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THE IRISH NATURALIST

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GENERAL IRISH NATURAL HISTORY.

THE) OFFICIAI, ORGAN OF

The Royal Zoological Society of Ireland ; TJie Dublin Microscopical Club ;

The Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society ;

The Belfast Naturalists' Field Club ; The Dublin Naturalists' Field Club ;

The Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society ;

The Cork Naturalists' Field Club ; The Limerick and Clare Field Club.

- EDITED BY _

GEORGE H. CARPENTER, B.Sc.Eond,

AND

R. EEOYD PRAEGER, B.A, B.E., M.R.I.A.

VOL. IX.

DUBEIN : EASON & SON, Eimitkd,
85 MIDDLE ABBEY STREET, and 40 LOWER SACKVILLE STREET.

BELFAST : 17 DONEGALL STREET.
LONDON : SIMPKIN MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & Co., Ltd

1900.

Printed by Alex. Thcm & Co. (Limited), 87, 88, iS: 89, Abbey-.street, Dublin.

CONTRIBUTORS l^C ^l/

TO THK PRKSKNT VOLUME.\^

N. H. AivCOCK, M.D., Trinity College, Dublin.

Prof. R. J. Anderson, m.d., Queen's College, Galway.

Capt. G. E. H. Barrett. HAMiiyTON, b.a., f.z.s., Kilmanock, Co.

Wexford.
R. M. Harrington, IvIv.b., f.i,.s., Fassaroe, Bray
E. Bi,ake-Knox, M.B., R.A.M.c, Bray.
Rev. S. a. Brenan, B.A., Knocknacary, Co. Antrim.

C. W. BUCKI.E, Belfast.
Rev. J. G. Burton, d.d., Killiuchy, Co Down.

D. C. Campbei.Iv, I^ondonderry.
Prof. G. A. J. C01.E, f.g.s., m.r.i.a.. Royal College of Science,

Dublin.
N. CoIvGan, m.r.i.a., Sandycove, Co. Dublin.
W. E. CoLiyiNGE, F.Z.S., Mason University College, Birmingham.
G. C. Crick, f.g.s., British Museum Nat. Hist.), London, S.W.
W. A. CuNNiNGTON, A.R.csc. i,OND., Royal College of Science,

Dublin.
J. H. DaviES, Lisburn.

Hon. R. E. Dit.IvON, d.i.., Clonbrock, Co. Galway.
G. C1.ARIDGE Druce, M.A., F.i,.S., High-?;treet, Oxford.
Rev. M. Fahy, m.a,, Duneane, Toome.
J. A. Faris, Corr, Co. Cavan.
Rev. Canon T. B. Gibson, m.a., Ferns.
R. M. Gii^more, Galway.
M. G1.EESON, Nenagh.
W. A. Green, Belfast.
J. E. Grubb, Carrick-on-Suir.
J. N. Hai^bert, Science and Art Museum, Dublin.
J, HamiIvTON, Holywood, Co. Down.
H. C. Hart, b.a., f.i,.s., Carrablagh, Co. Donegal.
\V. E. Hart, Howth, Co. Dublin.
Prof. M. M. Hartog, d.sc, Queen's College, Cork.
REV. W. F.Johnson, m.a., F.E-S., Acton, Poyntzpass.
W. F. DE V. Kane, d.i.., m.a., f.e.S., Drumreaske, Monaghan.
Mrs. M. J. IvEEBODY, Londonderry.
Rev. H. W. Lett, m.a., Loughbrickland, Co. Down.
Rev. E. F. Linton, m.a., f.i,.s., Bournemouth.
David M'Ardi^e, Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.
Q. B. Moffat, Ballyhyland. Co. Wexford.

A 2

{y List of Co7itributors.

J. H. 0'CONNEi.iv, Dublin.
H. L. Orr, Belfast.

D. R. Pack-BkrEvSPOrd, Bageualstown.

C. J. Patten, m.d., Trinity College, Dublin.

R. Patterson, f.z.s., Belfast.

R IvL. Patterson, d.i,., j.p., Holy wood, Co. Down.

R. A. Phii^IvIPS, Ashburton, Cork.

R. Ivi.. Praeger, B.E-, M.R.I. a., National I^ibrary, Dublin.

J. G. Robertson, Cullenswood, Dublin.

T. ROGiCRS, Manchester.

R. F. ScHARFF, PH.D., M.R.I. A., Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

R. W. ScuivivY, i,.R.C.S., F.i^.s., Dublin.

J. S. Starkey, Rathmines.

S. A. Stewart, f.b.s.ED., Museum, Belfast.

J. W. Tayi^or, f.i,.s., Leeds.

R.J. USSHER, J.P., Cappagh, Co. Waterford.

Robert Warren, j p., Moyview, Ballina.

R. WEI.CH, Belfast.

E. Wii,i,iAMS, Dublin.

J. J. \Voi,FE, Skibbereen.
Joseph Wright, f.g.s., Belfast.

PIRATES AND II^IvUSTRATIONS.

Lejeunea rossettiana (Plate i), . . . .To face p. 23

Foraminifera from Dog's Bay (Plate 2), . . . To face p. 51

Heads with Skulls of Irish Cetacea (Plate 3), . . To face p. 83

Do., do., do. (Plate 4), . . . p. 87

Arrenurus Kanei (figs. 1-4), .... pp. 95, 96
Abnormal Shell of Helix nemoralis and Eggs of

Geomalacus (Plate 5), . . : . . To face p. 163

Map showing Occurrence of the Ruff in Ireland (Plate 6), To face p. i

Jrish Land Planarians, . . . . . . p- 217

IND EX.

O

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale, 129.
Acherontia atropos, 233.
Alchemilla vulgaris, 92.
Alcock, N. H.— Dublin Field Club

Prize Scheme, 129.
Allium vineale, 244.
Amphipeplea glutinosa, 48.
Amphipoda, 182.
Anderson, R. J.— Crookedness in

sterna of Fowls, 150.
Annelids, 181.
Ariou ater (empiricorum), var.

Bocagei, 47, 106.
Armagh Flora, 22.
Arrenurus Kanei, 94.

I

Barrett - Hamilton, G. E- H. —
Ranunculus parviflorus in Co.
Wexford, 129 ; New Locality for
Leisler's Bat, 134 ; Influence of
Man and Civilisation on Birds, 161;
Secondary Sexual Characters
(reviewed), 266.

Barrington, R. M. — Late Wasps'
Nests, 108; Dublin Field Club
Prize Scheme, 128; Acherontia
atropos off" the Wexford Coast,
233.

Bats (Hairy-armed), 134, 162, 235 ;
(Whiskered), 162 ; in N. Ireland,
233 ; (Natterer's), 274.

Bather, Gregory, and Goodrich on
Echinoderma (reviewed), 118.

Beetles of Foyle District, 2, 21 ; of
Lough Ree District, 19; Irish,
70, 131, 182; from Co. Wicklow,
108 ; of Dublin District, 278.

Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, 16,
45, 100, 154, 179, 214, 230, 242,267.

Belfast Natural History and Philo-
sophical Society, 100, 153, 180,
288.

Bewick's Swan, 21.

Birds, Influence of Man on, 161 ;
Nests in strange places, 186; of
Ireland and Switzerland, 186 ; of
Lough Erne, &c., 220 ; Irish, 248,

251.
Bittern, 81, 273.
Blake-Knox, E- — Ruflf in Ireland,

294.

Botanical Exploration, 135 ; Notes

from N. Ireland, 218.
Botany of Lough Ree, 18 ; of Co.

Armagh, 22; of Mayo and Gal way

Highland, iii ; of Lough Conn,

224; of Limerick, 260.
Botaurus stellaris, 81 ; 273.
Botrytis dichotoma, 98.
Boycott and Bowell on Mollusca of

Herefordshire (reviewed), 13.
Brenan, S. A. — Acanthosoma

haemorrhoidale in Co. Antrim,

129.
Buckle, C. W. — Beetles collected in

Lough Foyle District, 2 ; Notes

on Coleoptera, 130.
Bundoran, Helix nemoralis at, 163,

271.
Burton, J. G. — Curious Note of

Cuckoo, 186.
Buteo lagopus, 50.
Buzzard (Rough-legged), 50.

Campbell, D. C— Rough-legged
Buzzard near Londonderry, 50 ;
Bittern and Grey Phalarope near
Londonderry, 81 ; Lepidoptera
near Londonderry, 246.

Carboniferous Cephalopoda of
Ireland, 14; Lamellibranchiata,
274.

Carex riparia, 158.

Cephalopoda, Irish carboniferous,
14.

Cetacea, Irish, 83, 210.

Chara canescens, 243

Circus Montagui. 21,

Cladium jamaicense, 158.

Coccospheres, 15.

Cole, G. A. J. — Foraminiferal de-
posits of Roundstone, 274

Coleoptera of Foyle District, 2, 21 ;
Irish, 70, 130, 131, 182; of Dublin
District, 278.

Colgan, N.— Remarks on Cybele
Hibernica, 56; Botanical Notes
on Galway and Mayo Highlands,
III; Matricaria discoidea in
Ireland, 232 ; Elymus arenarius
in Co. Dublin, 269.

57761

VI

Index.

Colias edusa, 47, 246.

Colliuge, W. K.— Arion empiri-

corum, var. Bocagei, 106, 107.
Cooke on Geography (reviewed),

96.
Cork Naturalists' Field Club, 46,

128, 157,214,268.
Corydalis claviculata, 105.
Crabs, 120.

Crake (Spotted), 161.
Crick, G. C. — Review of Foord's

" Carboniferous Cephalopoda,"

14.
Crossbills, 293.
Cuckoo, Note of, 186.
Cunningham, J. T., on Sexual

Dimorphism (reviewed), 177.
Cunnington, W. A. — Seashore

Crabs, 120.
Cybele Hibernica, 27, 56
Cygnus Bewickii, 21.
Cystophora cristata, 82.

Davies, J. H. — Mosses from N.E.

Ireland, 171 ; Botanical Notes

irom N. Ireland, 218.
Dillon, R. E. — Colias edusa in

Ireland, 246.
Dolphins, 89, 211.
Donegal, Flora of, 27.
Dublin district, Beetles of, 278.
Druce, G. C. — Irish Rubi, i.
Dublin Microscopical Club, 15, 46,

98, 102, 287.
Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, 18,

79, 128, 156, 178, 230, 267, 288,

Echinoderma, 118.
Elymus arenarius, 269.
Kmberiza schoeniclus, 133.
Entomostraca of Lough Ree, 12.
Ewart, A. J., on Botany (reviewed),
234-

Fahy, M. — Egyptian Goose in Co.
Derry, 160.

Faris, J. A. — Birds' Nests in strange
places, 186.

Flora, Irish, 27, 56, 68.

Flora of Lough Ree, 18 ; of Co.
Armagh, 22 ; of Galway and Mayo
Highlands, lu ; of Lough Conn,
224; of Limerick, 260.

Flowers and Insects, 212.

Foord on Carboniferous Cephalo-
poda of Ireland (reviewed), 14.

Foot, A. W. (Obituary), 241.

Foraminifera of Dogs' Bay, 51, 274.
Fowls, Crookedness of Sterna, 150.
Fox, Disappearance from Co.

Antrim, 275.
Fox Shark, 108.
Foyle District, Beetles of, 2, 21.
Fry on Mycetozoa (reviewed), 75.

Galway and Mayo Highlands, Bo-
tanical Notes on, iii.
Gaudryina rudis, 53.
Geomalacus maculosus, 168.
Gibson, T. B. — Spring Migrants in

Co. Wexford, 159.
Gilmore, R. M.— Hooded Seal in

Galway Bay, 82.
Glacial Period, 32, 61, 68.
Gleeson, M. — Bird Notes from N.

Tipperary, 132.
Gnophria quadra, 292.
Gold from Co. Wicklow, 16, 46.
Goose (Snow), 109; (Egyptian),

160.
Green, W. A.— Scalariform Helix

nemoralis, 271.
Grubb, J. E.— Winter flowering of

Corydalis, 105.

Hairy-armed Bat, 134, 235.
Halbert, J. N.— Beetles of Foyle

District, 21 ; New Water Mite

from Ulster, 94; Additions to

Beetles of Dublin District, 278.
Hamilton, J.— Vanessa io in Co.

Down, 292.
Haplophthalmus Mengei, 246.
Hart, H. C— Remarks on Cybele

Hibernica, 27.
Hart, W. E.— Flowers and Insects,

212 ; Colias edusa in Ireland, 246 ;

Vanessa io in Co. Derry, 270.
Hartog, M.— Secondary sexual

characters, 177.
Hedgehog and its food, 50, no.
Helix ericetorum (reversed), 21 ; H.

nemoralis (abnormal shells), 163 ;

(scalariform), 271.
Hodges, J. F. (obituary notice), 76.
Hoopoe, 160.
Horse Warble-fly, 247.
Ilydrobia Jenkinsi, 213.
IlA-pochaeris glabra, 244.
H\poderma silenus, 247.

Insects and flowers, 212.
Insects of Lough Ree, 19; of Co.
Antrim, 20; of Ulster, 183, 290.

Index.

Vll

Johnston, W. F.— Notes on Irish
Coleoptera, 70 ; Stachys betonica
in Co. Armagh, 105; Additional
Records of Irish Coleoptera, 131,
182; Entomological Notes from
Ulster, 183, 290; vSpring Migrants
in Poyntzpass, 213; Braconid
parasitic on Anobium, 270.

Kane, W. F. de V. — Entomostraca
from Lough Ree, 12 ; Haploph-
thalmus Mengei in Ireland, 246 ;
Noteworthy Irish Lepidoptera,

271,
Killarney Hepaticse, 23.
Kingfisher, 159.

Lagena squamosa, 54.

Land and Freshwater moUusca, 159.

Lankester's zoology (reviewed),

118, 258.

Lapwing, 49-

Leebody, M. J.— Rediscovery of Poa

comp'ressa at Londonderry, 232.
Leisler's Bat,' 134.
Lejeunea rossettiana, 24.
Lepidoptera of Co. Cork, 159 ; of

Londonderry, 246; Noteworthy,

271.

Lepidozia Pearsoni, 15.

Lett, H. W.— Sphagnum medium
in Ireland, 80.

Limerick Field Club, 77.

Limerick Flora, 260.

Linton, |E. F.— Distribution of
Alchemilla vulgaris group, 92;
on Flora of Bournemouth (re-
viewed), 250.

Lucas on British Dragonflies (re-
viewed), 74.

Machetes pugnax, 187, 247, 272, 294.

M'Ardle, D.— Hepaticse of Ross
Island, Killarney, 23.

Marten, 162, 186.

Matricaria discoidea, 232, 269.

Minchin, Fowler, and Browne on
Porifera and Coelentera (re-
viewed), 258.

Moffat, C. B.— Late Wasps' Nests,
47 ; Hedgehog and its Food, 50 ;
Pied Wagtails roosting among
reeds, 82'; Hairy-armed Bat m
Co. Wexford, 162; Orobanche
major fertilised by Wai^ps, 181 ;
Habits of Hairy-armed Bat, 235 ;
Plautago media in Co. Wexford,
245; Warbles in Horses, 247;
Birds of Ireland, 251 ; Gnophria
quadra in Co. Wexford and Isle
of Man, 292.

MoUusca, Varieties of Laud, 131 ;

Marine, 266.
Montagu's Harrier, 21.
Mosses from N.E. Ireland, 171, 243.
Moss Exchange Club, 268.
Mus hibernicus, 1 10.
Mycetozoa, 75.

Natterer's Bat, 274c
Nephthydidae, 233.
Nests of Wasps, 47, 108; of Birds,

186.
Nichols, A. R., on Marine MoUusca

(reviewed), 266.

