I -y- ^ 4 /, t s J I 5 G^ "C^^C^ ( L U- R A R Y j :3o| .t^ a5s y >; .^ THE IRISH NATURALIST; ^, l^lcrnttihj Srmtvnal OF GENERAL IRISH xNATURAL HISTORY, THR OFFICIAI, ORGAX OF The Rot/al Zoological Society of Ireland ; The Duhlin Microscopical Club ; The Belfast Natural History and Pliilosophical Society ; The Belfast Naturalists' Field Club ; The Dublin Naturalists' Field Club ; The Annayh Natural History and Pliilosophical Society ; The Cork Naturalists' Field Club ; The Limerick Naturalists' Field Club. Editp:d by GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B.Sc, Lond, AND R. LLOYD PRAEGER, B.A., B.E., M.R.LA. VOL. IV. DUBLIN : EASON & SON, Limited, 85 MIDDIJ'. ABBKY STREirL and 40LOWKR SACKVILLE STREET ]5I<:LEAST: 17 DONEOALE vSTREET. LONDON : SEMl'KIN, MARSILAEE, IL^MIETON, KENT & Co., Ltd. 1S95. Prixted by Alex. Thcm & Co. (Limfted), 87, 8S, & 89, abbey-street, Dublin. i^ CONTRIBUTORS \^ TO THE PRESENT VOI.UME G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, b.a., New Ross. R. M. Barrington, I.I..B., F.L.S., Fassaroe, Bray. W. Bennett Barrington, Cork. F, J. Bigger, m.r.i.a., Belfast. Rev. S. a. Brenan, B.A., Knocknacary, Co. Antrim. D. C. Campbei.1., Londonderry. George H. Carpenter, b.sc, f.e.S., Science and Art Museum, Dublin. Prof. J. W. Carr, m.a., f.i,.s., f.z.s., Nottingham. Prof. G. A. J. Cole, f.g.s., m.r.i.a., Royal College of Science, Dublin. James Coleman, Southampton. Nathaniel Colgan, m.r.i.a., Dublin. Arthur J. Collins, Belfast. H. K. Gore Cuthbert, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. John H. Davies, Lisburn. J. E. DuERDEN, Kingston, Jamaica. E. C. Farran, Templeogue, Co. Dublin. Rev. W. W. FlEmyng, m.a., Coolfin, Co. Waterford. Percy E. Freke, Dundrum, Co. Dublin. Rev. Hilderic Friend, f.l.s., Cockermouth. E. A. Gibbon, Rosslare, Co. Wexford. Rev. T. B. Gibson, m.a., Dublin. Henry Groves, f.l.s., London. James Groves, f.l.s., London. J. N. HalberT, Science and Art Museum, Dublin. R. Hanitsch, PH.D., Liverpool. Prof. G. V. Hart, ll.d., q.c, Dublin. Miss Hensman, Dublin. T. V. Hodgson, Birmingham. H. Lyster Jameson, Castlebellingham. Prof. T. Johnson, d.sc, f.l.s.. Royal College of Science Dublin. Rev. W. F. Johnson, m.a., f.E.s., Poyntzpass, Co. Armagh. W. P\ de V. Kane, m.a., F.E.S., Drumreaske, Co. Monaghan. Richard J. Kelly, Dublin. G. H. KiNAHAN, M.R.I.A., Dublin. Robert J. Kirwan, b.a., b.e., Oughterard, Co. Galway. \V. J. KnowlES, m.r-la., Ballymena, Co. Antrim. iv Contributors. Rev. H. W. Lett, m.a., Loughbrickland, Co. Down. H. C. LEVINGE, D.iy., F.I..9., Knockdrin Castle, Mullingar. C. LONGFIELD, Enniskeane, Co. Cork. David M'ArdIvE, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Prof. E. J. McWeeney, m.a., m.d., Dublin. James N. Mii.ne, Londonderry. C. B. Moffat, Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford. Miss More, Dublin. A. R. NiCHOivS, B.A., Science and Art Museum, Dublin. R. A. PHILI.IPS, Cork. R. Ll/OYD PraEGER, B.A., B.E., M.R.I. A., Dublin. CI.EMENT Reid, fx.S., F.G.S., London. Rev. James Robertson, Cork. R. F. SCHARFF, B.sc, PH.D., M.R.I. A., Science and Art Museum, Dublin. REGINAI.D Scui^ivY, F.L.S., Dublin. M. Jose Simpson, Ballymena, Co. Antrim. W. SiNCi^AiR, Strabane. W. F. S1NCI.AIR, Chelsea. Prof. W. J. SolIvAS, i^L-d., f.r.s., m.r.i.a., Dublin. R. Standen, Owens College, Manchester. S. A. Stewart, f.b.s.e., Belfast. Mrs. Thompson, Cork. Miss S. M. Thompson, Belfast. Brockton Tomlin, Llandaff. R. J. USSHER, J.P., Cappagh, Co. Waterford. Rev. C. H. Waddei.1., b.d., Saintfield, Co. Down. James J. Walker, R.n., f.e.S., H.M.S. "Northampton." Miss Amy Warren, Ballina. Robert Warren, j.p., Ballina. W. W. Watts, f.g.s-, London. R. Welch, Belfast Prof. E. Perceval Wright, m.d., f.l-s., m.r.i.a., Dublin. Joseph Wright, f.g.s., Belfast. INDEX. •:o: Adeorbis imperspicuus, 348. Adventitious Branching in Liver- worts, 81. Aglaozonia reptans, 341. Algae, Perforating, 139. Algae of Galway Excursion, 241, Alien Plants, 20. AUurus flavus, 35. Antrim, Scenery and Geology of, 338. Arachnids of Galway Excursion, 254 ; of Londonderry, 105. Aranmore Flora, 249. Archaeology of Galway Excursion, 271. Armagh Natural History and Phi- losophical Society, 346. Artemisia SteHenana, 77. Astacus fluviatilis, 50. Attus floricola, 348. Aviary, 286, 307, 336. Ball, v.— Portraits of Irish Men of Science, &c., 135 ; Obituary Notice of, 169. Barrett-Hamilton, G. E. H.— In- troduction of English Hares into Ireland, 224 ; Irish Mammals, 65, 85, 167 ; Sabine's Snipe, 12 ; Stock-dove and Crossbill in Co. Carlow, 296. Barrington, R. M. — Obituary Notice of A. G. More, 109. Barrington, W. Bennett. — Rare Birds in Co, Cork, 166. Bass in Donegal Bay, 296. Beetle, new British, 213. Belfast Natural History and Phi- losophical Society, 23, 51, 75, 108, 167. Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, 24, 52, 75, 107, 134. 187, 220, 293, 343 ; Review of Proceedings, 185. Bigger, F. J. — Archaeology of Gal- way Excursion, 271. Bipalium Kewense, 165. Birds, aviary, 286, 307, 336 ; of Coasts of Sligo and Mayo, 180, 198; of Loughs Conn, Carra, and Mask, 117 ; of Donegal, Fer- managh, Sligo, and Roscommon, 142 ; rare, near Wexford, 319 ; rare, in Co. Cork, 166. Bittern, Little, in Co. Carlow, 224. Bougainvillia ramosa, 74. Brambles, Irish, 20. Brenan, S. A. — Summer Visitants at Knocknacarry, 166. Buckthorn in King's Co., 165. Bundoran, Rock-pools of, i, 346. Burnet, Lesser, in North of Ire- land, 135. Bustard, Little, in Co. Longford, 105. Campbell, D. C. — Spring Migrants in Londonderry District, 167. Carex Buxbaumii in Scotland, 318. Carpenter, G. H. — Animals found in the Mitchelstown Cave, 25 ; Arachnida of Galway Excursion, 254; Attus floricola, 348 ; Collem- bola and Thysanura of Galway Excursion, 257 ; Diptera of Gal- way Excursion, 253 ; Erebia epi- phron var. cassiope near Sligo, 77 ; Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, and Neuroptera of Galway Ex cursion, 257 ; Lepidoptera from Sligo, 191 ; Myriopoda of Galway Excursion, 256 ; New British Pantopod, 297 ; Notes on a new British Beetle, Otiorrhynchus auropunctatus, 213. Carr, J. W. (witli R. Lloyd Praeger) — Phanerogams, Ferns, &c., of Galway Excursion, 246. Castagnia zosterae, 74. Cave-fauna of Mitchelstown, 25. Caves, Irish, 57, 92, 94. Cetonia aurata, 348. Chara canescens, 50. Characeae, Distribution of, in Ire- land, 7, 37; Irish, 77, 318. Chlamydococcus pluvialis, 22. Chthonius Rayi, 133. Ciconia alba, 166. Cladocera from West of Ireland, 190. Clotenia conirostre, 292, 297. Clunio marinus, 73. Cole, G. A. J.— Geologist at the Luncheon-table, 41 ; Review of Guide to Geological Survey Collections, 314 ; on the Fenestil- lidae, with Reference to Irish Carboniferous Strata, 100; the Naturalist in the Mourne Mountains (Review), 105. Coleman, James. — Additional Irish Caves, 94. 3y756 vi index. Coleoptera: collected in Co. Car- low, 329 ; from Co. Dublin, 78 ; from North of Ireland, 79; in Ireland during the Spring, 1895, 207, 289 ; Irish, 207 ; of Galway Excursion, 259. Colgan N. — Further Notes on the Flora of Co. Dublin, 53 ; Orchids of Co. Dublin, 193. Collembola of Galway Excursion, 257- Collins, A. J. — Unusual Retreat for Grouse, 51. Columba aenas, 296. Corixa, Stridulation of , 79, 224, 319- Cork Naturalists' Field Club, 108, 168, 346. Crayfish, 50. Crossbill in Co. Carlow, 296. Cryptostemma alienum, 219. Cuthbert H. K. G.— Co. Dublin Hymenoptera, Captures in 1894, 104 ; Insects from Rosscarbery, . 303 ; with the Wild Bees in Glencullen, 60. Davies, J. H. — Ephemerum ser- ratum in Co. Antrim, 164 ; Poterium Sanguisorba in the North of Ireland, 135. Diplophyllum minutum, 219. Diptera of Galway Excursion, 263. Disintegration of Shells 139. Donax vittatus var. truncatus, 18. Dublin Microscopical Club, 22, 72, 106, 133, 167, 219, 292, 341. Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, 52, 75, 108, 134, 168, 189, 221, 294, 320, 345. Duerden, J. E- — Rock-pools of Bundoran, i. Dyschirius obscurus at Lough Neagh, 224. Earthworm, new Irish, 35. Ectocarpus secundus, 219. Ephemerum serratum in Co. Antrim, 164. Erebia epiphron var. cassiope, 77- Erythraea pulchella, 20, 77. Eurotium repens, 133. Farran, E C. — Trichoniscus roseus near Dublin, 296. Fauna of Galway District, 252. Fenestellidae, 100. Field Club Union, 134, 225. Field Club Work in the North, 185. Flemyng, W. W. — Occurrence of the Marten in Co. Waterford, 224. Flora of Aranmore, 249 ; of Cork, 332 ; of Co. Dublin, 53 ; of Galway District, 238 ; of Howth, 174, 318; of Westmeath, 64. Foraminifera of Galway Excursion, 252. Freke, Percy E.— Irish Psythyri, 166. Friend, Hilderic, — a new Form of Irish Earthworm, 35. Frullania dilatata, 342. Fungi of Galway Excursion, 238. Fungus, a new Irish, 273. Gallinago cailestis var. Sabinii, 12. Galway Field Club Conference, 134, 225. Geological Notes from West Gal- way, 151. Geological Survey Collections, Guide (Review), 314. Geologist at the Luncheon-table, 41. Geology of Antrim, 338 ; of Galway Excursion, 335 ; of Ireland, 314. Gibbon, E. A. — Rare Birds near Wexford, 319. Gibson, T. B.— My Birds, 286, ,'«o7, Giraudia sphacelarioides, 74. Glacial Deposits, 321 ; of Dublin and Bray, 80. Glenospora Curtisii, 219. Glaeosporium orchidearum, 167. Groves, H. and J. — Distribution of the Characese in Ireland, 7, 37. Gulls, Black-headed, 192. Halbert, J. N.— Coleoptera col- lected in Co. Carlow, 329 ; Cole- optera from Co. Dublin, 79 ; Coleoptera from the North of Ireland, 79 ; Coleoptera of the Galway Excursion, 259 ; Hemip- tera of the Galway Excursion, 258; Insects collected at the Seagull Bog, TuUamore, 172 ; Insects collected in the Fermoy and Blackwater District, 45 ; Orthezia cataphracta, 104. Hanitsch, R. — The Fresh-water Sponges of Ireland, 122. Hares, English, i^n Ireland, 224. Hart, G. V.— Lepidoptera at Howth in 1894, 21. Hedgehogs in Captivity, 136. Helix arbustorum near Armagh, 348. Index, Vll Hemiptera of Galway Excursion, 258. Hensman, Miss— Some Causes of the Disintegration of Shells, 139; (with T. Johnson) Algae of the Galway Excursion, 241. Herberta adunca, 22. Hodgson, T. V. — Cladocera from the West of Ireland, 190. Hullite, 133. Hymenoptera of Co. Dublin, 104 ; of Galway Excursion, 257 ; of Glencullen, 60. Ichneumons, new Irish, 319. Insects collected at Coolmore, 95, 161 ; collected at Seagull Bog, 172; from Rosscarbery, 303: of Fermoy and Blackwater District, 45 ; of Galway Excursion, 257. Irish Field Club Union, 134, 225. Irish Moths, 19. Irish Plants in London Catalogue, 190. Jameson, H. Lyster. — Irish Mam- malia, 296. Johnson, T., and Miss Hensman — Algse of Galway Excursion, 241. Johnson, W. F. — Dyschirius ob- scurus at Lough Neagh, 224 ; Primrose in November, 347 ; Report on Insects collected at Coolmore, Co. Donegal, 95, 161 ; Spring Lepidoptera at Armagh, 223 -, Spring Migrants at Armagh, 166. Jubula Hutchinsiae, 190. Jungermania bicrenata, 219. Kane, W. F. de V.— Irish Moths, 19 ; Lepidoptera of Galway Ex- cursion, 263 ; New Irish Ichneu- mons, 319 ; Thecla betulae in Co. Wexford, 21. Kelly, Richard J. — Plague of Beetles in Galway in 1688, 190. Kill o'-the-Grange glacial beds, 321. Kinahan, G. H.— Kitchen Middens, Co. Donegal, 21 ; Notes on Black- headed Gulls, 192. Kirwan, Robert J. — Geological Notes from West Galway : the Galway and Clifden Railway, 151. Kitchen Middens of Antrim, 80; of Donegal, 21, 80. Knotweeds, Irish, 303. Knowles, W. J. — Kitchen Middens of Antrim, 80 ; Kitchen Middens of Donegal, 8ov Labrax lupus, 296. Leeches, Irish, 165. Lejeunea calyptrifolia, 73 ; flava, 167 ; patens var. cochleata, 133 ; serpyllifolia, proliferous, 74. Lepidoptera at Armagh, 223 ; at Howth in 1894, 21 ; from Sligo, 191 ; Irish, 19; of Galway Excur- sion, 263. Lepton Sykesii in Killala Bay, 348. Lett, H. W.— Irish Rat at Lough Brickland, 80. Levinge, H. C. — Plants of West- meath, 64. Lias at White Park Bay, 192. Limerick Naturalists' Field Club, 77- Lipura Wnghtii, sp. nov., 31, 342. Liverworts, adventitious Branching 81 ; of Galway Excursion, 243. Longfield, C. — Smew in Co. Cork, 105. Loxia curvirostra, 296. Machetes pugnax, 296. Macrosporium cheiranthi, 74. McArdle, D. — Adventitious Brandl- ing in Liverworts, 81 ; Mosses and Liverworts of Galway Excursion, 243. McHenry, A., and W. W. Watts- Guide to Geological Survey Collections (Review), 314. McWeeney, E. J. — A Curious Coin- cidence, 317 ; Fungi of Galway Excursion, 238; a new Irish Fungus, 273 ; Utility of noting Fungus-localities, 317. Mammals, Irish, 65, 85, 167, 296. Marten in Westmeath, 21 ; in Co. Waterford, 224. Megaceros marl, 131. Mergus albellus, 105. Metzgeria conjugata, proliferous, 74- Micropeplus tesserula, 74. Microvelia pygmsea, 133. Migrants at Armagh, 166; at Knocknacarry, 166 ; in London- derry District, 167. Milne, Jas. N. — Helix arbustorum near Armagh, 348; New Irish Spiders from Londonderry, 104. Mitchelstown Cave Fauna, 25. Moifat, C. B.— Second Flowering of Artemisia Stelleriana, 77 ; Thecla betulae in Co. Wexford, 78. Mollusc, new Irish, 335. Mollusca of Galway Excursion, 264 I i « Vlll Index. More, A. G. — Bibliography of Writings, 113; Memoir of, 331 ; Obituary Notice of, 109. More, Miss,— Memoir of A. G. More, 331. Mosses of Aran, 317; of Galway Excursion, 243. Moths, Irish, 19. Mus hibernicus, 80. Myriopods of Galway Excursion, 256. Naturalist in the Mourne Moun- tains (Review), 105. Nectria sanguinea, 73 ; sinopica, 133- Neuroptera of Galway Excursion, 257- Newts, Irish, 135, 166. Nichols, A. R. — Stridulation of Corixa, 79. Obituary Notices. — V. Ball, 169; A. G. More, 109. Orchids of Co. Dublin, 193. Ornithology of Loughs Conn, Carra, and Mask, 117 ; of Coasts of Sligo and Mayo, 180, 198 ; of Donegal, Fermanagh, Sligo, and Roscommon, 142. Orthezia cataphracta, 104. Orthoptera of Galway Excursion, 257- Osprey in Co. Kerry, 105. Otiorrhynchus auropunctatus, 213. Otis tetrax, 105. Pandion haliaetus, 105. Pantopod, a new British, 297. Peronospora affinis, 317. Phanerogams of Galway Excursion, 246. Phillips, R. A.— Waifs and Strays of the Cork Flora, 332. Phoma betse, 167. Pilularia in Connemara, 165,292. Pisidium hibernicum, 335. Plague of Beetles in Galway, 190. Plant Remedies, 318. Plants, aUen, 20 ; of Aranmore, 249 ; of Cork, 332 ; of Galway District, 238 ; of Howth, 174, 318 ; of West- meath, 64. Plumatella repens, 223. Polygon a, Irish, 305. Polypogon monspeliensis, 20. Porcellio pictns, 166. Poterium Sanguisorba in North of Ireland, 135. Praeger, R. Lloyd— Aran Island Brambles, 318; Buckthorn in King's Co., a Correction, 165 ; Erythroea pulchella on North Bull, 77; pnora of Howth, 38; General Account of Galway Field Club Conference and Excursion, 225 ; Irish Characese, a Correc- tion, 77 ; Notes on the Flora of Howth, 174; Notes on the Flora of Aranmore, 249 ; Review of Bot. Exch. Club Report and Watson Bot. Exch. Club Report, 339 ; Review of London Catalogue of British Plants, 163 ; Pilularia in Connemara, 165 ; Raised Beaches of Inishowen, 278 ; (with W. J. SoUas), Notes on Glacial Deposits in Ireland, II. Kill-o'-the-Grange, 321 ; (with J. W. Carr), Flowering Plants, Ferns, &c., of Galway Ex- cursion, 246. Primrose in November, 347. Pseudopsis sulcata, 74. Psithyn, Irish, 166. Puccinia obscura, 317. Putorius hibernicus, 136. Pycnogon, a new British, 297. Quartz, Quartzites, and Quartz- rocks, 316, 340. Radula voluta, 106. Raised Beaches — Inishowen, 278 ; Portmarnock, 134. Rat, Irish, 80. Reid, Clement—Origin of Mega- ceros Marl, 13 1. Reviews. — Belfast Naturalists' Field Club Proceedings, 185 ; Botanical Exchange Club Re- port, 1894, and Watson Botanical Exchange Club Report, 1894-95, 339 ; Cole's Scenery and Geology of Co. Antrim, 338 ; Newtown School Literary and Scientific Association, 39th Report, 339 ; McHenry and Watts's Guide to the Geological Survey Collec- tions, 314; London Catalogue of British Plants, 163. Rhamnus catharticus,i65; frangula, 165. Riccia glaucescens, 296. Robertson, James— Stridulation of Corixa, 319. Rock-pools of Buodoran, i, 347. Rooks, Carnivorous Habits, 105. Rose-beetle in Ireland, 348. Royal Zoological Society, 22, 51, 72, io6, 133, 167, 187, 219, 292, 320, 341 Index. IX Rubi, Irish, 20; of Aran, 318. Ruff in Co. Wicklow, 296. Scapania aspera, 73. Scharff, R. F.— Addition to the Irish Molluscan Fauna, 335 ; Bipalium Kewense, 165 ; Cave at Ballymote, Co. Sligo, 94 ; Fresh- water Crayfish in Co. Dublin, 50; Irish Newts, 135, 166; Porcellio pictus, 166 ; Plumatella repens. m Ireland, 223 ; Some Notes on the Irish Caves, 57 ; Some Notes on Irish lyeeches, 165 ; Testacella haliotidea in Co. Dublin, 80; Wanted, Live Newts, 105 ; Wood- lice of Co. Carlow, 319. Scully, R. W.— Chara canescens in Ireland, 50 ; Erythraea pulchella and Polypogon monspeliensis on the North Bull, 20 ; Some Cork Aliens, 20; Vicia lathy- roides in Co. Wicklow, 20, Simpson, M. Jose — Hedgehogs in Captivity, 136. Sinclair, W.— Bass in Donegal Bay, 296. Sinclair, W. F.— Rock-pools of Bundoran, 347. Sinella cavernicola sp. nov., 30. Smew in Co. Cork, 105. Snipe, Sabine's, 12. Sollas, W. J., and R. Lloyd Praeger — Notes on Glacial Deposits in Ireland ; II. Kill-o'-the-Grange, 321. Sphseria canescens, 341. Spirula Peronii in Co. Antrim, 348. Sponges, Fresh-water, of Ireland, 122. Standen, R. — Mollusca of Galway Excursion, 264. Stewart, S. A.— Moss Flora of Aran, 317. Stoat, Irish, 136. Stock-dove in Go. Carlow, 296. Stork, White, near Athy, 166. Streptothrix nigra, 22. Stysanus ulmariae, sp. nov., 273. Taenia serrata, 342. Tanystylum conirostre, 292, 297. Testacella haliotidea in Co. Dublin, 80. Thecla belulae, 21, 78. Thompson, M. — Stridulation of Corixa, 224. Thompson, Miss S. M. — Geology of Galway Excursion, 235. Thysanura of Galway Excursion, 257. Tomlin, B. — Rose-beetle m Ireland, 348; Spirula Peronii in Co. Antrim, 348. Trichoniscus roseus near Dublin, 296, Ussher, R. J. — An Ornithological Exploration in Donegal. Fer- managh, Sligo, and Roscommon, 142 ; Notes on the Irish Caves, 92- Ustilago Vaillantii, 219. Verticillium latertium, 73. Vicia lathyroides, 20. Waddell, C. W.— Irish Knotweeds, 305 ; Irish Plants in the new London Catalogue, 190 ; Jubula Hutchinsiae, 190. Walker, James J. — Captures of Coleoptera in Ireland during the Spring.of 1895, 207, 289. Warren, Miss Amy — Donax vitta- tus var. truncatus, 18 ; Lepton Sykesii in Killala Bay, 348. Warren, Robert — Breeding Birds of Loughs Conn, Carra, and Mask, 117 ; Birds observed breed- ing on the Coasts of Sligo and Mayo, 180, 198. Watts, W. W.— Quartz, Quartz- rocks, and Quartzites, 316, 340. Welch, R. — Exposed Lias at White Park Bay, Co. Antrim, 192 ; Wild Flowers in the Glynns of Antrim in Mid-winter, 50. Winter Flowering of Wild Flowers, Woodcocks nesting in Co. Wick- low, 21. Woodlice of Co. Carlow, 319. Wright, E. P. — Obituary Notice of V. Ball, 169. Wright, Joseph — Foraminifera of Galway Excursion, 252. PI.ATKS AND II.I.USTRATIONS. Rock-pool at Bundoran (Plate i), Donax vittatus, and var. truncatus, Animals from the Mitchelstown Cave (Plate 2 Distribution of Caves in Ireland, Adventitious Shoots on Liverworts (Plate 3), Alexander Goodman More, F.L.S., Irish Fresh-water Sponges (Plate 4), Section at Oughterard, Section at Lough Shindilla, Section at Lough Oorid, . Valentine Ball, C.B., Otiorrhynchus auropunctatus, . Ballynahinch River and Ben Lettery, Teampul Benan, Aranmore, An Aran Field, Derryclare Lake and Mountain, Church of S. Nicholas, Galway, . Stysanus Ulmariae sp. nov. (Plate 5), Tanystylum conirostre (Plate 6), Pisidiuni hibernicum, To face p. I . p. iS To face p. 25 . p. 58 To face p. 81 To face p. 109 To face p. 122 . p. 152 . p. 157 . p. 158 To face p. 164 • P- 216 To face p. 225 To face p. 230 To face p. 230 To face p. 231 To face p. 277 To face p. 273 To face p. 297 • P- 338 ERRATA. Page i66,before note on Irish Psithyri, insert the sub-heading " INSECTS:* 219, line 27, for " ovones," read " ovules," „ line 29, for " Dr. P. Wright," read " Dr. Plowright." „ line 31, for " Cw/^," read " Gagea." 256, line 9 from bottom, for " Lithopius:' read " Lithobiusr 258, line 6 from bottom, for " ArchotylusT read " Orlhotylus " en ^ O u u S ^ • ii "A < ^ -*-» ^ O •■-' Q O; 'Z t— . t-i ^ P5 H < 1 ►4 O 5a J5 O le .■v. 1 ^ W en U o u p4 w. P < (D , — , r— « a <^ u •< 3 1 ^Jje ^vi&lj Itattttraltet* Vol. IV. JANUARY, 1895. No. i. THE ROCK-POOI.S OF BUNDORAN. BY J. E. DUERDEN, A.R.c.SC. (London). Last summer, in connection with the Royal Irish Academy Fauna and Flora Committee, I had the opportunity, in com- panj' with Prof. Johnson and Mr. Mitchell, of spending a little over a week in and around Bundoran, a delightful watering- place, much frequented b}^ people from the North of Ireland. M)^ object was to collect representatives of all the Zoophytes, embracing under this popular term the Hydroids, Sea- anemones, and Polyzoa, at the same time not neglecting other forms of life which I might chance to come across. Bundoran lies at the south-east corner of Donegal Bay, about four miles from the historically interesting town of Ballyshannon. Taking the former as our centre, we made collecting excursions to different parts of the bay, and so ob- tained a good idea of the resources of the locality. West of Bundoran, cliffs of Carboniferous limestone face the sea, dipping to the south at an angle varying from five to ten degrees ; but at low water a considerable extent of shore is laid bare, diversified by numerous rock-pools, caves, and narrow inlets of the sea, the happy hunting-grounds of the naturalist. In the rock-pools the first object which attracts one is the Purple Sea-urchin Strongylocentrotus lividuSy Lamk., occurring in great numbers in little hollows, their dark colour con- trasting strongly with the light rosy-pink calcareous alga Lithotham7iio7i polymorpJmni} , which lines most of these pools. This interesting sea-urchin is one of the most striking faunal features of various localities along the west coast of Ireland, ' For the name of this alga, and also for the others mentioned, I am indebted to Prof. Johnson and to Mr. Mitchell, 2 The Irish Nahiralist. from Donegal Ba\' to Queenstown Harbour. It occurs nowhere else in the British Isles, but turns up again in the Channel Islands. It is capable of boring holes, probably by means of its teeth, in the soft limestone to a depth of one-half or more of its own height; where, however, the rocks, as at Dog's Bay in Connemara, consist of the harder granite, the urchin is incapable ofboringinto them, and simply rests upon the bottom of the pools. Many of them are partially covered by empty shells, such as those oi Patella, P2irpura, 2.r\6iLitto7ina. Considering the spin}^ nature of their skeleton it is very diffi- cult to conceive that this feature can be in any way concerned with protection to the individual. Again, they are almost invariably associated in the pools with luxurious growths of the light pink encrusting Lithothain7iion polymorphtwi, to which they offer the strongest contrast, almost suggestive of a warning combination. In some of the shallow pools, some distance above low- water mark, we found numbers of the sea-slug Aplysia ptmctata, Cuv., their dark olive-green colour also contrasting strongly w^ith the light Lithothamnion. A few minutes sufficed to obtain two or three dozen, many of them in the act of laying their strings of brown-pink spawn. On this part of the shore, and still more so on the rocks and cliffs north of Bundoran, are to be found more or less firm masses of sand and fragments of shells built into tubes by the worm Sabellaria alveolata, Linn., and almost resembling a honey-comb in appearance. These masses, no doubt, exer- cise a preservative geological influence on the rocks, the hollows and irregularities about forming also a protection for various forms of life. In one of the caves with a smooth floor covered by water, and with stalactitic and stalagmitic masses further in, we came across quite a crowd of small hermit-crabs, Fagunis, and very interCvSting it ^ was to watch their little battles over the bodies of some of their unfortunate companions who had been torn from their protective gastropod shell. Here also I met with a few specimens oi Anemonia siUcata {Anthea cereus), Penn., of the variety with iridescent green tentacles tipped with red. This species, not so abundant in Donegal Bay, I have met with in great numbers in Roundstone Bay, giving to the h^^s oi Zostera there quite a flower}^ appearance. Actinia The Rock-pools of Bimdoran. 3 eq7ii?ia, lyinn., of the varieties hepatica, rubra, olivacea, and viridis was present everywhere. Under one of the ledges of rock I met w ith a large group, thirty or forty individuals, of the prett)' little Corynactis viridis, Allni. This anemone varies much in colour, although those belonging to the same colony are generally alike. In the present case the column was of a light brown colour, the margin a rich bright orange, and the tentacles green at the base, with greenish-brown stems and white knobs. At Roundstonel have met with colonies of the more typical green form. Specimens of Hcliactis bellis, E. and S. were present in the cavities of the rock-pools, and also the large Tealia crassicor^iis. Mull, in considerable variety of colour. A single example of Cylista imdata, MltU. was also obtained. The coast to the north of Bundoran is varied by steep precipices and sandy shores. Around Claddaghlagan not much was obtained, nor along the beach in front of the east portion of the towm. Rog>^ Bay, a narrow inlet, was the best locality for material washed up from the sea. Here were obtained stems of Laminaria with quite thick forests of Sertularia operailata, lyinn., growing on them, presenting almost the appearance of a fox's tail. The roots of the Laminaria also yielded several species of encrusting Polj'zoa. I may here record one fact in which I have alwaj^s found the west coast of Ireland to differ from the east coast, namely, in the amount of material from considerable depths washed ashore by storms. On such occasions we find suitable places on the east coast literally strewn with zoophytes and other treasures from the deep. Tangled masses are rolled about on the sand}^ shores, composed largely of Hydrallmania falcata, lyinn., Sertularia abietina, lyinn., Eudcndrium ramosum, Linn., various species of /'///^/r^ and Ciisiaf Vesicularia spinosa, Linn., and heaps of other smaller forms along with them or growing upon them, the whole forming a very rich and easily obtained harvest. On the west coast, however, I have never found any of the species mentioned above washed ashore. It has often been disappointing upon going to some strand, where, under similar conditions along the east coa.st, I should have obtained in a few minutes thirty or forty different species of zoophytes, to find practically nothing. Tullan Strand, extending a dis- tance of nearly two miles from the Fairy Bridge to the mouth A 2 4 The Irish Naturalist, of the river Erne, was a good example. Even after a consider- able storm during the night there was nothing washed ashore to rejoice the collector. The Rev. W. S. Green, to whom I have remarked this difference, considers that it may be largely due to the fact that on the east coast the greater amount of trawling in the deeper parts disturbs and tears up the objects growing upon the sea-bottom, and then during storms they are washed up on the shore. The limestone forming the cliffs is very fossiliferous, this feature attracting even the most casual observer. The rock seems in parts entirely made up of crinoid stems, some of them exceptionally large in diameter. Other portions are almost entirely composed QiProd2icttis giganteus, while various fossil corals are in many places important components of the rock. In the limestone on the north side of Rogy Bay, towards Aughrus Point, the rock-pools are mostly deep vertical hollows, always full of water, and crowded at the surface with a great variety of red, brown, and green sea- weeds. On pulling these aside one is rewarded with a most lovely sight of variously and richl}^- coloured sea-anemones, covering the sides and crevices of the rock. Especially abundant were *' the Orange Disc Anemone," and " the Snowy Anemone," now both regarded as varieties oi Heliadis vemista^ Gosse ; also Bimodes gcniniaceus, E. and S., and in the darker corners large specimens of Tealia crassicornis , Mull. A few examples of Aplysia punctata, Cuv. were obtained here also in the .shallower pools. The rocks from Aughrus Point to the Fair}^ Bridge are too precipitous for any work to be done upon them ; but in the latter place one can easily collect along the base at low water, and also enter the Cathedral Cave near. We found this, exposed to the full force of the waters of the baj^ to be an extremely rich locality. The sand- tubes of Sabcllaiia alveolafa, lyinn. form, with the rocks, small hollows in which are little forests of zoophytes, such as Ttibiclaria larynx^ E. and S., Obclia flabellata, Hincks, Cavipanularia ftexuo^a, Hincks, and Flumularia setacca, Ell., and numerous smaller forms growing upon these. Here was obtained the rare Halccium te7iellum, Hincks, the first undoubted record for Ireland. The surface of the rock also serves for the attachment of crowds of yJ/^'/77?^^ cdidis, I^inn., and a search aniongvSt these The Rock-pools of Bu7idora7i, 5 well rewarded us. On one of the ledges overhanging a pool, on the floor of which were abundant Plaice, almost undistin- guishable from their resemblance to the colour of the sand, we came across hundreds of the lovely Metridimn {Adinoloba) dia7ithus, Ell., of the brown and white varieties. Exposed at low water they hung vertically almost like so many shapeless masses of mucus, each with a drop of water at the distal end. Looping about amongst the Hydroids were numbers of the Amphipod Caprella linearis, Linn. Tubularia laryjix, E- and S., was especially the home of the Nudibranch Eolis coroiiata^ Forbes, its rosy hues harmonising well with the light red colour of the polypites. From the Fairy Bridge, Tullan Strand stretches for nearly a couple of miles to the mouth of the Erne, and yielded very little to us, but the sand-hills overlooking it would well repay the entomologist. The shore towards Kildoney Point we found unproductive, and then took our way to Coolmore, a place from which accounts of collections in other branches have already appeared in this Journal. Descending the Blue Stairs we were disappointed to find the shore composed largely of sandstone and limestone boulders derived from the cliffs, and presenting a very meagre fauna. Going a little to the south-west, however, we were again amongst the lime- stone rock-pools with a great abundance of life. The con- trast was most striking. Where the rocks were principally sandstone they presented quite a barren aspect, and life appeared impoverished, while a few yards further when we got on to the limestone, the rock-pools were replete with a luxuriance of animal and plant life, much as we had found west of Bundoran. Dredging in Donegal Bay with the trawlers did not yield us much. The bottom consists principally of sand, and the dredge and trawl brought up little of what the fishermen regard as refuse, but to the zoologist is a harvest. A day was spent on the east coast of the promontory stretching between M'Swyne's Bay and Inver Bay. Here the shore was again rich in deep vertical rock-pools filled with weeds, such as Fiictcs, Laminaria, Ulva, E^iteromorpha, Bryopsis, Codiuin, Cladophora, Chondrics crisptcs, Rhody??ie7iia, Coralli7ia offi- ci7ialis, Lithotha77i7iio7i polyi7iorphu7}i, and other rarer forms. Hundreds oi Metridiiuri {Acti7iolobd) dia7ithus, EH-, hung from 6 The Irish Naturalist. the under surface of projecting ledges, and most of the other common forms of sea-anemones flourished luxuriously, sharing the decoration of the pools with numerous brightl}^- coloured sponges. Trawling around the shore our boatmen discovered for themselves a rich locality for Sole, Plaice, and Brill. The Laminaria brought up was coated with miniature forests of Obelia gcniadata, Linn, and other zoophytes. Numbers of shells of Peden 7naxiimis, I,inn. were obtained encrusted with various Polyzoa. In returning across the bay we were alarmed by the proximity of four or five large cetaceans following the shoals of herring along with flocks of gulls. From the rounded head, large, high dorsal fin, and white under-surface. there is no doubt that they were speci- mens of the Killer Whale {^Orca gladiatof, I,acpa). In a small interesting book on Ballyshannon' containing a chapter on its Zoology and Botany, it is recorded that in the last century whales were so numerous in Donegal Bay that a whale-fisher}^ was established, but owing to the general roughness of the sea it was unsuccessful, although aided b}^ a grant of £500 from the Irish Parliament in 1736, and a grant of £1,500 in 1763. We left Bundoran and its rock-pools feeling that our time had been most profitabh^ vSpent, and bearing away representa- tives of many of its marine treasures preserved in our jars for future stud3\ A more detailed list and description of these will shortly be published. Mr. Welch, of Belfast, has kindh^ allowed a reproduction of one of his splendid series of photographs of the shores at Bundoran. The portion represented on the accompanying plate (Plate i) is one of the rock-pools from which the water has been removed. At the bottom are seen many examples of the Purple Sea-urchin (^Stro7igylocent7'otits lividus, I,amk.) bristling with spines, but all more or less sunk in their self- made hollows, and in some cases with dead shells upon them. The pink-coloured " Nullipore," Lithothamnionpolyvw7'phu77i, coats the remainder of the bottom, and especially in the narrow ridges between the hollows rises into irregular botryoidal masses, often tending to enclose the sea-urchins. To the left of the plate are seen luxuriant bunches of another calcareous ^AlHngliam : Ballyshaunoii, its History and Antiquities, Londonderry, J879. The Rock-pools of Btcndoran. f fed alga, Corallina officmalis. Along the side of the pool are agglutinated masses of sand and fragments of shells presenting the appearance of a honeycomb, each aperture being that of a tube, in which dwells the worm Sabellaria alveolata, I,inn. The limestone ledges above the pool (to the right) are quite light in colour owing to the great abundance of the common acorn-shell, Balaiius. Numerous conical shaped limpets. Patella viclgata, lyinn. are here present resting in the shallow scars excavated by themselves. It has lately been showni that the limpets quit their homes in search of food chiefly as the tide leaves them and when it is returning, the extent of their peregrinations being evidently limited to a dis- tance of between one and two feet. Many of the limpets have the exterior of their shells coated with Lithothamnion 'poly- inorphuin. Scattered about are also numerous specimens of the spindle-shaped Purpura lapillus, I^inn. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CHARACB^ IN IRKIvAND. BY H. AND J. GROVKS, FX.S. Thk large stretches of comparatively shallow water and the many peat-bogs render Ireland a particularly favourable country for the growth of Characece, and, although a considerable extent remains almost unexplored and but little has been thoroughly searched, the Chara Flora as at present known is a rich one. During the past year another species, C. canescens, has been discovered, and there is little doubt that when the Southern and Western districts have been more completely worked several others will be added to the list. Every piece of water should be searched, as CharacecB occur in rivers and streams as well as in the lakes, pools, pits, and ditches, which are their more usual habitats. We would especially recommend examining small loughs and pools near the sea, as likely to yield new species to Ireland. It is never safe to assume that there is no Chara in any piece of water until it has been dragged all over, as oftentimes they occur in only one part and are not visible from the shore. '^Nature, vol. xxxi., p. 200, and vol. li., p. 127, 8 The Irish Nahcralist. We shall be pleased to examine any specimens sent to us for determination, but would impress upon collectors the impor- tance of obtaining fruiting specimens where possible. Often when the first "haul" is sterile, a further search will yield abun- dance of fruit. The object of this paper is to give a table of the County distribution on the lines of " Topographical Botan}^'' but in the case of the rarer species the separate localities are mentioned. We have endeavoured as far as possible to cite the earliest collected specimen we have seen from each County. In consequence of the unreliable character of the earlier determinations of Charace^s, we have thought it better in this as in our other papers, to record only those localities from which we have ourselves examined specimens. The varieties given are not intended to be regarded as sub- species, nor as being all of equal value, as it has been thought desirable to apply varietal names to the more extreme forms, although every intermediate state may occur. Chara frag^IIISf Desv. 113. Kerry, S., - Sneem, 1883. H. A. Ridley. 114. ,, N., - Brandon. D. Moore. 116. Cork, N., - Fernioy. T. Chandlee. 117. Waterford, - Dungarvan Bog, 1882. G. Nicholson. 118. Tipperary, S., Croan, 1872. S. Grub1). 121. Queen's Co., - Maryborough, 1893. R. LI. Praeger. 123. Wicklow, - Murrough of Wicklow, 1849, D. Moore. 125. Dublin, - - Howth, i860. D. Moore. 128. Limerick, - R. Shannon, nr. Limerick, 1892. H. & J' G. 129. Clare, - - Ennis, 1884. S. A. Stewart. 130. Galway, E-, - Castle Taylor. A. G. More. 133. Westmeath, - Ladiston. D. Moore. 135. Galway, W., - Roundstone. Hb. J.Woods. 136. Mayo, W., - L. Cullin. A. G. More. 137. ,, E., - Cong, 1885. E. F. and W. R. Linton. 138. Sligo, - - Lough Gill River, 1884 R. M. Barringtou. 141. Fermanagh, - L- Erne, 1837. \V. Thompson. 142. Cavan, - - Belturbet. D. Moore. 144. Tyrone, - Arboe, 1891. S. A. Brenan. 145. Armagh, - Bird Island, Lough Neagh, 1882. H. W. Lett. 147. Down, - - Loughinisland, 1887. S- A. Stewart. 148. Antrim, - - L- Neagh. D- Moore. var. barbata, Gant. 114. Kerry, N., - Nr. Ventry, 1894. D. M'Ardle. 123. Wicklow, - Murrough of Wicklow. D.Moore. 132. King's Co., - Geashill, 1894. R. LI. Praeger. 133. Westmeath, - Mullingar, 1877. D. Moore. 147. Down, - - Holywood Hills, 1891. R. LI. Praeger. 148. Antrim, - - Lough Beg, 1846. W. Thompson. The Distributio7i of the Charace(E in Ireland. 113. Kerry, S., 125. Dublin, - 135. Galway, W., 147. Down, 125. 135. 137. 138. 147. Dublin, Galway, Mayo, E. Sligo, Down, W •> 125. Dublin, - 135. Galway, W., T37. Mayo, E., 139. Leitrim, - 145. Armagh, 146. Donegal, 148. Antrim, - var. caplllacea, Coss. and G. - Long Range, 18S7. R. W. Scully. - Howth, 1894, R. Ivl. Praeger. - Renvyle, 1832. Hb. Shuttleworth. - Holy wood, 1885. R. Ivl. Praeger. var. Hedwlgrll, Kuetz. - Lucan, 1894. R. LI. Praeger. _"> Cong, 1885. C.Bailey. - Lough Gill R. 1884. R. M. Harrington. - Holywood Hills, 1891. R. LI. Praeger. var. delicatula, Braun. Clondalkin, 1894. R. LI. Praeger. Recess, 1885. E. F. Linton.- Cong, 1885. C. Bailey. Glenade L. 1884. R- M. Barrington. Ardmore Glebe, 1880. Hb. R. LI. Praeger. L, Sessiagh, 1886. S. A. Stewart. L. Neagh, 1883. S. A. Stewart. The plants included by us under the var. delicatula are the smaller forms with somewhat connivent branchlets and a tendency to produce spine-cells. Braun employs the name for a sub-species, including all the forms having prominent primary cortical cells. A large proportion of the Irish specimens of C.fragilis show a tendency towards the vars. barbata and delicatula, while the larger forms approach- ing var. Ht'dwigii seem much less common. We collected a small much incrusted form in Westmeath, which could scarcely be distinguished from C. contraria without microscopic examination. C. fragilis is one of the most widely distributed species, occurring almost all over the world. It is frequent throughout Great Britain. [C.fragifera and C. comiivens, which occur in the West of Europe and in some of the south-western counties of England, may be expected to occur also in the South of Ireland, and should be searched for in shallow water near the sea. Both resemble C. fragilis, but maybe readily distin- guished by being'dioecious, as well as by the strongly incurved branchlets in the case of C. connivejis and the large compound bulbils on the under- ground stems of C.fragifera.l 113. Kerry, S., 114. ,, N., 121. Queen's Co., - 123. Wicklow, 124. Kildare, 130. Galwaj', E., - 133. Westmeath, - 135. Galway, W., 136. Mayo, W,, 137- " E., 141. Fermanagh, - 142. Cavan,. 145. Armagh, 147. Down, 148. Antrim, 149. Londonderry - C. aspera, Willd. Killarney, 1887. R. W. Scully. Castle Gregory LaTce, D. Moor Farmhill, 1890. R. W. Scully. Murrough of Wicklow. D. Moore. Near Monasterevan, 1893. R. LI. Praeger. Portumna, 1843, D. Moore. Belvidere, 1846. D. Moore. Oughterard, 1885. E. F. and W. R. Linton. L. Cullin. A. G. More. Foxford. A. G. More. L. Erne, 1883. S. A. Stewart. Belturbet. D. Moore. Near Navan Fort, 1892. R. Ll. Praeger. Clandeboye Lake, 1882. S. A. Stewart. Rathlin. Hb. D. Moore. L- Beg. 1894. R. Ll. Praeger. ^3 JO The Irish Naturalist, 125. Dublin, Ci aspcra, var. caplllata, Braun. - Royal Canal, Blanch ardstown, 1889. Scully. 130. Galway, B. , R, W. var. curta, Braun. L. Derg, 1881. B. King. 135. Galway, W., 136 Mayo, W., 144. Tyrone, 145. Armagh, 148 Antrim, 138. Sligo, 139. Leitrim, 148. Antrim, 149. Londonderrj% var. lacustrlSf H. and J. G. - Roundstone. Hb., J. Woods. ■ L,. Cullin. A. G. More. - Arboe, 1891, S.A. Brenan. - L. Neagh, Lurgan, 1890. R. LI. Praeger. • Iv. Neagh, Crumlin, 1894. S. A. Stewart. var. sublnermlSy Kuetz. - Lough Gill R., 1884. R. M. Barrington, - GlenadeL, 1884. R. M, Barrington, - Rathlin I. D. Moore. R. Bann, 1894. R, LI. Praeger, C. aspera is a common species in Ireland, occurring in the lakes and canals as well as in the peat-pits and pools, and is more generally distri- buted than in England. It occurs throughout Europe and in North Africa and North America. The plant we have referred to the var. (iirta has short incurved branchlets and many short spine-cells, but is not so extreme as some of the continental plants, which have the branchlets only from 2-3 mm. long. In L- Owel, Westmeath, we col- lected a plant with very long internodes and comparatively very short incurved branchlets, which resembled the Swiss plant much magnified. The var. capillaia from Co. Dublin is not so extreme as the Holyhead plant. Man)' of the Irish specimens approach this variety. [C. strigosa, Braun. In the Journal of Botany, May, 1887, we suggested the possibility of a specimen collected by Mr. R. M. Barrington in Lough Ree belonging to this species, but being sterile we were unable to deter- mine it. Since then we have not had any further light thrown on the subject, and having in view the curious forms of C. aspera which we have collected in the Westmeath lakes, we think the plant is possibly only a state of that species. It would, however, be very desirable for L. Ree to be searched in order to settle the question.] 116. Cork, N., 124. Kildare, - 121. Queen's Co., 123. Wicklow, 130. Galway, E., 133. Westmeath, 135. Galway, W., 137. Mayo, E., 145. Armagh, C. polyacantha, Braun. Shanagarry Bog. I. Carroll. I Canal, near Monasterevan, 1893. R. LI. Praeger, Near Newcastle, 1892. R. M. Barrington and H. and J. G. Headford, 1832. Hb. Shuttleworth. Scraw Bog, near L. Owel, 1892. H. C. Levinge. Moycullen, 1892. H. and J. G. Foxford. A. G. More. Loughgall L., 1892. R. LI. Praeger. This species was figured by Plukenet in 1691 from a specimen collected by Sherard in " Turf Bogs in Ireland." It usually occurs in peat-pits and ditches. In Britain it is generally much incrusted, but we have had The Distribution of the Characece in Ireland, ri Several beautiful unincrusted forms from the Irish bogs. The distribution of C. polyacantha appears to be very limited. It is recorded from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, North Italy, and France. C. conti*ar!a, Kuetz. 113. Kerry, S., - Caragh, 1888. R. W. Scull}'. ^ 124. KUdare, -^ ' -i ^^^^^> Monasterevan, 1893. R. Ll. Praeger. .■ 125. Dublin, - - Glasnevin, 1882. D. M'Ardle. 130. Galway, E., - L. Derg, 1885. B. F. and W. R. Ivinton. 133. Westmeath, - L. Ennel, 1892. H. and J. G. 139. Leitrim, - - L. Allen, 1883. S. A. Stewart. 145. Armagh, - - Croaghan I., L. Neagh, 1880. H. W. Lett. 147. Down, - - Clandeboye Lower Lake, 1891. R. Ll. Praeger. 149. Londonderry,- Limavadyjunc, 18S9. W. D. Donnan and R. Ll Praeger. var. hlspidula* Braun. 133. Westmeath, - Brittas Lake, 1892. H. C. Levinge and H. and J. "G» \'l M^%7-' :} C-g. '««5. C. Bailey. A common species in Ireland, occurring in great quantity in the large lakes, and varying considerably from the commonest form, which is a small slender plant resembling C. fragilis, to the very large lax form in Brittas Lake, Westmeath, which grows three or four feet high and has branchlets \\ inches long, and to the stout compact form from Loughs Derg, EnneL andDerevaragh, with short, stout, incurved branchlets resembling the var. crassicaiilis of C. vulgaris. C. contraria is world-wide in its distribution, occurring in all five Continents and in Australia. C. denudata^ Braun. =C. dissoluiay Leonh. 133. Westmeath, - Brittas Lake, 1892, H. C. Levinge. This plant resembles the large forms of C contraria from the same lake, but is almost entirel}^ destitute of cortex. The primary series of cortical cells are occasionally partially developed above the whorls, but are usually represented by a single cell above and below, each branchlet growing outwards instead of adhering to the internodal cell. C. demidata has been recorded from single localities in Switzerland and Italy, and from Cape Colony ; but the Irish form is more extreme than either of these. It is doubtful, however, notwithstanding the apparently important differences, whether these plants may not all be only degraded states of C. contraria. (TO BE CONCI.UDED). 12 » The Irish Naturalist. SABINE'S SNIPE. GAI.I.INAGO COEI.ESTIS, VAR. SABINII. BY G. K. H. BARRETT- HAMII^TON. On August 2ist, 1822, a Snipe was shot near Portarliugton, Queen's County, by the Rev. Charles Doyne, and was described by N. A. Vigors as Scolopax Sabiiii {Trans. Limi. Soc, vol. xiv, p. 556). Vigors distinguished his bird from the Common Snipe {S. gallinago) by its colour, by its possession of only twelve (instead of fourteen) tail-feathers, by the two exterior toes being "united to the base for a short distance," by the tarsi being ^^^ of an inch shorter than those of 6*. gallinago, and by the greater stoutness of the tarsi. Subsequently, additional specimens of Sabine's vSnipe were obtained, chiefly in Ireland, so that in 1850, William Thompson (Nat. Hist, of Ireland, vol. ii, pp. 273 — 277) was able to give notes of ten Irish specimens, while a few others had been procured in England, but in Scotland none at all. The bird had now become, in the words of Thompson, "one of the greatest puzzles in Ornithology," since it was not known out of the British Islands, and there only as one of which a few individuals had fallen before the guns of snipe-shooters : of its breeding haunts absolutely nothing had been ascertained. Enough specimens had now been obtained to enable naturalists to suspect that the structural characters laid down by Vigors as distinguishing Sabine's from the Common Snipe were somewhat unreliable, and Thompson {pp. cit.), though he gave the bird rank as a species in his work, was compelled to confess that for some time past he " had not felt altogether satisfied respecting its distinctness as a species." After show- ing the invalidity of Vigors' structural characters, he remarks that in colour Sabine's Snipe " is peculiar and constant." Every specimen of S. Sabini that had occurred was coloured much alike, and was remarkable by " the total absence of white from its plumage, or of any of those lighter tints of ferruginous yellow which extend more or less in stripes along the head and back "of the other European Snipes." In the works of later writers, Sabine's Snipe is regarded merely as a melanic variety of the Common Snipe. I think, however, that it presents several points of interest, which are well worth the attention of naturalists. Sabine' s Snipe. 13 in the first place tliere is its extremel}^ curious distribution. I have been at some pains to make a complete list of all recorded occurrences of Sabine's Snipe, with the result that I have notes of (in all) about fifty -five examples, v^^hich have been stated to have been either obtained or observed from time to time.' Probabl}' others have been obtained, but they have either been unrecorded or have escaped my notice, as Pro- fessor Newton informs me that when he was in Dublin in i860 there were about half a dozen Sabine's Snipes stuffed (infamously) and placed on a board in the Museum of Trinity College, not one of which had been recorded, nor did anyone seem to know their history. Of the odd fifty-five examples w^hose capture has been from time to time recorded, thirty- one (or about three-fifths) hail from Ireland, twenty-two from England, one from Scotland, and one from the Continent of Europe. The bird should, therefore, possess a peculiar interest for Irish ornithologists — whose country it favours so strangely in its appearances. The Irish examples have been recorded from sixteen out of the thirty-two Irish counties, and from almost every part of Ireland, except the south-east (the east coast can only claim one). In the North, Derry heads the list with five examples (some of them only seen, and not obtained), Donegal claims four, and Tyrone one. In the West, Mayo claims one, Galway one, Clare one, and Kerry two. In the South, Cork claims three, and Waterford one. Of the central counties (taking them from north to south) examples have been recorded from Cavan (one), West- meath (one). King's County (one), Kildare (one), Queen's County (one), and Tipperary (one). The interesting feature of the distribution of Sabine's Snipe in Ireland would appear to be its apparent absence (at least as far as can be ascertained from the available records) froni the eastern counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh, I^outh, Meath, Wicklow, Carlow, and Wexford. The only eastern Irish example of which I have any note is that recorded from Dublin by Mr. H. Blake Knox {Zoologist, 1866, p. 302). Several Irish examples can not be traced to any particular county. ■■ Twenty-five occurrences have been collected by Mr. J. E. Harting in the Field, for Dec. 10, 1870, p. 521, and I have been much indebted to his list of occurrences up to 1870. 14 The Irish Naturalist. As regards England, nearly all the occurrences of Sabine's Snipe have been in the south and east, and a line drawn across the map of England from the Wash on the east to the junction of the Counties of Gloucester and Somerset on the Severn on the west, would cut off on the north an area from w^hich Sabine's Snipe has only twice been recorded — in both cases in Yorkshire. In Wales it does not appear to have yet been seen or captured, and the solitary Scotch example is that recorded by Colonel Fielden in the Zoologist (ss. p. 3,188) from Montrose. The only continental example I can find any record of is " a light-coloured example now in the foreign collection of the British Museum," and " stated by the late Jules Verraux to have been shot near Paris" (Yarrell's "British Birds" 4 Ed., vol. iii, p. 349). The history of this specimen might well stand on stronger evidence.^ To sum up the distribution of Sabine's Snipe, it is confined (with the exception of one somewhat doubtful specimen) to the British Isles, and in them has occurred most frequently in Ireland. In the south and south-east of England it has /\A occurred .earl}^ as frequently as in Ireland, but in the north and in Scotland it is almost unknown.^ The distribution of Sabine's Snipe shows a curious resem- blance to that of another melanic animal, which was first recorded from Ireland, viz., the melanic variety of the Common Rat {JMus decunianus), which was described by Thompson as Mils hiberniciis. This equally interesting form has occurred in abundance (though sporadically) in man)^ parts of Ireland, and ^ I have just examined this specimen. It is a very nice example, and rather lighter all through than Vigors' type, which is also in the British Museum collection. On the wooden stand on which it is fixed is a note in pencil that it was obtained in February, 1854, and that it is a male, but I could find no further details of its history at the Museum. - Since writing the above I have had the opportunity of examining two additional Scotch examples of Sabine's vSnipe, which are preserved in the collection of the British Museum of Natural History at South Ken- sington. One of these was obtained at Clackmannan, in December, 1890, and presented by Lord Balfour of Burleigh in 1891. The second, pre- sented by Captain Verner, was obtained on Tiree Island, in the Outer Hebrides, in January, 1887. It is more like a Common Snipe, especially in the head, than any of the seven examples in the collection at South Kensington— but it has no white on the under parts, and is certainly a Sabine's Snipe. Sabine's Snipe. 15 also, although very rarely, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and England. On the Continent I cannot find any record of its occurrence except that of A. Milne-Edwards, who reported black varieties of Mus decumanus from Paris {Ann. Sci. Nat., 1871, XV, art. 7). It is hard, however, to speak with confidence of the distri- bution in Great Britain of Mus hibernicus, since there are three mammals which are reported indiscriminately as Black Rats, e.g. Mus rattus, the true black rat ; Mus hibernicus, a variety of Mzcs decumafius ; and (I believe, most frequently of all) the black variety of the Water Vole, Microtus aniphibius. The points of resemblance in the distribution of the two melanic animals, Sabine's Snipe and the Irish Rat, and the fact of their much more frequent occurrence in Ireland than in any other country, led me to inquire if in Ireland there might be a general tendency to melanistic forms. I cannot say however, that my investigations have hitherto met with much success. In Vertebrates I think the few cases which have come under my notice might have occurred in any country, and are certainly too meagre to bring forward here. In re- gard to Lepidoptera, Mr. G. H. Carpenter, of the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, has very kindly replied to ni}^ inquiries as follows : — "With regard to Irish I^epidoptera, among butterflies Meli- tcEa aurifiia and Puris 7iapi are more deepl}^ marked in Ireland, the latter on the west coast sometimes approaching the alpine var. bryo7iice. Noctuid moths are generally dark and rich in Ireland, and so are some Geometers. But all these dark var- ieties turn up in parts of Great Britain — mountains and northern districts, .specially the western Scottish Highlands, Hebrides, and Shetland." In regard to mollusca. Dr. R. F.- Scharfif, aLso of the Dublin Museum of Science and Art, has most obligingly replied in a very similar manner. He writes — "I once thought that there were instances among slugs of melanism confined to Ireland, or even to the British Islands, but similar cases have turned up in a number of places all over Europe." So far, then, I am unable to bring forward any support for the suggestion I put forward that melanism might be more common in Ireland than in Great Britain, but the question cannot yet be regarded as anything like fully worked out. 1 6 The h'ish Natural ist. In time, Sabine's Snipe has been distributed sporadically since Vigors described it in 1822. From that year to the present time examples have been obtained one by one, seldom more than one in any single j^ear, and seldom more than three or four years have intervened between the individual occurrences. Sabine's Snipe has been shot in ever}' month of the shoot- ing season, that is from September to March, most numerouslj', perhaps, from October to January. No doubt, were snipe shooting customar}" all the year round, every month would be able to claim one or two examples. Of the spring, summer, and autumn months, August claims four examples, including two as early as the 5th. To September, however, I can only allot one, and that on the 28th of the month. One in Mr. J. H. Gurney's collection was shot on the 5th of May, but no specimens that I am aware of have been shot in the months of April, June, or July, except one obtained in the breeding season of 1831 or 1832 at Heron Court, Hants (E5'ton's ''Rarer British Birds," p. 160). Among the recorded instances of the occurrence of this bird I have been unable to find many allusions to the sex of the examples obtained, but several are stated to have been females, and at least one was a male. This form of plumage is, there- fore, not confined to either sex. It is nearly impossible to examine a series of examples of Sabine's Snipe, since there is no collection that I know of which contains a good series. I cannot, therefore, say much of the plumage of this bird, or to what extent individuals var)^ from the type. That they do vary to a certain extent is cer- tain, and two birds have been described as being intermediate in coloration between Sabine's and the Common Snipe. One of these was obtained near Waterford, on November 25th, 1883. It was examined by Mr. J. E. Harting, and by him described in the Zoologist (1884, p. 272). It was remarkable for its pale tone of coloration. The second was killed in the vicinity of Hastings, and examined by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., who remarked that it approximated more closel}^ to the Common than to Sabine's Snipe, but he had seen no variety of the Snipe exactly like it {Zoologist, 1884, p. 339). Other specimens have been recorded to vary in the shade of their plumage, thus the specimen, which is stated to have been obtained near Sabinds Snipe. 17 Paris {vide supra, p. 14), was a light-coloured individual, while others have been recorded as ver^^ dark examples. Numerous other varieties of the Common Snipe have been from time to time obtained and recorded, and I believe some remarkable varieties are in the collection of Mr. John Mar- shall, of Taunton. Mr. Whitaker, of Rainworth, Mansfield, Notts, has kindly informed me that he has in his collection nine Snipe, running from Sabine's Snipe to examples with the body white and the wings brown, and with the body brown and wings white, as well as examples which are pale cream, pale brown, dark brown, and brown with white wings and cream back. It is possible that all the examples of Sabine's Snipe may be birds of the year, which supposition would account for the ovate shape of the dorsal feathers — a point formerly insisted on as showing its distinction from the Common Snipe. Pro- fessor Newton informs me that he has never seen an example of Sabine's Snipe which had the appearance of a really adult bird. The above remarks are a mere summary of the notes I have been so far able to collect on this interesting bird. They are not intended to give a complete account of it, but I think they have touchedupon some of the mere interesting features in its history. The number of examples killed is only approxi- mate, as it is impossible to trace the authenticity of every reported example. The addition, or subtraction, of one or two examples from the list would, however, in no way disturb the conclusions to be drawn from them. 1 8 The Irish Naturalist, DONAX VITTATUS, var. TRUNCATUS (Marshall, ms.). BY MISS AMY WARREN. Mr. Marshall, of Sevenoaks, Torquay, to whom I owe much regarding shells, has drawn \\\y attention to a form oi Donax vittatus that I have sent him, and which is unlike the English form. He says : — " These Irish specimens partake of some of the characters of the var. turgida, which is * larger, ventricose, and longer,' but in addition the posterior end is abruptly truncate instead of being obliquely so. It is in reality an intermediate form between D. vittatus and D. truncuhis, having the proportions of the latter, but the typical charac- teristics of the former, to which it belongs without a doubt." In my district, Killala Ba}^ this truncated variety is the prevailing form, and the type the rarit3^ I have some speci- mens of D. vittatus from the North Bull, Dublin, and all belong to the type. It would be interesting if collectors along the coast would note where the truncated variety appears. Mr. Marshall adds that this form is peculiar to the south and west of Ireland, and he has given it the M.S. name of var. truncatus, the characters being : — ** Thick and solid, deeper or longer from the beaks, ver}^ convex, posterior slope short and abrupt. He adds, " the umbonal area inside the valves of all these Irish specimens is curiously fretted with deep pit-marks which may be caused by an internal parasite. Many j^ears ago in dredging the variety nitida on the Doggerbank I found that 50 per cent, of them contained a small parasitic crab, and the presence of parasites may also account for the convexity of both these varieties." Fig. I Fig. 2. In the accompanying drawing, kindly made by Dr. ScharfF, fig. I represents a characteristic specimen of the new variety gathered by me at Killala Bay ; while, added for sake of comparison, is an example of the type from Torbay (fig. 2), sent me by Mr. Marshall. [ 19 ] IRISH MOTHS. The notes on Irish INIoths which have appeared in the Irish Naturalist (vol. iii., pp. 217, 233), may perhaps be made slightly more complete and exact by publishing the following memoranda. The name of Hepiahis hipulitnis Hb., rightly recorded in Mr. Barrett's work as Irish and occurring in Galway, was referred to b}' me in its place in the list, on p. 13 of vol. xxvii. of the Entomologist, as " Abundant and similarly distributed as the former. I have noticed it flying in the sunshine." But by a typographical error the name was not inserted b}- the printer at the close of my notice oi H. velleda. This will be corrected in the reprint. Since publishing my notes on the Cymatophoridi^. I have seen a specimen oi Asphalia flaviconiis taken by Mr. Dillon at Clonbrock, and also received a letter from Mr. Campbell of Derry withdrawing his record of C. or published in the Irish Naturalist (vol. ii., 1S93, p. 22), and stating that the insect turns out to be A.Jlavicornis. This species will have therefore to be added. A second Stauropus fagi was taken by me in Kerry this summer and one at Clonbrock by Mr. Dillon's gamekeeper. Mr. E. Porter also writes that he met with some very small larvce of the same species on the shores of Upper L. Erne this summer, but failed to rear them. None of the larvae attributed to Pygccra curtula taken by me at Galway and Ros- common, and by Mr. Watts in Co. Down in 1893, survived the pupal stage, so that, as those of P. pigra are when full fed very similar, the record of P. curtula requires further authentication. The following species mentioned in the notice on " Irish Moths" as having been added by ]\Ir. Dillon to the Irish list, had been taken elsewhere in Ireland previously, namely — Luperina cespitis, Pericallia syringaria, Eupithccia fraxinata, and E. hidigafa. This summer however he has added to the extraordinary series of rarities already announced, single specimens each oi Leucawa tuna, and OphioJcs luiiaris ; which he tells me were part of the captures of a game- keeper, Frank Mason, at Clonbrock, in his (Mr. Dillon's) absence this summer. In reply to the comment on my having published a few of the earlier Clonbrock captures without giving the captor's name and exact localit}', I would here desire to mention that I know Mr. Dillon at first intended to send a list of them to an entomological journal ; but, on further consideration, decidednotto do so for fear of attracting undCvSirable collectors. Under these circumstances \ thought it better to announce the captures without making public the name of the captor, rather than suppress information of such interest. But when further remarkable additions to our fauna turned up, Mr. Dillon at once waived all objection, and sent a list, with full particulars of his most important captures up to date, for insertion in the Entomologist. The Editors of the Iiish Naturalist kindh^ give me credit for carefulness when identifying the Clonbrock specimens, and I can only say that I have used my utmost endeavours to assure myself that no accidental inclusion of continental specimens has taken place. Indeed my sceptical enquirers have occasionally verged on impoliteness, which has been condoned in a manner my own incredulity has not always experienced from other col- lectors. In answer to the stricture upon my having attempted to 20 The Irish NaUcratist. acclimatise new species in Ireland, I beg leave to assure my brother entomologists that none of the three or four species of Lepidoptera experi- mented with by me from time to time are such as would be taken to be indigenous in Ireland. Particulars will be given in my Catalogue, and if any of these exotics should turn up at any time their origin will be at once traceable. But I cannot flatter raj-self that any success has been attained. No erroneous conclusions therefore are possible under these circumstances. All such experiments ought to be conducted with due precautions against such a contingency, and duly recorded to prevent error. I join heartily in reprobating, in the strongest manner, any careless introduction of British species into our island fauna. Wm. Francis de V. Kane. NOTES. BOTANY. PHANEROGAMS. Irish teramblcs. — In th.^ Journal of Botany for January, Mr. Praeger gives a further enumeration of Brambles collected by him in Ireland, and named by Dr. O. Focke and Rev. Moyle Rogers ; of these R, viicans and A', saxicolus do not appear to have been noted in Ireland hitherto, and most of the other notes form new district records. Vicia lathyroidcs, L., In Co. WIcklow.— In the early spring of this year I gathered this rare plant in some plenty growing on the flats amone the sandhills just south of Arklow. '^^ R. W. SCUI.I.Y, Dublin. Erythreea pulchclla, Fr., and Polypogon monspeliensis, Dcsf. on the North Bull. — I was glad to re-find this ^;ji'///;v?a last summer near the coastguard's garden. Mr. More tells me it has not been seen on the Bull for some years. One fine tuft of the Polypogon — a most beautiful grass— was growing in a neglected patch of the coast- guard's garden, no doubt introduced with seeds. R. W. SCQI.I.Y. Some Cork Aliens.— In the summer of 1891 I came across the fol- lowing aliens growing on an extensive rubbish heap beside the river Lee in the City of Cork. The rubbish heap was apparently derived from a lar""e distillery in the immediate neighbourhood. Alyssiini calyciniini, L., Sisy inln-iuiii pannonicum, ]2iC(\., E>ysitnnm oruntalc, R, Br., E. repandum, L., Camelina sativa, Cratz., Lcpidium perfoliatuni, L., Thlaspi arvense,!-,., Anthcmis arvensis, L., Brovius tecioriim, L. Of these Erysiimim repandtun, Sisymbrium pannonicvin and Brovnis tcctorum occurred in great abundance. Several other plants I have not yet been able to name. It will be interesting to note how long the above will hold their ground, and whether they will spread to neighbouring localities. R. W. Scui,i,Y- Notes. 21 ZOOLOGY. INSECTS. Thccia betulds In Co. Wexford.— Mr. Moffat in t\\^ Irish Naturalist for October, 1894, comments upon my having omitted Killoughruni Forest as a locality for this interesting butterfly in my ''Catalogue of Irish Lepidoptera. " Nevertheless, if he will refer again to it he will find " Killoughrum Wood, Enniscorthy, Moffat," included in my notice of its distribution ! I was not therefore unmindful of his courtesy, and onlv \\ash that he would send me a local list of Heterocera also. I am much interested to hear oi Nisoniades tagcs having been taken there. Wm. F. de V. Kane, Drumreaske, Monaghan. Lepidoptera at Howth In 1894.— On Feb. 'jth^Phlogophora metiadosa and Phigalia pedaria came to light, one of each. At the end of the month, Larentia multisttigaria began to emerge in the breeding pots. The larvae were from eggs laid by a Howth moth in March, 1893, and were easily fed upon Galium of different species. On March 17th, I took Tceniocampa nmnda at Sallows, but not abundantly ; I had not observed it at Howth before, and in Birchall's list it is only down for Killarney. In April I took some larvae of Epunda lichenea which fed upon Primrose, and emerged in due course during September. The Dianthcecice seemed very scarce this year ; even D. capsophila was hardly to be found. On June 30th, I took Venusia canibrica, which is probably the first record from Howth ; Birchall gives but one locality — Powerscourt. In July, Aplecta nehulosa appeared at sugar amid swarms of Xylophasia nionoglypha. In September, A gratis precox and Cilix glaucata came to light. G. V. Hart, Dublin. BIRDS. Woodcocks nesting: in Co. Wicklow.— Lt.-Col. Bayly writes in Zoologist for November, that a note in his diary records that on August 3rd, 1866, five Woodcocks, two old and three young birds, were seen by him in the woods at Ballyarthur. .MAMMALS. IVIarten In Co. Westmeath. — I have found an entry in an old game-book that has been kept at this house since the year 1814, to the effect that a Pine Marten was killed at Knock Drin, in the winter of 1845-6. The exact date is not specified ; but it was on some day between October 23rd, 1845, and January 3rd, 1846. H. C. LEVINGE (in Zoologist for November). GEOLOGY. Kitchen Middens, Co. Doneg^al. — I think Mr. Harte, County Surveyor, was the first to draw attention to these in N. E. Donegal, in a paper read before the R. G.S.I. Afterwards they were recorded by Mr. Mahony, M.R.I. A,, of Ramelton, in a paper read before the Glasgow Society. But neither of the explorers recorded worked implements or pottery. Subsequently, when I saw them I concluded that, as in Antrim, the remains of some of the pots in which the water was loaded ought to be found. I carefully searched, but found none. It is therefore extremely interesting to me to learn that Mr. Welch has been more successful. I hope he will follow up his find with worked implements, as they ought to be there similarly as in the Kitchen Middens of S. W, Donegal, G. H. KiNAHAN, Fairview, Dublin. 22 Thcbish Naturalist. PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. ROYATv ZOOLOGICAI, SOCIETY. Recent donations comprise a Chough from R. Brennan, Esq. ; a pair of Pigeons from Master W. Stubbs ; a Heron from H. C. Carey, Esq ; a Guinea-pig from J. Condon, Esq.; a I.ong-earcd Owl and a Sparrow-hawk from Captain Carpendale ; a Persian Cat from ]\Iiss Maher; a Pheasant from W. J. Williams, Esq. ; and a Herring-gull from R. V. Sinclair, Esq, A number of fish, including Gunfish, Catfish, Bass, Carp, Tench, &c., have been purchased for the aquarium. 3,500 persons visited the Gardens in November. DUBTvIN MlCROSCOPICAI, Cl.UB. November 15th.— The Club met at Mr. G. H. CarpENTER'vS, who showed rows of teeth on the front tarsi of species of Corixa. These, drawn across the edge of the face of the insect, are believed to produce a stridulation. They were described and figured by exhibitor in the Irish Naturalist for December, 1894 (p. 253). Prof. Cole exhibited a section of a rock found in an old collection, labelled " Pyromerine, I. of Elba." The peculiarity of this specimen lies in the fact that the spherulites consist of a well-developed soda-horn- blende, the delicate needles of which spread outward from certain centres through a grovmd of minute micropegmatite, the latter being formed as usual of quartz and felspar. The spherulites in the old " pyromerides " of Corsica are, on the other hand, of the ordinary felspathic type, but developed on a large scale. Mr. Moore showed Chlaviydococats pluvialis, Br, a curious and interest- ing species of very varying nature, both as to size and shape as well as colour. Some of the individuals w-ere green, others red or brown, and partially green and partially red. It belongs to the Volvocineas and is closely allied to the "red snow" C/ila/nydococciis nivalis. The specimens had been found under the down-pipe from the roof of Roman Catholic Church near Glasnevin, the stones under the spout appearing as if they had received a coat of red paint. Mr. M'Ardle exhibited a specimen of llcrhirta adiinca, Dicks (B. Gr.), a liverwort which he collected last May on Connor Hill near Dingle, where it grows in large tufts. The leaves are arranged in four roM's of a bright yellow colour, ovate lanceolate in outline, secund, deeply divided into two attenuated lobes. Their structure is interesting ; the cells are well defined ; those at the base of the leaf and along the centre of its two segments are linear, and of a different shape from the others, and have thicker walls forming a pseudo-nerve ; the outer cells are crenated, with the surface raised into delicate stride. This distinct plant is held by many good authorities to be the Irish form of a Himala3'an liverwort collected by Sir J. D. Hooker, known under the name oi Sendtmra junipcrinay Swartz. Dr. M'WeENEY showed cultures and slides of Strt'p(olhrix nigra Gas- perini, a peculiar form intermediate in position between the Schizomycetes and the higher Eungi, found by him in a brownish stratum of clay about three feet below the surface at the Richmond Asylum, Dublin. The organism consists of tufted masses of branching threads resembling mycelium, were it not for their extreme tenuity (.5 — \\i). The colonies on various nutrient materials become surrounded by a very conspicuous brownish-black pigment. When they have attained a certain age they become whitish and flocculent at the periphery. This corresponds to the formation of aerial branches the apices of which swell up, and come to contain minute spores. The ray-fungus, to which the now well-known Actinomycosis is due, belongs to the genus Strepiothrix and is closely allied to the present species, which was first found in earth and soil about two years ago by Gasperini and subsequently rather abundantly in the air of Rome and other places in Italy by Rossi Doria. This is the first note of its occurrence in the British Isles, P7'oceedings of Irish Societies. 23 BEI.FAST Naturai. History and PhiIvOSophicai. Society. November 13th. — The seventy-fourth session was opened in the Museum, College Square North, when the inaugural address was delivered by the President (Mr. Robert L1.0YD Patterson, j.p., f.i,.s.) Mr. Patterson said that, on assuming the presidential chair at that the opening meeting of the seventy-fourth session of their Society, he was pleased at being able to congratulate his fellow-members on its continued vitality and activity, notwithstanding its advancing years. To the thoughtfulness of a lady — a life-long friend andwell-wisher of the Society, the late Miss Thompson— they were indebted for the bequest of an admirable portrait of her brother, Mr. William Thompson, one of the most distinguished of their former Presidents. A member had presented a very good likeness of another former President, Mr. Robert Patterson, while to a valued and useful member, Mr. Swanston, they were much in- debted for the recent gift of a bust of one of the most eminent naturalists the century had produced — Professor Edward Forbes — a man of truly re- markable powers and brilliant genius. The three had been united in bonds of the closest friendship, cemented by a community of taste and of interest in certain branches of science, a pursuit which was to Forbes a profession : to Thompson — a man of means and leisure — an occupation ; but to Patterson — a man of business — merely a relaxation. It occurred to him (the President) that the acquisition by the Society almost simultaneously of these mementoes of the three friends might fittingly be made the occasion of a brief review of their lives. He could not recall Mr Forbes. He knew he had seen him ; but he remembered Mr. Thompson very well indeed. He was the first of the three to be called away. After speaking of the early life of Mr. Thompson, the President pointed out that his first contribution to the proceedings of one of the English learned societies seemed to have been in 1833 — a communication on the iVrctic Tern and other rare birds observed in Ireland, made to the Zoological Society of London. From that period up to the time of his premature and lamented death he was a frequent and valued contributor to the different English scientific journals. As to Robert Patterson, he should for obvious reasons say less. He survived his friend Thompson exactly twenty years. His was an uneventful, busy, happy life, passed in a business to which he had been brought up, which he inherited from his father, and left to his eldest son. With him literature and science, although a passion, were merely a relaxation, not an occupation. His books were written in the leisure of his evenings at home, and published with the hope of enlisting more general interest in the study of Natural History. He was one of the earliest, strongest, and most consistent advocates for the adoption of Natural History as a regular part of the education of our youth, and he lived to see the realisation of much of his dream. Mr. Patterson was one of the seven founders of the Society in 182 1. He passed through almost every minor office in it till 1852, when on Mr. Thompson's death he was elected President,an office which hesubsequently filledon more than oneoccasion. Referring to Professor Forbes, the speaker said he was an original and commanding genius, and a most interesting personality. He was born at Douglas. Isle of Man, on the 12th February, 1815, and died at Edinburgh on the i8th November, 1854, aged only thirty-nine years and nine months. During his short life he accomplished an enormous amount of work. Mr. Patterson then gave some very interesting particulars of Forbes's life, taken from his biography. Of him it was no exaggeration to say that his was a most original, versatile, and brilliant intellect of the highest order. His early death was an irreparable loss to the whole scientific world of the period. The President of the Belfast Queen's College (Rev. Dr. Hamii^Ton) moved a vote of thanks to the President for his address. Mr, Robert Young, j,p., seconded the motion, which was passed by acclamation, and the meeting then coucluded, 24 -l-he Irish Nahiralist Bei^fast Naturai^tsts' Fiki,d Ci^ub. November 2oTh.— The President (Mr. F. W. Lockwood, C.E.) delivered his openiiif^ address. He congratulated the Field Club upon its continued prosperity and the recent great increase of zeal as indicated by the formation of various subsections, such as the Microscopical Committee, the Celtic Class, the Photographic Committee, and the Geological Committee, all of which were doing good work. He then went on to comment at greater length upon the investigations by the Geological Committee into glacial plienomena generally. The various changes of opinion on this question were commented upon, and the principal theories upon the Great Ice Age described at some length. In conclusion, the speaker remarked that it was singular how little use appears to have been made of the microscope in these investigations. Marine claj's almost invariably yield specimens of foraminifera and kindred forms, which are strictly sea- water genera, yet except by their fellow-member, Mr. Joseph Wright, the Boulder clays do not appear to have been systematically searched for them. So far as this section of the country was concerned the Geological Committee of the Club could not do better than in continuing the work they had so energetically com- menced, and if they could persuade a sufficient number of competent observers in Great Britain to take up the microscopic investigations of the Boulder clays there, the geologists of Britain would be in a fair way to solve the great glacial problem. Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., mentioned that with geologists in the North of Ireland it had always been considered as a marine deposit, and so long ago as 1841 General Portlock, in his report on the geology of Londonderry, recorded the occurrence of marine shells in this drift. Subsequently Mr. S. A. Stewart published in the Club's Proceedings a list of the mollusca of the Boulder clay in which he recorded the occurrence of shells from a number of North ot Ireland localities, proving that the clay in question was fossiliferous. Some of the bivalve mollusca, especially two species of Ltda, were found by him having the valves united, showing that these species must have lived on the spot in which they were found. Mr. Wright made a microscopic examination of the same clays, and in every case he found them to contain foramini- fera. He also met with foraminifera in many samples of the clay which were devoid of molluscan remains, these tiny rhizopods being as perfect as when brought up by the dredge from our existing seas. From that time up to the present further examinations of the Boulder clay have been made and always yielded similar results. He also stated that, through the courtesy of a Scotch geologist, Mr. James Neilson, he received five samples of Boulder clay from the vicinity of Glasgow, in all of which foraminifera were present. In addition to these, he received from Mr, John Stears, of Hull, a packet of Boulder clay from that locality. This sample of English Boulder clay was also found to contain foraminifera. These results are interesting by reason of the common occurrence of these marine microzoa, most English and Scotch geologists having been hitherto of the opinion that the Boulder clay was the result of land ice, and had not a marine origin. Mr. A. Percy Hoskins, PM.C, F.C.S., read a carefully-prepared analy- tical paper on a sample of glauconite from Woodburn, Carrickfergus. Mr. R. LivOYD Praeger made some general remarks on the history and work of the different Irish Clubs, and brought forward a scheme for a union of all the Field Clubs of Ireland, and for a general conference next summer. The President and Mr. Joseph Wright spoke in favour of the scheme, and Mr. W11.1.IAM Gray, M.R.I. A., offered some criticisms. Mr. F. J. Bigger, Honorary Secretary, in supporting the scheme, said it was not contemplated that the individuality of the clubs, nor their power over their own work, should be interfered with in any way, but that a Central Committee of all the Clubs should be appointed for carrying on general work. Mr. W. H. Patterson, 1M.R.I.A., also spoke in favour of the scheme. Irish Naturai^ist, Voi,. IV.] [Pl,AT^ 2. ANIMALS FROM THE MITCHELSTOWN CAVE. ©Ije ^vi^ij ^ainvali&t Vol. IV. FEBRUARY, 1895. No. 2. ANIMATES FOUND IN THE MiTCHElvSTOWN CAVE. BY GHORGK H. CARPENTER, B.SC. (Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, December nth, 1894.) The joint meeting of the Dublin, Cork, and I^imerick Field Clubs, held at Fermo}' during the past summer, will remain a pleasant memory to all who were privileged to take part in it. Of the various excursions undertaken on that occasion, the most novel and fascinating to the majority of those present was, doubtless, the exploration, on the afternoon of July 6th, of the famous caverns situated in the Carboniferous lyime- stone, near Mitchelstown. An interesting account of the topo- graphy of these caves, illustrated by a map, has recently been published^ by Rev. Courtenay Moore, Rector of Mitchelstown. Upon the occasion of our visit, an early start was made from Fermoy,the distance to Mitchelstown being about fifteen miles. Before arriving at the entrance to the cave, our party made a circuit and drove a short distance up one of the gorges on the southern slope of the Galtees. This fine mountain-range rising to a height of 3,000 feet, is, like most of the ranges of southern Ireland which run from east to west, composed of sandstones, grits, and conglomerates, ascribed to the Old Red or basement- Carboniferous formation, and thrown into an anticlinal fold. The synclinal areas between the ranges are outcrops of the Carboniferous I^imestone, and it is on the face of a hill of this rock, opposite the Galtees, at a few miles' distance, and about 400 feet above sea-level, that the entrance to the cave is situated. The excavation of such caves in lime- stone through the chemical action of gases dissolved in subter- ranean streams, and their subsequent adornment with stalactites and stalagmites by the deposition of salts held in solution by \/ourn. Cork Hist, Arch> Soc. vol. iii., 1894, pp. 1-5. A 26 The Irish Naturalist. waters percolating through the rock, are sufficiently familiar. The Mitchelstown Cave will not disappoint either geologist or artist in search of interesting or beautiful forms among its arches, pendants, and columns. To the zoologists of our party, however, the interest of the place centred in the fact of its being the only cave in the British Isles known to be inhabited by a member of the peculiar blind, subterranean fauna, which, through explorations of the European and North American caverns, now includes some hundreds of species. In 1857, I^i"- H. Perceval Wright and the late Mr. A. H. Haliday discovered here a minute insect of the order Collembola, which they described in a paper read before the British Association meeting at Dublin that year,' and identified doubtfully with Lipura stilicidii, Schiodte, in- habiting the Aldesberg grotto, Carniola. To re-find this species was therefore our object, and we hoped also that the discovery of some other inhabitants of the place might reward our searchr The hill in which the cave is situated forms part of a small farm, the occupiers of which are well acquainted with the passages, and act as guides. After an informal luncheon on the roadside, our part}^, provided with candles, descended the sloping passage, and ladder which lead to the depths below. The time at our disposal was only two hours — far too short to explore all the galleries and chambers — and we did not reach the underground river, in which Dr. Wright and Mr. Haliday sought vainly for blind crustaceans. The rate of progress was necessarily slow, so that we were able to examine the floor and sides of the passages with some thoroughness, in our search for insects. At no great distance from the entrance, I was delighted to find three small pale spiders (a male and two females) crawling over one of the large blocks of rock on the floor. I recognised them as belonging to the genus Porrho?nina, and hoped the}^ might prove to be referable to F. viyops, Simon, described from a cave in southern France, and with only the female known. Subsequent examination proved this hope well-founded. Collecting underground was somewhat difficult, the necessity for carrying a candle seriously reducing the number of fingers available for seizing and bottling specimens. Under these conditions we willingly came to each other's help W<2/. Hist, Rev.t vol, iv,, 1857, Proc. pp. 231-241, pi. xviii. Animals fou?id in the Mitchelstown Cave* 27 in the matter of showing a light. My friends and colleagues, Messrs. A. R. Nichols and J. N. Halbert, were indefatigable in searching during the whole time of our stay below-ground, and their efforts were heartily seconded by several of the Cork members, and Mr. F. Neale from Limerick. Mr. Nichols took the single specimen of the interesting species of mite, Gama- sus attenuat2is, described below ; while it was Mr. Halbert who, in one of the large chambers at a distance from the entrance, found the first specimen of the Lipura discovered by Messrs. Wright and Haliday. A fair number of examples of this insect were secured. They occurred, mostly beneath stones, among the very fine, moist red clay which, in many places, carpets the floor of the chambers. OwXy a minority of the specimens proved to be adult — a similar experience to that of Dr. Wright. In the farthest chamber w^hich we reached, much amusement was caused by the discover}^ of an animal which was clearly not a member of the cave fauna, but, like ourselves, a visitor from the outer world. This was a common Frog, whose sojourn in darkness was brought to a startling end by the advent of our candle-bearing procession. On the way back, I was so fortunate as to find beneath a stone a fully- grown specimen of another blind Collembolan, readily differen- tiated from the Lipura by the possession of a well-developed *' spring." Subsequent examination revealed the presence of one or two young individuals of the same species among the specimens oi Lipura which had been collected. This **spring- tail"' is perhaps the most interesting animal which we found. It belongs to the genus Sinella, Brooks,^ though it is hard to find any good character by which to separate it from Degeeria caverna?2wi, Packard, described from specimens taken in various caves in the United States. The latter species, how- ever, according to Packard, has, on the feet, distinct clubbed (tenent) hairs which are never present in Sinella; so I feel com- pelled to describe the Mitchelstown insect as new to science. ' In the preliminary report of the expedition (/rw/i NaL, 1894, p. 183), this insect was wrongly recorded as Te/iipL'tonia crystallina, Miill. I was led into this error, on a hurried examination, by the white colour and ringed terminal joint of the antenna. Subsequent study showed an entire absence of scales, effectually removing the insect from Templetonia. — * /ourn. Limi. Soc. (Zoo/.), vol, xvi., 1883, p. 541. A 2 28 . The Irish Naluralisi, Near the entrance we found two or three earthworms, one of which I have sent to the Rev. H. Friend, who pronounces it to be Allurus JIaviis, a form described bj^ himself and not hitherto recorded from Ireland. He has kindly furnished a short account of this worm, which will be found at the end of the present paper (p. 35). I now proceed to describe in detail the four other animals which we found. ARACHNIDA. ARANEIDA. THEKIDIIDAi. Porrhomma myops, Simon. (Plate 2, figs. 1-3.) This species was described by M. Simon* from a female taken in the cavern of Espezel, Department Aude, in southern France Another female has since been found in Dorsetshire by Rev. O. P. Cambridge (probably in some underground locality), and this specimen has recently been recorded and (in part) figured by Rev. F. O. P. Cambridge.- One of my females hasbeen compared by Rev. O. P. Cambridge with his specimen (which was named by M. Simon), and he kindly informs me that he cannot differentiate them. It is possible, in this genus, that two indis- tinguishable females might have to be referred to distinct species, were their males known. I think it better, however, to consider the spider from Mitchelstown as P. myops until a male shall have been discovered in the French cave, and shown to be distinct from that now described. Length of male, 2 mm. ; of female, 2.5 mm. Cephalothorax and falces, pale orange ; head-portion high and convex, specially in the male, clothed with rows of hairs, which are longer in the male (fig. i). Eyes very small ; hind-centrals two diameters apart, fore-centrals nearly in contact ; laterals in contact, four or five diameters from centrals. In my male the centrals are almost obsolete. Clypeus twice the width of ocular area (fig. 2). Palpal organ of male with strong rounded prominence beneath falci- form process (more marked than in the nearly allied species P. egeria^ Simon); apex of bulb regularly conical, somewhatblunt (obliquely conical and sharp in P. egeria), with two strong curved spines (one bent in form of S, not present in P. egeria) (fig. i). Legs very pale straw colour, long and slender; metatarsi without spines. Femur of first pair with one dorsal spine about the middle, and one lateral towards the apex. Femur of second pair with one dorsal spine (female) ; without any spine (male). The femora of the male, specially the first pair, longer and more slender than those of the female. ^ Les Arachnides de France, vol. v., p. 358. Paris, 1884. 2 Ann' Mag, Nat. Hist. (6), vol. xiii., 1894, pp. 100, I07, pi. ii., fig. 6. Afiijnals found in the Mitchehtoivn Cave. 29 Abdomen very pale greenish. Epigyue of female with large cavity, front margin rounded, hind margin straight, with small central pro- minence (fig. 3). M. Simon describes thirteen species of this genus, of which no less than five are inhabitants of caves, while most of the others are found under stones and in similar concealed situations. A colony of a British species, P. micropthhahman, Cb., was found in i860, by Dr. Meade, ^ established at the bottom of a Durham coalpit. Quite recently, ^ Rev. F. O. P. Cam- bridge has recorded P. egeria from the Somerset cavern known as Wookey Hole, and remarks that sometimes the hinder, sometimes the front pair of central eyes, are aborted. P. egeria has, however, been taken in numbers near Edinburgh, ^ running on railings in sunshine, and thus appears to live indifferently above or underground. P. myops, on the other hand, seems a true subterranean species. It is very nearly allied to P, egeria, but may be distinguished by the characters of the male palp, given above. Moreover, P. egeria has three spines on the first, and two on the second femur. It is also a somewhat larger spider than P. niyops, and decidedly less pale and washed out in appearance. Even the specimens from Wookey Hole (a pair of which Mr. F. Cambridge has generously sent me for comparison) do not show the sickly aspect which charac- terises P, 7nyops from the Mitchelstown cavern. The excessively small eyes of this spider, and their tendency to become altogether obsolete, are in accordance with the subterranean dwelling place. The small size of the eyes is, however, characteristic of the entire genus, even for those species which live in the open air. It is remarkable that the underground species oiPorrhomnia are omitted from the list of European cave animals given in Prof. Packard's exhaus- tive memoir upon the cave-fauna of North America.* There is, however, a spider described (by Mr. J. H. Emerton) in that memoir under the name of Linyphia incerta, which certainly belongs to the genus PorrhommUy and is, I believe, identical with our Mitchelstown P. jnyops. Mr. Emer- ton's figures of the male palpal organs of his species show the regular conical apex of the bulb and the two curved apical spines which charac- teirise those organs in P. myops. If a comparison of types should justify this opinion, Mr. Emerton's name, having been first published in 1875,^ will take priority of M. Simon's, and our species will have to be known as Porrhomma ijtcerta. This North American -spider — which, at any rate, is extremely near the Mitchelstown species — has occurred in the Fountain Cave, V'irginia, and in the Bat Cave, Kentucky. Mr. Emerton states that in different individuals a variable number of the central eyes may be wanting. 1 Zoologist, i860. 2 Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), vol. xv., 1895, p. 36, pi. iv., fig. 13. 2 Proc. R. Phys. Soc. Edin., 1894, p. 560. * Mem. Nat. Acad. Set. (Washington), vol. iv., 1888. ^ Amer. Nat., vol. ix. JO- •' The Irish Naturalist, . AGARINA. GAMASIDJE. Camasus attenuatus (Koch), Berlese. (Plate 2, figs. 4-9.) My best thanks are due to Mr. A. D. Michael, F.LS., for kindly suggesting, from my rough sketches, this identification. He states the species to be not uncommon in England among dead leaves, &c. Length, 1*3 mm. Pale fawn colour. Body elongated. Epistome (fig. 6) terminating with three points, of which the central is the longest. Man- dibles (fig. 7) with evenly rounded fingers, the upper with a tooth near apex. Second pair of legs (fig. 5) greatly thickened, third joint with a long, curved blunt tooth beneath at base, and a shorter bifid process ; fourth and fifth joints with short, blunt processes at apex; sixth joint without any process. This mite is closely allied to G. magnus, Kramer^ with which the form of the epistome agrees almost exactly. It differs from that species however in the even shape of the mandibles, which have no projection above. From G. subkrrauens, Kramer-, it may be distinguished by the sides of the epistome being straight, not convex, as well as by the armature of the second pair of legs. In this last character, as well as in general aspect, our species agrees nearly with a Carniolan cave species, G. niveus, WankeP, but in that form the epistome is figured as ending in a single pointed process. All the Gamasidae are blind; several species are known from caves, and many live in concealment beneath stones, dead leaves, &c. INSECTA, COLIvEMBOLA. ENTOMOBR YIDyE. SInella cavernicola, sp. nov. (PI. 2, figs. 11-16.) Length of head and body, 2-5 mm. White. Eyes wanting. Antennae nearly twice as long as head ; terminal joint the longest, slender, ringe with clubbed hairs (fig. 12). Tarsal joints without tenent hairs, large claw of first pair of feet with small tooth (fig. 13a), others without distinct tooth (fig. 13). Fourth abdominal segment hardly as long as the three preceding. Spring two-thirds as long as body ; terminal claws evenly curved, with a small tooth as in S- curviseia, Brook, No clubbed hairs on thorax, but a large number of short ones on hindmost abdominal segments and on spring. The genus {Sinclla) to which this species evidently belongs, is distin- guished from Isotovia by the possession of clubbed hairs, from Enlomobrya {Degeeria) by the absence of tenent hairs on the feet. It is very vsimilar to * Arch, fur Nattirgeschichte, xlii., 1876, p. 91. pi. iv., fig. 9, pi. v., ff. 14,33. 2 T. c, p. 92, pi. v., fig. 24. ^ Siiz. Kaiserl. Akad. IVini, {Mat. -Aat, -Class), vol. xliii., 1S61, p. 262, pi. iv., fF. 8-10. Animals fozmd in the Mitchehtowji Cave. 31 the tj'pe species .S". airviseta, Brook, but may be readily distinguished by the absence of eyes, of teeth to the hinder foot-claws, and of long clubbed ciliated thoracic hairs ; and by the possession of distinct rings of hairs on the terminal joint of the antennae. There are some long tapering finely-ciliated hairs (fig. 15) on the second and third abdominal segments. As in S. airviseta, there are a pair of long ciliated sheath-hairs at the apex of the spring (fig. 14). Simlla cu7-viseta has occurred both in the north and south of England, as well as on the Continent, but I do not think it has yet been recognised in Ireland. The presence of a cave-species so nearly related makes it likely that this or another open-air insect of the genus will be found here too. For a long time I was disposed to consider S, cavernicola identical with Degeeria cavernay-wn, Packard ; but the presence of a tenent hair on the feet in that species obliges us to consider it a true Entotnobrya. It is hard to find any other distinction which warrants the separation of our insect from the North American spring-tail. LIPURID^, Lipura Wrightll, sp. nov. (Z. stiliddii, Wright and Haliday). (Plate 2, fig. 10.) Length 2 mm. White. Antennae as long as head; terminal joint the longest, conical. No ocelli or post-antennal organ. Head longer thai: broad, with hind-margin sinuate. PronotuLn with a constriction on either side. Legs moderately long and stout. No anal spines. When recording the capture of this insect, and describing its structure, in Dr. Wright's paper already mentioned, the late Mr. A. H. Haliday referred it with doubt to Schiodte's species, and pointed out various particulars in which it differs from that form. The most striking of these is the entire absence, in the Mitchelstown insect, of the ocelli (according to Tullbergand Sir J. Lubbock, really the post-antennal organ), of which Mr. Haliday could find no trace. After so accurate an observer, it is needless to say that I have also failed to find the organ. The legs and antennae of our species, moreover, are not relatively so long and slender as those of L, stiliddii. I am quite inclined to agree with Mr. Haliday's suggestion that Schiodte was^mistaken in figuring all the thoracic segments in his form as divided into an anterior and a posterior part by a transverse constriction. When one is examining specimens by transmitted light, the lateral extensions of the thorax which bear the legs are readily to be mistaken for dorsal segments. There is on either side of the pronotum a constriction running in for a very short distance. This is shown in Haliday's figure, which represents the side view of the insect. I have drawn the dorsal aspect, which will enable comparison to be made with Schiodte's figure copied by Haliday. The Mitchelstown species in the length of antennae and legs seems to be intermediate between Lipira stiliddii and L. fimetaria, Lubb. — another white species common in damp mould. While not so slender as those of 3^ The Irish Naturalist, the former, the appendages of Z. Wrightii are not so short and stumpy as those of the latter, which, however, our species resembles much in general structure, and in the absence of anal spines. It seems probable that it may be really an offshoot of L. fimetaria, modified for cave-life, the lengthening of antennae being a common occurrence in subterranean insects. These considerations have induced me to give the insect a new name, and none could be more suitable than that of the naturalist whose earliest paper announced its discovery, and who has since done so much to advance the knowledge of Irish Natural History. Reviewing these animals, we notice that (except the mite) they all present the characters of true troglodytes. All are more or less bleached, the two insects being perfectly white. The two insects are totally blind (the mite, of course, cannot be reckoned, as it belongs to a blind family), and the spider is clearly in process of becoming so. The peculiar modifications which cave animals have undergone have been variously explained, and have been much used by recent writers in discussions upon the factors of evolution. The bleaching and loss of eye-sight which these creatures exhibit are by some attributed solely to their life in total darkness, b}^ others to the action of natural selection with regard to some portions of their organization and its necessary cessation (panmixia) with regard to others, in the new surroundings. No naturalist doubts that these cave-dwellers are the modi- fied descendants of inhabitants of the upper air, which were provided with eyes, and coloured after the usual manner of their genus. There can be no doubt that the production of pigment is largely dependent upon the presence of light, and it seems very likely that a life in darkness is alone sufficient to account for the bleaching characteristic of cave-dwellers. Instances are given by Professor Packard of individuals belong- ing to the open-air fauna being quite bleached when found in caves, the loss of colour having here occurred during the life- time of the individual. On the other hand, colour must be absolutely useless to dwellers in total darkness, to conceal them either from enemies or prey, and would therefore tend to disappear through the cessation of selection of individuals coloured in any particular way. Similarly, the loss of eyes may be attributed either directly to disuse through a life in darkness, or to the cessation of selection with regard to those organs, since they can be no longer of use to their possessors. Professor Ray Lankester has suggested that animals with A7ii7nals found in the Mitchehtown Cave. 33 defective vision would become segregated in caves, since those with the best eyesight, when carried in, would be most easily able to find their way back to daylight. There is another factor to be taken into account, that known as "economy of nutrition." There is a general tendency among cave-animals to a decrease in size, and their food supply is undoubtedly very limited. Hence, to get rid of any useless organ would seem to be of considerable benefit ; and this last factor would be more likely to produce some effect among cave-dwellers than among species living in the open air. A word as to the nourishment of these cave animals may be of interest. Springtails live on vegetable refuse. The food canal of every specimen of the Lipura which we collected was filled with the fine red earth already mentioned as lining the bottom of the cave. The species of Lipura are generally found in damp mould, &c., and with this their intestines are filled ; it appears therefore that they obtain their nutriment from the vegetable substances contained in the mould. But one would think that the amount of organic matter in the red earth of the cave must be excessively small. No doubt it is, but fragments of wood, &c., must be often carried in by water, while some of the lower fungi find in the caverns a congenial home. From the disintegration of these, diffused through the earth, the insects have to win their precarious livelihood. Dr. K. Perceval Wright has kindly told me that collectors in the Carniolan caves secure insects b}^ leaving pieces of wood as traps. The creatures must gladly leave their precarious nourishment for the opportunity of such a feast. The spiders, of course, live by prey, though it seems they can have but little to ensnare. The habit of the family to which Porrhomma wjj/^/5 belongs isto spin aweb of irregular, intercrossing threads. If the cave-dwelling spider has maintained this habit, it probably lives on insects which stray into its dark abode from the outer world. But the fact that the specimens taken were found walking on the rocks rather suggests that they hunt for the cave-insects. Gamasid mites are stated by Mr. A. D. Michaer to devour Lipuridae, so Gamasiis attemiatus must find suitable food in the Mitchelstown cave. The apparent geographical distribution of the animals demands a short consideration. The Lipura is hardly to be '^J'otirn, Linn, Soc. {Zool^ vol. xv,, 1881. A3 34 Thi Irish Naturalist. separated from a species found in the caves of Carniola, and the Sinella is almost identical with one inhabiting the caves of North America ; while the spider is apparently the same as a cave-dweller from the Mediterranean district of southern France, which probably occurs in the North American caverns also. Had we to do with animals of the upper fauna, these results, though highly interesting, would not be without parallel in species alread}^ known. The identity of certain Irish animals and plants with south European (Pyrenean and Mediterranean) forms has long been one of the most marked peculiarities of our fauna and flora ; while we possess at least a few North American plants found nowhere else in Europe. But the occurrence of cave-dwelling species with so wide a range is a truly remarkable phenomenon. The caves cannot be of any great geological age. Any possible geographical connection which would permit the migration of subterranean animals between southern Europe and Ireland, or between Ireland and North America seems altogether out of the question within any period- during which the fauna can have been .specifically identical with that of the present da}^ The onl}" conclusion is that from ancestors, presumably of the same genus, which took to an underground life in such widelj^-separated localities, the similar conditions of the caves have evolved descendants so similar that when compared, they cannot or can hardly be specifically distinguished from each other. Should the identifications suggested in this paper stand the test of a comparison of t3'pes, we shall have proof that the independent development of the same species, under similar conditions, but in widely distant localities, has taken place. It must be granted, however, that cave-con- ditions are so marked and exceptional, that it might not be safe to argue from them as to what may have occurred in the upper world. With the exception of Mr. F. Cambridge's record of Porrhomina egcria from the Wookey Hole, I am not aware of the observation of members of the subterranean fauna in an}^ British cave except Mitchelstown. It seems almost certain that a careful search would reveal further localities and new species. The great development of the Carboni- ferous I,imestone area in Ireland, and the number of caverns known to exist in the formation, marks the country out as Animals foimd i?i the Mitchelstowji Cave. 35 a speciall}^ fruitful field for a research into cave-life. If a couple of hours' collecting in one cave has yielded such interesting results, what may we not expect when w^e have adequately searched all the underground chambers which the streams of ages have hollowed out in the limestone of our great central plain ? EXPI^ANATIOM OF Pi, ATE 2. Fig. I. Porrlwtnma myops, Sim., - Male, side view, legs removed. „ 2. do. - - do., front view, showing eyes and falces. ,, 3. do. - - Female, epigyne. 4. Gamasics atteniiatus^ Koch, - Male, dorsal view. 5- do. - - do., ventral view, with leg of 2nd pair. 6. do. - - do., epistome. 7. do. - - do., mandible. 8. do. - - do., foot of leg of 2nd pair. 9. do. - - do., „ ,, 3rd „ 10. Lipura Wrighiii, sp.n., - Dorsal view. 11. Sinella cavernioia, s-^Ai., - Side view. 12. do. - - Portion of terminal joint of antenna. 13. do. - - Foot of 3rd pair of legs. 13A. do. - - ,, 1st pair of legs. 14. do. - - Apex of spring. 15. do. - - CiHated hair from 3rd abdominal segment. 16. do. - - Ciliated hair from spring. )> J) A NEW I^ORM OF IRISH EARTHWORM. BY RKV. HII^DERIC FRIEND, F.I,.S. Through the kindness of Mr. Carpenter I have received a specimen of an earthAvorm which has not hitherto, I believe, been recorded for Ireland. It was found in Mitchelstown Cave, Co. Tipperar>% and being a perfectly developed adult form was readily identified. It is the golden AUurus, Allu7us flavus, Friend {Natziralist, Jan., 1893, p. 20), and is worthy of a brief notice. I first found this worm in the river Calder a couple of miles from Carlisle, Cumberland, where its colour was a rich orange yellow. It was abundant, and had the girdle extending over segments 22-27, while segments 23, 24, 25 bore the clitellar papillae. I^ater on I found a solitary specimen in a little stream near Apperley (Calverley Woods), 36 The Irish Naturalist. in Yorkshire. When preser^^ed in alcohol this specimen from segments 14 to 16 was darker in colour than the rest of the worm, which on dissection proved to be the result of a mixture of quartz granules and vegetable matter intermixed in the intestines, and showing through the semitransparent bod5\ I found an opening in the middle of segment 10 with a pair of penial setae, which differ widelj^ from those which are arranged in pairs on each segment of the ho^y. In other particulars it differed considerably from the type, and though it is difficult to specify any characters which entitle it to rank at present as a distinct species, it is undoubtedly a distinct form or variety. Kisen found specimens which he named var. hdcics, but from his brief description this differed from the present form. We do not yet know enough of the habits, habitats, structure and distribution of this interesting genus to determine the number of species which exist, as ever}^ writer finds some particular in which the specimens examined by him differ from the descriptions of others. Rosa's " Revisione dei I/Umbricidi " (Torino, 1893) contains (pp.71 seq.) one of the latest summaries, but A. jflavus, Fr., is not included. The following are the external characters of the Mitchelstown Cave specimen, and to this account I shall be glad to add a further diagnosis if further specimens can be obtained for dissection and microscopic examination. Allurus flavus, Friend. Found at Mitchelstown Cave, July, 1894. Length in alcohol i incli, total number of segments 80, yellow in colour. Girdle extending from segment 22 to 26, with papillae on one side only of segments 28, 29. On the under side of the girdle the clitellar band extends over segments 23, 24, 25 on either side. Perhaps to be regarded as only a well-marked variety of ^. tdraedrus, Sav., the variation being due to some peculiarity" of soil or habitat yet to be determined. [ Zl ] the: distribution of thk charack^ in irki.and, BY H, AND J. GROViJS, F.I<.S. {concluded from page U.) 130. Gal way, B., 133. Westmeath, Chara tomentosa, I^. R. Shannon, below Portumna, 1843. ^' Moore. Belvidere Lake (L. Ennel), 1841, D. Moore. Coosan Ivough, J 886, R. P. Vowell. L. Derevaragh and I/. Owel, 1892, H. C. Levinge and H. and J.G. This is perhaps the most interesting and characteristic of all the Irish Characece, and in the British Isles is apparently confined to Ireland.* All the localities cited above belong to the Shannon drainage, although L- Owel is now used as a reservoir for the Royal Canal. The small form with most of the joints of the branchlets uncoated and much vSwoUen, which was first discovered by Dr. D. Moore, and figured by Hooker as C. latifolia, Willd., is that occurring in rather shallow water with a comparatively hard bottom, but the large well developed form three or four feet high is plentiful in the deeper muddy bays of several of the lakes. We found a very curious slender form in L. Owel. C. to?nentosa is recorded from Sweden, Denmark, Germany (in many places), France (Normandy) Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Russia, Persia and Algiers. 113. Kerry, S., 114- .> N., 121. Queen's Co., 123. Wicklow, 124. Kildare, - 125. Dublin, - 127. Louth, - 128. Limerick, 129. Clare, 130. Gal way, E., 133. Westmeath, 135. Gal way, W., 138. Sligo, - 140. Roscommon, 145. Armagh, 147. Down, 149. Londonderry, C. hisplda, L. - Killarney, 1887. R. W. Scully. - Near Ventry, 1894. D. M'Ardle. - Near Farmhill, 1890, R. W. Scully. - Murrough of Wicklow, 1877. D. M'Ardle. - Below Athy, 1890. R. W. Scully. - Raheny, 1893. R. LI. Praeger. - Dundalk, 1883. J. F. Crofts. - Near Foynes, 1884. S. A. Stewart. - Near Ennis, 1884. S. A. Stewart. - L. Derg, 1881. Bolton King. - Belvidere L. D. Moore. - Roundstone, 1868. C. Bailey. - Coolgagh L.ri883. S. A. Stewart - L. Ree, 1886. R. M. Barrington. - Near Grange, 1892. R. LI. Praeger. - Downpatrick, 1891. R. IJ. Praeger. • R. Bann, Coleraine. D. Moore. *A curious sterile plant collected in Norfolk, in 1881, by Mr. Arthur Bennett, was referred by Dr. Nordstedt to this species and, at the time, we concurred in this view. It has not so far as we know been collected since, but in the same locality we have found some intermediate plants, which we think may be hybrids, and which in some characters approach closely to Mr. Bennett's specimen though they do not look so much like C. tomentosa. We are, therefore, inclined to doubt whether we were right in recording the Norfolk locality for the species. A4 38 The Irish Naturalist. 123. Wicklow, 125. Dublin, - C. hispida, var. macracantha, Braun. - Hb. Moore. - Maynooth, 1890. D. M'Ardle 125. Dublin, - 130. Gal way, E., ^ZZ' Westmeath, 135. Galway, W., 140. Roscommon, 145. Armagh, - 147. Down, - var, rudis, Braun. ■ Roval Canal near Lucan, 1889. R. W. Scully. • L. berg, 1S81. Bolton King. • Brittas Lake, 1892. H. C. Levinge and H, and J. G. . Arranmore, 1891. S. A. Stewart. . L. Ree, 1886. R. M. Barrington. Quarries near Navan Fort, 1892. R. LI. Praeger. . Loughinisland, 1887. S. A. Stewart. C hispida is a common European species, but outside Europe it has only been recorded from Tunis and Siberia. The var. rudis is a very well-marked plant and is more entitled to notice than most of the named forms ; indeed it has sometimes been regarded as a separate species. It is much commoner in Ireland and Scotland than in England. 113. Kerry, S., 114. „ N., T2I. Queen's Co., 123. Wicklow, 124. Kildare, - 125. Dublin, - 126. Meath, - 128. Limerick, 129. Clare, 133. Westmeath, 135. Galway, W., 138. Sligo, . 145. Armagh, - 147. Down, 149. Londonderry, var. 114. Kerry, N., 116. Cork, N., 123. Wicklow, 125. Dublin, - 127. Louth, - 130. Galway, E., 138. Sligo, 147. Down, 148. Antrim, • 113. Kerry, S., 121. Queen's Co., 133. Westmeath, or 140. Roscommon, C. vulgaris though from the number of England. It seems C. vulgaris, L - Caragh, 1888. R. W. Scully. - Castle Gregory. Hb. Moore, . Near Farmhill, 1890. R. W. Scully. - Near Bray, 1866. R. M. Barrington. . Near Athy, 1890. R. W. Scully. . Sutton, 1871. W. T. T. Dyer. - Navan, 1879. C. Bailey. - Rinekirk, 1885. S. A. Stewart. - Bally vaughan, 1885. R. P. Murray. - Near Belvidere Lake, 187 1 W. T, T. Dyer. - Kilronan, Aran, 1890, J, E. Nowers, - Bartragh I., near Moyview, 1870, A. G, More. - Bird Island, 1882. H, V/. Lett, - Loughinisland Lake, 1887. S. A, Stewart. - Magilligan, 1892, M, J. Leebody, longibracteata, Kuetz. - Blennerville, 1888. R. W. Scully. - Middleton, 1872. T. Allin. - Base of Sugar Loaf Mtn,, 1894. R. lyl.Praeger. - Swords, 1848, D, Moore, - Dundalk, 1883. J. F. Crofts. - L. Derg, 1881. Bolton King. - Glencar Lake, 1884. R. M, Barrington. - Near Belfast, 1886. S. A. Stewart, - Springfield, 1857. W. M. Hind. var. paplllata, Wallr. - Ferry, Waterv-ille, 1889. R. W. Scully. - Near Farmhill, 1890. R. W. Scully. Lough Ree, 1886. R. M. Barrington. a fairly common species in Ireland is not, judging specimens we have received, so abundant as it is in to be a common plant almost throughout the world. The Distribution of the Characece hi Ireland* 39 C. canescens* Ivoisel. 114. Kerry, N., - - Castle Gregory Lake, 1894. R. W. Scully. A very interesting addition to the Flora of Ireland The plant from Co. Cork (Shanagarry Bog), circulated by Mr. Carroll as C. crinita, is C. polyacantha. C. canescens is recorded from various parts of Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia, and North America. In Britain it has only been found in Dorset and Cornwall. Tolypella grioinerata, Leonh. 124. Kildare, - - - Maynooth, 1894. R. LI. Praeger. 125. Dublin, - • - Canal, near Glasnevin, 1857. D. Moore. 133. Westmeath, - - L- Bnnel, 1892. H. and J. G. 138. Sligo, - - - Glencar Lake, 1884. R. M. Barrington. 139 Leitrim, • - - Glenade Lake, 1884. R. M Bariington. T, glomerata is widely distributed in Europe, and occurs also in Algiers, Persia, India, Tasmania, and North America. Wei think it will probably be foundin many other localities in Irelandjbeingoften a very inconspicuous plant. {Tolypella nidifica, Leonh. Braun, in ''Fragmente einer Monographic der Characeen," p. 94, describes the plant collected in Lough Neagh, near Langford Lodge, by Dr. Moore in 1840, as the var. intervudia of this species ; but this appears to need confirmation ] T. prollfcra, Leonh. 125. Dublin, - - - Canal near Glasnevin. D. Moore. Dr. Moore's specimen is the only one we have seen from Ireland. T. prolifera is recorded from a few scattered localities in Central and Southern Europe and in North and South America. In Britain it is apparently confined to a few counties in the East of England. T. Intrlcata, Leonh. 125. Dublin, - - - Glasnevin. D. Moore. T. intricata occurs in many localities in Central Europe, from Sweden to N. Italy, in Algiers and in Canada. It has been found in the eastern counties of England from Durham southwards. Nitella Nordstedtiana, H. and J. Groves. 113. Kerry, S., - - Caragh Lake, 1889. R. W. Scully. Killarney, Lower Lake, Muckross Shore, 1890. Near Swallow Island, 1892. R. W. Scully. This species is recorded from Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, and from North America and Australia. In Britain it has only been found in the Outer Hebrides. The Caragh Lake plant is larger and laxer than that from Scotland, and we referred it in the first instance to N. gracilis. 46 ' The Irish Naturalist, N. tenulssltna, Kuetz. 130. Gal way, E., - - Near Ballindooley, 1892. H. and J. G. I33. Westmeath, - - Scraw Bog near L. Owel, 1892. H. C. Levinge, and H. and J. G. This occurs in Europe, Asia, North Africa, and North America. In Britain it has only been found in the widely separated counties of Cambridgeshire and Anglesey. It occurs in peat-pits and dikes, but on account of its dark colour and slender stem is often very inconspicuous. As we found it in the only two sets of peat-pits which we had the opportunity of examining during our short visit to Ireland, and as the country abounds in similar habitats, we have no doubt it will be found to be much more generally distributed. N. srracllls, Ag. 123. Wicklow, - - L. Luggela and L. Dan, 1892. R. M. Bar- rington and H. and J. G. 125. Dublin, - - Near Ballybetagh, Glencullen, 1872. D. Orr. The Luggela plant is a remarkably fine form with very longbranchlets. N. gracilis is found nearly throughout Europe, in Asia, Africa, and North and South America. . N. translucens, Ag. 113. Kerry, S., - - L. Caragh, 1876. A. G. More. 114. Kerry, N,, - - Mannabone Mtns. D. M'Ardle. 135. Galway, W., - - Clifden, 1869. A. G. More. 145. Armagh,- - - Cashel L., 1892. R, LI. Praeger. 147. Down, - - - Derry L., 1887. R. LI. Praeger. 148. Antrim, - - - Lissanorn Castle. D. Moore. 149 Londonderry, - - Kilrea, 1836. D. Moore. N. trattsluceiis occurs principally in Western Europe, but reaches to Sweden in the north, and to Algiers, &c., in the south, and a variety or sub-species is found in New Zealand. It grows usually in ponds, lakes, and canals, but occasionally in running water. N. flexllls, Ag. 113. Kerry, S., • - Caragh Lake and L. Acoose, 1889. R. W, Scully. 115. Cork, S.,- - - Glengarriff. I.Carroll. J37. Mayo, E., - - Cong, 1885. E). F. and W. R. Linton. 139. Leitrim, - - - L. Allen, 1883. S. A. Stewart. 141. Fermanagh, - - Rossford Point, 1837. W. Thompson. 148. Antrim, - - - Carnlough River, 1892. R. LI. Praeger. Probably a commoner plant than the above list would seem to indicate, but many specimens we have seen which may belong to this species are sterile and we have not been able to determine them, N. flexilis is widely distributed in Europe, and has been recorded from Siberia and North and South America, The Dishibuiion of CharacecB in Ireland. 41 N. opaca, Ag. 113. Kerr}', S., - - Killarney. Hb. Moore, 114. ,, N., - - Mannaboiie Mountains. D. M'Ardle. 116. Cork, N., - - Fernio}'. T. Chandlee. 117. Waterford, - - Dnngarvan, 1S82, G. Nicholson. 123. Wicklow, - - Kilmacurragli, 1884. F. W. Moore. 125. Dublin, - - - Hill of Howth, i860. D. Moore. 135 Galway, W., - - Kylemore Lake, 1870. D. IMoore. 139. Leitrim, - - - L. Boffin, 1871. W. T. T. Dyer. 141. Fermanagh, - - L. Erne, 1882. R. M. Barrington. 145. Armagh,- - - L. Neagh, near Lurgan, 1874. S. A. Stewart. 146. Donegal, - - Iv. Naminn, 1892. M. J. Leebod}'. 147. Down, - - • Clandeboye Lake, 1883. S- A. Stevrart. 148. Antrim, • - - Rathlin I. D. Moore. 149. Londonderry, - Kilrea, 1839. W. Thompson. This is the commonest species oi Nitella in the British Isles, and is also common nearly throughout Europe. It is recorded from Asia, N. Africa, and North and vSouth America [N. capiiata, Ag., which occurs in the fenland of Cambridgeshire^ and N. syncarpa, Chev., which is common in the West of France, should be looked for in Ireland. Both resemble slender states of N, opaca, but have a gelatinous covering to the fruits ; and N. syncarpa is distinguished from A', opaca and N. capitata by its simple fruit-bearing branchlets.] THE GEOI.OGIST AT THE EUNCHEON TABLE- BY PROFESSOR GRENVILLK A. J. COLE, M.R.I.A., F.G.S. The Refreshment-Rooms organised by the Misses Gardiner, in a house that actually stands upon the demesne of Trinity College, Dublin, have long been recognised as a daily meeting- ground for the members of the staffs of adjacent institutions. In man}^ waj^s these rooms have played the part of the old London coffee-houses, not to say of the ever-famous ** Mer- maid " ; and the manuscripts and^proof-sheets of public and scientific journals, including those of the Irish Naturalist, have often derived an additional sparkle from the conversation carried on around their tables. The opportunity afforded by the reconstruction of the premises has been seized on by several of their confirmed habitues, and a New Year's gift ot seven ornamental tables has been the result. Naturally, the polished tops have been made of Irish marbles Under the care of Mr. E- S. Glanville, of Lower Erne-street, Dublin. A scientific committee of selection visited the works. 42 The Irish Naturalist. and the stones were chosen as if they were to ornament a museum. While literary and antiquarian visitors cannot fail to appreciate the artistic beauty of the slabs, naturalists will find many points of interest, even in their minuter details. Two of the slabs are from the lyissoughter quarry in Connemara, and show the unique serpentinous marble in all the perfection of its green and grey streaks and foldings. The highly metamorphosed character of the rock is at once ap- parent, and in one table the contortion of the bands can be traced, while in the other a more parallel structure has been set up by the continued deformation of the mass. The recent paper by Messrs. Lavis and Gregory (^) on eozoonal structure in limestones from around the vent of Vesuvius has given new interest to these similar altered limestones of Connemara. The green serpentine seems to result from the hydration of bands and knots of olivine, which developed in the heart of the Lissoughter limestone under the influence of an adjacent igneous mass. How far the silica and magnesia required for this change already existed in the limestone, or how far they were transferred from the invading igneous rock, is one of the vexed questions of contact-metamorphism. Messrs. Marr and Harker, working on the alterations round the granite of Shap in Westmoreland, conclude that such transference has only gone on over distances of about g^tb of an inch ; while Messrs. Lavis and Gregory, in their stud}^ of the blocks of Monte Somma, above cited, are forced to believe in a more extended process. These two handsome green slabs have as companions two from the red quarries of Co. Cork. These also show the effect of earth-movements in brecciating and streaking-out the constituents of a rock. In one, the remains of crinoid- stems are clearl}^ visible, and fragments of yellowish coralline limestone, probably true blocks broken by wave-action from adjacent reefs, lie in the fine red matrix. But pressure has already affected the whole mass, and it has begun to break up and to flow, as it were, under metamorphic influences. The second slab of ** Cork Red" is the tj'pical brecciated variety, with abundant traces of crinoids, in the form of little white circular sections, but with no good connected series of ' Trans. Ro^xl Dublin Soc, 1 894. The Geologist at the Ltmcheon-table. 43 ossicles. Veins of calcite traverse the mass, as in the well- known Devonian marbles of Plymouth, and more delicate thread-like veins, filled with a deep red material, run in the direction of the general movement of the breccia. The other three tables illustrate the fossiliferous Carboni- ferous marbles of this country. One is a little known and beautiful variety of " grey fossil" limestone, consisting almost entirely of fragments of crinoid stems. One or two small pieces of coral alone break the uniformit}- of the great area of encrinites ; these sea-lilies must have here grown as a veritable forest. Iron oxides have delicatel}^ infilled the hollows of the stems, and have even stained with tender browns and pinks the whole substance of some of the ossicles. This remarkable stone has been quarried in the neighbourhood of Lough Erne. Another slab comes from the famous quarries of black marble near Galway city. It has been chosen on account of its strong contrasts of effect, the fossils being grouped in it with a certain daring picturesqueness. From one angle, a great branching mass of the tubular coral called Syri7igopora spreads across the stone for a distance of some 25 cm. At the opposite angle is a vertical section of a valve of the brachiopod Prodtictus, while in between is a section showing the two valves as circles lying one within the other. The smaller valve, being concave, is thus often traversed by sections which also cut across the larger and convex valve. Nearer to the Syringopora in this table is a bold section of Pj'od7cctus, 10 cm. across, which largely influenced the selection of this particular slab. A fine simple coral can be seen growing from its exterior ; and here we at once have a picture of the floor of the Carboniferous sea in Co. Galwaj^ with large valves of dead brachiopods scattered upon it, their concave sides characteristically facing downwards, like those of lamellibranch shells on our own shores. Their upper surfaces furnished the abundant simple corals with a fairly stable basis of attachment, while the ramifying and more massive reef- building forms held together and even wrapped round and included other forms. Thus the example of Syringopora in this table shows one or two other corals, Zaphrentis in all probability^ entangled in its spreading meshes. 44 The Irish Naturalist. The seventh table is also of black marble, but is relieved more uniformly by fossil-sections. It is from the Kilkenny quarries, the history of which is associated with that of the energetic famil}^ of Colles. Grey sections of detached and unbranching corals are seen everywhere, their septa being beautifully preserved ; they probably represent Zaphrentis rather than Cyathophylhim. One or two white remains of spiral gastropods, probabl}- Euomphahis, also occur, with a section of a turreted form. But the most interesting objects are the conspicuous sections of a brachiopod, evidently a form with external flutings, and with well-marked dental plates and a sep- tum in the larger valve. These sections provide a pleasant problem in reconstruction, such as will rejoice generations of zoologists and geometricians at the luncheon-table. I believe the shell to be a Cyrtiiia,'' many of the sections passing horizontally across the upper part of the larger valve. We thus have a convex and serrated line produced b}^ the section of the outer part of the shell, with an indentation corresponding to the external median furrow ; the internal median septum is seen running inwards, soon dividing into two portions, which are styled *' dental plates." These, however, are often traversed by the section in the region of the broad '* area," which runs from the beak to the hinge-margin of the shell ; and hence the white line formed by each dental plate is continued sharply awa}^ to right or left by the straight section of the area, which closes in the front of the shell and which unites with the edges of the serrated part of the section. Here and there a vertical section across the valve shows the median septum running on below, and its two diverging portions enclosing a sort of oval space above, the apex of which is in contact with the beak. The geologist, at an}' rate, will no longer feel solitary at his luncheon -table ; but, indeed, he is never likely to sit long alone in this favoured home of quip and countercheck, of wise saws and modern instances. ■" Davidson, "British Fossil Brachiopoda ; Permian and Carboniferous species," p. 68, and plate xiv., fig. 8. [ 45 ] INSECTS COLIvECTED IN THE FERMOY AND BI^ACKWATER DISTRICT. BY J. N. HAI^BBRT. (Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, November 13th, 1894.) On the recent joint excursion of the Dublin, Cork, and lyimerick Field Ckibs to the Fermoy and Blackwater district, I collected insects for the Royal Irish Academy Fauna and Flora Committee. Notwithstanding the short duration of the trip (5th, 6th, and 7th of July last), and owing, no doubt, to the productive localities visited, I was fortunate in taking more than one species of interest, and in making a few additions to our Irish records. There were in all over a hundred species of Coleoptera and forty of Hemiptera observed, and in the present notice it is intended to place on record the most note- worthy of these, giving the localities and circumstances of capture where necessar}'^, but not mentioning a large number that are of common occurrence everywhere. I am indebted to Dr. David Sharp, F.R.S., and E. Saunders, F.Iy.S-, for kind help in the identification of certain critical species, and also to those members of the different Clubs who assisted me in collecting specimens. Our headquarters were at Fermoy, consequently on arrival little time was lost in the anxiety to begin work. The route taken lay along the south banks of the Blackwater in the direc- tion of the extensive Castle Hyde woods ; all this proved to be admirable collecting ground. The river was first tried for Hydradephaga, but previous experience had shown, that mid- summer is not a good time of the year for water-beetles, when most of them are in larval condition. Amongst my captures were Oredochilus villostis, Mull., Deronedes depresstis, F., and Haliplus fluviatilis, Aube., all of theiH species peculiar to clear or running waters. The first mentioned is an insect of con- siderable interest, closely allied to the Gyrini or ' whirligig- beetles ' so well known to all observ^ers, but differing from these in some essential points. Oredochilus is nocturnal, coming out at night only and hiding during the day-time under banks in submerged logs and such like. My specimens were obtained by dragging the water-net about the roots of aquatic plants. Owing to this unusual habit the beetle has probably escaped observation in many localities. Numerous species of the 46 I he Irish Naturalist. StaphylinidcBQiX 'rove-beetles' were common in the damp places, amongst these was a single Actobizis proceriihis, Grav. There is onl}^ one Irish example in the Museum collection, taken many years ago in the Mourne Mountains, by that veteran of Irish entomolog)', the late A. H. Halida}^ which, like many other captures of equal interest, he seems never to have recorded. The only other noteworth}^ representatives of this section taken, were Homalota elongatida, Bris., evidently common, and Tachyporus obtzisuSy var. nitidicoUis, Steph., a ver}^ well marked melanic variet}', which would seem to almost replace the type in Ireland, and, as we would expect, is much rarer in England where the normal pale-coloured form predominates. Quite a characteristic insect was Halyzia co?igIobata, ly-, a local 'lady-bird' commonly obtained off the Alder bushes growing along the bank. In Britain it has a southern distribution, and as regards the north it has only been found in two localities, Belfast, and Ballj^haise, Co. Cavan, where I had the pleasure of taking a single specimen last autumn. By sweeping plants in a marshy place near the Castle Hyde woods, there occurred several examples of a Galeriicella which were mistaken for the common G. nymphace^ but which proved on subsequent ex- amination to be referrable to the rarer G. sagittarice, Gyll., an addition to the Irish list. The two species are closely allied, but when typical examples are compared, side by side, the differences are at once apparent ; in the last British catalogue they are evidently considered to be distinct. Amongst other captures I may mention Cyphon nitidulus, Thorns., Bruchus atomarius, L<., Lema lichenis, Voet., Afiaspis fnactdata, Fourc, Apion h2wmli, Germ., Sitones sidciffons, Thunb., Eyirrhinus acridiihis, L., Rhin incus peiicarpius, I,., and R. perpendicidaris, Reich. Mr. G. H. Carpenter found in a meadow, larvae of the long-horned grasshopper Leptophyes piindatissima, Bosc, which he tells me had been only previously recorded from Howth. The Heteroptera taken at Fermoy were not numerous ; the large green 'shield bug' Peiitatoma p^asiyia, I^in., was the most important, our knowledge of this species as Irish rested on two specimens without localitj-in the collection of Mr. Haliday ; the possession of definitely localised specimens is therefore satisfactory. Orthotylus flaviriervis, Kb., occurred on the Alders. Several of the members noticed the beautiful dragon-fly Insects Collected in the Fermoy and Blackwater District, atj Calopte7yx splendens busily ' hawking ' for prey along the river- bank. The following day was fixed for the visit to the renowned Mitchelstovrn Caves, and w^as generall}^ considered Wi^ piece de resistance of the excursion ; owing however, to a rather long drive, the time allowed was insufiicient for a thorough investiga- tion. The results, as can be seen in the pages of the present number, have been worked out by Mr. G. H. Carpenter, and the account which he furnishes of these curious cave-fre- quenting creatures is of high scientific value. We w^ere lucky in escaping the disappointment experienced by an observer in England, Mr. Murray, w^ho many 3'ears ago explored the extensive limestone caves of Derbyshire but was obliged to report that he could find nothing blind except the allej^s ! On the journe}^ to and from the caves onl}^ a few short interv^als were available for collecting, when the following were taken, chiefl}^ under stones on the low walls bordering the roads : Calathtis cisteloides, Panz., Barynotus obscurus, F.,and Otiorrhyn- chus ligneus, 01., the last not by any means a common species. Many of the members were anxious to see the magnificent pile of Mitchelstown Castle, so a brief visit w^as arranged ; the entomologists of the party found time for a short w^alk through the grounds, but though their beautj^ was evident, the chance of finding rare insects was questioned. Only a few weevils were beaten off the beech trees, i.e., Phyllobius argentatus, L. P. oblo7ig7is, ly., 2Md. Polydrusus ptergomalis. Boh., the latter is a very pretty species, covered with brilliant green scales ; I had previously collected it onl}^ near Lucan, Co. Dublin. Lismore formed a promising localit}- for the third and last day's excursion. In order to have a longer time for collecting I started on an early train from Fermo}^ with my friend ]\Ir. Frank Neale, Secretary of the Limerick Club. The scenery of the Blackwater Valley onl}^ needs mention, to recall it to those w^ho have been fortunate enough to have spent an}^ time investigating the beauties of the ' Irish Rhine,' more especially in the wooded portion surrounding the far-famed Lismore Castle, and indeed the district has many points in its favour as a centre for general natural history observations. All the former localities were rather unfavourable for collecting the Carabidae or ground beetles ; but here in a half dr^^ water- course that joins with the main river Harpalus rufibarbis, F., 48 The Irish Nattiralist. Amara familiaris, V>vSX..,Bembidium decorum, Vdi\\z.,B.atrocceru- leiwiy Stepli., and B. punct2dat2Lvi, Drap., were more or less abundant. Some damp fields near at hand next claimed attention ; my first capture by sweeping was Hydrocyphoyi dejlexicollis, MiilL, a rare insect in England but evidently quite common here. I cannot find a more recent Irish record for this species than 1857 when it was recorded by Mr. Haliday from the river Vartry, and by Dr. Perceval Wright from the plantations about Newcastle, Co. Down. Another interesting find was Elmis volkmaj'i, Panz., a small insect measuring only 3 mm. in length, and the largest of the six British species. They are all provided with very long tarsi by which they cling to the undersides of stones, etc., and although unable to swim like true water-beetles, they can thus retain their hold even in the swiftest rivers. As regards the distribution of E. volkmaii, there are some unlocalised Irish examples in Mr. Halidaj^'s collection, probably taken in the vicinity of Lough Neagh, and Dr. Power has recorded it from Waterford. We next searched the north bank of the Blackwater above the Castle ; the presence of so rich and varied a vegetation led us to expect good results, and in this we were not dis- appointed. Mr. Neale found a specimen of the very rare moth Gnophria quadra clinging to the rough bark of an Oak-tree. I was fortunate in securing two perfect specimens of the local Leiopus ncbulos7is,\^., swept from amongst long grass ; they had probably fallen from a neighbouring oak ; the Lo7igicor?iia are very poorly represented in Ireland, and with few exceptions are rare. In the hish Naturalist for September last I recorded a weevil Orchestes ilicis, F., from lyUcan which would seem to be the first record of the species; it also occurred here, and will probably be met with in other wooded localities. Many beetles are more or less peculiar to certain varieties ot Salix, particularly if growing in a wild state ; even young plantations will sometimes produce nice species. A small osier-bed near the '' hanging gardens ' yielded amongst others Do7iacia simplex, F., Galerucella lineola, F., Telepho7us thoracicuSj 01., Stcuus tar salts, I^5^nn., and Crepidodera hclxines, I/., etc. Of these the most notable is T. thoracicics, only pre- viously recorded from two of the Irish Counties, Armagh and Dublin. The T. fulvicollis mentioned in Mr. Haliday 's Belfast list, may refer to this species, but it might equally be the hiseds Collected in the Fernioy and Blackwater District. 49 common T./lavilabris, as that name is a synonym for both. I find, however, that he did possess T. thoracicus, easily recognised from its allies by the clear red scutellum. Three species of the curious genus Cassida are represented in the district, i.e., Cassida viridis, F., C. equestris, F., and C. flaveola^ Thunb. Other captures were Anthobiiun ophthalmicuni, Payk., Adalia obliterata, L., Halyzia xiv. -guttata, ly., Athous niger, ly., PhcEdo7i ttimidulus, Germ., Lagria hirtay I^., Apion cruentatum^ Walt., Ceuthorrhy7icJnis litzira, F., etc., and a single Ceuthor- rynchus a?igulosus, Boh., one of our rarest British beetles ; only a few specimens appear to have been taken in Britain, in the Solway district and North of Kngland. Canon Fowler remarks that it is probably attached to some Cruciferous plant ; my specimen captured by geneial sweeping rendered it impos- sible to tell off what plant it came. The insect both on account of its rarity and distribution, forms an interesting addition to our Irish records. Some good Hemiptera were taken at I^ismore, in the Black- water. I noticed what looked like a minute and active water- beetle darting about amongst the stones, in the shallow water at edge, but which proved on capture to be the seldom-taken Sigara rnimitissima, L,in. Specimens of Pentatovia prasina, I^. Hib.^ p. 43). Scleranthus annuus, Linn. — Road track by the Rathmines Water- works, Castle Kell}', at the head of Glenasmole, August, 1S94, growing vigorously in " freestone," as the disintegrated granite is locally called. Geranium pusillum, Linn. — A single plant in a sandy field to the north of Portrane, September, 1894. The only other county station is Lambay Island, where it was found by Mr, H. C. Hart in 1882 {Fl. Lam bay'). Vicia tct rasper ma, Moench. — Sparingly on the railwa)^ bank between Rush and Skerries, Jul}-, 1894. Knockmaroon is the only other recorded station {Cyb. Hib.) Arctium Intermedium, Lange. — This sub-species or varietj-, sufficiently distinct in appearance from A. niimis, so common throughout the county, is apparently rare in Dublin. I found a single plant of it by the edge of a cultivated field above the sea at Malahide in September last. There is a specimen at Glasnevin Herbarium labelled, in the handwriting of the late Dr. Moore: " Arctiiiin intcrmcdiuin, near Baldoyle, 1840." Though the plant is set down in the Brit. Assoc. Guide, 1878, as frequent in Dublin, I can find no definite records. Campanula rapunculoldes, Linn.— Well established, at intervals over a distance of 100 yards on a grassy bank by the roadside S,W. of Rush, where I gathered flowering specimens in July, 1893. A few plants were found by Mr. A. G. More near Bray Harbour, Co. Dublin, in 1872. No doubt introduced in both stations, yet well fitted by its creeping root-stock to effect a permanent settlement. Flirt her Notes on the J'lora of County Dublin. 55 CuscutaTrifoIIly Bab. — (i.) Two large patches on Trifolium praiense between Ballyboghil and the Wren's Nest, August, 1894, and (2) abundant in a sandy field at the northern extremity of Portrane peninsula, September, 1894. In the second station the plant attached itself chiefly to Anthyllis Vulnerana which appeared to have almost completely driven out a sowing of Trifolhun pratense. The only previous county record is that of Dr. W. G. Smith for Ballybrack, 1868. {Dub. Nat. His. Soc. Proc, vol. v., p. 198). Orobanche minor, Sni. — Very abundant (1) in sandy fields to the north of Portrane peninsula on ^////^j'/ZzV and on Trifolium hybridum and T. pratense, September, 1894, also (2) abundant on T. pratense in a field above the hotel at Malahide, where I gathered spikes fully 18 inches in height at the close of September last. The only previous record for Co. Dublin is Shennick's Island, 1893 (/. Nat., Vol. ii., p. 283). This and the preceding species would appear to be spreading in the county. Mentha sativa, Linn. — (i) Watery places by the roadside near Cockle's Bridge, Garristown, August, 1894, and (2) by the Dodder near Newtown, Tallaght, September, 1894. Often confounded, no doubt, with M. aquatica, and perhaps frequent in the county. Calamlntha Acinos, Clairv. — A single well-grown plant in a stubble field by the Royal Canal, E. of Clonsilla, October, 1894. Previously recorded from three other county stations, Portmarnock, Portrane, and near Tulla Church, Carrickmines. Though the first published record is due to Mackay (^Additions, 1859- 1860), a specimen in Glasnevin Herbarium labelled: — "Portmarnock, October, 1854, Thomas Chandlee," seems to show that Mr. Chandlee was the first to observe the plant in the county. A rare species throughout Ireland. Stachys arvensis, linn. — This species, apparently spreading in the county, though still uncommon, I observed during the year at three new stations— (i) Garristown, (2) Rush, and (3) Ballyedmonduff. Anagrams arvensis, Linn., var. caerulea. {A.carulca, Schreb.) Of this pretty blue-flowered variety of the Scarlet Pimpernel, I gathered a single plant in September last in a corn-field near Raheen Point, Portrane. There appears to be no previous published record for the county ; but Mr. R. M. Barrington of Fassaroe, has shown me a specimen gathered by his uncle, the late Mr. Richard Barrington, at Seapoint in 1858. The variety seems to be very rare in Ireland. Chenopodium nriurale, Linn.— A few plants in waste ground at the angle of Oldcourt cross-roads south of Tallaght, 1893. Now very rare in the county, but once much more common if the older records may be trusted. Lemna g^ibba, Linn.— In great abundance in the old mill-pond in Balbriggan, August, 1894. The conspicuously buoyant masses of this species often rising distinctly above the surface of the water make it readilv distinguishable, by habit alone, from the common Z. minor. Ophrys apifera, Huds.— (i) Sparingly in dry pastures among the gravel eskers W. of Drimnagh Castle, June, 1894 ; (2) on the railway bank at foot of Killiney Hill, July, 1894. Juncus obtusiflorus, Ehrh.— (i) In a shallow drain at Garristown Bog, August, 1894 : (2) very abundant in marshy ground by the northern shore of Portrane, spreading for fully a quarter of a mile, September, 1894 ; and (3) abundant in a marsh above Saggard, Sef)tember, 1894. The plant seems to thrive inland quite as well as in maritime stations. At Cxarristown, 11 miles from the nearest sea, I gathered specimens upwards of 5 feet in height, and those from the Saggard station, fully 13 miles from the nearest sea, seem quite as vigorous as the Portrane plant. Carex laevigrata, Sni.— In a marsh on the S.E. slope of Kilmashogue Mountain at 700 feet, July, 1894. A 2 56 The Irish Naturalist. Festuca myurus, Ivinn.— A few tufts on a wall top near Lispopple cross roads, August, 1894. Very rare in the count}', the only other recorded stations being Howtli and Donnybrook, in the latter of which it was gathered by ]\Ir. A. G. More in 1878. Lastrea Orcopterls, Presl. — This fern, so abundant in parts of Wicklow, seems extremely rare in Dublin. A single plant only rewarded my search in the Dublin Mountains this j-ear (September, 1S94), and as this grew directly on the Dublin and Wicklow boundary S.W. of Glen- cullen Bridge, it is not without hesitation I give it a place here. M)' friend, Revd. C. F. d'Arcj% who is thoroughly acquainted v/ith the Dublin Mountains, and has made a close study of their ferns, tells me he found a single plant on Glendhu Mountain in or about 1880. Botrychlum Lunaria, Sw.— (i) Verj' abundant on the summit (1,250 feet), and down the northern slope of Montpelier at intervals to 700 feet. May, 1894 ; (2) Pastures near the shore below the monument (round tower) at Portrane, April, 1894, Still frequent in Mackay's old station, Kelly's Glen or Glenasmole [Cat. 1S06) in the upper portion of which Mr. Greenwood Pim tells me he found it in 1889, while Dr. M'Weeney two years later gathered it lower down the-glen near Friars- town. Ophiogrlossum vulg-atum, Linn. — (i) Frequent in damp pastures above Gormanstown woods, April, 1894 ; (2) Marshy fields near Dunsoghly Castle, abundant. May, 1894 ; (3) Near the head of Crooksling Glen, above the Slade of Saggard, at 650 feet, June, 1894. Mr. W. H. Bloomer has shown me a specimen gathered by him near the monument at Portrane in April, 1894, and Dr. M'Weeney informs me that he found the plant abundant in 1891 along Glenasmole, from a little above Friarstown to the head of the valley. Near Friarstown, I found it in great profusion and luxuriance on the 24th June last. Appears more widelj' distributed in the county than the preceding species, as it is now on record from seven out of the eight districts into which I have divided the county for botanical purposes. Lycopodium clavatum, Linn. — In great abundance and fruiting freel}' on the flat mossy summit of Slieve Thoul, near the S.W. extremity of the county at a height of 1,300 feet, August, 1894. I'erhaps no observ'ation of last season was more satisfactory to me than this, as a 25 years close acquaintance with the Dublin Mountains had failed to give me a single station for this interesting species. Loosel}^ and inaccurately set down in Mackay's Catalogue, 1824, as plentiful in the Dublin Mountains, and recorded in the Irish Flora, 1833, from Kelly's Glen and Ballynascorney. In concluding these Notes I wish to express my indebtedness to Mr. A. G. More and Mr. Arthur Bennett for assistance in determining some of the critical forms referred to. Information of further stations for any of the rarer County Dublin species, I shall be ahvaj^s glad to receive, as well as any reference to records, whether in the shape of manuscript, printed matter, or herbaritim plants, likely to throw^ light on the history of the county flora.-'' Notes of new stations for rare or critical plants vShotild, if possible, be accompanied by specimens. * Communications on the subject may be addressed to i, Bel grave- road, Rathmiues, Co. Dublin. [ 57 ] SOME NOTES ON THE IRISH CAVES. BY R. F. SCHARFF, PH.D. Mr. Carpf;ntfr's article in last month's Irish Naturalist, on the animals found in the Mitchelstown Cave, is one of the most interesting, and at the same time one of the most valuable contributions which has been published in this periodical. I fully agree with his remarks as to the desira- bility of further investigating the Irish caves. A few of them have been entered with a view to the discovery of bats, — others have been examined by archaeologists, but hardly any of them have been systematically worked. Mr. Carpenter's interest in the researches would be chiefly directed towards finding the living creatures which are hidden in the dark recesses of the caves, but of equal if not greater importance are the remains of extinct animals, which may be buried there. When we consider the vast amount of w^ork wliich has been accomplished in that direction by Prof. Boyd Dawkins in England, it seems surprising how little has been attempted in Ireland. The late Prof. I,eith Adams directed his attention to one or two caves in the South of Ireland, and in the exploration of the Bally namintra Cave he was joined by Messrs. Kinahan and Ussher. Their united labours were crowned with great success, but the number of extinct mammals hitherto obtained in Irish caves remains surpris- ingly small, when we compare them with those discovered in England and the South of Wales. Although a thorough exploration of caves is a somewhat costly undertaking, I venture to hope that a commencement will soon be made, as it is probable that it would lead to very important discoveries and additions to our extinct fauna. As a preliminary towards this exploration, I think we should obtain a complete list of all the Irish caves, with their exact localities and approximate dimensions. I have made a few notes on the position of some of the caves, and with the kind assistance of Dr. Wright I discovered records of several additional ones, but I feel sure that a very much larger number of them exist in Ireland. I therefore append a map on which all the caves known to me are marked, cliiefl}^ with a view of eliciting further information from country corres- pondents who may happen to read this note. I also add to the number referring to any particular cave a list of the 58 The Irish Naturalist. papers in which it has beeu mentioned. This list naturally is far from being complete, and I hope readers of the Irish Naturalist will send to the Editors any additional titles of papers they may come across. Co. Antrim. I & 2. Caves at Ballinto}'. 3. Cave on Carrick-a-rede. Bryce, J. "On some caverns containing bones near the Giant's Cause^v•ay." Brit. Assoc. Report, 1834. 4. Caves on RathUn Island. Andrews, T. "On some caves in Rathhn and adjoining coast." Brit. Assoc. Report ^ 1834, p. 660. Some Notes on the Irish Caves. 59 Co, Civ ARE. 5. Ballyallia Cave, Foot, V. J. Froc. Dublin Nai. Hist. Soc. Vol. ii. April, 1859, p. 152. 6. Cave at Eden vale. Kinahan, J. R. Froc. Dublin Nat. Hist, Soc. Vol. iii. June, 1861, P-97. 7. Glancrawne Cave, Castleton. Kinahan, J. R. Froc. Dublin Nai. Hist. Soc. Vol. iii. June, 1861, p. 104, 8. Glenallia Cave. Kinahan, J. R. Froc. Dublin Nat. Hist. Soc. Vol. iii. June, i86r, p. 99. 9 & 10. Caves at Inchiquin Lough. \ Kinahan, J. R. Froc. Dublin Nat. II, 12, & 13. Caves at Ouin. > Hist. Soc. Vol. iii. June, 1861, 14. Vigo Cave. ) p. 94. Co. Cork, 15. Ovens near Kilumney. Liish Naturalist, 1894, p. 241. Co. Fermanagh. 16. Knockmore Cave near Derrygonelly. Wakeman, W. F. Froc. Royal Irish Academy, Vol. x. 1870, pp. 229- 232. 17. Knockninny Cave. Plunkett, T. Froc. R. Irish Acad. (2). Vol. i. 1870-79, pp. 329-338. Co. GaIvWay. 18. Caves at Coole Park, Gort. Scott. " Irish Fossil Mammalia." Gcol. Mag. Vol vii. 1S70, p. 416. Co. K11.KENNY. 19. Dunmore Cave. Kinahan, J. R. Froc, Dublin Nat. Hist. Soc, Vol. iii. June, 1861, P- 95- Mallet, R. '* On some stalagmites from the Cave of Dunmore." Quarterly J^ozir. Geol. Soc. Dublin. Vol. iii. 1849. Hardman, G. T. " On two new deposits of human and other liones in Dunmore Cave." Froc. Royal Irish Academy (2). Vol. ii. (Science). 1875-77, PP- 168-176. Foot, A. W. Joicr. Royal Hist, and Arch. Assoc. (4). Vol. i. Robertson, J. G. Natural History Review. Vol. i. 1854, pp. 169- 174. Co. Tipperary. 20. Mitchelstown Cave. Apjohn, J. " On the newly discovered Cave vsituate between Cahir and Mitchelstown." Jour^ Geol. Soc. Dublin. Vol. i. 1833, pp. 103-111. Co. Waterford. 21. Bally namintra Cave, Cappagh. Ussher, Adams, and Kinahan. "Report on the Exploration of Ballynamintra Cave." Froc. Royal Irish Acadctiiy (2). Vol. ii. (Pol. Lit), pp. 73-78. 22. Shandon Cave, Dungarvan. Dawkins, Boyd. " Cave Hunting." Adams, Leith. Sci. Froc. R. Dublin Soc. Vol. ii., pp. 45-86. Scott. Geolog. Mag. Vol, vii. 1870, p. 417. 23. Cave at Whitechurch. Hull, E. Anniversary address Royal Geol. Society, Ireland, 1877. four. Royal Geol. Soc, Ireland {N.S.). Vol. iv,, pp. 49-51. 6o The Irish Naturalist. WITH THE WII.D BEES IN GI.ENCUIvI.EN. BY H. K. gore: CUTHBERT. (Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, February i2tli, 1895.) GlknculIvEN, on the boundary between the counties of Dublin and Wicklow, might be described in the poet's phrase as '* A populous solitude of bees and birds, And fairy- formed and many-coloured things" ; — in soberer language it is a very interesting valley which the Cookstown river in recent, and more violent agencies in former times, have scooped out of the granite wall of South Dublin and the drift overlying its hollows. The geologist and the botanist ma}^ spend a profitable day in Glencullen. Let us visit it for the nonce as entomologists, and, rambling thither some sunny afternoon in June, take note of the wild bees that we meet. We can watch their doings, study their habits, and thereby teach ourselves something of their economy and the complex w^orkings of their instinct. At starting, leaving the woods at the Enniskerry end of the "len, we notice how the air seems full of bees. Their brisk hum is everywhere, they seem to hover over every bush and flow^er, and to rise up before us in protest as we brush through the grass. There is a mossy bank just before us where the com- motion seems keenest. This is the capital city of a humble-bee, Bombus vmsconim^ commonly called the Carder, and one of the best known of its tribe. The nest is not yet complete, for the season is still early, and, as its tenants are unwarlike, we can examine it in safety. Their dwelling, oval in shape, is entirely composed of moss, which the bees ingeniously heckle or card with their feet, afterwards working it up into a compact mass, resisting changes of weather. When possible these architects like to choose a site at the foot of a wall or base of a bank, this position giving them a certain security. Lifting the roof of the nest we find a series of cells of various sizes, connected by masses of coarse brown wax, somewhat in shape like pigeons' eggs, but longer and thinner. These cells are not made of wax, but of a silky material like rice- paper, and are really the cocoons spun by the bee-grubs. At this time of year they will not be very numerous, but towards the end of summer we may count between two and three score. Round about these cocoons, at the sides and base of the nest. With the Wild Bees in Glencidlen. 6i we shall find several masses of wax, very much resembling the queen-cells of the Hive-Bee, containing young grubs and bee-bread, or kneaded lumps of pollen and honey. These are the work of the queen-mother, the foundress of the colony, in the early .spring days. According as the grubs grow to maturity they spin up the egg-shaped cocoons we first noticed, wherein they undergo their changes, first into nymphs, after- wards into perfect bees. The empty cocoons are then strengthened by the workers with a rim of wax and used as store-pots for hone3^ The older writers on bees, such as Kirby, state that the latter is never stored by an}^ of our wild . bees in regular cells like those of the hive-bee ; but I have found, as we shall probably here find, in the nests of the I^apidary or Red-tailed Humble-bee, several roughly- shaped hexagonal cells of brown wax, partly sealed, and filled with honey. The queens and workers of the latter bee are very common objects at this time ; later in the season we shall meet with the males. Other humble-bees are in evidence, especially the White-tail, ^^?;/ ^2^^ terrestris; an allied species, B. hortonim; and we ma}'' meet a specimen of the less common B. sylvaiimi. There are other bees here too, in numbers on bramble flowers and white-thorn, or flying up and down the faces of the cla}^ banks. These are various members of the large genus Andi'ena, which, like the bulk of our wild bees, are " solitary " in their habits, and consi.st of two kinds of in- dividuals only, males and females ; or as we may put it, drones and workers, the untiring industry of the female being a characteristic feature of all the stinging Hymenoptera. The lad}^ Andrena constructs a tunnel or burrow in the face of a bank to a depth, varying with different species, of from eight to fourteen inches. These burrows are seldom straight, and often branch out into subsidiary tunnels. At the end of each the mother-bee places a ball of pollen and an q.%%. She then closes the burrow with a pellet of clay to prevent the invasion of ants and predacious beetles. The members of this genus we shall most likely meet are Andreyia Trimmerana, A. albicans, A. helvola, A. Wilkella (easily known even on the wing by its silvery pile), A. Gzvynana, A.viimitnla, and perhaps, though I have not taken it in GlencuUen, the handsome A, cineraria, A3 62 The Irish Naturalist, In company with the A^idreucc we observe crowds of the brightly coloured Nomada: or wasp-bees, wath gaud}^ stripes of black and 3'ellow, belonging to the large group of inquiline or " cuckoo "-bees. Thej^ are so called because they do not make nests for themselves, but use the nests of other species, their young being reared upon the food stored up for the grubs of their hosts. Amongst them we notice the common Noviada altcniata, N'. rujico7'nis, and A^ siiccificta ; we may also meet A^. bijida and N". ftavoguttata. At the upper part of the glen I have taken an example ot the rare A', fcrntginata, a rather sober-coloured insect. Here upon a Hawkweed is a bee of curious appearance, dark-coloured, with a sharpl}^ pointed tailpiece, ringed with narrow greyish bands. This is another inquiline, Ccelioxys clongata, and we shall not have far to go for its host. There are several .species of the latter, but the commonest, Megachilc ccntunciilaris, is abundant in many places. It is about the size of a hive-bee, but stouter, and lines its burrow ver}' neatly with cuttings of Rose and Sweetbriar leaves. Nor does it confine its attention to the rose family only, for I have seen it cutting the leaves of such shrubs as Symphoricarptis. An allied species, M. lignisccca^ lines its nest with cuttings from the Elm and the Beech. Another genus of wild bee, Halictus, cannot possibly escape our notice, from the great abundance of some of its species. One of the commonest of these is a very pretty insect, Halictus mbicnndiis, the females being easil}- known by their ashy-grey banding and golden-yellow pile. The male Halicti have rather a peculiar appearance from their elongated bodies and slender antennae. The males of H. riibictrndtis and H. cylindricus often congregate in a common burrow where they pass the night, and spend the time when the day is wet or cloudy. We shall probably meet with some of these "bachelor's clubs" by exploring the cla}' banks as sunset approaches. Most of the Halicti ^.re small black or brassy insects, and all are remarkable for their fu.ssv activitv. Flying about the burrows of the Halicti, but of less active habits, we observe other little 1)ees, prettily marked with black and scarlet. These belong to the genus Sphccodes, fonnerly, but wrongly, thought to be inc|uiline like the With the Wild Bees in Glcnctdlen. 63 Nomadce. We can distinguish at least two species, 5. gibbus and ^S*. dimidiatus? All the bees we have dealt with up to this belong to the long-tongued group, in scientific parlance A7ithophila aciitilingua. But there are a couple of the obtusilingual or short-tongued division we shall pretty certainl}^ notice near the Glendhu side of the valle}-. One of these, Piosopis con- fusa, is a small black insect, somewhat like Halictus subfaseiatzcs, but distinguished on closer inspection by its light yellow, face and the yellowish bands upon its legs. The female Prosopis constructs her tunnel in a bramble stem, lining it throughout with a whitish secretion ; the male seems to be a notably lazy insect, for he is usually found, even in the sun- niest part of the da}^ coiled up asleep in the cup of some flower. Our other short-tongued bees belong to the genus Colletes. Two species occur at Glencullen, C.f adieus and C. Daviesana. The latter is not uncommon, a small bee of compact shape, thinly clothed with light brown hair. Several of its colonies, with burrows crowded closely together, will be found in the cut banks near the mountain end of the glen. The Colletidce con struct a remarkably clean-cut tunnel, about five inches in depth, terminating in a cluster of cells. These are finished with peculiar care. In fact the more we examine their work the more we shall marvel at their method, and the anicunt of industry involved. Each cell is oval in shape, about the size of a linnet's Q:gg, made of fine mortar, and lined with a waxy enamel. When finished the}' are provisioned, as usual, with pollen. To dig them out intact requires some care, but we may accomplish it before the daylight fails us. We have now in our afternoon stroll taken a hasty glance at a few of the wild bees that may be met with any summer's day in Glencullen. There are certainly others we have not noticed, needing fuller observations to record. But using our ' I may mention, however, that Mr. Edward vSaunders (" Ilymenoptera- Aculeata of the British Isles," p. 194), is incHned to adopt' the earlier opinion as to the inquiline nature of S^/iecodcs. The facts that it is always found in company with Halictus, the absence of any pollinigerous organs, and its listless habit of flight, would vseem to support this view ; but the question can hardly be considered settled. The researches and observations of vSmith, Shuckard, Bridgman, and Sichel, and the analogy of the structure of Ceratlna SinCi Prosopis supply the chief arguments against the quoted opinion of Mr. Saunders. 64 The Irish Naturalist. ej^es as naturalists, and as naturalists seeking to gather the meaning of what we have seen, we have traversed Glencullen till we have reached the end of the valley, and with it the end of our ramble. The stars are beginning to twinkle overhead and a bluish mist to enwrap the tree-tops of the glen. Soon a turn of the path will hide from us the late scene of our inquiries ; but will not, I trust, so easily efface the recollection of the hours therein spent, and the knowledge we shall have derived from them. THE PI.ANTS OF WESTMHATH. BY H. C. I^KVINGE, D.L. During the past summer and autumn, the following plants were gathered by me in the Count}" Westmeath, additional to those recorded in the May and June numbers of the Irish Naturalist for 1894, thus bringing up the total number of species for the county to 572, and the total additions to the Cybele Hibernica, Dist. VII., to 77. The R^ibi were submitted to the Revds. E. F. I^inton and W. Moyle Rogers, who have kindly examined and named them : — Ranunculus circinatus, Sibth (vii.) — Brittas Lake, Knock Driii. Rubus rhamnifolius, Aiict. Aiigl. (vii.) — Knock Drin woods. R. Incurvatus, Bab. (vii.)— Knock Drin. A striking and handsome Briar with fine panicles of bright pink flowers and dark-green foUage, not previonsly recorded from Ireland, but by no means uncommon in the woods at Knock Drin. R. crythrinus, Genev. (vii.) — Roadside hedge, near the '' Longford gate," Knock Drin. R, nrsucronatus, Blox. (vii.) — Deer Park fence. Knock Drin. R. corylifolius, Sm. (=sublustris, Lees.) (vii.)— Knock Drin woods. R. Balfourianus, Blox.? (vii.) — Near "the vSupply " Bridge near Mullingar. Mr. K. F. Linton remarks that this is certainly Corylifolian or Caesian, and Mr. M. Rogers suggests it may be a form oi Ba/foitriantis, Blox., which is a very variable plant. Lactuca muralis, Fresen. (vii.) — Ballynegall roadside wall, between Portnashangan Church and School-house, also in the Ballynegall Demesne ; appears to be truly indigenous. Tragopogon prate n sis, L. (vii.)— Killua Demesne, near Clonmel- lon. *OrnlthogaIum umbellatum, L. (vii.)