQI4.

Fastnet. Tuskar. | Fastnet. Tuskar.
SPECIES. 28th 28th ‘|| 16th-17th | 16th-17th
September |September |, October. | October.

3 (2) 2) (c) (d)

Thrush re “eM x x x

Redwing zi oP x

Blackbird A Hes bl x x

Ring Ouzel .. is x

Wheatear . at | x

Stonechat Ae ri

Black Redstart ‘

Redbreast aha as x

Whitethroat

Garden Warbler

Golden-crested Wren

Chiffchaff and Willow
Wren.

Sedge Warbler aay |

Grasshopper Warbler ..

Wren are Me

Pied Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Greenfinch.. ES,

Goldfinch oh ot

Chaffinch dis 4

Starling

Skylark

Quail bes Ae

Water-rail ies me x

Water-hen ..

Golden Plover

Grey Plover ..

Woodcock

Snipe

Curlew ae

Storm Petrel

x

xX xXXXK X

(?) x | Xx

xX

Ss ORM OS
x
x

xX
x X
x“

x

xX xXXK XK XK

x xX
xX XK X

x
xX X

> a ee a, *
x X

(a) 97 specimens, comprising all species marked x, received.
(b) No specimens sent.
(c) No specimens sent.
(d) 72 specimens, comprising all species marked x, received.

Az2

244 The lvish Naturalist. December,

_. It will be noticed that the Thrush, Goldcrest, and Skylark
are the only species common to all four records. The absence
of the Warblers in October was to be expected; but what
strikes one most is, perhaps, the heterogeneous collection of
birds assembled around the light-station on the same night.

We must not infer from this that they migrate in
company; Goldcrests and Storm Petrels, Wrens and Curlew
are not usual companions either in habits or speed, but the
mist and darkness puzzle them all, and the brilliant glare
of the lantern is a common attraction in the overwhelming
gloom.

Probably the most remarkable event in the rushes above
described is the occurrence of so many Wrens at the Tuskar
Rock—ten of which were forwarded in the flesh. In this
connection it will be interesting to compare Prof. Patten’s
remarks on ‘‘ Wrens on Migration observed at the Tuskar
Rock and Lighthouse.”! . He deals mainly with four points
in connection with this species, viz. :—

1. The limited number forwarded to me from light-
stations.

. Its migration route.

. Its power of flight.

. The relative proportion of the sexes when on
migration.

a SO \)

His explanation of the limited number received is possibly
correct, and my suggestion? that the short passage between
the S.W. of Scotland and Antrim was the usual route of
the Wren (if it had one) between Ireland and Great Britain
is perhaps based on insufficient data.

As to its power of flight, if Wrens cross the Channel on
migration regularly every Spring and Autumn, it shows
that the shortest-winged British bird has unexpected powers
of flight. The ratio between the length of the wing and
the weight of the body is small, the flight direct, the wing-
beats energetic and rapid, and the ‘“‘ work done”’ in its

1 Ivish Naturalist, vol. xxi., 1912, p. 125.
2‘ Migration of Birds,” p. 92.

1014. BARRINGTON—Bird Rushes and Wrens. 245

shortest flight across the Channel, which is at least 50 miles;
compared with the weight of muscular tissue, must be
extraordinary.

I have already stated that the word ‘‘ Wrens,” which is
of common occurrence in the schedules, is used by lght-
keepers to include all the Warbler group, and even Gold-
crests, so that when drawing conclusions as to the frequency
of the Wren, I preferred to rely entirely on specimens
actually received. Because these were so few, and the
Wren’s power of sustained flight apparently so small, it was
inferred that its cross-channel flights, if they took place at
all, were of an isolated and exceptional character. However,
Professor Patten’s interesting records from the Tuskar,
and the ten specimens just received from that station,
require explanation.

If the Wren be a regular migrant, how are we to explain
such local varieties as the St. Kilda Wren, and the Fardese
Wren, for which isolation for a lengthened period is
essential ?