Obituary.— J. F. Hodges, 76; Thos.

Workman, 241 ; A. W. Foot, 241.
O'Connell, J. H.— Hedgehog and

its food, 50.
Ornithology, Irish, 49.
Orobanche major, 181.
Orr, H. L.— Insect Notes from Co.

Antrim, 20 ; Hedgehog and its

food, no; Food of Trout, 213.
Otiorrhynchus auropunctatus, 108,

283.

Pack-Beresford, D. R.— Irish Rats,
no.

Paiidion haliaetus, 22.

Pastor roseus, 22.

Patten, C. J. — Sea birds and severe
weather, 109 ; Dublin Field Club
Prize Scheme, 129; Reed Buntings
on the Sea-beach, 133; Nocturnal
Habits of Grey Plover, 133 ;
Natural History of Ruff, 187, 272.

Patterson, R.— Hoopoe in Co.
Antrim, 160; Martens in N.
Ireland, 162 ; Whiskered Bat in
Co. Down, 162 ; Marten in Co.
Derry, 186; Bats in N. Ireland,
233 ; Common Bittern in Co.
Down, 273 ; Early arrival of Red-
wing, 273 ; Natterer's Bat in Co.
Antrim, 274 ; Disappearance of
Fox from Co. Antrim, 275.

Patterson, R. LI. — Notes on Irish
Cetacea, 210; Vision of Whales,

273-
Phalaropus fulicarius, 81.

Phillips, R. A Hydropia Jenkinsi

in S.E. Ireland, 213 ; Chara

canescens in Galway, 243; Viola

lactea in Ireland, 244; Senecio

squalidus in Dublin, 245.

Vlll

index.

Planarians, 215. *

Plantago media, 245.

Plover (Golden), 49 ; (Grey), 133.

Poa compressa, 219, 232, 269.

Porpoises, 88.

Praeger, R. LI. — Flora of Co.
Armagh, 22 ; Scirpus Savii grow-
ing inland, 105 ; Irish Topogra-
phical Botany, 129; Botanical
Exploration in 1899, 135; Cladium
jamaicense and Carex riparia in
Co. Down, 158; Round Lough
Conn, 224 ; Matricaria discoidea
in Ireland, 232; Vitality of Allium
vineale, 244; Notes on Limerick
Flora, 260 ; New Stations for
rare Plants, 285.

Psych odidae, 182.

Ranunculus parviflorus, 129.

Rat (Irish), 1 10.

Redwing, 273.

Ree, Lough, Entomostraca, 12 ;
Flora, 18 ; Insects, 19.

Reed Buntings, 133.

Reed Warbler, 81, 132.

Reviews. — Boycott and Bowell :
Mollusca of Herefordshire, 13;
Foord : Carboniferous Cephalo-
poda of Ireland, 14; Lucas:
British Dragonflies, 74; Frv' :
Mycetozoa, 75; Cooke: Geo-
graphy for Irish Schools, 96:
Lankester : Treatise on Zoology,
118, 258; Cunningham: Sexual
Dimorphism, 177; Schmeil:
Text-book of Zoology, 234, 249 ;
Ewart: First Stage Botany, 234;
Linton : Flora of Bournemouth,
250; Ussher: Birds of Ireland,
251 ; Fauna and Flora of Valencia
Harbour, 265 ; Nichols : Irish
Marine Mollusca, 266; Barrett-
Hamilton : Secondary Sexual
Characters, 266.

Robertson, J. G.— Kingfisher at
Ranelagh, 159.

Rogers, T.— Eggs of Kerry Slug,
168.

Rorquals, 85.

Rose-coloured Pastor, 22.

Ross Island, Hepaticse of, 23.

Royal Zoological Society, 15, 45,
76, 98, 127, 153, 178, 214, 230, 242,
267, 287.

Rubi, Irish, i.

Ruft, 187, 247, 272, i94-

Sandwich Terns, 220.

Scharff, R. F.— Arion ater vah
Bocagei in Ireland, 47 ; Irish
Flora in Glacial Period, 68 ; List
of Irish Cetacea, 83 ; Arion
Bocagei, 107 ; Trichoniscus vivi-
dus at Cappagh, 158; Attempted
Introduction of American Shad,
185 ; Irish Species of Land Plan-
arians, 215.

Scirpus Savii, 105 ; S. triqueter,
262.

Schmeil, O., on Zoology- (reviewed),
234. 249.

Scully, R. W.— Remarks on Cybele
Hibernica, 56.

Seal (Hooded), 82.

Secondary sexual characters, 177,
266.

Senecio squalidus, 245.

Shad (American), 185.

Sharks (Blue and Fox), 48, 108 ;
(Porbeagle), 292.

Shell of Helix nemoralis, 163

Slugs (eggs 01), 168.

Snow- goose, 109,

Spathius exarator, 270.

Sphagnum medium, 80.

Spiders of Lough Ree, 20.

Spring migrants, 159, 213.

Stachys Betonica, 105.

Starkey, J. S. — Beetle Records from
Co. Wicklow, 108.

Stations for Rare Plants, 285

Sterna of Domestic Fowls, 150.

vStewart, S. A. — Poa compressa,
269,

Taylor, J. W.— Arion Bocagei, 106.
Tern (Sandwich), 220.
Tipperary, Birds of, 102.
Tope, 292.

Topographical Botany, 129.
Trichoniscus vividus, 158,
Trout, Food of, 213.
Truffles, 268.

Upupa epops, 160.

Ussher, R. J. — Supposed Reed-
warbler in Co. Tipperary, 81 ;
Snow-goose in Ireland, 109; Call
of Spotted Crate, i6o ; Ruff in
Ireland, 247 ; Birds of Ireland
(reviewed), 251.

Index.

IX

Valencia, Fauna and Flora of, 265.
Vanessa io, 270, 292.
Vertigo antivertigo, 48.
Vespertilio niystacinus, 162 ; V.

Nattereri, 274.
Vespenigo Leisleri, 134, 162, 235.
Viola lactea, 244.
Vision of Whales, &c., 248, 273.

Wagtails (Pied), 82.

Wallace, R. H., on White Cattle
(re\'iewed), 249.
arbles in Horses, 247.

Warren, R. — Bewick's Swans in
Moy Kstuary, 21 ; Rose-coloured
Pastor in Co. Mayo, 22 ; Blue
Sharks in Killala Bay, 48, 108;
Golden Plover and Lapwings in
Moy Estuary, 49 ; Visit to Lough
Erne, 220 ; Birds of Ireland
(reviewed), 251 ; Porbeagle Shark
and Tope in Killala Bay, 292.

Wasps fertilising Orobanche, 181.

Wasps' Nests, late, 47, 108.

Welch, R. — Reversed Helix erice-
torum at Bundoran, 21 ; Amphi-
peplea glutinosa in Ireland, 48;
Abnormalities in Shell of Helix
nemoralis, 163.

Whales, 83, 210, 248, 273.

Whiskered Bat, 162.

White Cattle, 249.

Williams, K. — Montagu's Harrier
in Wicklow, 21 ; Ospreys in Ire-
land, 22 ; Rose-coloured Pastor
in Co. Mayo, 22.

Wolfe, J. J. — Crossbills nesting in
S. Cork, 293.

Workman, T. (Obituary), 241.

Worms, Marine, 181.

Wright, J. — Foraminifera of Dog's
Bay, 51.

Zelleria phillyrella, 47.
Zoological Text-books, 118,
249, 258.

*34,

:!as'^

ERRATA.

Page 3, line 8 from bottom, for congulus read longulus.

5, ,, 5 from top, for clavicoriiis read clavicornis,

5, „ ID ,, ,, ccEtattis read calatus,

6, „ 20 ,, „ Laheridiiis read Lathriditis,

6, „ 10 „ ,, psolifesicornis r^2L^ prolifericornis.

7, „ I „ „ codhlaria read cochlearicc,

8, „ 5 and 6 from bottom, delete record of H, mehnarius.
49, „ 19 from top, for 1878 read 1879.

120, „ 2 for W. H. Cuunington read W. A. Cunnington,

^ije ^vi^lj |laturali0t.

VOLUME IX.

IRISH RUBI.

BY G. CT.ARIDGE DRUCE, M.\., F.T,.S.

Dr. Fockr has kindly looked over some Brambles collected
by me in Ireland in 189S, and reports as follows. It must be
borne in mind, however, that the identification of a Bramble
from a single dried specimen is hardly fair even to the most
expert specialist, and in some of the following instances I
was only able to supply such confessedly imperfect material :-■

Rubus Borreri, Bell-Salter— Near Lough Gilly, Co. Armagh.

R. incurvatuSy Bab. — Near Toome Bridge, Co. Derry. Not given
for district xii. in C}'d. Hib.

R. Leyanus, Rogers— Near Toome Bridge, Derry and Antrim. Not
in district xii. in Cyb. Hib.

R. Crlfflthlanus, Rogers — Cave Hill, Antrim; as this is not
included in Cyb. Hib. it will have to be re-gathered.

R. pllcatus, W. and N.— Near Lough Neagh, Derr}-.

R. radula, Weihe. — Tollymore Park, Go. Down.

R. pulcherrimus, Neum. — Lough Gilly, Co. Armagh. Not given
for district x. in Cyb. Hib.

R. ang-Iosaxonicus, Gelert.— Glenarni, Co. Antrim. Not given
for district xii. in Cyb. Hib.

R. vlllicaulls, W. and N.— Near Toome Bridge, Co. Derry.

R. mucronatus, Blox., var. trifollatus.— On Cave Hill; a form
not previously recorded for Ireland.

R. macrophyllus, W. and N — Very fine and luxuriant between
Glenarni and Glenariff.

R. pyramidal Is, Kalt— Cave Hill, Co. Antrim.

High-street, Oxford.

2 The Irish Naturalui. [ January,

BEETLES COI.LECTED IN I.OUGH FOYLE DISTRICT,
COS, DONEGAL AND DERRY.

BY C. W. BUCKLE.

The beetles included in the following list, which numbers
about 760 species, were alltaken within ten miles of the shores of
lyOUghFoyle during the years 1896 to 1899. Among the more
interesting beetles which are specially mentioned at the end of
the list are some forty species which had not previously been
taken in Ireland or hitherto remained unrecorded.

On the north shore of Lough Foyle, where the majority of
the collection was made, the soil is chiefly a wet clay overlying
rock. A narrow .strip of land of a width varying from two to
four miles bordering the Lough is cultivated, and behind this
comes an uninterrupted chain of hills of moderate height — the
highest being 1,300 feet — extending from Culmore to Inish-
owen Head. These hills, which are covered with a thick laj^er
of peat, are, speaking generally, too wet and uncongenial for
most beetles, except aquatic and semi-aquatic species. The
beetles met with on the drier portions include Carabits
catenulattis, C. ?i7fe?is, Pterosiichus vitrciis, &c., but the Donegal
hills seem unproductive of many rarities ; the majority of
beetles met with being the commoner Carabidce. The most
successful collecting was done on the low-lying land bordering
the north shore of Lough Foyle. Very little collecting was
done on the south side of the Lough, \\ here the country is much
drier. The sand-hills at Magilligan, and at Buncrana, Lough
Swilly, were very productive, considering the small amount of
time that was spent there. They produced such local species as
Tachhuis elongatus, Acidota cre7iaia, Xayitholinus distans,
Bledius loiigtdus, B. crraticus, Helophorus rtcgostis, Cistela
lupertcs, Otiorrhynchus blajidus, Sitoties cambricus, S. lincellus,
Rhinondms castor, &c., besides a large number of commoner
things.

The nomenclature used is that of the Catalogue of British
Coleoptera by Sharp and Fowler, 1893.

I900.

BucKLK- — Beetles of Lough Foyle District.

Cychrus rostratus.
Carabiis catenulatux.
C. ntmoralis.
C. nit ens.

C. gramtlatns,
Notiophiliis biguttaliis,
X. substriatits.

N. aquatiats.
N. palustris.
Leistus fulvibarhif,
L, rufescens,
Nebria brevicollis.
N. Gyllenhali.
Blethisa nmltipunctata.
Elaphrus 7'iparii(s.
E. cuprens.
Loricera pilicornis.
Clivinafossor.
Dyschirms thoraci'nis.

D. politus.
D. cenem.
P. globosHs.
Broscus cephalotes.
Badister bipustidatus.
Bradycellus distincUts.
B. verbasci.

B. harpalUws.

B. similis.

Harpahts rujibarbis.

H. ruficornis.

H. aneus.

H. latus.

H. tardus.

Dichirotrich us pubt-scens.

Stomis pumicatus.

Pterostichus cupreus,

P. versicolor.

P, niadidus.

P. vitreus.

P. nigcr.

P. vulgaris.

P. nigrita.

P. minor.

P. stremius.

P. diligtns.

P. striola.

^mara fulva.

Amara apricaria.

./. spinipes.

A. bifrons.

A. ovata.

A. aciuninata.

A. tibialis.

A. Innicollis.

A. famiiiaris.

A. trivia lis.

A. comtnunis.

Calathiis ciste hides.

C. mollis.

C. vielanocepkaUis.

var. nubigeva.
C. piceus.
Taphria nivalis.
Pristonychns terricola.
A nchomen us a7i^ usticollis.
A. dorsalis.
A. albipes.
A. inarginattts.
A. parumpnncfatiis.
A. atratus.
A. fuliginosiis.
A. gracilis.
A. piceus.

A. puellus.

Olisthopus rotundatus.
Cillenus lateralis.
Bembidiuni rufescens.

B. v-striatwn .
B. obtusnm.

B. Mannerheimi^

B. czneum.

B. doris,

B. minimujii .

B. lampros.

B. tibiale.

B. atroccpruleutn.

J), decorum.

B. affine.

B. monticola.

B. concinnum,

B . femoratum .

B, bruxcllense.

B. Uttorale.

B. pallidipenm.

Bembidiuni bipunctafu/n.

B. punctulatum.

'I 'achypHS Jlavipes.
Aepus marinus.
Trechus rubens.
T. minutus.

var. obtusus.
Patrobns assimilis.
Dromius linearis.
D. ?neridionalis.
D, iv.'maculatiis.
D, iv.-notatus.
D. melanocephahis.
D, nigriventris.
Haliplus Jlavicollis.
H. fulviis.
II. ruficollis.
H.Jiuviatilis,
H. lineatocoUis.
Noterus sparsus.
L accoph ilus hyalin us.
Ccelambus incequalis.

C. impressopunctatus.
Deronectes assimilis.

D. depressus.

D. xii. -pustulatus.

Hydroporus lepidus.

H, rivalis.

If. septentriojialis,

H. Davisii.

H. tristis.

//. umbrosus.

H. angustatus,

H. Gyllenhali.

H. morio.

H. vittula.

H. palustris.

PI. incognitus.

PI. erythrocepJialus.

II. congjtlus.

H. memnonius.

H. obscurus.

H, nigrita.

H. discretus.

H. pubesce?is.

H. planus.

H. lifurattis.

A z

4

The Irish Naturahsi.

[January,

Agabus guttatits.

Cercyon hamon-hoidalis.

Homalota hepatic a.

A. paiudosus.

C. flavipes.

//. xanthoptera.

A. ungnicnlaris.

C. lateralis.

H. trhiotata (var.)

A. Jtebtilosus.

C. melanoaphalns.

H. corvina.

A. Shirmii.

C uniptinclafus.

H. atricohr.

A. chalconotus.

C. qtnsquilins.

H. nigra.

A. hipnstulatii^i.

C. pygmcBiis,

H. gerwana.

Ilybius fuhginosHs.

C, ana/is.