— Rockview, near Delvin, thoroughly established in ditch banks and meadows. tBromus commutatus, Schrad. (vii.) (fide Mr. A. Bennett). — Meadows at Knock Drin. Chara denudata, Braun. ( = C. dissoluta, Leonh.) — Brittas Lake Knock Drin. Not previously found in the British Islands — vide descrip- tion bv Messrs. H. and J. Groves, Irish Naltrralisi^ ^smwsiYy, 1S95, p. ii. • [ 65 ] IRISH MAMMAI.S. BY G. ^. H. BARRHTT-HAMIIv'TON, B.A. If, as Mr. Lydekker truly remarks in the preface to his recent work,' " no monograph of the British Mammals as a whole has been published since the second edition of Bell's ' British Quadrupeds' in 1874" and "since that date considerable advances have been made with regard to our knowledge of the geographical distribution of our native mammals," it was surely all the more incumbent upon the Editor and Publishers of the volume to procure the services of an author, vdio was known to have paid some attention to the study of British mammals. Mr. I^ydekker, on the contrar}^ starts with the humiliating confession that he " makes no claim to being an observer of the habits of British mammals," and he has, there- fore, filled his pages with quotations drawn largely from the writings of Macgillivray, as published in the original series of the " Naturalists' Library.'' To these he has added notes con- tributed by Mr. A. Trevor Battye and Mr. W. E. de Winton— gentlemen whose names have been until quite recently un- knov\m in connection with the study of our British Mammals — while he has almost completely ignored the older workers, with the exception of Mr. J. E- Harting. In his preface, the author does, indeed, tender his acknowledgments to Mr. A- G. More (whom he appears to think is still "of the Dublin Museum ") " for much important information kindly com- municated by letter on the subject of Irish mammals," but there is little trace of Mr. More's influence in the body of the work, and the general meagreness of the references to Ireland, and the quotations from Thompson's " Natural History of Ireland " with regard to the distribution of mammals whose whole status might well have been completely changed since the publication of that excellent work, leads us to the belief that the author has taken but little pains to make himself acquainted with the natural history of Ireland. It would take more than Mr. Lydekker' s pleasant style of writing and the prett}^ binding of the book to hide the haste ^ Allen's Naturalists' Library, edited by R. Bowdler Sharp, LI/.D., F.Iv.S., etc. — A Handtsook to the British lYIammalia, by R. IvYDEKKER, B.A., F.R.vS., V.P.G.S., etc., Loudon; W. H. Allen & Co., Limited, 13, Waterloo-place, S,W,, 1S95. Price 6s. A 4 66 The Irish Nahiralist. whicli is evident on almost all page.s of his volume, and which could hardly have been expected to have been absent from a work which appears to have been projected onl}^ about a year ago. In the present notice we propose to confine ourselves for the most part to that part of the book which refers to mam- mals found in Ireland, and, even then, w^ant of space will hardly permit us to notice all the omissions. We cannot compliment the publishers on the thirty-two plates. In our opinion Mr. lyydekker's book would have been much improved had they bee;i left out. These may have been good for the time w^hen the first edition of the Natura- lists' Library was published, but in these daj^s readers expect something more for their money than plates like No. 2 (the Long-eared Bat), which even the author is compelled to de- scribe as *' not quite true to nature." But if the plates are bad, the figures of the skulls are worse ; some of them indeed are hardly recognizable as skulls at all, w^ere it not that we are told so in the letter-press. That of the skull of the Squirrel on page 16S is almost the worst of a bad lot. The best parts of the book are the chapters on the ancient mammals of Britain, and the introduction, which are pleasantly written, but even these are by no means perfect. In the introduction (pp. 1-13) Mr. Lydekker discusses the origin of the British mammalian fauna. The British Islands come under the category of Dr. A. R. Wallace's " Continental " Islands, that is to say they were lands which have evidently been united with the neighbouring Continent of Europe at no ver}^ remote epoch, to wdiich fact the general similarity of the fauna and flora and of the geological formations, the shallow- ness of the intervening seas, and the absence of peculiar mammals testify. Among the proofs which exist that these islands formerly stood at a much higher elevation than at present is the case, not the least remarkable are the submerged forests which occur on several parts of the coast of Great Britain, in addition to which the author might have mentioned many which occur in Ireland, such as that on the coast of the Barony of Forth in the Count}' of Wexford. Mr. Lydekker credits Britain with forty-seven species of terrestrial mammals (including several doubtful species), which have been known to have inhabited the British Islands during . Irish Mammals. C>j the historic period. Of these tv/ent3^-six are Irish, but the Wolf, the Brown Bear, and the Wild Boar are now extinct, while the Black and Brown Rats, the Rabbit, the Fallow Deer, and the Squirrel are introduced as doubtfully indigenous species, so that our present list of truly indigenous Irish mammals fairly includes only eighteen species, and in historic times Ireland appears never to have had more than twenty- one species. Great Britain, on the contrary, has been inhabi- ted by about forty species, while the neighbouring parts of the Continent of Europe possess many more. In discussing the cause for this difference in richness of the fauna of countries lying so close to each other, Mr. I^ydekker brings forward three theories— (i.) That of Dr. Wallace, who attributes the disappearance of the ancient British Fauna to a submergence of comparatively late date ; (ii.) that wdiich attributes the disappearance of the greater part of the fauna to the ice-sheet of the Glacial Epoch, and (iii.) that of Mr. G. W. Bulman (expressed in a recent paper) that the ice-sheet did not extend further south than the latitude of I^ondon, if as far south as that, whence the fauna again spread northwards with the return of more favourable conditions, although with the loss of such forms as were unable to withstand a considerable amount of cold. On this latter view it is considered that Britain never was connected with the Continent after the passing away of the Glacial Period. On the two former views we must attribute our new fauna to a short connection with the Continent subsequent to the destruction by the ice of the Glacial Period. Of these theories, Mr. lyydekker is more inclined to agree with the second — indeed, Mr. Bulman's ingenious suggestion does not seem to account for the poverty of the mami;iaiian fauna of Ireland as compared wdth that of the rest of Britain. At this point we should have expected some attempt at an explanation of the peculiarities of our Irish mammalian fauna, but not a word have we on the subject, in fact the difficulty has been ignored by Mr. lyydekker in a manner similar to that in which he has ignored many others in his book. Not even is there a reference (we believe, in the whole book) to the work of the late Professor A. I^eith Adams, who wrote in ^ Nalural Science^ Oct., 1S93. 68 I he Irish Naturalist, one of his papers' that " The probabilitj' is, that the migra- tion came from Scotland, and that there was a land communi- cation between the two countries at the close of the Glacial Period, b}^ which the greater portion of the mammals that had found their way to Scotland crossed to Ireland." Professor Leith Adams was led to make this suggestion hy the fact that all the living and extinct mammals of Ireland, with the exception of the Grizzly Bear, have been recorded also from Scotland, while a large number of extinct English mammals are absent from both Ireland and Scotland. This suggestion has been .supported by the recent investigations of Scottish naturalists into the Fauna of the islands lying between Ireland and Scotland. In an ingenious paper lately published. Dr. R. F. Scharfif^ has stated his opinion, based upon the distribution of the Fresh-water Fish and the Mollusca that ''Ireland was in later Tertiary times connected with Wales in the South and Scot- land in the North, whilst a freshwater lake occupied the present central area of the Irish Sea. The Southern connection broke down at the beginning of the Pleistocene Period, the Northern connection following soon after. There is no evidence of an}- subsequent land connection between Great Britain and Ireland." There is much to be said in favour of this view, but it seems to us that perhaps an adaptation of Mr. Bulman's views to Ireland might account for the pecu- liarities of the flora and fauna of the south and west, such as the presence of the Mediterranean Heath and the Natter-jack toad. Passing on to the systematic part of the work — which commences with the Bats (pp. 13 — 53), of which seven species have been found in Ireland, we find the statement that " since Bats are, on the whole, less interesting than many other British mammals, our notices of the various species will be comparatively brief" Thus, Mr. I^ydekker again avoids a difficulty, and, while giving us anj^ quantity of quotations from writers on the habits of our more common and easil}^ observed mammals, contents himself with most meagre notes on the rarer, or less easily observed, and therefore, we should have thought, more interesting species. The list of 1 '* Report on the History of Irish Fossil Mammals," Proc. Roy. Irish Acad. (2) Vol. iii., 1883. 2 Pi'oc. R. Irish Acad, (3) Vol. iii., 1S94, No. 3. Irish Mammals. 69 the localities where the rarer Irish Bats have been obtained is very meagre, and in very few cases has the author taken the trouble to give the references for his statements. The subject of the migration of Bats is barely touched upon (page 27), the words "the fact that Bats do migrate, either occasion- ally or periodical!}', being well ascertained on the testimony of several trustworthy observers," being a very inadequate reference to so interesting a subject, with regard to which we may note that, though we once tried to obtain information on this subject by a correspondence with the light-keepers at the light-stations on the Irish coast, we entirely failed to obtain any valuable information as to the occurrence of Bats at these stations. On the distribution of the Hedgehog (in Ireland) (page 58), Mr. Lydekker has no more recent authority to quote than Thompson for the statement that it "is found everywhere in suitable localities." But, indeed, there is little w^ork to be done with regard to the distribution of Irish mammals. With the exception of the Bats, the Cetaceans, the Squirrel, the Black Rat, and the Red deer, all our mammals are found from north to south of the island, and many of the cases in which their distribution is curtailed are due to the direct agency of man. Referring to the depredations of Hedgehogs among game-birds and their egg-stealing propensities, he pre- sents us with the statements of two writers in the Field and La7id and Water, without giving either their names or a reference to the pages where their remarks occur, and then goes on to announce triumphantly that " this evidence, although circumstantial, appears to be pretty conclusive." Although, no doubt, the Hedgehog is, on the whole, a nocturnal animal, that this is not always the case we can testify from personal experience, having found a Hedgehog moving about in broad daylight in the Co. Wexford. It is a pity that Mr. Lydekker has not given us any notes on the habits of the Hedgehog in captivity — an omission which we have also to regret in the case of many other species. Passing over the Mole, the Water-Shrew and the Common Shrew, which are not found in Ireland, we find an exceed- ingly short account of the I^esser Shrew, an interesting and but little known mammal, which is the only representative of its genus in our country. It appears to be widely distributed 7^6 The Irish Naturalist. and frequent, at least in parts of Ireland. Sir Douglas Brooke has an albino example, obtained in Fermanagh. Mr. L3^dekker's statement with regard to Shrews that " during the winter they retire beneath the roots of trees or bushes, to the deserted holes of other small mammals or other secure nooks, where they pass the cold months in a state of profound torpor" can hardly be regarded as a serious one in the face of the receipt b}^ the writer of several specimens of the I^esser Shrew from the Co. Wexford during the recent severe frost. Mr. Oldfield Thomas also writes that he has received four Common and one I^esser Shrew from Norway, caught on three feet of snow, with the thermometer below zero ! Among the synonj^ns of the I^esser vShrew we do not note that of Sorex hiber?iicus given to it by Jenyns. Quite recently a note has been published by Mr. Oldfield Thomas^ in which he shows that the correct names for the two British species of Shrews are Sorex araiietis, Linn., for the Common Shrew, and 6*. mi^iutiis, Linn., for the Lesser or Pygmy Shrew. Mr. Lydekker, however, retains the name of ^S. vulgaris, Linn., for the Common Shrew. The first of the Carnivora, in Mr. Lydekker's book, which has been found in Ireland, is the Wolf, and we are glad to be able here to give a word of praise to Mr. Lydekker for having included in his book notices of the extinct members of our fauna, which are undoubtedly entitled to their place beside their more fortunate survivors. As is so often the case in this book, Mr. Lydekker has given no reference for his statements with regard to the Wolf, and our readers ma}' be glad to refer for further details to Mr. Harting's article on the extinct British Wolf," also to an interesting note by Mr. G. H. Kinahan\ It is a pity that Mr. Lydekker has omitted any reference to the Wolf-dogs, for which Ireland Avas famous, and for accounts of which the writings of Prof. Leith Adams, Sir William Wilde, Dr. V. Ball and others should be consulted, as well as Captain Graham's work on the Irish Wolthound-'. As in the case of the Wolf, so with regard to the Wild Boar in Ireland (pp. 255-257) Mr. Lydekker's statements are not quite satisfactory, and he has given no reference to prove the ^ Zoologist, Feb., 1895, pp. 62-4. ^ Popular Science Review, 1878, pp. 396-406. 8 Land and Water, November 3rd, 1894. '^ Dursley, 1885. h'ish Manwtals. 71 existence of this animal in historic times. Although the absence of pig-bones in the older Irish deposits has caused some doubt to be expressed as to whether this animal was trul}^ indigenous to Ireland,' there is no doubt that herds of pigs, either truly wild or feral, infested the woods and forests of Ireland in historic times. As to the Fox (pp. 98-104) Mr. Lydekker seems to have no more recent authorit}^ to quote than Thompson, and this is also the case with regard to the Badger and Otter, which animals all survive from north to south of Ireland, and in many parts of the country are plentiful. A reference to our packs of Foxhounds would not, we think, have been out of place, nor would a reference to the weight of this animal, an interesting note on which was published last 3'ear. On the distribution of the Marten Mr. I^ydekker has quoted the latest paper on the subject, but has again omitted to give the reference.^ Since that article was written we have obtained records of the occurrence of the marten in Roscom- mon,-* in Dublin in 1877,5 and from several other counties from which it had been already recorded. Interesting notes on Martens robbing bee-hives of the honey will be found in the Field.' That the Polecat ever existed in Ireland will be news to many Irish naturalists, and we should like to know on what authority Mr. Lydekker makes the statement (p. 114) that " although Thompson had doubts of its occurrence, there appears good evidence that the Polecat, in his time at least, was an inhabitant of the woods of Kerry, Down, and other parts of Ireland." "The Stoat," says Mr. Lydekker (page 1 19), "does not, accord- ing to Thompson, undergo a personal colour-change" in Ireland. Occasionally, however, Stoats undergo a partial change iu Ireland in the winter, and Mr. Kinahan' records examples from Dublin, Galway, Clare, and Mayo. Mr. More's experience is not in accordance with this, and after many years 1 V. Ball, in Sci. Trans. Royal Ditblin Soc. (2), vol iii., No. x , p. 339. '- Fidd, March roth, 1894. =• Zoologist, April, 1894. * Field, April, 4, 1874. '^ Britisli Assoc. Guide to Dublin y part ii., p. 90. 6 Feb. 10, 1877, May 17, 1873, and April 4, 1871. 7 Land and Water, June 11, 1892, 72 The IrisJi Nahu-alist. of close attention to Irish Natural History, he informed us that he had never met with a white Stoat in winter ; but such a specimen certainly exists, from Co. Wexford, in the Dublin Museum of Science and Art,' and Mr. R. M. Barrington has another from Meath.= In the County Cork there is a pack of hounds which are trained to hunt the Stoat in summer, when there is no Fox hunting, and they give excellent sport, but of course are followed on foot. Although Mr. J. K- Harting^ seems still to have a lingering hope that the Weasel may yet be found in Ireland, Mr. Iy3-dekker (p. 122) rightly states that " it appears tobe unknown" there, and indeed the question may now, w^e think, be fairly considered as settled that the Weasel does 7iot occur in Ireland. Often as the Weasel has been reported, no specimen has ever been produced, and such specimens as have been produced and submitted to competent naturalists have invariably proved to be Stoats. (TO be; concIvUdkd.) PROCKKDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. ROYATv ZOOI.OGICAI. vSOCIKTV. Recent donations comprise a porcupine from C. A. James, Esq ; a Peacock and a pair of White Guinea-fowl from J. Dah', Esq. ; and a cockatoo from Mrs. Paul. Three Great Eagle-Owls, an Axis D^er, two Peccaries, an Ocelot, three Paradoxures, a Viverrine Cat, a Prairie Marmot, two Armadillos, a hundred Java vSparrows, an Aoudad, and an Antelope have been acquired by purchase. 2,060 persons visited the Gardens in January. Dubinin MicroscopicaIv Ci.ub. December 2oth. — The Club met at Dr. M'Weeney'S, who showed a series of serial sections of the human central nervous system prepared by Van Gehuchten's modification of Golgi's method. This consists in impregnating the ganglion cells and their processes with chromate of silver b}- immersion of the pieces of tissue in nitrate of silver solution after treatment of bichromate of potash and osmic acid. The finest rami- fications of the non-medullated protoplasmic processes of the nerve-cells can thus be followed, and the method maybe said to have revolutionized our ideas of the structure of the central nervous organs. A peculiarity is that the sections must be mounted without a cover-glass. Contrast sections by Weigert's method were also shown. ^ Vide Land and IJ'afcv, May 28, 1892. '^ Op. Cii., June 4, 1892. ^ Zoologist, Dec, 1894. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 73 Mr. F. W. Moore exhibited Verlid/Iivm latertiiim,'Etrt. It was found growing on a piece of decaying stem of Cattlcya Doiviana, which had been imported recently from Costa Rica, on which it formed bright red patches. Under the microscope the colour did not appear nearly so brilliant as in the growing condition. Mr. G. H. Carpenter showed preparation of the head of the sea-midge, Cliinio marimis, Halid., drawing special attention to the large size and circular shape of the eye-facets, and to the vestigial condition of the jaws. Dr. Scott showed sections of caries of teeth prepared by Dr. Baker, showing the micro-organisms filling the dentinal tubules— also photo- graphs of the sections coloured to represent the original sections. Proe. G. CoIvE showed a section of banded Gneiss from Cushendun Co. Antrim. It has been recognised that some gneisses result from parallel igneous intrusions. In this case a eurite has formed parallel veins in what appears to be an altered basalt, and granular crystals of quartz and felspar from the eurite appear scattered in the latter rock. Deformation of the mingled rocks, accompanied by re-arrangement and re-crystallisation of quartz and felspar, has gone on subsequently to the intrvision. Mr. M'Ardi^E exhibited specimens of Lejeunca calyptrifolia. Hook., in. fruit, which he collected last year at Auniscaul, Co. Kerry. On account of the small size and scarcity of the plant it is rarely met with in this condition. The perianth is large for the size of the plant, somewhat campanulate in ovitline, with five projecting angles or teeth at the apex, which are decurrent to the base. Cal3^ptra spherical, strongly reticulated, with a stalk or peduncle about twice its length, divided by transverse septa into a number of tubular-like cells. Mr. W. N. AivTvEN exhibited a drawing of Scapania aspera, Mull. ,. which he made from plants collected by Mr. M'Ardleinthe Co. Cavan. The plate shows a plant the natural size, portion of a branch, magnified leaves and leaf cells, bracts, perianth with spinose ciliated mouth highly magnified, a shoot wdtli gemmae at apex of leaves. Mr. Allen also exhibited a good figure of Metzgeria conjugata (Dill) Lindb., clearly showing the moncecious character of the plant. These excellent delineations with others are for Mr. M'Ardle's coming paper on plants collected by him in the Co. Cavan for the Flora and Fauna Committee of the Royal Irish Academy. Professor A. C. Haddon exhibited sections of a small sea-anemone commensal with a calcareous polyzoon which he had collected in Torres Straits. The actinian has not yet been determined, but it is probably the same as that recorded by Prof, W- A, Haswell, in the Proc. L. S., N. S. Wales, vol. vii., p. 608. January 17th.— The Club met at Dr. Frazer'S. Prof. G. C01.E showed the glassy edge of an oliviue-basalt dyke, S. of Annalong Port, Co. Down. This is a pleasing and transparent example of basalt passing into brown tachylyte, with very trifling development of magnetite, so that the glass resembles the modern examples from the Pacific islands far more than the well-known and darker types from the western isles of Scotland. Mr. F". W. Moore showed Ncdria sangtiinea, Fr. This pretty and interesting species was found growing on a decaying pseudo-bulb of an unnamed Eriopsis imported fiom Brazil. As seen growing, the colour was extremely bright, but under the microscope it was much duller. It belongs to Cook's fourth section '« Denudatse," and is characterised by having the perithecia ovate in shape, and blood red in colour, the sporidia being elliptical and colourless. 74 The Irish Naturalist, Mr. Greenwood Pim exhibited Macrosporium cheiranthi from damp wall-paper, showing its peculiar muricate spores. Prof. T. Johnson exhibited Girandia sphacelarioides, a brown alga found growing on the leaves oi Zostera at Roundstone (Moynes) in Co, Galway. The plant is recorded from the south coast of England and is an addition to the Irish marine flora. The peculiar lateral wart-like sori of sporangia were shown, and Goebel's investigations on the mode of reproduction in the species were described. On the same Zosiera leaves were growing plants of Castagnea zostera;, Thin., showing plurilociilar zoosporangia. This brown alga was found growing on the leaves of the marine monocotyledon Zostera at Moynes near Roundstone, the only known Irish locality. Here it was discovered fifty years ago by McCalla, and is recorded in Harvey's Phycologia Britannica under the synonym Mesogloia virescens /3 Zoostericola. The species is also recorded from the south coast of England and the west of Ireland. Mr. McArdIvE exhibited a proliferous form oiLejeimea serpyllifolia^which. he collected last year in Mr. Hickson's wood at Lispoll, near Auniscaul, Co. Kerry. The adventitious shoots grew from all parts of the branch. Under a high magnifying power he showed a portion of the stem and attached leaf lobule, with young shoots arising from each. The leaves showed still more remarkable examples of adventitious shoots. The specimens showed the first stage, the outgrowth of a simple cell from the margin ; the second stage in which several additional cells were formed ; a perfect leaf with five adventitious .shoots in various stages of development, on some the leaves were well marked; and a further stage, a shoot with three leaves and two perfectly formed stipules or folioles, and at the attachment of the stem to the old leaf, root hairs ; the contents of the cells had disappeared, the walls near the attachment showing disintegration. Mr. McArdle also exhibited a drawing of five figures demonstrating the different stages of development of the young plantlets of Lejewiea, and a proliferous form of Meizgeria conjiigata, a specimen under the micro- scope showed secondary branching of an adventitious shoot from the thallus. This uncommon mode of re-production in Lejeimca will form the subject of an article on the vegetative propagation amongst Hepaticae, with plate, Avhich will shortly appear in the Irish Naturalist. Mr. G. H. Carpenter showed a slide (prepared by Mr. J, E. Duerden) of a hydroid, Boiigainvillia ramosa, in which some of the cups were much enlarged and thickened, forming a kind of " gall" inhabited by the parasitic embryo of a Pycno^on. Clinging to the stem of the hydroid was a larval Nymphon^ but it could not be definitely stated that the embryos in the cups belonged to the same species. Dohrn and others have described the embryos of Phoxichilidiiun as sometimes parasitic in the polyps of Podocoryne. Dr. M'Weeney showed j5ure cultures and a slide of the Bacillus diphtheria (Klebs-I^offler) obtained from a diphtheritic membrane sent to him for bacteriological examination by a Dublin physician. The micro- organisms were quite typical and were contained in pure cultivation from the membrane. The patient recovered. Mr. J. N. HAI.BERT exhibited two very rare Irish beetles, Micropeplus iesserula, Curt, and Pseudopsis sulcata, Newm., from the collection of Mr. A. H. Haliday, the former taken in a marsh near Holywood {Entomologist, vol. I., 1840), the latter also from Holywood, and Avoca. He was in- duced to bring these forward as both were entirely overlooked as Irish in Canon Fowler's " British Coleoptera." Judging from the records, both are rare in England, where Psetidopsis sulcata seems not to have been taken north of Yorkshire. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 75 BEI,FAST NaTURAI^ISTS' FiEI^D CI.UB. January 15.— The President in the Chair.— Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., stated that a few weeks ago he had visited Divis Mountain in company with Mr. S. A. Stewart to examine Boulder-cla}', which Mr, Stewart had observed high up on the mountain exposed in vSections by the side of a mountain stream. Two gatherings of this clay (about 10 lbs. weight) were made at the height of about 1,300 and 1,400 feet respec- tively above the sea. These on being microscopically examined were found to contain two fry of mollusca, one Buccimwi imdatnvi, the other doubtfully referable to Littorina litomlis, also a foraminifer, Nonionina depressula, and six ostracoda too young to name with certainty. Through the courtes}- of Mr. Gray he had also received a few pounds weight of Boulder-clay from WolthilljSoo feet above the sea. In thissamplewerefoundthreespecimens oi Nonionina deprcssida. These discoveries are of interest on account of the great height at which the clay occurs and of the marine organisms found in it ; foraminifera and ostracoda have not hitherto been recorded from local Boulder-clay at such high elevations. Some discussion ensued, in which Messrs. William Gray, M.R.I.A. ; W. Swanston, F.G.vS. ; J. Templeton, and others took part. The President then called upon Professor A. C. Haddon, of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, to deliver his lecture upon "Modern Relics of Olden Time," which dealt with primitive means of transport, imple- ments, ornaments and ceremonies which still survive among the peasantr}^ in Ireland. The lecture was fully illustrated by a representa- tive series of slides of Irish and foreign subjects, the lantern being worked by Mr, R. Welch. Messrs W. H. Patterson, Wm. Gray, Richard Patter- son, and R. Welch having spoken, the wish being expressed that Professor Haddon would deliver a course of lectures next season under the auspices of the Club, the President conveyed to the lecturer the best thanks of the Club. The following new members were then elected ; — Miss M'Cutcheon, B.A., Messrs. J. M'Clelland Martin, W.J. Stewart, and Charles J. lyanyon. BeIvEast Natural, History and Phii^osophicai. Society. February 5th. — The following papers were read— John MacCormac, M.D., "Education and Innerv^ation." Illustrated by a special series of lantern photo-.slides. SeaTON F. Mii,i,igan, M.R.I.A.— " Antiquarian Collections in Ulster, with special reference to the forthcoming Exhibition in the L,inen Hall." Dubinin Naturai^ists' FieIvD Ci,ub. January 8th. — The Annual Meeting of the Club was held at the Royal Irish Academy House, the President (G. H. Carpenter, B.Sc.) in the chair. The Secretary (R. Li^oyd Praeger) read the annual report, of which the leading features were as follows : — The membership of the Club stands at 158, having risen by over 25 per cent, during the year. The summer excursions and winter evening meetings were all carried out as arranged, and the attendance of members and visitors at them was satisfactory. The winter session was opened by a conversazione, which was largely attended. A highly successful three-day excursion was made to Fernioy and Lismore, in conjunction with the Cork and Linierick Naturalists' Field Clubs. Very good natural history work was done on the excursions, the results including the male and female, respectively, of two animals of which the other sex alone had previously been known, and a number of plants and animals not hitherto known in Ireland, or very rare in that country. A successful course of lectures on Botany were given by Prof. Johnson during the spring. A committee has been appointed to investigate the flowerless plants of Dublin and Wicklow and the flowering plants of Wicklow. The Committee have taken part in the formation of an Irish Field Club Union, the objects of which are to bring about an increased intercourse between the Clubs, to furnish mutual 76 The Irish Naturalist, assistance, and to look after matters of general Field Club interest. The proceedings of the Club have been regularly reported, and selected papers printed in full, in the Irish Naturalist. The Committee return thanks to the Royal Irish Academy for the continued loan of their rooms. The Treasurer (Prof. T. Johnson) subsequently submitted the statement of accounts, which showed a larger expenditure than usual, which was ex- plained by the Treasurer. The adoption of the report and accounts was moved by Prof. A. C. Haddon, M.A., and seconded by Mr, W. F. de V. Kane, M.A., and passed, after a discussion, in which Mr. J. J. Dowling, Prof. Cole, Miss Hensman, Mr, J. B, Palmer, the Treasurer, and the Sec- retary took part; the opinion was generally expressed that so much money should not be spent on the excursions and conversazione. The President next declared the officers for 1895, whose names had been submitted to the last meeting, duly elected, and referred to the regretted departure from Dublin of 'Mr. J. E- Duerden, a most useful member of Committee. A vote of thanks to the Royal Irish Academy for the use of their rooms for the purposes of the winter meetings was proposed by Miss Hensman, seconded by Mr. J. B- Palmer, and passed. A donation of ^^5 to the funds of the Irish Naturalist was proposed by Mr. J. J. Dowling and seconded by Mr. R. P. Vowell. The proposer and seconder spoke in complimentary terms of the good natural history work which is being done by this journal. Mr. Kane moved and Mr, M. J. Buckley seconded an amendment that, instead oi £'S, one-tenth of the gross receipts of the Club for the coming year should be devoted to the magazine ; this arrangement would slightly increase the proposed grant. After a discussion, in which Prof. Johnson, Mr. Dowling, and Prof. Haddon took part, the amendment was,_by per- mission, withdrawn. Mr. Carpenter,onbehalf of the editorsof the journal, thanked the Club for their continued support of this enterprise On the motion of Prof Haddon, seconded by Prof. Cole, a vote of thanks was given to the Press for their courtesy in reporting the proceedings of the Club. The following were then elected members of the Club : — E. P. Farran, Mrs. Merewether, Miss J. Orr, H. J. Seymour. Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger subsequently exhibited some curious varieties of the Mistletoe. In one of these the leaves and stem were variegated with yellow ; in the other the stem divided at each node into four or six branches, instead of the normal two. Prof. Johnson gave his views on the origin of this abnormalit3\ Mr. Praeger also showed some remark- ably overgrown specimens of plants found this year in Ireland. January 22nd.— The President in the Chair. Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., of the Belfast Nat. Field Club lectured on " Foraminifera, Recent and Extinct. " The President, in introducing the lecturer, pointed out that was the first meeting held in Dublin under the Irish Field Club Union scheme, one object of which was to arrange for occasional inter- changes of lecturers among the Irish Clubs, that they might know more of each other's work. Mr. Wright proceeded with his lecture, which dealt fully with the classification and structure of the various forms of Foraminifera, and with their distribution, recent and fossil. The lecture was illustrated with a large series of diagrams, and with many microsco- pic slides. A vote of thanks to Mr. Wright was passed on the motion of Mr. W. S. Green, M.A., H.M. Inspector of Fisheries, seconded by Prof. Haddon, M.A. February, 12th. — Prof. C01.E, Vice-President, in the Chair. Mr. H. K. Gore CuThberT read a paper on ''The Wild Bees of Glencullen," which is published in our current issue. Prof. Sofi,i,AS, F.R.S., and Mr. R. IvEOYD Praeger contributed a paper on the Boulder-clay of Kill-o'-the Grange. This paper will shortly appear in our pages. In the discussion on each paper which ensued. Rev. T. B. Gibson, Mr. N. Colgan, Mr. Cuthbert, Mr. Praeger, Prof. J Johnson, and the Chairman took part. The following new members were elected : — Richard Burnett, Miss A. Jellett, Lieut. -Colonel Plunkett, J. R. Redding, Miss A. B. Stack, Miss Gertrude Webb. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 77 Limerick Naturai,ists' Fiei Coolmore, in carrion. S. aeneus, F. ) Cocclnellldae. Cocclnclla vM-punctata, L.) Coolmore. C. xxii-punctata, L. i Hyperaspis reppensis, Herbst.— Coolmore, a few specimens washed up on the beach. It has not been previously recorded from Ireland. Nltidulidas. Brachypterus pubescens, Er.— Bruckless. Bi urtlcae, F. — Coolmore. 9^ The Irish Naturalist. Lathrldlldse. Cononlmus nodlfer, Westw. > ^ i Enicmus transvcrsus, 01. \ *-oolmore. Cryptophagrldae. Cryptophagus scanicus, L., v. patruells, Sturm. ) ^ , IVIIcratnDe vlni, Panz. j Loolmore. Byrrhldae. ByiThus fasclatus, F.) ^ , ^1,1.1, Cytilus varius, F. \ Coolmore, on the beach. Scarabaeldaei Aphodlus fossor, L.— Bruckless. A, rufesccns, F. — Coolmore. A, fCBtlduSy F. — Coolmore. The only other record is Bellurgan, Co. Louth. A. nitldulus, F. — Coolmore. I have also taken it at Greenore. A. punctato-sulcatus, Stm. — Coolmore, Bruckless. Serica brunnea, L. > r^^i^^^^o iviclolontha vulgaris, F.]" Coolmore. Phyllopertha horticola, L.— Coolmore, a number on the beach. Elateridae. Lacon murinus, L.— Coolmore, a large number washed up on the beach ; and I also took it on Amuiophila on the sandhills. Cryptohypnus quad riguttatus, Lap. — Bruckless. I took a good many under stones on the shore. I have also taken it at Ardara, and it is recorded from Dublin and Killiney. Attious hsemorrhoidalis, F. — Coolmore. Adrastus limbatus, F. — Coolmore, Coxtown. Agrfotes lineatus, L- ) Dolopius marginatus, L. [ Coolmore. Corymbitcscuprcus, F. ) C. tessulatus, F. — Coolmore, washed up on the beach in some num- bers. The only other Irish record is in M'Nab's list. " Dublin, taken by Mr. Tardy." C. Qucrcus, Gyll. > Coolmore. V. ochroptcrus, Steph.) Dascillidaa. Dascillus cervlnus, Latr. — Coolmore, numbers washed upon beach. Helodes minuta, L. — Coolmore, Coxtown. H. marglnata, F. I Coolmore. Cyphon coarctatus, Payk. / ^ '""'^ Malacoderinldae. Telephorus bicolor, F. — Coolmore, Bruckless, Templenew. T. flavllabris, Fall.— Bruckless. Chrysomelidas. Donacla crasslpcs, F. — Coolmore. D. vcrslcolorea, Brahm. — Templenew. D. sericca, L. — Coolmore, Templenew. Lema Ilchcnis, Voet. — Coxtown. Chrysomcia pollta, L.— Coolmore. C. fastuosa, Scop. — Coolmore, a single specimen on the beach, previously recorded from Courtown, Co. Wexford. Castroldea virldula, De G. \ Phaedon tumldulus, Germ. \ P. armoraclae, L. > Coolmore. Lochmea caprcae, L. I CalcrucellacalmarlensiSjL. / Report 071 insects collected at Coohnore, Co. Donegal. 99 Haltlcaerlcetiy All. — Coolmore, a single specimen washed up on the beach. Phyllotreta nemorum, L. 1 r 1 Crcpldodcra helxines, L. \ '-ooimore. Psylliodes plcina, Marsh.— Templenew. Casslda flaveola, Thunb.— Coolmore. IVIordellidae. Anaspls ruflcollis, F.— Coxtown. Anthlcidse. Anthicus floral ls» L.— Bruckless. CurcuIIonidae. Aplon aprlcans, Herbst. ? r^ 1 * A. carduorum, Kirby. \ '-oo^more. A.ervl, Kirby. — Coolmore, Coxtown. Polydrusus pterygromalis, Boh. ) ^a 1 r^ ^ Phyllotolus argcntatus, L. \ Coolmore, Coxtown. Phllopedon gretninatus, F.— Coolmore. Sitones Ilneatus, L. \ Hypcra nlgrirostrls, F. > Coolmore. Hylobiusabietis, Iv. ) Orchestes quercus, L. — Coxtown, a single specimen by beating Oaks ; also recorded from Cultra, Co. Down, and Dublin. O. fagrl, L,. — Coxtown. Ceuthorrhynchldlus troglodytes, F.) <- 1 Phytoblus canal leu latus, Fahr. j ^oo^™ore. HEMIPTERA. Zlcrona coerulea, L. — Coolmore, a single specimen washed up on the beach. I can find no previous record from Ireland. It seems to be of southern distribution in England. Cerrls thoracica, Schum., H. S. — Coolmore. C. lacustrls, ly. — Templenew. Nabis flavomarglnatus, Scholtz,— Coxtown, Salda Ilttoralls, L. Icoolmore Anthocorls sylvestris, L, j ' A. ncmoralis, F,— Mervagh. IVIonalocorls flllcis, L.— Bruckless. Lygus pratcnsis, F.— Coolmore. Phylus melanocephalus, L.— Coxtown, beating Oaks. Psallus lepldus, Fieb.— Coxtown on Ash. P. varlans, H. S.— Coxtown on Oaks. lYIacropsls lanio, L.— Coxtown. I have also taken it at Loughgilly, Co. Armagh. Bythoscopus aim, Schr.— Mervagh. HYWIENOPTERA ACULEATA. Crabro dlmldlatus, F.— Bruckless. They had their nests in holes in a large boulder on the shore. Bombus hortuorum.— Coolmore. {To be concluded^ loo The Irish Naturalist. ON THE FKNKSTKIvIvID^, WITH REFKRKNCE TO IRISH CARBONIFEROUS STRATA. BY GRKNVII,I.E A. J. COLK, M.R.I. A., F.G.S. Professor of Geology in the Royal College of Science for Ireland. In the present preliminary paper, I can do little more than call attention to the beauty and variety of a family of fossil polyzoa, the remains of which are widely distributed across Ireland. The Fenestellids are among the commonest fossils wherever the great Carboniferous Limestone retains traces of organic remains ; members of the famil}^ are figured in almost every text-book of geology ; and the reticulated character of their funnel-shaped or spreading zoaria renders their detection easy, even on rough surfaces of the rock. The family, which was a favoured one in the days of Sir Richard Griffith and Frederick M'Coy, has suffered in recent years from the criticism of Mr. G. W. Shrubsole^, who has been able largely to reduce the number of species of the type- genus Fenestclla. His papers, we should note, do not deal with the '* Fenestellidse," as ordinarily understood, but with Fenestellc^ only ; and they show how species have been founded, not only upon imperfect specimens, but upon the characters of different portions of the same zoarium. However, Mr. Shrubsole's method of dealing with the super- ficial markings and accessory parts of the Fenestellid zoarium was, to say the least, drastic and indiscriminate, and formed a marked contrast to the careful observation expended upon these details on the other side of the Atlantic. It may fairly be said that Mr. H. A. Prout, Professor James Hall, and Mr. E. O. Ulrich have taught us much of the beauty of our own fossil polyzoa ; and the abundance of material in our Carboniferous strata is surely sufficient to rouse us now to emulation. The delicate outer structures of polyzoan colonies are bCvSt preserved in shales ; but a great deal can be learned from the ^ " A Review of the British Carboniferous FenestelHdae," Quart, /ouj-n. Geol.Soc. London, vol. xxxv. (1879), p. 275; "A Review and Description of the various species of British Upper-Sihirian FenestelHdse," ibid., vol. xxxvi., p. 241 ; " Further Ncrtes on the Carboniferous Fenestellidae," ibid., vol. xxxvii., p. 178. Oil the Fe7iestellidcB — Irish Carboniferous Strata. loi weathered surfaces of fossiliferous limestones, and from the free use of sections. The general character of the Feyiestellidce is as follows : — The zoarium forms a delicate calcareous mesh-work, on one surface of which the cellules or zooecia occur. These are grouped along the main bars or colum^i^ of the mesh. The columns bifurcate as the zoarium grows broader from its base, and the adjacent ones either approach and join one another at intervals, then separating again, or are united by little cross-bars called dissepiniejits. In the former case, elliptical apertures, called fenestrules, are left between the sinuous bars ; in the latter case the fenestrules, elliptical or rectangular, are bounded on each side by the main columns, and above and below by the dissepiments. The fenestrules are far larger than the zooecial apertures. Ulrich^ admits the genus Thainniscus into the family, and is thereby forced to extend his definition to forms that possess no fenestrules ; but this seems an unnecessary complication. The genera included by different authors vary somewhat, but amount to about fourteen, and the greatest development of the family as a whole is in the Carboniferous period. For our purposes, the following genera are of immediate interest, and will be briefly discussed in order : — 1. Phyllopora, King {Retepora auct.) The columns are rounded, and are sinuous in the plane of the zoarium, uniting with one another laterally and leaving practically circular fenestrules. The zoarium is funnel-shaped when perfect, as in so many of the Fenestellids, and the zooecia open on its outer surface, forming two or more rows on each column. Orduz'ician to Permian. 2. Polypora, M'Coy ^ The columns are round, and connected by dissepiments. The zooecia are in 2 to 8 rows (Ulrich) on each column ; M'Coy observed 3 to 5 rows. There is no keel between the rows, but sometimes (Ulrich) a line of strong tubercles occurs along the column. Sihtrian to Permian. 3. Fenestralla, Prout. lAke Polypora, hvLtvfith a. ridig&or keel a. long each column, on each side of which there are two rows of zooecia. Only one species is known, from the Lower Carboniferous of the United States. ^ These were unfortunately styled " interstices" by M'Coy, Young, and others, a name more suggestive in the intervening apertures in the mesh. ^"Palaeozoic Bryozoa," Geological Survey of Illinois, vol. viii. (1890), P- 395- ' Synopsis of the Characters of the Carboniferous Limestone Fossils of Ireland (Dublin, 1844), p. 206, io2 *rhe Irish Naturalist. 4. Fcncstella, Lonsdale. The columns are round, and are united by dissepiments, slighter than themselves, as in Polypora. There is a keel, as in Fenestralia ; but there is only one row of zooecia on each side of it. Silurian to Permian ; most abundant in Carboniferous. 4a. Archimedes, Lesueur. IaIlq Fenestella, but wound spirally about a central axis, with the zooecia on the internal or upper face. Carboniferous, 4b. Ptriopora (Ptylopora), M'Coy^ (Scouler MS.). Like Fen- cstella, but columns diverging pinnately on each side of a central and thicker axis. Carboniferous. 5. Semlcoscfnium, Prout. (= Carinopora^ Nicholson). Two rows of zooecia, as in Fenesiella, but the dissepiments are thicker and shorter, and the keel on each column is greatly developed. This striking feature is often thickened near its crest or in its central portion, and its form can be well studied in sections.- Silurian to Devonian. 6. Unitrypa, Hall. Like semicoscinium, but the crests of the prominent keels send out cross-bars which connect them. Sometimes there are two bars to each fenestrule, and sometimes there is one to each zocecium. Uppermost Silurian to Devonian. 7. Isotrypa, Hall. Like Semicosciniiuii, but the keels are thin at first and then expand, the long plate-like summits that are thus produced being connected by bars at regular intervals ; these bars correspond to the dissepiments beneath them, and form a sort of outer mesh work. Silurian to DeiJ0)iia7i. 8. Hem itry pa, Phillips.^ In this genus the correspondence of structure between the outer mesh and the inner fenestrated zoarium is carried farther than in Isotrypa^ and a delicate network, which may be styled the legmen,^ covers the face of the zoarium, and is supported by pillars rising from keels like those of an ordinary Fenesiella. Each row of pillars, in fact, bears a rod running parallel to the column of the zoarium which lies beneath it, and these rods give off bars, producing a network between each pair of rods. The circular apertures of this network correspond to the zooecia underlying them. Silurian to Carbonifei-ous. In the above synopsis the genera are arranged with an eye to their culmination in the exquisite details of Hemitrypa, which was at one time nearly consigned to oblivion by European palaeontologists, its tegmen being somewhat negli- gently regarded as a parasite/ The range of this genus makes 1 Op. cit. p. 200. -See, for instance, Nicholson and Lydekker, "Manual of Palaeontology," vol. i., p. 625, fig. 469 G. 3 " Palaeozoic Fossils of Cornwall, Devon, and West Somerset." (Ordnance Geological Survey, 1841), p. 27. ^ G. A. J. Cole, " On Hemitrypa hibernica," Proc. Royal Dublin 80c., vol. viii. (1893), p. 137. ^Ibid.^i^. 133-5. ....... 0)1 the Feyiestellidce — Irish Carboniferous Strata. 103 one hope that further research may show that some of its relatives also reached the Carboniferous period ; and the number of Fenestellids recorded by Sir R. Griffith' from the base of the Irish Carboniferous strata points to the shaly beds of the south as a possible field of observation. But Hemitrypa seems the natural survivor of the series that leads on up to it from Semico scinium, and this genus is fortunately already well known in Ireland. The great variet}^, however, of Fenestellid species now established in the United States makes a more thorough examination of our Carboniferous forms desirable. Specimens showing outer coats, even if these resemble parasitic crusts, are of especial value, and may possibly furnish new examples of the beautiful He^nitrypa series. Even in museums, a large number of Fenestellid specimens are merely casts of various parts of the zoarium ; and at any time some choice example may be discovered, which may largely improve our knowledge of a genus. The observation of the "eight radial denticles," pointing inwards from the mouth of the zooecia, in Actinostoma,- was a striking step forward in this direction, and similar structures may have existed in many Fcnestellce or Polyporce. The controversy, again, as to the nature of Patceocoryfie^ shows how even important appendages of these complex polyzoa may be lost from all . but the most exceptional specimens. Too often, moreover, workers have been glad to set aside such discoveries as "abnormalities" and "parasitic growths," without going to the length of sup- porting their assertions by a section. A great deal can be learned of the structure of a Fenestellid zoarium by merely grinding down two surfaces perpendicular to one another and to the face of the zoarium (vertical and horizontal sections), and examining these, when moistened, with a dissecting microscope or even with a hand-lens. The Fenestellidae have hardly yet revealed all their secrets to us. Their zooecia, as is now known, depart widely from the simple cyclostomatous type, and Ulrich,^ with great reason, 1 "The Localities of the Irish Carboniferous Fossils," /^w^«- Geol. Soc. Dublin^ vol. ix. (1S60-62), p. 53. - Prof. J. Young and J. Young, " New Carboniferous Polyzoa," QuarL Jotirn. Geol. Soc. London, vol. xxx (1874), p. 681. ^ Ibidf p. 684. Nicholson and Lydekker, op. cit., p. 624. * Oj>. cit.y p. 344. lo4 The Irish Naturalist. has adopted and extended Vine's suborder Cryptostomata for their reception. The cryptostomatous zooecium is typically ovoid, as in the Cheilostomata, with an aperture towards one end ; but, as growth proceeds, the rim of this aperture is pro- longed out into a calcareous tubular vestibule, the axis of which is oblique to that of the zooecium. I cannot help think- ing that, in the highlj^ keeled Fenestellids, the polypides per- manently protruded themselves even beyond their vestibules, and ultimatel}^ became surrounded by a membranous tube which extended as far as the tegnien. Enough has been said, however, to indicate the lines on which observation may profitably proceed ; and I need scarcely add that I should be grateful for the loan of any well preserved specimens from Irish Carboniferous strata. The surface cannot be too greatly ** encrusted " by what may seem an outer sheath ; the zooecia and fenestrules may be entirely disguised by the meshwork of a rude or a more delicate tegmen. The forms, moreover, with well marked keels, or merely with lines of tubercles, all have an important bearing on the evolution of the more elaborate genera. NOTES. ZOOLOGY. ARACHNIDS. Nev\^ Irish Spiders from Londonderry. — During the latter lialfof 1894, 1 sent Mr. G. H. Carpenter some spiders from Magilligan, Wahvorth, and Rathmullan. Among them he found specimens of eight species new to Ireland: — Zora spiuimana, Cryphoeca sylvicola, Hahnia clegans, Ltpiyphantes alacris, Tmeticus abnori/ns, Microneta viaria, Xysticiis ei-ratiais, and Hdiophaniis Jlavipes. Jas. N. Mii/'^/.f/ar^'w/«^ in Ireland. Jonrn. of Bot. vol. vi., pp. 254, 321-3, with plate. 1868. Trifoliti77t subterraneiim in Ireland, i.e., pp. 208. 1868. Note on Equisetum Moorei. t. c, pp. 253-4. 1868. Hippophae rha?nnoides. t. c, pp. 255-6, 373. 1869. Discovery of Aira uliginosa at Roundstone, Co. Galway. Journ. of Bot,, vol. vii., pp. 265-6. 1870. Notes on Scirpiis parvulus. Trans. Edin. Bot. Soc-, vol. x., pp. 160-1. 1870. On Callitriche obtnsangula as a British plant. Journ. of Bot., vol. viii., pp. 342-3. 1871. A Supplement to the Flora Vectensis. Journ. of Bot., vol. ix., pp. 72-6, 135-145, 167-172, 202-211. 1871. On Acorus caia/nus as a. Native, t.c, -p. 246. 1871. Cerastium pzimilwn in Jersey. Ar. , p. 371. 1 87 1. On Spiranthes Romanzoviana, Brit. Ass. Rep., xli., p. 129. 1871. On Eriophorum alpinuin as a British Plant. A c, p. 133. 1873. Recent additions to Flora of Ireland. Proc. Roy. Ir. Acad. {Sc.) (2) vol. ii., pp. 256-293. 1873. Abridgment of above with additions. Journ. of Bot., vol. xi., pp. 115-T19, 142-148. 1873. Panicum capillarexn^sseyi. t.c, p. 141. 1874. New station for Erica Mackayana. Journ. of Bot., vol. xii., p. 306. 1876. Lycopodiwn inundatum in Kerry. Journ. of Bot , vol. xiv., p. 373. 1876. Report on the Flora of Inishbofin, Galway. Proc. R. I. A., vol. ii., PP- 553-578. 1876. On the occurrence in Ireland of Nuphar intermeditini. \Brit. Ass. Rep., xlvi., p. 144. 1877. Naias flexilis in Kerry. Journ. of Bot., vol. xv., p. 350. 1878. [Conjointly withD. Moore.] Catalogue of the Flowering-plants and Ferns of Dublin and Wicklow, for Brit. Assoc. Guide. Reprinted with corrections in Sci. Proc. R. D. S. (n.s), vol. i., pp. 190-227. 1880. Trifoliiwi maritinmm in Ireland. Journ. of Bot.,Yo\. xviii., pp. 233-4. 1882. Sisyrinchitnn Bermudiatiuni in Kerry. Journ. of Bot., vol. xx., p. 8. 1882. Aira atpina in Kerry. t.c.,-p. 87. 1884. Pembroke and Glamorganshire Plants, fourn. of Bot., vol. xxii., pp. 43-6. 1889. Erica mediterranea var. hibernica in Achil. fourn. of Bot., vol. xxvii., p. 118. Alexa7ider Goodman More. 115 1892. Ciisctita epithymuni in Ireland. Jotirn. of BoL, vol. xxx., p. 14. 1892. Trichomanes radicans in Spain, t. c.y p. 86. 1892. Silene maritima growing inland, t.c.^ p. 87. 1892. Vaccinium vitis-idcea at low level, t.c.^ p. 88. 1892. Rubus chamxtnorus as an Irish Plant, t. <:., p. 217. 1893. A Sketch of Irish Botany, in Guy's " South of Ireland Pictorial Guide" (pp. 142-6). Reprinted with corrections. Journ. of Bot., vol. xxxi., pp. 299-304. ZOOLOGY. 1849. Regiclus ignicapilhis at Bembridge. Zoologist, vol. vii., p. 2526. 1850. Uptipa epops at Bembridge. ZooL, vol. viii., p. 2800. 1853. Sylvia tithys at Bembridge. ZooL, vol. xi., p. 3753. 1853. Correction of Error respecting Regidus ignicapilhis. i.e., 4014. 1853. Migratory Birds in the Isle of Wight, t.c, p. 4094- 1854. Vespertilio serotinus in the Isle of Wight. ZooL, vol. xii., p. 4179. 1854. Bartramia longicatida as a British Bird, t.c, p. 4254* 1854. Zygoena jninos. — Note on, in Ireland, &c. t.c, p. 4435* 1855. On three species of Divers. Zool., vol. xiii., p. 4628. 1858. [Conjointly with T. Boyd.] On the geographical distribution of Butterflies in Gt. Britain. Zool., vol. xvi., pp. 6018-6027. 1858. Migratory Birds in the Isle of Wight, t.c, p. 6270. 1859. Remarks on the Migration of Birds. Zool., vol. xvii., pp. 6531-4. i860. Outlines of the Natural History of the Isle of Wight. London. (See also under Botany. ) i860. Rare birds observed in the Isle of Wight. Zool.., vol. xviii., 6849- 6860. i860. Arctic Tern nesting on fresh water at Lough Carra, Mayo, /.c, 6891. i860. Deilephila lineata on the Isle of Wight, t.c, p. 7107. i860. Calosoma sycophanta on the Isle of Wight, t.c, p. 7157. 1865. On the Distribution of Birds in Great Britain during the Nesting Season. Ibis. (2), vol. i., pp. 1-27, 1 19-142, 425-458. 1865. Colias ediisa on Howth, Dublin. Zool. (2), vol. i., p. 151. 1869. Note on the Animal of Limncea involuta. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (4) vol. iv., p. 46. 1870. Golden Eagle on Snowdon. Zool. (2), vol. v., p. 2381. 1870. Report on the Collections made in Kerry. Journ. R. Dub. Sot\, vol. v., pp. 389-394- 1870. Report on Experiments made in 1869 with the Japanese Silkworm, Bombyx Yatna-mai. t.c. pp. 486-9." 1872. Food Plant of Taneocampa rubricosa. Zool. (2.), vol. vii., p. 3027. . 1874. Salpa spinosa in the W. of Ireland. Zool. (2), vol. ix., p. 4202- 1875. Dinoteuthis proboscideus, a gigantic Cephalopod stranded at Dingle, Kerry, 200 years ago. Zool. (2). vol. x., pp. 4526-4532. 1875. Architeuthis dux,2. gigantic Squid recently captured at Innishboffin. t.c, pp. 4569-4571. 1875. A gigantic Squid on the West Coast of Ireland. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xvi., pp. 123-4. 1878. Lists of Fishes and Birds in the Fauna of Co. Dublin, for Brit. Assoc. Guide (pp. 71-90). Dublin. 1878. Delphinus albirostris on the Irish coast Zool. (3), vol. ii., p. 292. 1878. Blennius galerita, in Dingle and Connemara. t.c, p. 297. ii6 The Irish Naturalist. 1880. Monticola cyanus (Blue Thrush) in Ireland, an error. Zool. (3). vol. iv., p. 67. 1880. Does the Long-eared Owl Hoot ? t.c.^ p. 487. 1881. On the alleged former existence of the Ptarmigan in Cumberland and Wales. Zool. (3), vol. v., pp. 44-47. 1881. Hooting of the Long-eared Owl. t.c, p. 56-57. l88r. Puffirms griseus in Ireland, t.c, p. 334. 1881. Sabine's Gull near Dublin, t.c, p. 472. 1881. Falco islandus in Ireland, t.c, p. 488. 1882. Porzana Bailloni in Waterford, erroneously supposed to be " Crex pusilla.'" Zool. (3), vol. vi., p. 113. 1882. Uncommon variety of grouse from Maj^o. t.c, p. 148. 1882. Echinorhimcs spinosus (Spinous Shark) in Dublin, i.e., p. 434. 1882. Daption capensis (the Cape Pigeon) in Ireland. Ibis. (4), vol. vi., p. 346. 1883. Snowy Owl in Donegal. Zool. (3), vol. vii., p. 80. 1884. Greenland Falcon in Donegal. Bonito in Galway. Zool. (3), vol. viii., p. 31. 1885. A List of Irish Birds, showing the species contained in the Science and Art Museum, Dublin. Dublin. 1885. Ttirdtis variiis in Mayo. Zool. (3), vol. ix., p. in. 1885. Echinorhimis spinosus in Galway. t.c, p. 311. 1885. Wood Sandpiper in Wicklow. t.c, p. 438. 1887. Science and Art Museum, Dublin. Guide to the Natural History Department. Series i, Vertebrate Animals (Recent), Mammals and Birds. Dublin. 1882-8. [Conjointly with Richard M. Barrington.] Reports on the Migration of Birds, as observed at Lighthouses and Lightships on the Irish Coast. London, West, Newman & Co., 18S2 -5. Edin- burgh, McFarlane & Brskine, 1886-8. (Short Abstracts in Brit. Ass. Rep., lii., p. 283 ; liii., pp. 229-233 ; liv., pp. 266-270; Iv., pp. 685-9; Ivi., pp. 264-7 ; Ivii., pp. 70-73 ; Iviii., pp. 146-9.) 1889. Clupea finta at Killarney. Zool. (3), vol. xiii., p. no. 1889. Motella maculata as an Irish fish, t.c, p. 154. 1889. Livincea invohita probably a variety of Z. peregra. t.c, pp. 154-155. 1889. Parrot Crossbill in Ireland, t.c p. i8i. 1889. Athamis nitcscms\Vi\x€i.2>xA. A(^/\)^ p. 270. 152 The Irish Naturalist. remained fluid after the crust had solidified. In the country to the south of the railway are several considerable intrusive masses of hornblendic rocks, which may for the most part be referred to the diorite series. This rock, in process of weathering, splits readily into large blocks, and appears for this reason to have been particular!}^ adapted for transportation by glacial agenc3^ It is frequently met with in the form of boulders in the cuttings, and erratic blocks of the same rock are distributed over a wide area, being particular!}^ numerous on the high ground west of the lower end of lyough Corrib. Cutting all the other rocks and quite unaifected by earth- movements are dykes of fresh-looking basalt and dolerite. These are probably much newer than the other rocks of the countr}^, and may be contemporaneous wdth the Eocene basalts of Ulster. The above general account of the rocks of the district will be useful for a correct appreciation of the following detailed descriptions. The terms right and left are supposed to apply to an observer proceeding from Galway towards Clifden. Cutting at Oughterard. . This cutting is about 700 yards long, with an average depth of 25 feet of rock ; the diagram, fig. i, shows the right face of the cutting. At the Oughterard end is a dark Carboniferous Fig. t. Signal Post. Yi. it. '. . i d Carhoniferous Limestone, q Qnartzite. q^ Fine Quartzile. G Granite. A Hornblende Schist. limestone, with numerous minute shining specks and large concretionary masses of calcite. This limestone is fossil- iferous, some brachiopod shells and crinoid vStems being seen in it. The undisturbed and well-bedded appearance of this exposure forms a marked contrast to the crushed condition of the older rocks which make up the rest of the cutting. After the limestone comes a space occupied b}- the debris of the neighbouring rocks, mixed with clayey matter. Next in order is a great mass of crushed green quartzites, wdiich show Geological Notes from West Galway. 153 well the effect of the violent earth-movenaents previously referred to. This quartzite makes up more than half the cutting ; it contains much iron pyrites, the decomposition of which causes the water flowing" from the cutting to be highly impregnated with iron, and the face of the cutting is for the same reason much stained. Near the centre of the quartzite is a mass of white granite, which seems to have been brought into its present position by faults, the lines of which may be traced by the highl}- crushed appearance of the rock in them. In this granite are some large picked-up pieces of quartzite. Deep blue fluor-spar also occurs as concretions in this granite. A wedge-shaped piece of dark schistose rock, probably a much altered and crushed hornblende schist, has been thrust into the granite apparently by faults. In this schist are some veins of haematite. There seems to be some hornblende schist mixed with the quartzite in parts of the cutting. •At its farther end the quartzite is traversed by numerous small -granite veins, mostly horizontal ; some of them are very felsitic, and much of the felspar is of a greyish black colour (probably labradorite), and the granite often contains calcite veins which may be due to the decomposition of lime felspars. Opposite the signal, a well-marked fault brings in a dark quartzite with larger granite veins ; these, however, have been so much cut up and displaced by minor faults that the granite seems to occur in patches. The green quartzite is cut off suddenly by a well-marked fault, and about twelve feet farther on is another fault, similar and parallel to the last. Between these fault-planes is a mass of greyish-brown rock without granite veins. Professor Cole, to whom I submitted a specimen, suggests that it may be a m3'lonite, formed by the crushing together of quartzite and granite ; but it would do well for a fine-grained quartzite. The fault-planes bounding this rock are worthy of special description ; they are each about a foot wide, with parallel walls, and are occupied by clayey matter and some fragments of the adjacent rocks. In the clay are curious little spherical masses of the rock included between the faults. These spherules are about the vsize of ordinary shot, and might have been formed by an oscillator}^ movement of the adjacent rocks. The last of the faults just described is bounded on its farther side by a mass of red granite. This granite is much 154 The Irish Naturalist, jointed, and is traversed by some well-marked fault-planes. In some places it appears to be slightly foliated, and the joint- planes contain chloritic matter. Near the end of the cutting, the granite approaches the character of a breccia. Through a considerable part of the cutting, the rock is covered with a layer of peat containing numerous tree-roots. On emerging from this cutting the line runs for over a mile through bog. At the farther end of the bog, on the right- hand side of the railway, is a lead mine, from which a considerable quantity of ore was raised. The works have long been abandoned, and are now full of water ; but a full description of them may be found in the survey memoir' of the district. In the rock cast from the mine some good specimens of barytes may be found. About a mile beyond the mine some protrusions of horn- blende schist have been cut through on the right of the line. This schist contains well-developed crystals of hornblende, probably due to secondary crystallization. At one place a lump of epidote, about three inches in diameter, may be seen in the schist. At the bridge over the river, near the village of Garabaldi, are white crystalline limestones with strings of chloritic matter, which give them a schistose appearance. Between the river bridge at I^eam and the road-crossing are hornblende schists with some limestone. Crossing the railway, cutting the limestone and schist, is a narrow dyke of basalt. The surface of the schist at this place is often ice- polished, and .shows very prettily the curled and contorted foliation. Cuttings ai,ong I^ough Bofin. Opposite the south end of the lake are hornblende schists with quartzitic bands. Farther on are schists with granite veins, which contain large flakes of silvery white mica. North of the island are quartzites, some of which are very coarse-grained and schistose. The quartzite is often cut by granite veins. In one place the granite seems to graduate into eurite ; but Professor Cole, on microscopic examination, finds the supposed eurite to be a fine quartz-breccia, with very few evidences of felspar. ^ Memoir of Geol. Survey of Ireland to sheet 95, p. 65. Geological Notes from West Galway, 155 Between the last cutting bj^ the lake and the bridge are coarse and fine hornblende schists. On the left side a small intrusion of garnet-rock may be seen in the schist. This garnet-rock is of frequent occurrence in the country south of the Maam Bay arm of lyOugh Corrib ; but, being a very friable rock, it has suffered much from denudation and does not form a prominent feature. A little farther on are veins of coarse felspathic granite, which cut both the normal granite and the schist. The felspar in these veins is dark grey or black, resembling labradorite ; it gives a lime reaction in the blow- pipe-flame, and I have also verified the presence of lime by microchemical reactions. Some fluor-spar may be seen in the joints in the granite, and there is a small vein of haematite in the schist. At the same place a wide dyke of fresh-looking dolerite crosses the line ; this rock weathers brown, with numerous whitish star- shaped markings. The cutting between the bridge and the public road consists at the lake end of a mass of whitish rock, which contains what appear to be fragments of altered hornblende-schist, and may be due to the disintegration and alteration of that rock. Farther on, a wide dyke of dolerite, similar to that last described, is cut through. Between the public road and I^oughaunierin are some very micaceous quartz schists, and much crushed hornblendic schist. Opposite the houses on the road-side, veins of fels- pathic granite with black felspar may be seen in the schist, while near the lake there is a dyke of dolerite. North of Tawnagh-beg I^ake there is a considerable cutting in granite, which is much crushed, and appears to occupy part of the Maam Valley fault of the Survey. The joints of the granite are generally much chloritised, and the rock is traversed by many veins of pure quartz, which are also bounded by chloritic matter. The quartz was probably deposited from hot waters, at the close of the granite intrusion. Some well-formed clear quartz crystals are to be seen in hollow portions of the veins. The chloritic matter on the edges of the veins effervesces strongly with acid, which probably indicates the presence of carbonate of lime ; and in one specimen from this cutting a mass of garnet with barytes is seen on the edge of the quartz vein. 156 , The hHsh Naturalisf. A little beyond this cutting, a dyke of compact basalt about one foot wide was cut through in making an outlet for the drains. Northward from the granite cutting the Maam Valley fault may be traced to I^ough Corrib, its course being marked by great masses of crushed quartzite. In one place a newer dyke of intrusive rock cuts across the fault ; Professor Cole regards this as a quartz-aphanite. A basalt dyke seems to have come up alongside and mingled with the aphanite. Near the basalt dyke in the outlet before described, a large boss of schist has been cleared of peat, and on the fresh surface may be seen a network of granite veins, which suggests that the granite was intruded in a very liquid condition. The line now enters the bog, through which it runs for nearly four miles, with the exception of some cutting in rock, which often rises in bosses above the surface. In excavating the foundations for Maam Cross station, limestone was met with under the peat, and this rock may also be seen west of the road at the station. North-east of Lough Shindilla some schists, much cut up by granite, may be seen on the right. The schists contain much quartz, probably deposited from hot waters. Cutting North of Lough Shindii,i,a. At the east end are greenish and purplish quartzitic mica schists. On the purple foliation planes are often pale-green bands about \ inch wide, straight and fairly parallel, and cut by similar systems of bands. These seem to be due to de- composition, with production of chlorite, along very fine joints. Near the centre of the cutting are quartzitic schists that contain carbonates, probably calcite, in the mass, and more abundantly on the joint-planes. Farther on, the schist approaches the character of a granulite. The schists in this cutting appear in great part to occur in regular beds, and might possibly be metamorphosed sedimentary rocks. There are many granite veins in the cutting ; some are narrow, with straight parallel walls, and they are generally vertical. . These veins were probably formed by the granite filling old joints. The granite in them is father coarse-grained ; the mica flakes are generally most plentiful in the centre, but are sometimes arranged in two zones parallel to the walls. There are other larger and more irregular veins, often with ill- defined edges, as if the schist and granite had fused together. Geological ISfotcs fropi West Gahvay. 157- The mica appeans to occur in thin flakes rather than in the usual nests, and on this account it frequently appears as small rods on the broken surface of the rock. The granite veins are all somewhat displaced by small faults. Pieces of pure- looking quartz are common in the schist, which sometimes appears to send veins into them. These may be due to silica deposited in cavities left by the solution of pieces of limestone, which were picked up by the schist when it originally invaded the sedimentary rocks as an intrusive mass (see below). Cutting b^twkkn I^oughs Shindii,i,a and Oorid. A diagram of this cutting is shown in fig. 2. The average depth of rock is about 12 feet. The eastern end is made up of crushed quartzitic mica-schist, with perhaps some horn- blende-schist and granulite. The joints usually contain much chloritic matter. Proceeding westward, the schist becomes more hornblendic. There are several patches of crystalline lime- stone (X), more or less mingled with the schist. One of these patches is entirely enclosed by the schist, and near it is a piece of pure quartz with included patches of limestone. This sug- gested to me the explanation of the origin of pieces of quartz Fig. 2. Bridge. in the last cutting described. Close to the bridge, which carries the public road over the cutting, is a large vein of normal granite. West of the bridge there is a remarkable series of hornblende schists, which seem to have almost en- tirely escaped the crushing action which affected the rest of the cutting. The first of these is a fine-grained actinolitic hornblende-schist (A), which Professor Cole, on microscopic examination, finds to contain irregular patches of a pale mineral, probably granular epidote ; also a minute sap-green, isotropic granular mineral, of high refractive index, which crystalised out early in the history of the rock. This is pro-, bably a green garnet, but really requires separation with dense 158 The Irish Nattiralisi. liquids for its determination. In the schist are some wtitish lenticular patches, which effervesce with acid, and appear to be rolled-out fragments of limestone. A handsome schist (B), with bronze mica and prismatic crystals of hornblende, appears to cut the last. The joints of these schists contain much chloritic matter, so as to form occasional lenticles of chlorite-schist. Some intrusions of a remarkable granite may be seen here. In general it is very felspathic, with occasional large flakes of black mica (biotite). In places it is compact in texture. Scattered through the mass are numerous small dark inclusions. Professor Cole has examined a speci- men of this rock under the microscope, and finds the dark blotches to be actually much altered garnets. Some residual garnets occur, in a soft green product that has formed all along their cracks. A few pale pink unaltered garnets may be found on careful search ; and some small cavities, to be seen near the surface of the rock, appear to be left by the destruction of the garnets. The garnet in this granite is pro- bably all that remains of picked-up pieces of the schist, through which it flowed. The rock marked c in the diagram is a schist composed mainly of bronze mica with hornblende crj'stals. It weathers easily into a micaceous mould, which forms a considerable deposit around it. Professor Cole believes this rock to be an altered diorite. Indeed, I think it not improbable that the hornblendic schists to be seen here are simply the metamor- phosed representatives of the diorites and finer associated hornblendic rocks, which occur in the district south of the great chain of lakes. Cuttings ai,ong Oorid I^ough. In the cutting nearest the east end of the lake, there is an interesting granite intrusion in the schist. Fig. 3 is a sketch of part of the right side. The portion marked B is a normal granite with dark flakes near the edges, which appear to be torn-off" portions of the schist. In the normal granite are patches (A) of very coarse felspathic granite, with large flakes of greenish mica, which appears to be much chloritised biotite. The portion C that flows over the schist appears to be slightly foliated. Geological Notes from VVest Galway. 159 ^he veins D are in part very fine-grained, approaching the character of eurite. West of the mass just described, there is an outburst of granite similar to that in the last described cutting, but not containing garnets. Fig. 3. In the other cuttings along the lake, there are coarse horn- blende schists, composed of lenticles of hornblende closely packed in a felsitic matrix. There are are also veins of coarse granite with large hornblende crystals, apparently picked up from the schist. In the rock excavated from one of these cuttings a portion of a granite vein was found, in which the mica flakes were all arranged with their planes perpendicular to the walls of the vein. There are also some soft green schists almost entirely composed of mica, a species of schist very common in the cuttings west of Recess. In the lower portion of Cloonloppeen stream, a little above the road, some remarkable pot-holes may be seen. Of two large ones close together, one contained a single large stone over a foot in diameter, and the other a great number of small stones about one inch in diameter. Cuttings about Boheshai.. West of Cloonloppeen Bridge is a cutting in hornblende schist. In this may be seen a granite vein with hornblende crystals. Here also a vein of handsome fresh-looking garnet- rock was cut through : it is, however, altered, with the forma- tion of calcite and pyrite. As it lay nearly in the line of the cutting, only a small portion is now to be seen in situ ; this is near the west end, low down on the left side. On the right side what may be a continuation of the vein is seen in a boss of hornblende schist, if the latter is indeed i7i situ. The vein appears to have been hollow in places, with well-formed garnet crystals lining the cavities. Professor Cole, who examined a specimen under the microscope, finds it to be a pyroxene- i6o, . The Irish Naturalist. epidote-garnet rock, which may hence be regarded as a true eclogite. The epidote and garnet appear to have crystallised siniultaneousl}^ and are intergrown in a kind of graphic structure. The next cutting has at its eastern end banded hornblendic schists. The rest of the cutting is in great part made up of mica schist alternating in thin la3xrs with calcareous matter, all being much crumpled. The calcareous matter maybe due to the decomposition of lime-felspars, as Professor Cole has suggested to me. There are some veins of calcite deposited in the joints, the mineral being in pyramidal crystals. Galena occurs in these veins. Along the lake, most of the cuttings are in hornblende schist with quartzitic bands. In one place there are bands of garnetiferous granulite ; sometimes the garnets are in well- formed crystals up to one inch in diameter, and may be found weathered out. In other places the garnets are in larger crushed masses, or they may be streaked out into lenticles or bands. Cutting West of Dkrrynken Bridge. The eastern end of this cutting is composed of hornblende- schists w^ith quartzitic bands (granulite ?) Near the west end is a large mass of little disturbed hornblende schist. Professor Cole has made a microscopic examination of this schist, and finds it to contain layers of calcite, with pink garnets and a mineral that is probably a pale epidote. The schists are cut by some veins of coarse granite, usually very quartzose, and containing some calcite. In the granite are picked-up pieces of the schist, whicli appear to have been partially fused. The granite veins are often slightly displaced by faults. From this neighbourhood a capital example of folded strata on a large scale may be seen on the side of I^etterbreckaun, the most northerly of the Maam Turk Mountains, about 5^ miles distant. The cuttings between Derryneen and Recess are all in quartzitic mica-schists, somewhat similar to those in the cutting north of Shindilla. In Recess station-yard, a large vein of very coarse felspathic granite may be seen in the schist ; it resembles the coarse Geological Notes from West Gahvay. i6i granite described as occurring in patches in a cutting north- east of Oorid lyough. A large outburst of a similar granite was observed on the southern slope of I^ecavrea Mountain, where it is cut by veins of the normal granite. Between Recess and Clifden there are many interesting cuttings which I have not had an opportunity of examining closely. Before concluding this paper I must express my indebted- ness to Professor Cole, of the Royal College of Science, for interesting notes on specimens from the cuttings which I submitted to him. These notes, with his kind permission, have been embodied in the foregoing descriptions. REPORT ON INSECTS COEEECTED AT COOEMORE, CO. DONEGAE, FOR the: ROYAI, IRISH ACADEMY FLORA AND FAUNA COMIMITTEK, JULY, 1 894, BY REV. W. F. JOHNSON, M.A., F.E-S- ( Concluded p-oiii page 99). LEPIDOPTERA. Nymphalidae. IVIelitdea aurinia, Rott. — Coolmore, a large number were washed up on the beach on July 3rd, and I captured three flying in a field near the shore. Coenonympha patnphilus, Iv. — Coolmore, Bruckless. Zygaenidae. I no staticcs, L.— Coolmore, a single specimen washed up with other insects on beach. Hepialidae. Heplalus velleda, Hb., var. gallica.) (Coolmore H. humulif Iv. f Cymatophori^ae. Thyatira derasa, L.— Coolmore, at sugar. Noctuidds. Acronycta psi, L. — Coolmore, at sugar. A. rumicis, L. — Coolmore, at rest on walls of house. Leucania iinpura, Hb. Axylia putris, L. Xylophasia sublustris, Esp. IVlamestrabrassicae, L. Apainea gem In a, Hb. j- Coolmore, at sugar. A. oculea, Gn. IVliana strlgilis, Clerck. Agrotis cxclamationis, L. Noctua plecta, L. I 162 The Irish Naturalist. Euplexia luclpara, L. \ Hadena adusta, Esp. f ^ , H. dentlna, Esp. Coolmore. Plusia pulchrina, Haw. 1 RIvula serlcealis, Scop. — Templenew. Ceometrldde. Rumia cratdeg:ata, L. 1 r 1 Wlctrocampamargarltarfa, L.{" '-ooimore. Boarmla repandata, U, var. sodorenslum, Weir— Coolmore. A female which agrees with Hebridean specimens in colour but is of the usual size of the type form. Pseudoterpna pruinata, Hufn.] Acfdalla dimidiata, Hufu. Cabera pusaria, L. C. exanthemata, Scop. Strenlaclathrata, L. Larentia viridaria, Fb. ^Coolmore. Eupithecia castigrata, Hb. IVIelanippe montanata, Bork. lYI. graliata, Hb. IVIelanthia ocellata, L. Cidaria populata, L/. J Pterophoridae. IVIimaesoptllus plaglodactylus. Haw. — Coolmore Crambidae. Crambus pascuellus, L.— Coolmore. Tortricidse. Serlcoris cespitana, Hb. — Coolmore. Also at Bundoran. S. lacunana, Dup. — Bruckless. Occurs at Armagh. Sciaphilaconspersana, Dougl- — Coxtown. Occurs at Armagh. S. virgaureana, Tr. — Templenew. Occurs at Armagh. Crapholitha nigromaculana, Haw.— Coolmore. Taken also at Beleek. Ephlppiphora pflugiana, Haw.— Coolmore. E. trigreminana, St.— Coolmore. Also at Bundoran. Carpocapsa splendidana, Hb. "^ Dicrorampha herbosana, Bav. [ Catoptria scopoliana, Haw. ^Coolmore. Xanthosetia hamana, L. | Argyrolepia hartmannlana, Clerck. J Tineidae. Tinea rusticella, Hb. — Coolmore. Prays curtisellus, Don. — Coxtown, on Ash. Cerostoma radiatella, Don. — Coxtown, on Oak. Phibalocera quercana, Fb. — Coxtown, on Oak. Deprcssaria heracleana, De G. 1 Bryotropha terrella, Hb. 1 CEcophora pseudospretella, Sta. y Coolmore. Eudrosis fenestrella, Scop. ] CoIeophoraaIcyonipenneIla,Kol. j Elachista luticomella, ZelL— Coolmore, Coxtown. Llthocolletls coryli, Nic— Coxtown. r 163 ] THE BRITISH FI.ORA IN 1895. The London CatalogTue of British Plants. Part I. Ninth Edition. London : George Bell and Sons, 1S95. 6d. ; with cloth covers and interleaved, ij-. Considering that the last edition of our standard list of British plants was issued in i8S6, and that since that time " no new Edition of either of our native Floras has appeared" ; and bearing in mind the great advances made in British botany during this period, particularly in our knowledge of critical genera, and in the comparison and correlation of British forms with continental, it is not to be wondered that botanists have awaited with some impatience the issue of the Ninth Edition of London Catalogue, which will now be welcomed as affording a complete and up-to-date list of the native flora, a census of the distribution of that flora in the larger island, and an invaluable check-list for purposes of cataloguing and of exchange. The present issue is edited, like the last, by Mr. F. J. Hanbury, F.L.S., but the number of assistants in various groups is so large, and the assistance they have given so considerable, that the Catalogue might almost be considered as the collective work of E nglish systematic botanists. Messrs. Groves are responsible for the batrachian Ranunculi, and of course for the Characece ; Mr. Marshall for Epilobium ; Mr. Beeby for Viola, A7ithy His, andj'i(ncacece] Mr. Townsend for £upArasia; Mr. E-F. Linton for Thalictrutn and Alchemilla; Mr. W. M. Rogers for Rubus 2Md. Rosa ; the late Dr. F. B. White for Salix ; and Mr. Bennett for Potamogeton and Carex. The last-named, and Miss Bennett, have executed the laborious task of bringing the census numbers up to date. In glancing through the Catalogue (which, we note, has swelled from 40 pages in the last edition to 50 in the present), several con- spicuous changes strike the eye. The authorities for generic names have been added, but pre-Linnean authorities are not quoted. The sub-division of certain critical genera has extended enormously — a necessary if somewhat alarming result of the close attention which they have been receiving of late years in Britain and the Continent. Thus, Rubus now runs to just 100 " species," and about as many varieties : while Hieracium even excels this, numbering 104 " species," and varieties ad lib. ; those of H. viuroriun, alphabetically indexed, exhausting all the letters with the exception of Z ! But whatever may be the value of these myriad forms in relation to our accustomed conception of the term species, and while the advisability of burdening these unfortunate genera with such an overwhelming mass of names may be open to question, no one can doubt the necessity of carefully studying their variation, their distribution, and their habits. The number of hybrids in the new Catalogue is also striking. In Viola, Carduus, Primula, Linaria, and Runiex this feature is apparent, but much more so in Epilobiui/i. and Salix, where every species apparently hybridizes with almost every other. In Euphrasia a new departure is made, a suggestion of trinomial nomenclature being introduced ; the species is divided into four varieties, which are again divided into a number of forms. 1^4 • The Irish Naturalist. "Changes of nomenclature;are, uuf9rtuiiately, again numerous" writes the Editor, and, as he remarks, it could hardly have been otherwise, considering that these changes represent the result of nine years critical study of questions of priority and validity. Some of the changes now introduced will be no doubt startling to those who have become used to the nomenclature of the eighth Edition, and have not followed the sub- sequent alterations as proved necessary in papers in Wx^Joicrnal of Botany and elsewhere. Castalia speciosa, Schollera oxy coccus, and Borctta cantabrica, for instance, will sound unfamiliar to most of our readers. Among changes in generic names Neckeria replaces Corydalis, Bursa replaces Capsdla, Buda replaces Lepigonum, Pncumaria replaces Mertensia, and the formidable names of Homaloccnchrus and Wcingccrtneria replace Leersia and Corynephorus, A number of old specific names also have disappeared. Not the least important part of the Catalogue is the modest numbers which follow the specific names and in many cases the varieties, showing the number of vice-counties of England, Wales, and Scotland, in which the plant is known to grow, and forming an index of its frequency. Irish distribution plays no part in this census. Ireland is, in fact, placed on the same footing as the Channel Islands ! Where a species occurs in either of these areas only— not in Great Britain— this is shown by the letter" I" or " C." For Irish botanists this is, of course, unsatisfactory, since neither here nor elsewhere have they any key to the county distribution of the greater part of their flora, and even the publication of the second edition of Cybcle Hibernica, so grievously checked by the lamented death of Mr. More, will supply this for only the rarer Irish plants ; but a few years of combined and steady work should go far to supply materials for an Irish " Topographical Botany," and bring our knowledge of plant-distribution in Ireland more on a level with that ol the sister island. R.Lly.P- NOTES BOTANY. MOSSES, Ephemcrum seri*atuin, Hatnpe., In County Antrim.— The only recorded localities in County Antrim for this minute annual moss are in the neighbourhood of Belfast and Lisburn, where it was first noticed by Templeton in 1801, and again in 1805, one of the localities given under the former date being "in a field near Lambeg Moss." Subsequently Drummond gathered it also in ''fields now occupied by the Botanic Gardens," vide " Flora of the North East of Ireland." Since that time so far as I am aware there is no record of the plant having been observed in the district. Mr. S. A. Stewart and other biologists have made diligent search for it, season after season, for many years, but have never met with it. Its occurrence in a light sandy field at Glenmore, near Lisburn, where it has just now been found, may, therefore, be noteworthy, and its re-discovery so near Templeton's original localities after the lapse of ninety-four years may be considered interesting. There seems to be no reason why this species should not be found in other parts of the county, but so far it has escaped detection. In County Derry it has not been met with, and for the County Down Mr. Stewart mentions only one locality. John H. Davies, Lisburn. Notes. i6c^ MARSILIACE^. Pilularia in Conneinara. — The Y\\\\\or\.{PUHlaria globuUfera)h€\r).^ one of our rarest Irish plants, and recent notes of its occurrence being apparently exceedingly rare, it may be worth stating that I dredged it in abundance at the western end of Glendalough Lake, Connemara, in May, 1894. Usually this curious little plant grows in water only a few inches deep, or out of the water on marshy ground, but here it flourishes in water from about four to six or eight feet in depth, while the leaves, v\^hich are usuall}- two to four inches long, in my specimens attain a length of six to twelve inches. The Pillwort has been recorded from this neighbourhood long ago (Wade, Planta Rariores, 1804), but it has not apparently been found in Connemara in recent years. R. L1.OYD Praeger. PHANEROGAMS. The Buckthorn in King's Co.— A correction.