St. Kilda is only 52 miles west of Harris, just about the
same distance as the Tuskar from Wales. It is true that
Far6e is over three times that distance from Shetland ; but
if the Wren be indeed a regular annual migrant, over 50
miles of the Irish Channel, could it not occasionally have
flown to St. Kilda or to Farée and thereby prevented the
evolution of racial characters ?

Are not the Irish Jay, Coal Tit, and Dipper the result of
isolation and special environment ? There is no evidence
that those species ever migrate across the Channel, and if
the British Wren travelled even occasionally to St. Kilda
and Farée, would the varieties in these islands be now
obtainable ? |

In my collection, there are skins of Icelandic, Faroese,
and St. Kilda Wrens, all of which differ slightly, and even
the Shetland Wren is, I think, an intermediate link between
the British and Fardese races. But if this little bird takes
sea-voyages of fifty miles regularly why do these dis-
tinctions present themselves? Can it be that there is
another solution of the difficulty ? Can it be possible that

246 The Irish Naturalist. December,

occasionally in Spring a number of mainland Wrens, finding
all the suitable nesting-sites occupied by stronger members
of the same pugnacious species, travel seawards to the
Tuskar as a forlorn hope ?

The Wren inhabits and breeds on more islands and rocks
than possibly any other British bird. | In Iceland, it is
called the ‘‘ Mouse’s brother,” for it lives in cracks, crevices,
and holes. Therefore a voyage to an outlying rock is not
such an adventure for a Wren as might be supposed.

In the Autumn, again, it is evident, the wren population
has enormously increased, for the families are large, and
the parents will not tolerate any subdivision of their little
holdings, and while able to do so, force the youngsters to
travel elsewhere or emigrate. Confident of their ability
to sustain life during the winter on bleak and inhospitable
looking islands, they travel along the coast in search of a
home, and at the extreme S.E. of Wexford; the southern
and eastern voyagers meet, and selecting a dark night,
so as to be safe from Gulls and Skuas, they reach the
Tuskar, which contrary to expectation affords neither
suitable food nor shelter. Here, tired and hungry, they
become an easy prey in the daytime for some marauding
Seagull, to whom a dozen Wrens are scarcely more than a
good mouthful.

A friend has drawn attention to the fact that during the
past thirty years, not a single Wren has ever been received
from a lightship; all the specimens, about thirty m num-
ber, have been forwarded from rock stations.

The Golden-crested Wren, on the other hand, has over
and over again been killed or captured on lightships.
Why should this be ? and why is it that Lucifer Shoals
Lightship and Blackwater Bank Lightship, both north of
the Tuskar, and Barrels Rock Lightship and, Coningbeg
Lightship to the south of it have never forwarded a Wren °
and yet on the 17th October last, “‘a great flock of the
Common Brown Wren”’ is recorded from the Tuskar, and
ten specimens forwarded in the flesh as evidence of the
fact.

IgIt4.

BARRINGTON.—Birvd Rushes and Wrens.

247

WRENS RECEIVED FROM LIGHT-STATIONS BY R. M.

BARRINGTON.
OO
STATION. Date. | How Procured.

Fastnet 30th Oct., 1897 Killed striking.

Do. 30th Oct., 1897 do.
Tuskar 16th Oct., 1888 do.

Do. 2cth Oct. 1robt do.

Do. 21st Oct:,. FOE do.

Do. 16th-17th Oct., 1914 | Ten wrens found dead
Rockabill 25th April, 1905 Found dead.

Do. 12th April, 1912 Killed striking.
Maidens 12th-13th May, 1899 do.

Do. 19th Nov., 1898 do.
Inishtrahull Rec. 4th April, 1896 ?

Do. Rec, roth April, 1894 ?

Blackrock, Mayo
Eagle Island ..

1889
14th Nov., 1884

Found dead.

Killed striking.

South Aran 21st Oct., 1898 do.
Tearaght Ist Jan., 1891 Found dead.
Do. 15th Oct., 1889 do.