H. atramentaria.

/. ater.

Mtgasternum boletopha-

H. longicornis.

Rhantus twtatus.

gum.

H, sordida.

R. bistriatus.

Cryptopleurumntovm)h(f)i

H. aterrima.

Colymbetes fusciis.

Akochara fuscipes.

H. I at i CO His.

Dytisats punctulatus.

A, lanughiosa.

H. montivigans.

D. vtarginalis.

A. nicesta.

H. fungi.

Acilius sulcatus.

A. 7utida.

var. clienhtla.

Gyrimis natator.

A. morion.

Grypeta labilis.

G. elongatus.

A. grisea.

Tachyusa constricta.

G. opaciis.

A. algii7-nm.

T. flavitarsis (var.)

Hydrobius fuscipes.

A, obscurella.

T. atra.

Anacceva globulm.

MicrogJossa nidicola.

Fa lag ria obscnra.

A, limbata.

Oxypoda lividipennis.

Encephahis complicans.

Philydrtis jntlanocephalus

0. opaca.

Bolitochara cbliqua.

P. coarctatus.

0. umbrata.

Phytosus balticns.

Laccobins sinnatiis.

0. longhisctda.

Oligota in flat a.

L. alutacens.

0. hoimorrhoa.

Mylicsna dubia.

L. 7nziniius.

0. braehyptera.

M. brevicoj-nis .

Lim neb his trit n catelhts,

Gcalca castanea.

Gymnusa bj-evicollis.

Chtetarth ria sem hi n/inn.

Myrniidonia collaris.

Hypocyptus ovuluni.

Helophorus rngnsus.

Astilbiis canaliculatiis.

H. scminnlum.

H. nubihis.

Callicerus obscm-us.

Co7ioso7na pubescetis.

H. httertncdhis.

Hojnaloia cnrro.\.

C. lividum.

H. aquatiats.

H. cambrica.

Tachyporus obtusus.

H. aeneipennis.

H. gregaria.

var. 7titidicollis

Hs brevicollis.

H. fragilis.

T. soluttis.

H, aivernicus.

H. hygrotopora.

T chryso7neli7ius.

Henicocerus exsculpins.

H. volans.

T. hu7ne7-o*tis.

Octhebhis bicolon.

H, vestita.

7. tersus.

Hydrana riparia.

H, ni/iditla.

T. hy pn 07-^1 wt.

H. pracilis.

H. vicina.

T, pusilluft.

H. atricapilla.

H. graminicohK

T. btunneus.

H, pulchel/a.

H. halobrectha.

Tac/iiftus pallipes.

Cyclonotum orbiculare.

H. pimcticeps.

T, rtifipes.

Sph(sridhi))i scarabaoiois.

H. occulta.

T. subterra7ieus.

3. bipustnlahtm.

H. fallaciosa.

r. laticollis.

Cercyon littoralis.

H. circellaris.

T. elongatus.

C. hamorrhous.

H. eremita.

Megacronus analis.

C, obsoUtns.

H. analis

M, cingulatus.

igoo.] BuCKLK. -Beetles of Lough Foyle District.

Bolitobitis trtnotatus.

Mycetoporus kpidus.

M. long nl us.

M. nanus.

M. clavicorius.

M. splendid us.

Habrocerns capillaricorn /\\

Heterothops hi not at a.

H. dissimilis.

Qucdius mesonielin us .

Q. puncticollis.

Q. cinctus.

Q.fulgnosus.

Q. tristis

Q. molochinua.

Q. maiiyorufus.

Q. scintillans.

Q. rufipes.

Q. attenuatus. '

Q. semiceneus.

Q. hoops.

Staphylinus pubescens.

S. ccesarius.

S. erythroptenis.

Ocypus olens.

0. cupreus.

0. morio.

Philonthus spUtidens.

P. intermedius.

P laminatus,

P. cetieus.

P. proximus.

P. addetidiis.

P. carbonarius-

P. politus.

P. lucens.

P. variiis.

P. niarginatus.

P. uiubratilis.

P. cephalotes.

P. fanetarius.

P. sordidns.

P. cbeninus.

P. sanguinolcntus.

P. longicornis.

P. varians.

P. ventralis

Ph ilonth us q uisqu iliari us •

var. dimidiatus.
P. nigrita.
P. trossulus.
P. pud la.
Cajius xant/ioloina.
Actobius cinerascens.
Xantholinus glabratus.
X. punctulatus,
X. ochtaccus.
X. diitans.
X linearis
Baptolinus alternans.
0th ins fulvipcnnis.
0. licviusculiis.
O. niclanoccphalus.
O, my I •inccoph ilus.
Lathrobiuin clongatuin,
L, boreale.
L. fulvipenne.
L. bninnipcs.
L. quadratuin.
L. terniinatuni.

var. ininiaculatuin.
L. nutltipunctatum.
Stilicus rujipes.
S. orbiculatus.
S, affinis,
Sunius divcrsus.
Stenus Juno.
S. speculator.
S. btiphthalmus.
S. canaliculatus.
S. declaratus.
S. crassus.

var. littoralis.
S. brunnipcs.
S. ossiuvi.
S. impressus.
S. pubescens.
S. pallitarsis.
S. bifoveolaius.
S. tempe^tivus.
S. picipes.
S. similis.
S. paganus.
Bledius arena?'ius.

Bledius longulus.
B. erraticus.
Platystethus arenarius.
Oxytelus rugosus.
O. laqueatus.
O. niaritimiis.
0. nitidulus.
O. complanatus.
O. letracarinatus.
Haploderus ca'tatus.
Ancyrophorus omalinus.
Trogophloeus bilineatus.
T. rivularis.
T.fuligiuosus,
T. corticinus.
Thinobius linearis.
T. longipennis.
Lesteva pubescens.
L. longelytrata.
L. sicula.
Acidota crenata.
Olophruin piceutv.
Lathrlnueuui unicolor.
Philorhinuin sordiduin.
Coryphiuni angusticoUe,
Omaliuni rivulare.
0. ripariu}n.
0, excavatum,
0. CCS sum.
0. pusillum.
0. florale.
0. concinnum,
Authobium ?ninutuni.
Proteinus ovalis.
Megartkrus denticollis.
M. depressus.
Phlaobium clypeaium
Pselaphus Heisei. ■
Tychus niger.
Bythinus puncticollis
B. bulbper.
Bryaxis Heljcri.
B. jtmcoruni.
Scydmcenus collar-is.
Calyptomerus dubius .
Clambus sp.
Agathidium nigripenne.

The Irish NahcralisL

[ Jauuar}-,

Jgath idiittn luvigaium,
Anistotna ovalis.
A. calcarata.
Necrophorus hitnin/or.
N. mortuoniiii.
N. riispator.

var. niicrocephalits.
Xccrodcs littoralis.
Silpha opaca.
S. rugosa.

S.atrata,\Q.r.su(>ro/iiiidii/a
Clwlcva agilii.
C. cisteloidcs.
C./usca.
C. viorio.
C, g)-andicollis.
C. tristris.
C. dirysotiieloidcs.
C. 1 Vat son I.
Ptoinophagus sen'cens.
Colon serripcs.
C. angidare,
C. bvunncum.
Hister cadavcrinm.
//. negledus.
H. biinaculatus,
Saprinus nitiduliis.
S. ceneus,

Ottthophilus striatits.
Actidiutn coantatiini.
Ptcnidiuni piinctaluiH.
Adalia ob Hie rata.
Altai is occellata.
Coccinclla x-pundata,
C. hicroglyphica,
C. .xi'puuctata,
C. vii-pnindata.
Halyzia xiv'guttata.
H. xviii-gtittata.
//, xxii punctata,
Hypcraspis nppensis.
Scymniis Rcdcntbachci'i,
Rhizobius lit lira,
Coccidula riifa,
Micropeplns ponatus,
M, margaritie.
M, tesserula.

r^rackyptcnis piibescens,

B. nrtidr.
Cercus ntfilabris.
Epuraa astii'a.
E, oblouga,

E, longiila.

E, florea.

E. obsolcta.

E. piisilla.

E. angiistii/a.

JVitidiila hipnstulata,

Mcligcthci (tiicits.

M, viridesicns.

M. picipcs,

M. erythropus.

Rh izophagits depress us.

R.fcrrugiiieus.

R. dispar.

Monotonia picipcs.

Lahcridiiis lat darius,

Coninoniiis nodifcr.

Enicinus niinutus.

E. transversus.

Corticaria denticulata.

C. clongata,

Mcla)iophthalnia gibbosa.
Tclniatophilus caricis.

. [ntherophagus nigricornis

A. pal I ens,

Gryptophagus setulosus,

C, pilosus.

G, saginatus.

C, sc aniens,

C. dentatus.

C, distinguendus,

Micrambe vini.

Paramtcosoma iiiclanocc-

phaluin.
A toniaria n igrii 'cu tris,
A. IVollastoni.
A. fiiscipcs.
A. pcltata.
A. fuscata.
A. pus ilia.
A. atricapilla.
A, an alts.
Ephtsfemus gyriiioldei.

Byturus tomentosus.
Attagenus pel I to.
Byrrhus fasciatus.

B. dorsalis,
Cytilus varius.
Siniplocaria semistriata.
El mis Volkmari,

E. parallelopipedus.

Limnius tuberculattts.

Pariius psolifcsicornis.

P. aurictilatus.

Aphodiiis Jossor.

A. finietariiis.

A. scybalarius.

A. ater.

A. COM s tans.

A. granarius.

^L. )i it id id us.

A. rufesceus,

A. lapponiini.

A. put rid us.

. I. werdarius.

A. puncto-sukatus

A.prodroniHS.

A. containinatus.

A rufipes.

A. deprcssus.

. Egialia arc n aria.

Geotrupes stej'corarius.

G. sylvaiicits.

G, vernalis,

Serica brunnca,

Mclolontha vulgaris.

Phyllopcrtha horticola,

Lacon niurintis,

Cryptohypnus riparitis.

C. dertncstoidcs.
var. iv'guttatus.

Elatcr pomortim.
Athoui niger.
.7. hcemorrhoidalis.
. Idraitus limbatus,
.Igriotcs obscurus.
A. lineaius,
Dolopius inargiiiatus.
Corymbitcs cupreus,
var. ivruginosus.

1900.]

BucKi^E. — Beetles of Lough Foyle District.

■7

C. icssellatus,
C. quercus,

var. ochroptcrtis.
Dascilhts ccnjinus.
Hclodes minuta.
H. mai'ginata,
Microcara livida.
Cypkon coantatus,
C. nitidulus.
C, variabilis.

C, padi.

Hydi vcyplion dcjlexicollis,
Tclephonis 7iigrica)is, A'ar.

discoidens.
T. litiiratiis.
T. dayivinianus.
T. bicohr,
T, thoracicus,
T. paliidosHS.
Rhagonycha fulvc,
R. hnibata.
R. clongala.
Malthodcs inarginaiiis .
M. atotniis,
Ptinus fur,
Ntptus hololeucus,
N. crenattis.
Priobium castaneiiin,
Anobium doinesticum.
Ochina hcdcra,
Cis boleti.

Rhagiiitn inquisilor.
R, bi fascial uf/i.
Donacia Ihalassina.

D. inipressa.
D. sericea.
D. discolor.
Lenia lichen is.
L. septcnlrionis
ChrysotJiela Banksii.
C. staphylea.

(J. polita.
C. varians.
C. fastiiosa.
C. hypcrici.
Gastroidea viridiila
Phicdon tinnidiilus.

Pkicdon coclhlari(Z.
Hydrothassa marginclla,
Prasocuris phelandrii.
Lochmcea suluralis.
L. san^uinea.
Galerucella nyinphau.
G. sagittariic.
G. lineola.
LongitarsHS ater.
L. luridus.
L. alricillus.
L. iiielanoceplialus.
L. suluralis !
L. piciceps.
L. ballot (B.
L. exolelus /
L. pus ill us.
L. Jacobcea:.
L. gracilis.
L. pcllucidus.
Phyllotreta undulata.
P. iicmorum.
Apthona nonslriafa.
A. atratula.
Splucrodermatestaceuni.
Aptcropeda orbiculata.
A. globosa.

Crcpidodcra transversa.
C. ferruginca.
C. hclxines.
Plectroscclis coiuiHiia.
Psylliodcs chryso:cphala.

var. anglica.
P. napi.
P. cuprca.
P. afjinis.
Cassida fiaveola.
C. he/nisphcerica.
Cistela luperus.
Lagria hirta.
Salpingus castancus,
Rhinosinius viridipcunis.
R. planirostris.
Naccrdcs inclanura.
A naspis frontalis.
A. ru^collis.
A. viaculata.

Anthicus floialis.
Meloe proscarabcBus.

var. cyaneus.
Rhynchites rninutus.
Deporaus betulce.
Apion cruentatuiu .
A. hce mat odes.
A. vicice.
A.fagi.
A. dichroum.
A. carduorum.
A. virens.
A. ei'vi.
A. vorax.
A, Gyllenhali.
A. loti.

A. viarchiciim.
A. violaceum.
A. hydrolapathi.
A. humile.

Otiorrhynchus atroapterus
0. blandus.
O. mazcrus.
O. auropunctatus.
O. ligneus.
O. picipes.
O. sulcatus.
0. rugifrons.
O. ?nuscoruin. ~
Strophosotmis coryli.
Exam las araneiform is.
Sciaphilus niuricatus.
Tropiphorus obtusus.
Liophlceus nubilics.
Polydrusus niicans.
P. tereticollis.
P. pterygomalis
P. ccrvinus.
Phyllobius oblongus.
P. pyri.
P. argentatus,
P. viridiccris.
Philopcdon geminatus,
Barynotus obscurus.
B. Schonhcrri.
B, ehvatiis,
Alopkus triguttatus.

8

The Irish NaturalhU

[ January,

Sitoius ^riscus.
S. cavibrkus.
S. regens/cifiessis.
S. linccUus.
S. ineliloti.
S. flavescens.
S. suturalis.
S. linearis.
S. iulcifrons.
Hypera punctata.
H, j-uniicis.
//. polygon i.
FI. variabilis.
H. planfaginis.
H. nigrirostris.
Liosoma ova/ulinn.
Hylobius abietis.
Orchestes quercus.
0. Scutellaria.
O.fagi.
0. salicis.
C/rypidius eqitiseti.

Erirrh inus acridulits.
Thryogcnes nereis.
Dorytomus tortrix.
D. macitlatus.
D. pectoral is.
Anoplus plantar is.
A. roboris.

Elleschus bipunctatus.
Miccotrogus picirostris.
Mecinus py raster.
AntJwnomus pediculariiis
A. rubi.
A. coniari.
Clonus Iiortulanus.
Orobitis cyancus.
Acalles ptinoidcs.
A. iiirbatiis.
Caiiodes riibicundus.
C. querctis.

Ccuthorrhynch hs contrac -

tiis.
C. hirtulus.
C. quadridens.
C. pollinarius.
C. viduatus.
C. angulosus.
C. plctirostigma.
C. riigulosus.
C. litura.
Cciithorrhynchidius

troglodytes.
Rh inoncus pcricarpius.
R. pcrpendictilaris.
R. castor.

P/iytobins iv-tnbercnlatus.
Balan in us salicivorus.
B. pyrrhoceras.
Rhopalomcsites Tardy i.
Hylastes ater.

C. iv-!iiaculatus.

Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis ^^- palliatus.

C. eric(F. Hylastinus obscurus.

'rrypodcndrondomeslicuin.