— On p. 173 of the f.N. for 1894, in my account of the Seagull Bog near Tullamore, I find that by inadvertence I wrote Alder Buckthorn (R/iaffinus fraugtila) for Common Buckthorn (A'. catJiarticus). The latter is the species that occurs in that district. R. L1.0YD Praeger. ZOOLOGY. WORMS. Bipalium Kewense, lYIosel. — A specimen of this rare Planarian worm was captured last month by Mr. Moore in one of the greenhouses of the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens near Dublin. It has only recently been discovered that this remarkable worm is a native of Madeira. There is some possibility therefore of its being also indigenous to Western Europe, though the fact of its having hitherto only been found in greenhouses on that continent appears to be in favour of the generally held belief that it is an introduced species. R. F. SCHARFF, Dublin. Some Notes on Irish Leeches. — In collecting Newts for me in the ponds near Cashel (Co. Tipperary), Miss Kelsall discovered two species of leeches. If we look into the nomenclature of the Irish land and freshwater leeches in Thompson's "Nat. Hist, of Ireland," vol. iv., p. 424, we find that some revision is needed. He records sixteen Irish leeches, six of which are marine and need not concern us at present. His Erpobdella tessulata should I think be referred to Hemidepsis tcssellata (O. F. Muller). Dr. R. Blanchard of Paris is of opinion that to this species should also be referred Thompson's Glossiphonia Eachana. Then Erpobdella vtilgaris should be known by the name of Herpobdella ocloculata, L. This is one of the species collected by Miss Kelsall in Co. Tipperary. It is a very active leech and according to Thompson " as merry as a grig." The next species Glossipora tuberadata should be called Glossiphonia cotnplanata, L., being an older name, and for the same reason G. hyalina should be changed to G. hcleroclisfa, L. and G. bioailata to G. slagnalis, L. Thompson next refers to two species oi Piscicola, viz. : — P.geomdra, L., and P. perccB, Tempi. Lastly we come to the true leeches. The Irish horse leech was considered a distinct species from the continental by R. Templeton, and described by the name oi Aiilosioma heluo. Thompson on the other hand identified it as Hamopsis vorax, Johnst. It is probable that we have two species, but Tcmpleton's is, as was pointed out to me by Dr. Blanchard, nothing but the well-known continental Humopsis sangiiisuga, L. I hardly think that the record of the Medicinal Leech in Ireland {/limdo tnedicuialis, L.) rests on sufficient evidence, and I have not seen an Irish specimen, but it is quite probable that it does occur in this country. 1 66 The Irish Naturalist. Altogether the number of Irish land and freshwater leeches remains at about the same number as given by Thompson, viz, — ten species. One of the commonest seems to be Glossiphonia complanata, which was the second species obtained by Miss Kelsall, whilst Mr. Halbert has recently procured it near Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. R. F. SCHARFF. CRUSTACEANS. Porcclllo pictus, Brandt. — A specimen of this pretty Woodlouse was taken last month by INIiss Kelsall, near Cashel, Co. Tipperary. It is one of the rarest of the Irish species, having only been previously known from three localities, viz. — Dublin, Belfast, and Maryborough. R. F. SCHARFF. Irish Psithyrl. — I took two females of Psithynis vestahs, Fourc, at Dundrum, Co. Dublin, on 2nd May. These bees are of considerable interest from their habits, being "cuckoo-parasite" on the true Humble bees (Bombi), which they closely resemble in appearance. I hear from Mr. Carpenter that Mr. F. Neale took a specimen of Ps. riipestris, Fab., at Limerick last year. Percy E. Freke, Dublin. AMPHIBIANS. Irish Newts.— Additional specimens of the Common Newt {Molge vulgaris, L.) have been received from the following localities since the publication of last month's Irish Naturalist: — Curraglass, Co. Cork (C. Longfield) ; Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow (D. R. P. Beresford). R. Y. vScharff. BIRDS. Rare birds In County Cork. — The following rare birds I have seen at Mr. G. Rohu's taxidermist, Cork : a Bartram's Sandpiper {Bar- tramia loiigicauda, Bechst.), shot at Newcestown, Co. Cork, on 4th September, '94 ; a Gadwall {Anas stn-pcra, ly. ), shot at Castle Bernard, Co. Cork, on istli February, '95; and an Avocet (Recurvirostra avoa-tta, I^.), shot at Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, feeding in company with another, on 15th February, '95. The above three specimens appeared to be adults. W. Bennett Barrington, Cork. White Stork near Athy.— ]Mr. J. W. Young writes in the Field o^ April 27th, that, when driving from Athy to Stradbally, he saw a Stork (Ciconia alba) fly past in a south-easterly direction. Though he at first mistook the bird for a Gannet, he states that he afterwards saw it near enough to render the identification certain. Summer Visitants at Knocknacarry, Co. Antrim. — Swal- lows appeared on April 14th ; the Cuckoo was heard on the 21st, and the Corncrake on the 20th. The Cuckoo is said to have been seen on April 18th. S. Arthur Brenan, Knocknacarr}'. Spring lYIIgrants at Armagh, — In spite of the .severity and length of the winter these birds were not much later than usual. The ChiffchafF was, as alwaj-s, first, appearing on March 25th, Swallows I observed on April 9th, but they did not appear in numbers till the 20th. The Willow Wren came on April 13th, somewhat later than ordinarily, while the Corncrake made his sweet voice to be heard on the 19th. On the 27th April arrived the Cuckoo, the Grasshopper Warbler, and the Sand Martin, and on May 2nd the House Martin and the Swift. W. F. Johnson, Armagh, Azotes. 167 Arrival of Spring IVIlg^rants In Londonderry District. — As might be expected from the lateness of the spring the early visitors were behind time. The Chiff-chaff came on 6th April. I did not hear the Willow Warbler until 17th April. The Swallows arrived on the 14th, and the Cuckoo and Corncrake were first heard on 24th April. The Swift was seen by Mr. Milne on 29th April, an unusually early date for this locality. I first heard the Sedge Warbler on 2nd May, and the Whitethroat on 4th May. D. C. Campbei.!., Londonderry. MAMMALS. Irish Mammals — A correct! on, —The statement which I made on page 86 of the current volume of the Irish Naturalist, that " Probably the Squirrel moults twice in the year — roughly speaking, in Spring and Autumn, and before each moult the old coat becomes thin and faded," should read '■'■before the Spring jnoult." Owing to absence from England, I was unable to look over the proof of the second part of my review of Mr. Lydekker's book. G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMII.TON, Kilmannock, New Ross. PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. RoYAi. Z001.0G1CA1. Society. Recent donations comprise a monkey from Mrs. Burrowes ; an Otter from W. H. Harvey, Esq. ; a Pike from F. Godden, Esq. ; Badgers from J. H. Nicholson, Esq., and Capt. French ; a number of Newts from P. Mahony, Esq. A St. Kilda Lamb has been born in the Gardens, and a pair of Crown Pigeons, two pairs of Chukar Partridges, a pair of Alpine Choughs, a pair of Leadbeater Cockatoos, and seven monke^-s have been purchased. Two of the most interesting animals in the Gardens, the Orang-utan and the Tapir, have unfortunately died. 16,860 persons visited the Gardens during April. Dubinin Microscopicai, Club. April i8th.— The Club met at Dr. M'Weeney's, who showed cultures of a fungus {Phoma Bet(P, Frank), which causes a disease in Mangel Wurzel, characterized by blackening of the root-stock and speedy decomposition. The cultures in moist chambers illustrated various stages m its development. The great swelling of the spores previous to germination was specially remarkable. Mr. Moore showed Gloeosporium orchidearuDi which had appeared on the leaves of a species of Masdevallia received from Belgium. This is one of the fungoid pests which cause so much damage to orchids. When attacked the leaves turn black, and the tissue in the interior of the leaf becomes disorganised, gradually breaking down, and changing into a soft black decaying mass. The disease spreads rapidlj- through the plant and is very difficult to check. Mr. McArdlE exhibited Lejeuitea Jlava, Swartz (the yellow green form) which he collected in some quantity in Lord Howth's demesne last month. This is an addition to the Howth and to the Co. Dublin lists of Liverworts. Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society. April 2.— The President in the chair. Mr. James Wilson, M.E., read a paper entitled " The Alps, with Rope and Axe." 1 6 8 The hish Na tu ya list. Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei^d Ci.ub. Aprii, 27th. — The first Excursion of the summer was made, when a party of 33 members and visitors visited the neighbourhood of Portrane. Proceeding to Donabate Station by the 1.30 train, no halt was made until the shore was reached, where Prof. Sollas, F.R.S., who conducted during the day, drew attention to the interesting geological features there dis- played. At the southern extremity of the broad sandy beach that stretches away up towards Rush are seen dark red conglomerates of the Old Red Sandstone formation. These are succeeded b}^ a mass of dark volcanic rock, the junction being unfortunately not visible. Further south Ordovician slates appear, containing blocks and fragments of the volcanic rock before-mentioned, and of limestone. Bands of limestone interstratified with the slate next make their appearance, and the limestone increases in quantit}- to the southward until it entirely replaces the slate, and forms a bold cliff of hard rock, teeming with corals and other fossils. The leading features of each of these ancient formations were pointed out by Prof. Sollas, and many specimens were obtained. Messrs. Colgan and Praeger collected flowering plants and noted, in spite of the late season, several plants in bloom that are not usually seen so early in the year, such as the Bugloss {Lycopsis at-veiisis), Storksbill [Eroduim cicutariuiii), and Field Violet ( Viola ai~oensis). The rare Sea Wormwood (^Artemisia inaritima), previously known to grew here sparingly in one spot, was seen in abundance in several places on the cliffs ; on the way to the shore a Water Ranunculus {R. b-icophylhts) was found already in bloom ; the abundance of the Great Bank Sedge {Carex riparia) in this neighbourhood was noted, and the rare typical form of the Blood- veined Dock {Rii/fiex satiguhteus) was gathered. An examination of the pebbles on the beach proved very instructive. Here, with pieces of con- glomerate, slate, limestone, granite, and prett}^ pebbles of chain-coral and other fossils, were fragments of volcanic rocks from the Carlingford and Dundalk districts, flints from Co. Antrim, and abundance of the peculiar granophyre which comes from the far-distant Ailsa Craig in the Clyde. The party returned to Donabate through the fields and woods, and caught the 6.55 train to town. Mrs. Ross, Rarc-an-ilan, Dalkey, was elected a member of the Club. Cork Naturai^ists' Fiei^d Ci.ub. -^ j/^ The annual meeting was held. May ist, in the Librar}', School of Science and Art, Prof. Hartog, President, in the chair. The Secretary (Mr. J. L. Copeman) read the report, which showed the Club had been doing good work. The following excursions had taken place : Youghal, Little Island, Quarries (Victoria Cross), Spike Island, Iniiishannon, the Ovens—and a joint three days' excursion with the Dublin and Limerick Clubs to Fermoy, Lismore, and Mitchelstown, on which some 36 went. Full accounts of this excursion and its valual)le scientific results have appeared in the Irish Naturalist, the monthly organ of the various Irish Field Clubs. Several lectures were given during the year, including one by Professor Grenville A. Cole, P\G.S.; Dublin College of Science, on " The Story of the Rocks of Munster," and one by Joseph Wright, Esq., F.G.S., of Belfast, on " Foraminifera." Both these were given under the auspices of the Irish Field Club Union, and which has been formed during the past year, and which is certain to prove in the future a great stimulus to Field Club work all over Ireland. A course of four lectures on Practical Botany was also given by Miss Martin, and it is expected that during the coming year a course equally valuable will be given on some other subject. The following officers were elected for the coming year : — President: (Vacant); Vice-Presidents: Professor M. Hartog; W. H. Shaw, M.E.; Thomas Farrington, M.A. ; Miss H. A. Martin, M.IiC.P. VALENTINE BALI., C.B., LT,-D., F.R.8. ^ije ^vi&l) ^ainvaii&t Vol. IV. JULY, 1895. No. 7. VALENTINE BALL, C.B., I.I..D., F.R.S. Valentine Bali, was born in Dublin on the i4tli July, 1843, and his busy and varied life ended in an everlasting rest on the 15th of June, 1895. The second son of Robert Ball, LL.D., for many years Secretarj^ of the Queen's University of Ireland and Director of the Museum of Trinity College, Dublin, he seemed in a great measure to have inherited his father's love for Natural History. In one respect, however, there was a marked difference between the father and the son ; Robert Ball, though always willing to assist the student by a verbal communication of the knowledge which he so largely pos- sessed, was only with difficulty persuaded to put this know- ledge into print, and his published writings are extremely few ; Valentine Ball was an indefatigable note-taker and a voluminous writer. Calling to mind that from the time that he was fifteen years of age, until his untimely death, he was occupied with a constant routine of official work, which seldom gave much time for any leisure, it is amazing to think of the numerous works and papers on Natural History, giving the widest limits to that term, which appeared from his pen. Shortly after his father's death, in 1857, he entered Trinity College, Dublin ; he passed his Degree examination in 1S64, but he did not graduate until 1872, when at the Winter Com- mencements of the University of Dublin, he took the B.A. and M.A. degrees by accumulation. In the summer of 1864 he was appointed by Professor Oldham to the staff of the Geological Survey of India, on which he continued until 1881. This period of his life was full of labour, each season's work was accomplished amid many disadvantages. In his "Jungle Life in India" published in 1880, he gives an account of his often very arduous occupations on the Survey, sometimes in A 170 The Irish Naturalist. most trj^ng climates, and always surrounded b}' many social and domestic drawbacks. Amidst such, however, his love of nature sustained him, and he pathetically alludes to this in the dedication of his "Journeys and Journals of an Indian Geologist," " To ni}^ father, to whose early training and guid- ance I owe a love for Natural History, which has afforded me solace in many a lonely hour." While his chief work in India was among the rocks and coal-measures of Western Bengal and the Central Provinces, no object of nature met with, seems to have been left un- recorded, and we find contributions from his pen on the stone implements, on the various races of men, on the mammals and birds, and even on some of the local floras of India. The Geological Survey of India had its origin in the desire of the Government to have the coal-fields of the country systematically investigated, and the work of the Survey for some time was wholly devoted to this object ; most of V. Ball's Reports and Memoirs published by the Survey relate to various coal-fields. After the principal coal-fields had been mapped and described, the general examination of the Geolog}^ of India w^as attempted, and in 1879 a general geological sketch-map of nearlj^ the whole of India, with two volumes of descriptive matter, forming Parts i and 2 of the ** Manual of the Geology of India " were published. Towards this great work all the staff contributed, more or less, but the third part, relating to the Economic Geology, which appeared in 1 88 1, was compiled by V. Ball ; to whom the then Superintendent of the Survey wrote "the vStudent as well as the man of enterprise will long owe gratitude for the great store of facts thus brought within easy reference." In 1881 V. Ball resigned the position of Officiating Deputy Superintendent of the Geological Survey of India on his being appointed to succeed the Rev. Dr. Haughton as Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in Trinity College, Dublin. Some of his friends would have had him remain in his professorial chair, where, if the teaching was somewhat monotonous, the opportunities for original work were great ; the long vaca- tion too afforded time for geological work in Europe, and there was the custod}^ of a collection, which had been once partly under his father's care, and which Dr. Haughton had left well stocked, for an University Museum, with minerals, Valentine Ball, 171 rocks, and fossil forms. But V. Ball had alwaj's been ambitious to superintend some great museum, where he could have the freest scope to carry out his ideas of order and arrangement ; so the quiet of the academic grove was left for the responsi- bilities and anxieties of prCvSiding over the fortunes of the Dublin Museum of Science and Art, the foundation stone of the new building of which had not as yet been laid. The spirit was willing, but the difficulties of reconciling many antagonistic views were great, and the trials to a sensitive mind of having to oppose the wishes of many of those who were brought into semi-ofQcial connection with him were sources of trouble, that often ruffled the even tenor of his life, and it is painful to think may have shortened it. For over twelve 3'-ears — even of those parts of them, when from ill health, he was obliged to take some rest— the Science and Art Museum was in his every thought. One cannot but admire the energy and zeal which he brought to bear upon this work ; he could not understand what it was to go slowly, and in very truth, he most generally, even when he went quickly, went well. If possible he would have arranged every article with his ow^n hands. It was on the failure of such attempts, that he realised that no human being could have done so. During these years his moments of recreation were vSpent in bringing out a model and charming edition of the travels of Tavernier, and in writing numerous articles on the plants and animals of India. His scientific writings have such merit that he needed not to have left any further record of his life, but yet above all these, the Dublin Museum of Science and Art will still stand as a witness for ever, to be associated with his name. Of the high character of the man, of his trueness in friend- ship, time must soften sorrow, ere we could trust ourselves adequately to write. E. P. W. A 2 172 The Irish Na twa list. INSECTS COI.I.ECTED AT THE SEAGULL BOG TULLAMORE, FOR THE ROYAI, IRISH ACADEMY FI^ORA AND FAUNA COMI^IITTEE, MAY, 1 895. BY J. N. HAI^BERT. The members of the Dublin Field Club spent a most en- joyable and instructive da^^ on the 25th of last May, when, not in any woy deterred by the warnings given in the pro- gramme about deep and treacherous holes, etc., a large and adventurous part}^ turned out to explore the Seagull Bog, Tullamore. The selection of the time could not have been more fortunate, as the dr}^ weather previous to our visit rendered access easy to many of the most dangerous, though, at the same time, most interesting parts of the bog. The flora of that portion of the Bog of Allen which the Black- headed Gull has chosen for its breeding haunt is decidedly above the average, as may be learned by a perusal of Mr. Praeger's interesting paper in the IHsh Nahcralist for August, 1894, and the adjacent, richly varied woods of Clonad and Derryclure mark the locality as about the most likely to repay the incursions of the insect-hunter. To the latter undoubtedly the most pleasing feature is the abundance of birch, hazel, and various willows scattered over, but most common on the outskirts of the bog, and which were proved to harbour the best species. As the captures were rather too numerous for inclusion in the usual report, it has been thought advisable to detail them in a separate list. I cannot find any previous Irish record^ for the following species : — Polydrus2ts tcrdicollis, De G., P . ccrvinus, L, and Hylastcs palliaiiis, Gj^lL, while a fourth species, E later pomoriLin, Herbst., has only once before been recorded from a specimen taken by the Rev. W. F. Johnson in a somewhat similar locality near Armagh. As one would expect, the most notable feature in the bog collecting is the abundance of the various species, for, with the exception of the insect mentioned, and with a little more available time, large numbers of the others could have been obtained. Several of the universally common kinds have been omitted from the list, insects Collected at the SeagtUl Bog, Ttdlavwre. 173 COLEOPTERA, Cicindela campestr'ls,Iv.— Common on the drier parts of the heath near Clonad Wood. Hydroporus Cyllenhali, Schiod.) H. obscurus, Sturm. ^ ^^^zxx\\ Bog, common in the \ pools. H. pubescens, G3II. ' Tachyporus obtusus, var. nitidlcollis, vSteph.— Clonad Wood, common. Proteinus ovalis, Steph. \ Atomaria- fuscipes, Gyll j Seagull Bog, all fairly common. Epistetnus gyrinoides, Marsh. ^ Rhizophag-us depressus, F. — Clonad Wood, common under bark of decayed fir. Microcara llvida, F. ) o n t> t. ^i, Cyphon padi, L. I ^^^^-'^^^ ^°-! ^^^^ common. Tclephorus lituratus, Fall. — Seagull Bog, common. This insect seems to have been overlooked b}^ the early collectors. As in the case of E. pomoruni^ Mr. Johnson has taken a specimen on Churchill Bog, Co, Armagh. Elater pomorum, Herbst. — Three examples of this very local species were swept off a birch tree. It is usually taken under bark, and in decayed branches. Coryinbitcs quercus, Gyll. — Seagull Bog; the variety ochropterus, Steph., occurred, but not so commonly as the type. Donacia discolor, Pan/.. — Seagull Bog, common. Lochmsea sutu rails, Thorns. — Perhaps the commonest beetle in the Bog. CaleruceHa nyinphaeae, L.— Seagull Bog, sweeping herbage. C. lineola, V, — vSeagull Bog, common on willow. Aptcropcda globosa, Tel.— Seagull Bog, several by sweeping. Crepidodcra helxines, L. — Seagull Bog, common on willow. Anaspis frontalis, L. — Clonad Wood, common. Polydrusus tcrcticollis, De G.) Clonad Wood, common oil P. ptergomalls, Boh. j hazel, etc. P. cervinus, L. — Seagull Bog, common on birch, ash, etc. Phyllobius calcaratus, F. y Clonad Wood, common on various P. pyri, L. S trees. Anoplus plantaris, Naez. Coeliodes ri Ccuthorrhynchus ericae, Gyll.— Seagull Bog, abundant on heath. Li mnobar is T-al bum, L.— Seagull Bog, sweeping herbage in dry drain. [antaris, Naez. \ g^^^ j^^g common on birch. ubicundus, Herbst. j ^ ^' Hylastes palliatus, Gyll.— Clonad Wood, in decayed fir stump. HEIYIIPTERA. Nabis6rlcctorum,Schoetz.--vSeagUll Bog, off heath. Not previously recorded from Ireland. 1 74 The Irish Naturalist, LEPIDOPTERA. In lepidoptera the best finds were full fed larvse of Dasychira fascdina on hazel, a species which seems to occur only in the Bog of Allen, and one Gcoinctni papilionaria on birch. Numerous species of EiipitheciiC were flying on the Bog, but the attempt to capture these in a heavy sweeping net was not at all satisfactory. A specimen of Nwiieria piilveraria was secured at rest in Clonad Wood. Mr. E. Williams found the Green Hair Streak {Thccla }-ubi) still frequenting a part of the Seagull Bog where he had taken it in numbers some years ago, while the beautiful moth Anuria myrtilli was also noticed regaling itself on the flowers of the Bog- bean {Menyanthes trifoliata), and on the way back to the station Torttix ministrana was captured flitting about the wooded margins of the road. NOTES ON THE FLORA OF HOWTH. BY R. LLOYD PRAEGKR, B.E. The bold promontor}^ of Howth, with its heather}^ hills, its steep sea-slopes, and rugged cliffs, has long been a favourite haunt of the naturalist, and indeed for him Howth has varied attractions — the shattered and contorted Cambrian rocks, carved into jutting crags and fantastic pinnacles by the rest- less sea; the shell-bearing gravels and Boulder-clays that overhang the town ; the eddying bird-life of the cliffs ; the busy insect world that teems in summer among the rocks and flowers and woods ; and the marvellous variety of plant-life, all combine to render this favoured spot an oft- visited resort of the lover of nature, whatever be his bent. It is to the botanist, perhaps, that Howth especially appeals, for here are gathered together in a small area man}^ of the rarest Irish plants ; and leaving rarities out of account, who would not willingly journey miles to view those great slopes overhanging the blue water, decked with the crimson flowers of the Blood}' Cranes- bill, and white sheets of Sea Campion, and masses of yellow Bedstraw and purple Thyme ; to see the storm-beaten sea- rocks, hung with grey Samphire, and the glossy foliage and yellow stars of the rare Golden Samphire, and splashed with purple patches of Sea-lavender ; or the wide heaths above, blazing with Gorse and Heather ? Nor less attractive is the Motes 071 the Flora of Hoivth. 175 low neck of land that joins the headland to the mainland ; where " All the sands that left and right The grassy isthmus-ridge confine, In yellow bars lie bare and bright Among the sparkling brine " ; for here the wastes and banks are gay with yellow Melilot, and scarlet Poppies, and pink Convolvulus, and many rarer plants that twine amid the lavish profusion of summer vegetation. The wild-flowers of Howth can boast the distinction of having a book devoted to themselves. Mr. Hart's excellent little Flora' is well-known to most of my readers, and ought to be well-known to all of them. Many a time, while I was still living in Belfast, did I pore enviously over its pages, for the Flora of Howth contains well nigh four-score of species which either are unknown in the North-east, or are so rare there as to constitute the prize of a day's collecting ; indeed man}^ of them are plants which to any Irish botanist possess considerable interest on account of their restricted range in this country. Nor have the botanical resources of Howth been yet quite exhausted. During the course of several rambles over the hill last summer, I was much pleased to find one or two species that are not recorded among the 545 native or naturalized plants which are enumerated as inhabitants of Howth in the work referred to ; also a few others, which, though recorded from Howth by previous writers, were excluded b}" Mr. Hart on the ground of their absence there at the present time. When Miss R. Mahaffy communicated to me several interesting additions which she has made within the last few years, it occurred to me that our combined observa- tions might be worthy of publication in the pages of the Irish Naturalist ; and I have endeavoured^to make the present paper as far as possible complete, by including any published additions to the flora (so far as I was aware of them) which have appeared since the publication of Mr. Hart's " Flora." These latter are few in number, and are soon enumerated. In the Journal of Botany for 1891 (p. 377).. Mr. Hart contributes three additional species— the Portland Spurge, Eiiphorbia portlan- dica, found on the rocky islet of Ireland's Eye by Sir Robert 'The Flora of Howth, by H. C. Hart, B. A., F.L.S. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, and Co., 1887, 3s. 6d. 176 The Irish Naturalist. Ball ; Urtica pihilifera, an alien nettle, noticed by the present writer ; and the rare grass Festuca unigluniis, found on the sandy shore at Baldoyle by Mr. H. C. Levinge, where, last season, not knowing at the time of Mr. Levinge's discovery, I was delighted to find fine specimens of it. In the Irish Naturalist for 1893 (p. 174), Mr. David M'Ardle, who has dis- covered so many interesting liverworts among the rocks cf Howth,' added the little club-moss, Selaginella spiiiosa, to the flora. In the Joztrnal of Botany for 1894 (p. 76), I record seven Brambles not known on Howtli hitherto, nor most of them in Co. Dublin or in District 5 ; these were gathered on a pleasant July day spent with a number of members of the Belfast and Dublin Naturalists' Field Clubs. In the same journal (p. 359) I add R. viicans to this list. So far as I am aware, this completes the enumeration of published additions to the Flora of Howth. Of unpublished additions, it is probable that interesting notes are in possession of some of the many wild-flower lovers who spend summer da3^s or weeks on the breezy slopes of Ben Edar; and if the present sketch has the result of bringing to light information that otherwise might remain unrecorded and unknown, then it will not have been written in vain ; in this way, the very incompleteness of my notes may prove their greatest merit. PLANTS NOT INCLUDED IN THK "FLORA OF HOWTH." Crambe maritima, L.— Not yet quite extinct at Howth. I found it last year sparingly on the gravelly strand of Ireland's Eye. Formerly grew on the south side of Howth {Irish Flora, 1833), but "Mr. Hart says that it has been extinct there for many years. Reseda suffrutlculosa, L. — Has grown for many years near the Forge, Sutton. — jMiss R. Mahaffy. Apparently naturalized here. Silene ang^Iica, L., var. S. quinquevulnera, L. — On the railway bank near Howtli station. — Miss R. Mahaffy. Perhaps merely casual here. Rubus scaber, W. & X.— Howth Demesne.— Rev. C- H. Waddell. " A hirsute variety." — W. M. Rogers. R. silvaticus, W. & N. R. macrophyllus, W. & N. R. mlcans, Gren. and Godr. Howth. Praeger, R. tnucronatus, Blox. \ Joum. Bot., 1894, R. fuscus, W. & N., pp. 76, 359. R. corylifolius, Sm., var. sublustrls (Lees). R. Balfourlanus, Blox. The above were collected mostly in the Demesne ; a few of them near the Bailey ; the exact locality of each was not noted. The plants were 1 See M'Ardle: Hepaticse of the Hill of Howth. Proc, R.LA., 3rd S., No. I, 1893. Notes on the Flora of Howth. 177 named by Rev. W. M. Rogers. K. suberedus, R. villicanlis, and R. discolor are mentioned by Mr. Hart as occurring on Howth. The last-named is common there ; the second might be expected ; the first is a very rare plant in Ireland. Myriophyllum spicatum, L. — Abundant in the pool by the sea at the Quarr}'. The larger pool there is full of what appears to be the same plant, but it was out of flower when I visited the place. M. alterniflorum is recorded from these pools by Mr. Hart. I could not find it there. [Bryonia dioica, L.— One large plant on a rocky slope below KarlsclifF where it has grown for some years. It does not grow in any garden in the neighbourhood.— Miss R. Mahaffy.] [CEnothera biennis, L.— Established by the railway near Howth station, where it has grown for at least five years. — Miss R. Mahaffy.] Aplum nodiflorum, Reichb., var. ochreatunri, DC— In a spring on the east side of Ireland's Ej'e. Galium mollug'o, L., var. insubricum (Gaud)— Howth. — H. C. Levinge, Bat, Ex. Chib Repo7't, 1893. Arctium nemorosum , Lej. — On the Burrow; and I believe it occurs elsewhere. A, intermedium ) Lange. — North corner of Ballykill field near the Pavilion. Taraxacum officinale, Web., var. erythrospermum (Andrz.).— Sandy places east of the Cosh. [Crepissetosa,Hall. fil. — InafieldbetweenDrumleckandtheNeedles. — Miss R. Mahaffy. An alien which has not, I think, been noticed in Ireland hitherto.] Orobanche minor, Sm. — On a bank at Tansy. — Miss R. Mahaffy Abundant in a clover field near Sutton station. — R.Ll.P- A plant which is steadily spreading in Ireland. Mentha Puleg'ium, L. — Old pasture fields near Bailey post-office. Miss R. Mahaff}'. An interesting addition to the flora. Stactiys palustris x sylvatica. — In a potato patch near Howth chapel. The more common hybrid form, nearer to S. palustris than to S. sylvaiica. Chenopodium murale, L. — On rubbish-heaps south-west of Howth chapel, and on waste ground on the Burrow. Was recorded from Howth in the Brit. Assoc. Guide (1878), but excluded by Mr. Hart as probably a mistake. Euphorbia portlandica, L. — Ireland's Eye, Sir R. Ball. — Hart, Journ. Bot., 1891, p. 377. Urtica pilullfera, Iv. — B3' a ruined cottage on edge of the north cliff near Bailey Lighthouse, R. LI. Praeger. — Hart, Journ. Bot., 1891, p. 377. An alien plant, which I did not refind there last year. Ruppia rostellata, Koch. — Plentiful in the pool by the sea at the Quarry. BIysmus rufus, Panz. — Margins of the pool by the sea at the Quarry. Previously recorded from the vicinity — probably from this identical vSpot — by Mackay, who says {Flor. Hib., 1836), "between Baldo3de and Howth," but disallowed by Mr. Hart. Festuca uniglumis, Soland. — On the western edge of the Cosh [not coast, as printed], H. C. Levinge. — Hart,yc;«/vz. Bot., 1891, p. 377. Selag^inella selag-inoides, Gray. — Small bog on the north side of Howth Hill.— D, M'Ardle, I.N., 1893, p. 174. A 3 1 7 8 ihe Irish Na tu ra list. Among the above plants there are a few whose occurrence on Howth possesses more than a local interest. Crambe is now one of the rarest plants in the district, and possibly the station mentioned is its last appearance prior to extinction. A^'ditim nemorosum appears to be very rare in Co. Dublin. Orobanche minor has onl}^ recentl}^ been observed in the County (Colgan, I.N., 1893, p. 285). Mentha P^ilegiiwi is a good addition to the flora of Co. Dublin, and to District 5. For Chc7iopodiuvi viurale Mr. Colgan has only one recent station in County Dublin, so the addition of two others is welcome, and I may here add a third — Rathfarnham — where I gathered it in a gravel pit with Matricaria Chavioinilla last December. To the above notes I ma}- add the following : — ADDITIONAIv STATIONS FOR RARER HOWTH PLANTS. Sisymbrium Irlo, L. — Roadside east of Sutton railway station. S. thalianum, (raud.— Steep banks above the sea at the north side of the Bailey— D. M'Ardle. Sinapis nigra, L. — Rough ground above Carrickbrack House. Viola hirta, Iv.— Dry field east of Glenaveena. Trifolium striatum, L.— Plentifully above the Martello tower at Sutton. — ]Miss R. Mahaffy. Mr. Hart records it from Ireland's Eye alone, disallowing Dr. oMoore's " Howth " record in Cyhele Hibernica. Rosa tomcntosa, Sm.— Near Waldron's tavern, and below Glenaveena. — Miss R. Mahaffy, Pyrus Aria, Sm. — Sparingly on a rock near the summit of Ireland's Eye. I failed in spite of careful search to find it in its only recent recorded station " rocks high up on Dung Hill, looking north " {Flora of Howth). Valerlanella Auricula, DC— Roadside near Sutton station. Helminthia echioidcs, Gaert, — Steep banks at the Needles, Centiana Amarella, L.— On Shelmartin, Miss R, Mahaffy. Mr. M'Ardle writes that he formerly found it plentifully in a stony pasture field at Sutton, but he thinks the place is built over now. C. campestris, L.— On Ireland's Eye, near the Martello tower. Hyoscyamus nigcr, L.— Abundant on the southern slope close to the Bailey lighthouse, R. LI. Praeger, I.N., 1S94, p. 156. On Shelmartin, and at Corr Castle— Miss R. Mahaff"y. Miss Mahaffy tells me that the seeds are smoked by certain persons, which may account for the spread of this plant. Stachys arvensis, L. — Needles field, Miss R. Mahaffy. Carcx cxtcnsa, Good. — Rocks on the shore near the Bailey. Phragmitcs communis, Trin.— By the sea below EarLscliff. Notes 071 the Flora of Howth. 179 As the above plants are mostly somewhat rare in the county, and have only one or two stations attached to them in the " Flora of Howth," the additional localities mentioned have been considered worth}^ of record. Pyrus Aria and Valcfianella Auricula are not known in Co. Dublin except on Howth ; while Sisymbrium thalianum, and some of the others are of rare occurrence in the county. I may add that possibly V. Auricula is establishing itself in this neighbourhood, as I gathered it in some abundance last June in sandy fields at Portmarnock, where so many colonists appear to find a congenial resting-place. That interesting and anomalous group, the Characece, are not included by Mr. Hart in his Flora. Being aquatic plants, they are but poorly represented on Howth, as would be expected ; 5^et several species occur, and even the dry rocky surface of Ireland's Eye has one spot which is perennially damp enough to allow of the existence of one species. The following are, so far as I know, all the notes of Howth CharacecE. Chara fragrilis, Desv.— Howth, 1S60, D. Moore— Groves, LN., 1S95, p. 8. Shallow pools on the Sutton side of the hill, near the quarries, D. M'Ardle. In Balsaggart stream, near its source (" approaching var. capillacear H. and J. G.), 1894, R. U- P. C. vulgaris, L.— Sutton, 187 1, W. T. T. Dyer— Groves, I.N., 1895, p. 38. C, vulgfaris, L., var. longribracteata, Kuetz. — In a marshy spring on the east cliff of Ireland's Eye, 1S94, R. LI. P. C. vulgrarls, Iv. near var. melanopyrena, A. Br. — A curious little plant which grows in the brackish pool by the sea at the Quarry is so named by Messrs. Groves. This variety is not recorded from Ireland. Nitella opaca, Ag,— Hill of Howth, 1S60, D. Moore— Groves, I.N., 1*^95) P« 41- Ditch in the marsh at source of Balsaggart stream, 1894, R. I/l. P. This species is probably the N. syucarpa recorded from Howth in Brit. Assoc. Guide. In bringing these brief notes to. a conclusion, I have to express my indebtedness to Miss R. Mahaffy and Mr. D. M'Ardle for notes and specimens of their Howth finds, and to Messrs. Groves and A. Bennett for assistance in the naming of critical plants. i8o The Irish Naturalist. BIRDS OBSERVED BREEDING ON THE COASTS OF SI.IGO AND MAYO. BY ROBERT WARREN, (A Report laid before the Royal Irish Academj^ 28th May, 1894). The coast line of the County Sligo, and that of the County Ma3'o, as far as Belderig Harbour, is of the Carboniferous formation, and, wherever of sufficient altitude, is eminently adapted for the nesting-places of cliff-breeding birds. The sea-face of the cliffs consists of series of horizontal shelves and ledges, caused by the weathering and decay of the softer strata, the harder only remaining, and thus forming the ledges upon which the birds have their nests. But at Belderig Harbour, a " fault" occurs, and from that little cove westwards, the North Mayo coast-line is formed of rock of the metamorphic series, so crushed and jumbled together, that the face of the highest cliffs appear crumbling away ; the falling particles, in many places, forming steep slopes, and where lodging, providing most convenient nesting-places. On the long line of coast between Sligo and Killala Bays, there are only two parts sufficiently high for the breeding- haunts of cliff-breeding birds ; the larger one of Aughriss Head, and the lesser one of the Killeenduff cliffs. Aughriss Head, situated about twenty-four miles from Ballina, and fourteen to sixteen from Sligo, is a short promontory jutting out from the coast line, about a mile in width, rising to 150, or 200 feet above the sea, and sloping down inland to the level of the adjacent country. It is composed of Carboniferous limestone, and the whole sea-face of the cliff, from base to summit, is divided into shelves and ledges of various widths, running horizontally along the face, and parallel to each other ; but as the rock dips down towards the land side, the outer edges of the shelves are tilted upwards at a slight angle, thus forming sheltered positions for the nests almost invisible from the outside. In such a favourable breeding-haunt it was strange that none of the Great Cormorants were to be seen, but immense numbers of the Green Cormorants were nesting on the cliffs, the nests being scattered all over the face of the cliff in every crack and crevice available, and in some of the more sheltered Birds observed Breedmg on the Coasts of Sligo and Mayo. i8i ledges ; and, irrespective of the birds sitting by their nests, we counted over a hundred resting on a low fiat reef at the base of the cliff, while fully as many more were on the water. Razorbills and Guillemots were in thousands, perfectly in- numerable, thickly packed together on the ledges, while the sea was dotted over with numerous flocks, varying in numbers from five to a hundred individuals in each flock. The Kittiwake Gulls were in two large colonies, one on a range of cliff about three hundred yards in length, and the other on one about fifty or sixty yards shorter ; while on a space of a hundred yards between the two, was located a colony of Herring Gulls numbering about fifty pairs of birds. The only other birds seen about were Rock Pigeons and Jack- daws, frequenting the caves and holes, while Ringed Plovers with their young ones were running about the bare edges of the cliff where the winter storms had worn away the soil. Choughs were said to have bred here some years ago, but no trace of them was to be seen on the occasion of my visit on the 22nd of July, 1891. On a visit to this head on the 9th of June, 1893, 1 saw nothing new at the breeding-haunt, although I had the advantage of viewing the sea- face of the cliffs from a boat. Killeenduff cliffs, situated about three miles from the little town of Easky, are a bold range about 100' feet high, and although most favourably circumstanced for the breeding of seafowl, are only frequented by a few pairs of Green Cor- morants, and Rock Pigeons in the caves ; a colony of House Martens having their nests in the face of the cliff, the nests looking like little dabs of mud stuck against the rock. After leaving Killeenduff" no rock-breeding birds are to be met with until Killcummin Head, the western boundary of Killala Bay in the County Mayo, is reached, where a few pairs of Green Cormorants nest, as well as some Jackdaws, and Starlings ; a pair of Peregrine Falcons had an eyrie in the highest part of the cliff", and about thirty years ago a pair of Choughs also bred there. On Killala Pool (the inner part of the bay) several pairs of Black Guillemots are to be seen throughout the year, and probably breed in the cliffs between Kilcummin Head and L^ackin Bay. 1 82 The Irish Naturalist. On the "Inch," a low gravelly island on the western side of the Pool, a colon}^ of the Common and Lesser Terns breed, as well as Ringed Plovers ; while on the sandhills of Bartragh Island Sheldrakes breed in the Rabbit-holes. For six miles west of Killcummin Head no breeding-haunt (unless that of a pair or two of the ubiquitous Green Cormorants) is met with until Downpatrick Head is reached, with its pillar-like rock of Doonbrista standing upright 126 feet out of the water, and 100 3^ards from the head. This rock is perfectly inaccessable, its wall-like sides (in some places overhanging) rising out of deep water, and although now so isolated, and inaccessable to man, was at some remote period of time joined to the mainland, and inhabited, which is proved by the remains of a stone w^all still to be seen on the summit. On the ledges of the head and rock, Kittiwakes swarmed in thousands, and when disturbed by the report of a gun, looked like a shower of snow as they darted out from the face of the cliffs. Green Cormorants were also in large numbers both on the rocks and head ; while on the flat grassy summit of the former a colony of twelve to fifteen pairs of the Great Black- backed Gull held undisputed possession ; a few pairs of Herring Gulls having to content themselves with the ledges just below the top. Razorbills and Guillemots thickly crowded together on the shelves of the head and rocks, in some places in dense masses, quite innumerable, though not in such large numbers as at Aughriss Head. Leaving Ball3xastle (or Buntraher Bay, as it is named on the maps), a few pairs of Black Guillemots were seen in the sheltered cove, and the cliffs begin to rise in height westward, until Keadue is reached, between two and three miles from Bally- castle ; just before reaching Keadue, and situated about 150 yards from the sea, in the centre of a grass field, a curious chaldron-like hole is seen, almost circular, and about 30 yards in diameter, the sides perpendicular and about 50 or 60 feet in depth to the rocky bottom, into which the tide flows through a tunnel-like cavern. It was low tide when we were there, but when the tide is high it rushes in with tremendous force in stormy weather, sending the spray up to a great height. While sitting on the edge of the cliff over the hole we observed Birds observed Breedmg on the Coasts of Sligo and Mayo. 183 some Jackdaws feeding their young in the crevices of the sides, and were agreeably surprised to hear the musical calls of a Chough, and shortly after saw a pair go into a hole near where the Jackdaws were, and heard them feeding their young ones. Keadue is an immense amphitheatre-like bay, running for a quarter of a mile into the land, and about as wide at the entrance, surrounded by a perpendicular wall of rock 350 feet in height, upon the edges of which a large colony of Herring Gulls had nests (perhaps a hundred pairs), while several pairs of the ubiquitous Green Cormorants were scattered about the face of the cliffs, having nests in the holes and crannies ; and about halfway on the western side a beautiful pair of Peregrine Falcons had their eyrie some thirty feet below the top, on a flat ledge under an overhanging vslab of rodk. As there were conflicting accounts of the species of eagle breeding on the North Mayo coast, I was anxious to visit their haunts, and ascertain if possible which species really bred there ; and also to continue my observations of the coast- breeding birds from Downpatrick Head and Keadue, as far west along the coast as possible. However, owing to the long-continued bad weather of the summer of 1892, I was unable to leave for my first visit until the 30th of June, when, at a quarter past 8 o'clock, a.m., I left Ballina on my twenty-mile drive to Belderig, via Killala and Ball3'castle. On reaching the latter village, while our horse was resting and feeding, I walked on before as far as Keadue, and during my three miles walk through the valley and along the river, I met a great variety of birds. Sedge Warblers singing in the reeds by the river banks ; Corncrakes calling from the little patches of oats, the three species of Bunting ; Thrushes, Common and Mountain Linnets, Goldfinches, Swifts, Swal- lows, and Sand Martins ; a few Chafiinches and Green Linnets — stragglers from the few trees and bushes near the villages ; Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, the latter very numerous. However, as soon as the bog district v.-as reached, a little beyond Keadue, onl}^ the two species of larks were to be seen. Though whenever there was a solitary cottage, even in the bog, with its little patches of oats and potatoes, there a few Twites and buntings were seen. 184 The Irish NaUcralist. The road from Ballj^castle to Belderig runs along the coast, not far from the cliffs, through a desert of bog and moor, but half-way between those places is Glenglossera, a small and verj^ picturesque glen, or rather ravine, reaching the sea through a narrow cove in the high cliffs ; at the head of the glen is the pretty shooting lodge of Mr. Mudge, sur- rounded by evergreen shrubs and natural brushwood, the latter clothing the sides of the ravine, and offering such a contrast to the wilderness of bog all round, that it looks like a lovely oasis in the midst of a desert. On the cliffs near the mouth of the cove over the sea a pair of Peregrines have an e3^rie. In August, some 3^ears ago, when Grouse-shooting, Mr. Mudge shot two Golden Eagles, an adult bird w^hich he has at his English residence, and an immature specimen w^hich he show^ed me in a case at Glen- glossera. Belderig is a small village, consisting of a few cottages thinly scattered over a broad valley or depression of the land, opening out into the little harbour between the cliffs, while bog and mountain surround it inland. The sea-cliffs from Belderig to Broadhaven Bay are the finest I have seen on the Irish coast, consisting of a mountain range varying in height from six to eight hundred feet, cul- minating in Benwee Head, 829 feet high. The cliffs are highest on the sea-face, and slope down inland to the level of the great bog, turf covering them to an immense depth. Even on the outer edge of the cliffs it is seven and eight feet deep, and falling with the crumbling face of the cliffs, and lodging where there are vacancies between stones and rocks, forms most convenient nesting-places for the Puffins and other birds. This line of coast is indented b}^ great ba3^s, at short distances from each other, and it is chiefly on the high wall-like cliffs of these bays that the sea-fowl breed in such numbers. (to bk conci.ude:d). [ i85 ] FIELD CLUB WORK IN THE NORTH. Annual Report and Proceedings of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, for the year ending 31st March, 1S95 (thirty-second year). Belfast : Printed for the Club, by A. Mayne & Boyd. Price of extra copies to members, 2s. This publication has just been issued, in the shape of a well-printed volume of over 200 pages, of which half is devoted to the Proceedings of the Club, and half to a " Supplement to the Flora of the North-east of Ireland," being one of the series of scientific memoirs relating to the natural history or archaeology of their district which this vSociety issues from time 10 time. Just thirty years ago the Belfast P'ield Club issued their first report, an eight-page pamphlet, covering two years' work — a contrast to the present stout volume, which indicates the growth of this Club during the intervening period. From the Committee's report we learn that the membership now stands at 516, being by far the highest number ever reached. The principal events of the summer were a joint excursion with the Dublin Field Club in June, a week's visit of the North Staffordshire Field Club to Belfast during the same month, and a three- day excursion to North Donegal in July. The formation of the Irish Field Club Union, which is already bearing good fruit, is referred to as calculated to work for the general benefit of all the Clubs concerned. The list of papers read at the winter meetings looks at first sight varied and representative of the several branches 'of the Club's work, but on anal3'sis we find that seven papers deal with geology, only two with zoology (and of these the titles alone are given in the Proceedings), none with botany, and the remaining five with literature, art, ethnography, &c. This weakness in zoology and botany is certainly to be regretted, in view of the immense amount of work still required in the North in these departments. In the reports of the excursions also, which occupy 21 pages, the same weakness is conspicuous ; not half-a-dozen animals, nor more than a score of plants are recorded as having been found by the members on their nine field-days, and as a matter of fact almost the whole of this small list was supplied by members of the Dublin Club on the joint excursion to the Boyne. The cause of this deficiency in field-work appears to be that the Belfast Club is suffering from a plethora of members. Is this Society doing more work now than during the many years when the membership ranged from 200 to 300.'^ We doubt it. It is certainly doing less field-work on its excursions, and the importance of maintaining the esprit de corps on these summer trips cannot be over- estimated; picnicking and consequent demoralization are always ready to swoop down on the unwary Field Club that allows its excursions to degenerate into pleasure-trips. When we read of 120 members having attended the driving excursion to Langford Lodge — well known as a " show place " — we are not surprised to find that absolutely 1 86 The Irish Naturalisi. no field-work was done on this occasion : it appears to be a law ot Field Club mathematics that the work done on an excursion usually varies inversely as the number of members present. Perhaps it is to this cause that we owe a redeeming feature of the Report under review — the excellent researches that are being carried out by a few ardent members of the Geological Committee on the glacial deposits of the district, and in other branches of local geology. Miss Thompson's report shows that the boulder- clays and associated beds, and the larger erratic blocks, are being carefully examined, and some interesting discoveries have already rewarded the researches of the Geological Committee ; while Mr. Hoskins' analysis of Antrim glauconite, and Prof. Cole's notes on hullite, are valuable contributions to our know- ledge of these minerals. But if the Belfast Field Club is weak in its field-work, it is certainly strong in a different department of its labours — that of indoor in- struction to its members. Three courses of lectures were held during the past winter, and all of them appear to have been decidedly successful. Prof Cole gave his second geological course, " The Study of Life on the Globe " ; Prof Johnson contributed twelve lectures on " The Study of Plant Life " ; while under the care of Mr. P. J. O'Shea the class for the study of the Irish language has continued to make satisfactory progress. The geological and botanical lectures were followed by practical demon- strations. These classes should serve as useful adjuncts to field-work, and as a stimulus to the same, but it should never be imagined that they can replace it. As a relief to the complete absence of botanical papers in the Proceed- ings, we have the loo-page appendix, " Supplement to the Flora of the North-east of Ireland," now published by S. A.Stewart and R. Lloyd Praeger. This paper shows that even if work on the Club excursions has been insignificant, the botanical members have not been idle when on excursions of their own. It is now just seven years since Stewart and Corry's " Flora " was published, and the present supplement shows a goodly number of additions to the lists of plants of the three counties — Down, Antrim, and Derry — dealt with in the work in question. As a matter of statistics, the flora (phanerogams, vascular cryptogams, mosses, and hepatics) of the district is raised from 1,169 species to 1,229; that of County Down is increased by 60 species, of County Antrim by 58, and of County Derry by 45. These additions include a number of plants of much interest. Spiranthcs Konianzoviana is indeed a bright jewel to add to the local botanists' crown ; Garex pancifiora is a highly interesting addition to the list of Irish mountain-plants ; the critical Polygonum, viaciilatuni is also an addition to the flora of Ireland; while a number of species, such as Kannncnhis circi/iatus, Drosera intenncdia, Saiissurea alpina^ Orchis py rati I idalis^ Carex aqiiatilis, were not previously known to grow in this part of our country. Withdrawals and corrections to Stewart and Corry's " Flora " are very few, showing the excellence and care with which the " Flora " was compiled. The species now withdrawn from Field Club Work hi the North. 187 the list of local plants are only six in ri\x\\\hQ.x\— Ononis spinosa, Rosa micrantha^ Silaus pratensis, Calamintha offi.cinalis, Primula veris, Grimiiua ovata, and in only two of these Zdi^^s—Rosa and Griinmia—is, the plant withdrawn on account of a proved error of determination, the remainder being omitted since time has shown that they were merely casuals or escapes in the stations credited to them. A useful feature of the Supple- ment is the enumeration of a number of plants which have not now been seen in the district for some years ; the rediscovery of these will be a useful work for the local botanist, since, on account of drainage and other changes, their confirmation as members of the present flora is a consummation devoutly to be wished. The supplement is wisely printed in pages of the same size as the " Flora of the North-east of Ireland," in order that it may be bound with it ; and it furnishes a valuable addition to our knowledge of Irish botany. PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. RoYAi, Z001.0GICA1. Society. Recent donations comprise two pairs of Hooded Crows from H. H. Jonas, Esq., and J. P. Swan, Esq. ; a Hedgehog from G. C. Gray, Esq. A Camel and a Chimpanzee have been purchased, and a Golden Agouti born in the Gardens. 8,790 persons visited the Gardens in May. BEI.FAST Naturalists' Fiei^d Ci,ub. May i8th.— The first Excursion of the season was held on this date when the Club paid a visit to the old Cistercian Monastery of Greyabbey^ A pleasant morning found a party of sixty collected at the Linen Hall Library at 10 a.m., and a start was made at once in brakes. Passing by Dundonald, Newtownards, and other places of interest, the first h^lt was made at Mountstewart, the seat of the Marquis of Londonderr}-. Here the fine mansion was thrown open to the members, after which the cromleac occupied the attention of the party, and was freely photo- gra])hed. This cromleac, as Mr. W. Gray pointed out, was once tlie centre of a large tumulus, which has since disappeared, leaving only its core. Having examined this relic of olden time, and having noticed" the good sense of the owner of the soil in leaving it intact, the party pro- ceeded to Greyabbe3^ Mr. J. J. Phillips has written a most beautiful and interesting monograph on this fine old ruin, and the information imparted by it during the day greatly increased the pleasure of those who saw it. Tea was provided on the hill close by, where a most extensive view delighted the eyes of all present. Strangford Lough and its islands, with the blue Mourne Mountains in the distance, and the ruins of the old abbey nestling amongst the trees beneath, added every feature necessary for a perfect picture ; in fact, it is doubtfid if there is so fine a view in all County Down as is here to be had in the evening sunlight. 1 88 The Irish Naturalist. At five o'clock the waggonettes were then once more mounted, and the party drove off, passing on the wa}-, close to Mountstewart, a vast erratic of basalt resting on Triassic sands and marls. Mr, Welch has taken a capital photo, of this amazing sample of the power of ice in the great ice age. Belfast was reached at eight o'clock, where the members dispersed. The botanists of the part}' found nothing rare, but Sediini telcphiiiDi and Anchiisa senipervircns, which were in great quantity. In one spot the double variety of the Lesser Celandine and an extremely large variety of the Wild Hyacinth were growing in abundance. The geologists only spent a few minutes at a small section of boulder clay, from which, however, a good specimen of a striated block was extracted. May 25th. — The geological section visited the Woodburn district, seventeen members being present. It is satisfactory to find that Professor Cole's recent lectures have greatly increased the interest in field geology, as evidenced by the large attendance at this excursion. The first halt was made outside the beautifvil and well-kept glen of the Water Commissioners. A cliff of Lower Greensand yielded brachyolites, ventriculites, Vermicularia, pectens, and other fossils. Passing up the glen, where the waterfalls were in perfection, the party crossed meadows gay with orchis, bugle, rattle, and Water Avens, obtaining the Adder's Tongue, and plunged into the nortli glen, where the dark green glan- conitic sands were reached after a good deal of scrambling. Many Exogyrce and lercbraiuhc were gathered, whilst the glacialists secured some boulder cla}' from about 400 feet above the sea. Passing down stream some blocks of Lias yielded fish teeth and scales, and eventually the party returned to Troopers Lane. June ist. — The second Excursion of the Club took place to Glj'nn and Gleno. A part}^ of about 100 left Belfast by the 2.15 express to Larne, which was kindly stopped at Glynn station by Mr. Cotton to allow the members to alight. This Excursion was rendered especially interesting owing to the presence of Professor Johnson and Mr. S. A. vStewart, two well-known botanists, who gave good assistance to those members taking up this study. On leaving the station a halt was made at the churchyard, where the ruins of the old church were examined. The Secretaries then announced that a prize would be given for the collection containing the largest number of species of flowering plants gathered during the afternoon. Mr. Stewart headed the party who wished to go on to Gleno, whilst the remainder stayed in the glen. A walk of about two-and-a-half miles brought the former to the quaint little village of Gleno. At the waterfall the botanists searched carefully for mosses, liverworts, and algie ; although nothing very rare was found, Fontinalis Jitiviatilis among the mosses, and Leutanca among the algae are worth noticing. Mr. Stewari obtained a specimen of Zygodon Stirtoni, which is found onl}' at Killarney and one or two places in the North. The large limestone quarry alongside the stj-eam yielded few fossils, but there were quite a number of the little Atiiorphospon^ia globularis weathered out on the surface in one part. The usual Ananchyics ovatus, Belemniklla imuronata, and Terebratula carnca were seen. A few photographs having been taken the party made for Glynn, where by the kindness of Mrs. Johnson the local arrangements had been made, and tea was provided in the school- house by Messrs. Inglis and Co. This was followed by the judging of the nine collections of the competitors for the botanical prize, but it was only as the train neared Belfast that Professor Johnson and Mr. Stewart were able to say that Mr. Richard Hanna had taken the prize with ninety species ; Miss Vinycomb was next with seventy-one, and the lowest was about sixty, so the competition was keen. The only plant of note was Dog's Mercury (^Mcrcurialis perennis), which was in some quantity, and is locallv rare. Proceedi7igs of Irish Societies. 189 Dubinin Naturawsts' Fiei^d Ci.ub. May 25th. — An especially interesting excursion was made on May 25th, when a large party visited the bog near TuUaniore in King's County, which is well known to naturalists as the largest breeding place in Ire- land of the Black-headed Gull. Leaving Dublin at 9.15, a rapid journey in a special through carriage brought the members to Tullamore, where they were joined by some local friends, and drove immediately to the vicinity of the bog. Here they were met by Mr, R. Digby, J. P., and the Rev. Canon Russell, D.D., who acted as guides during the day. No time was lost in getting out on the bog, where the unusual spectacle of some fifty persons wending their way cautiously among the pools and marshes to the centre of the vast spongy plain produced a great commotion among the only inhabitants — thousands of graceful sea-birds, that rose in clouds before the part}', and eddied like snowflakes overhead, filling the air with their wild musical din. Here among the bog-pools were numbers of slightly-formed nests, many of which contained brown spotted eggs, others 3'oung birds in the beautiful brown and black mottled down of infancy, while others of larger size, covered with dark feathers, ran about among the heather, or skulked in the beds of rushes. The photographers of the party busily took snap-shots at the birds, old and young, while the botanists were well pleased to find abundance of the Cranberry (FarczwzV/;;^ Oxycoccos)^ with its pink blossoms dotting the wet moss, the waxy bells of the Andromeda {A. polifolid), the Great Sun- dew {Drosera anglica), a somewhat rare fern, Lasirea spinnlosa, and other plants ; and the entomologists captured a variety of rare bog insects, a list of which is contributed by Mr. J. N. Halbert to the present number (p. 172). The edge of the bog was regained without mishap, and the party next explored the beautiful wood of Clonad. Here were found both species of Buckthorn {Rhamniis latharticus and. R. frangtda), the Inter- mediate Avens {Geuin interniediiDii), the Columbine {Aqiiilegia vulgaris), the Water Avens {Geiim rivale), and many other interesting species. In meadows adjoining grew the Green-winged Orchis {0. i/iorio), Q.i\d fine plants of the Royal Fern {Osniunda regalis) were obtained on the banks of a stream in the neighbourhood. The following fungi were collected by Mr. Greenwood Pini and Dr. H. J. McWeeney : — Agariciis (Gahrd) hypjio- rum, Fr. ; A. {Gabra) viycenopsis, Fr. ; and A. {Oniphalia) timbelliferus, Fr., on Sphagnujn ; Peronospora parasitica on Sisymhritim Alliaria ; J\ pygmcea on linemone neviorosa ; Aicidiuiii crassum, Pers., on Rharnnus catJiarticus (the spermogonia were also found on the upper side of the leaf); CEcldiuni aquilegice ; Puccinia epilohii ; P. coronata, Corda, abundant on both species of Buckthorn ; Penidllium olivaceu!n(Ca..), on discoloured spots on Aquihgia- leaf The whole party, now reinforced by a number of the local gentry, assembled at the forester's house at five o'clock, where an ample tea was provided by the Misses Gardiner, of Leinster-street, Dublin. Subse- quently a short business meeting was held." Mr. Greenwood Pim, M.A., F.L.S., who occupied the chair, on behalf of the members warmly thanked INIr. Digby and Canon Russell for the great assistance they had given during the day. Mr. A. J. Pentland and Miss Pentland were then elected members of the Club. The return journe}^ was made in time to catch the 7.42 train to town, and Dublin was reached punctually at ten. igo The Irish Naturalist. NOTES. BOTANY. Irish plants in the new London Catalogue,— It may be interesting to point out some of the changes as regards Irish plants which have been made in the ninth edition of this useful work. Irish- men will regret that St. Dabeoc's Heath no longer bears his name {Daboecia), but is changed to Boretia, and that the Lough Neagh sedge Carex Biixbazimii becomes C. fusca, but the law of priority is inexorable. Two other exclusively Irish plants, Asplcnitim Clermontce, and Potamogeton longifolhis, Bab., are marked as hybrids. We have cause to be grateful, however, that Rosa hibcniica still retains its name, though it had a narrow escape, and that the following now help to swell the small numl)er of Irish plants, Thalictntm lollinuin var. calcarcum, Carex rhynchophysa, and the varieties Ilartii, Stcwartii, and occidentale from the long array of Hawk- weeds. The new spelling of Spiranthcs J\o/iianzo//iana, and Isoetes laciistris V. Morei should be noted ; the latter, which was spelled Moorci in the eighth edition, was I suppose a misprint. C. H. Waddei^L, Saintfield. HEPATIC^. Jubula Hutchinsiae (Hook,)-— I am glad to be able to record a new station for this beautiful scale-moss, which I have only seen before in the North of Ireland at Rostrevor and Tollymore Park. It was found by Miss S. M. Thompson in a damp fissure of the rocks on the coast south of Newcastle, County Down. There is no appearance in the North of its variety integrifolia, which is said to be one of the links between the flora of S.W. Ireland and that of Spain and the West Indies. C. H. Waddei*!/, Saintfield. ZOOLOGY. CRUSTACEA. Cladocera from the West of Ireland.— The following Clad- ocera have been identified b}^ me in material collected at various times by Prof. D'Arcy W. Thompson (of Dundee) in the neighbourhood of the town of Galway — Sida crystallina, Miiller ; Daphnia piilex, De Geer ; D. longispina, Miiller ; D. galcata, G. O. Sars ; Si/nocephalus veivlus, Miiller ; Ceriodaphnia viegalops, G. O. Sars ; Bosmina longispina, Miiller ; Etirycerciis lamellatns, Miiller; Acerpcriis harpie, Baird ; Alonopsis eloiigaia, G. O. Sars; Lyncciis affinis, Kurz. ; Grapiolcbcris tcsindinaria, Fischer ; Alone! la nana, Baird ; Pleuroxus trigonellus, Miiller ; Chydorns sphericns, Miiller ; Leptodora hyalina, Lilljeborg. Of these species the rarest is Lyncens affinis, a form only recently added to the British lists. It has lately been found, however, by Mr. Scourfield in North Wales, by Mr. T. Scott in the West of Scotland, and by myself near Birmingham. T. V. Hodgson, Birmingham. INSECTS. Plague of Beetles In Calway in 1688. — I send an extract from Boate describing a curious plague of beetles in Galway in i6S8 : — "In the summer of 1688 a vast swarm of insects of the Scarabeus or beetle kind appeared on the S.W. coast of Galway, not far from the town. They were brought by a S.W. wind and proceeded towards Headford to Tuam, where, and in the adjacent country, they lay by thousands among the trees and hedges, hanging to the boughs in Notes. 191 clusters, and sticking to the backs of one another, like bees when they swarm. In this manner they continued quiet during the heat of the day, but towards evening they simultaneously took wing with a strange noise resembling the distant beating of drums, and in such vast and incredible numbers as to darken the air for many miles around, In a short time they devoured all the leaves of the trees, and the countr}', though it was then in the middle of summer, was left as naked as if it had been in the middle of winter. The grinding of the leaves in the mouths of this vast multitude made a sound similar to the sawing of timber. They destroyed all the gardens round the country, and particularly Mr. Martin's beautiful plantations at Dangan ; entered the houses, and, crawling about, fell into the food of the people ; and wherever they happened to stride they left a slight mark behind. Their spawn they deposited near the surface of the ground, where it did considerable damage by devouring the roots of the corn and grass. These formidable invaders were, however, easily killed ; smoke was their greatest enemy, and one wet day destroyed great heaps of them. They proved good food for the swine and poultry, and, according to some, were also used by the poorer sort of people. PVoni the time of their first appearance they con- tinued to proceed progressively with the westerly wind, and in 1696 they reached the Shannon ; but they were gradually destroyed. The year before about 40 or 50 horse loads were found lying dead along the shores of the bay, for miles westward of Galway. It was supposed this new colony, coming from their native lands, Normandy or Brittany in France, met with a contrary wnnd, which, having blown them into the sea, they were drownied, and their bodies cast ashore. Since that time nothing of the same kind has appeared." Richard T. KeIvI.y, Dublin. [It is only a few days since we received complaints from Co. Galway of the serious ravages of the small chafer Phyllopcrtha horticola, L., during the present summer. Very probably the beetles referred to in the above interesting old record belonged to that species. — Kds.] Lepidoptera from SIig:o. — In the March number of the current volume (p. 77) I record the capture by Rev. R. A. M 'Clean of Erebia epiphron var. cassiope near Sligo. Having now looked through his entire, collection, the following species of moths seem to be worthy of record :- - GeoM£;TRID^. — Eiirymene dolobraria, Epione apiciaria, Acidalia remuiaj-ia, Bapta temeraia, Numeria piilveraria, Scodioiia belgiaria, Hybernia nipicapraria, Anisopteryx asailaria, Eininelcsia tcvniala, Eupitheiia dodoncata, E. lariciata, Larcntia nniltisirigaria, Melanthia ocellata, Cidaria miala, C. siierata, C. corylata, C. silaceata, C. suffiimata, Pdiirga coniitata. SphinGID^. — S/nerinihiis ocellatus. NOTODONTID.^. — Pterostonia palpina. CymaTOPHORID.'E. — Thyalira batis, T. dera^a, Cymatophora duplaris. NOCTUID^. — GraiiiDiesia trigranimica, Stilbia anomala, Ma/nestra persicarue, Celcena HaivortJiii, Dianihcecia nana, D. capsincola, D. ctuubali, Epiinda lutidenta^ vars. sedi, and liinebcrgensis, Cleoceris viininalis, Agrotis vestigialis, A. cu7'Soria, A, pnrcox, A. strignla, A. confusa, Panolis pinipcrda, Xanthia fulvago, X. Jlavago, Charicleanmbra, Xylocampa areola, Xylina orniihopus, X. socia, Plusia bractea. IvlTHOSllD^. — Gnophria rnbricollis. PYRAt,lD^. — Botys niralis, B. fuscalis, Scoparia ambigiialis, Noviophila nocinella, Scapula lutealis, Crai)ibiis niaigaritellus, C. horiuellus, C. genicnleus. TlNElD^. — Dmrnca fagella, Hyponomeiita cagnagclhis. ToRTRlCiD^li. — Tortrix ministrana, Sericoris lacunana, Argyrotoza conwayana, Pardia iripinutana, Catoptria idicctana, Aigyrolepia hartmanniana. Z YGiE NI D.-t; . — Zygcena lonicene. Hepiai^id^I^. -Ihpia'.iis hcctus. Geo. H. Carpenter. 192 The Irish Naturalist. BIRDS. Notes on Black-headed Culls.— The following notes arc from observations which I made at Lough INIask, Co. INJ.ayo, and Gull Island, Gartan Lake, Co. Donegal. — The birds all seem to begin to lay at the one time— once an o.^^ is laid either the cock or hen is on the nest so that the eggs come out very irregularly ; they lay from three to five eggs, generally three or four, but in a few nests there may be six. When the chicks are all out they stop for about a week at the "gullery " and then all suddenly disappear. The young chicks do not seem to be alile to swim, as some that fell off the island at Gartan were drowned. One year the gamekeeper at Toormakeedy robbed the regular gullery to get the eggs to feed his Pheasants, and the Gulls moved to a rocky island and crag in the small river that flows into the north end of Lough Mask, here they could be easily watched as one could creep within 100 yards of them. When the chicks were about ten days old they all suddenly left. To-day when passing the gullery was alive, the next day there was scarcely a Gull to be seen, and on going to the island one only found one or two late clutches. After the gullery was deserted I found in the Co. Mayo in the grass fields and in the Co. Donegal in the corn-field a hovering pair of Black-heads that mobbed me if I came near as if their young were about, but although I worked the ground very close I never could find one ; but in two or three weeks the country would have nu- merous small flocks consisting of two adults and three or four young ones flying about feeding. I firmly believe the Gulls bring their young to these fields, in fact it is all but positively proved — but how do they do it .'' Do they carry them } The Mallard Duck does carry its young as at Cragg, Lough Derg, Co., Clare ; so also does the Woodcock. Why there- fore may not the Black-headed Gull do likewise ? The Terns and the Grey-backed Gull keep about Lough Mask till their young are well able to fly. G. H. KiNAHAN, Dublin. GEOLOGY. Exposed LlasatWhltepark Bay, North Antrim. —Heavy storms in former 3'ears exposed small patches of Lias shales near the " Kitchen" Middens" in this bay, but these were very soon covered up again, sometimes ])y next few tides. The great storm of December 22nd last, has left lasting traces of its fury here, and by removing many thousands of tons of sand and shingle from the centre of the strand to the east end has exposed the beds for a distance of over a thousand long b}' from twenty to one hundred and fifty feet wide. All that now remains are large masses of Chalk scattered over the Lias, There does not seem to be even after four months exposure any sign of the sand covering up again, but it might be well for geologists to take advantage of this fine exposure while they may ; the beds are fairly fossiliferous, indeed it is from here and from the little section a little higher up along the banks of the stream that the Causeway guides get the majority of the specimens of ammonites which they sell to tourists, and there are plenty of indications that they are working there now. It would be impossible to accurately describe the great change the storm made from the little port at Eallintoy to this point. Almost all the shingle which lay in gullies around the sea-stacks has been thrown up high beyond high water mark ; at one place lying along a field 30 to 40 feet inside the low ditch. Even more destructive was the storm on the West Strand, near Golf Hotel, Portrush, where the sand has been removed in immense quantities all along the face of the dunes, exposing for almost a quarter of a mile the well-known submerged peat beds there, which before the storm showed only in a small patch about two feet below the Hotel ; it being now from seven to eight feet high there the alternate layers of peaty matter and sand can now be well examined, insects, &c., searched for. Roots and branches of trees, evidently of the pine tribe, are common, and what appeared to me like leaves or stems of Zostera .? or other esiuarine plant. R. We;i.ch, Belfast Vol. IV. AUGUST, 1895. No. 8. THB ORCHIDS OF COUNTY DUBININ. BY NATHANIKI. COI^GAN, M.R.I. A. So far as it is possible to judge with our still very imperfect knowledge of the various Irish county floras, the County Dublin is exceptionally rich in orchids. Out of a total of, say, twenty-three Irish species, no less than sixteen are included in the actual Dublin flora, while further research may be ex- pected to raise the number to eighteen by the re-discovery of two recorded species which have not been recently observed. This proportion of sixteen to twenty-three is somewhat ex- ceeded in the Counties of Cork, Galway, and Kerry, with areas, respectively, about eight, seven, and five times as great as that of the County Dublin ; Wicklow, with more than twice the Dublin area, numbers about seventeen species ; Westmeath,^ with exactly double, and Armagh/ with one and a half times the area of Dublin, each number twelve species in their orchid floras ; Donegal, with five times the Dublin area, has, perhaps, no more than an equal number of species ; and, finally, the three north-eastern counties of Ireland : Derry, Antrim, and Down, with a combined area more than eight times that of the County Dublin, hp.ve one less than its number of orchid jspecies^ — fifteen. On the whole, then, the orchid flora of the County Dublin may be set down as exceptionally rich when compared with that of other Irish counties, though it must be confessed that its richness lies rather in the number of its species than in the presence of any of the rarer Irish members of this peculiarly interesting order of plants. The following notes, selected rather hastily from some j^ears' observations in the highlands and lowlands of the county, will 1 See Mr. H. C. Levinge's " Plants of Westmeath," /.JV„ 1894. 2 See Mr. Praeger's " Flora of Armagh," /.N., 1893. ^ EJxcludin^ Epipactis palustris and Cephalanthera ensifolia. A 194 * 'j^he Irish Naturalist. be found, perhaps, to contain nothing strikingly novel for students of the Dublin flora. It is hoped, however, that they may serve to exhibit with some clearness the county distribu- tion of the Dublin orchids, as at present known, and thus show the direction in which further inquiry may be useful. Malaxls paludosa (Sw.)— Bog Orchis.— vStill in some abundance in its old station on Glendliu Mountain, where I had the pleasure of pointing it out in September last to Dr. I^eitch, of Silloth, who on the same day discovered another station for the species on the mountains to the eastward above GlencuUen Bridge, at a height of i,ooo feet. For ten years this plant has maintained itself in precisely the same patch of Sphagnwn on Glendhu Mountain. It would be of interest to know whether it still holds its ground in its earliest recorded Dublin station, at the head of Glenasmole, where it was found eighty years ago by John Templeton, who, in his IMS. Irish Flora, records the discovery in these words:— "In marshy places about Kelly's Glen, River Dodder, July, 1814, in company with Dr. Ta3-lor and Mr. Mackay ; in flower July 23rd, 1814." Mr. John Bain, who more than once gathered the plant here in his early botanical excursions with Dr. Mackay about the date of the publication of the Flora Hibernica{i^2i^), tells me that Templeton's station is no doubt the mossy plashes on the right above Grierson's, now Cobb's, Lodge at the head of the glen. Malaxis, it may be noted, should be sought for not only in living Sphagnum beds, but also round their edges, where a constant trickle of moisture passes over freer ground. In its Glendhu station it usually occurs in groups or clusters, a number of small plants, one inch or less in height, surrounding a larger, sometimes three-inch, central plant. This outer ring arises, no doubt, from the growth of the characteristic leaf-bulbils dropped by the more mature central plant. Ranging in Dublin from 1,000 to 1,300 feet. Llstera cordata (R. Br.)— Lesser Tway-bi,adi:.— Probably abund- ant in the Dublin mountains wherever the heather is well grown and not too dense below. First recorded for the county in the late Mr. A. G. More's Rtrent Additions (1872). Mr, H. C. Hart tells me that he gathered the plant on Feather Bed Mountain in 1867. It occurs frequently on Glendhu Mountain, on Kippure, and on the slopes between Kilmashogue and the Three Rock. Ranging from 1,200 feet on Kilmashogue to 2,000 feet on Kippure. Llstera ovata (R. Br.)— Common Tway-bi;ade.— Abundant in the county, especially on moist " drift " banks. Specimens gathered last year on the railway cuttings between Raheny and Killester, where this orchid grows in great profusion, measured 2 feet 2 inches in height, with leaves 6 inches by 3 inches. The three-leaved form mentioned in Smith's English Flora (4th Kd., 1830), is probably not uncommon in the county. Mr. W. H. Bloomer has shown me fine specimens of it gathered The Orchids of County Dublin, 195 on the railway banks, near Shankill, and I have found the form frequent in woods near the head of Saggard Slade. Ranges from sea-level at Balbriggan to 1,000 feet on Slieve Thoul. Splranthes autumnalis (Rich.)— Lady's Tresses.— Apparently- very rare in the county. Recorded from Bray Common, from Killiney, and from Loughlinstown, but not recentl3^ Found on the North Bull about the year 1885 by the late Mr. A. G. More. It would be desirable to search for this plant along the top of the drift banks from Killiney to the Bray river, towards the middle or end of August. Epipactis palustris (Crantz)— Marsh HeIvIvEborine. — This species appears to have been formerly much more abundant in the county than at present. Templeton, in his MS. Flora, gives the follow- ing localities : — "Jamestown, \ mile beyond Kilgobbin, Co. Dub- lin, Dr. Stokes, October 26, 1801. Plentiful in a bog in the neigh- bourhood of Killiney Bay, and among the sand-hills at Baldoyle Strand." The first of these is its earliest recorded Dublin station : in the third, better known as Portmarnock sand-hills, it still holds its ground, Mr. Praeger having gathered it there last year. The plant is now per- haps extinct in the stations Stagstown and Kingstown^ given by Wade in his PlantcB Rariores (1804). Should this be so, it would make all the more acceptable the new station quite recently added in Glenasmole, where a considerable number of plants was discovered by Rev. C. F. d' Arcy on this year's June excursion of the Dublin Field Club. Lowland in the county, reaching only to 600 feet (in Glenasmole). Epipactis latifolla (Sw.)--Hei,i.Eborine.— Recorded in Mackay's Catalogtie of the Indigenous Plants of Ireland, 1825, for Portmarnock sands, an unsatisfactory habitat for a woodland species. In Mackay's Flora mbernica, published eleven years later, the Portmarnock station is trans- ferred to E. palustris. Though the plant is marked in the British Associa- tion Guides 1878, as " rather tare " for Dublin and Wicklow, I had no recent records for the county, until last month (July, 1895), when I had the good fortune to discover about a dozen plants of this species in a wood near Ballybetagh, north of the Scalp. Orchis pyramidalis (Linn.)— Pyramidal orchis.— A decidedly calcicole" plant, abundant in Dublin, where it finds in almost all * Not, of course, the modern Kingstowm, the Dunleary of Wade's generation ; but the district of Kingston, lying about a mile N. of the Scalp, where the Rev. vS. A. Brenan informs me he gathered the plant in i860. 2 This convenient word is adopted from Coutejean's " Geographic Botanique," Paris, 1881, as it clearly denotes the observed connection between lime-soils and certain species of plants, without in any way begging the very vexed question as to whether the influence of the mineral is chemical or mechanical. A 2 196 The Irish Naturalist, quarters a congenial habitat on the limestone drift spread over so large an area. It occurs in all the eight botanical districts into which I have divided the county, and is apparently lowland here, as elswhere in Ireland, hardly reaching to a higher level than 600 feet. Orchis IVIorlo (I^nn.)— Green-winged Orchis.— Like the preceding species, though rare in many parts of Northern and Southern Ireland, the Green-winged Orchis is widely distributed through Dublin, where it has been observed in seven of the eight county districts. It grows in great profusion at Baldrummond, N.E. of Ballyboghil, where I found it in May last, thickly spread over some acres of damp pasture. It is frequent in sandy fields to the E. of Portrane peninsula and abundant on the drift banks of Glenasmole and its tributary glen of Glassamuck}'. Ranges from sea-level to 1,000 feet at Piperstown. Orchis mascula (Linn.)— Eari,y Purpi^E Orchis— Occurs in all eight districts of the county, where, however, it seems less abundant than in the North of Ireland. Ranges to 750 feet in Glassamucky glen. Orchis Incarnata (Linn.)