Skelligs 16th Nov., 1885 ?
Bull Rock 2oth Oct., 1914 Found dead.

Fassaroe, Bray.

NEWS GLEANINGS.

THE BELFAST FIELD CLUB’S JUBILEE.

The Report and Proceedings of the Belfast Naturalists’ Field Club for
1913-14, recently issued, contains a very full and interesting account of
the meetings and excursions held in May, 1913, in connection with the
fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Club. The speeches delivered
by delegates and members at the formal meeting which opened the week’s
programme are given in full, and are very interesting reading. Accounts
of the excursicns, reports of the several lectures delivered, and notes on
the rarer animals and plants observed on the excursions by the many
specialists present are also given, with photographs of some of the more
striking scenery of the places visited. This publication, which runs to
136 pages, can be obtained through members for 2s.

248 The Irish Naturalist. December,

NOTES.
ZOOLOGY.

Trichoniscus vividus in Co. Kerry.

Mr. A. W. Stelfox sent me several specimens of the Woodlouse, Tvi-
choniscus vividus (Koch), taken by him in Kerry, S. Mr. Stelfox says :—
“The first specimens were taken under a very rotten log near the bank
of a small stream in the plantations of Burnham, Lord Ventry’s demesne,
on Dingle Harbour. Many other examples were seen here, but all under
very rotten wood. These plantations are mainly artificial, but in some
parts there is, I fancy, a foundation of native scrub. In them are many
exotic shrubs, and no doubt some species of animals have been imported
with these. In one area the presence of the snail Hygromia rufescens,
gives proof of this.” If T. vividus be native here—and there appears to
be no reason why it should not be so—it is an interesting extension of its
range. In the Britannic area it had previously only been known from
south-east Ireland, having been recorded from the counties of Waterford,
Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, and Queen’s Co.

NEVIN H. FOSTER.

Hillsborough, Co. Down.

The Death’s-head Moth in Ulster.

Although not common, the Death’s-head Moth is well known in northern
Ireland, and is regarded by the country folk with superstitious horror. I
have not had the good fortune to have taken it myself, but more than one
living specimen has been brought to me in former years.

W. E. HART
Kilderry, Co. Donegal.

The Short-eared Owl.

On September 17th I saw perched on a stack of oats in a field beside
the road at Kilranelagh, Co. Wicklow, an owl, which from what I saw of
it whilst driving past I believe to have been a Short-eared Owl. The
general appearance of the bird was dark buff above, with heavy
dark brown streaks and blotches; the under parts were dull buff or
yellowish, also streaked with dark brown, as was the facial disk and wings.
The tufts on the head were quite short. I could not see the legs plainly,
as, though the trap I was in was only going at a walk, I was not close
enough to see them distinctly. Perhaps the above may be of sufficient
interest to publish, as the Short-eared Owl is only a winter-visitor to
Ireland, and I have never seen a specimen so early as the date on which
I saw the bird mentioned. é

HELEN M. METCALFE.

Enfield, Co. Kildare.

Doubtless the bird seen by our correspondent was a Short-eared Owl.
This species, however, may be observed in some seasons as early as August.

THE EDITORS.

1914. : Reviews. 240

REVIEWS.

CLARE ISLAND GEOLOGY.

The Geology of Clare Island, Co. Mayo. By G. A. J. Cote, F.G.S.; J. R.
KILROE, A.R.C.Sc.I.; T. HAtiissy, B.A., and E. A. NEWELL ARBER,
M.A. (Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Iveland). Pp. iv. + 54
Map, 5 plates, and 4 text figures. Dublin: H. M. Stationery Office,
1914.’ Price, 2s. 6d.