Ill the following- list of the more interesting captures, those
which have not been previously recorded from Ireland are
marked with an asterisk : —
Carabus nitens. --Common on Donegal mountains in May and

June,
Blethisa multi punctata. — In swamp among rotten rushes.
Pterostichus vltreus.— Common under dried turf. Glencaw moun-
tain, and at Whitecastle.
•Bcmbldlum monticola,— A single specimen under stones, borders
of Drung River.
B. conclnnum.- River banks, Donegal and Derry; not common,
B. affinc— Banks of mountain rivers, under stones ; fairl}- common.
Trcchus rubcns. — I'nder turf stack, Glencaw mountain.
Hydroporus Davisil. — Common in slack water at foot of mountain
rivers in company with //. scpfcntrionalis. (I have never obser\^ed
either of these species rise to the surface.)
Incognltus. — vSweeping damp grasses, and in swamp, Culmore.
mclanarlus.-One .specimen at Downhill, Co. Derry, by Mr.
J. N. Milne,
cclatus.— Downhill, taken by Mr. J. N. Milne.
discrctus.— Common among weeds in early spring in muddy
streams or semi-stagnant pools,
A^abuB ungrulcularls.— In marsh at Culmore.

-H
•H

*H
♦H

I900.] ^vQKUt..— Beetles of Lough Foyle District, 9

Hclophorus rugrosus. -Very abuudant 011 sands at Ma<^illigau and
Runcrana,
*H. intermcdius.— In marsli at Culmore, not common.

H. arvcrnicus. -A single specimen from River Fanglian.
'''Henfcocerus exsculptus. — In company with Hydnena, River

Fauglian.
*HycIraena g^racilis,.

H. atrlcapllla, •>. From weed growing on stones, River Fauglian.

*H. pulchella, )

Ccrcyon haemorrhous.— Two specimens in Donegal, probably

overlooked.
*Tachyusa constricta.--On sandy deposit on borders of River

F'auglian ; plentiful where it occurs, but very local.
*T. flavi tarsus, var. — A new record for Ireland.
Bolltochara obllqua.— Abundant under loose bark of fallen fir

trees, Kildery, Co. Donegal.
Cymnusa brevlcollis. —Plentiful in marsh at Culmore under

decompo5jing rushes, &c. : have not met with it elsewhere.
*Tachlnus pallfpes. —Occasionally in moss, but attracted in numbers

by carrion in woods.
Ti elonira'tus. -One specimen on sands at Buncraua.
*IVIycetoporus nanus.— Magilligan sand-hills, not common.
^Habrocerus caplllaricornls. — A single specimen m March at

base of oat rick.
Quedlus sclntellans. - From carrion, not uncommon.
Phllonthus lucens. -I have always found this in moss or under

stones, never under carrion like P. polifus.
P. nlirrlta. — In swamp at Culmore among decaying rushes, &c., and

shore of Lough Rnagh, Co. Derry.
P. quisqulllarlus.— On sand-hills. Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The var.

dimldlatus in swamp at Culmore.
Xanthollnus dlstans. -On sand-hills at Magilligan and Buncrana;

not uncommon.

„. _. ^. /Abundant in sands at Magilligan, the former

Bledius erraticus. .. . ^u i,- v, 1 1 ^1

- usually occurs at a rather higher level than

B. longulus. [ BJongulHS.

Ancyrophorus omallnus.— in mos.sy bank, Culmore.
Homalota halobrcctha. —Magilligan sands.

"Homalota montivigans,
*H. fallaclosa,
"^H. hepatica,
*Oxypoda haemorrhoa,
*0. brachyptcra,
*0. Ilvldfpennls,
"Thinoblus linearis, j

^Trogrophlosus fullgrinosus,
"Troi:ophloeu8 linearis.— Floating on water tub.
^Acidota crenata,— On sandhills at Buncrana; not coramoi^

' A

All new records for Ireland.

lo The Irish Natvrali si. [January.

Coryphfum angustlcollc. -By sweeping:,' in grass at Culmore.
One specimen.
"Leptlnus testaceus. — Several examples from tunnel leading to nest

of Bom bus terrestris.
Xholeva chrysomcloldcs.— In carrion; a single specimen occurred

previously at Lough Neagh (Haliday). but was not recorded.
Colon serrlpes, \

"C. angrulare, VTaken by sweeping rushes.

*C. brunneum, j
HIster blmaculatus. — A single example taken floating on River

Faugh an, Co. Derry.
Actldium coarctatum. — A single example taken under stones.

border of Calry River, Co. Donegal.
Hyperaspis rcppcnsls. — One at Culmore among dry grass, and

another at Kilderry by sweeping grass.
IVIIcropeplus tesscrula.— Taken at Culmore, and given to me by
Mr. J. N. Milne.
"^Epursea angrustula. — Three examples taken from borings of Irypo-

dendron doinesticuni in fallen Beech tree, Glentocher. Co. Donegal.
*■£. obsoleta. — By beating Ivy, Kilderry.

*Anthcrophagus nigricornis. —In nests o{ Boitthus ttrrestris.
Cryptophagus setulosus.) In nests of Bomhus terrestris and H.
C. dlstingruendus. i agronim.

'Atomaria WoIIastont.— From sweepings of barn after threshing

and cleaning oats.
*A. peltata. — From base of oat rick.
Parnus aurlculatus. — Common under stones near water in early

spring.
Elater pomorum. — Several taken running up stems of gravsses. one
specimen on Birch, Kilderry.
*TeIephorus darwinian us. — Ou grassy mounds slightly above
high water mark at mouth of mountain rivers on north shore of
Lough Foyle, a few examples under dry pieces of sea-weed, chips of
wood, &c.. in similar situations. Three examples were sent to me
by Mr. J. N. Milne, which were taken on Black Brae emljankment
on the south shore of Lough Foyle by sweeping or beating. I find
both light and dark varieties plentiful in its favourite localities. It
appears towards the end of May. Mr. J. X. Halbert has taken it
near Dublin, but it has not been found elsewhere in Ireland.
Rhagrlum Inquisitor,— Fairly abundant on Oak and Birch trunks in

Walworth Wood, Co Derry, in company with R. bifasciattim.
Lema septentrlonls.^ — Plentiful in July on young shoots of oats in

compan}- with its larvie.
Chryscnriela fastuosa.— Occurs on dend nettle. Mr James Milne
gave me a large series which he found floating in an eddy in the
Redcastle River, Co. Donegal.
^Longitarsus ballotae. — A single example taken by sweeping
grasses in July ; possibly overlooked owing to its resemblance to
L, puiillus^

I900 J Buckle. — Beetles of Lough Foyle Distncf. r i

Casslcta hemlsphaerica.— One example by beating at Kilderry.
*ClsteIa luperus. — A single example in sand-pocket at Magilligan

during strong wind.
'IVIeloe proscarabaeus, var. cyancus. -Thirteen examples on a

sunny bank in March at Ballyargus.
*Rhynchites minutus. — Beating at Culmore.
Otiorrhynchus maurus. — One example in Calry Glen, and asecond

at Kilderry plantation on grass near the shore ; rare.
O. auropunctatuSi — A single example ; underground at foot of oak

tree, near a privet hedge, Culmore.
O. blandus. — One specimen at Greencastle, Co. Donegal, and two at
Magilligan, Co. Derry.
*Tropiphorus obtusus.— A single example by sweeping at Kilderry.
Polydrusus micans.— Walworth Wood, Co. Derry; found it
plentifully on two Hazel bushes, although Hazel is plentiful in the
wood it appears to be conlined to these two bushes.
Sitones cambricus. — Abundant near the shores of Lough Foyle.
*S. melilotl.— By sweeping grasses, Willsborough Level embankment,
Co. Derry, one specimen from oat rick, Co. Donegal.
Orchestcs scutcllaris. — A large colony on Alder at Culmore.
*AnopIus roboris. — Taken when sweeping for Donacnc on wet

boggy ground.
*Ccuthorrhynchus hirtulus. — Single specimen on sand-hills at
Buncrana.
C. angulosus. — Sweeping grasses at Culmore, one example onh*.

"C. viduatus.
Rhopalomesitcs Tardy i.— Common in Donegal and Derry in Holly,

Beech, Whitethorn, Willow, &c.
Trypodcndron domcsticum.— A small colony in a fallen Beech
tree in valley of Glentocher, Co. Donegal.
I cannot conclude this list of Donegal and Derry Beetles
without expressing my warmest thanks to Mr. J. N. HalbertS
for the immense amount of trouble which he has taken in
naming and verifying beetles for me, and for the many useful
hints as to collecting which I have received from him during
the past three years.

My thanks are also due to Mr. James N. Milne, of Culmore,
who, dtiring his fishing and shell-hunting excursions, so
frequently collected and sent to me large numbers of beetles,
among which were several rarities.
Chichester.

n Dr. David Sharp, F.R.vS., and Mr. G. C. Champion, F.Z.S., have very
kindly named or verified many of Mr. Buckle's captures, especially in
the family Staphylinidcc, submitted to them during the last three years.

J. N. Hai:,be;rt.]

12 The Irish Natnralht. [Jamian-,

KNTOMOSTRACA FROM I^OUGH RKK.

BY W. 1'. DK V. KANE, M.A., F.E.S.

[Collected on the Ivx:ursioii of the Dublin Naturalists' l''ieldClub, 1899. i

Thk following resiiits were obtained from about an hour's
dredging in one portion of I^. Ree, and chiefly in deep water.
Only the most interesting captures are given. Several
specimens of Bythotrcphes hngimaniis, Lilljeborg, and Lepto-
dora hyalhia, I,illjeborg, occtirred ; these two remarkable
species frequent large lakes. Dr. Creighton has met w^itli
the former in L. Melvin, and the latter near Galway. When
the Athlone party broke up I proceeded to Mayo, and in
L. Mask met with both, but at L- Carra only Lepfodora
hyalina. Both also occur at L- Gill, Sligo, and L. Neagh-
In L. Erne the latter is found and a species of Bythofrcphcs,
probably B. borcalis, Sars., not hitherto taken in the British
Islands. Daphnia /aciistris, var. ga/cata. Sars., occurs
plentifully in moderately deep water at L. Ree. The
prevalent form i^ a most remarkable one and well worth
figuring. The helmet-shaped head assumes the most
grotesque forms, the beak being extremely prominent, a
ver}' convex projection in front of the eye, and the vertex
spine long and sometimes curved forward into a hook-shape.
When alive, the animals are remarkable for a vers' dark
pigmentation about the head and the abdomen, which gives
them a ver}- speckled appearance in the water, 'llic specimens
figured by Prof. Brady in his monograph on British Daphnia
published last year, from L. Oich and L. Attray, Scotland, are
suggestive of those which I took at I,. Ree, btit are not in any
way so grotesque. It is interesting also that I found the same
species in L. /uask in extraordinar\- ntimbers, and of exactl}-
similar character to those of L. Ree. I have taken D. galeata,
Scourfield, also in L. Gill and in certain minor lakes in the
County of Monaghan where tlie> occur in scanty numl^ers
accompanied by D. longispina and other common species?
but presenting in every instance onl}^ the ordinar}- typical
characters. The immature specimtrus taken at L. Ree and
L. Mask are extremeh' variable, but not more so than is
usual elsewhere, so far as I have examined. It is worth}' of
noting that this species, widely distributed in the lakes of
Ireland and Great Britain, appears on the Continent to be

t9^.J ICane- — E)itomostyaca from Lough Ree. 13

confined to Scandinavia, according 10 Brady. Thti excessive
local variation which seems to obtain m this and allied species
presents a problem well worthy of further research.

The only other capture worth noting was Sida crystallhia
which was plentiful among weeds at St. John's Point. The
material, however, has been so far only cursorily examined,
and there may be minute species yet overlooked worthy of
record.

An attempt was made to collect in a very shallow lake near
Clonmacnois, but owing to the boat having but one oar it was
impossible to reach the deeper water, and Eurycaus lanuilatus
was almost the onh^ species taken.
Drumrearke, Monaghaii,

A COUNTY FAUNA.

Contributions towards a Fauna of Herefordshire— IVlollusca.

By Arthur E. Boycott and Ernest W. \V. Bowki^i.. U'oolhope

Natuyalists^ Field Club. Pp. 104, n.d.
Messrs. Boycott and Bowell's " contribution " is certainly the best paper
on a count}' fauna we have yet seen. In many respects it even represents
an ideal to be imitated by naturalists of other counties, and we strongly
recommend its perusal to those intending to issue similar publications.
Instead of the usual list of species, with long strings of Latin names
indiscriminately ajDplied to monstrosities as well as to individual varia-
tions in size, the authors give us carefully compiled lists of distribution
of the species with regard to the principal geological strata, and they
also take into consideration the anatomy and histology of the animals
which the}- enumerate. There are some points, however, in which this
little work might have been improved. Though it is acknowledged that
the slugs have been practically left out. no reason is given for this
singular omission. The chief defect, however, lies, in our opinion, in
the nomenclature, which is almost bewildering in its novelty. After
committing themselves to this statement (p. 21,)- '• Indeed, the more the
mitter is inquired into, the further one is driven from one's ideal of
strict correctness and priority to the view that the best name is the one
to which 25Cople are most accustomed and about the significance of
which there is not much doubt '" we find our familiar HyaJiin'a ciystallina
described as Discus crystallinus, Hcli.x rotundata as Pyramidiila rotundata,
whilst our poor garden snail, Helix aspersa^ becomes Cryptomphalusaspersus.
To resuscitate such names as Discus, Cryptoinphalus. Ainphibulina, and
Thcodaxtis ^^^Mv?, to us objectionable and not even always in accordance
with any rules of priority. It is a great pity that no reference is given
on the paper as to the method and date of its original publication.

R.F.S

14 The Irish Naturalist. [January,

THE PAI^^ONTOGRAPHICAI. SOCIETY IN IRELAND.

lYIonoerraph of the Carboniferous Cephalopoda of Ireland.

By Arthur II. Foord, Ph.D. (Munch.), F.G.S. Part i. Family
Orthoceratidic {\\\ Part), pp. i-22 ; pis. i.-vii., 1897. Part ii. Containing
the laniilies Orthoccratidic (concluding part), Actinoceratidie^ Cyrto-
icratidce, and Pott'riocc'ratidti\\>-^. 23-48 ; pis. viii.-xvii., 1898. Palseonto-
graphical Society.

In view of the possibility of establishing life-zones in the Carboniferous
rocks it is necessary that the organic remains should be minutely
described and accurately figured. Everyone specially interested in these
rocks has felt the want of satisfactory figures and descriptions of the
Cephalopoda and will therefore, we are sure, heartily welcome Dr.
Fooid's Monograph, which is appearing in the publications of the
Pala;ontographical vSociety. Having previously worked through all the
Nautiloidea in the British Museum collection, which contains a number
of Sowerby's and of Phillips's type-specimens, Dr. Foord was eminently
fitted to undertake such a Monograph. The two parts which have
already appeared include the straight or only slightly curved Nautiloids,
viz., Orthoccras. Acdnoccras^ Cyrtoccras.Wx^ new genus Eusthe}ioceras,^n(\. Potcrio-
cents. The importance of the work will beat once apparent when it is
stated that of the twenty-seven species of Orlhoceras that are described,
twenty are due to the author's researches, and are here figured for the first
time in the admirable manner so characteristic of the publications of the
Palseontographical Societ}-. The differentiation of these comparatively
straight forms is particularly difficult owing to the paucity of the specific
characters, these being chiefl3-the rate of tapering, the shape of the
transverse section, the form of the septa, the position and character of
the siphuncle, and the nature of the ornaments of the test. New species of
Aiti'noceras^ of Cyrtoceras, and of Fofcrioicras are also described and figured.
F'or the species from Oldtown, Queen's County, that De Koninck figured
and described under the name Cyrtoceras Hitlli. J)r. Foord proposes the
new genus Eusthcnoceras^ a genus possessing characters which are inter-
mediate between those of Ort/wccras, and those of Me/oceras, a subgenus of
Cyrtoceras. Apparently the species is not very rare, and according to the
author " the great size of the individuals belonging to this species is
worthy of note, and did not escape De Koninck's attention in his descrip-
tion of the species. There were giants in those days in the Carboniferous
seas of the British and Belgian areas ; this may at least be said of the
Cephalopoda, for not onh' did Actinoceras gigantetim flourish and abound,
but there were also gigantic forms of many of the coiled shells . . .
Favourable environments, immunity from the attacks of their enemies,
and other physical conditions may be invoked to account for such unusual
development whicli was most marked in the Irish area. ' Although
departing in same particulars from E, HuI//\ Dr. I'oord places provisionally
in this genus the unique specimen from Samphire Island, in the County
of Kerry, that De Koninck described as Cyrtoceras Bailyi. We heartily

I900.] Carboniferous Cephalopoda. 15

congratulate the author on the result of hivS researches so far as he has

made them known, snd we look forward with interest to the rest of his

Monograph dealing with the many interesting coiled Cephalopoda — both

NautiloideaandAmmonoidea — that have been found in the Carboniferous

Limestone of Ireland.