— Apparently rare in the county, having been found, so far, in only two of its districts. It is recorded from sandy pastures at Sutton and Portmarnock, and occurs in considerable quantity by the Grand Canal at Hazlehatch and in the Slade of Saggard, above the old bridge. Ranges from sea level to 600 feet at Saggard Slade (*)• Orchis maculata (Linn.)— Spotted Orchis.— The commonest orchid of County Dublin, as it is, perhaps, of all Ireland, and indeed of the British Isles. Well distributed through all eight districts of the county. A high ranging species in Dublin, as it is throughout the British Isles, reaching to 1,950 feet on Seefingan mountain. Ophrys aplfcra (Huds.)— Bee Orchis.— This, perhaps the hand- somest of the Dublin orchids, occurs in five of the county districts, all the stations, w^ith one exception, the Green Hills, being near the coast. It is apparently rare in all its Dublin stations, save at Skerries, where Rev. T, B. Gibson found it in abundance in 1892. A lowland and distinctly calckok species, probably occurring in many other stations on drift banks and gravel eskers. (*). 0. latifolia, Linn., is for the present omitted from the county list, as it is to be feared that, though recorded from many stations, it has not been discriminated from 0. incamaia. Treating the two species as an aggregate, the county distribution will be extended to four districts. The Orchids of County Dublin. 197 Ha)t>enarIaconopsca(Benth.)— Fragrant Orchis.— Widely distri- buted in the county, occurring in seven of the districts, and very abundant in many places on the drift, especially in railway cuttings. It grows most luxuriantly in the cuttings near Killester on the Great Northern Railway, where I have gathered specimens measuring fully i foot 11 inches in height. lyowland in the county, reaching only to about 650 feet (in Glena« smole.) Habenarla viridis (R.Br.)— Frog Orchis. — Rather common, occur- ring in six of the county districts, and abundant in many stations in the uplands, as on the Brittas Hills, in Upper Glenasmole and round Friars- town and Piperstown. This species seems to be quite indifferent as to soil. It appears on the basalt at Ballynascorney, on the limestone drif at Balbriggan and Glenasmole, in sandy pastures by the shore near Skerries, and in stiff non-calcareous clays on Carrickbrack in the Naul Hills. Ranging from sea-level to 1,000 feet on Mount Seskin and Kilakee Mountain, and to 1,050 feet on Knockanavea. Mabenarla albida (R.Br.)— Rare, recorded only from two districts of the county. Templeton, in his MS. Flora, enters it as found " in pastures on the sides of Kelly's Glen, Dodder River," the date of the record being certainly not later than 1820. It still maintains itself in this station, where Mr. Greenwood Pim gathered it in 1889, and Dr. M'Weeney so recently as in 1894. Habenaria chlorantha (Bab.)— Butterfi -^ .'. . although quite as favourable in appearance as the other bays for seabirds' breeding haunts, none were to be seen,, except a few pairs of Guillemots near the entrance. Not wishing to go any further from Porturlin, as it was late in the day, although there were still some miles of coast unex- plored, I sat down to rest, and carefully examined the cliffs with my glass ; but I saw no birds oi any kind except a pair of Peregrines, and these by their noisy anxiety indicated that they had either eggs or young somewhere near. After a time I perceived a greyish object stirring behind a stone on a ledge, but, unless when moving, perfectly indistinguishable, and this proved to be one of a pair of young Peregrines sitting behind a grey stone ; they were about as large as grouse, and some dark feathers appearing amongst their white down gave them that grey colour so like the stones by which they were sitting. After satisfactorily identifying the birds, I set out on my return, and having walked about a quarter of a mile, I heard the screaming of a Peregrine in the distance, and after a time the noisy screams coming nearer, I looked about and per- ceived just in front of me, flying towards me, a magnificent eagle closely followed by a screaming Falcon. Both birds passed over me, the eagle carrying a hare by the head and forequarters, the rest of the body dangling from his talons as he flew slowly along towards the cliffs, and disappearing below the edge, passed out of sight. I had a good view of the bird with my glass, and seeing the white feathers of the tail, have no doubt of its being the Sea Kagle {Halicetus albicilla). The bird had evidentl}^ come a long way over the bogs from the inland district, and was carrying the hare to its young in the cliff of "Spink, "where the boy told me the nest was situated. Having thus had the pleasure of seeing the eagle, but not being successful in finding the nest in consequence of the desertion of my guide, I returned to Porturlin, and got back to Belderig between nine and ten o'clock. The weather changed that night, and I was obliged to return home next day on a twenty-mile drive in a storm of wind and heavy rain, which continued for ten days, and prevented my revisiting the cliffs ; when the weather cleared up it was too late in the season. The foregoing notes, being the result of my two days' visit in 1892, were so satisfactory that I was encouraged to pay a ^irds observed Breeding on the Coasts of Sligo and Mayo. 203 more prolonged visit to this district in 1893, and take more time to explore the range of cliffs as far as Portacloy. So, on the 23rd of May, in company of my friend Mr. H. Scroope, junr., I set out on my second visit to the North Mayo coast, with the intention of walking along the cliffs from Belderig to Porturlin, and thence to Portacloy, and if the weather permitted to explore the sea side of the cliffs from the water. During our drive from Ballycastle to Belderig we found the Herring Gulls and Green Cormorants breeding here and there along the line of cliffs, and in consequence of being so thinly scattered not appearing numerous anywhere after passing Keadue. On reaching Belderig at three o'clock, it being too late in the day to go on to Porturlin, we walked from the harbour along the cliffs to the first headland (Benwecruagh) and Horse Island, where the old disused copper mine is situated ; the island is a mere mass of rock, about half an acre in extent, probably a hundred feet in height from the water, and joined to the mainland by a ridge or causeway formed by the fallen debris from the cliff, just above the highest spring tides. On the flat summit of the island Oyster- catchers bred, and we found their eggs in a depression in the rock, resting on a few small stones for a lining to the nest. Oyster- catchers breed all along the coast, on the small island rocks, and on the bare summit of the cliffs in many places. In a hole of the cliff in the south-west side a pair of Choughs had a nest, and not far from it a pair of Black Guillemots had a nest also, while another pair were in the water at the base. I was sur- prised to see the Black Guillemots breeding so high, at least ninety feet above the water. A pair of Grey Crows haunted the cliffs also, and we were told these birds bred in many places along the cliffs of that part of the coast. Guillemots and Razorbills also had nests on the headland and inside the entrance of some large caves at the base. Next morning we set out on our seven miles' walk over the cliffs to Porturlin, and when crossing the river that flows just below the village of Belderig, we were surprised at hearing a Whinchat singing, and shortly after saw him on a furze-bush on a bank, but although we searched carefully for the nest were unsuccessful, although we were certain it was near, for the bird was always near the same part of the little field. We were A 4 204 '^^^^ Irish Naturalist. glad to have ascertained that the range of the Whinchat ex- tended so far to the north-west of the county, for the only other locality in North Mayo where I have met this bird is near Killala. On walking along the cliffs, we found that, irrespective of the great breeding-haunts in the bays, there were many smaller colonies of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, and Razorbills scattered all along ; and that many were passed over unnoticed in consequence of not being within view from the land side, it being quite impossible to see them without a boat. On the east side of lyoughtmurriga, on a ledge a short way below the summit of the cliff, we saw the old nest of an eagle that had been robbed about four years ago ; it was an immense heap of sticks, apparently composed of the thick stems and roots of heather. The various rock-birds were as numerous as ever, but in consequence of the Puffins being hatching inside their holes, the birds sitting on the cliffs and on Moistha Island did not appear in such numbers as when visited later last season. On the land side of lyoughtmurriga, in a patch of the only long heather we met, we were surprised to see a pair of Stone- chats and their fulh^-fledged young flitting about. The slope of the hill on which this long heather was growing had less turf on it, and was drier, which was the cause of the more luxuriant growth. On arriving at Porturlin we engaged a curragh and four men to take us out to Pig's Island (Pig's- back its local name), about half a mile to the west of the harbour, a long narrow island about 150 feet high, with steep sides, and having a great archway through the centre. On the sheltered ledges underneath an immense colony of Kitti- wakes bred, while in holes in the turf and under stones large numbers of Puffins and Razorbills were hatching, and Herring Gulls on the grassy top. We put a boy on the rocks, and he scrambled up and got us some Puffins' and Razorbills' eggs, and a clutch of Herring Gulls also, but the wind rising and the sea getting up, he was obliged to hasten down, and it was with great difficulty we got him safe on board again. It was very provoking the wind rising and not giving time to search for the Stormy Petrels that had nests in the turf over the arch, and from which, some weeks later, an addled ^^'g and several birds were sent to Mr. Scroope. On several rocky islets at the Birds observed Breeding on the Coasts of Sligo and Mayo. 205 base of Altmore inside Pig's Island, thousands of Razorbills and Guillemots were sitting — birds that would have been un- noticed from the land side. It was most disappointing that during our stay the wind kept blowing persistently from the north-west, raising such a swell on the rocks that we had no opportunity of exploring by boat, and until this can be done the list of birds met with must necessarily be imperfect. We then got to our car, and back to Belderig for the night, and next morning drove by road to Porturlin, sending the car on from there to meet us at Portacloy after our walk along the cliffs. Having engaged a very intelligent boy for a guide, we set off on our walk over the cliffs. The bays at Altmore and Altredmond have certainly the largest number of sea-birds yet met with ; I am certainl}^ within bounds when I say the Puffins were in hundreds of thousands, almost millions. At Altredmond we saw another old nest of the eagle ; after passing the last-mentioned bay we came to another, the large bay mentioned in my first visit as having no sea-birds except a few Guillemots and Razorbills near the entrance. A little beyond it was a smaller bay bounded by the headland of '* Spink," where the eagle's nest was last season. This was a curiously shaped pointed rock, the outer end rising up into a sharp pinnacle twenty or thirty feet high, upon which the eagles used to stand, having a fine look-out all round them, both inland and over the sea, so that they could not be approached unawares from an}^ side ; and some feet below the nest was situated, but not visible from the land side ; but although we saw nothing of the eagles that day, the boy told us they were all the season about the cliffs. In the same cliff a pair of Peregrines had a nest, and we saw the Teiral take a Puffin out of a flock and carry it to his mate and young at the nest. From that bay right on to Portacloy the sea-birds were breeding in large numbers, while at Portacloy we found the largest colony of Guillemots and Razorbills that we had yet seen, breeding by themselves apart from other birds. There was another ej-rie of Peregrines in the cliff on the east side of the cove, and a colony of Choughs, of which we saw the site of one nest. Not having time to explore what remained of the few miles of coast between Portacloy and Broadhaven, including Benwee Head, we returned to Belderig for the night, 2o6 The Irish Naturalist. thus ending a most enjoyable and interesting visit to a line of coast which, for the number and variety of the birds breeding on it, and for its wild and rugged scenery, cannot be equalled in Ireland, APPENDIX. In the first part of this report, published in the July number of the Irish Naturalist^ I erroneously stated (page 182, line 5) **that for six miles west of Kilcummin Head no breeding haunt is met with until Downpatrick Head is reached." I was unaware, until a few weeks ago, of the fact of birds breed- ing in that part. I had never visited it, nor could I get reliable information until my young friend, Mr. G. Scroope, of Ballina, passing along the coast in an excursion steamer on the 28th of June, observed several breeding stations on the cliffs between Lacken Bay and Downpatrick Head. Stimulated by this information, on the nth inst., in company of Mr. G. Scroope, his father, and brother, I drove to Lacken Bay, and then walked along the cliffs as far as Crevagh Head, where we were obliged to return by heavy and persistent rain coming on. We met five breeding stations of Kittiwake Gulls (the smallest of about 130 pairs), while Razorbills and Guillemots frequented each station. Herring Gulls were met with at only two. A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were also observed, but not breeding, having evidently come from their great breeding-haunt on Doonbrista, off Downpatrick Head, As Crevagh Head is only half-way to Downpatrick, many other stations are probably on the unexplored cliffs extending in that direction, which at some future time I hope to visit. The Green Cormorants breed all along the line of coast, but none of the Great species were seen anywhere on the clifis during our walk. [ 207 1 ^ CAPTURES OF COI.EOPTKRA IN IREIvAND DURING THE SPRING OF 1895. BY JAMES J. WAI.KKR, R.N., F.EJ.S. Hkr Majesty's ship '' Northampton," employed on special training and recruiting service, visited several Irish ports during April and May of the present year, and I lost no oppor- tunity of working hard for Coleoptera whenever I was able to land. I was favoured with fine weather during nearly the whole of the cruise, but a hard gale of wind experienced at two of the most interesting places — viz., Bangor and Bun- crana, interfered somewhat with collecting, and no doubt reduced the number of species which would otherwise have been observed. At the suggestion of the Rev. W. F.Johnson of Armagh, I forward a full list of my captures to the Irish Nahiralist as a small contribution to our knowledge of the Coleopterous fauna of Ireland. All the species on which I had any doubt have been examined and identified by my friend, Mr. G. C. Champion. Taken at Queenstown, Co. Cork, 27th April to 8th May, 1895:— Carabus nemoralls, Mull.— Scarce. C. granulatus, I,.— Common under stones, &;c. Notlophilus bigfuttatus F. Nebria brevicollls, P. Loricera pilicornis, F. Cllvina fossor, L.— Common. Badister bipustulatus, F. — Occasional under stones. Acupalpus dorsalis, F.— Ivocal, by sweeping in damp places and under stones, A. exiguus, var. luridus, Dej.— With the preceding, scarce. Harpalus latus, L. — Common, under stones on dry hill-sides. H. proteus, Payk.— Not common. Dichlrotrlchus pubesccns, Payk.— Under stones on the shore. PoecIIus cuprcus, Iv, ) Occasionally found running on paths, P. versicolor, Sturm. JT &c, Ptcrostlchus madidus, F. P. vulgaris, L,. p. nigrita, F. ) . , , P, strcnuus, Panz. [ Not rare, in damp places. P, dlllgcns, Sturm. ) 5o8 The Irish Naturalist. Abax strloIa« F. — Occasionally under stones. Amara lunlcollls, Schiod.) A. communis, Panz, V On paths, &c., close to the town. At trlvlalls, Gyll. ) Calathus clsteloldes, Panz. Anchomenus parumpunctatus, F.~Damp places. Bembldlum rufescens, Guer.— Scarce, under stones. B. obtusum, Sturm. B. lam pros, Herbst. Demetrlas atrlcapillus, L. Dromius linearis, 01. D. nigrrlventrls, Thorns.— Scarce, under stones on hillsides. Agrabus bipustuiatus, ly. Gyrlnus opacus, Sahl. Aleochara brevlpennis, Gr.— One specimen. A. lanugrinosa, Grav. A. maesta, Grav. Oxypoda longrlusciila, Er. — In wet places. Astllbus canallculatus, P. Homalota vestlta, Gr. — On muddy sea-shore. H. g:ramInIcola, Gyll. Tachyporus obtusus, var. nitldlcollls, Steph.~Not rarely, by sweeping, &c. Tachlnus ruflpes, Iv. Megracronus cingulatus, Mann. — One specimen, under a stone. IVIycetoporus splendens, Marsh. Quedlus tristis, Grav. Q. moloctilnus, Grav. Q. fumatus, Steph. — One example. Staphyllnus pubescens, DeG.— Four specimens, on dusty road. S. caesarcus, Ceder. — Common. Ocypus ater, Grav. — Occasionally under stones. Phllonthus splendens, F.— One fine male, by sweeping. P. lamlnatus, Creutz. P. marglnatus, F. XanthoIInus linearis, Ol. Baptolinus alternans, Grav. — Under decaying fir bark. Lathroblum boreale, Hoch. L. brunnipes, F. — Common. L. quadratum, Payk. — One specimen, in wet place. Platystethus cornutus, Gyll.— By sweeping. - Bryaxis haematica, Reich.— One, by sweeping. Sllpha atrata, L. — Common, and very variable, from the most pronounced form, subrotttndata, Steph., to specimens indistinguishable from those I have from Kent and Hampshire. Choleva serlcea, F.— By sweeping. Hlster carbonarlus, 111.— Taken on the wing. Captures of Coleoptera in IrelaJid during the Spri^ig of 1895. 209 Coccinelia xlv-gruttata, I^, C. xviii -guttata, L. C. xiv-punctata, L. Epuraea melina, Er. —By sweeping. E. florea, Er. Otnosita discoidea; F.— Scarce. IVleligethes virldescens, F. Coninotnus nodifcr, Westw. — One or two, by sweeping. IVIicrambe vini, Panz. — Common, on furze-blossom. Onthophag'us fractlcornis, Payk. — Locally common, in sheep- dung. Aphodius erraticus, L. \ A, fossor, L. f A. ater, DeG. VMore or less plentiful, in dung. A, merdarius, F. | A. rufipes, L. / Athous haemorrholdalis, F. — Common, by sweeping. Cyphon variabilis^ Thunb. Helodes margin ata, F.— Common, by sweeping on the banks of a stream. CIS fcstlvus, Panz. — Rare, under Beech bark. Lema lichen is, Voet. —Common, by sweeping, varying to quite black. L. Erichsoni, Suffr. — Six specimens of this rare species were taken on May 7th and 8th, bj sweeping on grassy banks. Chrysomcia Banksi, F.— Scarce. Castroldea viridula, De G.— On dock, rather sparingly. Phaedon armoraciae, L. , Calerucella tenella, L. Haltica lythrl, Aub^— One specimen, by sweeping. Phyllotreta ncmorum, L. • P. brasslcse, F. — On Cardamine p-atensis. Aphthona nonstrlata, Goeze— Abundant, on Iris pseudacoi-us. Plectroscelis concinna, Marsh. Helops striatus, Fourc— Not rare, under fir-bark. Rhlnosimus planlrostris, F.— By sweeping. Wleloc proscarabseus, L.— Very local, occurring in one lane only. Rhynchltes mlnutus, Hbst.— Several, by sweeping. Aplon subulatum, Kirb)-. ^ A. ml n latum, Germ. I , A. cruentatum, Walt. (All more or less common, by sweep- A. trifolll, L. I ing. A. nigritarsc, Kirby. | A. vircns, Hbst. J A. Striatum, Kirby.— Not rare, on furze-blossom. A. Cyllcnhall, Kirby. ) ^ sweeping. A. hydrolapathi, Kirby. 5 ^ *- » Ai humlle, Germ. 210 The Irish Naturalist. Otiorrhynchus sulcatus, F.— Not rare. O. plclpes, F.— Common. Strophosomus coryli, F.— Common. Llophlaeus nuUIIus, F.— Several specimens. Sciaphilus murlcatus, F.— Common. S. retusus, Marsh. — Not rare, on Furze-blossom, &c. Sitones cinerascens, Fahr.— Two examples, by sweeping. S, regrensteinensis, Hbst. \ r^ ^ S. tibialis, Hbst. ; Common, on Furze. S. flavescens, Marsh. S. sulcifrons, Thunb.— By sweeping. Hypera punctata, F. H, rutnicis, L.— Common, on docks. H. plantag:inis, DeG. H. trilineata, Marsh —One or two, by sweeping. H. nigrirostris, F. Liosoma ovatulum, Clairv.— Common, in damp places. I have taken the var. collaris, Rye, here in moss, in November, 1894. Orchestes qucrcus, L. \ O. aini, Iv. [ Rarely, by sweeping, var. ferrug^ineus. Marsh. ) O. fas'!, I/. — A-bundant on beech. Erlrrhinus acridulus, L.— In damp places. Dorytomus tortrix, ly.— Under poplar bark, rare. IVIecinus pyraster, Herbst. Anthonomus pedicularius, L.— By sweeping. Ceuthorrhynchus assimllts, Payk. "| ' C. crysimi, F. | C. contractus, Marsh. ! By general sweep- C. pollinarius, Forst. f ing. C. plcurostigma. Marsh. | Ceuthorrhynchidius troglodytes, F. J Rhinoncus pericarpus, L. Balaninus pyrrhoceras. Marsh— Scarce. Rhopalomesites Tardy!, Curt. — Remains common in Beech, but living specimens not observed. Phloeophthorus rhododactylus. Marsh— One specimen, off Furze. Pityophthorus puttesccns. Marsh {micrographusy Brit. Cat.) — One, by sweeping. At Midletown, Co. Cork, I took the following species on the afternoon of May 6th : — Amara ovata, F. — One, under a stone. Aleochara ttrcvipcnnis, Grav.— One, in dusty road. Staphylinus caesareus, Ceder. — Two examples. Tachyporus obtusus, var. n itidicoll Is, Steph.— By sweeping. Boletobius trinotatus, Er.— By sweeping, under firs. Lathrobium toorcale, Hoch. Piatystethus cornutus, Gyll. I By sweeping, in a marshy place. Captures of Coleoptera in Ireland during the Spring of 1895. 211 Omaliumexcavatum, vSteph. Silpha atrata, L. — Brown variety. Anisotoma calcarata, Br. — One male specimen. Olibrus toicolor, F. IYIicropeplustnarg^ai*ltse, Duv. IVIonotoma spinicollis, Aube.— By sweeping, nnder fir trees. Coccinella hieroglyph ica, L.— One specimen. Aphodlus sticticus, Panz. — One example, by sweeping under firs. Lema ErichsonI, SufFr. — Two examples, by sweeping among weeds. Prasocuris junci, Brahm. Hydrothassa marginella, L. Rhinosimus planirostris, F.— By sweeping. Aplon subulatum, Kirby.— Common. A. Cyllenhali, Kirby. — Several, by sweeping. A. humilef Germ., &c. Phyllobius otolongus, L. — Scarce and immature. Barypeithes sulcifrons, Boh.— By sweeping under fir trees, rare. Scfaphilus muricatus, F. — Not uncommon. Coeliodes iv-maculatus, L,.— Abundant, on nettles. PhytoltJius Iv-tuberculatus, F. > , ^ Hylastes ater, Payk. S ^^ ^^eeprng under fir trees. On May 13th and 14th inst., I met with the following species, between Bangor and Newtownards, Co. Down : — Carabus neinoralis, Mull. — One specimen. Ci grranulatus, Iv. Poecllus versicolor, Sturm. — In the road. Pterostlchus madidus, F. P. niger, Schall. — One specimen. P. nigrita, F. Aleochara fusel pes, F.— In carrion. Staphylinus putoescens, DeG. — One example, caught on the wing. S. erythropterus, L. — Under stones, and running on the road. Philonthus aeneus, Rossi. P. laminatus, Creutz. Lathrobium elongatum, L. L. fulvipenne, Grav. Eusphalerum prlmulae, Steph.— Not rare, by sweeping. Silpha atrata, L. — Brown variety only. Anisotoma calcarata, Er.— Five specimens of both sexes, by sweeping. Choleva airills. 111. — One specimen. Epurasa aestlva, Iv. E. melina, Er. — By sweeping. Mlcropeplus margarltae, Duv. 1 Latridius lardarlus, De G. > By sweeping. Coninomus nodlfer, Westw. J 212 . The Irish Nattiralist Cytilus varius F.— Three specimens. Aphodius depressus, Kug.— In dung. Athous haemorrhoidalis, F.— Common. Agriotcs obscurus, Iv. Corymbites quercus, Gyll. ] In great abundance, by sweeping in var. ochropterus, Steph. > grass fields ; intermediate forms ) common. Telephorus limbatus, Thoms.— By sweeping. Lema Erichsoni, Suffr. — Two specimens, by sweeping, on 13th. May. Lochmsea sutu rails. Thoms. — By sweeping heather. Blaps mucronata, Latr. — One in Newtownards. Rhlnosimus planirostris, F.— By sweeping. Apion carduorum, Kirby. A. viclae, Payk. A. crvi, Kirby. A. Cyllenhali, Kirby.— Rather common, by sweeping under trees, A* hydrolapathl, Kirby. — Common. A. humlle, Germ, &c. Otiorrhynchus picipes, F. Strophosomus coryll, F. Sciaphilus murlcatus, F. — Common. Llophlaeus nubilus, F. — Common, some of the specimens very large. Phyllobius oblongus, Iv. — Not rare, by sweeping. Barypeithes sulcifrons, Boh.— Not rare in one place, by sweep- ing under trees. Barynotus obscurus, F.— Under stones and by sweeping. Sitones tibialis, Herbst. S. sulcifrons, Thunb. Hypera rumicls, L. H. polygoni, Iv — One or two, by sweeping. H. trilineata, Marsh. — One specimen. Llosoma ovatulum, Clairv. — Common, in damp places. CcBlIodes cardui, Herbst. — Rarely, by sweeping. Ceuthorrhynchus cricae, Gyll. \ By sweeping heather at " Helen's C. contractus, Marsh. ) Tower. ' C. quadridens, Panz.— Not rare, by sweeping. C. pollinarius, Forst. C. angulosus, Boh.— Three examples of this very rare species were taken on May 14th, by sweeping under trees bordering a marshy place, about a mile from Bangor. C. pleurostig-ma, Marsh. — Common. C. rugulosus, Herbst. — One or two by sweeping. Rhlnoncus pericarpius, L. Lltodactylus Icucogaster, Marsh.— One, by sweeping on banks of a pond. Phytobius Iv-tuberculatus, F.— One or two, by sweeping. (TO BE CONCIvUDED.) [ ^13 ] NOTES ON A NEW BRITISH BEETI.E. Otiorrhy7ichus atiroptmctatus, Gyll. WITH REMARKS ON THK DISTRIBUTION OF IRISH ANIMALS. BY GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B SC. Three years ago, Mr. H. K. Gore Cuthbert, in a paper on the Weevils of South lyouth,^ recorded a species from the north of the Boyne mouth obtained by beating Alder and Beech as Otiorrhynchus maurus, Gyll., a mountain beetle of which the only Irish specimens were taken in 1875 by Mr. G. C. Champion on Slieve Donard% Mr. Cuthbert remarked that his insects were much lighter in colour than the typical O. maurus. Mr. J. N. Halbert recently took the same species in some numbers at various points in Cos. Dublin, Meath and lyouth, and, with his usual careful discrimination, observed structural differences between it and O. maurus of much greater value than the colour distinction. A suspicion that we had a Weevil new to the British list was awakened, and specimens were sent to some of the leading British coleopterists. One of them, Mr. G. C. Champion, in a recent note,^ has pronounced the insect to be O. auropuftctatus, Gyll., a Pyrenean species, found also in the Auvergne and in Spain, and a most note- worthy addition to our fauna. The identification of this Weevil as O. utaurus, Gyll., was natural enough, as, by the table for discriminating the Otiorrhynchi in Canon Fowler's *' Coleoptera of the British Islands,'"* the captor of our insect would be readily led to refer it to that species, with which O. auropunctatus agrees in its unspined front femora, and rugose pronotum and elytra. It is, however, not closely related to- O. maurus^ from which its much longer legs and antennae distinguish it at once. The first two joints of the funiculus of the antennae are consider- ably longer than the succeeding joints, and are themselves of unequal length, the second being half as long again as the first (fig. 2). The British species to which it approaches most nearly is O. tenebricosus, Herbst ; from this, as Mr. Champion points out, it may be easily separated by its smaller size, and ^ Irish Nat., vol. i,, 1892, p. 158. ^ EhUMo> Mag., vol. xii , p. 82. ^ Ent. Mo, Mag.y vol. xxxi., 1895, p. 133. * VoL v., p. 174. 214 The Irish Naturalist. rougher surface. Mr. Champion further remarks that it re- sembles a atroapterus, DG., in shape and size, but differs also from that species in its rougher sculpture. O. auropunctatus derives its name from the scattered patches of golden pubes- cence on the thorax and elytra— an adornment which becomes very easily rubbed off. Our Irish specimens vary in colour from rich chestnut brown to almost black. Otiorrhynchus auropunctatus, Gyll. Fig. I Female, iiat. size. Fig. 2 Male, magnified. Fig. 3 Hinder end of abdomen of Male. The section of Otiorrhynchus to which O. aiiropimctatus belongs is characterised' by the very distinct longitudinal striation (fig. 3) beneath the hindmost abdominal segment in the male. This group is specially characteristic of the Mediterranean district and Southern Europe, only a few species — of which O. tenebricosus is one — extending their range into Central and Northern Europe. We have, therefore, in this beetle a most interesting addition to the group of animals of southern origin, which, absent or extremely rare in northern Continental Europe and in Great Britain, form so interesting a feature in the fauna of Ireland. I^rom the various captures of this weevil by Messrs. Cuth- bert and Halbert, it appears to be distributed along the eastern Irish coast from Carlingford to Dublin. The localities where ^ O. Stiefliil— Bestimmungstabellen der Europ. Curculioniden Schaff- hauseti, 1883, Notes on a New British Beetle. 215 it has been found are Santry, Raheny, Portmarnock, and Donabate in Co. Dublin ; I^aytown in Co. Meath ; Ternionfeckin and Carlingford in Co. lyouth. It is obtained by beating shrubs and trees. It is certainly remarkable that so com- paratively large an insect should have been overlooked by the older naturalists ; not a specimen is to be found in the collec- tion of that prince of Irish entomologists, the late A. H. Haliday. One can only conjecture that, in the localities where the insect occurs, he did not for some reason collect by beating or .sweep- ing. The wide distribution of the weevil and the analogy of its range with that of other animals show that its presence here cannot be ascribed to recent introduction. While it is not possible to assert definitely that O. auropunctatus does not occur in Great Britain, it is hardly likely that it has been overlooked for many years in a country so well supplied with coleopterists. From the discovery of this weevil in Ireland we are naturally led to speculations as to how it found its v/ay here. In a case in the Dublin Museum, recently described by me,^ I have ventured to roughly group the animals of the British fauna in three divisions : — those with a wide range over the whole of our islands, those characteristic of the south-eastern and lowland districts of Great Britain (" Teutonic Fauna"), and those characteristic of Ireland and the western and highland dis- tricts of Great Britain (" Celtic Fauna"). In this last division, two distinct groups of animals at least can be recognised. One includes animals of northern origin, characteristic of northern and arctic Europe, and sometimes also of the Alps, which have come into Ireland by way of Scotland ; of such the ground-beetle Pelophila borealis, is perhaps the most striking example. The other group comprises animals of southern origin, which, outside the British ^ Isles, are found in the Mediterranean district, and extend their range in some in- stances as far as the Madeira, Canaries, and Azores. It is clearly to this latter group that Otiorrhyiichus auropjaietatus must be assigned. Dr. R. F. Scharff's recent preliminary paper on the Origin of the Irish Fauna^ will doubtless be fresh in the minds of all readers of these remarks, and his support of the theory 1 Report of Museums Association, 1894,, pp. 109, 117. * Proc, Rd.A, (3) vol. iii., 1894, p. 479. 2i6 l^he Irish Naturalist. of an ancient freshwater lake on the site of the present Irish Sea and St. George's Channel, with land-connections to the north and to the south of it, across both of which animals passed into Ireland, will be seen to correspond with the sub- divisions of our fauna which I have here suggested. As Dr. Scharff states that the land-connections in question were of Pliocene age, it is clear that he does not believe in the total extinction of our fauna either by land-ice or by submergence during the Pleistocene Period, which is generally held by geologists and zoologists. For the reasons for this disbelief we must await the publication of his promised large memoir. I would, however, call attention to the fact that Mr. Jukes- Browne^ locates a lake in a similar situation during the Pleistocene Period, after the Ice Age had passed away, and the land had risen once more from the glacial sea. He sup- poses the immigration of our fauna to have taken place then. But, whether earlier or later, it seems clear that the animals of the Celtic fauna were passing, one group southwards, the other northwards, between the St. George's lake and the coast of the Atlantic, then far to the west of the present Irish coast- line, before the animals of the Teutonic fauna crossed the site of the present North Sea into Great Britain. The breaking down of the land-connections with Ireland, and the conver- sion of the St. George's lake, first into a gulf, and then into a sea-channel, prevented, as has been pointed out by Dr. A. R. Wallace'' and other naturalists, the extension of these into Ireland. The distribution in Ireland of Otionhynchus auropicndatus recalls that of the land-snail, Helix pis a?ia, which inhabits our eastern coast to the north of Dublin, extending however only from the south of Co. I^outh to Rush in Co. Dublin^ but appearing in Great Britain at points in South Wales and Cornwall. Its distribution abroad extends all over the Mediterranean region and to the Madeira, Canaries, and Azores. Another distinctively Mediterranean animal, the ground-beetle Nebria complanata, now placed by Dr. Ganglbauer^ in a peculiar genus, Eurynebria, is also characteristic of the east coast of Ireland, but is found onl}^ to 1 " The Building of the British Isles," London, 1888, p. 298^ PI. xiv. ' "Island Life," 2nd ed., London, 1892, p. 379. 2 " Die Kafer von Mitteleuropa," vol. i, AVien, 1892, p. 98. Notes on a Neiv British Beetle. ^17 the south of Dublin, in Counties Wicklow and Wexford. lyike Helix pisa7ia, it occurs also in South Wales and South-western England (North Devon). Now, most of the distinctive Celtic animals of southern origin are characteristic of the west coast of Ireland, where occur those plants of the Atlantic type which have made our western counties so fascinating a field for botanists. For example, the famous Kerry Slug, Geomalacus viaculostis, and the Galway Burnet Moth, Zygcena nubigefia, are unknown in eastern Ireland. It seems therefore that we can trace for the Celtic animals of southern origin a western and an eastern line of migration ; the former along the Atlantic sea-coast of the old continental land, the latter along the valley of the river which flowed south-westward from the ancient St. George's lake, and which must have received the Severn and the rivers of eastern and southern Ireland as tributaries. Our fine Dublin House-Spider, Tegenaria hibernicay Cb., very closely allied to a Pyrenean species, must be re- garded as belonging to the eastern migration. It occurs in Cork as well as in Dublin, but we must remember that the Lee as well as the I^iffey was a tributary of the ancient eastern river. This spider, though undoubtedly indigenous, has apparently found human dwellings more comfortable than the open air in our north-western island. If we accept Dr. ScharfPs view that our Celtic fauna is pre- Glacial — and it is certain that it is older than the Teutonic fauna — we might believe that by the ancient Atlantic coast, and along the banks of this old river, such mild conditions of climate prevailed that species were able to maintain them- selves in those localities, while most of the present land-sur- face of Ireland was covered with glaciers. The objection to such a view, which will at once occur to geologists, is the apparent submergence of the hills of Wales and Dublin to the extent of about 1,400 feet as evidenced by the shell-gravel on Moel Tryfaen and Two-rock Mountain. Moreover, the marine origin of the Boulder-Clay which Mr. J. Wright's recent discoveries of foraminifera in that deposit render highly probable, would require a submergence as fatal to a pre-Glacial fauna as the orthodox ice-sheet. But, if the migrations we are discussing took place in Pleistocene times as the ice passed away, and the land (after deep submergence and .subsequent elevation) subsided towards its present level, the animals would 2 1 8 The Irish Na hi 7 a list. naturally reach their present stations on the western and east- ern Irish coasts respectively. Some individuals of the eastern (river- valley) migration would retire eastwards towards what is now south-western England and Wales, where a few of their descendants are still to be found ; but the incursion of the newer Teutonic fauna has made their persistence there harder than in Ireland, and so we find that some of the species, as Otiorrhy7ichtcs atiroptmctattis, are absent from Great Britain, while the rest are scarcer there than in Ireland. Some animals of the western migration seem to have passed on northwards into Scotland ; the Galway Burnet Moth for instance occurs in Argyllshire. The land-connection to the north of the old lake remained after the southern river- valley had been sub- merged beneath the sea.^ As an example of a southern species which appears to have followed both the western and eastern lines of migration, we may take our peculiar holly-boring weevil, Mesites Tardyi, Curtis, belonging to a most characteristic Mediterranean and Atlantic genus. Abundant in the south-west of Ireland, this insect occurs near Westport, and in the Clyde and Argyll dis- tricts of Scotland ; it seems therefore to have passed north- wards along the old Atlantic seaboard. But it is also found at places on our eastern coast from Wicklow to Belfast, as well as across the Channel in North and South Devon, which suggests that it also followed the old river and lake valley to the east of modern Ireland^ Our comparison of the distribution of our new British Beetle with that of other animals has therefore opened up to us problems of the highest interest in the past geography of our islands, and of the neighbouring continental lands. The discontinuous range of these southern forms shows them to be of very considerable antiquity. Whether they entered our country in Pliocene or Pleistocene times, they mUvSt have preceded those members of our fauna which have come to us directly from Central Europe. The land- tracts over which these distinctly Pyrenean and Mediterranean animals had travelled to Ireland, were covered by the waters of the sea, while early races of men were still able to ramble into Britain over an isthmus where the waves of the Straits of Dover and the North Sea now roll. ^ Cf. A. J. Jukes-Browne, op. cit., PI. xv., and R. F. Scharflf, he. p. 485, [ 219 ] PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. RoYAi, Zooi^oGiCAi, Society. Recent donations comprise a Badger from W. J. Matson, Esq., and a number of fish from P. Mahony, Esq. A Golden Agouti has been pur- chased, and a Red Deer fawn born in the Gardens. 16,150 persons visited the Gardens in June. Dubinin Microscopicai, Ci,ub. May i6th.— The Club met at Mr. F. W. Moore's. Mr. Greenwood Pim exhibited a curious black mould which occurred on Bananas, given him by Prof. Cole, and which had been imported from the Canary Islands. Being unable to identify it, Mr. Pim sent specimens to Mr. Massee, who states it is Glenospora Cicrtisii (Berk.), and that it had not previously occurred in Great Britain. Professor T. Johnson exhibited Ectocarpus sccundus (Kiitz.), a brown sea- weed showing two kinds of flurilocular sporangia, like those des- cribed recently in this species by Bornet, who found the plurilocular sporangia differing in size, shape, and in the size of the compartments. The contents of the larger loculi are probably female, and of the smaller male. Direct experimental evidence is required. The species (taken in Bantry Bay) is an addition to the list of Irish species. Mr. M'Ardi^E exhibited Diplophylluin miniitum, (Dicks.), which he collected recently in L,ord Howth's demesne. The specimens of this rare liverwort showed the dichotomous branching of the plant, and shoots bearing in the axil of each leaf antheridia of a large size, having remarkably long pseudopodia. . June 20th.— The Club met at Mr. Greenwood Pim's, who exhibited Ustilago Vaillantii (TuL), which .occurred on the anthers and ovones of Scilla bifolia in the Trinity College Botanic Garden, forming the so-called " Black-eyed " variety of that Scilla. It was referred to Dr. P. Wright, who kindly identified it, and states that it is an addition to the British Mycologic Flora. It is said to occur also on Gupa lutea, Mr. M'ArdIvE exhibited Jtatgermania bicrenata (Lindenberg), which he recently collected in Howth Demesne. This scarce plant is easily separated from the other \i\di.^r\.\.dX^ Jiingermani(x, by the smaller size, acute segments of its leaves, and remarkable guttulate cells, and above all the paroecious inflorescence. It is an addition to the Co. Dublin list of liverworts. Mr. J. N. HaIvBERT exhibited the nymph of Cryptostemma alienw/i, H.S., recently captured amongst wet gravel in the bed of the Dodder, near . Tallaght. Mr. A. H. Haliday, when recording this insect from the Black Lakes, Co. Kerry (JVat. Hist. Rev. 1855, p. 61), mentioned the occurrence of theyellowishlarvceandpupaewiththeperfectinsect. The nymph, how- ever, is further distinguished by the presence of a well-defined red colour patch on the dorsal side of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th abdominal segments. This species, which at first gave some trouble as regards its affinities, is now placed among the Ci/nicidcc next Ceratocombtis. Mr. Henry J. Seymour showed a section of a Gold-bearing Quartz- Diorite, from Fort Salisbury, Matabeleland. The gold, which occurs in small fragments quite visible to the unaided eye, is almost entirely 220 The hish Naturalist, developed in, or near, the crystals of hornblende ; the lattermaking up about 20 per cent, of the total bulk of the rock. In the mass, the rock has a slight schistose structure, and is said to yield from 80-100 oz. of gold per ton. The mean result of several experiments gave its sp. gr. as 2 85. A few cr3^stals of sphene, and some of titanic iron, appear in the section. RE;y. Canon Russell showed a preparation of the feathers of a duck showing the scales, to the peculiar structure of which their irridescence is evidently due. The feathers had been boiled first in caustic potash, and reduced almost to a pulp, and then put up in glycerine jelly. Their metallic lustre could be plainly seen after this treatment under reflected light. The barbs seem to be composed of a single file of cells, marked longitudinally with fine lines like those on the scales of the wings of the Lepidoptera, which bring out the colours found on all such striated surfaces. These stride appear to have been noticed before ; but in the centre of each scale there is a well-marked oval or round figure, of which the exhibitor could get no account from any book. It was conjectured that they might be the nuclei of epithelial cells. If this be so, the only way of accounting for their absence in the scales of butterflies and beetles, is that on these latter the scales are simply inserted in sockets, and are not organically connected with the membrane on which they are set. The cells of the barbs seem to grow out of the substance of the feather, and cannot be detached from it. The feathers examined were those of the Peacock, the Teal, and an Argentine Duck ; in all the same structure is to be found. Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. June 15. — A party of twenty-five proceeded by the Northern Counties Railway to Limavady and the valley of the Roe, On arrival at the prosperous clean town of Limavad}-, a start was made for the Glen, a distance of a couple of miles. The first halt was made at O'Cahan's Rock, where the party spent a pleasant hour botanizing, lunching, and photographing, the splendid crag forming a feature hard to surpass. Mrs. Leebody, the well-known Derry botanist, joined here, and her local knowledge proved useful throughout the day. A steep climb from the river-bed brought all to the top of the precipitous rock, from which the view of the Roe Valley was very beautiful. The Dog's Leap was then made for, where the curious pot-holes below the bridge came in for a share of observation, and where those members interested in engineer- ing (among whom Mr. A\'. A. Traill, of Bushmills, was prominent) enjoyed an inspection of the electric light station and sawmill owned and worked by Mr. J. E. Ritter, J. P., to whom the Club were indebted for this pleasure. The dynamos are driven by a turbine, the mill by an ordinary wheel, and a new pit is in process of formation for an additional turbine. After enjoying the cool water of the well, the return journey was begun, passing down the other side of the river through woods where the most delightful views of water and mountains were obtained. Here the botanists were pleased to find a great profusion of Lastnca (€inula, a fern which is locally uncommon. Mr. Ritter's house at Roe Park was soon reached, and by his courtesy was thrown open to those of the party who cared to inspect a most perfectly ai)pointed amateur's workshop. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 221 On leaving the house, a mile and a half or so brought the party to the Alexander Arms, where an excellent tea was provided. After tea, Mr. W. H. Patterson thanked Mr. W. Gray in the name of the Club for the trouble he had taken in acting as guide to this most interesting, but little known district. A short business meeting was then held, and the following were elected members: — Dr. Lorraine Smith, Mr. J. M M'llroy, Mr. John Bain, Mr. vS. K, Kirker, C.E., of the Board of Works, Major- General Bland, Mr. John Savage, and Mr. James M. Fall. The 6-5 train was then taken, reaching Belfast shortly after nine. The geology of the district is mainly of rocks either Silurian or older, being mainly mica schists, with bands of primary limestone interstratitied, as Mr. Gray pointed out near the Dog's Leap. During a short wait at Limavady Junction, Mr. W. H. Patterson obtained samples of the very rich estuarine clay which covers the whole neighbourhood, and on the return journey several of the microscopists took lumps to wash down for foraminifera. The very numerous shells were in excellent condition, although the stay was not long enough to secure any rarities. The botanists had the advantage of both Mr. S. A. Stewart's and Mrs. Leebody's presence. During the day the botanists found the following plants which may be worth mentioning : — Laniiuni album, Arenaria trinervis, Geum intermedium, Listera Nidus-avis, Ca7'cx hvvigata, and Lastraea a-inula (Bree's fern). It may also be worth noting the very great abundance of the larger variety of the Cow- wheat {Melanipyrum pratense), the flowers being large and fine. The weather being so dry, land shells were few, and none of them out of the common. Altogether the day was a most enjoyable one, the party being the right size for good work, and the weather being everything that could be desired. June i8th. — The Geological Section met at the Museum in the rooms recently acquired by the Club to be fitted up as a library and laboratory, where all collections formed by the Club can be preserved. Erratics from northern boulder clay were contributed by Messrs, R. Bell, J. Moore, J. St. J. Phillips, and A. G. Wilson, and details arranged about the collections previously accumulated. June 22nd. — The Geological Section visited Islandmagee, proceeding from Magheramorne station across the ferr}', and along the shore to Barney's Point, to explore the beds of Lower Lias which occur at that place, underlying the Greensand and Chalk which fringe the western coast of Islandmagee. The afternoon was spent in collecting fossils, including two specimens of the rare Ceromya gibbosa, the original specimen hav- ing been first discovered by Mr. W. Gray in this locality many years ago. Nautilus, Pecten, Pinna, Lima, and other liassic fossils were also obtained by the naturalists, who determined to revisit the shore later in the season. Dubinin Naturai^tsts' Fiei^d Ci^ub. June 22nd. — A highly successful excursion was held, when a party of 60 members visited Glenasmole. Leaving Earlsfort- terrace at 1.30, in brakes, the dusty roads were soon left behind, and when the steep hill at Bohernabreena was surmounted, the beauty and pleasure of the scene were fully appreciated. The deep glen with the reservoir shimmering in the sunlight, the high brown mountain beyond, the hedges filled with wild roses and Honeysuckle, and the meadows blazing with flowers, formed indeed delightful contrasts to the hot and dusty streets of the city. The partj^ drove straight to the head of the glen, where the members scattered for a couple of hours. To the botanists fell the 222 The Irish Nahiralist. principal spoils of the day. The sloping pastures capping the great drift banks along the eastern side of the glen below the old churchyard of St. Anne's rivalled a Swiss Alp in the number, variety, and brilliancy of their flowers. Orchids were specially numerous here. The spotted Orchis {0. maculata)^ the Tway-Blade {Listera ovata), the Frog Orchis {Habenaria viridis), the Fragrant Orchis {H. conopsea), the Butterfly Orchis {H. chloranthd), and the Green-winged Orchis (0. Morio) (this latter now past flowering), were all gathered in abundance, while one of the botanists, the Rev. C. F. D'Arcy, was fortunate enough to discover here a consider- able quantity of the Marsh Helleborine (^Epipactis palustris), a species very rare in the County Dublin, and not yet recorded for this station. Here, too, Dr. M'Weeney pointed out some finely developed plants of the Adder's Tongue [Ophioglosstim znilgaiuni) and the Moonwort {Botrychium lunat-ia). The common Guelder Rose ( Vibttrmim opulus), truly native here, was seen flowering by the rills, the Mountain Trefoil ( Trifolium medmni), rather rare in the county, showed its heads of vivid crimson in abund- ance, and the handsome Downy-leaved Rose was in full bloom on the banks of the Reservoir. At the opposite side of the glen some of the botanists ascended Leecawn Mountain to the only known station for the Beech-Fern {Polypodium phegopteris) vn County Dublin, and were pleased to find the plant growing there quite as vigorously as when first discovered by the Rev. C. F. D'Arcy in 1883. On the way down to the rendezvous at the head of the glen two other rare County Dublin species were noted, the Sweet Mountain Fern {Lasirea Oreopteris) abundant on the rock-strewn slopes between 700 and 900 feet, and the Common Club-moss {Lycopodiu/n clavaitwi) spreading its curious network of green stems over the ground in the shade of the Bracken. In a marsh on the main arm of the Dodder above the Lodge, some fine clumps of another rare County Dublin plant, the Panicled Sedge {Carex paniailatd) were discovered by the Secretary. Among the insects, Mr. Farrell found the large mountain ground- beetle (Cfl;r^^z^j"^/a<^ra/?/^). Otherbeetles taken were Hydroportis septentrionalisy Byrrhtts pilula, and Malthinus piinctaius. The plant-bug Calocoris striatcUus, and a crane-fly of the mountain genus Ainalopis were also noteworthy. All assembled at 6 o'clock, when Miss Gardiner had an ample repast ready, which, by kind permission of Mrs. Power, was spread on the lawn adjoining the pretty shooting-lodge .it the top of the glen. After tea a short business meeting was held, at which J. A. Jackson and Mrs. Long were elected members of the Club, and the President (Mr. G. H. Carpenter) expressed the indebtedness of the members to Mrs. Power for her kind- ness. Shortly afterwards the return journey was commenced, and the city was reached at 10 o'clock. — 223 — NOTES. ZOOLOGY. POLYZOA. Plumatella repens, L. In Ireland. — This pretty freshwater polyzoan, which was first discovered in Ireland by Prof. Allman, has re- cently been found by Mr. Greenwood Pirn in a small pond in his garden at Monkstown. Mr. Pirn noticed it adhering to the underside of the leaves of the white-water Lily {Nymphaca alba), and correctly identified the interesting species as Plumatella repens, R, F, SCHARFF, Dublin. INSECTS, Spi*lngr Lepidoptera at Armagh. — Owing to the long-continued severity of the weather outdoor work was useless till April, However I had dug some pupae in the autumn, and these being indoors emerged at pretty much their usual time. A very beautiful Phigalia pedaria emerged on February 8. It is very much suffused with yellow, and Mr. C. G. Barrett, to whom I submitted it for inspection, tells me that it is the most yellow form he has seen. On February i8th Hybemia viargiiiaria emerged, the pupa had been dug up in the Palace Demesne. The Tceniocavipce now began to appear, the first being T. incerta, which emerged on March 2nd. On March 3otli one of my pupils brought me a specimen of Anisopteryx ccscitlaria which he had caught m his house. The sallows had suffered severely from the frost, and the bloom was late and not abundant. However, on April i6th I and my friend, Mr. J. H. Johnston, determined to see what we could get, and succeeded in captur- ing TcEiiiocampa stabilis, T. incerta, T. gothica, T, gracilis, and a solitary Xylocajiipa areola with Anticlea badiata taken on the wing. On the follow- ing evening I was fortunate enough to take a nice specimen of T. opima, and a pretty form oi Peronea hastiana. On the 19th we (Mr. Johnston and myself) were joined in our nocturnal rambles by Rev. H. Harpur. This proved a record night for numbers of moths. It was rather damp and pitch dark, and consequently exactly suited for our fell purposes. We took several T. gracilis, one T. opima, which fell to Mr. Harpur's lot, and numbers of T. incerta, &c. T. gothica was present simply in crowds. One curious thing happened : — we were working a large tree, and Mr. Johnston, who was beating, not being able to reach the higher branches, shook the tree violently, in the hopes that some at least would fall into the sheet. Some certainly did, but immediately afterwards the lantern was besieged by frantic moths which we proceeded with all our hands to box. A fine Selenia bihinaria also flew to the lantern and fell a victim to its misplaced confidence. T. gothica was far the most numerous, far outnumbering all the others together. It varied somewhat in colour, some being much darker and others rather lighter in hue than ordinary. In size, however, they were very constant, also in markings. Hadena thalassina emerged on May 2nd, and on the following evening I captured Selenia bilunaria while out for a stroll. Butterflies now began to appear, including battered Vanessa ^irtiae, Pararge egeria, with plenty of the pretty Euchloe cardamines. EJvening rambles produced Cidaria siiffiimata, Coremia 224 "^^^^ Irish Naturalist, unidentaria, C. ferriigata, Cahera ptisaria, E^ipithecia vulgata^ and a nice speci- men of Anticlea nigyofasciaria. In my pupa case emerged Spilosovia 7nenthastri, Phragmatobia ficli^inosa, and Acro7i}/ita psi. I tried sugar many times, but always without success. On May 25th I drove to Ivough Neagh, and at Churchill took a few Theda rubi and Fidonia atomaria ; but being in a hurry to reach the lake, I only spent a few minutes on the bog, and hence the scantiness of my captures. — W. F. Johnson, Armagh. Dyschirlus obscurus, Cyll. at Loug^h Neagrh, — This rare beetle was taken by the late A. H. Haliday on the sandy shore of Lough Neagh more than 40 years ago. Since his time no record of its capture has been given. In the E. M. M. for 1893, Mr. G. C. Champion mentions that he has found three specimens without locality in the collection of the late Dr. Syme, who collected chiefly in Scotland. 1 have made several unsuccessful attempts to obtain it at Lough Neagh. In 1893 I took a single specimen, and last year two, but this year I and Mrs. Johnson managed to capture quite a respectable number. Mr. Carpenter kindly compared these with Haliday's specimens in the Science and Art Museum, and also forwarded it to Herr Reitter. It agrees with Haliday's insect, and Herr Reitter pronounces it to be undoubtedly D. obscurus, Gyll. W. F. Johnson, Armagh. The Strldulation of Corixa. — I have again had opportunity of hearing a Corixa sing. The note increased in volume during the week I had him. One evening a dozen people were listening ; I caught the insect twice and put it in a bottle alone, but in both cases there was silence until I restored it to its companions. Because of this I could not examine it as I wished, but everyone agreed as to the motion made, which was generally referred to as " combing its whiskers." M. Thompson, Cork. BIRDS. Little Bittern In Co. Carlow.— Mr. Clarence Cary writes to Land and Water for June ist that a Little Bittern was shot on the Barrow at Carlow on May 19th. MAMMALS. Introduction of English Hares into Ireland. — Having been asked more than once by correspondents if I could give them any in- formation on the introduction of English Hares into Ireland, I propose to publish in the Irish Naturalist a list of such introductions as have come under my notice. Before doing so I should be much obliged to any readers of this Journal who would kindly give me any notes on this subj ect, such as might add to those I already possess. G. K. H. Barrett-Hamii^ton, Kilmannock, New Ross. Occurrence of the IVIarten in the County Waterford.— Two specimens of the Marten (male and female), Martcs sylvaiica, were taken here last month. They were both caught in rabbit traps, the female on the 6th, the male on the 7th June. Length of the female 27^ inches ; that of the male 30Hnches. They were both caught in a large rabbit burrow in Curraghmore. The colour of the spots on the chest, in both specimens, is yellow. \Vii,i pi! > ^Ije girtelj Jtaturaltet^ Vol. IV. SEPTEMBER, 1895. No. 9. IRISH FIELD CLUB UNION. REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE AND EXCURSION HELD AT GALWAY, JULY iiTh to lyto, 1895. l.—GENERAL ACCOUNT. BY R. IvLOYD PRAKGKR, B.B-, Secretary Irish Field Club Union. It may be desirable to preface the present account of the Galway Field Club Conference with a note on the history and objects of the Irish Field Club Union, under the auspices of which the Conference was held. In July, 1894, a three-day joint excursion of the Dublin, Cork, and Ivimerick Field Clubs was carried out, F^'ermoy being the headquarters of the party. At a conference held on the evening of the second day, for the discussion of Field Club matters, emphasis was laid on the isolation of the southern Field Clubs, and on the desirability of bringing all the Irish Field Clubs into closer contact. The suggestions made on this occasion, and in subsequent discussions among the Secretaries of the Clubs represented, were not lost sight of, and after some correspondence, the following memorandum was submitted to the Committees of the Belfast, Dublin, Cork, and Limerick Field Clubs : — Memorandum. In the carrying out of the duties connected with their offices, the Secretaries of the four Irish Naturalists' Field Clubs have for some time felt the want of closer connection between the Clubs, by which more frequent meetings might be arranged, and by which the Clubs might assist each other by the occasional interchange of lecturers, and by the loan of papers, specimens, lantern slides, &c. At present the Clubs have but a slight knowledge of each other, and of each others' resources, and such aids to their work as the above-mentioned can now only be carried out after much enquiry and correspondence. With a view to facilitate these and kindred objects, the Secretaries suggest that a joint committee be formed, consisting of the President and Secretary of each Club, and that these officers be empowered by the Committee of each Club to repre- sent them on this joint committee, theit actions being in all cases subject to the approval of the committee of their Club. The Secretaries suggest that this organization be called the Irish Field Club Union, and they feel convinced that such a bond between the Clubs will strengthen each, and greatly assist the cause of Field Club work in Ireland. (Signed), Francis Joseph Bigger, Sec B.N.F.C. R. Iyi,OYD Praeger, Sec. D.N.F.C. John L. Copeman, Sec. C.N.F.C FRANCIS NEAI.E, Sec. ly.N.F.C. Dublitl, 23. II. 94. A 226 The Irish Naturalist. The following resolution was thereupon adopted by the Committee of each Club referred to : — *• Resolved : That this Committee approve of the suggestions embodied in the memorandum submitted to them by the Secretaries of the four Irish Field Clulxs, and they hereby appoint the President and Secretary to represent them on the Joint Committee." The Field Club Union Committee, then created, appointed R. Lloyd Praeger, Secretary Dublin Field Club, as their vSecretary, and during the ensuing winter (1S94-95) an interchange oflecturers was carried out with marked success. Mr. Joseph Wright, of Belfast, lectured at Dublin, Cork, and Limerick; Professor Haddon, of Dublin, lectured at Belfast; and Professor Cole, of Dublin, lectured at Cork and Limerick. The excursion which is reported in the pages which follow is the second definite result of the formation of the Field Club Union, which is now fairly embarked on a life of practical usefulness and scientific advancement. Wejdnesday, July ioTh. The members of the Belfast Club were the first to take the field. The northern party, to the number of about fifty, took the T.45 train to t)ublin, where they were met by the Secretary of the Union, and despatched to the Gresham and Hammam Hotels. At 7 o'clock they assembled at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, where they were teceived by the President and Officers of the Dublin Field Club, and a numerous company of the members of the local Society. After tea a couple of pleasant and instructive hours were spent in examining the many botanical treasures of the Gardens under the guidance of Mr. F, W. Moore, A.L.S., Curator, and his able assistant, Mr. D. M'Ardle. Thursday, Jui.y iith. ' Punctually at 9 o'clock the First Class Special Train provided by the Mid- land Great Western Railway Company steamed out of Broadstone Station with the members of the Belfast and Dublin Clubs, and representatives of several English Societies on board, and a very rapid journey across the Great Central Plain of Ireland was pleasantly spent in studying maps and scientific papers relating to the districts about to be visited. Shortly after noon the bogs, woods, and pastures of the Central Plain gave way to the bare limestone pavements so characteristic of Galway and Clare, and at 12.30 the train drew up at the platform at Galway. At I o'clock brakes were mounted, and the party drove through the pretty suburb of Salthill to Gentian Hill, a promontory of drift standing out into the sea, where lunch was served. Here the members of the Cork and Limerick Field Clubs joined their brethren of Dublin and Belfast, and when lunch was over the party scattered for their first ramble. From Gentian Hill a good idea of the geography of the district was obtained. Eastward lay Galway and the level lands of the Limestone Plain. To the southward, across Galway Bay, rose the great grey terraced limestone hills of the Burren district of County Clare. To the westward the Aran Islands could be dimly seen rising out of the Galway Field Chib Co7iference. 227 waters of the Atlantic, while northward and north-westward rose low rocky granite hills, backed by the higher metamorphic mountains of H Connemara. The geologists of the party examined with much interest the grand sections formed by the stead}- encroachment of the ocean on the tough drift which composes this and the adjoining promontories. The botanists were delighted to find at Gentian Hill several rare mountain plants, which were growing close to sea-level, after the manner characteristic of the west coast of Ireland — such were the Spring Gentian, Mountain Dryas, Blue Moor-grass, and Dwarf Juniper ; and on the muddy shore adjoining a good find was made in the Dwarf Grass- wrack, which was found growing in abundance. The entomologists searched the seaweed thrown up by the tide and were rewarded by the discovery of the local marine rove-beetle Cafiiis fucicola. Besides the small but handsome M'olf-spider Pardosa monticola, a specimen of its large newly-' discovered relation F. ptirbeckensis, F. Cb. rewarded the collector of arachnids. At 7.30 dinner was ready at the Railway Hotel, which formed the head- quarters of the party during their stay. After dinner a number of local ladies and gentlemen arrived by invitation to meet the members of the Field Clubs. Among those who accepted the invitation were the President of Queen's College, and Mrs. Moffat ; Sir Valentine Blake and Lady Blake; the High Sheriff of Galway, Mrs. Townsend, and the Misses Townsend; Colonel O'Hara, D.L., and Miss O'Hara; Marcus Lynch, D.L.; Major Wilson Lynch, D.L. ; Professor Kinkead, M.D., Miss Kinkead and party; Prof. BreretcU; L.R.C.S.I. ; Lt.- Colonel Cochran and Officers, Depot Connaught Rangers ; Rev. J. C.Clarke, B.A,, Mrs. Clarke, and Miss Clarke ; Rev. J. T. Berry ; Rev. R. Boyd ; Rev. Father Lally, P.P. ; Mr. James Perry, M.E., County Surveyor, and Mrs. Perry; Mr. W. N. Binns, B.E., Borough Surveyor; Mr. and Mrs. Murray, and Miss Murray ; Mr. and Mrs. Tivy; Mr. J. A. Grant, &c. During the evening the Galway String Band performed in the hall, and musical items were contributed by Prof Robertson and Mr. J. A. Grant. Several members showed specimens of the rarer plants and animals of the district, and explained their points of interest. The company did not disperse until a late hour. t I Friday, Jui,y 12TH. Friday dawned gloriously fine, and the party, which, now reinforced by local friends, had swelled to over 100, left Galway in high spirits by special train at 9 o'clock, en route for the mountains of Connemara. Oil the way to Oughterard the new railway passes through a charmingly diversified district of wood and lake, with the wide expanse of Lough Corrib to the eastward. After passing Oughterard, the land rises, and the railway emerges on the great plain of South Connemara— miles upon tniles of brown undulating bog, with flashing lakes in every hollow. As the train sped along, lovely views were continually obtained of the quartzite mountains of Maam Turk, and subsequently of the still more picturesque Twelve Bens. At Recess station the members alighted, and A 2 22S The Irish Natia^alisi. the party divided into two, one section driving and walking along tli6 Clifden road to ascend Ben Lettery, while the other section examined the bogs and lakes in the immediate vicinity. The mountain party passed along the chain of lakelets which extend througliout the course f)f the Ballynahinch River, and turned up the steep side of Ben I^ettery (1904 feet), which overlooks the beautiful lake of Ballynahinch. F'rom the summit a truly superb panorama was obtained. Northward, peak beyond peak, rose the mountains, and through a gap to the north-west was seen the rugged outline of Achill Island. Further southward lay Inishbofin, and the whole western coastline of Connemara, and the town of Clifden. To the southward, across a vast stretch of bog dotted with lakes in- numerable, stretched the Atlantic, with long arms reaching up to Roundstone and Cashel, and many outlying islands, behind which the low ridges of the Aran Islands stood clearl}' up. South-eastward lay Galway Bay, backed by the grey uplands of Burren, and further eastward Lough Corrib and the I/imestone Plain. On the summit, the rare mountain ground-beetle Leislus montamis, and the interesting little spider Hahnia montana were found. Photographs having been secured and natural history specimens duly put away, the descent was undertaken, and Recess station reached in time for a refreshing cup of tea befor'e train-time. The lowland party had also a most satisfactory day. A number of rare plants had been collected, including the Pill wort, and iu common with the mountain party, they had collected many of the characteristic Connemara species, such as St. Dabeoc's Heath, London Pride, and Pipewort. The large and handsome wolf-spider Dolomedei fimbriatus attracted the attention of many observers on the bogs ; while the entomologists were agreeably surprised to find one of the most striking British Orthoptera — Muostethus grossus, often considered a rare species^n positive abundance. Others of the party had visited the "Connemara Marble" quarry on Lisoughter, behind Recess Hotel, and had obtained good examples of this beautiful serpentine. It was with much regret that members found their day at an end, and took their seats in the special train that was waiting for them. After dinner, bags, bottles, and vasculums Were emptied on the tables, and until a late hour members were busily engaged in examining and jioting the many captures and finds made during the day. Saturday, Jui.y 13TH. A morning of driving mist found the naturalists embarked on board the 6s. *' Duras " at 9 o'clock, which in no way lightened as the steamer passed down the river and set her course for Ballyvaughan, on the southern side of Galway Bay. However, the cheerful predictions of the conductors were duly fulfilled, for as the destination was approached the clouds broke and the sun shone out, lighting up gloriously the strange bare slopes of the Burren mountains and the great masses of vapour that still hung over the higher summits. Advantage was taken of the leisure afforded by the passage to hold a meeting of the collectors of the party, when the work of identifying and cataloguing the various captures was distributed among the different naturalists, one Galway Field Club Conference, 229 man being made responsible for the report on each group ; the result of this distribution of labour is seen in the scientific reports which follow. On landing at Ballyvaughan, the party were joined by Mr. P. B, O'Kelly, a Ballyvaughan botanist, whose local knowledge was freely placed at the disposal of members, and proved of much service, Gleninagh, on the sea, three miles north-west of Ballyvaughan, was the rendezvous, and the party slowly made their way along the road in this direction, with the sea on the right, and the great limestone hills rising steeply on the left. This was the field-day of the botanists, for the flora of the Burren is most peculiar as well as rich. It was not long before most of the characteristic plants were discovered. The Maidenhair was found ere Ballyvaughan was a mile behind. On the low grounds Mr. O'Kelly pointed out the Bee Orchis and the extremely rare Close-flowered Orchis, now in fruit, for which for many years Castle Taylor in County Galway was the only known British station. On the limestone hills above was found abundance of the Mountain Dryas, Bear-berry, Purple Helleborine, Bloody Cranesbill, Spring Gentian, and other rare plants. Lunch was served at 2 o'clock under the shadow of the old castle of Gleninagh, after which scientific occupations —shore-collecting, botaniz- ing, insect-hunting, and geologizing — were energetically resumed. Some of the party drove to Black Head, where the Maidenhair was found in abundance, as well as other rarities. Mr. O'Kelly conducted one or two of the party to the home of the Shrubby Cinquefoil, which grows in much abundance not far from Ballyvaughan. Others, who ascended to the flat summit of Cappanawalla (1023 feet) brought back strange accounts of the vast stretches of bare grey limestone which extend on the higher grounds. At 5.30 the steamer's whistle warned stragglers to linger no longer, and when at length the last late-comer was on board, the return journey was made without loss of time. After dinner, the tables were again devoted to an exhibition of the day's spoil. These evening exhibitions of each day's work were found of much service, especially in the way of giving the less experienced members an oppor- tunity of examining specimens at their leisure, of asking questions, and of watching demonstrations of identification and mounting of specimens. It was found that a beetle, Miaris campanula, new to the Irish list, and the local moths, Anticlea cticullata and Phothcdes captiuncula, as well as the striking black spider, Prosthesima Petiverii, had rewarded the labours of the insect-hunters on this day, " Sunday, Jui,y 14TH. On this day, according to the Programme, members were to " make their own arrangements." A party of archaeologists and conchologists made an early start for Clare-Galway Abbey, and spent a profitable day in that vicinity. The majority of the party attended service at the beautiful old Church of Saint Nicholas. After lunch two pleasant receptions awaited the members. The President of Queen's College received a numerous party at the College, and conducted them through the buildings and gardens, and entertained them to tea in his own house ; while another large section of the members rowed up the River Corrib 2SO The Irish Naturalist, in the well-appointed boats of the Royal Galway Boat Club (most kindly placed at their disposal by the Committee) to enjoy the hospitality of Sir Valentine and Lady Blake at Menlo Castle. Along the banks of the river some good insects, including a rove-beetle, Stenus melanopus, new to Ireland, and plants were collected, and at Menlo the rare sedge Carex pseiido'cypertis was obtained. ,The quaint old house, said to be the oldest inhabited house in Ireland, excited great interest, and the generous hospitality of the host and hostess completed the pleasure of the visit. At 6 o'clock dinner was served, and in view of the early start next morning, most members wisely retired at an early hour. Monday, Jui^y i6'rH. Punctually at 5.30 a.m., the Secretary's shrill whistle called members down for an early cup of tea. A prompt response ,was made, and at 6 o'clock sharp the ss. " Duras" cast off her moorings with the whole party on board, excepting a few who did not care to face the thirty-five- mile sail across the troubled waters of Galway Bay. Once again the Field Clubs were favoured with a fine day, in a district well-known as one of the wettest in Ireland. At 8 o'clock Miss Gardiner had breakfast prepared with the despatch and neatness that characterized her some- what arduous duties throughout the excursion, and when this important function was completed, the Aran Islands were alread}' close at hand, and the bare grey fields, the whitewashed cottages, and innumerable stone walls furnished a quaint and characteristic scene. A heaving tide- run off the shore of Aranmore proved disastrous to some of the naturalists, but they speedily recovered as the steamer dropped anchor at Portmurvy, and was immediately surrounded with a crowd of stalwart islanders in their strange canvas curraghs. The disembarkation was promptly effected in the ship's boats, while some preferred the novel experience of the curragh. The vSecretary now announced alternative routes, those who were prepared for a long walk to go west to Dun Aengus and thence to Kilronan, while those who wished less exertion would proceed to Kilronan by a more direct route. The members who visited Dun Aengus — the larger portion of the party— were amply repaid for their exertion. This splendid example of pre-historic architecture — the finest structure of its kind in Europe — perched on the edge of an ; overhanging cliff, 300 feet in height, was examined with the keenest ' interest and wonder. Floating on the Atlantic swell far below, a keen- eyed member descried a fine specimen of the Great Sun-fish, which con- siderately remained in full view for a length of time. On the vegetation here and elsewhere many observers noted the great abundance of the handsome rose-beetle (Cf/^wm a«ra/a). The presence of this species — so rare on the Irish mainland — was a great surprise to the entomologists. A small flower-beetle {Meligethes rufipcs) new to Ireland, was found, as well as a minute spider (^Micariosomia fesiivwn), also apparently new to the Irish list. A striking feature was the great abundance of the springtail Machilis polypoda, which occurred in multitudes under every stone. The party made their way along the edge of the cliff, which was fringed with TEAMPUL BENAX, ARAN:M0RE. [F. 'A. Dixon, Photo. AX ARAX FTRTJ). /•" A. Dixon. Photo. Gahi'ay Field Club Confereyice. 231 Sampliire and Sea Lavender, to where an islander sat fishing. By his side was a basket well filled with fine Bream. He sat on the overhang' ing edge of the cliff, his feet dangling over the abyss, and his line descend- ing vertically into the ocean some 200 feet below. Fishing of this kind is carried on along the whole western side of the island. The " Worm Hole " was next visited, a large square natural tank in the rock at some distance from the sea, with which it is connected by a large underground passage, as shown by the prompt response of its waters to the ocean swell outside. Near the hamlet of Gortnacopple the Maidenhair was seen in very great abundance and luxuriance, growing as usual in the vertical fissures of the limestone ; it is abundantly distributed through- out the island. Another well-known plant of Aran that was seen here abundantly was the large leek, AU'min Babingtonii. The main road being reached, the party followed the first section to Kilronan, visiting on the way some of the best of the many antiquities of Aran, including the ancient church of St. Kieran, and the adjoining holed stone and early crosses, and viewing with interest the curious wayside monuments. The geologists of the party were much interested in the extensive exposures of bare jointed limestone, and its curious weathering, and in the numerous erratics from Connemara scattered over its surface, while the entomologists literally " left no stone unturned" in their search for rarities. On the beach at Kilronan, INIiss Gardiner had a sumptuous tea pre- pared, to which the members did ample justice"; after which, undeterred by frequent showers which now began to fall, a numerous party started southward to visit the primitive church of St. Eany with its many accom- pan5nng antiquities, Teampul Benan, &c., and to attempt further dis- coveries among the fauna and flora. The botanists were well pleased to find, at the last moment, that very rare Irish grass, the Wood Rush, in one of the two Aran stations given by Mr. H. C. Hart in his paper on the botany of the islands; and in the fading light a hasty return was made to the steamer, which left at 8 o'clock punctually, and the hotel in Galway was once more reached at ii.o. During this day's excursion, which was in every way successful, the members derived much local information and assistance from the parish priest. Rev. P. Colgan, and his curate, and from Mr. P. 0'P\ Johnson, the local magistrate, all of whom did their best to assist the party in every way. TUBISDAY, JUIvY 16TH. At 9 o'clock a special train conveyed the members and local friends to Oughterard, where Mr. Dominick Burke had brakes and cars in readiness, and an immediate start was made northward along the shores of Lough Corrib, a party of geologists remaining behind for an hour to examine the sections exposed in adjacent new railway cuttings under the guidance of Mr. R. J. Kirwan, B.E. The route lay through hilly ground, with alternating patches of bog, wood, and cultivation. Eastward stretched the vast lake of Corrib, diversified with islands great and small ; westward rose theMaam Turk mountains, still clothed 22,2 The h'ish Naturalist, in dark vapour, and sending an occasional splash of rain over the plain below. Presently the ground grew rougher, till it blazed with purple heather, among which hung abundantly the large bells of St. Dabeoc's Heath. Passing through a pine wood the vehicles halted beside a mountain stream, whose banks were fringed with Royal Fern growing six feet high. This was the rendezvous for the day. To the left the lake narrowed among steep wooded hills, and a glorious valley stretched away for miles, overhung by high mountains on each side. Behind rose the purple slopes of Carn Seefin, and in front lay the shining waters of the lake. It was an ideal spot for naturalists, and in a few minutes the party was scattered far and wide in eager search. The botanists rejoiced to find here the characteristic flora of Conne- jnara— London Pride, Pipe-wort, Lobelia, St. Dabeoc's Heath, &;c. The rare Bog Orchis was found sparingly. The geologists found congenial ground in the spoil-bank of an old copper mine on the hill-side. A new Irish beetle, Chilocuis bipustulatus, and the rare northern ground-beetles Pelophila borealis and Caralms daihratus delighted the entomologists ; while under the stones on the margin of the lake were found numerous examples of a rare southern jumping spider, Attus floricola. Lunch occasioned but a short lull in the business of exploration, which was continued energetically until the repeated blasts of the Secretary's whistle recalled the wanderers, and the return was effected in time to catch the special train at 6 o'clock for Galway. After dinner a formal Conference on Field Club work was held. The chair was occupied by G. H. Carpenter, B.Sc, President, Dublin Naturalists' Field Club. The Chairman said that the duty of taking the chair that evening devolved on him since the President of the senior Club (Belfast) was not present. He referred to the origin of the Field Club Union, an outcome of the formation of which they saw in the present successful excursion, and pointed out the great desirability and usefulness of such an organiza. lion, and the good work which during its short existence it had already accomplished. This evening representatives of all the Irish Field Clubs and of several similar English Societies met together in friendly con- ference, and he called for remarks and suggestions on matters relating to Field Club interests. Wm. Gray, M.R.I. A., as an old member and ex-President of the Belfast Club, referred to the benefits resulting from an interchange of ideas in the field, as was accomplished on an expedition such as this. He congratulated the Clubs on the number of lady members present, and on the presence of representatives of science from England. The forma- tion of the Irish Field Club Union was already justified by its results. Prof. T. Johnson, D.Sc, Treasurer, Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, said that at a meeting of this kind the members reaped benefits of the same nature as accrued to the meetings of the British Association. They learned that there was a brotherhood in science, and that assistance and encouragement were ready on every hand. He thought that if possible a meeting of this kind should be arranged annually. r Galway Field Cliih Conference, 233 J. J. WoivFE, as representing the Cork Naturalists' Field Club, re- gretted that so few members of his Society had been able to avail them- selves of the Galway excursion ; he thought the Cork Club was already deriving substantial benefit from the formation of the Union, Francis Neale, Secretary, Limerick Naturalists' Field Club, also referred to the advantages which the smaller Clubs were reaping from the operations of the Union. He hoped that on the next Galway excur- sion they would assemble on the invitation of a future Galway Field Club. He recommended the consideration of some more systematic means of recording scientific " finds" made by Field Club members. H. E. Brothers, member of Committee North Staffordshire Naturalists' Field Club, desired to thank the Irish Clubs on behalf of his members for their invitation to join in the present excursion. He was glad that a number of the members of his Club had availed themselves of the invitation, and thought that they would carry home with them many useful hints from this meeting of the Irish Clubs. He also spoke of the duty that rested with Field Clubs everywhere to check by every means in their power the unnecessary destruction of animal and vegetable life. R. Standen, Curator of the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, mentioned some of the more interesting points noted on the excursion in connection with his own particular group — the land and fresh- water mollusca. Prof. J. W. Carr, M.A., F.L.S., President, Nottingham Naturalists' Society, expressed his warm congratulations on the success of this first general meeting of the Irish Field Clubs, and on the zeal and energy dis- played by the members in scientific research. He doubted if such an active week's field work could have been organized and carried out by any English Scientific Society. After speaking of the aims of Natural History Societies, Professor Carr expressed the hope that the ultimate result of such combined effort would be the production of a series of monographs on Irish Natural history. WiiviviAM Gray interposed to give his hearty support to the remarks of Mr. Brothers in regard to the destruction of animals and plants. The Field Clubs could do good work by discountenancing the sale of fern roots, &c,, and the wearing of birds' feathers. Professor G. F. Fitzgerai^d, D.Sc, F.R.S. (Dublin University), wished to know if a resolution recommending botany as a subject of study for boys under the Intermediate Education Scheme would be in order at the present meeting. The Chairman said that such a resolution would certainly be in order ; zoology also might well be included in the resolution. Professor Johnson stated that he would with pleasure support any such resolution. Mann Harbison (Belfast) suggested that the subject of geology should be included in the motion. While Professor Fitzgerald was preparing his resolution 234 The Irish Naturalist Hon. R. B. Dili^on (Galway) referred to the local interest which the visit of the Field Clubs to Galway had excited, and which he trusted would have a lasting effect in the way of stimulating scientific research in that part of the country. On behalf of those of the party who were not members of any of the Clubs, but were there as visitors, he wished to express the great pleasure and interest which they had derived from the excursion. Prof. FiTZGERAI^D then moved:— That the United Naturalists* Field Clubs of Ireland press upon the Board of Intermediate Education in Ireland the importance to education and to the country of introducing Natural Science as a subject to be encouraged in Intermediate Schools in Ireland. Prof. B. J. M'Weenfy, M.D., (Dublin), had pleasure in seconding the resolution, and referred to the advantages which the teaching of natural science would give. Before sitting down, he referred to the very great kindness shown to the party during their visit by many inhabitants of Galwa}^ Bspecially were the thanks of the party due to the Presi- dent of Queen's College, to Sir Valentine Blake, to Captain Henley, to Mr. P. O'F. Johnston, J.P., to the Hon. R. B. Dillon, to Mr. R.J. Kirwan, B.E., to the Committee of the Royal Galway Boat Club, and to the officials of the Midland Great Western Railway, and of the Galway Bay Steamboat Company. He would like to move a vote of thanks to these gentle- men. The Chairman put Professor Fitzgerald's resolution to the meeting, and it was passed unanimously. Adam SpeerS, B.Sc, (Belfast), seconded the vote of thanks to those who had so cordially assisted the success of the excursion. Referring for a moment to the resolution which had just been passed, he wished as the head of an Intermediate School, to express his gratification that such a resolution had met with the unanimous favour of this meeting of practical scientists. Hon. R. B. Diiyi^ON responded on behalf of those named in Dr. M'Weeney's resolution. He assured the members that the visit of the Field Clubs had been a most welcome event in Galway. F. J. Bigger, M.R.I.A., Secretary, Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, wished to express the deep obligation of the members to Miss Gardiner, of Leinster-street, Dublin, for the remarkably prompt and able manner in which she had managed the catering on the daily expeditions— a very important matter on these long and fatiguing excursions (hear, hear). Speaking of the Field Club Union, he predicted how its increasing strength would more and more bind the Clubs together, so that at length they would have in Ireland one Field Club, with a common membership for all, and one official mouth-piece — the Irish Nahiralist. Prof. Johnson remarked that the conference would not be complete without some remarks from the organizer of the excursion. R. Li^OYD Praeger, B.E., Secretary Field Club Union and Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, in reply said he had only to repeat the thanks that he had expressed that evening after dinner for the unfailing promptness Galway Field Club ConfereJice. 