In 1908 the committee in charge of the Natural History Survey of Clare
Island decided to ask the assistance of the Geological Survey of Ireland
in working out the Glacial and Post-glacial history of the island. This the
Survey willingly consented to do, and the present memoir which deals
with the solid geology (a revision of the older survey of 1875-76) as well as
with the glacial geology of Clare Island, is an account of the results
achieved. Regarding the revision of the solid geology—which was dealt
with by Mr. J. R. Kilroe—considerable advances in our knowledge have
to be noted. The rocks of the island consist wholly of sandstones, con-
glomerates, shales and slates of Palaeozoic age, and it had been hoped
that sufficient fossil evidence might be obtained to justify their correlation
with the better known rocks of the mainland. The results as regards the
older rocks were most disappointing, for although prolonged searches
were made in what looked like suitable localities—as at Knocknaveen
and Ballytoohy More—no fossils were obtained, and the decision to regard
the four lower series as ranging from the Ordovician to the Old Red Sand-
stone was come to on general and lithological grounds. From the Cap-
nagower series Dr. Arber obtained sufficient, if scanty, evidence that these
rocks might be classed with the Lower Carboniferous. Professor Cole
contributes a series of lengthy notes on the mineralogy and petrology of
the two main zones of movement and intrusion on the island, and in
dealing with the zone of crushed rocks in Kill and Strake inclines to the
view that these rocks—mica-schists, epidiorites, and serpentines—are
metamorphics of the Dalradian series which have been brought to the
surface by faulting, rather than altered portions of the local rocks involved
‘in the fault movements.

The Glacial and Post-glacial history of Clare Island being of the greatest
importance in any discussion on the origin of the plants and animals which
might be found there, special attention was directed to the subject by
Mr. T. Hallissy, and as the result of his work on the island and the
adjoining mainland we are now in possession of an extremely full account
of what has occurred during recent geological times in this district. The
glacial history of the island may be briefly stated. In immediately pre-
Glacial times the island stood in practically the same relation to the main-
land as at the present day, though the dividing channel may have been
deeper. In glacial times the island was twice invaded by ice-sheets from
the east, the first invasion being the ice of the Central Irish Glacier, which
laid down the very solid limestone Boulder-clay and produced the grooving

250 The lish Naturalist. December,

and moulding which runs in a general east and west direction across the
island. The second invasion, from the south-east—laid down a Boulder-
Clay much coarser and looser in texture, and largely composed of sand-
stones and granite of various kinds. In early Post-glacial times it is
probable that the island was joined to the mainland by a Boulder-Clay
connection, and over this connection animals and plants could migrate ;
but taking into account the depleted flora and fauna of the mainland, its
value as a factor in introducing habitants to the island is extremely dubious.

Mr. Hallissy proves the existence of a later and much more permanent
land connection. By mapping the best authenticated occurrences of
submerged forests and peats around the coasts of Ireland, he shows that
the land at the lowest estimate must have stood between 4o and 50 feet
higher than at the present day. This elevation of the land in Post-glacial
times also occurred in England and France, and in Denmark was so
pronounced as to have converted the Baltic Sea into a fresh-water lake
which has received the geological title of the AncylusLake. How far to the
westward the floor of the Atlantic was elevated during this Ancylus Lake
period we cannot say, but it is certain that Clare Island became for a con-
siderable time portion of Western Europe, and that it was during this
connection that the island received the greater part of its present flora
and fauna. The memoir is well turned out, contains a folding map which
shows Mr. Hallissy’s work on the superficial deposits in considerable
detail, and a number of excellent photographs by Mr. R. Welch add
greatly to the attraction of the work.

j. DE Ws ta:

LAMARCK IN ENGLISH.

Zoological Philosophy : an Exposition with regard to the Natural History
of Animals. By J. B. LAmarcxk [1809]. Translated with an
Introduction by Hucu’ ELtiort. Pp xci. + aro. London
Macmillan“and :Go,, 1914, “Price, 255. nev:

‘Few names have been so extensively quoted in modern biological
controversies as that of Lamarck; yet of those who quote him scarcely
any have taken the trouble to read his work.’ This comment of Mr.
Elliot in his introduction must be admitted as the ‘truth; it may have
the less justification among us now that—a hundred and five years after
its publication—he gives us the first complete English translation ever
made of the famous “‘ Philosophie Zoologique.’”’ In this he has deserved
well of all students of the history of biological enquiry.