Org. C. Crick
British Museum (Natural History), London.

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

ROYAl. ZOOr.OGICAI. SOCIRTY.

Recent gilts include a Barbary Sheep from the Marquis of Hamilton, a
Herring Gull from Mr. H. C. Hartnell. an Otter from Mr. C. Boyle, a
number of Rudd from Mr. F. Godden. a Baboon from Captain Warren,
a Giant Tortoise from the Hon. Walter Rothschild, a Sloth Bear from
Mr. S. T. Loftus, eleven Tortoises from Mr. A. E. Jamrach, and a Dotterel
from Mr. J. H. O'Connell.

5,527 persons visited the Gardens in November.

Dubinin Microscopicai, CIvUb.

November 16 — The Club met at Leinster House.

Mr. G. H. CarprnTP^R showed hotoiua brevicauda, a new species of
springtail from P'ranz-Josef Land. This interesting form will be shortly
described and figured in the Scientific Proceediugs of the Royal Dublin
vSociety.

Dr. He:nrv H. Dixon exhibited coccospheres. These minute
organisms, the probable source of coccoliths, were found during last
summer in Valentia Harbour. It is remarkable that while coccoliths
are very abundant all round our coasts, coccospheres are extremely
scarce— so far, some half dozen only have been recorded by Dr. J. Joly
and the exhibitor from Weymouth and Dublin Bay.

Mr. M'Ardi^E exhibited specimens of L'^pidozia Pearsoni, vSpruce, bear-
ing the male spikes. The specimens were found by himself and the Rev.
Canon Lett at Lough Duff, in the Brandon Valley, Co. Kerry, last May,
when collecting for the R.I. A. Flora and Fauna Committee. The species
resembles the pretty Lepidozia reptans. but has not the deep green colour
of that species. It is of a pale tawny green, more slender and more
elongated in growth, with more distantly placed leaves ; which are cloven
to beyond the middle into four to six subulate segments. The chief dis-
tinction is in the dioecious inflorescence the male t.pikes are terminal on
the lateral branches. Lepidozia reptans is monoecious, the male spike
springing from the underside of the stem— which is the normal position
on nearly every other Eulepidozia known to us, except Lepidozia Pearsoni.
This is the first record of the plant being found in Ireland. In North
Wales it was collected by W. H. Pearson, at Tyn-y-groes, near
Dolgelly, in 1877 and 1879. He has kindly verified the naming of this
rare hepatic,

l6 The Irish Naturalist. f January,

Mr. Henry j. Sevmoi'k showed a imnibcr otj^old specks obtained In-
washing alluvial sands in Co. Wicklo^v. One of the samples examined,
a few ounces in weight, yielded about 15 specks ot gold. The second
sample was not so auriferous, but the specks were considerably larger.

Bei,fast Naturalists' Firi.d Club.

NovRMBRR i^^. — Mr. F. J. Bigger, M.R.I. A , occupied the chair. A
discussion took place with reference to scientific and other objects
exhibited, including some excellent bronze implemetits lately added to
Mr. Milligan*s collection from Lough Erne, &c. After the election of
some new members, Prof A. C. Haddon delivered a very interesting
lecture on " Our Papuan P'ellow-subjects at Work and Play," which was
a descriptive account from personal observation of a stage of culture
such as no doubt prevailed in Ireland before the introduction of
Christianity. The lecturer dealt with the work of men and women and
the games of children, as well as the physical features of the country
and the towns and villages, including Port Moresby, the capital of British
New Guinea. The manufacture of native pottery by women was ver}-
fully illustrated. This is altogether hand-made without a wheel, the
result being very similar to the remains of ancient pottery dug from
Irish graves and sand-dune settlements, such as we have in our Gramger
collection. The lecturer also illustrated and described the making of
native canoes from logs of wood, dug out with stone implements and the
action of fire, such as was probably the origin of the dug-out boats in the
Benn collection of the Natural Histor}' Museum, Belfast. Onr
crannoges, or artificial islands, so common in Irish lakes, were illustrated
by the native pile dwellings that occur along the coasts at Bulaa and
elsewhere. The construction of these villages was described in an
interesting manner, and demonstrated the correctness of the accepted
theories as to the origin of our ancient Irish crannoges. The process of
making fire by the friction of pieces of wood was shown, and the method
of tattooing as practisedjby the women. A number of games of Motee
children were illustrated, such as cat's cradle, leapfrog, tug-of-war, and
several that have no British equivalents. The natives of these distant
islands attribute to supernatural agency or to the mighty deeds of their
legendary heroes all special natural features in the landscape, such as
rocks, mountains, etc., and the legends are carefully preserved and
recited, as is common in Ireland still in remote places. Native shrines
were shown, which are erected to secure success in fishing and cultiva-
tion of crops of fruit. At these shrines the natives' offerings are typically
represented : for example, a basket of fruit is represented by a large
shell holding a few stones. As in Ireland, upright stones of memorial
frequently occur. Mr. Bigger, chairman, Messrs. Wright, Gray, and
Patterson, discussed the merits of the lecture, referring to its many
subjects of comparison with Irish customs in ancient times, and, on the
motion of Mr. Wright, F.G.S., a very cordial vote of thanks was passed
to Professor Haddon.

tgoo/] Proceedings of Irish Societies. i

w

Nov. 21 —The President (Rev. C. H. Waddeli., B.D.) delivered a very
interesting lecture on 'The Work of the Club.' After some introductory
remarks, Mr. Waddet.i. stated that the object of a Field Club was to pro-
mote a study of nature among its members, to popularise such pursuits
among the community and gain new disciples, and work out in detail the
natural history of the district, placing the results on permanent record.
Their Club was the oldest in Ireland, and they had no reason to be
ashamed of the work already accomplished. The guide published in 1S74
for the visit of the British Association summed up in an interesting
manner what had been done up to that time. There were still, however,
many gaps in the records of the natural surve}' of their district which
should be filled up. The progress of science in all departments had been
so great that it had become necessary for anyone who wished thoroughl}-
to investigate anj' branch to become a specialist. For this reason,
and also from the improvement in instruments of research, the
older race of field naturalist was passing awaj-. Our old naturalists of
Belfast were " all-round men," such as Robert Patterson, who had done
so much to promote natural history; John Templeton, of Cranmore,
who set about the immense task of writing a complete natural history of
Ireland ; and William Thompson, who formed the same project for
zoology alone, and carried it out to a great extent before his death. The
ranks of this old tj'pe of naturalist should be filled up from the mem-
bers of the Club. The attraction of work in laboratories and herbaria
indoors, and the influence of the subjects taught now in our universities —
structure, physiology, and microscopic work — were telling against work
in the field. We need more life-histories of plants and animals, more
monographs of single species or individuals, than monographs of groups
and classes. There is work to be done on these lines of permanent
interest and importance which cannot be done in the laboratory alone,
but must be undertaken by the field naturalist. All that is required is,
first, choice of a subject, then patience, observation, and the power to
properly recording results. The true object of our favoured pursuits is not
merely to collect specimens, but knowledge, to try to understand some-
thing of the varied and prolific life with which this world is filled, to
study its origin, modes of development, and meaning. The members
should remember the traditions of the Field Club and endeavour to ex-
tend its usefulness. The Society had always been a centre of progress
and education in Belfast in all that relates to the love of nature, and the
pursuit of those humanising and elevating studies which lead us to
wonder even more and more at the greatness and goodness of the Creator.
In conclusion, he said — I\Iay we seek then, in our communion with
nature to be always learning at her feet, and to drink of her spirit, her
infinite patience and calmness to soothe the impatience and restlessness
of ours, her prodigality and kindness to give generosity to ours, her
widespread beauty kindling into flame the admiration, wonder, and
reverence of our spirits to ennoble and refine them.

A very animated discussion followed. Several^ members expressed
a strong desire to have the lecture published. The possibility of
rendering the Club's collection of books available for use was referred to.

1 8 The Irish Naturalist - [January-,

aud the debirability of having a set of the orduauce maps, geological
maps, and geological memoirs provided for reference in the Public
Library. As a free grant of these valuable documents could be had from
the Treasury, no further time should be lost in securing them. The want
of proper arrangement in the Public Museum was considered to be a
very serious loss to popular education. It was thought desirable that the
services of the members of the Club should be utilised in completing aud
arranging our local natural history and antiquarian collections. The
meeting was closed by the election of some new members.

XovKMBKR 25. BoT.\NiCAi, SECTION.— The first meeting was well
attended. After some notes on grasses collected during the season, Rev.
C. H. Waddell gave an introductory lectnre on the Cyperacese, the
special subject chosen for study by the members of the section during
the winter meetings.

ReIvI'ast Natural History and Phii.osophicai, Society.
December 5.— a lecture was given by Robert A. Mitcheix, i<i..ii.
on " Personal Impressions of the Transvaal, Natal, and Cape Colony."

DuBUN Naturalists' Fieed Ceub.
Excursion to the Shannon. — Members of the Dublin Naturalists'
Field Club spent June 27-29 in exploring the flora and fauna of the
islands and shores of Lough Ree, with Athlone as a centre, finding many
interesting specimens. On the first day, half an hour after arrival, the
party left by sailing and rowing boats for Hare Island, where much of
interest was seen. On the second day Quaker Island was reached by the
steamer, the " Faerie Queen,"' and made the centre of explorations by
row-boat, &.c. The interesting Seven Churches were described in detail
by Mr. J. F. Bigger, M.R.I. A.. Vice-President of the Belfast Field Club.
This member gave a similar treat on the third day when the remark-
ably fine ruins of Cloumacnoise were visited. Here, too, the party was
hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Charlton, of Clonmacnoise

House.

Praise is due to the Shannon Development Company for the way in
which its oflScials worked to make the visit a success, some members
complaining the visit was much too short for full enjoyment.

The botany of Lough Ree has been fully reported on by Messrs.
Barringtou and Vowell {^Proc. KJ.A.. i.2) iv., 18S7;. A number of the
more interesting plants were seen. On Hare Island Cephalanthcni
ensifolia was gathered in abundance, with it were Ophrys apifcra aud
Tcucriiim Sconiiuin. On limestone rocks on the adjoining mainland Mr,
Praeger gathered Cornus san^uinca, an addition to the Lough Ree flora.
A halt where the lake narrows into the river above Athlone enabled the
IxDtanists to gather Galium borca/e, Lathynis palustn's in great abundance
and beautiful flower, Lastrea Thclypttris^ &c. The Clonmacnoise district is
bare and bleak ; the most conspicuous plants were Anthrisciis vulgaris,
which grew in remarkable abundance on the eskers, and Khynchospora
fusca, which INIr. Praeger found in immense quantity in the bogs. On
the fine ruined castle near St. John's Point Orobanchc hederce was gathered
by Mr. Kane.

tgoo.J Proceedings of Irish Societies. ly

A collection of the smaller fuii^i Avas made. The more interestiug
have beeu kiudly identified by Dr. Plowright as follows : — Uredo
hyperkoyurn, Stcnitm hirsutmn, Hyposcylon /uscii/N, H. nibiginosum, Peziza
virginea. Marasmus rottila, Agria pjiirnt'a, Pcziza fn'i/iisf>ora, Meuispora ciiiata,
and .Etka/iiim septiLiim.

Ground beetles were abundant on Hare Island, though referable to but
few species ; the following occurred under stones on the lake shore : —
Elaphrus ciipreits, Cludlnius vestUiis^ Auchoincniis albipes abundant ; .-/
inarginatus, A. vidiiiis var. i/iastits, xtvy common, no specimens of the
bronze-coloured type form of this species were observed : less common
were A,riifesiens, Ptcrosfick^is vernalis, Harpalta nifibarbU^ Bembidiiijii ni/cscens,
B. atrocceruleum, and Bradycdliis distinctiis. In the weed-grown inlet at the
landing-place, the following water-beetles were noted in company with
many commoner kinds; — Ccclambus v.-lineatiis, Dcronectes\ assimjlisy D.
dcpi-essus. Hydroporns lineatus, and //. timbrosiis. Numerous examples of
Orectochilus villosus, and a few of the rare beetle Philonthtis quisquUia)-iits,
were disturbed from under stones at the water-edge. By sweeping, the
following wei;e found more or less commonly on the island •.—Tclcplwrus
thoracicus, Graminoptera ru/icorfiis, vars'ing greatly in size : Phyllodtcta
vitellince, Galcrucella nyinphaw, G. lineola, G. fend/ a, and Brachyso/niis
echinatus. Mr. Dillon found a beautifully fresh specimen of the local
longicorn Rhagiuni iiiquisUoy, along with the wood-boring beetle
Sinodendron cylindriciun iu an old tree stump, and Mr, Cuthbert got
Rhopalomesitcs Tardy I in Alder, an unusual home for this weevil.

On Inchcleraun Mr. Cuthbert collected three species of beetles of
great interest, on account of their occurrence at such an inland locality ;
these are : — Aleochara obsciirella, P/iylosus baltuus, SlwA Siio)ies griscus. Up to
this they had only been detected on the sea-coast. Philonthus cephalolcs,
Bkdiiis opaciis, and Orchestes saiicis are also noteworthy from this locality,
being somewhat local species. Ou Priest's Island the most interesting
captures were Gyropha-na hvvipcfinis, common in fungi ; Halyzia conglobafa,
E/urca dcleta, Aiiobiuiii strialiim^ Elinis ]'o!k?nan, Chrysoiiicla hypericin and
several specimens of the rare weevil Miaris campanuloi were swept off
flowers, this being the second Irish record for this species.

Some interesting insects were found on the bog and meadow lands
about Clonmacnoise, notably the following species of beetles : — Euconnus
hirticallis^ Corticaria fcnestralis^ Chihcoris bposttilatiis^ Lci/ia scptentrionalis,
Haltica ericcti, Phacdon cochlcaria^ Doiiacia imprcssa, swept commonly off
reedson th e Shannon bank ; Eiibrychiiis velatiis and LUhodactylia
teucogaskr in weedy drains ; Phytobins couiari^ Miaris cainpanulac^ &c. The
stony shores of Fin Lough yielded three rather local rove-beetles
i.e. Lathrobiiifu inuUipiinctatiiin, L. terniinatufn, type form, and Z. longulidn.
Perhaps the most interesting insect captured near Clonmacnoise was
a caterpillar of the rare noctuid moth Dasypolia le//ipli. taken by INIr.
Dillon and identified by Mr. Kane.