235 with which members had carried out the requests of the conductor throughout the excursion, and the great assistance they had given. The unqualified success of this, the most elaborate Field Club excursion ever carried out in Ireland, was in itself the best thanks that the organizer could have. • The Chairman reminded members that specialists had been appointed to prepare reports on each group of the fauna and flora, and requested that all notes and specimens should be shown to them. Having refer- red to the advisability of having Irish finds recorded in Ireland, and drawn attention to the wonderful mixture of characteristic northern and southern forms of life which the naturalists had observed in this western district, he declared the conference concluded. WKDNESDAY, JUI.Y 17TH, &c. On this morning the party broke up. While the majority of members left for home, others proceeded to extend the investigations commenced on the excursion. R. Standen, E. Collier and R. Welch spent two days in collecting recent and subfossil shells and foraminifera at Roundstone. Miss Knowles botanized at Oughterard. J. A. Audley and R. Lloyd Praeger had a day at Roundstone, where they collected Erica Mackaii and Naias flexilis in their recorded stations ; the latter then sailed to Aran- more, where three days were spent in botanizing with the assistance of Prof. Fitzgerald, the return being made in his company, via Lisdoon- varna and Ballyvaughan. The work done on these further days being a direct continuation of that accomplished on the excursion, the results obtained are embodied in the reports which follow. II.— GEOLOGY. BY MISS SYDNEY M. THOMPSON. The magnificent scenery of the district comprised between Galway Bay, the Atlantic, and Lough Corrib demonstrates what metamorphism can do in the way of earth -building. The grand quartzite group of the Twelve Bens, with their bare scarred peaks rising abruptly from the vast flat plain that stretches westward to the Atlantic, display earth-folding on a magnificent scale. The age of these quartzites and the schists that occur with them is somewhat obscure ; the latter were at one time supposed to be metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, but modern investiga- tions have changed these opinions, and they are now considered to be altered igneous rocks. ^ A very interesting section through these schists was visited on the railway near Oughterard under the guidance of Mr. Kirwan, whose able paper in the Irish Naturalist- shows an ilhistration ^vSee Report of the Director-General of the Geol. Survey, 40M Report Dept. of Science and Art (1893), p. 266, and 41J/ Report (1S94), p. 270. 'June, 1895, vol. iv., p. 151. 236 The hish NaUiralist, of this section, in which quartzites, hornblende schists, and intrusive granites occurring in veins, dykes, and in mass are seen, with Carboniferous limestone which has been subsequently laid down, and which is undisturbed. This cutting is quite near to the station, and forms an interesting and instructive diagram of faults, contortions, and intrusions. Many specimens were obtained, including some of quartzite and white quartz with beautiful cross-veins of red intrusive granite. Some concretions of calcite, prettily stained with orange and black, were found amongst the fragments on the line. On the day when Ben Lettery was ascended, very fine crystals of quartz were obtained from crevices on the summit of Ben Gower, and from weathered blocks. Some lead and copper mines near Carn Seefin, above the north- western shores of Lough Corrib, were subsequently visited. Although not worked at present, some samples were obtained from the '* tip." One block contained galena, copper pyrites, iron pyrites, calcite, felspar, and quartz as concretions in the hornblende schists in which the mineral lodes occur. Pure massive epidote and fluorspar were also obtained, and specimens of an intrusive rock in this neighbourhood almost entirely formed of sheared pinkish-brown garnets were obtained with difficulty, owing to its extreme hardness. The celebrated Connemara " marble" at Recess is now being worked in only one quarry by about a dozen men, employed by an American, who is at present executing an order for twenty pillars, each to consist of five blocks measuring about four feet by three in diameter. To gauge the quality of the stone a long section has been made in the side of the quarry by a wire saw. This section well displays the contorted green bands with grey layers at either side. The so-called "marble" is a serpentine formed by the alteration of olivine introduced in the crystalline bands of primitive limestone by igneous action. Similar results occur in limestones around Mount Vesuvius. These serpentine bands do not average more than two feet in thickness, and have been much sheared and contorted, showing the " eozoonal " structure. This was formerly believed to be a gigantic foraminifer when discovered in the Laurentian rocks of Canada, and named Eozoon Canadense, biit its organic nature is now practically disproved by the recent discovery of a similar substance in limestone blocks ejected from Vesuvius.^ But few fossils were obtained from the Carboniferous limestone so fully developed in the district, the rock being so hard as to preclude the ex- traction of its organic remains in the limited time available for the geologists on a mixed excursion. The usual characteristic fossils were observed in abundance, and some specimens obtained in Ballj^vaughan from the Burren Limestone, and in the Aran Islands. The shale-beds in Aran would probably repay a fuller examination than was possible on the excursion. Blow holes and the *' Worm Hole," a curious natural tank are amongst the curiosities of the Aran limestones. * Johnston-Lavis and Gregory — "Eozoonal Structure of the ejected Blocks of Monte Somma." Scu Trans, R,D,S. (2) vol. v., 1894. '•»;. ,i:B-^* ^ t:: ■ H ■ N V-c <1: h4: , t: W P^ 3- o < »:,. u CD >^ a P^ <\) p^ W -M< r-N c t— 1 ■1-H Cfl -l-<. OJ ca. a»- o. Gatway Excursion. — Geology. 237 ^he marble quarries at Menlough were also visited, where an excellent jet-black marble is obtained, ornamented with white s^zWows oi Producttis and corals. It seems a pity that this marble and the serpentine are not more fully worked, as facilities for transport are all that can be desired. On the shores of the lake near Clare-Galway Abbey the limestone is curiously bored by holes, varying from half to one-and-a-half inches in diameter, and sometimes extending downwards for six or eight inches. ' Their origin is as yet uncertain, the alternative suggestions being either the action of carbonic acid from vegetation, etc., or the burrowing of land snails or of marine animals such as Pholas. Travellers on the line to Clifden will see, on the right hand side, soon after leaving Galway, some of the curious " mushroom" rocks, produced by softer inferior layers weathering away more rapidly than harder superior layers. The glacial geology of the district is very interesting, the hard, white quartzite of the Bens being splendidly glaciated ; and capital ice-worn surfaces were seen close to Recess station, and also on the way to Ben Lettery, the rock being finely smoothed and polished, with deep ice- groovings. The drift sections at Gentian Hill yielded many erratics. The grey clay is excessively hard and compact, forming a cliff a quarter of a mile long and about thirty feet high, with large and small erratics projecting from the surface, the retentiveness of the matrix being evi* denced by the great masses that stand out in all directions ; similar sec- tions occur on islands and on the coast about this locality. Many boulders are of black Carboniferous limestone with bands of white Pro- ductus about three inches deep, the whole surface being exquisitely polished and striated, others are Connemara granites, including the typical Galway variety, remarkable for the scarcity of mica, and the handsome crystals of pink orthoclase felspar, recalling the famous Shap granite ; specimens of serpentine also occur as erratics. On the Aran Islands, in Galway Bay, many of these rocks occur as erratics. Also there are found specimens of a fine-grained red quartzite said not to occur now anywhere in situ. It would be impossible to con- clude without a reference to the remarkable cliflf-scenery of these islands, where the slightly-dipping limestones have been undercut by the sea into mighty shelves, over which the Atlantic waves play ceaselessly, whilst upper terraces are tenanted by myriads of sea-birds, and the top of the cliffs between 50 and 100 feet above the sea are swept bare at the edges, huge piles of stones forming a rampart many yards inland, de- monstrating what the force of the surges must be, when their spray can do such mighty work. Here and there, in the face of these grand cliffs, a bed of shale gives rise to a water-spring, falling in delicate veils of spray into the ocean, an exquisite rainbow perpetually spanning the abyss. The causes that result in such beautiful effects are full of geo- logical interest, and the whole excursion was replete with such oppor« tunitiee for the geologists o| the party. 238 The Irish Naturalist. III. — BOTANY. FUNGI. BY E. J. M'WKENEV, M.A., M.D. // YMENOM YCE TES. This Order, which comprises the most highly organized and largest Fungi was but sparsely represented, owing no doubt partly to the dry- ness of the early summer season, but chiefly to the fact that a great deal of the ground traversed — stony and boggy, mountainous and maritime regions— is 'of a character notoriously unfavourable to the growth of agarics and their allies. Besides, their season of fructification had as yet hardly commenced. In the patches of wood (chiefly fir) by the lake sides at Recess on the 12th Jul}', and Lough Corrib on the i6th, the ordinary species oi Bolettts generally met with in such places, were taken together with a few of the manure-frequenting agarics belonging to the genera Panaohis, Stropharia and Coprinus. We also found a very fine Mycena filopes, and one Marasmius androsaceus, an uncommon species in my experience. The heaths at Recess yielded a large mouse-coloured pink-spored Agaric [Entoloma helodcs, Fr.), in abundance, and large forms of Galera hypnoriim and its var. Sphagnorinn^ were met with in the swamps at Lough Corrib. The only form at all peculiar or unusual was a pale-yellow-capped white-gilled Canthardlus {albidtis) which we came across in some abundance on the heath-covered slopes at Recess and also near Lough Corrib. No agaric save the Common Mushroom seems to have been collected on Aran. Agraricus (lYIyccna) fi lopes, Bull. — Wood at Lough Corrib. A. (WI.) stylotoatcs, Pers. — Lake-side near Recess. A. (Entoloma) helodes, Fr. — Abundant on heaths, Recess, &c, A. (Calera) hypnorum, Batsch. — Frequent in the bogs. Recess, &c. var. Sphagnorum, Fr. — Swamps by Lough Corrib. A. (Psalllota) campestrls Linn, (the Common Mushroom). — Frequent in nearly every suitable locality, including Aran . A. (Stropharia) semigloli^atusy Batsch— Lough Corrib and Recess, frequent. Anellarla flmlputrls, Karsten— Lough Corrib. PanOBOlus phalaenarum, Fr.— Lough Corrib. Coprinus cphcmcrus, Fr.— Lough Corrib. Cantharellus albldus, Fr.— On heaths at Recess and L. Corrib. Marasmius androsaceus, Fr.— Lough Corrib. Boletus luteus, Linn.— Lough Corrib. B. flavus, With.— Lough Corrib. B. larlclnus, Berk.— Recess Wood, and Lough Corrib. Fomes varlegatus, Seer.— Burren. TremcHa mesenteflca, Retz.— Lough Corrib. Galway Exairsion — Fungi. 239 DISCOMYCETES. The Only Peziza of any size— a fawn coloured species (probably P.plairota, Phil.), collected by Mr. M'Ardle, and placed in a tube — was unfortunately lost, together with the tube and its remaining contents, which comprised a Saprolegnia or Achlya sp. on a dead fl}', and Dr. FitzGerald's specimen of Claviceps on grass. Another specimen which I took on a superficial inspection to be a discomycete parasitic on some frondose hepatic proved to be a Lichen, Solorina saccaia, L., stated to be rather rare, but already recorded from Brandon in Kerry, and Ben Bulben in Sligo by Mr. J. T. Mackay, and from Cushendall, Co. Antrim, by Dr. Moore. I had confined my examination to the apothecia, and had therefore become acquainted only with the fungal element in the compound organism of the Lichen. Each ascus contains four uniseptate brown .spores. Struck by these peculiarities, I thought I should have no difficulty in identifying the specimen ; but here I was disappointed, and not being able to find a place for it, I sent it to Mr. Phillips of Shrewsbury, the well-known authority on Discomycetes, and to his kindness I am indebted for the establishment of the true nature of this specimen. Moral — always examine the substratum / The poverty of this region in Discomy- cetes is very remarkable. Lachnea stercorea, Gill. > ^ -, t 1. rv -i, ' L On cowdung, Lough Comb. Humaria g^ranulata, Sacc. y Dasyscypha virglnea, Fekl.— Frequent, Recess, Lough Corrib, &.C. Phialea virgultorum, Sacc— Recess, lake-side. IVIoIlisla clnerea, Karst. — Lough Corrib. WI. melaleuca, Sacc. — Lough Corrib. SPHyER/ACEL The most important species found was Claviceps purpurea (Ergot), taken at Burren by Dr. FitzGerald on some grass not now certainly recogniz- able, Only a few fruits were ergotized. Claviceps purpurea, Fr. — 0\\ grass, Burren (Prof. FitzGerald). Eplchloe typhina, Pers.— On Dadylis glomerata. Gentian Hill wood. Polystigma ruttrum, Pers.— Burren, on Black-thorn. Cladosporluin herbarum, L. R.— (The conidial stage of some Pyrenomycete) on Quaking-grass, Aran, Prof FitzGerald. Hypocopra flmlcola (Rob.), Sacc— On rabbit-dung, Lough Corrib. UREDWEI k^n USTILAGINEL When industriously sought for, members of the first-named class are fairly abundant in the region examined* The only smut we found was Ustilago scgetum on oats, Aran (Dr. FitzGerald). I was much struck with the slight degree of development attained by these parasitic forms on ^40 ^^ic hish Naturalist, that island. Piiccinia pnlvcrtilciita, Grev., formed a striking exception. It grew most luxuriantly on a patch of Willow-herb near Mr. Johnson's house at Kilmurvy, the entire under-surface of some of the leaves being covered with the cluster-cups, whilst large confluent sori of teleuto- spores occurred on neighbouring plants. This partial separation of the two stages— dioecisra — is worthy of note. The commonest wild Umbellifer, Angelica sylvesiris, was infested with a rust, P. ptmpinel/cr, Sirsiuss, whilst the only specimen I saw of the local Phnpinella magna was covered with the Urcdo-s^o\.^ of a somewhat larger-spored rust which may possibly prove distinct. The only other species worthy of remark are the Phragmidium on the Lesser Burnet, and the rust on clover, both found on Aran, and neither frequent, so far as my experience goes, on the east side of Ireland. Pucclnla prlmulae, DC— Wood near base of Gentian Hill. P. centaurese, Mart.— Gentian Hill. P. vlolae, Schum.— Gentian Hill. ^ ;' P. pulvcrulcnta, Grev.— On ^//^^/w;« /5i>j«/«w, Aran« > '"^ P. variabilis, Grev.— Gentian Hill. P. taraxacl, Plow.— Gentian Hill. P. hleracil, Schum. — Uredo on Cardtms lanceolattiSy Aran. P. pimpinellsef Strauss.— On Angelica sylvestris and Pimpinelta ma^na, Aran. Uromyces anthyllidis, Grev. — On A.vulneraria^ Aran. U. trifoliiy Alb. and Schw — On T. pratense, Aran. Triphragmium ulmariae, Schum. — Uredo only, near Gentian Hill. Phragmlciium frag^ariastri, DC. — Aran. P. sangulsorbae, DC, — On Poteriiim Sanguisorba, Aran. P, Vlolaceuirif Schultz. — On Rubusfmticosus, Aran and elsewhere. P. subcortlcatutrif Schrank. — On Rosa spinosissima, Aran and else- where. lYIelampsora Ilnl, Pers.— Abundant on Aran and elsewhere. M. f ar I nosa, Pers,— Heaths near Recess. !^ WI. hyper Icorum, DC— On Tutsan at L. Corrib. ,y' Coleosporlum seneclonis, Pers.— Aran. Prof. FitzGerald. C» cu phrasias, Schum.— Aran and elsewhere, on Rhinanthiis, Ustllago segetum. Bull.— Aran, Prof. FitzGerald. Urocystis Vloiae, Sow.— Near Gentian Hill. In conclusion I have to express my deep sense of obligation to Prof. G. 1^. FitzGerald, F.R.S., to whose quick observation and skill in collecting I owe many of the most interesting fungal specimens taken during this enjoyable excursion. Sttl [ 241 1 BY PROF. T. JOHNSON, D.SC, AND MISS HENSMAN. The Galway excursion afforded several excellent opportunities for sliore- coUecting. It is to be regretted that so few took advantage of tliem. I would suggest that, on our next Field Club Union excursion members, on joining the meeting, be invited to act as collectors in some special group of plants or animals. On the first day, during the preparation of lunch on Gentian Hill, one of us searched the somewhat muddy shore on the western side of the hill, gathered a number of shells attacked by the perforating algse, and found Zostera nana, which is referred to else- where. Sea- weeds were collected at Gleninagh, Co. Clare, the low rocky shore affording some good rock-pools, the coralline Lithothamnioti polyfnorphuvi lining some of them. Here was found the common green Codiion tomentosiim infested by the brown alga Strcblonema simplex, hitherto only once recorded for Ireland, by one of us; another species, S. fasciadatum, growing on Mesogla:a vermiailata, is new to Ireland. Sporochmis pedunculatus was found washed ashore. It would be out of place to give here a full list of the species noticed or gathered. It maybe of interest to state that Holmes and Batters make a preliminary attempt to indicate the distribution of sea- weeds in their " Revised L^ist of the British Marine Algse" (^Annals of Botany, vol. v., 1890). For this purpose the coast of the United Kingdom is divided into fourteen districts, in which Ireland is represented by districts 10-14, Galway Bay being included in district II (Slyue Head to Crow Head). It would be comparatively easy for us to make out a list of species found, not recorded in the above-mentioned list for district ir. Such a proceeding would be out of place, as there are many species, in collections made by earlier workers, known to us, not recorded. The following are some of the interesting finds : — Delesserla, all (6) species except D. angustissima. Phyllophora rubens, infested with Acthiococcus. Champla parvula, with cystocarps. Ceramlum tenulsslmum. Rhodophyllis bifida, with cystocarps. Dudresnaia cocclnea, with antherrdia, procarps and cystocarps. This beautiful and rare red alga is one in which one act of fertilisation results in the formation of a number of cystocarp fruits. Coralllna rubens. Ca squamata. Choreonema Thurctf. Melobesla cortlclformls. Ascocyclus orbicularis, on Zostcm, new to Ireland. Castagnea zosterse. Species of Cystosclra, Ctadostephus, Ectocarpus, Urospora, Monostroma, Euteromorpha, Cladophora. Hyella cdespltosa, B 242 The Irish Naturalist, IVIastlgrocoIeus testarum. Picctonema terebrans. Comontia polyrhiza. Conchocells rosea, new to West of Ireland. V Tellamia? Aranmore.— Low water was caught at Killeany Bay (Kilroiiau) on the east side of the Island, and in addition some scraps of sea- weeds were gathered on the west side, a little east of the fort Dun Aengus. Ordinary shore-collecting is almost impossible on the west side, owing to the precipitous cliffs, and ocean swell, even on a comparatively cahn day. Several interesting weeds were obtained on the west side, indicative of a rich harvest after a westerly gale or by dredging. Killeany Bay proved a splendid locality for the perforating algje (all the species recorded in Miss Hensman's recent paper in the Irish Naturalist being found here), and iox \.\).^ Sqtiamariacccv, a group of red sea- weeds, coating stones, &c., and of which Pdrocelis and Pcyssonndia are examples. This group is at its best in the winter. In the quiet pools, with the abundant disintegrat- ing mollusc shells, and the stone-coating Squamariaccic:, were found quantities of Stilophora rhizodcs, and several species of Cystoscira, including the iridescent C. ericoides infested with Myriadis ptilvinata. The meeting of the southern and northern types, noticed in the fauna of the district was illustrated in several ways ; thus Plumarici degans, a southern form, and Ptilota plumosa, a northern closely allied form, were both found; Pycno- phycus tubcrcidatus, a brown alga which is erroneously supposed to reach its northern limits in Galway Bay, was also found. Of the less-known forms may be mentioned — Conimophyllum BulftiamI on Nitophyllum laceratu7n\ new to Ireland. Dermocarpa prasfna ] Latter new to, and former not recorded D. Schousbdet > for Ireland. Growing on a rock exposed at half-tide was a form of Codium^ not un- like the Codium amphibiwn of Harvey's " Phycologia Britanuica." Some time must elapse before all the material collected has been examined, many of the rarest weeds being microscopic and time-absorbing in their determination. Our thanks are due to Miss Sydney Thompson of Belfast for a collection of attacked shells, to Miss Kelsall for some Kilronan weeds, and to Mr. R. J. Mitchell, whose health has prevented him from taking part in the determination of the weeds he helped to collect. [ 243 ] MOSSES AND I.IVKRWORTS. BY D. m'ardl:^. x7 The appended lists of these plants which were collected by me on the Galway excursion are provisional only. It will be observed that the list of mosses is very short, 17 species only, excluding a few species not yet determined. The entire district we visited in Aran was very scanty in moss vegetation ; even the commonest rock moss, Ptychomittium, which clothes such formations in almost every county in Ireland, was not met with, and very few grow on or amongst the bare rocks. The summit of the mountain from Cappanawalla to Ballyvaughan, where I went in search of rare flowering plants, produced very few mosses; it is one vast *• stone field " as far as the eye can reach. We met with no mountain stream ; on the banks and rotting timber in such places mosses luxuriate in the shade, heat, and moisture. On the lower slopes of the Burren, as at Ballyvaughan, and on Carn Seefin a good representative list of mosses could be made would time permit. The total number of liverworts collected is forty-seven. Of these twenty-three are not reported from the counties we visited in Dr. D. IMoore's work on the Irish Hepaticae, and two are additional species to the list in that important publication. Out of fourteen species ot Lejeunea known to grow in Ireland I collected eight ; four of these are additions to the Galway list. The rare Lejeunea Mackaii occurs sparingly on the north island of Aran on damp rocks. It is remarkable amongst Lejeunea in having large undivided obcordate folioles or stipules by which it is easily known from all others. It is the Irish representative of four species included by Dr. Spruce in the genus Homalo- Lejeunea, natives of the Peruvian Andes and Brazil. Scapania aspera, Mull., was first detected by me in the Co. Cavan in 1893, and now it has turned up in both Clare and Galway ; it may lurk in herbaria under the name of Scapania neviorosa ; its place is between that species and S, aqtiiloba ; possibly it belongs to the latter. Plagiochila interrupta I have not found before. I am not aware that it has been published as Irish, and may have been overlooked for Saccogyna or Chiloscyphus, which it resembles ; the plants collected by me are identical with those gathered by Dr. Carrington in Bolton Woods, York- shire, specimens of which are included in the excellent Fasc. Hepatic^t No, 86, of Carrington and Pearson, kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. F. W. Moore, A.L.S. MUSCI. Campylopus sctlfollus, Wils.— Carn Seefin. Tortula tortuosa, Hedwig.—Kilronan. Tortula rural is, Linn.— Rocks, Kilronan. Tortula fallax, Hedwig.— Aran. Tortula murallSt Timm.— Aran, Gentian Hill. Orthotrlchum afflne* Schrad.^ Ballyvaughan. 244 The Irish Naturalist Enthostodon TempletonI, Schwaegr— Side of a stream, Carn Seefin. SplachnuiYi ampullaceum, Liiiu. — Cappanawalla Mountain (Professor T. Johnson). Amongst Sphagnum, shore of Lough Corrib (Professor Fitzgerald). Bryum capillare, Hedwig.— On walls, Bally vaughan. Leucodon sciuroldes, Schwaegr.— Ballyvaughan, Mr. O'Kelly. Neckera crispa, Dill.-Gentian Hill, Ballyvaughan, Island of Aran. Hypnum coiYimutatum, Dill., van— Aran. Hypnum purum, Linn.— Gentian Hill, Aran, common. Hypnum unclnatum, Hedw.— Near Kilronan. Hypnum loreum, Dill.— Ballyvaughan. Homalothecium serlceum, Linn. — Near Kilronan. Fissldens adfantoldes, Hedwig. —Ballyvaughan. Amongst rocks, Aran. HEPATIC^. * Denotes a species not previously reported from the County, FruIIania dilatata, (L.) Dum.— On the trunks of trees, side of a stream, Carn Seefin ; Gleninagh, and Ballyvaughan. FruIIania tamarlsci, (L.) Dum.— Gentian Hill, Carn Seefin, Cappanawalla Mountain, common *FruIIanIa gcrmana, Taylor.— Carn Seefin, rare. *LeJcunca minutissima, Smith. —On trees at Gentian Hill ; Gleninagh, Co. Clare. *LeJunea microscopica, Tayl.— On Plagiockila, Carn Seefin, rare. *Lejunca hamatifolia, (Hook.) Dum.--*Gleninagh; Carn Seefin; a rare species. *Lejeunea ovata, (Tayl.) Dicks.— On moss and decayed wood, side of a stream, Carn Seefin, plentiful; a rare species. Lejeunea serpyllifolla, Dicks.— On the trunks of trees, shores of Lough Corrib near Carn Seefin. *Lcjeunea flava, var. — Carn Seefin ; a rare species. *LeJeunea patens, Lindberg.— On FruIIania, Carn Seefin; Gentian Hill. *Lcjeunea Mackail, (Hooker) Dum.— On rocks on the North Island of Aran (Kilmurv}'), rare. Radula complanata, (L) Dum.— On rocks. Gentian Hill. *PorcIIa platyphylla, (L.) Lindberg.— Island of Aran. Pleurozia cochlcarlformis. — Gentian Hill. Kantia trichomanes, Dicks.— Gentian Hill, Carn Seefin, common. *Kant!a arguta^ Nees. — On a damp bank, Carn Seefin (Professor T. Johnson). Side of a stream near the shore of Lough Corrib ; a very rare species. Lepldozia setacea, Web.— Carn Seefin, frequent. *CephaIozIa eaten u lata, Huben. — On damp peat, Carn Seefin; ♦Ballyvaughan, very fine ; a rare species. Cephaloziablcuspldata, Linn.— Carn Seefin. Galway Excursion. — Mosses and Liverworts, '^ 245 Cephalozia Lammersiana, Hub.— Cam Seefin. Cephalozia sphagn!, Dicks (Spruce).— Carn Seefin. "^Cephalozia divarlcata, Sm.— Carn Seefin. "^Cephalozia divarlcata, var. Starkll, Spruce— Ball3rvaughan ; Carn Seefin ; a rare species. "^Scapanla aequIloDa, (Schw.), Dum.—Cappanawalla Mountain. *ScapanIa netnorosa, (L.) Dum.— Carn Seefin, *Bally\-aughan. *Scapanla aspera. Mull.— Salthill, near Galway; Ballyvaughan, very fine on Cappanawalla Mountain ; new to these districts. Dlplophyllum albicans, (Iv.) Dum.— Carn Seefin, Gentian Hill, Gleninagh, and Ballyvaughan. Plagriochlla asplenioides, (L.) Dum.— Carn Seefin. *PIagIochlIa Interrupta, (N.) Dum.— Ballyvaughan. Not pre- viously published as Irish.t Plaglochllasplnulosa, (Dicks.), Dum. — Carn vSeefin, shore of Lough Corrib. *Juni:ermania (Aplozia) riparia, (Tayl.), Dum.— Moist bank near Kilronan. vlungrermanla ventrlcosa, Dicks.— Side of a stream, shore of Lough Corrib. Saccogryna vltlculosa, L- — Carn Seefin. Nardia etnarg:inata, Ehrh.— Gentian Hill; on moist rocks, Carn Seefin ; common. Nardia scalaris, (Schr.) Gr.— Carn Seefin; shores of Lough Corrib common. Nardia crenulata, (Smith), Lindberg.— Ballyvaughan, Gentian Hill *NardIa obovata, Nees. — Carn Seefin. Pellia epiphylla, Linn.— Moist places, Carn Seefin; near Kil ronan. *Penia calyclna, Nees. — Damp bank side of a stream, Carn Seefin a rare species. lYIetzgrerla furcata, Linn.— On trees. Gentian Hill; Gleninagh; shores of Lough Corrib. *IVIctzgrcria conjugata, Lindberg.— Carn Seefin ; rare. RIccardia multifida, (Dill.), Linn.— Carn Seefin. Riccardia pinguis, (L.) B.Gr.— Damp, boggy place, Carn Seefin. IVIarchantia polymorpha, Linn.— Ballyvaughan. *Re)fc)ouIia hemisphaerica, Raddi.— In the crevices of moist rocks, Kilronan. Fagatella conica, (L.) Corda.— Moist bank near Kilronan. t This may be the type of the plant described by Dr. Moore und^r the name 01 Fedinophylhim pyrenaicwn^ Spruce. A'. /. A. Proc. (2) vol. ii., p. 629. 246 The Irish Naturalist, PHANEROGAMS, FERNS, &c. BY R. I.I,OYD PKAE;GER, B.E., AND PROF. J. W. CARR, M.A., F.I^S. The remarkable flora of the districts lying aroiiiid Galway has long been famous, and has by this time been tolerably well worked out. Conne- mara, with its interesting southern species, has attracted many botanists, whose observations are brought together in Cybele Hibernica ; and since the appearance of that work, further contributions to our knowledge of that flora have been made, the most important paper being that of H. C. Hart."" The limestone district of Burren has likewise been well examined, as is witnessed by the papers of F. J. Foot,^ T. H. Corry,^ H. C. Ivevinge,^ and others. The interesting flora of the Aran Islands (which are botanically a part of Clare, not of Galway) has also been carefully investigated. So that, while close and systematic search would, no doubt, yield a number of additions to the floras of these districts, but little in this direction could result from the necessarily hurried and superficial work of the Field Club excursion ; and indeed, the time of members was devoted to securing examples of well-known botanical treasures, rather than to working out the distribution of less interesting species, or the determination of critical plants. But that the excursion was by no means barren of results as regards the flowering plants, the records which are appended will show. Our notes can be conveniently arranged in three geographical groups : —I. West Galway (District 8 of Cyhclc Hibernica) ; II. East Galway and Clare (District 6 of Cybele) ; III. Aran Islands (District 6 of Cybele). I. West Gai^way (District 8).— Plants were collected chiefly in three places— Gentian Hill, Carn Seefin on Lough Corrib, and about Recess. Gentian Hill, a promontory of drift on the shore three miles west of Galway, is interesting as yielding a group of limestone plants not found elsewhere in West Galway ; this drift has come from the east or south, and is largely composed of limestone. Here, within 50 feet of sea-level, were gathered Dryas odopeiala^ Aspertda cy7ianchica, Chlora perfoliata, Gentiana verna. Orchis pyratnidalisy Sesleria ccenilea. At Carn Seefin and Recess the typical Connemara flora reigns supreme. In both localities grew abundance of Drosera anglicn, D. intermedia, Hyperi- cum elodeSy Saxifraga wnbrosa. Lobelia DorOnanna, Dabeocia polifoliay Utricularia intermedia, Eriocatdon septangulare, Rhynchospora alba, Osmunda regalis, ^ H. C. Hart.— Notes on the Flora of the Mayo and Galway Mountains, Proc. R.LA., Ser. II., Vol. 3, No. 10, 1883. 2 F. J. Foot.— On the Distribution of Plants in Burren, Clare. Trans. RJ.A.y Vol. 24, 1862. 8T. H. Corry.— Notes on a Botanical Ramble in the County of Clare. Proc. Belfast Nat, Hist, and Phil. Sac, 1879-80. •* H. C. Levinge.— iV^c^/mra intacta in County Clare. Journ. Bot.^ vol. 30, p. 194. 1892. Galway Excnrsion. — Phanerogams, &c. 247 The following notes are selected for publication :— 1 Thallctrum col 11 n um, Wallr.—Lakeshore below Carn Seefin. SiiK>uIarIa aquatlca, L.— Glendalough Lake. Lotus pllosus, Beeke.— Oughterard, Miss Knowles. Dryas octopctala, L.— Lisoughter Hill behind Recess, Carr. Saxlfra^ra opposltlfolla, Iv— Lisoughter Hill, Carr. IVIyriophyllum verticil latum, Iv.— Lake-shore below Carn Seefin. GEnanthe Lachenalll, Gmel. —Gentian Hill. Card u us pratensfs, Huds.— Oughterard, Miss Knowles ; Carn vSeefin. Hieracium angrlicum, Fr.— Lisoughter above Recess, Carr. Arctostaphylos Uva-ursI, Spr.— Near summit of Ben Lettery. lYIelaitipyrutn pratense, L. var. montanum, Johnst— Carn Seefin. Scrophularia aquatica, L.— Gentian Hill ; Oughterard. Scutellaria minor, L.— Gentian Hill ; base of Carn Seefin. Plngruicula lusitanlca, L.— Carn Seefin, Miss Knowles. Habenaria chlorantha, Bab. — Carn Seefin, J. A. Audley. IVIalaxis paludosa, Sw.— Base of Garn Seefin, J. A. Audley. Sparganlum simplex, Huds. — Oughterard, Miss Knowles. S. minimum, Fr. — Oughterard, Miss Knowles. Zostera nana. Roth. — Prof. Johnson supplies the following interest- ing note : — While waiting for lunch on the day of our arrival, Miss Hensman and I collected Algce on the muddy shore on the west side of Gentian Hill, and found several beds of Zostera nana in fruit. The only Irish record for this plant hitherto published {vide Cybele Hibernica) is a station near Baldoyle (Co. Dublin), discovered by the late A. G. More. When recently looking through Mr. H. C. Hart's collections in the Herbarium of the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, specimens of Z. nana, gathered by this botanist in Co. Donegal several years ago, were noticed. The publication of the record awaits Mr. Hart's general *' Flora of Donegal." Hence the Galway locality is the third in Ireland for Zostera nana. Cladlum IVIarlscus, R. Br. — Galway, Oughterard, Recess, abundant. Rhynchospora f usca, Sm. — Abundant in several places between Oughterard and Carn Seefin. Eleocharis multlcaulls, Sm. — Carn Seefin, Praeger. Sclrpus TatternaemontanI, Gm. — Near Gentian Hill. Carcx disticha, Huds. — Gentian Hill, Miss Knowles; River Corrib above Galway. C. stricta, Good. — River Corrib abov^ Galway, Praeger. C. pallescens, L. — Carn Seefin. C. limosa, L. — Abundant about Recess. C. cxtensa, Good.— Near Gentian Hill. C. fiilformls, L.— Oughterard, Miss Knowles; River Corrib above Galway. Lastrea Orcoptcrls, Presl. — Carn Seefin. L. aemula. Brack.— Near the summit of Ben Lettery. » In the following notes, the finder's name is added wherever a plant was reported by one member only; when found by more than one member, names are omitted. 248 The Irish Naturalist, Asplenium vlridCi Huds.—Lisoughter Hill behind Recess, Carr. Hymenophyllum WllsonI, Hook.— Ben Lettery. H. tunbridgrense* Sm. — Damp crevice near summit of Ben Lettery, Praeger. Isoetes lacustrlSf L.— Glendalough Lake. Pllularia globullfera, L.— Gathered abundantly in the station (west end of Glendalough Lake), recorded by Praeger in /.A^., 1895. II. Kast Gateway and Ci.are (District 6).— In boggy ground at Menlo' Castle near Galway were gathered Myriophyllum veriidllatuniy Cladimn Mariscus, Carcx Pseudo-cypems^ Osmunda yrgalis. In the day spent at Ballyvaughan and Gleninagh, the peculiar Burren flora was seen to full advantage. On the shelves and crevices on the limestone hills grew in profusion Aradis hirsuia, Arenaria verna, Cerastium arvense. Geranium sanguineuMy G. lucidwn, Poterium Sangtiisorbay Dryas odopetala, Rubus saxatilis, Asperula cynanchica, Galium sylvestre^ Rubia peregrina, Carlina vulgaris, Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Gentiana verna, Epipactis atrorubens, Sesleria ccsrulea, Poly siic hum aculeattuny Cystopteris fragilis. Under the guidance of Mr. O'Kelly, Rhamnus catharticus and Potentilla fruiicosa were seen in the stations given in Mr. Foot's paper'; Ophrys apifera and Botrychium Lunaria were pointed out near Ballyvaughan, and Pyrola media high up on the mountain above Gleninagh. Some members who drove to Black Head brought back Thalictrtwt collinum, Saxifj-aga Sternbergii, and Adiantum Capillus- Veneris : these have been recorded from here in Mr. Levinge's paper. Papaver Rhdeas» L. ) P. hybrldum, L. > Fields at Gleninagh. P. dublum, L. ) Futnaria pallidlflora,jord.— Gleninagh. SInapIs alba, L. — Fields near Gleninagh. S. nliri*a, L. — Gleninagh, MissKnowles. Hypericum dublum, Leers. — Common about Gleninagh. Geranium rotund If oil um, L.) Pointed out by Mr. O'Kelly to G. columblnum, L. > Prof. Fitzgerald and Praeger growing in stony limestone ground near Ballyvaughan. G, rotundifolium is an extremely rare plant in Ireland. Scandix Pecten-Vencrls, L.— Gleninagh, J. A. Audley. Centaurea Cyan us, L. — Among oats, Gleninagh. Verbena officinalis, L.— Ballyvaughan, D. M'Ardle. Neotlnea Intacta, Reich. —Pointed out in fruit near Ballyvaughan by Mr. O'Kelly, and subsequently observed in many fields in that neigh- bourhood by Prof. Fitzgerald and Praeger. Carex pallescens, L.— Gleninagh. Adiantum CapIIIus-Venerls, L— Found a mile north-west of Ballyvaughan, by Mrs. Fitt. III. Great Isi^and of Aran (District 6).— The Aran Islands have been so thoroughly explored by botanists that it was not to be expected that the few hours spent by the members on the North Island would yield much in the way of novelty, though they teemed with interest; and indeed, the only find reported that merits publication (though it is Galway Excursion,— Phanerogams^ &pc, 249 not a novelty) is the rediscovery of that rarest of Irish grasses, Calama* grostis Epigejos, in one of the stations (Killeany) assigned to it by Mr. Hart. The members were, however, quite satisfied with finding, often in abundance, the plants, in many cases rare elsewhere, which characterize the Aran flora, such as Arenaria verna, Cerastium arvense, Geranium satt' gtiineumt Rubus saxatilis, R, ccsshis, Poierium Sanguisorha^ Sedum Rhodiola, Saxi' fraga Sternbergii, Pimpinella magna, Crithmrim maritimtim, Cornus sanguinea^ Rubia peregrina, Asperula cynanchica, Galium sylveslre, Carlina vulgaris, Ccntau- rea Scabiosa, Senecio Jacobcea var. flosculosus, Geniiana verna, Statice occidentalism Allium Babinglonii, Adiantum Capillus- Veneris. The three days subsequently spent on the island by Praeger, afforded time for sj'stematic work, and yielded satisfactory results ; he sends in the following notes as the result of his observations : — NOTES ON THE FLORA OF ARANMORK. BY R. IvIvOYD PRAEGER. The flora of the Aran Islands has already been carefully investigated. The first attempt at a complete list of plants was that of Dr. E. P. Wright', whose paper notices 159 species as growing on the islands. In 1875 Mr. H. C. Hart followed with a much more elaborate paper^, em- bodying the results of a fortnight's botanizing in August, 1869, and the additional observations of previous botanical visitors. He gives the flora of the group as 372, of which 34S are definitely assigned a place in the flora of the North Island. In Wxo. Journal of Botany for June, 1892, Messrs. Nowers and Wells published a list of plants additional to Mr. Hart's list, found by them during a fortnight's visit in June, 1890. They add 41 species to the flora of the group, of which 40 were found on the North Island, thus bringing up the flora of Aranmore to 388. The one day spent on the island by the Field Club party gave of course little opportunity for detailed examination, though most of the characteristic species were observed ; but the three days which I spent there during the ensuing week yielded some additions to the flora, and some new localities for rarer Aran species. Especially on the third daj' of my visit, I was much assisted by Prof. G. F. Fitzgerald, the keenness of whose eye made me regret that botany was not his chosen profession. In the appended notes. A signifies an addition to the flora of the Aran Islands ; a an addition to the flora of the North Island. Crambe marltlma, L. — In the greatest abundance on the beach below the Seven Churches. Not found, though well searched for, in Mr. Hart's only station, "shore near Kilronan," and apparently extinct there. Thiaspl arvense, L. — Field by roadside a mile east of Portmurvy. Arabis clllata, R. Br. — Dry banks near the roadside half a mile from Portmurvy pier towards the Seven Churches. One of the rarest of Irish plants. Found by Mr. Hart on sandhills near Killeany, six miles to the eastward. "• Proceedings Dub. Nat. Hist. Soc, Dec. 6, 1S66. 2 A List of Plants found in the Islands of Aran, Galway Bay. Dublin : Hodges, Foster, and Co., 1875. 250 The Irish Nahiralist, Arabfs hirsuta, R. Br.— South-west of the old lighthouse. a. Barbarca vuli:ai*!s, R.Br.— Between Kilronan and Kilmurvy; recorded by Mr. Hart from the South Island. Senebiera dfdyma, Pers.- Abundant everywhere, as noted by Messrs. Nowers and Wells. a. Alllarla ofTlc! nails, Andrzj.— A little south of the old lighthouse, and in the rectory grounds at Kilronan (Prof. Fitzgerald) ; recor- ded by Mr. Hart from the Middle Island. SInaplsalba, L.— Kilronan, Portmurvy, and at the Seven Churches. A. Stnapls arvcnsis, L.— Fields west of Kilronan, and elsewhere. Reseda lutea, L. — Field at Portmurvy. Viola hirta, L.— South of the old lighthouse, near Oghill, and near the Seven Churches. A. Viola arvensis, INIurr.— Near Kilronan and Kilmurvy. A. Cerastlum tetrandrum, Curt.— On the cliffs behind Killeany, and at Dun Aengus. A. Leplgonum salinum, Kindb.— On the clififs near Dun Aengus. Malvarotundlfolla, L. — Kilmurvy, Seven Churches, and thence to Bungowla. Geranium Robertlanum, L.—With white flowers at the Seven Churches. Ulex Callii, Planch.— Seen in two places near the centre of the island. Apparently not found since noted by Prof. Balfour in 1S52. A. Ulex cu ropaeus, L. — Thicket on the edge of a field between Portmurvy and the Seven Churches. lYIedicagro sativa, ly. — Abundant in cultivated land east of Killeany, evidently sown. Astragalus Hypoglottis, ly.- Dry bank on the edge of the cliff west of Dun Aengus. A. Potentllla fr agar last rum, Ehrh.— Near Oghill. A. Epilobium obscurum, Schreb. — Common. I saw no trace of E. tetragonwHy given in Mr. Hart's list as occurring on all the islands. Hlppuris vulgaris, L. — Still in the marsh at Lough Atalia, though not found there by Messrs. Nowers and Wells. Wlyriophyllum, sp. — Still grows in Lough Atalia, though not seen by Messrs. Nowers and Wells. Out of flower at the time of my visit. Saxifraga tridactylltes, L.— On the ruins of the Seven Churches, and on rocks further westward. Apparently only previously observed by D. Oliver in 1850. /Ethusa Cynapium, L. — Seven Churches. Viburnum Opulus, L.— Lough Atalia. A. Scablosa arvensis, L.— Near Kilronan and Kilmurvy. Carduus tenuiflorus, Curt.— Kilronan. Sen eel o Jacobaea, L.— The normal form is not now so rare as stated by Mr. Hart, though the rayless form {ysLY.Jlosculosus, Jord.) is the prevailing one. A. Thrincia lilrta, DC— Sandy fields north of Kilronan, and pastures between Kilronan and Killeany. A. Clchorlum I ntybus, L.— Field east of Killeany. Menyanthes trifollata, L.— Recorded by Mr. Hart from Lough Atalia. Messrs. Nowers and Wells say it was certainly not there at the time of their visit. It has re-appeared there now. Gatway Excursion. — Phanerogams, 6*r. 251 Cuscuta Epithymum, Murr.— Still abundant on sandy fields east of Killeany and at Portmurvy, where the stems colour the pasture with brilliant patches of dark red, pink, and straw yellow. Lit h OS per mum officinale, L.— Near Kilronan, and at the Seven Churches. a. Pcdicularis palustris, L.— In several spots on the North Island; noted with doubt in Mr. Hart's list. A. Veronica Buxbaumil, Ten.— Near Killeany, west of Kil- ronan, &c. A. Veronica polfta, Fr.— Roadsides between Kilronan and Port- murvy. Calami ntha officinalis, Moench.— Abundant about the Seven Churches, and thence to Bungowla. a. IVIarrublum vulgare, L.— Abundant about the Seven Churches; recorded by Mr. Hart from the Middle Island only. A. Chenopodlum rwyyruxvi, L. — In great abundance on the muddy margins of the brackish lake at Port Cowrugli. A very rare plant in Ireland, and usually near houses or on disturbed ground, so that it is of interest to find a station M-liere it is abundant and evidently native. So far as I am aware, it has not been found in the West of Ireland before. A. Atriplex hastata, ly. — Shores in several places. A. Rumcx crispus, L. — In several places. A. Rumex sangruineus, L. var. viridls (Sibth). — Roadsides in several parts of the island. Sallx repens, L. — Portmurvy. Var. argentea Avas gathered by Prof. Fitzgerald between Portraurv}^ and the Seven Churches. Junlperus nana, Willd. — In several places. The Aran Juniper is certainlyy. nana (which was recorded by Prof. Balfour in 1852) and noty. cojiiniunis. a. Iris Pseud-acorus, Iv. — Seen in several places; Mr. Hart gives Middle Island only. (I. Juncus cffusus, L.— In several places; previously recorded from Middle Island only. A. Luzuia multlflora, Lej.— West of Kilronan. Potamogeton polygon Ifolius, Pourr. — At Lough Atalia. Icould not find there P. natans, given by Mr. Hart. A. Eleocharis palustris, R. Br.— Brackish lake on the shore at Port Cowrugh. Carex glauca, Scop. — Grows remarkably tall on Aran. The leaves are commonly 2 to 3 feet high, and the stems 3 to 4 feet. a, Carex f lava, L.— Near Oghill. A. Brlza media, L.— Rocks east of Portmurvy. a. Phragmltes communis, Trin.— Marked in my list as observed, but locality not noted, as I only subsequently noticed that it is recorded from the South Island only. Calamagrostis Epigejos, Roth.— This rare grass, elsewhere in Ireland known in Co. Derry only, was discovered by Mr. Hart near Killeany, and on the " inland" side of the road near Oghill. It was not seen on the island bv Messrs. Nowers and Wells, and Miss Knowles' re-discovery of It in Mr. Hart's first station is therefore satisfactory. During my stay I was well pleased to meet with it in several places near the sea not far from Port Cowrugh, and to find that it grows in some abundance among rocks near the sea a little north of Portmurvy Fier, and thence at frequent intervals all the way to the Seven Churches. fir 252 The Irish Nahiralist A. Fcstuca elatlor, L.~Lakelet west ofBungowla. A. Equlsetum arvense, L.— Near Lough Alalia. A. Equisetum variegratum, vSchleich, var. majus, Syme.— Among stones at Lough Atalia. This is the plant recorded doubtfully by Mr. Hart as E. hyemale. a. Polystlchum annulare, Newm.— Fine specimens about Oghill; Mr. Hart quotes Middle Island only. Lastrea Flllx-mas, Presl. — In a number of places. A number of rarer Aran plants were seen growing in the stations already recorded for them by Mr. Hart — such were Sinapis niora^ Helianthemum ^a««/« (abundant in many places) AV5aw;«/j cathartictts, Orohanche Jiedera (several places), Stachys ai-vensis, &c. The rarest Aran plants not seen were Matthiola simiaia, Cardials nutans, and Ajuga pyramidalis, but time did not permit of a visit to Straw Island, the former home of the first-named, In conclusion, we have to express our obligations to the various botanists of the party who favoured us with notes and specimens, and to Messrs. Arthur Bennett, H. and J. Groves, and Rev. E. F. Linton, for kindly naming some critical plants. iv.-^zooi,OGy. FORAMINIFKRA. BY JOSKPH WRIGHT, F.G.S. Th^ following list of Foraminifera must not be looked as complete. From several packets of shore-sand taken from the vicinity of Dog's Bay near Roundstone, and given to me by my friend Mr. Robert Welch of Belfast, I regret to say that from want of time only a portion of one of them has been examined, with the result given below. I hope at an early date to go through the remainder of the stuff. It is interesting to note that the shore-sand at this locality is almost entirely made up of small shells and Foraminifera. Miliolina secans and Truncatulina lobatula occur in the greatest profusion, whilst Discorhina globulariSf Miliolina suhrotunda and M. circularis are also in great numbers. Bllocullna Irregularis, d'Orb.— Rather rare, specimens very small. B. depressa, d'Orb.— Rather rare. Miliolina olblonira (Mont.) — Rather rare. IVI. semlnulum (Linn.) — Frequent. Hi. auberlana (d'Orb,) — Rare. IVI. subrotunda (Mont.) — Very common. Galway Excursion. — Forammijera, 253 IVIillollna circularls (Born.)— Very common. WI, semlnuda,Rss.— Common. IW. secans (d'Orb.)— Most abundant, specimens large. var. obliqulstrlata (Halkyard)— Very rare. IW. Ferussacli (d'Orb.)— Rather rare. WI. blcornls (W. & J.)— Frequent. HaplophrairiTiIum canarlense (d'Orb.)— Very rare. Textularla grramen, d'Orb.— Frequent. T, concava (Kar.)— Frequent. Bulimlna fuslformis. Will.— Very rare. B. marglnata, d'Orb.— Rather rare. Bollvlna punctata, d'Orb.— Very rare. CasslduIIna laevlg^ata, d'Orb.— Rather rare. Lag'ena glolsosa (Mont.)— Rare. L. laevls var. clavata, d'Orb.— Rare. L. 11 neata (Will.)— Rare. L. sulcata (W. &J.) — Common. L. Wllllamsoni (Alcock)— Common. L. costata (Will.)— Very rare. L. sctnlstrlata, Will.— Rare. L. squamosa (Mont.) — Common. L. hcxagona (Will.)— Frequent. L. orblgnyana (Seg.)— Frequent. L. auadricostulata, Rss. — Rare. Nodosarla (Clandullna) rotundata, Rss.— Rare. Cristcllarla rotu lata (Lamk.)— One very small specimen. C. crepldula (F. & M.)— Rare, specimens large. Polymorplilna lactca (W. & J.)— Common. var. oblonga, Will.— Rare. P. compressa, d'Orb.— Common. P. problema, d'Orb.— Common. P. sororia, Rss.— Very rare. p. rotundata (Born).— Rare. P. myristlformls, Will.— Rare. Uvlgerlna angulosa, Will. -Rather rare. Cloblgerlna bulloldes, d'Orb.— Common. C. Inflata, d'Orb.— Rather rare, specimens very smaL. Orbuima unlversa, d'Orb.— Frequent. Dlscorblna glotoularls (d'Orb.)— Very common. D. orbicularis (Terq.)— Rare. D. nitlda (Will.)— Very rare. PlanorUullna Medlterranensis, (d'Orb.)— Frequent. Truncatullna lotoatula (W. & J.)-Most abundant I ruiiucxi, ^^^ variabilis, d'Orb.— Frequent Pulvlnullna auricula (F. & M.)— Common. Cypslna Inhaercns (Sch.)— Rare. Nonlonlna deprcssula (W. & J.)— Rare. Poiystomella crispa (Linn.) -Frequent. P?8trlato.punctata (F. & M.)-Rather rare. :254 ^'^^^ Irish Naturalist. ARACHNIDA. (Collected for the R. I.A. Flora and Fauna Committee). BY GKORGE H CARPKNTBR, B.SC ARANEIDA. The; district visited by tlie Field Club Conference was almost virgin soil as regards Arachnids. Mr. T. Workman's valuable list of Irish Spiders^ deals mainly with northern localities. Mr. D. W. Freeman has collected industriously for several years in the Dublin district, and a large number of specimens from various parts of Ireland have been kindly sent to me by various correspondents, so that material is accumulating for a new list which I hope to issue before long. The summer is not the time of 5*ear when one finds the small Theridiidce which form the bulk of our spider fauna, adult; but our collecting in the Gal way district was rewarded by several Lycosidit and Attidce of great interest. Of the forty-four species of spiders enumerated below, eleven do not appear in Mr. Workman's list. My best thanks are due to several members of the party who kindly helped me in collecting spiders as well as insects. The most remarkable finds were Lycosa leopardiis on Lough Corrib shore, Pardosa piirbeckensis (a species only described this year) at Gentian Hill, Hahnia nwntana on Ben Lettery, and the four species of Ailidic which conclude the list. The spiders of this family are very scarce in Ireland ; I have as yet noted only seven species. The discovery of such a rare species as Athis floricola was, therefore, very welcome, while the presence of no less than three attids on Aranmore is a remarkable feature in the fauna of that island. Dysdera crocota, C. Koch — Mr, R. Welch fovmd an immature male Dysdera on M'Dara's Island, Roundstone, which must in all probability be referred to this species. Local in the south of England, this spider is generally distributed and not scarce in Ireland ; its presence in this remote western isle is of some interest. Segestria senoculata, L. — Immature specimens observed in most of the localities visited, including Aranmore. Drassus cupreus, Bl. — From an examination of Irish Z>mj-5z, kindly made by Rev. F. O. P. Cambridge, this species appears to be far more plentiful in Ireland than the nearly allied D. lapidosjts, Wick, Adult females with colonies of 3-oung just hatched, were found at Ballyvaughan, on Lough Corrib shore, and on Aranmore. ProsthesiiYia Petiverii, Scop. (Cb.)— Ballyvaughan and Aranmore. The nearly allied P. Latreillci, which is not rare in the south and east of Ireland, was not observed. P. nigrita, I'ab.— I did not find this species, but Dr. ScharfFtook it on Aranmore in September, 1S91. lYIIcarlosoma festlvum, C. Koch — An immature male on Aran- more. Not previously recorded as Irish. Clublona phragmltis, C. Koch— Lough Corrib shore, under stones. C. rcclusa, Cb. — Recess; Ballyvaughan; Lough Corrib shore in the wood, female with nest beneath frond of Polypodium. This seems the commonest of the Irish ClubioncP. DIctyna ai*uncllnacea, CI.— Immature males and females on L. Corrib shore. ■• Entomologist, vol. xiii,, 1880, p. 125. Galway Excursion. — Arachnida. ^55 Tcxtrix dentlculata, Oliv.— Everywhere under stones, including Aranmore. Ai:elena labyrinthica, CI.— Mr. Wolfe found two females of this fine spider at Ballyvaughan. It is common in the south-west of Ireland, but unknown or verj'' scarce in the east. Hahnia montana, Bl.— Adults on the summit of Ben Lettery. This is its first record as an Irish species. Rev. W. F. Johnson took a specimen at Portrush last year. Therldlon lineatum, CI.— Abundant in most places. Not observed on Aranmore, but Mr. Welch took it on M'Dara's Island and on Inchangoil. Pedanostethus IIvicIus,Bl.— On the slope of Ben Lettery. Llnyphia triangularis, CI.— Observed in most localities; not on Aranmore. Leptyphantes tenuis, Bl.— Gentian Hill, L. Corrib shore, in the wood. Erigrone atra, Bl.— Gentian Hill. ^ E. longripalpls, Sund.— Shore of Galway Bay, among seaweed at tide-mark. IVIaso Sundevalll, Westr.— A single female in the wood on L. Corrib shore with egg-cocoon beneath a dried oak leaf. Pachygnatha Degeerii, vSund.— In most localities. M'Dara's Island, but not observed on Aranmore. Tctragnatha extensa, L. — Recess ; L. Corrib shore. Meta segmentata, CI.— Immature individuals everywhere on the mainland; but not observed on Aranmore or M'Dara's Island. M. merlanse, Scop.— Recess. Zllla x-notata, CI.— In most localities. Abundant on Aranmore, making its web in the clefts of the limestone rocks. 2. atrica, C. Koch. — Recess. Epeira diademata, CI.— Everywhere, common. Males and females were already adult : rather an early date for this species. The colour of specimens varied from bright red to blackish Inown. E, cornuta, CI.— Recess; L. Corrib shore; M'Dara's Island. Like the last species, showing great colour variation. Xystlcus cr I status, CL— Observed in most localities, but not on' Aranmore. Oxyptila trux, Bl.— Aranmore.— This species is not in Mr. Work- man's list ; I have examples from several Irish localities. Dolomedes flmbriatus, Wick.— Recess ; Lough Corrib shore. This fine spider, perhaps our largest British species, has been found at various points in western Ireland from Co. Roscommon to Killarney. M'e observed adult females carrying their egg-bags and young in nearly, all stages of growth, from the newly-hatched colonies, dwelling in the web spun (according to Blackwell) by the mother spider, over plants of Myrica Gale. Lycosa plcta, Hahn.— Aranmore, on sand-hills. L. leopardus, Sund.— Lough Corrib shore, including Inchangoil. This fine spider has not been recorded as Irish, though I took it in 1893 at Castletownbere, Co. Cork. Li terrlcola, Thor.— Common everywhere, including Aranmore. L. ruricola, DG.— Lough Corrib shore; Inchangoil. L. pulverulenta, CI.— Slopes of Ben Lettery. X 256 The Irish Naturalist Pardosa amentata, CI.— Ballyvaughan. P. pullata, CI. — livery where common, including Aranmore. P. nlgrrlceps, Tlior. — Ballyvaughan ; Aranmore. P. monticola, C. Koch.— Gentian Hill; M'Dara's Island. This spider, not previously recorded as Irish, has lately been taken by Mr. Halbert at Portmarnock, Co. Dublin. The nearly-allied P. -pahcstyis, L., common in eastern Ireland, was, curiously enough, not observed in this district. P. purbeckensis, F. Cb.— A single female taken at Gentian Hill must be referred to this species, lately described"" by Rev. F. O. P. Cambridge from the Isle of Purbeck and the shores of the Solway. An interesting addition to our fauna. Euophrys erratlcus, Walck,— Dr. Scharff found this spider on Aranmore, September, 1891, but it has not been recorded as Irish before. E. frontalis, Walck. — Aranmore. Immature females under stones. This species (which Mr. H. L. Jameson has brought me from Co. Sligo) has not been recorded as Irish. Helioptianus cupreus, Wick. — Aranmore; immature males abundant under stones. Probably a widely-distributed spider in Ireland. Attus floricola, C. Koch — This interesting species, whose only recorded British locality is Brighton, Sussex, was abundant under stones on the margin of L. Corrib. Adults of both sexes and immature individuals were obtained. The nest, of beautiful white silk, was found in a cavity of the stone. FHALANGIDA. None of the four species recorded below are worthy of special remark. Llobunum rotundum, Latr. | Bvery where, including Aranmore Phalangium opilio, L. ^^^ M'Dara's Island. ^ Olig^olophus morio, I^b. ; O. trldenSi C. Koch.— L. Corrib shore. MYRIAPODA. (Collected for the R.I.A. Flora and Fauna Committee.) BY gkorge; h. carpente:r, b.sc. The few Myriapods which I was able to collect add but little to our knowledge of the Irish species as set forth by Mr. Pocock (^I.N,, 1893, p. 309). Lithopiiis variegahis was common almost everywhere. L. melanops and Linotania maritima were found at Ballyvaughan. At the same place I took lulus luscus, which Mr. Welch found on M'Dara's Island. I did not observe any Myriapod on Aranmore. At Gentian Hill I found Scolopendrella ivimaculata, Leach, an obscure white creature, which belongs to the interesting group Symphyla, and is not included in Mr. Pocock's list. I have taken this species at several localities around Dublin, and it is probably generally distributed in the country. _ ^ Ann. Mag. N. H. (6) vol. xv., 1895, p. ^2. [ 257 ] INSECT A. (Collected for the R.I. A. Flora and Fauna Committee.) COLLEMBOLA and THYSANURA. BY GKORGE H. CARPE;nTe:r, B.SC The first volume of the Trans. Ent. Sac, Lond. (1836) contains a paper by Templeton on the Irish species of these lowly but most interesting insects. I have, for some time, been collecting material for a revision of this list, and I obtained a fair number of species around Galway. COLLEMBOLA, Smynthurus fuscus, Iv. — Oughterard. Tomocerus plumbeus, Iv. (Jongicomis, Mull.). — Galway; Ough- terard. This species is apparently common in Ireland, though not mentioned by Templeton. T. trldcntlferus, TuUb. (J>lumbeus, Tempi., Lubb.).— Oughterard. Orchesella cincta, L. — Oughterard. Anurlda marltlina, Guer.— Aran, at Kilronan between tide-marks. Not in Templeton's list, but recorded as from Kinsale by Ivubbock, and probably common all round the coast. THYSANURA. IVIachllls polypodia, L. — Everywhere, including Aranmore and M'Dara's Island. According to Templeton this is a very common species in Ireland, an observation which I can abundantly confirm. From Lubbock's statement it seems to be quite a rarity in the south-east of England. On Aranmore it occurs in myriads, every stone one overturns disclosing a large colony. The insects agree closely with the stone in colour and markings. M. marltlma, Leach. — Gentian Hill. Campodea staphyllnus, Westw. — Ballyvaughan. This obscure, but probably common, insect was described subsequently to Templeton's paper. Dr. ScharfF has taken it near Dublin. HYMENOPTERA, ORTHOPTERA, and NEUROPTERA. BY GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B.SC The only family of Hymenoptera to which we were able to pay attention were the Ants, of which the following species were taken : Laslus nlger, L. — Oughterard; Ballyvaughan. L. flavus, D.G.— Gentian Hill. Leptothorax accrvorum, Fb. — A small colony in a felled fir-trunk in the wood above L. Corrib shore. This species has only been recorded as Irish from Carlingford (Rev. W. F. Johnson). IVIyrnnIca rubra, L. (races ruginodis and scabrinodis)—Q\!i^\.^xQ,x^. C 258 The Irish Naturalist, Such Orthoptera as came in our way were noted or collected. The following five species only were found, but one of these (^Mecostethus grossus) was one of the best insects taken on the excursion. Forflcula aurlcularla, L. — Common everywhere, including Aran- more. Wlccostethus grossus, L. — Abundant near Oughterard, at Recess, and on the slopes of Ben Lettery. This fine grasshopper attracted much attention. According to Mr. E. Shaw {Etit. Mo. Mag. vol. xxv., 1889, p. 412) there are but two recent British captures of the species on record, one in the fens of Norfolk and one in Co. Kerry. Mr. iil\\\&x{Entom. vol. xxii., 1889, p. 196) expresses a doubt if it is really a native insect. Stephens remarked that in his time it was not rare in marshes, and there are several Irish specimens in the Haliday collection. Dr. Scharff has taken it at Killarney. It is a northern and central European species. Stenobothrus vlrldulus, L.— Common everywhere except on Aranmore, where no grasshopper was seen. S. bicolor, Sharp. — Oughterard and Recess. Acrldlum blpunctatum, Iv.— Gentian Hill ; Oughterard. Mr. Kane has taken this species at Kenmare, and Mr. F. Neale has found it at Limerick as well as A. szibulatum, L. The only Neuroptera observed were Lepletrum qiiadrhnaculatiim and Orihetrum cceriilesccns at Recess, and Calopteryx virgo at Oughterard. HEMIPTERA. BY J. N. HAI^BERT. The following species of Heteroptera were collected. None are rare, so they do not call for special remark. Scolopostcthus neg^Iectus, Edw.— Ballyvaughan. Piesma quadrata, Fieb. — Ballyvaughan, under stones on shore. Dictyonota crasslcornis. Fall — Ballyvaughan under stones ou shore ; also common on Aranmore, in a sandy place near Kilronan. Dcrcphysia follacea, Fall.— Aranmore, one specimen near Kil- ronan. VcIIacurrcns, Fab. — Common. Nabts flavomai-glnatus, Scholtz.— Recess, etc., frequent by sweeping. Salda littoral Is, Linn.— Lake shores, common. Temnostethus puslllus, H. Schff.— Oughterard, sweeping. Anthocorls sylvcstris, Linn.— Abundant. Pithanus maerkcll, H.S.— Frequent. IVIegaloceroea ruflcornis, Fall.— Common near Galway. Leptopterna fcrrugata, Fall. "| Calocorisroseomaculatus, De G. I common. C. tolpunctatus, Fab. j Lygus patoulinus, Linn. J Campyloneuravirgula, H. Schf.— Oughterard. Archotylus marginalls, Rent— Common. Phylus coryll, Linn.— Oughterard. Psallas varlans, H. Schif. Plagiognathus artoustorum, Fab. ] P. vlrlduIus,Fall. Common. Asclodema obsolctum, D. 6c b. ; [ 259 ] COLEOPTERA. BY J. N. HAI^BKRT. The facilities offered on the recent Field Club trip for visiting promis- ing and in most cases unworked districts were so exceptional, that I gladly availed myself of the opportunity to collect on that occasion. The results prove to be very satisfactory considering the time of the year (not the best for beetles), and the difficulty of making the most of a few hours when in a strange locality. In the spring of 1880 Mr. J. J. Walker, R.N., made some valuable captures in the neighbourhood of Gal way, and with this exception I cannot find that the district has been examined by any coleopterist. This factwill excuse theinclusion of so many common species in the following list, and it must be remembered, that it is more satisfactory to have the records of such when a general list comes to be compiled than the conjecture that ih.Qy probably occur there as elsewhere in Ireland. Of the species collected at least four are new records for Ireland, and some others are rare or of interest in their distribution. I must acknowledge my indebtedness to those members who so kindly assisted me in collecting,and may mention that Mr. G. H. Carpenter was not so deeply engrossed over spider-hunting as to allow the rare Leisttis montanus to escape when working Ben Lettery. Mr. Frank Neale also became a coleopterist specially for the occasion, and by his exertions considerably extended the list. Clclndela campestrls, h- — Recess, and locally common. Carabus catenulatus, Scop. — A few examples at inland localities. C. clathratus, L. — Slopes of Carn Seefin; no living specimens were found, but numerous wing cases proved its existence. A northern species which occurs throughout Scotland, and is widely distributed in Ireland. C. granulatus, L. ) Notlophllus biguttatus, F. J Frequent. N. aquatlcus, L. ) Leistus montanus, Steph. — Top of Ben Lettery. This northern and mountain species is new to the Co. Galway, but has been recorded from Croagh Patrick and Mangerton, and ther€ is an example in Mr. Haliday's collection from I^ugnaquilla, it probably occurs on most of our high mountains. Nebria brcvlcoIIIs, F.— Common. Pelophlla borealls, Payk.— Shore of Lough Corrib near Oughter- ard. One of our most interesting beetles, an inhabitant of high conti- nental latitudes, its British distribution being the Orkney Islands and Ireland, where it occurs as far south as Killarney. It is perhaps the most remarkable instance of the southern extension in Ireland of a character- istically arctic animal. Elaphrus cuprcus, Daft. ) Lorlccra plllcornls, F. [ Lake shores, common. Cllvlna fossor, L. ) C 2 26o The Irish Naha-alist. Dyschlrlus aeneus, Dy.— Banks of River Corrib near Galway. D. griobosus, Herbst. — Common. Broscus cephalotes, L.— Shore at Gentian Hill; also on sandy beach near Kilmnrvy, Aranmore. Badlster bipustulatus, F. \ Harpalus seneus, F. \ ^ H. latus, L I Common on sea-shore under H. ruflcornis, F. f stones, etc. DIchlrotrichus pubescens, Payk. ) Pterostlchus tnadidus, F."| P. vulgaris, Iv- i P. nigrlta, F. (Common. P. madidus, F., occurred P. strcnuus, Panz. j on Aranmore. P. vcrnalls, Gyll. J P. strlola, F. J Calathus cistcloides, Panz.— Shore at Gentian Hill. Aranmore. C. melanoccphalus, L.— Common, also on Aranmore. Some ex- amples clearly referable to the type have the thorax slightly infuscate, approaching the var. v7tl>igena,^a\. The latter form was taken on Aran- more by Mr. J. M. Browne. Taphrla nivalis, Panz. — Shore at Bally vaughan. r ^rr^r„"^tls,' L."''- "■} C— on ; also ou Aranmore. a: SfdulTs'^Pa".'?"*""'''- ) Lough corrib shore near Oughterara. Bembidiuin minimum, F.— Ballyvaughan, under stones on the shore. Previously recorded from Belfast, but there is no recent record from any Irish locality. B. lam pros, Herbst. — Common ; also on Aranmore. b! m?iraTe"^.' ^^'''''''} ^"^""^^ °^'^^'' ^^ ^""^^^^ ^'^^- Trechus minutus, F., var. obtusus, Er.— Common ; also on Aran- more. Pogonus chalccus, Marsh. — Shore near Gentian Hill. Dromius quadrinotatus, Panz. — Recess, beaten from oaks. Hydroporus obscurus, Sturm. ) t ^ ^t, r^^ -^ i. Agabus bipustulatus, i. } ^^^-^ ^^'''^^ ^^^^ common. Orectochilus vlllosus, Mull. — Lough Corrib, in small colonies under stones along shore. Anacaena globulus, Payk.— Local. Ballyvaughan, etc. Phllydrus maritlmus, Thoms. — Aranmore. Abundant in a small salt-marsh near Kilronan. Chaetartliria seminulum, Herbst.— River Corrib, near Galway. Hclophorus aenclpennis, Thoms. — Glendalough near Recess. H. brcvlpalpis, Bedel.— Common. Ccrcyon littoral is, Gyll.— Gentian Hill; also on Aranmore, near Kilmnrvy. Alcochara lanuginosa, Grav. — Common everywhere. A. moesta, Grav.— Oughterard, on lake shore. A. obscurclla, Er. — Aranmore sandy beach near Kilmnrvy. This species has hitherto been recorded from the Dublin coast and the Great Blasket Island. Galway Excu>sio7i,—Coleoptera. 261 Astilbus canallculatus, F.— Common. Homalota volans, Scrib.— Common on lake shores, etc. H, vcstlta, Grav. ) Abundant under seaweed, etc., near Gentian H. trinotata, Kr. \ Hill. Tachyporus obtusus, I^., van nitidicollis, Steph.— Locally com- mon, by sweeping. Quedius fullgrlnosus, Grav. \ Gentian Hill, common on sea Q. tristis, Grav. / . shore under stones, etc. ; the var. Q. tnolochinus, Grav. i of molochimcs w^ith dark elytrse Q- ruflpes, Grav. / was fairly numerous. Creophilus maxlllosus, L. — Aranmore. Staphyllnus csesarius, Cider. — Recess, etc., frequent. Ocypus olens, Mull. ) ^ O. cupreus, Rossi. \ Common. O. atcr, Grav.— Abundant along shore near Gentian Hill. O. morlo, Grav. — Frequent; also on Aranmore, Phllonthus aeneus, Rossi. — Sea shore at Gentian Hill. P. sordidus, Grav. — Ballyvaughan, under stones on sea shore. P. Qulsquillarlus, Gyll. — River Corrib bank between Galway and Menlough. A southern species in Britain, not recorded from north of Cambridgeshire. Caflus fuclcola. Curt.— This local species occurred abundantly under sea weed on the shore near Gentian Hill. Previously recorded from Greenore. C. xantholoma, Grav. — Common in same situation as former. A larva which appears to belong to this beetle was found at the same place. Xanthollnus punctulatus, Payk. — Recess, etc., common. X. tricolor, F. — Frequent both inland and on the coast ; also on Aranmore. Lath rob I um longulum, Grav. — lyougli Corrib shore, near Oughterard. Stenusbuphthalmus, Grav. ] RiverCorribbank,near Galwaj'. The \ latter has not been previously re- S. melanopus. Marsh. ) corded as Irish. S. declaratus, Er. — Recess, &c., sweeping. S. brunnlpes, Steph. ] S. Impressus, Germ. [Common, by sweeping. S. simills, Herbst. J S. pubescens, Steph.— River Corrib, several off sedges. S. tarsal Is, Lynn. — Recess, sweeping herbage. Sllpha atrata, L., var. s u b rot un data, Steph.— Common in most places. Cocclnella hieroglyphica, L.— Recess, sweeping amongst Heath. Halyzla xvl -guttata, L. \ ^^^^ Qughterard, beaten from Alder. H. conglobata, L. i t> ' Chllocorls bipustulatus, 111.— Near Oughterard, off Birch. Does not seem to have been previously recorded from Ireland. Rhizoblus litura, F.— Found on the shore near Ballyvaughan. The occurrence of certain species (usually taken by sweeping their food plants) under stones on the coast, seems to be pretty frequent in the west, amongst others I have taken Gastroidca polygoni^ L. , in this way. Meligethes ruflpes, Gyll.— Aranmore, one specimen by sweeping. Does not seem to have been previously recorded from Ireland. 262 The Irish Nahiralist. Byturus tomentosus, F.— Ballyvaughan, several by sweeping. Byrrtius pi I u la, L.— Bally vaugliau, under stones. Parnus prollfericornis, F.— Common on lake shores. Aphodius lapponuiYi, Gyll,— On Ben Lettery. A northern species; probably occurs in all our upland districts. Ceotrupes stcrcorarlus, L.— Common; also on Aranmore. G. sylvaticus, Panz.— Common. Scrica brunnea, L.— Gentian Hill, etc., off bushes. Phyllopcrtha hortlcola, L. — Coast near Galway. Cetonia aurata, L. — Aranmore, common on the flowers of Riibus, GaliuDi, Senecio, etc. The occurrence of the Rose-beetle in such abundance on Aran was unexpected, as it is rare or local on the mainland. Has been only definitely recorded from near Belfast. Mr, W. F. de V. Kane has observed it locally on the Cork littoral and in the Glengariff dis- trict, and I have lately seen specimens taken by Mr. A. Neale at Tramore, near Waterford. It is a common insect in the south of England, and seems a striking example of the tendency of southern insects to have a western range in Ireland. Lacon murinus, I^. — Aranmore, under stones near Kilronan. Cyphon nitfdulus, Thorns, "j C. variabilis, Thumb. | Telcphorus bicolor, F. )• Frequent, by sweeping. T. thoracicus, M. | Rhagronycha fulva, Scap. J Chrysomela Staphylea, Iv.) xTear Galwav ^weenbicr Gastroidea polygoni, I^. | ^^^^ Galway, sweepmg. LochiTidea suturalis, Thoms. — Recess, etc., common on heath. Long:itarsus holsaticus, L. — Near Galway, sweeping. L. luridus, Scop. — A slightly immature specimen taken near Recess, is probably referable to this species. L. pellucid us, Foudr. — Ballyvaughan and Oughterard. A few examples of this local and southern species occurred by sweeping. Has been recorded from Bundoran. L. Jacobaeae, Wat. — Common. Cassida nobi I Is, L.— Ballyvaughan, in numbers on shore clinging to stones amongst a growth of Honckeneya peploides^ on which plant it was observed by the Rev. W. F. Johnson at Greenore. Apion carduorum. Kirby. — Near Galway, common. Otiorrhynchus blandus, Gyll,— Gentian Hill, under stones on coast ; also on Aranmore. Sub-alpine, and common in Scotland, but has not occurred in England. O. lig^neus, Ol.— Ballyvaughan and Gentian Hill, frequent on shore. O. PJciPes, Fb.^c^^^^^^^ O. sulcatus, F. \ O. ruglfrons, Gyll.— Gentian Hill and Ball5^vauglian; also in Aran- more. Seems to be much more common on the west than on the east coast. Barynotus Schbnhcrri, Lett.— Gentian Hill. Orchcstcs fagi, L. — Common O. salicis, Iv. — Recess, swept off Willow. lYIiaris campanulae, L.— Ballyvaughan. Several on the hill-side in the flowers of Cavipamila rotundifolia, L.~Not previously recorded from Ireland. Ccellodes quercus, F.— Recess, beaten from Oak. Ceuthorrhynchus ericae, Gyll.— Common everywhere on Heath. C. erysiml, F.— Aranmore, sweeping near Kilmurvy. [ 263 ] DIPTERA. BY GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B.SC. Opportunity was taken to secure some specimens of this order of insects, which since Haliday's time have been almost neglected in Ireland. Their distribution over the country is so little known, that I make no apology for giving a list of all the species which I have been able to identify, though most of them appear to be common and widespread. Tfpula macullpennls, Mg.— Lough Corrib. Haematopa pluvlalis, L.— Recess ; Lough Corrib. Chrysopa rellctus, Mg.— Recess. Therloplectes tropicus, L.— Recess. Microchrysa pollta, L.— Recess. Nemotelus pantherlnusp L — Gentian Hill. Leptis lineola, Fb. — Recess. Em pis stercorea, L. — Recess, Lough Corrib. Hybos g^rosslpes, L. ) t t, r^..^^\u Dollchopus signatus, Mg.| ^^^^'^ ^^^^^^- Serlcomyia lappona, L. — Summit of Ben Lettery. Pyrophaenaocyml, Fb. — Galway, Aranmore. Sphaerophoria nltldlcollis, Zett.— Lough Corrib. Echlnoinyia fera, L. \ E. grossa, L. [ Lough Corrib. Ollvieria lateralis, Fb. ) Hylemyla variata, Fall. — Galway. Hyetodesia flaveola, Fb. — Gentian Hill. IVIydaea urbana, Mg. — Lough Corrib. Orygma luctuorum, Mg. ? On seashore at Gentian Hill Otl Fucomyla friglda, Fb. J Fuais, at tide- mark.. Tephritls leontodontis, D.G.— Gentian Hill; Lough Corrib. Urophora solstltlalls, L, ) Ballyvaughan. Tctanoccra punctulata, Scop.) ^ ^ Lauxanlaaenea, Fall.— Lough Corrib. LEPIDOPTERA. BY W. F. DE V. KANE, M.A., F.E-S. On the excursion to ReceSvS the captures most worthy of note were as follows. I took a large number of larvai oi Acronycta vienyanihidis feeding on Myrica gale and one on Menyanthes trifoliata^ some of them within a fortnight of pupation. Larvte oi Hadena pisi \i^r^ also very numerous on various food plants. An imago of Agrotis lucernea was taken by the party who ascended Ben Lettery, an interesting locality for this coast- loving species. Mr. Wolfe of Skibbereeu was fortunate in securing a nice specimen of the rare and local Selidosetna ericetaria. I collected some very striking forms of Camptogramma bilineata on the heather very similar to some in my cabinet from the Killeries. 264 The Irish Naturalist. The following lepidoptera also were in evidence— ia/j/rwj semcle and Epinephile hyperanthes abundantly, a specimen also of Argynnis aglaia and Tanagra atrata. At Bai,i,yvauGhan, Co. Clare, the stony district traversed was not such as to reward a flying visit in search of lepidoptera. A few Argynnis aglaia and Satyrus semele were noticed. Larvae oi DiantJuvcia ciicnbali and probably some of D. capsophila were found in Silene maritinia and ^. inflata. A few very pale Larentia cxsiata were observed conformable to the tint of the grey limestone, and one Gnophos obscuraria too worn to distinguish its character; Herbula cespitaUs abounded in the short herbage, and a few Anaitts plagiata. The most interesting .species taken were one Anticlea cucullata by myself on the wall of Gleninagh Castle, where the party gathered for lunch, an insect almost unrecorded hitherto in Ireland ; and one of Phothedes captiuncula by Mr. Carpenter, which was remarkable for its dark and strongly marked delineation, differing thus from the English form, but not so brightly coloured as those occurring near the town, and elsewhere in the County of Galway. At InishmorE (Island of Aran) a pupa of Dianihcecia capsophila was found. Satyrus semele and Argynnis aglaia turned up abundantly, as well as Cainptogramma bilineata, which is here of a very pale and inconspicuous type, a protective character already noted in the Larentia coesiata of Ballyvaughan. At OuGHTKRARD, Mr. Wolfe found larvae of Thccla rubi feeding on Erica Teiralix, an unusual food-plant for the species. MOLLUSC A. BY R. STANDEN, Hon. Curator, Conchological Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Marine Moi.i,usca. The subjoined catalogue of 112 marine species collected by Messrs. A. R. Nichols, R. Welch, Fred. Bigger, E. Collier, Miss Kelsall, and my- self, embraces the usual common littoral forms found living everywhere in the district, together with a number of scarcer species from shore drift at Dog's Bay, Connemara. This drift, of which Mr. Welch and I brought home a large quantity, has proved most prolific, and we are indebted to Dr. Chaster, of Southport, for much valuable aid in sorting material, and in determination of minute species. It contains, in addition to adult examples, a vast number of embryonic specimens in beautiful condition. Ovciun glabrum with spiral attached is common, and separate spirals are plentiful. Patella vulgata, Helcion pelhicidiim, and Tectura virginea with embryo spiral cap are all common. Most of the bivalves are represen- ted only by valves, but the univalves are, as a whole, in good condition and abundant in individuals— /'/ly.sia punctata, Cuv. Spirialis retroversus^ Flem. 266 The Irish Naturalist. I^AND AND Freshwater Moi.IvUSCA. The number of members particularly interested in the investigation of the land and freshwater moUusca of the district covered by the excursion was practically limited to myself, and Messrs. Welch and Collier, but several others so far interested themselves as to pick up such specimens as they came across whilst engaged in their own special pursuits, and handed them to me. In this way much valuable assistance was rendered, for which I would here take the opportunity of thanking one and all. From the diversified character of the ground over which our researches extended, a good list was hoped for, but, with the exception of Lough Corrib, the various sheets of water proved rather unproductive. The failure to find the rare Vertigo Moulinsiana was a grievous disappointment, but .circumstances prohibited any lengthy search in its recorded localities, to which moreover we had no precise clue. On the occasion of our trip to Oughterard the courtesy of a local gentleman, Mr. Henry Hodgson, J. P., of Currarevagh, in kindly placing a couple of boats at our disposal, enabled Messrs. F. J. Bigger, R. Welch, E. Collier, and myself to cross over to Inchangoil, and he otherwise extended his hospitality. This visit was especially interesting, both from the historic associations connected with the place and from the fact that it was very probably the first time a conchologist had ever set foot on this beautiful islet, which proved a good collecting ground. On the breaking up of the party, eight of us spent a few days at Roundstone, and whilst some visited Inis MacDara, and other places, the rest investigated the shores and sandhills of Dog's Bay. (For particulars of the interesting deposit of semi-fossil land shells found there see note at end of list.) On the return journey a break was made at Athlone, where the night was spent, and next day the party visited Clonmacnois. The many interesting finds made during this " extension trip" are included in the subjoined list— in which I have chiefly followed the nomenclature and classification used by Dr. Scharff in his " List of Irish Mollusca." In all cases where a particular species was only taken by one individual his name follows in brackets. Vitrlna pelluclda, Mull.— Gentian Hill, near Galway ; Aran ; Inch- angoil ; and Inis McDara. As is generally the case during the summer months only dead specimens were obtained. Hyallnia cellaria, Mull. — Common everywhere. Hy. draparnaldl, Beck.— Very fine near Kilronan, Aran; and Clare-Galway Abbey. Hy. alliarla, Miller.— Clare-Galway Abbey; Inis McDara; and near Athlone. Uncommon. Hy. nitidula, Drap.— Common at Clare-Galway; Inchangoil; Innis McDara ; and Clonmacnois. Hy. pura, Alder.— On Inchangoil, the only locality noted, the brown variety is fairly plentiful under moss-covered stones in the graveyard. Hy. radlatula, Alder.— Several fine specimens under stones on shore of Lough Corrib, between the Abbey and Castle at Annaghdown. Hy. crystalllna, Mull.— A small compact form at Gentian Hill; Ballyvaughan ; and Inchangoil. Not plentiful. Galway Excursion. — Mollusca. 267 Hy. fulva, Miill. — Very large uuder stoues on shore of Lough Corrib, at Annaghdown ; and several of a smaller type amongst moss on Inchangoil. Hy. nitlcla» Miill.— At Annaghdown, and on Inchangoil this local species occurs in considerable numbers, close to the water's edge. Hy. excavata, Bean. — One specimen at Gentian Hill (Kane). Pro- bably not uncommon there, as, although a local species, it is generally plentiful w^here it occurs. Arlon ater, ly. — Abundant everywhere, and variable in colour ; van brimnea, Rbk., was noted at Gentian Hill ; var. bicolor, Rbk., under old coffin boards in Clare-Galway Abbey ; and var. albolateralis, Rbk., at Aran. A. subf uscus, Drap. — Common in Clare-Galway Abbey, along with its variety, aurantiaca, Loc. A. hortensis, Fer. — Not uncommon at Gentian Hill, and Clou- macnois, where var. nigra, Moq., was the prevalent form. A. clrcumscrlptus, Johnst. — Two specimens at Clonmacnois, and one near Roundstone. LImax tnaxlmus, L. — One specimen of var. cinerea, Moq., at Bally- vaughan . L. margrlnatus, Miill. (=Z. arhoreum, B.-Ch.).