Even biologists who, like Mr. Elliot himself, are sceptical as to whether
‘ use -inheritance ’’—that factor always associated with Lamarck’s name—
has been a real cause in the evolutionary process, must admit the great
value of Lamarck’s work as a contribution to the general evolutionary
view of living nature. The man who, not taking up seriously the study
of zoology, until his appointment when already fifty years of age to a
professorship of zoology (“ insects, worms and microscopic animals ’’)
at the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, then perceived the prime importance
of the vertebral column in morphology and contrasted for the first time

cf

1914. Reviews. 2st

Vertebrata with Invertebrata, who reduced the Mollusca to a natura!
assemblage, who separated the Crustacea and the Arachnida from the
Insecta, was undoubtedly a very great naturalist. It is further note-
worthy that, in his evolutionary speculations he began, like Aristotle,
by arranging species and larger systematic groups in linear series, and
arrived later at the conception of what we now call a “ phylogenetic
tree’? with “‘at least two separate branches,’ each of which “‘ appears
to terminate in several twigs.”

Lamarck’s writings have been so frequently quoted and interpreted
by modern naturalists engaged in controversy for or against his leading
theory of ‘‘ use inheritance,’’ that it is good for the student to go to
Lamarck’s most famous book and find exactly what he did write in its
original connection. Of course it will not be forgotten that Lamarck’s
theory in its final and more elaborated form—the “‘ four laws ’’—1is set
forth in his later “‘ Histoire Naturelle des Animaux sans _ Vertébres
(1815-22). But in the “ Philosophie Zoologique’”’ he ranges over the
whole world of living nature as he was able to conceive it, and we can
appreciate both the strength and weakness of his work for evolutionary
biology. His acceptance of “spontaneous generation’’ was almost
inevitable in the early nineteenth century, but his unwillingness to believe
that any species of animal had ever become extinct except those
exterminated by human agency is hard to understand. When we consider
that the “ Origin of Species’’—nearer in time to the “ Philosophie
Zoologique ”’ than to our day by fourteen years—is in its spirit nearer
to us than the latter by a century, we understand to some extent why
Lamarck failed to convince men generally of the truth of evolution and
why Darwin succeeded.

Mr. Elliot has spared no pains in giving to the English reader a
translation which, while it retains as much as possible the flavour of the
lucid yet somewhat ponderous original, is intelligible in its nomenclature
to the naturalist of the present day, terms like “ génération’”’ and
‘distribution’ being translated by their modern equivalents and not
by the words which an English contemporary of Lamarck might have
used. Further Mr. Elliot furnishes the reader of his translation with
the temptation not to read Lamarck after all, by prefacing the actual
work with an incisively written critical summary. In this he shows the
weakness of the use-inheritance theory, while at the same time he
impartially discounts the dogmatism of the extreme followers of
Weismann. The chapters on the physiological and psychological sections
of Lamarck’s work are trenchantly “ anti-vitalistic,’’ as might be expected
from Mr. Elliot’s recent controversial writings on these subjects. Here
the violence of some of the statements will defeat the translator’s ends.
That “spirits . . . survive only in extremely mitigated form in the
imaginations of the vulgar’ is simply an untrue statement, and it is
hard to imagine that Mr. Elliot really believes it. And the autumn of
1914 1s an unfortunate time at which to sing the praise of “ the rise of
materialism in conjunction with the advance of civilization.”

Ge ede Ci

252 The Irish Naturalist. December,

IRISH SOCIETIES.
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Recent gifts include a Diana Monkey from Mr. L. V. Creegan ; Guinea-
pigs from Miss E. Maguire; Rabbits from Rev. K. M. Dunlop, Miss
Maguire, and Mr. McArthur ; a pair of Upland Geese from Col. Tottenham ,
a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo from Mr. D. H. Walsh ; a pair of Grass Parra-
keets and a pair of Bullfinches from Mr. A. W. Berman; and two Peafowl
from the Hon. A. S. G. Canning.

DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB.

OcTOBER 14.—The Club met at Leinster House, D. M‘ARDLE (President)
in the Chair.

As a sequel to his exhibit on December 10, 1913 (Ivish Naturalist,
pp. 48, 223, supra) when the Celery leaf-spot fungus (Septoria petroselint
var. apii) was exhibited for the first time (at any rate as far as
the British Isles are concerned) attacking wild celery plants, Dr. G.
H. PETHYBRIDGE now showed the successful results of inoculating the
cultivated celery with spores derived from the pycnidia of the fungus
found this summer again on wild celery plants from the previous
locality in Co. Galway. Measurements of the lengths of the spores
from the wild plant showed them to be slightly shorter than those
from cultivated plants, and hence it might have been supposed that
two different species of Septoria were in question. However, inocu-
lation of the cultivated celery from the fungus on the wild plant produced
in the former the symptoms typical of the leaf-spot disease as seen now
unfortunately so commonly in our vegetable gardens owing, it is believed,
primarily the use of affected celery seed. This suggests of course that the
disease has originated in some locality by the migration of a parasitic
fungus from a wild plant to its cultivated variety. This has probably
occurred within comparatively recent years, and it is interesting to note
that although the parasite does not very seriously injure the wild plant
yet its effect on the cultivated one is often disastrous.

W. F. Gunn showed seeds of Buttonia Natalensis, a rare shrubbery
plant which is parasitic on the roots of an arborescent Euphorbia. It
belongs to the order Scrophulariacez, and in consequence of its beautiful
red flowers, which are much sought after, it has been almost exterminated
in its native district in Natal. The seeds are of a brownish red colour,
and surrounded with hyaline network which forms hexagonal and other
shaped cavities. The seeds which were kindly presented to Mr. Gunn
by Mr. N. E. Brown, of Kew Herbarium, were only secured after a long
search, and were protected until ripe.

Prof. G. H. CARPENTER showed a newly-hatched larva of Hyvpoderma
lineatum, which had been found in fluid squeezed from a minute hole ina
cow’s skin at Athenry, Co. Galway, as described in the Ivish Naturalist,
vol, xxiii., p. 219. T. R. Hewirt described his observations on the
corresponding larvae of H. bovis boring into the skin of calves at Bally-
haise, Co. Cavan (/.c.. pp. 219-221).

T914. Trish Societies. 253

NOVEMBER 11.—The Club met at Leinster House, the President in the
Chair,

N. CoLGAN exhibited a preparation showing the cerebral ganglia with
the eyes and auditory capsules or otocysts of the nudibranch, Eolis
papillosa. Many of the numerous calcareous otoliths, or ear-stones,
included in the otocysts were seen to be ruptured by the pressure of the
cover glass, so as to show their quadripartite structure.

In a second slide the remarkable stellate hairs of a Mediterranean
Euphorbiaceous plant, Crozophora tinctoria, were shewn. In this species
the dense clothing of stellate hairs is associated with stellate scales
resembling those which form the grey felting on the under-side of the
common Sea Buckthorn, Hippophaé rhamnoides.

W. F. GuNN showed a slide which was interesting as a relic of the last
Franco-Prussian War. It was a portion of one of the despatch films sent
into Paris by Carrier Pigeon post during the siege of 1871. These des-
patches were printed from type, photo-micographed on a thin film of
gelatine, rolled up, and inserted into a quill, and attached to the wings
of pigeons. On arrival at their destination they were re-photographed
to their original size. By this means a very long despatch could be con-
veyed by a single bird.