The Hymenopterous faunawas disappointingly scanty, owing principally
to the broken weather. Prosopis /lyalitiata, one of the short-tongued bees
of a genus very poorly represented in Ireland, was taken on Quaker Island

20 The Irish Naturalist. [ January,

by Mr. Dillon. It is probably not uncommon, but hitherto hud not been
definitely recorded. I^i'thyms barlmtelius, an inquiline humble-bee, was
taken on Hare Island, with the solitary species Halictus albipes, 11. villo-
suius, and Sphaodes similis. I'ormicafttsca was abundant on Hare and Quaker
Islands, as also the races rugiiiodis and scabrinodis of Myrmica rubra.

Some solitary wasps, including Psen pallipcs, Pcniphrcdon Wesmocli^ Crabro
variiis, and Crabro leiicostontay were taken under bark along the west bank
of the river, south of Athlone.

Among the more interesting spiders collected were Lycosa Icopardus,
abundant on the islands of Lough Ree, ixi\(\. Prosthesima lutcliana^ of which
a single female occurred on Hare Island. The latter is the first addition
to Mr. G. H. Carpenter's list of Irish Spiders published in the Prcc, R.I. A.
(3), vol. v., 1898, pp, 128-210. A Report on the Entomostraca dredged
during the excursion by Mr. Kane will be found on pp. 12-13 of this

number.

The result of shell-hunting was a list of 44 species. Of these the most
interesting were the large Claiisilia laminata, of which a few were found
iu the woods on Hare Island, and Hyalinia] nitida, which was very
numerous round the shore of the same place.

Fossil-hunting was rewarded by the discovery of several forms which
have been named by Dr. A, H. Foord. The species are represented
mostly by immature specimens : —

Brachiopoda. — Spirifera glabra, Martin ; .V. bisitlcala, vSowerby ; Orthis
resupinata, Martin ; Terebratula hastata^ Sowerby ; Rhynconella cordi-
for mis {!), Sowerby; Productus sp.
LamEI.I<IBRAXCHIAT.\, --Ztw//t77a, sp. ; Conocardiitm, sp. ; Edmondia, sp.
Gastropoda. —Loxonema, sp. ; Euomphahis peniangulatits, Sowerby.

NOTES.

ZOOLOGY

/NSEC7\S.

Insect Notes from County Antrim.

The Rev. W. F. Johnson's entomological notes in the December
number are very interesting. My friend Mr. M'Calmont found Colias
cdtisa at Cultra in a clover field by the sea-shore. I found Pyraineis cardui
and P. alala)ita and llippanhiasafwk on the wing in M 'Art's Fort. I took
the larva of P. atalanta at Giant's Ring and at Castlereagh, from which I
reared out ten or twelve specimens. They commenced to emerge from
the pupa on 7th October, when a few came out, the weather having
changed; the remainder did not emerge until a week later ; one was
alive on 30th October.

The moth M-uroglossa stdlalaniin I observed at the following places : —
Newtownbreda and Campbell College, Belfast, and at Doagh, County

Antrim — in all nine specimens.

H. L. Orr.
Belfast.

1900.] Notes. 2T

The Beetles of the Foyle District.

Mr. Buckle's captures from the Foyle district (p 2-1 1) form uumerically
the largest local list that has hitherto been published on Irish beetles.
Besides the many new records, he has been fortunate enough to re-
discover several species, which have not been found in Ireland since
their original discovery, many years ago, by Mr. Haliday. The following
ma^' be mentioned: — Coiypfiim/i angiisf icol/e, Cholcna chrysoimlotda, Actidium
coarchilteni, Micropeplns fcsscru/a, Anlherophagns uigricornis. Parmis aun'cu/atus,
&c. Three of Mr. Buckle's most noteworthy finds are—J/omaria
Wollersfoni, Sharp; Tclep/ioni s dariviiiianits, ^h.^iV^ \ and Tropiphonts obtusus^
Bonsd., species which for a number of 3-ears have been recorded only
from certain vScotch localities. The Telcphorus, however, occurs under
sea-weed on the Dublin coast near Clontarf, so that in all probability it
will be foimd widely distributed round the Irish coast. Tropiphorus
obtusiis, also, has been taken by the Rev. W. F. Johnson near Armagh, and
by myself under moss, in spring, on the banks of the River Barrow, Co.
Carlow. Dr. David Sharp. F.R.S., and Mr. G. C. Champion, F.Z.S.,have
very kindly nani6d or verified a number of the species especiall)' ainong.st

the more critical Stap/iylnndiv.

J. X. Hai^brrt.
Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

.}POLLUSCS.

Reversed Helix ericetorum, at Bundoran.

A friend in Ballyshannon lately sent me some abnormal land shells,
collected on the dunes between that town and Bundoran, by the old
women who make the shell necklaces for sale at the latter place. Among
them I find two sinistral specimens of the above, and some friend.s, who
have passed some hundreds of reversed specimens ofi^. ncmoralis from
the same locality through their hands, tell me they have never seen such
'* sports " of .^. encefonifn before.

Belfa.st. R. \Vei,ch.

BIRDS.

Montagu's Harrier in Wlcklow.

An immature male Montague Harrier (^Circus Montagni) was shot near

Kylebeg, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, on the 7th of September, probably

belonging to the same brood as those obtained in Co. Wexford in the

month of August.

Edward Wii.i,iams.

Bewick's Swans In the Moy Estuary.

On the 12th of December, 1899, a herd of twenty Bewick's Swans {Cygnus

Bewicki) visited the estuary, and rested for some hours on the Bartragh

sands, opposite Moyne Abbey. One fine bird was obtained, it measured

3 feet 9 inches from point of bill to end of tail feathers, and weighed

14 lbs. The entire herd appeared to be adult birds, for there were no

grey ones amongst them.

Robert Warre;n,

Moyview, Ballina,

22 The Irish Naturalist. [ January, 1900.

Ospreys In Ireland.

• Avery fine female Osprey, Pandion Jialicutus, was shot in the neighbour-
hood of Cahir, Co. Tipperary, on the loth of October. It was in company
with another which fortunately eluded all efforts to capture it. The
bird measured five feet from tip to tip of wing. 3Ir. Byrne, the game-
keeper at Glendalough, writes to inform me that he has seen one on
several occasions about the Glendalough lakes this last month, a locality
which seems very suitable to their habits, as another was obtained there
a few years ago.

Edward Wiujams.
Dublin.

Rose-coloured Pastor In Co. iVlayo.

On the 5th of last November a fine specimen of this rare visitor {Pastor
roseits) to Ireland was shot by Mr. James A. Knox, at Belgariff House
(near Foxford), as it was feeding by itself on the lawn there. It was not
in very good plumage, for some feathers on the back of its neck were not
fully grown, nor had the long tail feathers attained their full length
This is the third specimen obtained in Ireland this year. Mr. D. C.
Campbell, of Londonderry, noticed in the August number of the Irish
Naturalist. 1898, a specimen having been shot on the 9th of June by Mr.
John Hunter, near Inch, in that county : and Mr. Williams, of Dublin, in
the Irish Naturalist for October, 1898, records the capture of a specimen
shot on the 20th of Jul}* by Mr. A. Brooke in his garden near Killybegs,
Co. Donegal.

RoBKRT Warren.

Moyview, Ballina.

This .specimen was a female, and the stomach contained a quantity
of small beetles mixed with a few berries of the common Privet. This
being the third specimen recorded this year in Ireland, we shall
probably hear of a westward migration on the Continent.

ICDW'ARD Wir.UAMS.

BOTANY.

Flora of Co. Armagh.

Mr. H. C Hart writes me that he has a specimen of //?"<f/'<?t/////'/ murorum
I,, var. pelluciduni Lse.stad (so named 1)y Mr. Hanbury), collected at
Dobbins' Walk, Armagh. No Hawkweed (except H. Pilosella) has been
recorded from Co. Armagh previously, and the species is also an addition
-to the flora of District X.

R. iri^oVD Prakger.

Dublin.

Irish Naturalist, Vol. IX. ]

[Plate i.

To face p. 23.]

Lejeunia Rossettiana, Mass.

[W. N. Allen, ad nat. del.

February, 1900.] 23

THE HEPATIC.E OF ROSS ISLAND, KILEARNEY.

(Collected for the R.I.A. Flora and Fauna Committee.)

BY DAVID M'ARDI^K.

Pi. ATE I.

Ross Island, with its historic castle, a fortress of about the
fourteenth century, is in a beautiful wooded district, eastward
about two miles from Killarney town. The deep water-course
and drawbridge, which once guarded the entrance to the castle,
have disappeared ; and the 150 or more acres, which extend in
an erratic manner into Lough Leane, now a form peninsula. It
is well wooded and tastefully laid out, well-kept walks leading
to places at the lake margin, where the best views of the
islands and surrounding woods and mountains are to be
obtained. The place is full of interest to the antiquarian.
From its sheltered position, &c., it was selected by Mr. G. H.
Carpenter and myself as a likely place for rare insects and
hepatics in November, 1893 ; and in May last year I spent a
day there with the Rev. Canon Lett collecting Hepaticae ; the
result of our collecting is in the appended list.

In 1889 Mr. R. W. Scully, F.E-S-, when collecting Hepaticae
at Killarney, visited Ross Island, and among part of his
collection which he sent to me I found a small quantity of the
rare Lejeunea Rossettiafia, which he collected there. This I
sent to my late friend. Dr. Spruce, who verified my name for
the plant, which was not in fruit, and I might have passed it
over for Lejeunea echinata were it not for an excellent figure
and description of Leje2cnea Rossettiana published by Mr.
Pearson in the Joicnial of Botaiiy, vol. 27, p. 352, tab. 292,
1889. We were fortunate in finding the plant there last May
in perfect condition. I am not aware that the ripe capsule, its
curious structure and contents, have been seen or described
by any writer on these plants. In my endeavour to
demonstrate them I have been ably assisted by Mr. W. N.
Allen, whose beautiful delineation of these parts, which he
drew from the specimens we gathered on Ross Island, renders
the task a pleasant one.

The name w^as given to the plant by an Italian botanist,
Professor Massalongo, to perpetuate his friend Dr. Rossetti,
who collected it in Italy. In England it is known to grow in
two localities — Derbyshire, where it was collected byMr. G. A.

A

24 Ihe Irish Naturalist. [Februarj',

Holt, and in Yorkshire, by the late Dr. Carrington, who also
succeeded in finding it in Muckross demesne, Killarney ; it
was found near Dublin by Dr. Taylor, in 1830, but has not been
rediscovered in the last two stations.

FruIIania tamarlsci, Liuu., Duiiiort. — Common ou trees aud on
rocks— D. M'A., 1893 ; Lett aud M'A., 1899.
var. atrovircns, Carrington. — Stems elongated, leaves elliptic-ovate,
apiciilate, inflexed, indigo green colour. On wet rocks, margin of
the lake— Lett aud M'A., 1899. Rare.

FruIIania gcrmana, Taylor.— On the trunks of trees— D. M'A.,

1893 ; Lett and M'A., 1899.
FruIIania microphylla, Gottsche, Pearson. — On the smooth bark

of trees -Lett aud M'A., 1899.
FruIIania frag^llifolla, Taylor. — On trees— Lett and M'A., 1899.

Rare.
FruIIania diiatata, Linn., Dumort. — On trees— D. M'A., 1893; Lett

and M'A., 1899.
Lejeunea IVIackai, Hook. — Plentiful ou the bare rocks aud on stones

by the lake margin, where it becomes dark-coloured, nearly black —

D. M'A., 1893; Lett aud M'A., 1899.
Lejeunea ovata, Taylor. — On the trunks of trees, among Metzgeria
furcata and Porotrichiun alopeairiim — D. M'A., 1893; Lett and M'A.,

1899.
Lejeunea serpyllifolia, Dicks. — On damp stones near the lake and

among mosses ou trees aud on damp banks — D. M'A., 1893; Lett

and M'A., 1899. Common,
var. heterophylla, Carrington. — Very fragile; branches at-
tenuated, microphyllous. Leaves plane, distant, variously shaped,

lobule obsolete or not. Ou a wet, peaty bank— Lett and M'A.,

T899.
Lejeunea flava, Swartz. — Ou the trunks of trees among Metzgeria

fitnafa-T). M'A , 1893; Lett aud M'A., 1899. (Rare.)
Lejeunea patens, Lindberg.- On decayed wood-D. M'A., 1893;

Lett and M'A., 1899.
var. erecta, M'Ardle. /. ^Vrt/., 1894, p. 139. Very rare.

Lejeunea hamatlfolla, Hook.— On the trunks of trees— D. M'A.,
1893. On Fntllania taviarisci—h^\X and M'A., 1899.

Lejeunea Rossettiana, Massal. (Plate I.) Pearson m Journal Bot.,
vol.27, p. 352, tab. 292, 1889. Hep. Brit. Isles, p. 60, plate 17. Massa-
longo, Niiovo Gioni. Bot. Ital., vol. 21, p. 487, 1899. Very rare-
Mr. R. W. Scully. 1889. On the decayed stems of Erica and ou damp
peat— Lett aud M'A., May, 1899.
Plant minute, intricately csespitose, very fragile, of a yellowish green

colour. Stems sub-pinnate, with fasciculate or simple pale rootlets.

Leaves imbricate, patent, more distant ou young branches, bi-lobed,

antical lobe convex, ovate, apex acuminate incurved, upper surface

1900 J M'Ardle. — HcpaiiccB of Ross Island, Killayney. 25

beautifully echinate, postical lobe (lobule) about half the size of the
antical (lobe), subquadrate to roundish-quadrate, tumid at the keel,
upper portion plane, margin not incurved, dentate-spinulose, exterior
surface echinate like the antical lobe, texture opaque, cells minute, walls
distant, papillae conical, one to each cell. Stipules absent, and the
st3diform appendage also. Female flowers on short branches subtended
by an innovation. Bracts similar to the leaves, only larger, postical lobe
with margin more finely dentate, spinulose. Bracteole wanting.
Perianth projecting more than half beyond the bracts, ovate to pyriform,
upper portion five-angled, epidermis muricate, stalk of the capsule
about four cells thick, short, hyaline, very fragile, spherical, keeled,
splitting into four valves for about two-thirds. Cell walls thick,
somewhat alveolate -, valves ciliated, three or four to each, hyaline,
about as long as the capsule, angled at the apex, highly hygroscopic,
intertwined in a remarkable manner, confining the valves of the half-
opened capsule, and held in position by the angular apex of each cilia,
which conveys moisture to the membranous capsule and spores ; they are
formed from the archis])orium or inner lining of the capsule, fugaceous
on ripe capsules. Spores oblong-deltoid, large for the size of the plant,
of a dark green colour. Elaters few, bi-spiral, attached to the spores.
Mother- spores few, in plates in base of capsule, each surrounded by an
undulating ring of delicate tissue, the archisporium, which encloses near
the margin about twelve spores, and four in the centre, through all of
which it alternates. The young spores present two forms, oblong-
cuneate and oblong-elongated ; they are of a bright green colour, with
delicate granulose markings.
Lejeunea minutissima, Smith. — On the trunks of trees among

mosses and Metzgeria — D, M'A., 1893. On Fridlania microphylla —

Lett and M'A., 1899.
Lejeunea ulicina, Taylor,— On the trunks of trees — D. M'A., 1893;

Lett and M'A., 1S99.
Radula complanata, Linn,, Dumort.— On trees ; common. Avery

minute and fragile form, of a light 5'ellow colour ; grows among

Metzgeria, but affords few, if any other characters to separate it.
Kantia trichomanes, Dicks. -On damp banks; common — Lett and

M'A., 1899.
Kantia arguta, Nees. — On clay banks — Lett and M'A., 1899.
Lepidozia reptans, Linn. — On damp, peaty soil — Lett and M'A., 1899.
Lepidozia setacea, Web.— On damp peat ; common — Lett and M'A.,

1899,
Cephalozia bicuspidata, Linn.— On damp banks; common— Lett

and M'A., 1899.
Cephalozia divaricata, Sm.— On damp peat ; common- D. M'A,,

1893 ; Lett and M'A., 1899.
Scapania resupinata, Linn.— On rocks and banks ; common— Lett

and M'A., 1899.
Diplophyllum albicans, Linn.— On rocks and banks; common-
Lett and M'A., 1899.