— Gentian Hill ; Bally- vaughan ; and woods in Mr. Hodgson's demesne on shore of Lough Corrib. Not uncommon. AgTloIfmax agrestls, L. — Common. At Clare-Galway most of the specimens seen were the creamy-white var. albida, Pic. On Aranmore a very dark form is common — probably var. nigra, Morelet- Amalla grag'ates, Drap. — One specimen of the dark lead-coloured \2S. phiuibca, Moq., taken at Inis McDara by Mr. R. Welch. A. Sowcrbyl, F^r. — vSeveral in graveyard at Clare-Galway Abbey. Helix pygrtnaea, Drap. — Several amongst moss at Inchangoil; and in rejectamenta of River Shannon at Athlone. H. rotundata, Miill. — Common everywhere, except in the Bally- vaughan district, where it is remarkably scarce. The var. Tur/oniy'Flem.., occurs in Clare-Galway Abbey. H. rupcstr Is, Miill. — Plentiful on rocks and walls at Ballyvaughan and Aranmore. On the roadside limestone walls between Athlone and Clonmacnois it swarms, and is there unusuall}^ large. H . aculeata, Miill. — vSome pretty light-coloured examples under dead branches at Inchangoil (Standen). H. pulchellaf Miill.— Fairly plentiful at Annaghdown ; Inchangoil ; and in rejectamenta of River vShannon at Athlone. None of the ribbed variety {If. costata, Miill.) were observed. H. hlsplda, L. — Type, and var. concinna, Jeff., are common every- where. H. rufesccns, Penn.— Common at Clare-Galway ; near Athlone; and at Clonmacnois, where a small compact "form of var. rubens, Moq., is plentiful along with the type. H. vlrgata, Da Costa. — Very abundant on Aranmore. Mostly typical in colour and markings ; var. subalbida, Poir., and var. albicans, Grat., being the only variations noticed. H. cricctorum, Miill. — Common in nearly every locality visited. It is especially plentiful at Ballyvaughan, in and around the small hay- fields, and is extremelj^ fine and variable. Specimens of var. instabilis, Zgl., are plentifiil near Gleninagh. On Aranmore a small dark form of var. hiuozona, Moq., is abundant ; and some from Inis Mc Dara are almost black; others from Roundstone are the var. hyalozonata, Chll., and every conceivable intermediate form between the type and above-named varieties may be collected. 268 I he Irish Naturalist. H. acuta, Miill.— Abundant, along with var. stiigala, Menke., and var. articulata. Lam., on Aranmore, between Kilronan and Killeany. 02curs sparingly on the sandhills at Dog's Biy, and on the fortifications at Athlone. H. nemoralis, Miill. — The extreme beauty in colour and variability of banding exhibited by this common species deservedly make it a prime favourite with collectors, and nowhere in the United Kingdom can such lovely examples be obtained as in the West of Ireland. At Gentian Hill, numerous pretty forms were secured, including vars. albolabiata, V. Mart., rubella, Moq., castanea, Moq., and lihdlula, Risso. At Ballyvauglian it attains to great perfection, and many fine examples were taken from the walls surrounding the small fields, but when the weather is dry they retreat far amongst the stones, and require careful search. The shells are of exceptional size and beauty in this locality, some being remark- ably thin and fragile, which at first seems rather strange, considering that the district is on the limestone, and therefore a suitable habitat for snails ; but nearly all the little meadows are formed by covering up the limestone pavement with boggy earth brought from a distance, and it is a well-known fact that snails do not love bogs. This may account for the thinness of the shells, but will not for their large size. The varieties obtained were roseolabiaia, Taylor, albolabiata, V. Mart., rubella, Moq., libellida, Risso., castanea, Moq., hyalozonata, Taylor, and innumerable other intermediate forms of colour and banding. A full account of all the forms obtained here during a four days' visit last year is given in a paper by Mr. Ed. Collier, in The Journal of Conchology, for April, 1895. The greater part of the day on Aranmore was quite unproductive, concho- logically, but the heavy rain which fell towards evening caused the snails to leave their snug retreats in the fern-filled crevices of the limestone terraces, and a number of fine specimens were secured before the steamer started. In their general characteristics the Aranmore specimens do not differ greatly from those [at Ball}- vaughan, except in the remarkable preponderance of white and rosy-lipped forms. Some large semi-fossil specimens from a drift near the priest's house at Kilronan closely re- semble those from Dog's Bay. In the ancient grave3'ard at Clonmacnois some pretty forms occur, notably one in which the bands are all coalescent, and, but for a minute white sutural line, the shell would be perfectly black. It occurs on Inchangoil. H. aspersa, Miill. — Common throughout, and remarkable mainly for its extreme uniformity of marking. A few specimens of var. undulata, Moq., were noticed, and five good examples of the pale yellow variety exalbida, Menke, were taken on the terraces and walls between Kilronan and Killeany, Aranmore. Bullmlnus ofascurus, Miill. — Very fine under stones on roadside between Athlone and Clonmacnois (Standen). Cochllcopa lubrlca, Miill. — Abundant, with its vars. lubricoides,V^r., ovata, Jeff., and hyalina, Jeff. Pupa cyllndracea, Da Costa (=P. wnbilkata, Drap.) — Common. On Inis McDara, var. curta, Westl., occurs (Welch). Pupa muscorum, Miill. — A few at Ballyvaughan ; Aranmore; Inis McDara ; and Roundstone. Vertigo pygriTidsa, Drap. — Common under stones at Aunaghdown, on shore of Lough Corrib. V. antivertlgo, Drap. — Several in rejectamenta of River Black- adder, at Ballynahinch. Balea perversa, L. — Inis McDara (Welch). Clausilfa bldentata, Strom. (=C/. rugosa, Drap.).~Commou in most localities. Galway Excursio7i.-' Mollusca, 269 Succlnea putris, L.— Banks of river at Clare-Galway ; shore 01 Lough Corrib near Oughterard; and on Inchangoil. Common. S. eleg^ans, Risso. — Some pretty examples of var. ochracea, Betta, on shore of Lough Corrib, in Mr, Hodgson's demesne. Carychlum minimum, Mull. — Common at Annaghdown. Alexia dentlculata, Mont. — Common and very fine near Gentian Hill (Kane). Limnaea stag-nails, L.— Abounds in the Victoj-ia ?r^2^ tank at the Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. Common in Lough Corrib at Annaghdown. On the shore of Inchangoil a curious little obese form is very plentiful, which agrees exactly with specimens of var. fossarina in my cabinet from Lough Erne. L. peregra, Mull. — Common in all the loughs and streams ; variable in form, but small in size. L. palustrls, Mull. — Gentian Hill (Kane). Common in Lough Corrib, of a small obese form — var. odesa, Taylor. In River Shannon rejectamenta a few small specimens occurred. ' L. truncatula, Mull. — River Shannon, and river at Ballynahinch ; occurs in rejectamenta. Plentiful at Annaghdown. Planorbis marginatus, Drap.— Plentiful at Annaghdown ; Inchan- goil ; and in Lough Corrib generally. P. spirorbis, L. — Common in swampy places in Lough Corrib. P. contortus, L.— A few cast up on the shore at Inchangoil. P. a! bus, Mull. — Plentiful at Inchangoil. P. crista, L. — Several specimens on caddis-cases at Annaghdown. Ancylus fluviatilis, Mull. — Plentiful in Lough Corrib, especially at Inchangoil, where the stones are thickly studded with a small form of var. gibbosa, Bourg. Dead shells abundant on caddis-cases in the rejecta- menta of River at Ballynahinch. A. lacustris, L. — Three specimens from dead stems of Eqtnsetuin^ River Shannon. Bythinia tentaculata, L.— In Ballynahinch River rejectamenta ; common in Lough Corrib everywhere. Valvata plscinalis. Mull. — Common at Annaghdown and Inchan- goil. Sphaerlum corncum, L. — A small form is common in all the loughs examined. Pisidium pulchellum, Jenyns. — Lough Corrib, at Annaghdown. P. milium, Held. (= P, r^5«/w, Jeff.)— The only mollusc found in a small pond on Aranmore, about a mile from Kilmurvy (Standen). P. pusiilum, Gmel. — Common in Lough Corrib, and occurred in rejectamenta of the Shannon at Athlone. Anodonta cygnea, L. — Probably common in some of the quiet parts of Lough Corrib. A broken valve was found at Annaghdown. The semi-fossil land shells of Dog's Bay, Connemara, possess a peculiar interest, and the large H. ncmoralis obtained there are well known to most conchologists. In the Journal of Conchology for April, 1S85, Mr. R. D. Darbishire has a short paper on this remarkable shell-deposit as observed by him in 1865. He describes them as occurring in an old sward which appeared as a black band, about two inches deep in the face of a small cliff or section of sandhill closing the bay to the eastward. Our stay at Roundstone afforded an opportunity of personally investigating the deposit, of which we availed ourselves to the full. The features of the isthmus between Dog's Bay and Gorteen Bay appear to have altered 270 The Irish Naturalist. considerably since Mr. Darbistire's visit, and no *' black band " answer- ing to his description could be found. But, in several places where the wind had cut a clean section through the sand-dunes, the old land surface was exposed and showed plainly as an earthy layer about a foot deep, quite distinguishable from the blown sands above and below, and this was full of land shells in good preservation, all the species men- tioned by Mr. Darbishire being obtained, together with several additional ones. The H. 7iemoralis found in this earthy layer are of ordinary char- acter, and comparatively recent, most of them still retaining traces of colour. The large and massive specimens, which undoubtedly belong to an earlier epoch, all occur in the stratum below, which is from three to four feet deep, and composed of clean sand, foraminifera, and finely comminuted shells. As the shells from these separate layers are weather out, they are blown about the sandhills and accumulate in the hollows, where they lie by hundreds intermingled together, but specimens belonging to the two epochs may be determined at a glance by their comparative size, and by the nature of the material with which they are filled. The older shells are not only remarkable for weight and solidity, but also for their dimensions. Some specimens measure 28 mills, in breadth, by 18 mills, in height, but the elevation of spire varies considerably, some examples being very depressed. Some specimens are umbilicated, others have a thick, heavy, curiously constric- ted lip, folding inwards near the suture, and forming a tooth-like pro- tuberance. Variously banded forms occur, but they are mostly bleached pure white, and as a rule are very perfect, except that in some cases a narrow triangular portion of the lip near the suture is broken out, but this is probably owing to the action of frost. The substance of these massive shells is not calcareous as in recent examples, but more of the nature of arragonite, and the deposition of the material in layers is well shown by making a section of the shell. The following is a full list of the species found in the deposit: — Vitruia pelhccida, Hyalinia cellaria, H. nitidida, H. pura, H. crystallina, H. ftdva. Helix aciilcata, H. neinoralis, II. riifescens, H. hispida, H. concinna^ H. virgata, H. capcrata, H. ericetorum, H. pygmaa, H. aspersa, H. pukhella, II aaita, Pupa inuscortim, Vertigo angnstior, V. pygmcea, V. substriata, Clausilia bidentata, Cochlicopa lubrica, Carychiiim mininnu7i, Acme lineata. Careful search in the immediate vicinity for living examples of above only yielded H. aspersa, H. acuta, H. ericetorum, and P. vtuscorum. Some specimens of H. nemoralis of ordinary character were, howeven found living on the road to Roundstone. c a., o o [ 271 ] v.— ARCHEOLOGY. BY FRANCIS JOSEPH BIGGER, M.R.I.A. Hon. Sec. b.n.f.c. The following were some of the antiquities examined by the members during the excursion. GAI.WAY.— The most interesting of the many objects of antiquarian study in Galway was the old Collegiate Church of S. Nicholas, now the Parish Church. Almost all the members examined this structure, which presents so many distinctive features to the ecclesiologist, carefully con- served, with none of its historic features obliterated. It presents a model of what many of our at present dilapidated churches might be made in usefulness and beauty. The Lynch and Joyce monuments are fine, whilst the old square carved font is particularly so. A fine peal of bells occupies the tower ; one of them bears date 1631 ; whilst all around the roof there is an extensive display of the most grotesque gargoyles. In the north aisle a curious stone structure, with pillars supporting a canopy, is built against the wall ; it would be a solution of a disputed point if this were found to have been a street pulpit. Portions of the old town walls still remain, with a gateway at the quay, and portions of a tower in Francis Street. The quaint old Lynch mansion, with its square-headed windows, attracted much attention on account of the weird history connected with its mayoral occupant. The Claddagh settlement was also visited, and the primitive homes and habits of the people, now fast assimilating with the townsfolk, duly noted. BALI.YVAUGHAN.— At Ballyvaughan a very perfect medieval castle of the O'Loghlins was made the rendezvous of a lunching party, such as had not been seen within its shade for many generations, whilst the cross-crowned holy well close by had not more visitors at a "pattern.'' Near at hand the little church of 13th or 14th century date still handed down some curious customs. Here, on the stone altar, and in a hollow beneath, and in the sills of windows and other places, human skulls were exposed in quite a common-place way. Aran Isi^ands. — The visit to these islands was certainly the big day for the antiquarians, affording more to see than could be seen in one day. Crosses, churches, -and forts were visited in rapid succession, scarcely affording the photographers time to "do" them all ; nevertheless little was missed, from the great Cyclopean fort of Dun Aengus to the primitive little stone church of Teampull Benan, with its accommodation for about one worshipper. CIvARE-Gai.\vay.— Many members visited this celebrated Franciscan Abbey, founded in 1290 by John de Cogan. The tall central tower is its most distinctive feature, springing from arches to a height far above the average of such towers. In the choir is a beautifully-carved altar tomb of a De Burgo. The lofty east window might well be restored, all the interlacing being forthcoming. On the side of the road facing the Abbey stands a Clanrickarde castle, lofty and perfect. 272 The Irish Nahwalist. Annaghdown. — Beautifully situated on the shores of Lough Corrib stands the graceful Norman castle, large and almost perfect. Here was an ancient religious settlement, as attested by the many ecclesiastical ruins scattered around ; one of the most beautiful Hiberno-Romanesque windows in existence is built into a modern church, whilst the corres- ponding door is well preserved, with other features of almost equal value. InchanguoiIvE. — To a few were given the pleasure of visiting this most remarkable island in Lough Corrib, through the great kindness of Mr. Henry Hodgson, J. P., who lent his boats, and otherwise hospitably entertained the visitors. Here are two of the earliest churches with deeply sculptured doors, Teampul Phaidrig and Teampul-na-Neave, both carefully conserved by Lord Ardilaun. In the graveyard is a little rude cross-carved pillar, with perhaps the most ancient Christian inscription in Ireland, to the memory of Lugnaedon, son of Limenueh, the sister of S. Patrick, Inis Mac Dara. — This little island out in the Atlantic off Roundstone (the latter a place that no one should miss visiting) is very seldom visited, so it was with great delight a small party chartered a lumbering hooker to make the voyage to the Church of Saint Sinach Mac Dara, and well were they repaid by a sight of the 6th or 7tli century stone-roofed church, the crosses, and stations. This same hooker subsequently took one of the party to Aran from Roundstone. Indeed, long after the excursion was over, members were seen straggling about Connemara and the islands of the sea, quite unable to drag themselves away from the glories and m^-steries of the west, ever seeking for that Hybrasil which lay in the lap of the setting sun. Many notes and details were taken of the antiquities visited that will serve for future use in publications more suitable for that purpose than the Irish Naturalist. ^S^ Irish Naturai^tst, VoIv. IV.] [Pirate 5. .-/. Stead man, del. vSTYvSANUvS ri^IARIAi:, ]McWi:i-XKV, si>. Nov ^Ije $vi^\j |latuvalt0t. Vol. IV. OCTOBER, 1895. No. 10. A NEW IRISH FUNGUS BY E. J. MCWKENRY, M.A., M.D. (PI.ATE 5. ) When investigating the bog at Braganstown, Count}' Louth, during the excursion of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club to Castlebellingham on August loth last, I came across a mould-fungus which proves to be an as yet undescribed species. In the following pages I will give a short account of this organism and its affinities. It was in that portion of the bog which lies east of the railway line, and which was visited by but few members of the party, that I observed a patch of Meadow-sweet, the tops of which presented a peculiar dark brown and shrivelled ap- pearance. This premature decay of a plant that is wont at this season to attain its greatest luxuriance, struck me as peculiar, and led me to examine the patch more nearly. Small greyish- white stalked objects then became visible, dotted here and there over the dried-up and wrinkled stems, petioles, and leaves. The plants did not seem to have flowered. The tiny objects in question were not more than -^jj inch high, and, looked at with a strong glass, consisted of a globose head, silvery-grey in colour, and a short brown stalk, not exceeding in length the diameter of the head.. The whole appearance was very similar to that of a little myxomycete or slime-fungus in its spore-bearing stage ; but the fact that these little stalked bodies were not associated in clusters, but stood well apart from each other without any tendency to be gregarious, told against the possibility of its proving to be a member of that family. Besides, the habitat — portions of a living plant, that had undergone localized death and desiccation — was hardly a likely one for a myxomycete. Further knowledge on the subject was, however, not to be had without a more minute A 274 '^^^ Irish Naturalist, examination than could then and there be made, so I careful!}^ collected a quantity of the material and put it up in glass tubes for subsequent determination. A few days later, going over the contents of my collecting box, I came upon these tubes and mounted some of their contents for the microscope. Nothing could be easier than the process adopted ; and as I may have some readers who, possessing microscopes, might care to take up w^ork of this kind, I will now state how the mounts w^ere made. A few of the little stalked bodies were removed from the matrix by the aid of a dissecting needle, and immersed in a drop of absolute alcohol on a clean slide. As soon as the alcohol had all but completely disappeared b}" evaporation, it was replaced by a drop of glycerine, and a clean cover- glass applied. The object of the alcohol is to get rid of any air that may be, and usually is, entangled in the mycelium, and which would greatly interfere with the transparency of the mount if it were allowed to remain. An alternative procedure is to mount in glycerine at once, and after putting on the cover-glass, heat the preparation over a spirit-lamp till ebullition just commences. This also drives out the air, but the process is rather a severe one, especially for a delicate object, and liable to cause alteration in the natural appearance. The preparations thus made proved very successful, and on placing the slide under the microscope with a moderatel}^ low power (x 150), I saw it very much as it looks in figure 2. The stalk and head can now be distinctly seen, and also the fact that the former is composed of a number of parallel hyphae or threads. The head is also composed of threads which radiate from the stalk, and round about the edge where these threads become free and end,, they may be seen to have a peculiar knobbed or headed appearance. We now turn on the high power ( x 400) and see (figure 3) that the cause of this beaded appearance is the fact that the terminal portion of each hypha or thread is divided by thick partitions into a string of cubical cells, of which the end ones display a tendency to have their corners rounded off so as to become subglobose\ or, in ordinary language, nearly round. If now, without chang- ing the power, we move the slide so as to bring the stalk into the field, we can, by gradually working upwards, make out * This is not well shown in the drawing. A New Irish Ftmgus. 275 the whole construction of the fungus. We find, as before stated, the stalk composed of parallel brown hyphse with numerous partitions, or ** septa " as they are technically called. I^et me explain, however, the term ''hyphae" which may possibly prove a stumbling-block to some of my readers. The name ** hypha " is given to the " threads " of which most fungi are constructed. These "threads" are said to constitute or make up the " mycelium." They are not, however, really threads, but only seem threadlike when insufficiently magnified. Under a fairly high power they are little pipes or tubes composed of a trans- parent outer wall made of cellulose or something very like it (cellulose is the material in the cell-walls of the higher, green plants), and jelly-like granular contents, which are living ** protoplasm." The protoplasm contains numerous very minute bodies of another nature called nuclei. These also are living — in fact they constitute the centres of the life of the cell. The tubes or hyphse are divided by cross-partitions or " septa " into long compartments. Each compartment is a " cell." Fungi are made up of strings of lengthy cells pressed or woven together so as to form variously-shaped masses. I hope I have now made these matters of detail pretty clear, and will go on with the description of our new fungus. The hyphse, of which the stalk is made up, are loosely compacted and interwined, and at their upper ends they open out, so to speak, into the head, dividing repeatedly into two (** forking")* so as to make up the solid mass of branches of which the head is composed. The terminal branches are much paler in colour than those from which they spring, and are divided by very thick partitions into strings of cubical cells. Such a string is seen highly magnified in figure 3, and it is these curious jointed rows of cubical or barrel-shaped cells which give the fungus its characteristic appearance. Of what significance are these cell-rows ? it may fairly be asked. Are they of any use ? Emphatically so, for the last, that is the oldest joint, keeps falling off, and then constitutes a spore, that is, a seed from which the whole fungus may be repro- duced. Each of these chains is therefore a chain of spores. Having now ascertained the structure of the fungus, let us enquire what place it occupies amongst those already known — let us classify it. An impression appears to prevail, even amongst botanists, especially those who confine themselves to A 2 276 The Irish Naturalist. naked-eye work on the flowering-plants, that the classification of fungi presents features of unusual difiiculty. This is not seldom true as regards the determination of the species, owing in many cases to the insufficient descriptions handed on by superficial observers. Up to June, 1892, there were no less than 39,662 sorts of fungi known, and a couple of thousand more at least have been added since. Let us see now what position our fungus is to take amongst so enormous a number of vSpecies. We must first decide what group or family it belongs to. It is clearly a '* Hyphomycete," which means that it belongs to a group composed of minute fungi made up of threads very loosely compacted and bearing *' naked" spores, that is, not enclosed in spore-bags or asci. Such fungi are usually known as " moulds" in English, and certain members of the group make their presence quite obtrusively familiar by covering damp bread, leather, paper, preserves, &c., &c., with blue or green, sometimes with pink or golden patches. Many of these moulds are not "independent" species, that is, they are really only stages in the development of a fungus that forms its spores in asci or bags. Moulds are divided into four groups — Mucedinece, comprising most of the ordinary moulds well known to, and disliked by, the house- keeper ; DematiccB, which have dark brown threads ; Stilbece, in which the lower threads are compacted to form a stalk ; and Tiibcrculariecc, in which the threads are compressed into a wart-like tuft. There is no difficulty in deciding to place our fungus in the third family, Stilbcce, on account of its obvious stalk. Turning to this family we find it divided into two groups, according as the hyphse are pale or dark. Now ,as we have seen that in our specimen the colour is dark brown, save for the terminal branches, we turn to that group, the PhcEOstilbea:. As the individual spores in the specimen are simple and undivided into compartments, we must look in the section Amerosporcs, and here we have to select between a number of competing genera — Sporocybe, Graphium, Harpo- graphiuTJi, Stysanus, and G7nphiotheci2i77i. For reasons, into •which it would occupy too long to enter, we place the specimen in Stysanics, but as it does not agree with any of the three British species given in Mr. Massee's excellent " British Fungus-Flora" (vol. III., p. 458), we look it up in Saccardo's great " Sjdloge," and find that of the seventeen species there A New Irish Ftcngiis, 277 described it comes nearest to a species from Ce34on called Perico7iia vionilifera by Messrs. Berkeley and Broome, but re- moved to Stysanus by Saccardo. Their description, as repeated by Saccardo, is not very complete, but our specimen differs in the stalk not being rough (scabrous). To sum up, Mr. Massee, to whom I sent the specimen, and who is the leading English authority on the subject, has no hesitation in declaring the species to be new, and it has accordingly de- volved on me to confer upon it a name. I have accordingly called it 5*. UlmaricB, indicating thereby its habitat on Meadow- sweet, SpircBa Uhnaria, and have drawn up the following technical description : — Stysanus Ulmarlae, McWeeney, nov. sp. Stem from -25 to i m.m. high, composed of loosely-com- pacted, septate, brown hyphae which, passing upwards, undergo repeated dichotomous division and oj^en out to form a globose head. Terminal branches paler, divided b}^ rigid, thick, projecting septa into moniliform chains of cubical elements which fall off and constitute the spores. Spores pale-brown, cubical, barrel-shaped or subglobose, 5-6 /i. in diameter. On dying Meadow-sweet {Spircea Uhnaria), Braganstown Bog, Co. Louth, Ireland, August loth, 1895. EXPI^ANATION OF PI q ^ ^ ^ ^ B. SchonhcrrI, Zett. > ' Philopedon g^emlnatus, F. — Abundant on bare sand on the golf- links and beach; some of the females very large, and almost white in colour. Sltones i^r iseusy F. — Sparingly on sand-hills, and very large. S. lineellus, Gyll. — One example on the sand-hills ; last November I found this species abundantly at Campbeltown, Cantire, in a similar situation, hybernating at roots of bent-grass. S. flavcsccns, Marsh. Hypera rumicis, Iv. H. polygoni, Iv. Orchestcs sallcetl, Payk.— A few, on young willows. Dorytomus liirtlpcnnis, Bedel. — One example. ( By beating D. pcctoralis, Gyll.— Four examples. ) young willows. Ceuthorrhynchus picurostlgma. Marsh. C. quadridens, Panz. Phytobius iv.-tuberculatus, F. — One or two, by sweeping. Rhinoncus perlcarpius, L. Balanlnus sallclvorus, Payk.— On young willows. 292 The Irish Naturalist. PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. RoYAiv Zooi^oGicAi, Society. Recent donations comprise a Collared Peccary and a land tortoise from J. Giblan, Esq., a hawk from D. Smyth, Esq., a seal from L. Powell, Esq., three Green Lizards from Sir F. Shaw, a Muscovy Duck from Miss Macbeth, a Mocking-bird from Captain Rogers, sea-anemones from Dr. C. B. Ball, a pair of Stock-doves from Rev. T. B. Gibson, a Leadbeater Cockatoo from Mrs. McDonnell, a pair of Angora Rabbits from Master Brooke, Crayfish and Sticklebacks from P. Mahony, Esq., a monkey from J. Ingoldsby, Esq., a Puffin from W. L. Scott, Esq., a Sparrow-hawk from R. ly. Weldon, Esq., aServal from Surgeon-Lieut. D. J. MacCarthy, three Canadian Ducks from C. J. Wallace, Esq., and a parrot from C. A. James, Esq. Three Puma cubs and a Llama have been born in the Gardens, and a Tricoloured Porcupine, a pair of Cheetahs, a Chimpanzee, seven monkeys, two squirrels, two fruit-bats, five Choughs, three Axolots, twelve Rock Bass, and four Siluri have been purchased. Over ii,oQO persons visited the Gardens in July, and over 15,000 in August. Dubinin Microscopicai. Ci^ub. JUI.Y iSth.— The Club met at Prof. T. Johnson's, who exhibited specimens of Selaginella selaginoides, showing the large female spores (megaspores) and the small male spores (microspores). The specimens were gathered in Connemara during the recent Field Club Union excur- sion. The species is not uncommon in the west though rare in the east of Ireland. It is the only representative in Britain of the several hundred species of the genus Selaginella, the highest of the vascular cryptogams. Mr. "M'Ardt^e: exhibited the rare Pihdaria glohidifcra., the Irish repre- sentative of the order Rhizocarpse, which he recently gathered in the lake at Recess, Co. Galway, which is one of the few known localities- It was detected by Mr. Lloyd Praegar, a short time previously, who kindly gave all the information necessary for its rediscovery. Ballynahinch (near the Salmon Leap), a few miles further west, is an old habitat for the plant ( Wade, Rar. ) The specimens bore copious sporocarps which contain the macrospores and microspores in four cavities in the interior ; the contents of one was exhibited under the microscope. On account of its grassy or sedgy appearance, the plant may be readily passed over for a species belonging to either. In the absence of the fruit, it may be easily known by the vernation of the young leaves, which is circinatc like Marsilea, or the young frond of a fern. Mr. G. H. Carpenter showed Tanystyhun {Clotenia) conirosire, Dohrn, a pycnogon collected in rock pools, at Bundoran, in September, 1894, by Mr. J.'E. Duerden. Not only the species (which was first found in the Gulf of Naples), but the genus is new to the British marine fauna. The occurrence of this southern form so far to the north along our western coast is of very considerable interest. A paper with figures will be published in the next number of the Irish Naturalist. Mr. H. J. Seymour showed the section of an Epidote rock from Portrane. The rock, which is of a bright yellowish-green colour, occurs in patches in the vesicular ash near the southern Martello tower. Epidote, some quartz, and numerous calcite crystals are present in the rock. INlR. R. J. M1TCHEI.1. exhibited preparations of an utricle of the Bladderwort {Utriailaria intermedia). The specimen had been collected near Recess, Co. Galway, on the recent excursion of the Field Club Union to that district. The bladder enclosed some small water animals, showing that the plant captures and digests these creatures; which gain an entrance as to an eel trap, but find it impossible to get out. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 293 Bei^fast Naturalists' Fiei.d Ci.ub. JuivY 6th. — The fourth summer excursion was held, when a party of over fifty assembled at the Northern Counties Railway bound for Island- magee and the Gobbins. Arriving at Ballycarry, the whole party walked across the peninsula, and then the various sections took their several ways, each intent on their particular pursuit. Several members took the steep path to the " Black Cave" in the basalt, which proved, however, less interesting than was expected, save for its historic association. The cave extends i^iland a distance of over 100 feet, and is washed by the tide. The remains of a wall extend across its mouth, so its uses have been, doubtless, various— legitimate and illegitimate — the latter in the " good old days " when it was quite respectable to rob the King of his dues. The most of the party walked along the shore, where the great blocks of Chalk and Greensand lying to a large extent on I/ias offer a most tempting prospect. This series of sections and blocks extends for about half a mile along the coast, until the basalt once more comes down to the sea-level at the cliffs of the Gobbins. The basalt of this neigh- bourhood is itself of more than usual interest, as it exhibits a curious banded structure on a large scale, seen very well along the escarpment facing the sea, and in one little quarry which was passed on the way the amygdaloidal vesicles were very beautifully arranged in well-marked bands, between which was the ordinary half-rotten basalt, without amygdales. The Greensand was, however, the chief point of interest, and numerous fossils were obtained, though many more had to be left behind owing to the hardness of some of the blocks. Among the ])est finds was one of the secretary of the geological section. Miss S. M. Thompson, which was a perfect specimen of a fossil sponge ( Ventriculiies) of unusually large size. Several other sponges of different genera and species were secured, these being a class that are in want of working out, as very little is known of the Irish ones. Other finds were numerous, Cidaris spines, some small corals and br3-ozoa, and plenty of the ordinary Greensand fossils, such as Rhynchonella, Spondylus, &c. The Lias was in very bad order for working after the heavy rain, followed by the baking sun, and few fossils were taken. Botanists did not get anything worth speaking of, except the Adder's tongue {Ophioglossum), of which quite a large patch was seen. Tea at 6.30 on the cliffs at Hill's Port was the finale to a most delightful day's outing. Many thanks were due to Mr. Wise, C.E., for his kindness and courtesy to his fellow-members in making arrangements for this visit, and it was the only regret expressed that he has not as yet succeeded in his laudable efforts in making the path around the Gobbins. After tea, a pleasant walk through the fragrant bean-fields of Islandmagee brought the party to Ballycarry and home by train. July 29TH. — The sixth excursion was held to the Mourne Mountains in conjunction with the London Geologists' Association, who were visiting the North of Ireland. A party of about eighty arrived at New- castle at 9.30, where breakfast was partaken of at Laurence's rooms at the station. Breakfast finished, the brakes and cars were mounted, and the road taken to the Trassey Bridge. Here the vehicles were left, and the party proceeded up the valley to the Hare's Gap, close to which are the Diamond Rocks. These are great masses of Mourne granite containing very numerous drusy cavities, some of them of considerable .size. So often have they been visited by geologists that parts of the hillside bear quite a resemblance to a quarry. These cavities contain large and well-formed crystals of smoky quartz, orthoclase, biotite, albite, and less frequently of beryl, topaz, and microcline. Of all these many capital specimens were taken by the members, the. topaz and beryl crystals being very good, and some of exceptional size were ol^tained. 294 ^^^ Irish Naturalist, From this point the party broke up into four divisions, one contingent walking back to the cars, another going round the flank of Coramedagh to " The Castles," which consist of the usual granite whose sub-columnar structure in this part gives rise to vertical and horizontal jointing pro- duced by shrinkage during the cooling of the mass. This jointing has been so increased and brought out by the action of wind and rain, snow, frost, and sun, that the masses now present the appearance of huge bastions and fortifications of Cyclopean masonry. A third section of the party walked up over Slieve Commedagh (2,512 feet), and a venturesome few even ascended Donard atterwards, and observed the remains of the rude stone cell where dwelt the anchorite St. Donard, after whom the mountain is called. These members brought down the report that the view was one almost unequalled, the horizon being so clear that no fewer than nine counties and the Isle of Man were plainly visible, the hills of Derry and Bray Head being both easily seen. This was the more extraordinary as the sky appeared cloudy. The last portion of the members remained at the Diamond Rocks, adding to their collections. The other three divisions met below the Windy Ridge, in the Glen Valley, noticing on the way the curious bared summit of the ridge, almost all the vegetation being blown away, leaving small patches of bog and large rounded stones and granite sand. The waterworn face of the cliff over which the river trickles is also well marked. The mountaineering members were interested in the sharp junction between the granite and the Ordovician strata at the Shanslieve spur, where the granite sends out veins into the slates. Basalt and eurite were also seen in contact here. The junction between granite and slate is also well seen above Trassey Bridge and in the Glen Valley. The botanists, though not strictly on business, noticed most of the alpine plants known to occur on these hills, and although several interesting ferns, «&c., were obtained; no new find to the locality was recorded. Tea at the station was finished just in time for the 6 40 train to Belfast. Altogether the Mournes have seldom been seen to better advantage, and the English geologists expressed themselves more than pleased with the day and the pleasure they derived from a visit to the Mournes in conjunction with the members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. DUBUN NaTURAI^ISTS' FlElvD ClyUB. August loth. — A party of fifteen members left Amiens-street station by the 9 a.m. train for Castlebellingham, where they were met by J. R, Garstin, Esq., on whose land the collecting-ground for the day was situated. Under his kind guidance the naturalists made their way along the railroad to Braganstowu Bog, which proved an excellent field for research. The morning sped rapidly, and Mr. Garstin most hospit- ably entertained the Club at luncheon at Braganstown House, after which an inspection of the neighbouring woods was commenced. This was unfortunately cut short by heavy rain, and the naturalists were glad to again seek shelter in the house, where the kind attentions of Mr. and Mrs. Garstin and their family made the time pass most plea- santly. After tea the President briefly expressed the thanks of the members to their host, and the party returned to Dublin by the evening train. The bog proved the home of several interesting plants. Mr. Colgan noted there two species of Utrictdaria {vulgaris and minor), Sparganium viinimiwt, Typha latifolia^ Lycopus europceus^ Hydrocharis J\d or sus- ranee, Osmunda regalis — to find the Royal Fern in profusion so near the east coast was a new experience. Along the railway the immigrant Diplotaxis was observed, and by the roadsides Chdidoniwn ?najus and Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus, Proceedings of Irish Societies. 295 Dr. McWeeney searched diligently for fungi, and supplies the follow- ing list : — The Hymenomycetes were represented by Agaricus {Lepiotd) cristattis, Fr. ; A. {Tricholoma) terreuSy Sch. ; A. {Collybia) maiulatiis, A. & S. ; A. (C.) radicatus, Relh. ; A. {Mycena) tenerrhnus^ Berk.; A. (A/.) rugosiis, Fr. ; A. (Entoloma) costatus, Fr. ; A. {Crepidotiis) chiinnophilus, B. & Br. ; A. {Pluteiis) cervinuSy SchaefF; A. {Moeybe) rimosus, Bull. ; A. {Psalliota) catn- pestris, L. (a very typical series of specimens of this the common edible mushroom was collected, well illustrating the development of the veil and ring) ; var. pratensis, Viltad. ; A. {Hypholomd) fasciatlaris, Huds. ; A. {Psilocybe) areolatus, Klotzsch. ; A. {Ps.) bullatus, Bull. ; A. {Pandolus) phalcen- arum, Fr. ; Coprinus cornaius, Fr. ; C. ep hevierus^ Fr. ; Bolbitiics tener, B. ; Lactarius subdtilcis, Fr. ; Hygrophorus conicus, Fr. ; H. psiiiacinus, SchaefF; Marasmius rotula, Fr. ; Boletus chrysenteron, Fr. ; B. litridus, SchaefF (small form) ; Polyporus squamostis., Fr. ; Poria vaporaria, Fr. , var. secernibilis, B. & Br. The Gastromycetes comprised Lycoperdon Bovista^ Linn. {=gigan- tium, auct. (A specimen 7 in. in diameter and 23 in. in circumference was taken by Prof Johnson in a field near Braganstown House) Z.; fyriforme, 1 Sch. (specimen immature) ; Phallus impudiciis, Linn, (on the " Island," Braganstown). The Uridineae found were Puccinia centaurece. Mart. ; P. prarufn, Neelsen (oecidia on Tussilago Farfara) ; P. viaveolus, Pers. (on Carduus arvensis) ; P. iaraxaci^ Plow. ; Coleosporhim sonchi, Pers. ; MelafHpsora lini, Pers. ; Triphragniium ulinarice, Lk. (The rare teleuto spores found abundantly on the bog at Braganstown), The only Disco- mycete was Phialea virgultoriim, Karst. Hypomycetes included Graphium Grovei, Sacc. (on dead decorticated wood, the Island, Braganstown) ; Clado- sporium epiphyllum. Mart., on Salix leaves, and Stysanus ulfnaritv, McW. (nov. sp.), described and figured in the present number of the l7ish Naturalist. This excursion will long be remembered as the occasion of the discovery of this interesting new form. Plasnwpara densa, Schroet. (on Euphrasia) represented the Phycomycetes, and Comatricha Friesiana, de By. , the Myxomycetes. Mr. J. N. Halbert collected insects for the R.I. A. Flora and Fauna Committee. Among the Coleoptera an addition was made to the Irish records in Phalacris caricis, Strum., whilst Philonthus albipes, Crav., was taken for the first time on the east coast. The following also occurred in more or less abundance: — Aniara aulica, Pterostichtis vernalis, Oxypoda longiuscula, Stenus ossium, S. pubescens, S. pallitarsis, Ccrcus rufilabris, Telma- tophiltis caricis, Atoviaria basalis, A. pusilla, Donacia limbata, Panz., Galerucclla lineola^ G. tenella, Lagria hirta, Apion subulatum, and Grypidius equesiti. The local and northern species Anthonomus comai-i, Crotch., occurred in abundance by sweeping. On the railway bank many common species abounded, including Scymnus testaceus, Mots., Bruchiis atotnariuSf and Ceuthoj rhynchus litura. Amongst Hemiptera the following are selected for record : — Picromerus bidens, Cymnus grandicolor, Nabis Jlavomarginatusy Tetratocoris saundersi, D. and S. (not previously recorded as Irish), Calocoris roseomaculatus, Labops saltator, Cyrtorrhinus caricis, Campyloneura virgula, and Psallus sanguineus, Fab. Mr. Carpenter found an interesting little crab-spider, Oxyptila praticola, Koch, new to Ireland, and among other spiders, Bathyphantes pullatns, Lycosa pulverulenta, and Pardosa ni^riceps. Besides the more common harvestmen, Oligolophus tridcns, and the black unspotted form oiNetnasionia lugubre were found. 296 The Irish Naturalist, NOTES. BOTANY. LIVERWORTS. RIccIa glaucescens In Ireland. — This hepatic, which docs not appear to have been hitherto recorded from Ireland, was sent to nie in small quantity by my friend, Rev. S. A. Brenan, in July of this year, from Co. Antrim. The specimen was freshly gathered, and has since been submitted to and named as above by Messrs. Pearson and Holt. On the 14th of Au^^ust I visited Cushendun, in Co. Antrim, where Mr. Brenan resides, and had the pleasure in his company of seeing two small patches of the plant growing on low rocks in the river that flows through Glendun ; and, I may add, we took care not to exterminate it. H. W. Lktt {\n Journal of Botany for September). ZOOLOGY. CRUSTACEANS. Trichoniscus roseus, Koch., near Dublin. — On July 20th I took a specimen of this rare woodlouse among some stones about a foot underground near Templeogue. Dr. R. F. Scharff kindly determined the species. E. C. Farran, Templeogue. FISHES. Bass In Donegal Bay;— It maybe of interest to record a Bass {Lahrax lupus) which was recently taken in a trawl-net in Donegal Bay. This fish is reported by Thompson from only one locality— I/Ough Swilly — in the north of Ireland. It was exposed for sale in the market to Donegal town, and being entirel}' unknown to the fishermen and fish dealers there, attracted the attention of a gentleman who sent it to me. The specimen was a little over thirty inches long. W. SiNCi^AiR, Strabane. BIRDS. Ruff In Co. Wicklow.— Mr. E. Blake-Knox records (in Field, Sept. 7th) that he shot a 'R.m^ (^Machetes pu^nax) in the Wicklow mountains on August 29th. Stock Dove and Crossbill In Carlow.— Mr. J. G. Symes having reported to me the appearance of flocks of what he thought were Blue Rock Pigeons in the neighbourhood of Ballaghmoon, Co. Carlow, I asked him to send me a specimen. This he has very kindly done, and it proves to be, as I had expected, a Stock Dove. These birds, according to Mr. Symes, only made their appearance in Carlow about two years ago, and this extension of their range in Ireland is very interesting. Some little time ago Mr. Symes reported to me that Crossbills were breeding in his neighbourhood, and, in confirmation of his statement, sent me two specimens, G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMI1.TON, New Ross, Co. Wexford. ArAMMALS. Irish lYIammalla. — A very fair idea of the small mammals of a district can be gained by examining the pellets cast up by owls. These pellets can be found in great numbers in and about the nests of the Long-Eared and Barn Owls ; they are composed of the indigestible parts of the animals eaten, and are cast up from the crop. When dissolved many interesting bones are often found. I would be very grateful for any 7iumber of such pellets from any part of the country. Locality where pellets were taken, and, if possible, the name of species of owl, with name and address of sender, should accompany all specimens. I should also be glad of specimens or records of Irish mammals from all parts of the country. Specimens for identification will be returned if desired. Shrews, Field-mice, and particularly Bats, are specially desired. H. L. Jameson, Killincoole, Castlebellingham. Irish Naturai^ist, Voi.. IV.] [Pirate 6. M TAXYSTYLUM CONIROvSTRE (Dohrx), Fno"\r P.i-x-nnR aat ■ ■»■'' ■ . . ■ - Vol. IV. NOVEMBER, 1895. No. 11. A NEW BRITISH PANTOPOD. TANYSTYLUM CONIROSTRE (DOHRN). BY GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B.SC [Collected (Sept., 1894), for the R.I. A. Flora and Fauna Committee, and Exhibited (July, 1S95), before the Dublin Microscopical Glub.] (Pirate 6.) Readers of the hisk Naturalist will, doubtless, recall Mr. J. E. Duerden's paper on the Rock-pools of Bundoran ( p. i of the current volume), and remember that in Mr. Welch's excellent photograph which illustrates it, the most conspicuous animal is the rock-boring Purple Sea-Vr chin (St?v?igjtoce?ittvtus lividus). This urchin is one of the best-known examples of a group of characteristic southern and Mediterranean forms which, in British waters, are almost or altogether confined to the western coast of Ireland, along which they often range a considerable distance northwards. The same coast also furnishes examples of northern and Scandinavian species, many of which are found as far as the extreme south-western corner. And so it comes to pass that the western shores of Ireland present to the marine zoologist a most interesting mixttire of northern and southern forms of life, which cannot be found elsewhere in the British area. A similar mixture of immigrants from the north and from the sotith is to be observed in the land flora and fauna — the southern species often ranging northwards to Donegal and the northern forms southwards to Cork. While Mr. Duerden's researches at Bundoran and elsewhere, during his too short residence in Ireland, were chiefly con- cerned with the Hydroids and Polyzoa, our knowledge of which he has done so much to advance, he was not neglectful of other marine creattires. And, knowing my interest in the Pantopods or P3xnogons — that ctiriotis group formerly classed with the Cru.stacea, but now regarded either as very aberrant A 29^ The Irish Naturalist. arachnids, or as an independent class — he was so good as to collect these animals for me whenever he met with them. At Bundoran only two individuals — one an adult male carrying eggs — of a single species rewarded his search. On examin- ation, these proved referable to a pj^cnogon from the Bay of Naples described in Dr. Dohrn's great work' under the name of Cloteiiia conirostris. The Rev. Canon A. M. Norman, f.r.s., to whom I communicated the discovery, was so good as to coniBrm my impression that both genus and species were new to the British marine fauna ; and this opinion was corroborated by Mr. W. T. Caiman of Dundee (who, in conjunction with Prof. D'A. W. Thompson, has done much w^ork on the British species), when, on a recent visit to Dublin, he examined the specimens. This pycnogon, then, hitherto only known from the Bay of Naples, but now recorded from Donegal Ba}^, will form a most interesting addition to those Mediterranean animals which range far northwards along our western coast. One can hardly doubt that future search will reveal other Irish localities further to the south. The genus Cloteyiia, founded by Dr. Dohrn in 1881 for the single Neapolitan species C conirostris, differs from the large genus Ammothea in its extremely compact and radially-formed body, the segments of which are fused together (Plate 6, fig. 2), and in the reduction of its chelifori (fig. 2, a) to minute knobs. But the character on which Dr. Dohrn chiefly relied was the presence in Clotenia of a genital opening on the second coxal joint of each of the male's walking-legs except those of the first pair, whereas in Ammothea, both the first and the second pair in the male want these openings. But in 1879, Mr. Miers"" had described an allied pantopod from off the far southern island of Kerguelen under the name of Tanystyhim styligerum, the genus being specially founded for this species ; and in 1880, Prof. E. B. Wilson in his monograph of New England pycnogons^ had referred to Tanystylum a species, T. orbiculare, evidently very near indeed to Dr. Dohrn's Clotenia co7iirostris. ^ A. Dohrn. " Die Pantopoden des Golfes von Neapel." Leipzig, 1S81 (pp. 160-4; pis. viii, ix.) 3 E. J. Miers. *' Zoology- of Kerguelen Island — Crustacea." Phil. Trans. R.S. Lond., vol. clxviii (extra vol.) p. 213-4; pi. xi,, fig. 9. » E. B. Wilson, " Report on the Pycnogonida of New England and adjacent Waters." JRep. U.S. Commis. Fish and Fisheries, 1878 (Washington, 1880), (p. 471-3; pl- iii'> f- ii)- A New British Pantopod, 299 Dr. Dohrn admitted the probability that his Clotefiia might be identical with Tanystylzmi, but, in the absence of information as to the number of genital openings, he refused to positively refer his species to the latter genus. Prof. Schimkewitsch, however, in a recent valuable paper' on some genera of pycnogons, states that the male genital openings in the species of Tanystylum correspond with those of Clo tenia. He accordingly does not hesitate to sink the latter genus in the former. In accordance with this view, I refer to our new BritivSh form as Tanystyhwi coiiirostre (Dohrn). The genus Tayiystyluni, then, now added to the British fauna, is to be recognised by its circular disciform body without evident segmentation and with fused lateral processes ; its conical proboscis not doubled beneath the body ; the extreme reduction of its chelifori to knob-like vestiges without a trace of jointing ; the presence of palps with joints varying in number from four to seven ; the possession of ten -jointed false legs with simple spines in both sexes, and the opening of the genital ducts of the male on the second coxal joints of the three hinder pairs of walking-legs. The affinities of the genus are with Afumothea, of which several species have long been known from our coasts, and it should be classed in the family Anwiotheidce with many other genera, all characterised by more or less vestigial chelifori, but possessing, in either sex, both palps and false legs. In Dr. Hoek's great work' on the " Chal- lenger" pycnogonida this family is styled Colloseiideidce, but Ammothea, being the earliest described, and, perhaps, the most typical genus of the group, seems entitled to furnish the family name. Prof. Sars, in his beautiful monograph ^ of the North Atlantic pantopods, considers this group of ordinal value and divides it into three families — Anwiotheidce, Pasithoidce, and EurycydidcB. I cannot think, however, that the distinctions between these subdivisions entitle them to family rank. All students of the pantopoda have considered the genus Ny77iphon, with its elongate clearly segmented body, fully- developed chelifori, ten-jointed palps, and ten-jointed false legs 1 W. Scliimkewdtsch. " Notes sur les genres des Pantopodes. Phoxi- chihis and Tanystylum ." Arch, de Zool. Exp el Gen. (2) ix. , 1891, pp. 503-522. 2 P. P. C. Hoek. " Report on the Pycnogonida." Zoology of the Challenger. London, 1881. " G. O. Sars—" Den Norske Nordliaus Expedition. Zoologi. Pycnogo- nidea." Christiana, 1891. A 2 300 The Irish Naturalist. furnished with toothed spines and present in both sexes, as the typical form of the group. All these three pairs of limbs in front of the four pairs of walking-legs are here present in their highest state of perfection. From such a prototype the other genera seem to have been produced by modification — in most cases of a degenerative tendency. In the paper already referred to, Prof. Schimkewitsch suggests how series can be formed leading on to genera showing extreme con- centration of the body and nervous system, or the reduction or loss of one or more of the three front pairs of limbs. And in Ta7iystyhim w^e find the concentration of the body carried to the farthest possible point, while the chelifori have almost vanished, and the palps have lost several of their joints. Further, the beautiful denticulate spines, which in Ny??ipho7i and other genera are to be found on the false legs, are here replaced by simple spines (fig. 5). Our European species, Ta7iystylu?n conirostre, like the other species of the genus, is of very small size, measuring only I mm. in length (fig. i). It may be distinguished by the palps possessing only four joints (fig. 4). Each of these limbs con- tains an excretory gland, observed by Dr. Dohrn, which opens towards the base of the second joint (fig 4, «). In the other species the palps are six or seven-jointed, and Dr. Dohrn states that traces of the vanished joints are sometimes to be seen in Naples specimens of T. conirostre. Also it seems that the degeneration of the chelifori has gone farther in T, co7iirostre than in the other species. It is interesting to note that in our Bundoran specimen these organs (fig. 2, «) are in an extremely vestigial state, being decidedl}' smaller than in examples of the species from Naples in the Dublin Museum collections. The lateral processes of the Bundoran animal lack the spines described and figured by Dr. Dohrn as occurring there in his Mediterranean specimens. Such minor differences will not, however, warrant the creation of a new specific name. In the North American species, T. orbiculare, Wilson, which ranges along the Atlantic coast from Martha's Vine- yard as far south as Virginia, the chelifori are rather less reduced, the palps are six-jointed, and the spines on the false-legs are sometimes bifid. It will be remembered that the type of the genus, T. styligeru77i, Miers, came from the shores of Kerguelen, an island situated in latitude 49*^ S., A New British Pantopod, 301 about halfway between the Cape of Good Hope and Australia. This species also has six-jointed palps. It is considerably larger than the other Ta?iystyla, and possesses a swollen pro- boscis and long tail-segment. Recently, Prof. Schimkewitsch has described' (in addition to T. Hoekia7ium of unknown habitat) three new Ta^iystyla from the coasts of South America, collected by the Italian corvette " Vettor Pisani" on her explor- ing cruise. These are T. Dohrnii (with six-jointed palps) from Abrolhos islands off the coast of Brazil, T. calicirostre (with six-jointed palps and strange cup-shaped proboscis) from the Chonas islands off the coast of Chili, and T, Cherchice (with seven-jointed palps) from the Bay of Panama. I should be very much inclined to refer also to Tanystyhim the genus Disco- a^'achne, Hoek, with its single species D. brevipes described in the " Challenger" Report^ from the shore near Capetown. In this pycnogon the palps are five-jointed and the chelifori are altogether wanting. When one considers how nearly these latter have disappeared in T. conirostre, it seems unnecessary to retain another genus for an allied form in which they have altogether vanished. The geographical distribution of the foreign relations of our new British pantopod raises some questions of much interest. None are deep-water species, so it is probable that migration has taken place along coast-lines. We see that this Mediter- ranean and Irish species and the Capetown species {Disco- arachne, Hoek) are the most modified forms in the genus, showing the furthest amount of reduction in the first two pairs of limbs. When'we consider that the majority of the species are from the southern hemisphere, and (with the exception of Discoarachne) that these are not so far modified as the Euro- pean form, we are to conclude that the original home of the group was far to the south. This view is confirmed by the fact that two species occur on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the American continent, while no species have been found on the Pacific coast of Asia, such a distribution sug- gesting the neighbourhood of Cape Horn as the starting-point ' W. Schimkewitsh. " Sur les Pantopodes recueilles par M. le lieut. G. Chiercliia pendant la Voyage de la Corvette ' Vettor Pisani ' en 1882-5." Atti delta R. Accad. dei Lincei {Me?noire d. Classe di Scienze fisiche^ &*(.), Vol. vi., 1890, pp. 329-347, and plate. * P. P. C. Hoek, t.c, pp. 74 6, pi. vii. fig. 8-12. 302 The Irish Naturalist. for the American species. But did our Tanystyhim conirostrCy or its less-modified ancestors come northwards along the west coast of Africa to the Mediterranean and to our shores ? The general southern range of the genus stronglj^ suggests such an explanation, as no Tanystylnvi is known from the Norwegian or other north European coast. On the other hand there can be no doubt that T. conirostrc is very closely allied to the North American T. orbiadare, a consideration which renders it at least possible that the migration to Europe may have taken place eastwards along an old shore-line to the north of the North Atlantic. On such a view, we must regard the newi}' discovered Irish station as a mark of the path b}^ which our pycnogon travelled to its Mediterranean home. In all these speculations, however, it must be borne in mind how in- complete our knowledge of the range of these animals still is. While such theories add zest and interest to the investigation of our fauna, new facts will surely be brought to light which will oblige us to modify them. If zoological science is to progress there must ever be an evolution in the thoughts of its students, as we believe there has been and is in the wonderful creatures which it is their pleasure to study. EXPI^ANATION OF P1.ATE 6. Fig. I. Tanystyhim conirostre (Doliru), natural size. „ 2. „ ,, adult male, magnitied. All limbs removed except clielifori {a), and tlie right palp and third walking leg. ,, eye-eminence in profile mag- nified. ,, palp, highly magnified ; (a) open- ing of excretory gland. ,, false leg of male, highly mag- nified. (In this figure, spine at tip of ninth joint should have been shown projecting beyond end of tenth joint). >> O' >> >) C 303 1 INSECTS FROM ROSSCARBHRY, CO. CORK. By H. K. Gore: Cuthbkrt. C01.EOPTERA. The following beetles were taken at Rosscarbery and its neighbourhood, about the end of last August. The list is a small one, for I have much neglected this order lately, but it contains some records of interest regarding which I have appended some notes : — Cychrus rostratus. Carahus caiiceUatus. C granulatas . BradyceJlus distinctus. B. verhasci. Harpahis latus. H. proteus. Pterostichus cxipreus. P. minor. P. strenuus. Amara livida. Taphria mvalis. Anchomenns piceus. A . pnellus. Bemhidium decorum. Brychius elevatus. Haliplus lineatocoUis. Coelambus v.-lineatus. Hydroporns palustris. H. septentrio)ialis. Noterus sparsus. A leochara fuscipes. Falagria thoracica. Leistotrophxis murinus. Philonthus cenens. P. sanguinohntus. Silpha atraia var. suhro- tundata (black form only). Necrodes Uttoralis. Necrophorus riispator. iV. vespillo. Saprinus nitidulus. Chilocorus hipustuJatus. Halyzia xiv. -guttata. Onthophagus fracticornis. Aphodius depressiis. A. piinctato-su/catus. A. scyhalarius. Geotrupes vernalis. Cetonia aurata. DoUchosoma lineare. JDonacia limbata. D. sertcea. Chrysomela marginalis. Phaedon armoracice. Lochnoia suturalis. GaleruceUa nymphcem. Cassida equestris. Heliopathes gibhus. Helops paUidus. Rhinosimus planirostris. Otiorrhynchus blandus. 0. atroapteriis. 0. rugifrons. Strophosomus retusus. Hyper a trilineata. H. variabilis. Orchestes fagi. Ceuthorrhynchus ericce. Carabus cancel latus, 111. — One specimen, female, at East Poiiladav. This is a rather unexpected addition to the Irish as well as the British list. Its claim to admission to the latter rested hitherto on the doubtful record of Stephens : " said to have occurred in a chalk-pit at Northfleet." The beetle is widely distributed in Central and North Central Europe, and much resembles superficially the common Caralms granulattis, L. Harpalus proteus, F. ) Entirely black forms of these com- .} Ptcrostlclius cupreus, Dej.) mon insects, usually very brassy. Chilocorus bipustulatus, Leach. — Lately recorded by Mr. J. N. Halbert, from the Galway district. Tt occurs at Rosscarbery on the Dog-rose. Geotrupes vernalis, L. — At Castlefreke, on the sandhills. Apparently widely distributed, but not common, in Ireland. Cetonia aurata, L. — In great abundance on Ragwort near Glandore. Chrysomela marg"! nails, Duft. — First Irish record for this species. Swept from underwood in an alder plantation at Benduff. Otiorrhynchus blandus, Gyll. — Under stones on the shore at Tralong and Ownahinchy. This mountain species appears to be widely distributed on the south and west coasts. 304 The Irish Naturalist. Hkmiptera. Thefollowiiigspecies of bugs were taken, fortheidentification of which, as also of many of the beetles, I am indebted to Mr. J. N. Halbert. Macrode.ma micropterum. Stenocephalus agilis. Nahis lativentris. N. riigosus. Eurygaster viaura. Pentatoma baccarum. Picromerus bidens. Syromastes marginatus Stygnus pedestris. S. arenarius. Phyfocons varipes. Eurygastei* maura, L. Stenocephalus agills,Scot. f These are very interesting addi- I tions to the list of Irish Hemiptera. ■{ They are rather widely distributed species in the southern counties of .England, and also in S. Wales. Syromastes marg-lnatus, L.— Is probably frequent in the south- \vest having been taken at Berehaven by Mr. G. H. Carpenter ; the British distribution is similar to that of the two preceding species. HymKNOPTERA ACUI.EATA. The following were captured in Ross latter part of August. As regards them I indebtedness, as on previous occasions identification, to Mr. Edward Saunders, F. Formica fuscu' Lasius flavus. L. niger. Myrmica rubra CoUetes daviesana. C succincta. Sphecodes affinis. (races S. pilifrons. ruginodis and scabrin- S. subquadratus. odis). PompiJus gibbus. P. fusctis. p. niger. P. phimbeus. Ceropales macidatxis. Oxybelus uniglumis. MelUnus arvensis. Odyneriis parietinus. 0. trimarginatus. Halictus cylindricus. H. morio. H. mtidiiisculus. H. ruhicundus. H. vi/losidus. Andrena albicnis. A. denticulata. A. g icy nana. A. nana. Megachile centuncularis. district during the have to express my in the matter of I..S. Coelioxys ehngata. Nomada ochrostoma. Psithyrus barbutellus. P. campcstris. P. ritpestris. Bombus cognatus. B. hortorum. B. lapidarius. B. latreillellus. B. miiscorum. B. sylvarum. B. schrimshiranus. B. terrestris fvars. vir- ginalis and lucorum). Oxytoelus uniglumis, L.— In great abundance on flowers of Cnicus arvensis, at Castlefreke. Odyncrus trimarginatus, Zett — Not uncommon on heath (Erica) at Ownahinchy and Tralong. All these specimens belong to a variety with spotted tibiae. Sphecodes subquadratus, Sm. — New to Ireland. Taken at Downeen, about burrows of Halictus rnbicundus. i These are also new Irish records, The latter pretty and fragrant insect abounds in the district and is a welcome addition to our lists. Insects from Rosscarbery, County Cork, 3(55 Psithyrus barbutellus, Kirb. f These I believe are the first j Irish records, but the former Botnltius schrimshiranus, Kirb. I was previously taken, though not recorded, by Mr. Freke, at Dundrum, Co. Dublin, and the ) latter at Carrickmines, in the \ same county. I have a speci- men oiB. barlmtellus from Port- marnock, taken last June. Both species were common, with others of the same genera (^on heath at Castlefreke. The Andrcncs in the above list are fev/, as might be expected in the case of a spring-flying genus. The Fossores are also poorly represented although the locality seems specially suitable for them. The absence of social Wasps was remark- able, while the social Bees were unusually abundant. IRISH KNOTWBEDS BY REV. C. H. WADDKIvI., B.D. ThK following notes upon some species of the genus Polygonum may be useful, as the Irish Knotweeds do not seem to have received any special attention from Irish botanists. Mr. A. Bennett of Croydon has kindly named the critical species and varieties for me which are mentioned in this paper. Polygonum Convolvulus, Linn., var. subalatum, V. Hall— Saintfield, Co. Down, growing as a garden weed, 1893. Crossgar, Magheralin, Co. Down. — This variety has long been known in England, where it was named pseiido-diwidorum by Mr. H. C. Watson, because it was so often mistaken for P. dtimctorum, but does not seem to have been recorded for Ireland. It is interesting as being an intermediate variety between that species and P. Convolvulus, the common Black Bind- weed of cornfields, from which it may be easily distinguished by the winged segments of the perianths. I have found it at the localities mentioned, but cannot meet with the type, and my friend Mr. S. A. Stewart tells me he has also found the variety this season at Donaghadee. Is the typical plant common in other districts in Ireland } When growing as a weed in rich soil the variety is a very beautiful plant, and climbs several feet high. A 3 3o6 The Irish Naturalist. Polygonum avlculare, Linn., ivar. agrestlnum (Jord.)— Dundrum, Co. Down. van vulgatum, Syme— Shore, Killough, Co. Down. var. arenastrum (Bor.)— Saintfield. A well-defined variety, growing commonly in the channels by roadsides in compact cushions. var. rurlvagrum (Jord.)— Fields by shore, Killough, Co, Down. This is also a well-defined variety. It has long narrow leaves and wiry stems, and grows very long among the herbage in cornfields. P. Hydroplper, Linn. — This species is very common in this district (Co. Down), in marshes, along roadsides, and in fields and gardens in places where water lies. A fine vigorous form of it appears every year as a weed in a wet spot in my garden at Saintfield, which Mr. Bennett says is the var. densiflorum of Braun. It has much larger flowers than the typical plant, clustered in remarkably dense bunches at intervals along the flowering branch or stem, and in the axils also, the racemes broader and interrupted, not filiform, and sometimes erect ; and varies from P. Hydrojnper, I suppose, in somewhat the same manner as the var. elatiwi, Gren., does from P. Persicaria, though it has not received varietal rank from British botanists. I quote Braun's description (Flora Bot, Zeit.y 1824, p. 108) : — " /3. demiflomm mihi, elatum, spica terminali cylindrica densa, floribusxil alaribus confertis. Distinguished by its higher stem with numerous spreading branches, broad leaves, and very dense, green, pendent perianths. It grows in ditches and sometimes in marshy woods." P. maculatum. Trim, and Dyer.— I found this in 1894 growing in marshy fields north of Dundrum, Co. Down, along with P. lapathifolhim. It is a difficult plant to distinguish, and has no doubt been confused with P. Persicaria or P. lapathifolium, its two nearest allies. It is said to be common on the outskirts of London, and in many parts of England. It is a smaller plant than P. lapathifolium, its leaves are white and woolly beneath, not so broad in the middle and attenuated at either end ; its racemes longer, slender, and forming a more compact spike of flowers. P. amphlblum, Linn. — When growing on dry land the beautiful floating leaves and whole habit become so changed that it might be considered a different species. This is I suppose the var. terrestre, Leers. I have seen it in flower on the banks of the Closet river, Co. Armagh. It furnishes an interesting example of a plant adapting itself to a different environment, the floating leaves changing to upright ones, and taking upon them a hairy coat when they leave the water. Since the terres- trial form is not permanent in its characters, it has, strictly speaking, no title to be called a variety, but is only a form. P. Blstorta, Linn. — Shrubbery, Saintfield ; Graveyard, Knock, Co. Down. I have never seen the Snakeweed truly wild, either in Co. Down or in Westmoreland, where I have gathered it in similar localities. It seems to have a penchant for graveyards and other rich ground near human habitations. At Kendal it is called Easier ledges, as its succulent leaves appear above ground at that season, and, boiled with oatmeal and other ingredients, are made into herb puddings. C 307 1 MY BIRDS. BY RE;V. THOMAS B. GIBSON, M.A. ^ Continued fro7n page 289.) Of the Crow family I have three kinds, viz., the Starling, the Jackdaw, and the Jay. There are about a dozen Starlings at present in my aviary ; though I certainly would not keep so many were it not that I fear to lose one which I have had for about five years, if I released or gave any away, not being able to distinguish my favourite from the others in any way but by his voice, which is superior to anything I had ever imagined in a Starling — superior I might say almost to any other bird's voice I know — for he imitates everything in the aviary and chuckles over his imitations when he has finished. This bird, with three others, I obtained from a nest near my aviary, having taken them while unfledged and placed them in a cage which I then hung over the entrance to the nest. The old birds attended to them for about a month, when I placed them in the aviary, where they have remained ever since. Two or three others have since been obtained, in the same manner; but the greater number were placed in the aviary last winter to save their lives, they having been caught by my pupils during the severe frost. I may here say that the Starling is a delicate bird I believe, though only one has ever died with me ; and, last winter, for several mornings in succession, I found dead Starlings lying upon the heaps of crumbs I had placed for them. The want of water was, I believe, felt by them even more than the want of food; and, when I placed a basin full of water near the crumbs, the Star- lings would at once crowd around it to drink, neglecting the food till they had slaked their thirst. It is very singular that my Starlings have never bredln the aviary though some of them may be said to have been almost reared in it ; and I have been careful to provide nesting material plentifully for them. But, indeed, I may say that birds usually despise any- thing that is done for them that way, in an aviary at least, and will pitch upon the most unlikely places to nest, though you may have arranged everything most beautifully for them only a few inches away. Why, for many days, I have removed portion of a nest from the lid of my seed-box, and in the end 3o8 The Irish Naturalist. been obliged to give up the contest by the quiet persistency of the birds. My Jackdaw — I have but one — was also reared by its mother in my aviar}^ It had fallen from the nest apparently, as it was still unfledged when brought to me by one of my pupils, the old bird still hovering around and making uncom- plimentary remarks. I placed it in the aviary and took no further trouble about it, but the old birds continually attended to it — indeed even when it could shift for itself. This bird is not, however, nearly so tame as those of its kind that I pos- sessed in my boyish days, and does not appear to be much of an acquisition. M}^ Jay was a purchase which came from England. There were two others in the nest, but these were fed liberally with small pebbles by the Registrar's sons, and the diet did not agree with them, it appears ; though, when 3^oung, they cer- tainly are always ready and eager for any kind of food. My Jay is not much of a mimic, nor indeed does he concern him- self much about his companions ; but he is a beautiful bird, and quicker in his movements than any other with which I am acquainted. I feared that the smaller birds would have no chance of breeding in the same aviary with him, and so built another aviary for them in a sunnier spot, which has been very successful. He does not however seem to have any desire for eggs, and the Doves and Thrushes have not, so far as I know, suffered from his attentions. Very lately, I obtained a Magpie, w^hich is not so harmless, as, in the very first night of its residence, it killed two Thrushes and a Sparrow. I have had to separate it from the others, removing also the Jay at the same time. The Blackbirds I had to remove into the smaller birds' aviary as a feud arose between one of them and the Missel-thrush which threatened to be life-long, and to the detriment of the former. I can hardly blame the Missel-thrush, however, for he was perfectly peaceable till the Blackbird drove him into anger by continuous bullying. This Blackbird, which I have now had for five years, was caught by myself in a trap, during the frost, together with two or three Thrushes. Four other Blackbirds, including a hen, were brought to me by my pupils, and then war began. The original occupant apparently resen- ted the intrusion of the others^ and killed three, in spite of my My Birds. 309 continued interference. So savage was he that many times he has attacked his victim while it was even in my hands. I have seen him take hold of another Blackbird and twist off its beak to the skull ; so that I have had to kill the sufferer. At last I removed the one remaining survivor to the second aviary ; and then for a few days, the bullying Blackbird made the life of the Missel-thrush a burden to it, till at last it turned, and then the Blackbird suffered. To save its life I removed it also ; and singularly enough, it has never since fought — though there are now four Blackbirds in this aviary — all of them cocks however — which maj^ account for the harmony. As in the case of the Starling it is fear of losing a magnificent songster that prevents me from releasing or giving away some of my Blackbirds. And a like cause, in part, operates with me as regards Thrushes, of which I have eleven — nine being Song- thrushes (mostly caught last winter), the others being the Missel-thrush and a Field-fare. I have too, a very fine Ring-Ousel, but, as it is this year's bird, I cannot say much about its habits, except that it is very tame, having been brought up by hand. I should like to add a Red-wing, but I have not yet been able to obtain one. The Song- thrushes have always built nests, and laid eggs ; but the hatching has been intermittent, and no young birds have as yet been reared. The Missel-thrush has surprised me by the delicacy of its throat notes, for though the five or six notes of its usual song are shrill enough, it loves to come beside me (either when inside or outside the aviar}^ and to give utter- ance to the softest of tones, deep down in its throat, as if it were whispering a song, while, all the time, it turns the head to look into my eyes, as if noting the effect. This bird was a purchase ; and has now been in my possession for about four years. Of the Field-fare I cannot say much, as it was only captured in our play-ground last spring. It is, however, a beautiful bird — in my opinion the most beautiful of the thrushes — and, though its voice, so far as I know, is unmusi- cal, its elegant shape and bluish-grey colour, together with its peculiarly tipped beak, make it an ornament to the aviar5^ In this, my first aviary, there are several Sparrows — more than I desire indeed, for they have bred there — who are the very wildest of its denizens. Originally I had placed two or three young sparrows inside, to save them from the cats. 3 10 The Irish Naturalist. These produced one or two broods last year, and I fear that there are several broods this year ; but I cannot catch them, without frightening all the other inhabitants, and so they escape expulsion. One fellow is rather a rarity, having two white feathers in each wing. Of L,arks I have had several, and still have a pair ; but only one ever distinguished himself as a songster, and he died during the snow of last winter. All my I^arks, however, after a short time in the aviary, are perfectly well able to perch, which seems to be opposed to what one usually hears of their habits. In this aviary there is no tit-bit so earnestl}^ desired by all the birds I have men- tioned as wood-lice, locally known as slaters. The Jay, indeed, prefers beetles, and the Cockatoo looks on with in- difference ; but to see the commotion amongst Starlings and I^arks and Thrushes, one would imagine no other food had been given them for a week. Of Doves I have several kinds — the Common Ring-dove, the Turtle-dove, the Stock-dove, the White Japanese Dove, and the Egyptian Dove, the latter being like the common Ring-Dove, but suffused with a rosy hue all over the body. I^ast year the Stock-doves brought out one young dove, as did also the Ring-doves ; but both young birds died, whilst I was away during my summer holiday. This year the Stock- doves have fully reared a beautiful pair of young ones which I presented to the Zoological Gardens ; and all the other kinds were to be seen hatching. Indeed one of the most singular spectacles possible to imagine was to be seen in the aviary ; for, in a very capacious nest on a tree branch, there were six Doves' eggs, and on this nest, seated in harmony, a Turtle, a Japanese, and a Common Ring-dove. In building my second aviary I took advantage of the angle between two walls, so that there was perfect shelter from N. winds, and the wire netting was only on the S. side. I also boarded more than half the flooring of the aviary, in a sloping manner, so that the birds have always got dry footing to rest on below as well as on the perches. I also placed a number of boxes, cocoa-nuts, &c., in suitable positions for nesting ; but here, as in the other aviary, my birds greatly preferred their own to my arrangements. Not many, however, ever con- structed nests or laid eggs except a pair of Bullfinches and a pair of Budgerigars — these latter being indefatigable in that way. My Birds, 311 Of the Warbler family I have only kept four ; and one of these, a Stonechat, only lived with me for a few days, so that of its habits I can say but little. A Wheatear, however, which was caught in our playground, lived for about two months, and I had an opportunity of watching the peculiar movements of its tail and the spreading out of its wings whilst it sang. This bird was particularly fond of wood-lice, and though so small, whenever I brought those tit-bits to the aviary it succeeded in getting more than its share, fiercely driving away all other birds except a Robin that generally manages to have its own way in everything. The Robin is not by any means a tame bird in the aviary, and it is decided!}^ pugnacious, not merely with birds of its own kind, but with any bird that interferes with it. The bird is so well known that there is no need to refer to its peculiarities ; but my specimen is so wild — after two years' residence in the aviary — that whenever I go inside it creeps under the boarding and remains in hiding till I have left. It sings sweetly, however, and, except for its temper, is a satisfactory bird in the aviary. My favourite, however, amongst the Warblers is the Hedge Accentor, or Hedge Sparrow as it is called. I purchased a pair about two years ago ; but the hen died in less than a week, and I have never been able to obtain another. The survivor has astonished me with the beauty of its song ; and I have found it well able to hold its own though apparently so timid. After a time it became quite tame, and would allow me to stroke it down, scarcely moving away even when I placed my face close to it. The peculiar shuffling of its wings seems to be involuntary. Of Titmice I have only kept the Great or Ox-eye Titmouse and the smaller Blue-cap. I did not greatly care for the for- mer as it more than once broke the eggs of a Canary that had paired with a Siskin, and I suspecfed it also of having similarly wrecked a Goldfinch's nest. I never heard it sing, and it usually was in a state of chattering wrath either with me or with some denizen of the aviary. It was very interesting though to watch the manner in which it held a grain of hemp- seed in its claw to peck at, always flying with a single grain to a particular spot in the aviary. Of this bird's disappearance after having, been a year iti the aviary I can give no explana- tion. It is not there now, that is all I can say for certain ; 312 The Irish Naturalist. but before its disappearance I removed it to the large birds' aviar}^ on account of its habits. The Blue-bonnet is a more satisfactory bird and quite as amusing. It flits about incessantly, chattering continually, and 5^et it is a sociable bird too, never appearing happ3^ unless it lias a companion to solace its captivity. M}^ birds are not timorous, though neither are they tame, and whenever I enter the aviary they seek the topmost perch, always remain- ing in exactly the same spot till I leave, their heads being hidden behind a piece of board. They love anything in the way of fat and appear fond of water ; but they have not 3'et nested with me. Of Finches I keep many kinds. The Goldfinch has nested and sat on its eggs more than once, but has ** forsaken " the nest on every occasion, without bringing out young, though the eggs were fertile, as I have discovered by breaking them, The bird is delicate, but a thing of beauty in an aviary. The Canary, having paired with a Siskin, has nested and brought out young, which died, but the Siskins have never paired amongst themselves. The Siskin is, perhaps, of all small birds the most satisfactory in an aviary. I have had a pair for five years and they have never showed signs of illness, not even when moulting ; but they feed voraciously, and drive away much larger birds from both food and water till they are satisfied. The cock on one occasion escaped from the cage as I was entering, but instead of flying away, it settled on the netting, and allowed me to take it in my hand and place it within the aviary. It is an incessant songster, and bathes in a peculiar way by standing on the edge of the bath, merely ducking its head under water and allowing the water to run down its back. The Brambling is a handsome fellow, and a great addition to the aviar^^ Some few years ago the}^ were very plentiful and cheap in Dublin, but I have not seen so many for sale lately. I have had three for about four j^ears and they seem very healthy. A fourth died, but it was moulting at the time, and the weather was cold. The .song is not sweet, but there is not one of the Finches so handsome, and at the same time so -healthy. It is particularly fond of water, and usually is the ; first to enter the bath.. My Birds. 313 Everyone knows the Chaffinch and its habits, but I may here say that as an aviary bird it is as nearly perfect as can be imagined, except that it does not nest — at least with me. The pair which I placed in my aviary five years ago are there still, and look quite as healthy and as happy as their kindred outside — which by the way are very fond of lighting on the wire in the endeavour to become partakers with the captives — not I suppose in the captivity, but in the good things provided for the captives. The Common I^innet is very easily kept in an aviary, and is not, so far as I know, liable to diseases. One which I caught under my hat whilst it was trying to get into the aviary, is an especially good songster, and appears quite tame. I have an idea that it must have escaped from captivity before it was caught by me. The song is very sweet, and it continues the music till very late in the evening. The Twite I have found very hard to keep, and it appears to be not nearly so hardy as the Common Ivinnet. I had to renew my specimens several times, and, although I possess one for over two years, I cannot recommend this species as being so satisfactory as either the I^innet or the Redpoll. Of this latter species I have had four, for about five years, and I am able to disprove a statement in regard to its colour, which maintains that the captive bird having lost the red colour never recovers it in captivity ; for at this present moment one of these four has as brilliant a colour as I have ever seen, even in the most recent captives. I once possessed a large Mealj^ Redpoll — purchased in Bride-street, and supposed to have been captured near Dublin, but it was accidentally hanged through being entangled in a piece of thin twine. None of these birds ever commenced even to build a nest, and I have never noticed any inclination to pair, though I always keep my birds in pairs when possible. " (TO BR CONCtUDKD). 