BELFAST NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JuLy 25.—WaASHING Bay.—A long deferred visit was paid to Washing
Bay by a party of twenty-four members, mainly from the botanical section
of the Club. This inlet of Lough Neagh lies at the extreme south-western
corner of the great lake, in County Tyrone, and is not easy of access.
Leaving Belfast by motor at one o’clock, the little village of Maghery was
reached. Here the vehicle was left and the party proceeded to the ferry
and crossed the Blackwater, which a> this spot divides the counties of
Armagh and Tyrone. The sandy shores of the lake proved excellent
collecting ground for the botanists, as well as the great stretch of bogland
which lies to the south of the lake. Among the most interesting plants
found on the lake shore was Spivanthes romanzoffiana, an addition to the
flora of Tyrone; also Teesdalia nudicaulis, Cicuta vivosa, and Anthemis
Cotula. The last-mentioned plant grew on a sandy bank of the lake shore
near Doon Point in an apparently natural habitat. It is, however, not re-
garded as a native plant in the district. On the Armagh side of the river
Butomus umbellatus was noted, with Lysimachia Nummularia. On the bog
Drosera anglica and Rynchospora alba were recorded also.

DUBLIN NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

JuLy 18.—Excursion To LouGH Bray.—About twenty members and
friends left Dublin at 10.45, and were met at Bray by their conductor,
R. M. Barrington, with two brakes, the start for Lough Bray being made
before 11.30. A halt was made near Glencree Reformatory for the purpose
of inspecting a small patch of boggy ground, long known to local botanists
as a favoured habitat of the Ivy-leaved Bell-flower. This pretty plant

254 The Trish Naturalist. December, 1914,

was shown in full flower, and in the same bog the local Cavduus pvratensis
was seen to be growing plentifully, and Habenaria chlovoleuca was also
found. Arriving at Lough Bray, the party walked (by special permission)
‘along the north shore of the Lower Lake, and lunched under the trees
fringing its western corner. A somewhat hurried dash was then made for
the Upper Lake, where the effects of ice action were explained by J. de W.
Hinch, and Isoetes Move was recognised in abundance in the shape of
drift. The return drive was made via Powerscourt Demesne. A halt was
made at Fassaroe, where Mrs. Barrington entertained the party to tea,
and a visit to the Museum, where so many of the rarest Irish birds are on
view, was afterwards much appreciated.

CORK NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB.

SEPTEMBER I9.—EXCURSION TO VERNONMOUNT.—Sixteen mempbers
and friends walked from Douglas to Vernonmount, by Inch Lane and
Vernonmount Glen. John Griffin, who conducted, gave a “chat” on
wayside plants, on the way. The grounds at Vernonmount were visited
by permission of Mrs. Lane. An old but well-preserved Cedar of Lebanon
was a conspicuous object. In the days of the old Royal Cork Institution,
many species of plants, some of which are still represented there, were
introduced into Vernonmount and Ballyphehane bogs, which are situated
near what were then the Botanic Gardens. Owing to the inaccessibility
of the bogs on the occasion of the visit, members were unable to investigate
their flora. Vernonmount was the residence of Sir Henry Hayes, who
was transported to Botany Bay in 1801. In “ The Irish in Australia,”
by J. F. Hogan, the extraordinary statement is made concerning him
that he banished snakes from his home near Sydney, by surrounding it
by Irish earth, specially imported in barrels.

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THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST,
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE,
EDITED BY
‘ WM. EAGLE CLARKE. F-.R.S.E., F-L.S.,
Keeper, Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh.
WILIJAM EVANS, F.R.S.E.,

me Member of the British Ornithologists Union ;
d PERCY H. GRIMSHAW, E-R.S.E.,
Natural History Department, Royal Scottish Museum,

:

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Natural History of Scotland, and includes Papers contributing to the elucidation of the Fauna,
Observations on Life Histories, etc.. and Notes recording the occurrence of uncommon species and
other useful and interesting facts. PR hie

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IRISH NATURALIST, VOL. XXIII.] PPrAT nM:

SECTION THROUGH GENITAL DUCTS OF VITRINA PYRENAICA

(along the line M in ext-fig. 1, p. 205).

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