A 2

26 The Irish Naturalist. [Februar)-,

Lophocolea bidentata, Linn.— On damp banks and on decayed
wood; common — Lett and M'A., 1899.

Plai^iochila asplenloides, Linn. — On damp banks— Lett and M'A.,
1899.
var. humflfs, Lindenb.— Shoots attentuated ; leaves ovate, entire,

obtuse or einargiuate. On a damp bank— D. M'A., 1893.
var. devexa, Carriiigton. — Shoots compressed, circinate at apex, li-
inches long, furcate ; leaves secund, roundish, cili'ite-dentate, closely
imbricate, erect, dorsal margin straight, recurved, ventral projecting
backward so as to form a crest with the opposite leaves. On shady
banks close to lake — D. M'A., 1893.
var. minor, Carrington, — Shoots \ to \\ inches long, apex decurvedj
caespitose ; leaves erecto-patent, sub-secund, roundish, margin
reflexed, ciliately toothed, entire or emargiuate — Lett and M'A ,
1899.

Plag^iochila splnulosa, Dicks. — On shady banks; common — Lett
and M'A.. 1S99.

Pellia epiphylla, Linn. -Common on damp banks— Lett and M'A.,
T899.

IVIetzg'eria furcata, Linn. — On the trunks of trees ; common — D. M.A.,
1893 ; Lett and M'A , 1899.

IVIetzgcria conjugata, Lindberg. — On trees; fertile— D. M'A., 1893;
Lett and M'A , 1899. DijBfers from all the known species by its
monoecious inflorescence. See M'Ardle " On the Musci and Hepaticas
of the Co. Cavan." Proc. R.I.A.^ ser. 3, vol. iv., 1898, plate 22.

Riccardia multifida, Linn., Dill, — In boggy places; common -
D. M'A., 1893.

Lunularia cruciata, Linn.— On wall-tops, banks, and on the path-
ways—D. M'A,, 1893.

Conoccphalus conlcus, Linn. --On banks and rocks near the quay —
D. M'A., 1893.

Description of Pi,ate i.
Lejeiinea RosscUiana.
Perianth and capsule, x 100.
Portion of stem and leaves, x 100.
Capsule showing dehiscence and the hygroscopic

cilia, X 250.
One of the mother-spores, x 200.
Elaters attached to spores, x 250.
Spores fully developed, x 250.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.

Fig.

I.

Fig.

2.

Fig.

3

Fig.

4-

Fig

5-

Fig.

6

1900.] 27

REMARKS ON THE SECOND EDITION OF " CYBEEE
HIBERNICA," ESPECIAEIvY WITH REFERENCE
TO THE FLORA OF CO. DONEGAL.

BY H. C. HART, B.A., F.I^.S.

This admirable and much- needed volume has been brought
out with the most painstaking care, and will long remain the
standard work of reference upon Irish topographical botan3\
The laborious research involved in the verification of the
I St Edition records has been undertaken conscientiousl}^
together with the sorting and inclusion of a vast amount of
original material. Considering the difficulties arising out of
the sifting of evidence, the interpretation of dubious infor-
mation, and the unravelling of problems arising out of what
must have been a wide and varied correspondence, the
wonder is how few errors there are to be detected.

There are, however, a few, which maj^ as well be at once
pointed out, and there are also a few positions taken up by
the authors upon which I wish to comment. But especialh^ I
think it will be useful to summarize certain additions and
alterations, in connection with the flora of Donegal, which my
recent researches have enabled me to make. These are, it is
true, to be found in my recently published Flora of Donegal,
which did not appear in time to be utilized for the purposes
of this volume, but they will be convenientl}^ rehearsed in
separate form.

Up to the date of the death of my lamented friend, Mr.
A. G. More, I had furnished him for the purposes of this
volume which he unhappil}^ did not live to complete, with all
my notes and specimens from Donegal, Since that time
(1895) I have published nothing, save a few stra}^ notes on the
subject.

There are several new departures. One of these, the insertion
of Irish plant-names, will be of much interest to a certain
class of readers. It is to be hoped it will induce some
competent student to take up the subject w4th thoroughness.
The editors have, as they themselves admit in the Intro-
duction, attacked the subject merely tentativel)'. An explana-
tion of such names, together with collections not merely from
existing dialects, but from such writers as Threlkeld, K'Eogh,

28 The I? isli Naturalist . [February,

&c., would be of immense interest and form a large and
valuable philological (as well as botanical) stud}-. I have
mj^self collected v;ithout difficult}^ though at a considerable
expense of time and travel, a large number of Celtic plant-
names in Donegal which do not appear in the Cybele. Many
will be found in an appendix to my Flora of DoneoaL In
most cases the people, whether Irish-speaking or not, know
no English name for the plants.

It seems to me, however, that the method of excessive
syllabication adopted here is a mistaken one. It gives the
words an invertebrate, un harmonious appearance, and tends
to induce one to pronounce them disjointedl}^ ver}^ much at
variance wuth the euphonious glibness of the native. Irish
words as usuall}^ spelt in Threlkeld, O'Reill}^ Cameron, Jo3'ce>
or Stokes, seem to me much easier to master.

I will now make some remarks on passages in this volume,
in the order in which they occur.

On page xxvi. is omitted '' Donegal Plants," y(??^;7^. of Dot.,
1896, p. 399, under *' Hart, H.C.," a paper which is referred to
subsequently several times.

At page xl. it is contended that the rainfall in Kerry is at a
maximum, Valentia being quoted in proof for six j^ears (1890-
1895), an insufiicient period, with a mean of 53*6 inches.
Dunmanway, in Cork, has a wetter mean, 66*23 inches. But
what I wish to observe is that Connemara is, so far as our
knowledge goes, far and away wetter than the south-west
(unless at altitudes unsuitable for comparison). K3'lemore,
in Connemara, has a mean of 8179 inches for 16 j^ears.
Symons' British Rainfall is of course the authority on such
subjects. No doubt there are valleys in the Kerry Reeks,
that would perhaps eclipse Connemara, but we have not got
the proof. Indeed the mean at Killj'begs, in Donegal, for
nine years, exceeds the Valentia record quoted above by
about four inches.

On the following page (xli.) the first British type plant
quoted as absent from Ireland is Helia7itheniu7n viilgare. This
I believe to be a misstatement. I will refer to the question
later on.

In enumerating the Highland type plants (p. xliv.), it seems
a pity to exclude such thoroughly representative plants, sub-

igoo.] Hart. — Remaiks on Cybcle Hibernica. 29

speciCvS thougli the}- be, as Aira alpina, Cochlcafia alpina,
Saxifraga hirta and 6'. groenlandica- These are confined to
and most characteristic of our scattered mountain-groups, and
are clearly remnants of an ancient flora. Why should our
mountains be deprived of the credit thereof?

On the following page (xlv.) there is a list of the plants of
this group which descend in Ireland to, or almost to, sea
level. This is a very imperfect list. It should contain also
Saxifraga oppositifolia, Arctostaphyllos Uva-ursi, Isoetes laatstris
and Carex aqicatilis. These all descend to sea-level in several
places in Donegal, and the last three elsewhere in Ireland.
These facts I have recorded in a paper on altitudes^ which has
been largeh' made use of, I am pleased to observe, in this
volume— all except Carex aqicatilis, which was not then known
as an Irish plant. And these facts are duly recorded in their
proper place under the plants themselves in the bod}' of the
work. To these maj^ also be added several of the Donegal
Hieracia. Carex aqiiatilis is found onh' at low levels. At
Doochar}' Bridge, in Donegal, two forms of this sedge are almost,
if not quite, within the influence of exceptionally high tide.

In the list of Scottish (and Intermediate) type plants (p. xlvi.),
there should be included several Hieracia. H. Schmidtii is of
this type, according to the editors' subsequent classification.
This genus is especially well represented in West Donegal
over a district extending Irom Sheephaven to Donegal Bay.
Several of them occur along the rivers at low levels, and they
especially predominate (as at Carrick) in the lowest reaches
along the immediate banks or margin of the water, giving one
far more the impression of, and associating with, Scottish tj'pe
rather than Highland type plants. In this list of Scottish
type, an asterisk plant like Myrrhis odorata is out of place.
It is certainly not a native.

From the Atlantic type list (p. xlvii.), two very important
plants are omitted ; the Irish Spurge and the Killarney Fern.
Nor can I find them claSvSified in any of these preliminaiy
analyses. Both are subsequentl}" classified as Atlantic. The
latter of these two was similarly unaccountably omitted in the
original edition.

"• On the Range of Flowering-plants and Ferns on the Mountains of
Ireland. Proc. R.I. A. (3), vol. i., pp. 512-570.

3o The Irish Nahi7'alist. [February,

On page 1. we come to a real casus belli, the question as to
whether our most tender species have existed throughout the
Glacial Period in Ireland. I, for one, have always given this
question an unhesitating "no,'' viewing it as a matter of
practical experience, rather than a question to be decided by
geological theories. However, the argument goes merrily
along. It would be well to submit it to arbitration, or to take
a vote upon the question amongst those competent to form an
opinion, the minority to abide (outwardly at least) by the
decision of the majority. Those who have botanized in the
Arctic Regions, and also among the " Cantabrian Group"
{^Saxifraga iivibrosa, S. Gaivi, Arbichis Uncdo, Pinoidcnla
g7-a7idi flora, Dabcocia polifolia, Erica 77ieditcrra7ica, E. Mackaii),
especially practical horticulturists, will, I imagine, vote mostly
in the negative. It is not necessary to limit the consideration
of this subject to those few species (seven) of the so-called
Cantabrian Group (p. xlviii.), whose chief peculiarity, as
distinguished from several more, is the accidental one that
they do not now exist in the neighbouring island. It is most
probable they did, when they and their congeners throve in a
climate that suited them far better (or at least allowed them a
wider range) than the present climate does. Who can doubt,
on meeting a stra}^ dwarfed patch of Killarney Fern in
Donegal, or an outlying settlement of Iri.sh Spurge or Bartsia
viscosa in the same county, but that these were at one time
portions of a connected chain ? And this Cantabrian Group
is the still more reduced remainder of a widespread flora. No
matter how the arrival of these plants be explained, it seems
to me a sheer impossibilit}^ to suppose such organisms as these
could have withstood so rigorous a condition of things. The
Killarney Fern can, ranging as it does to Sierra I^eone, stand
great extremes of temperature, but its limit at the cold end of
the range is reached here, or in the similarly-climated west of
Scotland. I find more difficulty in establishing it in the open
than any of its western neighbours that I have experimented
upon. The Irish Spurge, I^arge-flowered Butterwort, and
Mediterranean and Connemara Heaths will make themselves
at home in Donegal without cultivation. Therefore I take this
fern as a chief stumbling block to the Pre-glacial theory.
A7b2ihis U7iedo\s another which has reached its limit of climatic

I900.] Hart. — Remarks on Cybcle Hibcmica. 31

severity. One of the Cantabrian seven is quite out of place in
the group, so far as vertical distribution goes. I mean London
Pride, which seems to be able to exist amongst alpines, stand
anything in fact. In Donegal its range is Highland.

Sir Charles Lyell says " the signs of glacial action have
been traced b}^ Professor Jukes to elevations of 2,500 feet in
the Killarney district— the whole island was, in some part of
the Glacial Period, an archipelago." — {Antiquity of Man,
p. 271).

Let us question one or two more authorities before we leave
this debatable question, which it was almost a pity to raise
at all in the Cybele.

Professor James Geikie says " with glacial conditions in
Scotland and the hilly grounds of England and Ireland,
neither temperate flora nor fauna could have existed in this
country." — (On' Changes of climate during the Glacial Epoch ;
Gcol. Magazine, vol. ix., r872).

This question is akin to others in various parts of Europe,
man}^ of which can be explained b}^ the, I believe, admittedly
reasonable supposition, if not demonstration, of an upheaval
(consequent upon the removal of the superincumbent mass of
ice) of the continents accompanying the warmer period which
caused that removal. Kerner sa3^s "The most noteworthy
inference made in this connection is that over a great part of
Central Europe since the last ice-age, a flora was evolved which
was onh^ capable of existing under the influence of a
continental climate of far greater warmth than now prevails."
{Natural History of Plants, ii., 903).

It is, I believe, an admitted fact amongst geologivSts, that at
the deposition of the Estuarine Clay, long subsequent to the
close of the Glacial Period, a fauna prevailed along our coasts
of a milder form and more southern aspect than that now
existing.

The flora of the Dead Sea, another warm group, detached
by many degrees from its natural home, and incapable of
existing there when Syria was glaciated and the Jordan an icy
stream, is a case of similar origin.

In a recent and elaborate paper by Dr. Scharff" {Proc. Roy.
Ir. Acad., July, 1897), " On the Origin of the European Fauna,"
the author labours hard to substantiate the Pre-glacial theory.
Many of his arguments appear to me to be built upon insufli-

A3

32 The Irish Naturalist. [February,

ciently matured and established theories, derived from
continental palaeontology. Others of his views are hardly
tenable, as for instance where he supports his theory of the
lines of ancient arrival of our boreal species to Ireland by the
following remark : — " The northern animals and plants un-
doubtedly came across from Scotland, and in the County of
Londonderry, which part of modern Ireland they first touched,
they are still more common than in any other portion of the
countr}' " (p. 440, d siipra). The last portion of this statement
is unfortunately quite erroneous so far as plants are concerned.
In my Flora of Donegal I show that Derry has eight Highland,
Scottish and Intermediate type plants not in Donegal ; while
Donegal has eighteen (omitting Hieraeia) not in Derr3^ And
Derr}' would suffer perhaps equall}'- by a comparison with
Antrim. It is true that this is not a vital part of the
argument, but so far as I can gauge the intention, it is
supposed to have some effect.

I do not think the editors of the Cybele have materially
benefited their cause. On page xlv., when .speaking of our
most ancient flora (as I believe it to be), that of the Highland
t3-pe, it is remarked that it may be regarded as having
maintained itself " chiefly along the western Atlantic sea-
board, where the climatic conditions were probably most
favourable during the last Glacial Period." This is a reason-
able assumption and may be correct, although I think it is
safer to suppose they followed the retreating ice from the
more southern latitudes, or the mountains of those latitudes,
to which they had been banished. But it is an accurate idea,
and is exactly what the very same species are doing at present
in North Greenland, along its coasts.

But when we find on page 2 (speaking of the Cantabrian
Group), of " their survival in Ireland . . . throughout the Glacial
Period ... in some favoured spots along our western seaboard,"
one begins to contemplate the assemblage of forms in these
favoured spots with the keenest interest and wonderment.
Here we have the very hardiest and the most delicate members
of our flora occupying identical situations, say at the foot of
the glacier or along the inner margin of the ice-foot, with the
most reckless disregard for their natural requirements.