314 T^h^ Irish Naturalist. A NEW HANDBOOK TO THE GEOLOGY OF IRELAND. Guide to the Collections of Rocks and Fossils belongring: to the Ceologrical Survey of Ireland.— B3 A. McHenry, m.r.i.a., and W. \V. WatTS, m.a., f.g.s. (Dublin : for H. M. Stationery Office ; A. Thorn & Co. Price 9^/.) In the hands of those special investigators who are now replacing or assisting the omniscient but old-fashioned curators of museums, guide- books to collections are assuming the importance of scientific treatises. Her Majesty's Stationery Office has just issued, under the above title, a work of reference which will be welcome to all geologists in our islands. The late Dr. V. Ball, in his preface to this guide, clearly indicates his desire to provide better accommodation for the collections ; but the series of rocks and fossils now displayed in the Science and Art Museum in Dublin is already a boon to students, as well as a public recognition of the work of the Geological Survey, Sir Archibald Geikie gives us an account of the origin of these collections. They were for some time under the care of that keen field-observer, Mr. McHenry, who has him- self, during his official labours, added a large number of the specimens. Mr. \V. W. Watts, during his brief residence in Dublin as a member of the Staff of the Surve}-, gave almost his whole attention to the petro- graphic portion of this guide, which he has finally edited from his new post in London. The remarkable manner in which the work has been made to keep pace with recent observation (see p. 29, for instance) is a testimony to his constant care. The rocks are grouped under the four geographical provinces of Ireland, a plan which will be found convenient for reference in the Museum. In 80 pages we have a concise description of the floor of Ireland, a guide, in fact, to its geology, illustrated by the specimens in the Museum, which are referred to constantly by their numbers. The superiority of this method over that of the systematic catalogue drawn up by the mere curator will be at once apparent. Messrs. McHenry and Watts have produced a readable work, the details of which are largely based on original observations made in the course of survey-work. We w*ish that still more frequent references could have been given to the papers by other authors which have been utilised, as this would only serve to emphasise the enormous amount of new descriptive matter that is due to the writers of the guide. We have nothing here to do with the unfortunately dark conditions under which the photographic illustrations and many of the specimens have to be displayed in the museum. The study of them has now been admirably facilitated by the guide; but why was not the concluding "Index to Places " arranged alphabetically according to the localities, like that in Roseubusch's " Mikroskopische Physiographic," instead of in the order of the numbers on the specimens.? A visitor from the country can find without difficulty the rocks of his own county ; but, if A New Handbook to the Geology oj Ireland. 315 he wishes to see whether Balliuagappoge or Knockaunavoher is repre- sented in the collection, he may have to search over an extensive series. When we attempt to comment on the details of the text, we find the perusal of the book far more interesting than any attempt to criticise it. In a few lines, for instance (p. 17), we have an account of Sir A. Geikie's views on the " conglomerates " of Howth, and Prof. Sollas"s suggestion that the majority of these rocks are breccias ; while, lower down on the same page, the theory of slaty cleavage is introduced in an account of the slates of Co. Wicklow. We notice, by-the-by, that the names of the Irish counties are written throughout the work without the prefix, which is, perhaps, to be regretted from the point of view of geographical preci- sion. An Englishman does not say that Woodstock is in Oxford, or that Whitby is in York; and such a phrase as " isolated localities in Dublin and Wicklow " (p. 18) is, we believe, liable to misconstruction. It goes somewhat against the grain to find (pp. 18, 60, &c.) the division " Lower Silurian " merged into the general term " Silurian," although it appears as a separate system in the table on p. 16. Surely this is too great a sacrifice to deceased authorit}-. We note, however, with pleasure that the Old Red Sandstone is accorded (p. 83, &c.) a distinct systematic position, and is not swallowed up, as was once threatened, between the Silurian and the Carboniferous. Even the alleged conformity between the Dingle Beds and the Silurian becomes a dubious matter in the field, and Jukes himself preferred to let his mapping controvert his conclusions, and to state his difficulties most plainly. For observers in Co. Dublin, the fine account of the Leinster granite and its flanking masses will have especial interest (pp. 31-35 and 39-40). In the list of minerals (p. 32) we may take exception to the description of apatite as merely "hexagonal phosphate of lime" ; to copper pyrites as " cubic sulphide " of copper, when it is tetragonal, and contains as much iron as copper ; and to kaolin as ''silicate of alumina" only, its mode of formation being outlined without reference to the hydration. Too many names, moreover, seem to us to be used for igneous rocks in general ; the ordinary museum-student — and, for that matter, the most experienced petrologist — may really gain in philosophic knowledge by grouping together such generic names a;s diabase, proterobase, hypcrsthenc' porphyrite, epidioriie, lamprophyre, and kcnantite, under far more simple family- titles, distinguishing the special types by adjectival affixes. This point, however, will always be a source of friction between those to whom the name of a rock-mass comes as a reminder of some microscopic section, and those to whom it seems almost as the echo of an elfin trumpet, borne along all the range of crag and purple moorland. We have evidence that the aspect of the country- itself was often in the minds of the writers of this museum-guide, as, for instance, in the account of the Mweelrea area on p. 45, and the capital description of the limestone country of Co. Clare on p. 87. The geographical grouping of the rocks under the several provinces requires some occasional cross-references, which might be obviated by an index such as that which we have suggested. Thus a traveller between 3i6 The Irish Naturalist. Newcastle and Warrenpoint might expect to find his rocks illustrated in the case styled " Coast of Down " (p. 74) ; whereas they are more conve- niently dealt with under the heading of " The Mourne Mountains." The important questions raised by the igneous rocks of Ulster are remarkably well treated in a summary of some nine pages. We hope to hear more of the phonolite of Blackball Head (p. 91), the " Ivernites " of Co. Limerick (p. 93), and other rocks of which Mr. Watts has special knowledge, here modestly passed over. The last thirty- five pages of the guide are devoted to an account of the fossils displayed, pre- faced by an outline of the classification of the animal kingdom. This latter feature seems beside the purpose of the guide, and might have been handed over to the zoological department of the museum, especially as there is no corresponding introduction to mineralogy and petrology in the earlier portion of the book. It is impossible to do justice to the de- tails of animal structure in such limits ; this is apparent in the description of the older and modern types of crinoids (p. 100), of the limbs of trilo- bites (p. 102), and of the pulmonata (p. 105) as "lung-bearing shellfish." In the survey of the special palaeontology of Ireland, the gender of certain specific names is open to correction ; but the information seems to rival the petrological portion in the attention given to recent work. As ex- amples, the Durham concretions are correctly mentioned as "calcite" (p. 109) ; while Pucksia MacHenryi already finds a place as an Irish fossil. An important list of figured and type-specimens in the collection con- cludes this section of the guide. Altogether, this little paper-covered volume is a real addition to our libraries, and its excellences are likely to be appreciated by the specialist even more than by the enquiring visitor. It will now be impossible to enter upon research in any Irish county, without referring in the first place to what Messrs. McHenry and Watts have thought fit to say upon the subject. Grenvii,i,E A. J. Coi,E. CORRESPONDENCE. Quartz, Quartz-rocks, and Quartzltes. To the Editors of the Irish Naturalist. Tn a paper recently published by the Royal Irish Academy on "Quartz, Qnartz-rocks, and Quartzites," I notice that Mr. Kinahan quotes some passages from a letter written by me to him on the subject of sinters from Iceland. As his statement, made just before the first quotation, is open to some little misunderstanding, and as I have no copy of the letter, I am compelled to ask him, through you, to publish any statement in my letter, except that which he has already quoted, which has any bearing on the clastic structure of sinters. If he will be good enough to do so, the bearing of the study of sinters on quartzites and quartz- rocks will be a little clearer. W. W Watts, Corndon, Worcester-road, Sutton, Surrey. L 3^1 ] NOTES, BOTANY. FUNGI, The Utility of noting Fungrus-Iocalltles,— Despite the universal abundance of the Daisy, the parasitic cluster-cup fungus which it some- times harbours, is so rare that I had never, until a few weeks ago, come across it. Happening to be at Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow, on August 25th, and remembering that the fungus had been recorded from here by Mr. Greenwood Pim a good many years ago, I kept a sharp look-out whilst walking up the " Gold-mines Valley," and was rewarded by find- ing an abundance of this rare species. It was formerly called (Ecidium co7?ipositarum var. bellidis, D.C., but is now known to be only a stage in the life-history of Fuccinia obsctcra, Schroet., the other, or teleutospore stage, being passed on Luzida cainpestris. E. J. McWeenjsy, Dublin. A curious Coincidence. — For several years I have carefully ob- served Fumaria officinalis in order to ascertain if it ever became atta<:ked by fungal parasites — but always in vain. Last August a plant was sent me from Westport by a friend who is commencing the study of field- botany, and wanted to be told the name of the specimen. As luck would have it, that very plant of Fmnaria was severely infected with a parasitic mould which I had never before seen — Feronospora affiiiis, Rossm., de- scribed by Massee as " rare." Rare it certainly is about Dublin, for out of the hundreds of specimens of the host-plant I have examined, not one presented the parasite, whilst it is accidentally present on the only specimen I have ever seen from Co. Mayo ! E. J. McWeeney MOSSES, The WIoss Flora of Aran. — The visit of the combined Field Clubs to Aranmore took place at the very worst season for collecting mosses, and the meagre list published does not do justice to the bryology of the island. Aranmore, with its dry limestone rocks, cannot promise a copious moss flora, but yet, in winter or early spring, it might very well repay a search, A full enumeration for this western outlier would be very interesting, and it is to be hoped that ere long some local botanist may undertake this work. Going there by steamer in May, 1891, and stopping all night, I had an afternoon and a morning's work amongst the plants. The search for mosses was not, on this occasion, the primary object, and the near approach of summer did not authorise the hope of much results as regards these moisture-loving plants. Nevertheless some damp nooks did turn up affording suitable habitats, and my list of species, collected in Aran, includes the following, which do not appear to have been found by the Field Clubs, whose report is the only record of Aran mosses that I can find : — Dicranujn scopariuni. L. ; Tortula ttwntana, Nees. ; Cinclidoius fontinaloides, L. ; Grimviia heterosticha, Muell. ; Orthotrichtan saxatile, Brid. ; Fiinaria hygroinetrica, L. ; Breutdia chrysocoma, Dicks. ; Hypmon striatum, Schreb. ; Neckera coviplanata, L. ; Fottia Heijnii, Hedw. ; Mollia nitida, Lindb. ; Grijiimia prtcinosa, Wils. ; Zygodon viridissitmts, Dicks. ; Funaria obttisa, Dicks. ; Bryitm ccespititiutn, ly. ; Anomodon vitictdosis, ly. ; and Hypnum rusciforme, Neck. S. A. Stewart, Belfast. 3i8 The Irish Naturalist. CHARACE^E. Irish Characcae. — In the Journal of Botany for October, Messrs. Groves publish their records of British Characese for the last five 5-ears. We are glad to see Irish plants figuring prominently in the lists of new stations for the various species and varieties. Most of the Irish notes here given have been already published in the paper Avhich Messrs, Groves contributed to these pages at the beginning of the present vear. PHANEROGAMS. Flora of Howth.— Miss Jeannette Featherstonhaugh sends a speci- men of Aniennaria dioica, gathered early this summer, growing among heather on the upper cliff-walk. This forms an interesting addition to the flora of Howth. R. LiyOYD Praeger. Aran Island Brambles.— When on Aranmore in July, I collected specimens of the few forms of Rubus that grew there ; and they have since been submitted to Rev. W. Moyle Rogers, whose notes did not reach me in time for insertion in the botanical report of the Galway Conference. The Rti/>us-^or2i of Aran appears to be very limited, and consists almost entirely of R. riisticanus, R. corylifolius, and R. cizsius, and their h3'brids. A more interesting form, and the only other form I gathered, was R. fnollissimus, Rogers {Joiirn. BoL, February, 1894). This plant was also the only bramble which grew on Inismacdarragh, a re- mote islet of the Connemara coast, celebrated for the beautiful primitive church which stands on it, and other remains of early Christianity. Mr. Rogers writes — " The Aran Rzibi are apparently very poor. Where rusticanus and the civsii appropriate the ground they seem to try to make up for the want of other allies by hybridising endlessly. But your finding ?nollissimus there is very interesting." R. L1.OYD Praeger. Carex fusca, All. (=^C. Buxbaumll, Wahl.) In Scotland.— To the Annals of Scottish Natural History for October, Mr. Arthur Bennett contributes a short paper on the recent finding of Carex fusca (better known as C. Buxbaumii) in Scotland, which interesting discovery had been already announced in the Journal of Botany for September. The interest of this find to Irish botanists lies in the fact that for the long space of sixty years this has been considered an exclusively Irish plant as regards the British Isles. It was discovered in 1835 by Dr. David Moore on Harbour Island, lyougli Neagli, near Toome, and has not since been found elsewhere either at Lough Neagh or in other localities. As it is a native of Scandinavia, and Central Europe, its occurrence in Scotland does not come as a surprise. The station where it has now been found by Mr. W. F. Miller, is in the district of Arisaig in Inverness-shire, on the swampy margins of a small loch, where the finder reports five large patches of the plant. The discovery is of importance also, since, on account of drainage and grazing, it is doubtful if the plant still survives in its only Irish habitat. May it long flourish undisturbed on the margins of this remote Scottish loch. Old Plant Remedies. — In the Dublin Journal of Medical Science for September, Dr. Henry S. Purdon writes on "Old Native Remedies." Those who are interested in the medicinal uses, real and imaginary, of our native plants, will find interesting information in Dr. Purdon's article, which deals with the plants formerly or still in use in the neigh- bourhood of Belfast. Notes. 319 ZOOI.OGY. CRUSTACEA. TheWoodlfce of Co. Carlow. — An expedition was organised by the Royal Irish Academy Fauna and Flora Committee in the spring of this year to Borris in the County Carlow. The principal object of the Committee in the selection of this locality was to try and discover the Crested and the Palmated Newts, which had been reported to occur there. Though plenty of the Common Newt were found, the rarer ones succeeded in evading capture, and we still remain in the same position as last year in regard to them — namely, we have nothing at all to show but reports that they live in Ireland. The expedition was more successful with the invertebrates. Mr. Halbert will shortly publish an account of the coleoptera of the Borris district, many of which are new to Ireland. The following species of woodlice were obtained : — Trichoniscus pusillus, T. vividus. Porcdlio scabcr, Cylisticus convexus, Platyarthrus Hoffmanseggii (only at Bagenalstown in the nest of the ant Myrinica rubra), Oniscus asellus, Philoscia niiiscoriini and Arniadilliduun vidgare. It will be remembered that I mentioned in my paper on the Irish Woodlice {Irish Naturalist, vol. iii., 1894), that Trichonisais vividus w^as found only at Waterford. It had not been obtained anywhere else in fact in the British Islands. The discovery of this very rare species along the banks of the River Barrow is therefore of much interest. None of the other species, except perhaps Cylisticus convexus, deserve special mention, this being only the second Irish locality. R. F. SCHARFF, Dublin. INSECTS. The Strldulatlon of Corixa.— At Mrs. J. H. Thompson's residence I had the opportunity of observing on two distinct occasions the stridulation of Corixa. I was attracted by the peculiar notes proceeding from the glass vessel in which the creatures were preserved for observation. Having watched till I identified the one performing, I was rewarded by a fine opportunity. Perched on a piece of the vegetable matter' with which they seem to love to amuse themselves, the little fellow with the two front legs brushed to and fro rapidly the sides of his mouth, and at the time of this brushing the sound was produced. I noticed also a slight change in the note, but could not detect any corresponding change in the movement. James Robertson, Cork. New Irish Ichneumons. — Mr. Bignell of Plymouth informs me that two hymenopterous parasites bred from larvae of Sesia scoliifortnis which I took at Killarney belong to the genus Pimpla, and are probably a species new to science. This suggests that research in Ireland would probably result in additions to our list of parasitic Hymenoptera. W. F. DE V. Kane, Mouaghan. BIRDS. Rare Birds near Wexford. — Two of my boys were out shooting on 24th August, and one shot an Avocet in good plumage and the other a Black-tailed Godwit. Another Godwit of the same kind was shot by one of them on September 17th. The Avocet was by itself feeding at the edge of a pool in marshy ground, and the Godwit was with some Ring Plovers on the edge of a sandbank in Wexford Harbour. The second Godwit was shot near where the Avocet was got. All specimens are in the hands of Messrs. Williams & vSons, Dame- street. E. A. Gibbon, Rosslare, Wexford. 330 The Irish Naturalist, PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. RovAi, Z001.0G1CA1, SociEi'y. Recent donations comprise a Kingfisher from Miss Lees, a dozen Trout and other fish from F. Godden, Esq., a Brown Bear from Lieut. R. Travers, a Lemur from Dr. More Madden, and a Seal from F. Flynn, Esq. A Red Deer fawn and three Lion cubs have been born in the gardens ; while a Gibbon, another representative of the man-like Apes, three Bar- bary Apes, two Axolotls, six Hedgehogs, and a pair of Geese have been purchased. 12,680 persons visited the gardens during September. Dublin Naturai^ists' Fiei^d CIvUb. September 7th. — The Club held an Excursion to Gormanstown. The weather was delightful, and a party of thirty-five proceeded by the 2.0 train northward, and entered the picturesque grounds of Gormanstown Castle, where the afternoon was spent. The season was rather late for the collecting of flowering plants, but numerous fungi were peeping up through the dead leaves in the woods, and a number of species were observed by Dr. M'Weeney, who found that one of the most remarkable features of the day's collecting was the abundance of the genus Hygro- phorus, which comprises bright-coloured mushroom-like species of a peculiar waxy consistence. They are usually found much later on in the season. To the heavy rains in August must doubtless be attributed their early appearance this year. The species taken included Hygrophoriis praiensis, Fr., H. coccineus, SchaefF, H. chlorophamts^ Fr., H. psittacinns, Fr., H. niveus, Fr,, H. russo-coriaceus, B. and Br., H. nemorens, Fr., H. calyptrceformisy Bk., Clavaria fastigiata, Linn., Helvella crispa, Fr., Leotia lubrica, Pers., Pcziza badia, Pers., and Sporodinia aspergillus, Schriit. The last-named, a beautiful parasitic mould, was taken in its sporangiferous stage on a decaying agaric ; whilst awaiting examina- tion, it conjugated, forming numerous zygospores. The chief interest of the Gormanstown demesne lies in the fine old timber and rare shrubs. Near the Castle stands a marvellous old Mulberry, whose history can be traced back for 700 years. Close at hand are beautiful walks between rows of ancient Yews, overshadowed by the far-stretching flat branches of a great Cedar. Acacias and Cork-trees flourish exceedingly, and a summerhouse has been built of cork grown on the estate. A glorious Beech-tree came in for much admiration ; its branches sweep the ground over an immense area, and have taken root, and will remain as separate trees long after the parent has gone the way of all timber. In the walled- in garden was pointed out an enormous Pear-tree, stated to be the largest in Ireland. The district was not rich in insects. The pretty plant-bug Phytocoris tilicB was taken in numbers by beating lime ; its variegated patterns harmonising well with the lichen-covered twigs. Among the spiders were Lycosa ruricola, Linyphia clathrata, and Bathyphantes nignmis, wdiile Oligolophiis iridens and Liobmmni Black-wallnwQve noteworthy harvest- men. The members returned to the station in time to catch the 6. 28 train to town. Miss E. H. Goodbody, and Messrs. R. A. Cammack and H. G. Tempest, were elected Members of the Club. >/ ^jje ^vx^lj ^ainvcili&t Vol. IV. DECEMBER, 1895. No. 12. ■>■ ' "t M. NOTKS ON GIvACIAI, DEPOSITS IN IRKI.AND. BY PROFe:SSOR W. J. SOI,I,AS, F.R.S., AND R. I.I,OYD PRAKGKR, B.^. II. — Kii,i,-o'-THS Grange:. [Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, 12th February, 1895]. Thk important brickworks of Kill-o'-the Grange are situated near the southern shore of Dublin Bay, being distant a mile and a half S.W. of the town and harbour of Kingstown. The surface of the ground at the works is just 150 feet above ordnance datum ; the surrounding country is undulating and drift-covered, rising gradually from the sea to the base of the granite hills, ofwhichthenearest (Three-Rock Mountain, 1,479 feet) is distant four miles to the W.S.W. Kill-o'-the Grange lies on the Leinster granite area, near its northern limit, the junction with the Carboniferous limestone being about two miles to the northward. About two and a half miles to thQ S.K. lies the northern end of the well-known coast-section of Killiney Bay, which we have discussed in a previous papers The excavations which have been made to procure clay at the brickworks, and gravel in the adjacent meadows, afford an excellent section of the local superficial deposits. As in other sections in this neighbourhood which we have described,^ we find here a thick deposit of I^awer Boulder-clay, capped by stratified gravels, large blocks of rock being prevalent at the junction of the two. The Boulder-clay is here about thirty- five feet thick, and homogeneous throughout. It rests on an uneven bed of granite, the projecting portions of which are rounded and smoothed, and strongly grooved in aN.W. and S.E. direction. Near its base, the Boulder-clay presents a peculiar character, causing it to be known among the workmen as ' /n's/i Naturalist, iii,, 13 (1894). '■ Loc. at. and I.N., iii., 161, 194. A 322 The Irish Naturalist. "tea-leaf," a name which aptly expresses its appearance. This is the result of a foliated structure, the folise being very irregular in form, and their faces, as revealed on breaking the clay, being extremely smooth and shining. The '' tea- leaf" clay passes upwards imperceptibly into typical Boulder- clay, dark brown in colour, very hard, fine, and smooth in texture, and containing a fair number of pebbles, generall}^ rather small, and most of them glaciated ; also occasional blocks of large size ; and sparingly scattered marine shells, usually in fragments, with now and then a scrap of lignite. Our first visit to this interesting deposit was on the occasion of an excursion of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club on 28th April, 1894 ; what we saw on that occasion decided us to return, and since then we have paid frequent visits to the localit}^ The advantages of working this section were two- fold— the constant excavation presented continually new faces of the clay for examination ; and the workmen were speedily induced to pick out and preserve every shell or other organic object that they observed. In these ways a representative collection of the rocks and fossils contained in the deposit was speedily accumulated. The workmen showed industry and observation in their collecting ; their instructions were to preserve anything in the nature of a shell which the}- found in the pit, and their findings showed curiously how extraneous objects make their way even to an isolated spot like this. We have no reason to believe that their collecting was not genuine ; 3'et it was surprising to receive among numerous glacial fossils a fresh specimen of an Oliva and two of a foreign Nassa, in addition to oysters, cockles, limpets, and periwinkles which were evidently of recent origin ; but even the freshest of the shells natural to the clay could be distinguished from all these at a glance, by their different texture, colour, and state of preser^-ation. The weakest point in the men's collecting was that pieces of small or fragile shells were likely to be passed over or smavShed. The following is an annotated list of the shells obtained ; we have added the exivSting range of each species with reference to Great Britain. We are much indebted to Messrs. Iv- T. Newton, F.R.S., and Percy F. Kendall for assistance given in the determination of some of the fragments. Notes on Glacial Deposits in Ireland, 32 Pectcn opercular Is, L.— One fragment. Present distribution, north and south of Great Britain. P. maxitnus, L.— One fragment of a large specimen: Present distribution, north and south. Lima subauriculata, INIont.— One beautiful and perfect valve, of full size, was washed out of the material filling the spire of a Chrysodovms re7r7'sus. Present distribution, north and south. Mytilus modiolus, I^.— Two fragments. Present distribution, northern only. Pectunculus glycymcris, L.— Seven pieces, one of them a nearly perfect well-preserved valve. Present distribution, north and south. Cyprlna island ica, L.— By far the most abundant fossil in the deposit, but in spite of its strength, the shell is invariably broken into fragments. Out of over 150 pieces collected, the largest is only if-inch in length. Most of the fragments belong to fully-grown specimens ; a few to )-oung shells. The fragments are in general quite angular, with sharp edges. Three pieces are somewhat scratched and smoothed on both sides ; two others are much scratched and polished, with sharp edges; and another two are beautifully polished, with most of the edges rounded. In all these pieces the markings show about equally on each side ; in at least a dozen others, the smooth inner side shows scratches. A few pieces are bored by Cliona. Present distribution, chief!}' northern. Astartc sulcata, Da C, var. eiiiptica.— Six complete valves, and twenty-six fragments. This variety, which is the northern form of the species, and does not now range south of Britain, alone occurred. A. compressa, Mont, var. striata. — Three perfect valves. Present distribution, northern only. A; borealis, Chemn. — Twenty specimens occurred, one of them being a beautifully complete and fresh valve ; several others were only slightly broken. Present distribution, high northern, and not British. Venus casina, L. — Frequent ; thirty-six fragments were found, but no complete specimen, which is certainh' remarkable, as this is one of the most strongly-built of British shells. Present distribution, north and south. Tel Una toalthica, L.— Five complete specimens, and twelve others, most of them only slightly broken. One shell was bored, perhaps by a Natka. Present distribution, north and south. Solen slllciua, L.— One fragment. It ranges north and south of Britain. IVlya truncata, L.— Seven fragments were found. Present distri- bution, chiefly northern. Panopaea norvegica, Speng.— Twenty-one fragments of this fine shell occurred, some of them being beautifully glaciated. Its present distribution is entirely northern ; in Britain it is now found on the Dogger Bank only, in about 30 fathoms. Saxicava rugosa, L.— Four pieces. Present distribution, ever}-- wliere. Dcntalium entalis, L.--Two broken specimens. Present distri- bulion, north and south. Littorina rudis, Maton.~Two specimens, slightly broken, a fully- grown one, and a young shell. Present range, north and south. Turritella terebra, L. — Sixteen broken specimens. Present dis- tribution, north and south. Natica Alderi, Forbes.— One small complete example, which has been bored through near the lip. Present distribution, north and south. A 2 324 The Irish Naturalist. T*\xrx^\xr3. lapillus, Iv. — Two specimens, complete, but much smoothed and worn. Present range, north and south. Chrysodomus (Fusus) contrarius, L.— Two almost complete specimens, and fragments of at least half a dozen others. This reversed form occurs throughout the newer Pliocenes, but is extremely rare in our present seas. Pleurotoma rufa, Mont. — One complete specimen. Present range, north and south. In addition to the above, there are a number of species which are not j^et positively identified, and are withheld for the present. Among them, is a Pecten, three species of Cardiuvi, a Cardita % a Macfra, two species of Nassa, and two of Fusiis. There are besides fragments of at least half a dozen other species, quite indeterminable ; so that the total molltiscan fauna which we have collected at Kill-o'-the Grange numbers abottt thirty-eight species, represented by some 400 specimens. As to the physical characters of this large assemblage, the remarks appended to the note on Cyprina islandica appl}' to all ; the shells are very hard and fresh-looking, almost invariably broken, mostly with sharp angles and edges, thotigh in some the edges are thoroughl}^ rounded ; some of them are striated, and a few are beautifull}' polished. Before considering the faunistic characters of this assemblage, it may be well to enumerate the other animal forms discovered. Of CirripedeSj Balanus .^«;;^^n was represented by four pieces. It is a species of northern facies, occurring rather sparingly and generally in deep water. Several Ostracoda were detected ; but they have not yet been named. A polyzoon washed out of the spire of a univalve also awaits determination. Thanks to the kindness of Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., we are able to state that Foraminifera are abundant in the cla}-, and to give the following list of species obtained in abotit ir, lb. of material sent to him. lYIlIioIina seminulum (Linne). — Rare lYI. trlcarlnata (D'Orb.) — Very rare. IVI. sub rotunda (Mont.) — Frequent. IVI. tenuis (Cz.) — Ver}' rare. Textularia globulosa, Ehr.— Common. A common fossil of the North of Ireland Chalk. Bulimlna pupoides, D'Orb.— Rare. B. fuslformis, Will. — Frequent. BoIIvtna punctata, D'Orb — Rare. B. pllcata, D'Orb.— Rare. B. lobata, Br.— Rare. B. dllatata, Rss. —Common. Nolcs on Glacial Deposits in Ireland. 325 Cassidutina laevigata, D'Orb.— Rare. C. crassa, D'Orb. — Very common. Lagena apiculata, Rss.— Rare. L. seriato-granulosa, Rss..^— Very rare. L. squamosa (Mont.)— Very rare. L. hexagon a (Will.)— Very rare. Nodosaria orthopleura, Rss.— Very rare. This is a Crag species. N. hispida, D'Orb.— Very rare. Rhabdogonium tricarinatum (D Orb.) -Very rare. Lingulina tenera, Born.— Very rare. Common in the Antrim lyias. Uvigcrina angulosa, Will.— Common. U. nodosa, D'Orb.- Very rare. Common in the North of Ireland Chalk. Cristellai*ia cultrata (Mont.) Very rare. CIobIgei*!na bulloides, DOrb.— Very common. C. crctacea, D'Orb. —Frequent. A Chalk fossil. C. asqui lateral is, Br.— Common. A Chalk fossil ; it has also been dredged off the West of Ireland, but the Kill-o'-the-Grange specimens look similar to those found in Chalk. Orbulina universa, D'Orb.— Rare. Discorbina rosacea (D'Orb.)— Very rare. D. sp. — Very rare. Rotalia Beccarii (Linn6).- Very rare. R. orbicularis, D'Orb. — Rare. Truncatulina lobatula (W. & J.)— Frequent. Nonionina depressula (W. & J.)— Very common. N. orbicularis, Br. — Frequent. N. scapha (F. & M.)— Rare. Polystomella crispa (Linne). — Rare. P. striatopunctata (F. & M.)— Frequent. Mr. Wright remarks that Foraminifera are quite abundant in the clay ; the fauna is in general what one would expect to find in shallow water around our present coasts, but mixed with these are derived species, some of them being compara- tively plentiful ; these derived forms are clearly distinguishable from those properly of the clay by their chalky texture, as well as by their generic and specific characters. Viewing generally the Kill-o'-the-Grange fauna, and leaving out species certainly derived from older formations, and species whose identity is doubtful, we have first a group of twenty-two mollusca — fifteen lamellibranchs, a scaphopod, and six gastro- pods ; of these, one species {Astarte borealis) is an arctic shell, not now found in the British area. Several others, such as the remaining species of Astaric, Panopcca norvegica^ and Mytihis modiohcs, have now outside of Britain au entirely 326 The Irish Naticralisi. northern range; the remainder are widely distributed both north and vsouth of Britain. It will thus be seen that the fauna has a northern, but by no means an arctic aspect. Indeed the absence of such arctic s\)qciqs 2i.s Lcda pcrnula, &c., which usually characterize the Boulder- clay fauna, is worthy of special note. As to the bathymetrical characters of the fauna, a few of the species, such as Solai, Littorina and Pur- pura, are purely littoral ; the majority are such as live in five to twenty fathoms of water : and one or two, such as Lima subaitriculata and Panopxa norvegica usually inhabit a some- what greater depth ; to these last must be added the Cirripede Balanus Hameri. The Foraminifera do not lend themselves to an analysis of this kind, as they occur throughout a much less restricted bathymetrical range ; but the occurrence of forms derived from Secondary rocks is of great importance, and will be referred to later on. Among the specimens collected by the workmen were a number of Liassic fossils, most of them striated and polished. The following is a list, arranged according to zones, of the species found ; we are indebted for their determination to Mr, A. H. Foord, F.G.S. :— ScHlothelinia ang:ulata, vSclilotli, ") Lima grlg^antea, Sow. | Cryphaea Incurva, Sow. f Lower Lias. Cai^dinla Listeri, Stutch. | VEgoceras Portlockii, Wri^lit. J Bclemnltes brcviformis, Voltz., var. y| ^^-^^^^^^ ^ Lytoccr'as fimbrlatus, vSow. > Mai*poccras bifrons, Brug. f pper Lias. Of these, the most abundant was Gryphcta incurva, of which over a dozen specimens were obtained ; of Cardinia Listeri four were found ; of Lima gigantea three ; and of LLarpoccras bifrons two. The most southern exposure of the Liassic system in Ireland is a few miles south-west of Belfast, whence it extends to the northern coasts of Antrim and Derry, the principal exposures being at Larne and Ballintoy. These beds belong to the lower division only, the highest zone noticed by Tate being marked by Bclemnitcs acutus at Larne. It is remarkable therefore to find in the Kill-o'-the-Grange Boulder-clay not only fossils of the Lower Lias, but two species of Middle Lias age, and one, LLarpoccras bifrons, which is characteristic of a particular zone of the Upper Lias. Notes on Glacial Deposits in Ireland. 327 From a clean face in the lower portion of the deposit of Boulder-clay, we gathered 129 stones and pebbles at random, which, when examined, yielded the following percentages : — Carboniferous limestone, - - - 38' 2 Basalt, - - - - - - 15*8 Carboniferous sandstone, - - - 15*0 Hard chalk, - - - - - 5'o Slate, - - - - - . 5-0 White quartzite, - - - • Z'^i Felstone, - - - - - Tt'Z Black flint, - . . . _ 2*5 Cambrian sandstone, " - - - - 2*5 Cambrian slate, - - - - - 1*6 Coal-measure shale, - - - - i*6 Black micaceous grit, - - - - i'6 Triassic sandstone, . - . . -8 Epidiorite, . .... -8 Granite, ------ -S Rhyolite, - - - - - -8 Lignite, ------ -8 White quartz, - - - - - -8 ' lOO'O It will be immediately observed that although the deposit lies on granite, which extends in every direction for several miles, this rock was only represented in the 129 pebbles by a single specimen, w^hile more than half the total are derived from the Carboniferous rocks. Still more remarkable is the comparative abundance of basalts of precisely the same character as those which are found in places in the north of Ireland. But while this is certainly the nearest locality from which these rocks can have been derived, it by no means follows that they may not have come from points still further north The northern origin of the basalts is in accord with the occurrence of no less than 7*5 per cent, of Cretaceous rocks. None of the other pebbles call for special remarks except one of rhyolite agreeing in character with that of Forkill near Dundalk, the nearest point fronr which it can have been derived. In addition to collecting pebbles for per-centage purposes, we paid special attention to the larger blocks. These occur almost exclusively on the denuded surface of the Boulder-clay at the base of the overlying gravels, and they present a very interesting assemblage. Among numerous specimens of riebeckite-beahng granophyre (Ailsa Craig rock) may be mentioned one angular block measuring i' ;< 8" x 8". Its sur- face was rough, and did not exhibit striation. Of the various 328 The Irish Naturalist. agents that have been suggested as having effected the trans- port of this Scotch rock, seaweed would in this instance appear to be excluded, both by the size of the block, and by the distance which it has travelled. Large fragments of Chalk flint were found, one sharp-edged piece measuring 8" x 6" x 6". A fine boulder of rhyolite or quartz porphyry occurred, probably from Forkill in Co. Armagh ; and near at hand was a large fragment of Coal-measure sandstone, streaked with undulating layers of coarse muscovite and carbonaceous matter, similar to sandstones which occur at Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, and Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. There were also blocks of Carboniferous limestone of considerable size, one being 2 ^ feet long by 2 feet broad ; and one of Old Red Sandstone measur- ing i' 6" X \ 6" X r. Leinster granite was rare, but one grand block was seen in sittc near the base of the Boulder- clay, rounded, with a rough unscratched surface, and measuring a yard in diameter. It will be seen from a consideration of the travelled fossils and rocks described above, that while many of them may have been derived from the north-east of Ireland, this cannot have been the case with all. The Ailsa Craig rock must certainly have come from the Clyde, or from some of the islands to the north of it. We know furthermore that Ireland furnishes Liassic fossils of the lower division only, and to e:jiplain the presence of Middle and Upper Lias fossils we are driven again to the Hebrideaii islands, where the zones which might have furnished them have been shown to exist by Judd"^ and others. And if the riebeckite-granophyre and a portion of the Lias fossils had their source in the Inner Hebrides, some of the basalts also may have come from this region. The occurrence in the clay of Liassic and Chalk foraminifera corroborates in a remarkable manner the evidence of the larger Liassic fossils and the travelled blocks ; all these derived foraminifera are found in the secondary rocks of Antrim, and none of them elsewhere in Ireland ; but, as in the case of the larger fossils and the erratics, some of them may have had a Scotch origin. *See Judd, "On the Secondary Rocks of Scotland," QJ.G.S. 34, (1S78), p. 660. Notes 071 Glacial Deposits in Ireland. 329 The MoUuscan fauna points to a cold sea of moderate depth, and an adjoining shore-line. But the smashed con- dition of even the strongest shells, their polish, striation, and frequent rounding, are very remarkable features, and, coupled with the rounded and polished nature of the grains of sand in the clay, suggest that they have been exposed at some period of their history to beach conditions, and to the grinding and pounding of shore ice. COI^EOPTERA COIvLECTBD IN CO. CAREOW. (For the R.I. A. Flora and Fauna Committee.) BY J. N. HAI^BERT. Towards the end of last March the Royal Irish Academy Fauna and Flora Committee arranged for a short trip to the west of Co. Carlo w, the objects of which were various. Dr. R. F. Scharff wished to confirm the reputed occurrence there of two rare species of newts (see Irish Naturalist (current volume) p. 319), and at the same time to see what could be done in certain other groups, while Mr. David M'A.rdle collected the liverworts and mosses. During our stay of three days we worked the sheltered and pleasantly diversified Barrow valley between Goresbridge and Graiguenamanagh, and as all our captures were made sufficiently near Borris special localities are in most cases unnecessar}^ Unfortunately our visit was a little too early in the season, for the previous severe frosts would seem to have retarded the spring species, notably the Hydradephaga, which were decidedly rare, and in the terres- trial groups a little hard work was necessary to search them out from their yet undeserted winter quarters. There was a heavy flood in the Barrow and great numbers of Coleoptera were found in the refuse swept down and accumulated in low- lying places. The only records from the district are a few made by Dr. A W. Foot in the Proceedi?igs of the Diibliji Natural History Society for 1870. Dr. David Sharp has kindly given me much help with the difficult genus Honuilota, and I am also indebted to Mr. G. C. Champion. A 3 330 The Irish Naturalist. The following is a complete list of the species collected : — Carahus nemoralis, Miill. Notiophiluspahtstn's,T)n{t. Nebria brevicolHs, F. Loricera pilicornis, F. Acupalpns exiguus, Dej., var. h(?idus, Dej. Harpahis rujibarhis, F. H. rujicornis, F. Stoniis pnrnicatus, Panz. Pterostichxis versicolor, Sturm. P. madidus, F. P. vu/garis, L/. P. m'grita, F. P. streniius, Panz. P. vernaJis, Gyll. Amara trivialis, Gyll. A. communis, Panz. Calathus cisteloides, Panz. C. melanocephahis, L. A Hchomenus angusticollis, F. A. dorsalis, Mlill. - A . partimpunctatus, F. A. micans, Nic. A. puellus, Dej. Bemhidium rit/escens, Guer. 13. viannerheimi , Salil. Trechus ininuiiis, F., var. obtusus, Er. . Dromius quadrimacidatus, L. Haliphis fuh'tis, F. //. riiJicoUis, DeG. //. lineatocoliis, Marsh. Hydroporus lepidus, Ol. U. palustrts, ly. //. jiigrita, F. Agabus bipustidatus, Ol. Gyrinus natator, Scop. G. opacus, Salil. IJydrobius fuscipes, L. . Anacosna globulus, Payk. Laccobius sinuatus, Mots. L. bipunctatus, F. : Jjiinnebius truncatellus, Thorns. Choetart/n-ia seminulum, Herbst. Helophorus nubihis, F. //. aquaticus, L. II. brevicollis, Thorns. Ilydrcena riparia, Kug. Cercyon hoemorrhoidalis, Herbst. C. lateralis, Marsh. C. melanocephahis, L. C pygmceus, 111. Cercyon analis, Pa3'k. Megasternum boleiopha- gum. Marsh. Cryptopleuron atomarium , F. Aleochar a fuscipes, F. .4. brevipennis, Grav. A. nitida, Grav. Astilbus canaliculatus, F. Homalota languida, Er. H. elongatula, Grav. //. volans, Scrib. //. grammicola, Gyll. H. circeUaris, Grav. //. analis, Grav. II. exilis, Er. B. atricolor Sharp. H. ati'amentaria, Gyll. H. longicornis, Grav; //. pilosiventris, Thoms. II. fungi, Grav. Falagra obscura, Grav. Lepiusa fumida, Er. Myl/iena dubia, Grav. Ilypocyptus loeviusculus, Mann. Tachyporus obtusus, I/., var. nitidicollis, Stepli. Tachinus Jlavipes, F- T. laticollis, Grav. Quedius tristis, Grav. Q. semiceneus, Steph. Q. boops, Grav. Ocypus morio, Grav. 0. cupreus, Rossi. PhilontJius laminatus, Crevitz. P. addendus. Sharp. P. varius, Gyll. P. marginatus, F. P. trossulus, Nord. Othius fulvipennis, F. Lathrubium brunnipes, F. Stilicis rufipes, Germ. S. orbiculatus, Er. aS. affinis, Er. ]\Iedon jvopinquus, Bris. Sunius dicersus, Aube. Stenus juno, F. S. speculator, Er. S. declaratus, Er. S. brunnipes, Steph. S. impressus. Germ. S. nitidiusculus, Steph. Platystethus arenarius, Fourc. Oxyteliis 1-ugosus, Grav. Trogophlatis bilineatus, Steph. Troqophlceiis elongatulus, Er. T. corticinus, Grav. Olophrum fuscum, Grav, Lathrohium atroceji/ialum, Gyll. L. unicolor, Steph. Omalium punctipenne, Thoms. Proteinus ovalis, Steph. Prognatha quadricornis, Lac. Pselaphus Heisei, Herbst. Dythinus bidbifer, Reich. Clambus armadillo, DeG. Hister neglectus, Germ. Onthopliilus striatus, F. Halyzia xvi-guttata, L. Scymnus testacAis, Mots. Atomaria mesomelas, Herbst. Epistemus globosus, Waltl. P. gyrinoides, Marsh. Cytilus varius, F. Melanotus rufipes, Herbst. Agriotes lineatus, ly. Cis boleti. Scop, C. nitidulus, Herbst. Donacia impressa, Payk. P/icedon tumidulus. Germ, P. cochleariie, F. Hydrothassa marginella^ L. Prasociiris jjhellandrii, L. Apteropeda orbiculatus, Marsh. Longitarsus luridus, Scop. Cassida sanguinoloita, F. C.Jiaveola, Thunb. C. equestris, F. C. viridis, L. Helops striatus, Fourc. Apion cerdo, Thoms. A. tilicis, Forst. A. dichroum, Bedel. Otiorrliynchus ligneus, 01. Strophosomus coryli, V'. Sciaphilus muricatus, F. Tropiphorus lomentosus. Marsh. Barypeithes sulcifrons Boh. Barynotus obscurus, F. Aloj)/ius triguttatus, F. Ilypera variabilis, Hrbst. H. nigrirostris, F. Liosoma ovatulum, Clairv. Ceuthorrhynchus pleuro- stigma, Marsh. Eubrychius velatus. Beck. Coleoptera Collected in County Carlow. 33 li The following species in the above list have not apparently been previously recorded as Irish. Homalota lang^uida, Br. — In moss on river bank, also in flood- refuse. Recorded as a rare species in the south of England. H. exilis, Er. — Several in flood-refuse. H. plloslventris, Thonis. — One example in moss. Rare. The Irish specimens of this difficult genus are frequently very puzzling through a tendency to var3% Dr. Sharp has seen any doubtful species. These were returned by him as correct, but marked as variations from the types. Olophrum fuscum, Grav.— Found amonst dead leaves in a wood near Graiguenamanagh. iV local northern species in Britain. Homalium punctlpcnne, Thoms. — Under bark of ash. The allied //. pusillnin, Grav., has been taken under fir bark in the north and west of Ireland. Prognatha quadricornis, Lac. — Under bark of moist decaying stumps. Ivocal, and an interesting addition to our list. Cassida sangruinolenta, F.— Taken in moss, on a gravelly bank between Borris and Goresbridge. Other species worthy of mention are Anchomeims pnellus^ Dej., found under a felled stump, recently taken on the Cork coast by Mr. H. G. Cuthbert. Anchomenus angusticollis, F., occurred in great abundance along river bank. Aleochara brevipennis, Grav., rare. Hister fieglectus, Germ., in flood- refuse ; this species seems to be of more frequent occurrence in Ireland than the common English H. carbonarms, Tel. Mclanotes ricfipes, Herbst., dug out of decayed ash. Barypeithes sulcifro7is, Boh., in moss, and Ezibrychius velatus, Beck., in flood-refuse. The following species were recorded by Dr. A. W. Foot, in the paper referred to above : — Chlccnius vestitus. Coccinella x-punctata. Aphthona nonstriata^ Sphcenduim scarahoeoides. Halyzia xiv-(juttata. ^lelo'd prosrarahocus. Sifpha riKjosa. H. conylobata. Api'on miniatunu THE LATE A. G. MORE. Many friends of the late eminent Naturalist, Alexander G. More, wish to see a short memoir of him published. Any one having letters or papers of interest would greatly oblige by lending them for selection to his sister, Miss More, 74, I,einster-road, Dublin. November, 1895. iMi -^32 The Irish Naturatisi. o SOME WAIFS AND STRAYS OF THE CORK FLORA. BY R. A. PHII.I.IPS. In the following paper I have brought together a few notes selected from observations made during several years past on some of the more interesting plants found growing in the County Cork. M}^ chief object in so doing has been to record the rediscovery, and verify the existence, of several species, some of which were long ago discovered by the earlier Cork botanists and recorded in Dr. Power's flora,' but, which having become extinct or lost sight of for a time in their original stations, were excluded from the later floras.^ Such are Carduus nutans, and Hordawt pratensc, noted by Rev. T. Allin as ** probably extinct ;" Rumex pulcher, certainly extinct in its former station ; and Hyperictun hircimun and Hoi'deum muriiium, hitherto admitted only as casuals, but still flourishing in several districts. I have also mentioned additional localities for, or extended to a new district, a few of our rarer plants which have pre- viously been recorded from one or two stations only, and have added remarks on one or two species whose continued existence might be considered precarious. Papaver hytoridum, L. — Recorded by Dr. Power from Little Island, very sparingly, in 1841 ; still continues to hold its ground in this station, though it has not apparently increased, as in last August I found it at the same place in small quantit}' amid abundance of its near relations, P. Argenione and P. dtibmm. Arabis hirsuta, R. Br. — The only habitat of this species near Cork city was, I regret to say, recently destroyed, the old wall at Vosterberg, on which it was first found by the late Mr. T. Wright, having been taken down and rebuilt early this year. Armoracia rusticana, Rupp. — This is now one of the most abun- dant and conspicuous plants on a stretch of waste ground extending for about two miles between Tivoli and Glanmire. Dlplotaxls muralis, DC. — Recorded by Mr. Alexander as occurring near the Lower Glanmire Road previous to 1833, but disallowed by the later botanists, who considered it an error. During the past summer I have found it sparingly in one or two places on the railway embankment in the same locality. Lepldlum latffollum, L. — Still plentiful at Cork Beg, where it has held its own since Dr. Smith recorded it 125 years ago, and is now apparently spreading along the causeway which joins that island with the mainland. It is also still to be had at Rev. T. Allin's station near Kinsale. 1 " Fauna and Flora of Co. Cork." 1845. 2 " Cybele Hibernica," 1866; and " Flowering Plants and Ferns of Co. Cork," by Rev. T. Allin, 1883. Sonie Waifs and Strays of the Cork Flora. 333 Cram be maritima, L.— A few plants of this species have been flourishing for several years past on the river-bank between Tivoli and Dunkettle. Viola canina, I,. — In May, 1893, I found this plant sparingly in Teniplemichael Glen. This is its second station in the county. Silene g^allica, L. — In a cornfield near Whitegate in September last. This was the t3-pical large-flowered form. Hypericum hircinum, L. — This certainly deserves a place among our naturalized exotics as, in several of the localities in which it occurs it is thoroughly established. At Glanmire and Eastferry it is abundant and spreading fjom walls to roadsides, rocks, and banks. H. calycinum, L. — One of the finest floral sights to be seen in the county is at Eastferry early in July, when the roadsides and broad banks of the Ballinacurra river are covered for a mile or more with profusion of this handsome plant in bloom. It is thoroughly naturalised in many localities. Geranium pratense, L. — Abundant on a rather mountainous road leading from Clonakilty to Rathbarry, and in fields in the same vicinity, August, 18S9 and 1890. To find this showy plant in plenty in the South of Ireland was quite an event in my botanical experience, but whether it is native or naturalised I cannot now decide, as, though I could not find traces of its former cultivation, it is hard to understand how so con- spicuous a plant, if it were native, should have escaped the notice of the older botanists. lYIedicago maculata, Sibth. — Still at Little Island, where it was discovered for the first time in Ireland, in 1840, by D. Murray. Plentiful in several places on the banks of the river near Eastferry. In the latter locality this plant is regarded by some of the natives as the " true shamrock," the dark spots on its leaves being said to have originated when St. Patrick touched them with his fingers while illustrating the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Lepig^onum rubrum, Fries. — In September, 1894, I found this plant, hitherto recorded onl}^ from near Kilcoleman, in some plenty on waste ground near the Marina, Cork, where it was probably introduced. Sedum album, L. — In addition to its other stations this species is abundant and well established on walls and the railway embankment between Cork and Glanmire. I also found it on a wall at Glengariffe, in August, 1894. Saxifraga umbrosa, L. — The Rev. T. Allin omits this species, possibly through an oversight, from his eastern division of the county, but it still exists, though not plentifully, on rocks at Inniscarra, where it was first found by Drummond. Galium erectum, Huds.— This interesting species of "Germanic " type, recorded by Rev. T. x\llin from near Midleton, is abundant also in the extensive pastures at Trabolgan and Roche's Point near the mouth of Cork Harbour. This plant, so often sown with grass seeds, can scarcely be regarded with certainty as a native of Ireland. Dipsacus sylvestris, L. — "One plant at Berehaven." Writing in 18S3, Allin thus records this species for his western division. Visiting Berehaven in 1894, I also found one plant only. But in 1890 I found it plentiful in the same division at about half-way between Clonakilty and the Island. Carduus nutans, L. — This rare and handsome plant was recorded from Little Island by Drummond in the beginning of the present century, but in Allin's flora it is stated that it had not been seen since 1S53, and was probably extinct, the other recorded locality (Berehaven) being looked on as an error. I have, therefore, much satisfaction in giving it once again a place on our county list, having rediscovered it at A 4 334 The Irish Naturalist. Little Island, where in one spot I counted last August over fifty plants, besides individuals on other parts of the island. I also found it the following month in a new station, namel}-, Poorhead, on the south coast of the county, where it is fairly plentiful in cultivated fields and on cliffs. Hieracium murorum, I.. — In July last I gathered specimens of this at Fota. This is, I think, its second station in the south of Ireland. Convolvulus Soldanella, L.— Stated by Allin to be "probably extinct " at Ballycotton, the only station then known for it in his eastern division of the county. In 1891 I found it plentifiil on the strand near Youghal, thus restoring it once more to a place on the list for that division. I also found it abundant on a strand about two miles east of Lough Hyne in 1889. Linaria minor, Desf. — This is now abundant along the railways from Cork to Oueenstown and Youghal, and also in a gravel pit at Midleton. Erinus alpinus, L. — This interesting and pretty South European plant seems well suited to our climate, the tops of many old walls in the suburbs of Cork being rendered quite dazzling in the early part of June by its bright rose-coloured flowers. At Blackrock, Douglas, and Victoria Cross, all limestone districts several miles apart, it is spreading rapidly and has made itself quite as much at home as its congener Linaria Cymbalaria. Salvia Verbenaca, L. — Clay Castle, Youghal. Allin notes this, its earliest station, as "probably destroyed," but I have gathered it there nearly every summer since 1891. In 1S90I found it plentiful on roadsides near Ardfield, Clonakilty. Rumex pulcher, L. — The Fiddle Dock, so very scarce in Ireland, has long been denied a place in the Cork flora, it having become extinct in its reputed station (Friar's Walk, Cork) long before the publication of " C3'bele Hibernica," but I have now no hesitation in placing it on the list once more, this time on better evidence, having found it in the neighbourhood of Whitegate, Cork Harbour, where I have watched it closely for the past two summers. In 1894 I first noticed it growing on an uncultivated portion of Cork Beg Island and also, one plant, by a road- side nearly two miles away. This year I searched more carefully and found it plentiful among the grass and bracken in different places at Cork Beg, and several fine specimens in a third station on the roadside between Whitegate and Fort Carlisle. I described the habitat to the late Mr. A. O. More last year, but he then stated that he did not think the plant was indigenous anywhere in Ireland, so that although it is perfectly well established and appears quite at home in the above-mentioned localities we must still regard it as a doubtful native. Milium cffusum, L. — In 1890 I found this rare grass in the woods at Castlefreke, thus making a new record for Allin's western division. This year I obtained good specimens in a new locality, i.e. Lota Wood, Glanmire, where it luxuriates in company with Festnca sylvatica and Carex pendula. Koelcria cristata, Pers. — Another of our rarest grasses. Sparingly on Cork Beg Island, 1894. This is its third recorded station in the county. Glyceria aquatica, Sm. — Still continues to hold its own in a stream running into the Lee near Cork. Bromus sccalinus, L- — Plentiful in a cornfield at Castlefreke, August, 1890. New to West Cork. Hordeum pratense, Huds. — Recorded by Dr. Power from three localities near Cork, but noted by Allin as " perhaps extinct in all." In 1890 I rediscovered it in one of these stations, a marsh at the Little Island Bridge, and every year since have seen it at the same place. I have also gathered it in a similar habitat at the Blackrock end of Cork Park. Some Waifs and Strays of the Cork Flo7'a 335 H. murinum, L. — Admitted by Alliii as a casual only, is still abundant on rocks at Haulbowline, where it was first noticed by the late Mr. J. Sullivan, and is also plentiful at Fort Carlisle, Cork Harbour, where I found it three years ago. AN ADDITION TO THE IRISH MOLLUSCAN FAUNA. BY R, F. SCHARFF, PH.D. Towards the end of last year, Dr., Westerlund described in the Nachrichtsblatt der deutschen Malakozoologischen Gesellschaft (26ter Jahrg., 1894, p. 205), a new species of Pisidium from Ireland which he named Pisidmm hibernicum. As no figure is given with the description, I herewith add an outline sketch (three times natural size) of the shell, so as to facilitate future diagnosis. I may mention that I discovered the species during the summer of 1893, in a small mountain tarn known by the name of Lough Nagarriva, about 1,200 feet above Glengariff, in the County Cork, and sent it to Dr. Westerlund for identification. The shell is thin, of a yellowish green colour, and remarkably ventricose, so much so that its breadth is equal to its height. It resembles Pisidium obtzisale, but is much more globular. Not only is it equal in breadth and in height, but also in length (see figures). The following is Dr. Westerlund's description : — Pisidium (Fossarina) hibernicum. — C. supra medium ventri- cosissima, lateribus leviter convexis regulariter ad marginem inferum declivis, truncato-ovata, ubique sulcato-striata, marginibus omnibus regulariter arcuatis, parte posteriore brevissima, anteriore duplo longiore, ad margines compressa, sed obtusissima ; umbones validi, lati, tumido- rotundati, prominentes. Long. 3I, rect. 3^, cr. 3^ mm. ;^^6 The Irish Naturalist. MY BIRDS. BY REV. THOMAS B. GIBSON, M.A. ( Conchided from page 3 13.) The Greenfinch is quite hardy ; and the cock is undoubtedly ornamental, though his plumage does not improve in the aviary ; but the melancholy note, and the other indicative of fright, are the only tones to which I am accustomed. The bird is not easily made quite tame, though an approach towards that state can be obtained with all of them. No bird is more easily obtained in Dublin ; and a price of three-pence, for the very best plumaged bird, is so small that one need never worry about losing a bird ; though, to be sure, a real bird-lover laments the loss of a cheap pet almost as much as he does that of a dear one. This bird is called — on account of its price I suppose— the " penny bird" by little boys in Dublin; and hens, at least, can easily be obtained at that rate. It, and the Bullfinch, are particularly fond of a branch in bud. This latter bird is a prime favourite with me ; and the pair I possess could hardly be tamer. They have built a nest, hatched and brought out young ; but the young died when only two or three days old, and the old ones have not nested this spring. The nest was loosely made, after the usual style, some of the hairs having been obtained by the cock out of my beard, after strenuous exertions. The hen — but not the cock, singularly enough — can pipe a few bars of " Pop goes the weasel" ; but I have never been able to teach any other tune — a circumstance due, I fear, to the incapacity of the teacher rather than the taught. The Bullfinch is fond of water; and usually disputes with the Bramblingfor first place at the bath, though he never plunges in or rolls about in the thorough-going way the latter does. Moulting-time is very serious in regard to the health of the Bullfinch — especially with the hen, which appears to lose almost all its feathers at once — but perhaps the impossibility of keeping the birds away from the hemp, in an aviary, may account for this. I have for about a year or so, kept a good many Crossbills ; but I am sorry to say only two survive now. One of these is very red in colour, being, I suppose, a year-old bird, while the other is yellowish and sings continuously. It must therefore, I suppose, be an older bird. At first, when I learned that My Birds, 337 the wine-red colour was not the perfect phimage, I could hardly believe it ; but apparently the superior power of song in the yellowish fellow bears out the contention. As to the song I cannot agree with those who describe it as "harsh," " unmelodious," or " twittering." I like the song very much ; and I like the singer, too, who likes particularly to pour out his song whilst I am in the aviary, at a time when other birds, except the Siskin, restrain their notes. The bird is a delicate one ; or perhaps it may be that the food I can give is not sufficiently varied. It eats hemp-seed very voraciously ; and thoroughly enjoys apple-pips and berries, when I can get them. The Hawfinch is like the Crossbill in its dietary tastes ; but very unlike in other particulars. I have had three for nearly a year, a fourth having died soon after purchase. Both Crossbills and Hawfinches were obtained from England, though, I believe, visitors of both kinds have been observed in Ireland, even so near Dublin as the Phoenix Park. Of the habits of the Hawfinch I can tell little, as the only habit I have observed, for so far in it, is that of endeavouring to get as far away from me as possible whenever I enter the aviary. It is, however, a beautiful bird, though stumpy-looking on account of its thick beak and short tail. The notes, too, that issue from this formidable beak are ludicrously weak. It is said to be easily tamed, but dangerous to its companions — though I have never noticed either of those traits in m^^ specimens. It has a short quick call-note which is often heard ; but its song is only a sharp twittering. The colour of the eyes is most peculiar. The Buntings are satisfactory occupants of an aviary, especially the common Yellow Ammer, which is certainly my favourite. The cock is an incessant songster, and after five years captivity his plumage is as bright as ever. He seems to know no care or sorrow, and there are not many birds in my aviar>* I prize before him, though sixpence was the amount of his purchase-mone3^ The hen is ver}^ quiet, and not nearly so tame as her partner. I have a pair of Corn-Bunt- ings for nearly five years, yet they are still very wild and awkward, nor will they approach either food or water whilst I remain in the aviary. I cannot speak of them as favourites, but I do not agree with those who deny them the gift of song ; though the song be neither so sustained, nor sweet and melancholy as that of the Yellow Ammer The Cirl SS^ ^^^ /m// Naturalist. Bunting, of which I have had a pair, which died last winter, differs little, either in habits or appearance from the Yellow Ammer. It is, however, a more delicate bird in every way — in voice, in appearance, and in health. I obtained my speci- mens from Devonshire — a journey they bore very w^ell — probably because they do not seem to care much for water, but cold seemed to affect them more than it did any other kind of Bunting. The voice was soft and sweet, but of neither much quantity nor quality to boast of. The Reed Bunting, with its general resemblance to a Sparrow, his black cap, and sprightly habits, is a very interesting bird. He is very fond of water, and visits the bath oftener than any other bird, but he does not bathe so thoroughly as the Brambling, or even as the Yellow Ammer. He sings on into the night, with somewhat hurried, but soft notes, and he has a most harsh disagreeable call whenever disturbed whilst singing. Next to the Yellow Ammer in beauty of plumage comes the Snow Bunting. Of this kind I have got four specimens — two having been obtained from England, and the other two purchased on the street in Dublin. The cock of this latter pair is the most beautiful bird of the kind I have 3'et seen, and the largest too. The wings and abdomen are pure white, whilst the rest of the plumage is like that of the hen, of a rusty reddish colour. The bird has not got much of a voice, and seems deficient in powers of flight, the hens, though perfectly well, never even flying up to the seed trough, so that I have to scatter food on the boards for them. The cock, too, prefers remaining on the ground, though he does perch when I enter the cage, which the hens never do. GEOLOGY FOR RAILWAY TRAVELLERS. Scenery and Ceologry in County Antrim. By Grenvii^IvE A. J. Coi.K,F.G.S.; pp.19; Belfast: Printed for the Belf.& N. Cos. R. Co., 1895. The issue of such a pamphlet as this by an Irish railway company is an encouraging sign of the times, for it shows us that the high interest of the geological structure of north-eastern Ireland is expected to attract not a few travellers. Prof. Cole, in the clear style which our readers know so well, sets fofth the main points in the history of Co. Antrim, as told by the rocks, and the tourist who is furnished with this little guide will get truer and higher pleasure from his examination of the scenery than the idle sightseer. We trust that the enterprise of the Northern Counties Railway will be abundantly justified. [ 339 ] STUDIES IN CRITICAIv PLANTS. Botanical Exchangee CIuK) of the British Isles : Report for 1894: Manchester, 1895. Eleventh Annual Report of the Watson Botanical Exchange Cluto, i894-95: York, 1S95. The) work of the two British Botanical Exchange Chibs, at first con- cerned with the greater part of the British flora, is year by year becoming narrowed into a study of critical species and varieties, owing, no doubt, to the filling up of gaps in the herbaria of the members. The latest reports of these Clubs, both of which are edited by Rev. W. R. Linton, M.A., afford interesting food for reflection to both "splitters" and "lumpers" on the vexed question of specific and varietal values. The close scrutiny and careful comparison that is now being made of our critical forms and those of the continent, will surely tend to an under- standing of their relative importance, and a general agreement among botanists as to how they are to be treated in systematic works. These Exchange Club reports year by year furnish valuable contributions to our knowledge of plant-distribution, and in this respect the present issues are npt behind those that preceded them. Irish plants do not figure very largely, but in the Watson report there is a fair sprinkling of them, thanks chiefly to the energy of Mr. H. C. Levinge. Mr. O'Kelly's find of Ajuga pyramidalis at Ballyryan, Co. Clare, furni.shes a second station in Ireland for this very rare plant, and is decidedly the most interesting record that catches our eye. The most remarkable feature of the Watson Club's report is the atrociol^s typographical errors, to which attention has already been called in the Journal of Botany. The Irish records have not escaped ; and the strange forms that some of the place-names have taken may puzzle some of our readers. " Magheradin," "Anieath," and " Grashill" should evidently read '* Magheralin," ''Omeath" and " Geashill" respectively. We presume that " Lough Beichan" stands for "Lough Brickland," more correctly "Lough Bricland," and "Castle Taly" for "Castle Taylor' "Ferry Noogan near Scarver" would furnish a pretty puzzle for future botanists, were the plant recorded therefrom of any value. R. LI. P. NATURAL SCIENCE IN SCHOOLS. Thirty-ninth Annual Report of the Newton School Literary and Scientific Association, 1895. At the Galway Conference of the Irish Field Club Union a resolution calling for the recognition of Natural Science in Irish Intermediate Schools was unanimously passed. We trust this will bear fruit some day. Meanwhile the Report before us shows that at the Newton School, Waterford, the pupils thems2lves realise the value of a love for natural objects. We find that work has been done during the year in the practical study of birds, insects, and plants. The Waterford district is highly promising for natural history research, and we look forward with confidence to much good work by this Society. One of its members, H. G. Tempest, was one of the most active naturalists on the Galway excur- sion and several of his discoveries are here duly chronicled. 340 The Irish Naturalist. CORRESPONDKNCE. Quartz, Quartz-rocks, and Quartzltes, To the Editors of the Irish NATURAiyiST. Mr. Kinahan has been so good as to forward to me my letters addressed to him on this subject, and I will ask you to favour me by printing the whole of my second letter to him, except the two closing paragraphs which deal with other and private matters. The exact bearing of my study of the structures of siliceous sinters on the origin of quartzites, etc., will then be rather more clearly seen, W. w. Watts, 28, Jermyn-street, S.W., January loth, 1895. Dkar Mr. Kinahan, I have had three examples of Icelandic sinters cut, and examined them with a view of testing the relationship between them and quartzite. Two out of the three show nothing but irregular layers of deposit which undoubtedly give rise to the cauliflower-like surface of the sinter. This consists of opaline silica which has very little reaction on polarized light and is consequently utterly difl"erent from the crystalline quartz which makes up the bulk of quartzites. Were such a rock broken up and recemented by geyser action it would present similar features. The broken grains would consist of opaline silica cemented by similar material, and would be different from any quartzites I know, which show grains of quartz — like sand-grains — which have grown larger by the addition of crystalline silica to their edges. The third slice, however, shows little nests or pockets full of minute angular sand-grains, chiefly of quartz, but also chips of felspar and other minerals. Here and there these little pockets are embedded amongst the sinter, the rest of which has the character already described. These grains, however, are embedded in, and cemented by opaline silica, quite unlike that of quartzites, and there is no trace of any secondary quartz. Nor are the grains in any way enlarged by the deposit of new quartz at their edges, but these edges are either sharply splintered or very slightly rounded ; in other words, they are of the form of ordinary clastic sand-grains such as may be seen in almost any fine - grained sandstone. Ido not say, of course, that some sinters may not have structures like quartzites or quartz-rocks, but I have chosen those examples from our collection — not a very large one — which looked to the naked eye most like quartzites and, on slicing them, I find no character in them which could possibly suggest that any of the quartzites or quartz-rocks which I know liave been made by the same process. W. w. Watts. [ 341 1 PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. RoYAiv Zooi^oGiCAi, Society. Recent donations include a Cormorant from Captain Boxer ; a Golden Pheasant, a Ringed-necked Pheasant, and a number of fish from F. Godden, Esq. ; a pair of Canadian Geese, and a Reeve Pheasant from Sir Douglas Brooke ; and a pair of Wood Pigeons from K. M. Dunlop, Esq. A large Mandrill, a Chilian Sea Eagle, and two Turkey Vultures have been purchased. 10,350 persons visited the Gardens in October. Dubinin Microscopicai, Club. October 17th.— The Club met at Dr. R. F. Scharff'S. Prof. Coi,E exhibited the petrological microscope elaborated by Mr. Dick in conjunction with Messrs. Swift and Son, of London, an example of which has been purchased for the Geological Laboratory of the Royal College of Science for Ireland. The main feature of the instrument is the rack-and-pinion arrangement, whereby the polariser and analyser can be rotated together or separately while the stage remains fixed. In the older instruments where the stage was rotated between the nicols, there was great difficulty in keeping the centering sufficiently accurate to retain the object in the field when high powers were employed. Mr. Greenwood Pim showed a curious Sphccria, found on rotten wood in considerable abundance at Brackenstown, Co. Dublin, a few weeks previously. It was densely bearded with short white hairs; the peri- thecia under a low power resembling some furry animal. The asci could be distinctly traced, but the sporidia were not fully developed, so that the identity of the species was a matter of some doubt. It will probably prove to be S. canesccns. Prof. Johnson showed Aglaozonia reptans, Kiitz., a brown alga growing on the calcareous red alga, Litkothaninion calcareum, and obtained by dred^ng in Roundstone Bay in September, 1893. This is the only Irish locality given in Harvey's *' Ph3'Cologia Britannica." The exhibitor has this year got it in the S.W. of Ireland, on Lithothamnion agariciforme, itself an addition to the S.W. A section showing the unilocular sporangia (asexual) was exhibited. The species is well worth a detailed study at the sea-shore, as it is, in all probability, as Reinke first suggested, the asexual creeping generation of a species of which Cutleria multijida is the sexual erect generation. Mr. H. H. Dixon showed preparations of the pollen mother-cells of Lilium longiflortan. Before entering on the early stages of karyokinesis the nucleus of these cells possesses a very delicate and complexly coiled nuclear thread. Portions of this thread lie parallel to one another, and in some places these portions present the appearance of a single thread which has undergone longitudinal fission. That this is not the case, however, appears probable from the sudden divarications of these portions from one another and the way in which they often lie across one another, and also from the fact that in later stages the divarications are not so conspicuous. As the thread thickens the parallel portions become more regular in their disposition and finally transverse fission divides it into a number of chromosomes, each composed of two parts lying more or less exactly parallel to one another. Sometimes the two portions of a chromosome form a loop which is possibly derived from a loop in the original thread, and sometimes they are twisted on one another. Thus it appears probable that the doubling of the chromosomes before the for- mation of the nuclear plate is in this case not due to longitudinal fission of the thread, but to lateral approximation of two portions of it. 342 7 he hish Naturalist. At the equator these double chromosouies arrange themselves in such a manner that the plane of division between their two rod-like parts is vertical and not in the equatorial plane. Seen from the poles at this stage they appear triangular, quadrate or ring-shaped. Their two parts are in close contact and seem fused together at their inner extremity, while the outer or peripheral ends are often slightl}' parted. At the equator each chromosome undergoes a horizontal longitudinal fission beginning from the inner end, so that, seen from the equatorial plane, the chromosome (which was at first of the typically humped form) now appears X-shaped, and the two daughter-chromosomes are formed. As these latter are separating from one another the rod-like arms, which form them, diverge from one another so that a diamond-shaped space is enclosed between the two daughter-chromosomes. As the V-shaped daughter-chromosomes approach the poles, the rod-like arms of the V part asunder from one another and so form twice as many short straight chromosomes as there w-ere in the nuclear plate. From the process described it appears probable that each chromosome in this division represents two of previous divisions which have become more or less completely united end to end. Their double nature is revealed in the mode of origin of the two parallel portions of the chromosomes which exist prior to the formation of the nuclear plate and in the separation of the two parts of the daughter-chromosomes as they approach the poles. From this it would appear that the reduction in number is effected by an end to end fusion of the chromosomes in pairs as Strasburger has already suggested as probable. The next division to form the pollen-tetrads takes place according to the typical karyokinesis in plant-cells. Mr. M'ArdJvK exhibited a specimen of Fndlania dilalafa, L., which he collected last year near the Baily Lighthouse, Ilowtli, which demonstrated in a marked degree the facility these plants have of reproducing them- selves by vegetative budding, or adventitious branching. The specimens under the microscope showed all stages of development of the young plantlets, which were more numerous from the leaf margins, some of which bore six or more fully developed leaves, a strong shoot from one of the bracteolae showed root hairs. The investigation of this adventitious reproduction in liverworts will account for the continuance in Ireland of plants which have never been known to bear fruit. Mr. M'Ardle quoted as a familiar instance /iw^trmanm cuneifolia. Hook, known to grow in the counties of Cork and Kerry for more than half a century and has not been found in fruit, and may probably reproduce itself in this way. Mr. G. H. CarMvNTER showed the springtail Lipum Wright'd from Mitchelstown Cave described in the current volume of the Irish Naturalist (p. 31). Dr. M'Weeney showed parts of the omentum of a rabbit infested with the cysticerci of Tcenia serrata, Goeze. The special points of interest were the presence of an outer cyst, derived from the peritoneum of the host, and the small, tough, nodular cicatrix at the caudal end of the vesicle. This cicatrix indicates the points of division where the worm- like cysticercus, twenty-two days old, and i cm. long, splits into two equal parts, of which the anterior becomes the true cysticercus, whilst the posterior appears to become atrophrid and absorbed. This process takes place in the liver of the rabbit before the parasite migrates into the peritoneum. When the rabbits entrails are eaten by a dog, the cysticercus develops into the tape-worm, which is i metre long and lives in the dog's intestine. Mr. A. Francis Dixon exhibited two specimens of early human embryos and microscopical photographs of them taken from different aspects. In the youngest specimen the longest diameter of the chorionic sac Mas a litlle less than 10 mm. The other specimen was estimated to be in fourth week of developmeut. Proceedmgs of Irish Societies. 343 Prof. Haddon exhibited some specimens of Bythotrephcs, a grotesque Water-flea with a long spiny tail, from Upper Lough Erne. Mr. Henry J. vSevmour showed a section of granite from the "Diamond Rocks," Mourne Mountains, Co. Down, collected on the occasion of the visit of the London Geologists' Association to that district last July. The section showed a well defined micropegmatitic structure, the result of the simultaneous development of the quartz and felspar cr3-stals in the rock. Some parts of the section exhibited very well the radial arrange- ment round porphyritic crystals of quartz. Bki^fast Naturawsts' F1E1.D Cr,UB. October 22. —The geological section met in the Club's Rooms. As this was the closing meeting of the summer session, during which these monthly meetings were inaugurated, the question of continuing theni was discussed, and it was decided to meet on the second Wednesday in each month until further notice. Mr. R. Bell exhibited an interesting collection of Silurian fossils, including some Trilobites which he had obtained at Pomeroy, and Mr. W.J. Fennell exhibited rhyolite from Tardree. Contributions to the Club's collection of geological specimens were made by Miss M. K. Andrews, and Messrs. Leo M. Bell, Robert Bell, and A. G. Wilson. October 26. — The final geological excursion of the season took place to Templepatrick Quarr>', about which Mr. ISI 'Henry, M.R.I. A., wrote in the Geological Magazine for June. Favoured by brilliant sunshine, several hours were .spent in studying and photographing the sections, where the rhyolite is well seen, in conjunction with chalk and basalt, overlain with boulder-clay. Heavy snow showers prevented the party from proceeding to Ballypalady, but a large erratic boulder, relic of the great Ice Age, was appropriately photographed in a snow-covered field. November 13. — The Geological section met to arrange the exhibits at the Social Meeting as follows :— Miss M. K. Andrews, igneous and metamorphic rocks ; Leo M. Bell, graptolites from Donaghadee ; R. Bell, Silurian fossils from Pomeroy, Lias fossils from Yorkshire and Island Magee, basaltic dyke at Ballygomartin ; J. O. Campbell, quartz crystals ; W. Gray, quartz, altered chalk, etc. ; W. J. Fennell, fossil plants from Lough Neagh beds, Carboniferous fossils, Armagh; G. M'Lean, gypsum and igneous rocks, Divis ; J. Moore, Castlewellan granite, etc. ; Miss S. ]\I. Thompson, Carboniferous fossils, Galway, Clare, and Aran Islands ; Rhyolites, etc. ; Alec G. Wilson, graptolites, Donaghadee ; beryl and topaz, Mourne Mountains, zeolites, carboniferous fossils, etc. Specimens of columnar basalt and serpentine from a dyke were presented by R. Bell, and granite from Castlewellan b}' J. Moore. November 14. — The thirty-third winter session was inaugurated by a conversazione in the Exhibition Hall, when over 600 members and friends attended. On this occasion the presence of some members of the Dublin F^ield Club, and the fact that microscopy in all its branches was the chief feature added to the interest. The business of the evening began by the President (Mr. F. W. Lockwood, C.E.) offering a hearty welcome to all present, and more especially to those who had come from Dublin to assist their friends and co-workers in Belfast. This over, The President said he had a very pleasant duty to perform on that occasion in offering to Mr. Wii