The question becomes hopelessly involved when regarded
from the geological point of view. It is better to let the plants

1900.] Hart. — Remarks on Cybelc Hibonica, ^iZ

speak for themselves in the first instance. They know, and
the}' will tell no lies. Consequently it is our business to
harmonize our geological theories with the truth, and not to
distort the evidence of our senses so as to fit it into some
formula which is largely hypothetical perhaps, and which
should at once give wa}^ to the incontrovertible laws of nature.
The above condition of things does not occur in North Green
land, nor would it, I imagine, be easy to produce a parallel.

On page Iv. and Ivi. two interesting lists are given of western
plants, not found east of Long. 8''' W. ; and of eastern plants,
not found west of Long. 7^' W. To the former of those may
be added Allmni Babingtonii^ east of Long. 8'^' (in Donegal);
and to the latter ma}^ be added the following from Donegal
localities which were not known to the authors : — Thalictimm
diinensCy Hieracmni striclum, H. anratiun, H. corymboszun
Myosotis collina, and Eqtiisctnm Moorci (which many hold as
inseparable from E. tracliyodon, which occurs in the west). On
the same page (Ivi.) several Donegal Hawkweeds ma}^ be added
to the '' northern plants."

I omitted to call attention to another sad conclusion on
pages xxxix.-xl. ; the great god Pan is dead ! The Gulf Stream
is no more. Our valued friend is taken from us, and we
receive nothing but vapour in exchange for the loss. This is
the decision of the ^' best authorities." But I find the tradition
lingering along in great force in Dr. Murray's articles,
" Atlantic " and " Gulf Stream," in Chambers' Encyclopcedia,
1890, and I have just read with keen delight the paper on
"Oceanography of the North Atlantic," communicated to the
Geographical Jo2irnal (^OY^mhe^Y, 1898) by that enthusiastic
oceanographer, the Prince of Monaco. He still believes in the
Gulf Stream, and recently, in another communication of his, he
did Donegal the honour to place its course (that of the stream)
in closer juxtaposition to it than to any other part of Ireland,
a conclusion he arrived at by his elaborate and costly scheme
of Atlantic floats. Further north it impinges closely upon the
Scottish Hebrides. His words are "This vortex begins
towards the Antilles and Central America with the Gulf Stream,
which issues from the Gulf of Mexico, and with the equatorial
current ; passing the banks of Newfoundland at a tangent, it
turns to the east, approaches the European coasts, and runs
southwards from the Channel to Gibraltar. A wide branch

34 The Irish Naiiiialist. [Fel^ruary,

runs along the wCvStern coast of Ireland and of Norway, as
far, at least, as Cape North. The centre oscillates somewhere
to the south-west of the Azores." This is the conclusion of
the latest of one of the "best authorities."

On pageslxviii.jlxix., we read of DistrictXII. (Antrim, Down,
and Derry,) "though by its position not on the whole so
northern as District XI. [Donegal], the flora of this district
has perhaps a more northern character. It has, indeed,
but 29 Highland type plants to 30 in Donegal ; but this
deficiency is counterbalanced by the greater number of its
Hia'acmm species and forms, and of its Scottish and
Intermediate t3'pe plants, which ma}' be taken as repre-
senting the boreal element in our flora. Out of a total
for all Ireland of 29 species and forms of Hicrachnn^ District
XII. has 26 against 15 in Donegal, while the number of the
Scottish and Intermediate type plants taken together is 49 in
XII , to 43 in XI., out of a total of 60 for all Ireland." These
statements are erroneous, as examination of my Flora of
Do7iegal will show. There are eleven northern Hawk weeds in
Donegal which do not occur in the north-east, while the north-
east can claim only five northern forms absent from Donegal.
The absence of Hicrachmi 7nuror2ivi and H. boreale forms
from Donegal is quite in accordance with their non-northern
character. Donegal, in fact, is an easy winner in northern
Hicracia, so the argument on page Ixix. may be transferred to
the other side. H.prenanthoides (if it has been correctly deter-
mined) is the only important absentee from Donegal.

It is to be hoped the herbarium specimens of the earlier
Hieracia records have been submitted to recent experts, other-
wise it is a misfortune that so many of them have been ad-
mitted to the Cybele ; and it would seem probable that
identical forms appear under different names.

So far as my species and forms go, I have adopted the
Hieracia of the London Catalogiie (ninth edition.)^

■• There is one serious objection to linjiting British Hawkweeds to Sir
J. Hooker's classification. Since that was issued an industrious band of
botanists have worked out districts in Scotland (to say nothing of Ireland
and Kngland), which were wholly unexplored. The result has been that
many forms unknown to occur in these islands, new forms and con-
tinental forms, have come to light. Is our flora to be excluded from the
benefit of these ?

1900.] Hart. — Remarks 07i Cyhele Hibcniica. 35

Beforeleaving the subject of the headquarters of boreal groups
of plants in Ireland, I have a few more words to say. Even
though there be a superiority^ in species in the Scottish group in
the north-east, the superiority is often the other way in the
abundance of individuals, which is a surer criterion, perhaps,
than scattered remnants of a failing or at any rate a rare flora.
This would apply to Primus Padus, w^hich the editors represent
as *' apparently decreasing" ; it is locally common in Donegal,
even abundant in several places ; to Ligustiaiyn scoticum^
much commoner from Inishowen to Dunfanaghy ; to Lobelia
Dortviaima, " apparently decreasing" in the north-east ; to
Carex limosa and C filiformis ; but more especiall)^ to the High-
land group, such as Saxifj'agastellaris, S. oppositifolia, Saussicrea
ulpina^ Arctostaphyllos Uva-ursi{no\. seen in Antrim since 1837)
Salix herbacea^^ Ca?-ex rigida, and Isoetes lacustris, which are,
considering their requirements, fairly frequent, and some
even common, in Donegal ; but of rarity greater or less in the
north-east.

If I were to select places in Ireland, conveying an idea of
the most northern (Highland) assemblages of plants, I would
place them in the follo"wing order, premising that there is a
long gap between the first two and the following habitats : —

1. Slieve League in Donegal.

2. Ben Bulben, Co. Sligo ; and the groups (Anna Coona,

Truskmore, &c.) around.

3. Muckanaght, Co. Galway,

4. Brandon, Co. Kerry ; or Maamturk (Maumeen),

Galway.

5. Bulbein Mount (Inishowen).

6. Ben Evenagh, Derry ; or Reeks (lyough Googh), Co,

Kerr>\

7. Nephin or Croaghpatrick, Co. Mayo.

The remainder — Antrim Glens, Wicklow, and Mourne
Mountains — never show such pleasing groups of alpines as these
do. I have not been careful to make out the totals. I speak
rather from the memory of the general facies of the flora in
these places, several of which disclosed their botanical secrets
for the first time to the present WTiter.

A4

$6 The Irish Naturalist. [February,.

I will now notice a few omissions, &c., which are not de-
pendent on information unavailable for the purposes of the
Cybcle. Those additional to Donegal are numbered. The
references are to papers enumerated in Cybcle {Introductum :
hi dex to autho rs ) —

1. Ranunculus heterophyllus, Fries.— In several of my Donegal

papers, but I confess uiy nomenclature (authorit}' for name) has.
been confusing. A frequent species in Donegal.

2. R. Llng^ua, L.— A Derry locality is given in my " Plants of some of

the Mountain Ranges," &c. In deference to RIackay's record
of so unmistakable a plant, I have let it stand for XI. in my Flora.

3. Thallctrum ficxuosum, Bernh.(Z'. ^W//;;/////, Wallr.)— Brown Hall,.

Co. Donegal. Determined by Mr. More (iSS6).
Papavcr Argcmone, L. — Howth and Baldoyle {Flora of FFowth), V.
Nasturtium palustre, DC— Liffey, at Island Bridge Weir, about

1870, V.
Sisymbrium Thallanum, J. Gay. — \^2imb^.-y (^Flora of Lar7ibay),Y.

4. Hcllanthcmum vulgare, L. — Should be included. Anyone who

sees it in situ would consider it native in Donegal.
Viola tilrta, L- — Lambay Island [Flora of Lambay), V.
Arcnaria trincrvia, L. — Powerscourt, and between Powerscourt

front gate and Enniskerry, by the roadside (MS. lent to Mr.

Colgan ; referred to hereafter as MS.), IV. ; Glencullen (MS.), V-

5. Saxlfraga hypnoldes, L.— I believe native in Fanet, Donegal. The

rock is basaltic and the form {gemmipara, Sj'me), T think is the
same as that of Ben Evenagh in Derry.

Anthcmis nobllls, L. — To 1,200 feet, Kerr^- ; 1,500? Wicklow :
900 Donegal {^On Range of Plants, etc.').

Artemisia vulgaris, L. — Abundant in many parts of Donegal.
"Nowhere common," Cybcle. How far "introduced" it is im-
possible to speculate. A pestilential weed in cultivated land
though never appearing in gardens.

6. Taraxacum Dens-lconis, Desf, var, palustre, DC— Frequent

in Donegal. {Flora of N. W. Donegal, (Sr^r.)
Andromeda Pollfolla, L.— Bog close to Lough Dergon the west

side with Malaxis paludosa, VI. (MS furnished to Mr. Colgan).
Lyslmachia vulgaris, L. -Very scarce in Donegal, and localities

required.

7. Anchusa sempervlrens, L — District XII. has scarcely more

claims to this plant than XI. It is naturalized in both.
Wlertensla marltlma, S. F. Gray.— No reason to consider it

as decreasing in Donegal.
Uthospermum arvense,L.— The Donegal record is unfortunately

an error of name by a slip of the pen, and belongs to L.officina'lc.

L. arvensc has only appeared as a casual.

I900.] Hart. — Rcma7-ks on Cybck Hibcrnica. 2>1

Bartsia viscosa, L — The absence of au intermediate station from
Kerry to Donegal is no sort of suggestion that it has been intro-
duced in Donegal. It is onlv evidence that like manv other rare
plants it lias disappeared from many stations. It occurs in
Scotland. Other outliers of a similar character are Carum
verticillaiuvi^ Euphorbia hiberna^ and Trichonianes radicans.
IVIelampyruiYi sylvaticum, L. — The late Mr. A. G. More
counselled me against ni}' inclination to reject this record from
Donegal. I believe no specimens were forthcoming, and he
believed tliere was an error. I have repeatedly searched the place
indicated in Cybclc.

Orobanchc minor, Smo — On Ononis and Lotiis at Portmarnock, V.
(Jourti. of Bot., 1S97). The specimeni> are in the Dublin National
Museum. They have been examined by Mr. Bennett, who has
made a study of tlie genus. He says he can refer them to nothing
but O. minor. The station is on unbroken ground, two or three
hundred j-ards south of the Club-house. Having seen vay record,
the editors need scarcely have been at the trouble, gratuitously,
of remarking " exclusively on T. fratcnse in Ireland."

NcpctaCIechoma, Eeuth. — Singularh- rare in Donegal.

Atriplcx portulacoldcs, L. — Muddy estuar^^ close to the old
ruined mill ai Portmarnock, V.

A. farinosa, L —^^o. Journal of Botany, 1897, p. 34^. This record is
omitted in Cybek. The species appears to be spasmodic in its
appearance in Dublin Ba}-. When I gathered it in 1897, my
nephew was with me on each occasion, who has a good eye for
plants. He was unable to rediscover it in 1898; it was however
somewhat late in the season when he searched. I have no doubt
of the species. In 1899 it reappeared (in no such plenty) in
several of the habitats given in fonrnal of Botany.

Euphorbia hiberna, L. — The name Makkin bzcee is the Irish in
use in Galway for the Irish Spurge, as I recorded in Joiirn. of
Bot. in 1873. It is the older name, given by Threlkeld and
K'Eogh, who copied Threlkeld whenever he could, and when he
could not, he let his imagination play freely around, at any rate in
records, which should never be quoted unconfirmed. The Irish
name given in Cybele is both wrongl}^ spelt and interpreted. It is
given in O'Reilly " buidhe-jia-ningean, spurge ; tetJij'fnai/ia,^' which
would pronounce " bwee-na-ngeown," and translate " the yellow
wave-lover." According to Cameron this name refers properly to
£. Fara/ias, but the derivation would limit the name to
£. portlandica, but as we see from O'Reilly it is generic. Cameron
{^Gaelic Plant-tiames) blunders about the trout poisoning. I never
heard in Kerry of any plant used for the purpose except the Irish
Spurge. At any rate Makkin bwee seems to be correctly the dis-
tinctive name. I believe the name of the hills above Chevy Chase,
where I found this plant, was " Derrybrian." I did not learn the
name till afterwards. It certainly was not " Derryea," as given in

^S The Irish Nat^iralisf. [February,

Cybdc. The name would be on old maps probablj-. It is not on
any maps I have. The plant extends up the stream from the
shooting-box of the Persse family (of Roxboro'). known as Chevy
Chase, into these hills.
8. E. amygdaloides, L.— At Glenalla, Co. Donegal. The twenty years
may now be called forty. It should not be excluded from XI. It
is extremely unlikel}- it was intentionally introduced, or intro-
duced at all.

E. Paralias, L.— Onh' one localit}-, very sparing!}-, in Donegal,
E. fortlandica is much more western in Donegal, occurring
frequently right round from Malin Head to Bnndoran. It will
snrely be found in Sligo, or somewhere between Bundoran and
the Aran Islands. The distribution of these two plants is ver}^
odd, and might be paralleled by that of the two Statices on the
Irish coasts,

E. exig°ua, L.— Apparently absent from the West of Ireland, Only
occurs in the eastern half of Donesjal, and is verv rare,

Parietaria officinalis, L. — Ver}- rare in or absent from the
north-west. Not seen west of Derry by me in Donegal.

Salix phylicifolia, L.— None of the north-east records have been
verified for many years. TLe same remark applies to 5. w/^r/V^wj-,
It is impossible to help feeling sceptical, or at any rate dis-
appointed. I believe the recorded localities have been carefully
searched. I spent more than one day in the Roe above
Dungiven. I have also doubts about " Urris Mountains, Donegal,
C. Moore," It is so vague as to be useless, covering many miles of
country (in Inishowen), but none that is likely to harbour Salix
nigricans^ and I have been botanizing over that country for over
twenty years. The only evidence I have of this plant in Donegal
is from a supposed nigricans x caprea from Ardara, {teste Mr,
Bennett),

S, lYloorci, H. C. Watson, (5. herbacea X nigricans ?)— This must be
extremely rare on the top of Muckish, which is a plateau that
occupies perhaps a square mile. It is such an inviting place to
imagine finds of alpine /unci, or Fttbiis Chamamorus, as well as this
willow, that I have frequently gone over it extensively on my
knees, without success,

Empctrum nigrum, L, — "Rare at low levels" (!) Cybde. — It
descends to sea-level all round Donegal ; in Acliill, Mayo, and
elsewhere in the west. In the east strictly a mountain plant,

Juniperus nana, Willd,— Near Lake Nalacken, Brandon, Kerry, at
about 1,650 i&at {Plants 0/ some Mountain Ranges, etc., 1884),

Eplpactls latifolia, L,— Very rare in Dublin, Howth, 1897
{/otcrnal of Bot.) Specimens in Nat. Museum, Dublin, Roadside
between Galvvay and Oughterard, 1883, (MS, to Mr, Colgan),
VIII.

Ophrys aplfera, L,— See Flora of Howth. Well known on Howth,
and appears fairly regular in one or two places. Very rare in
Dublin, V.

I goo.] Hart. — Remarks on Cybclc Hibcrnica.

39

Arum maculatum, L.— Very local in Donegal, and apparently
confined to the S.W. Distinctly a limestone plant in the West
of Ireland. It appears to occur in Aran only of the Atlantic
islands off Ireland.
Eriophorum latifolium, Hoppe.— The Co. Wicklow record
might be obliterated, as the plant has been for half a century or
so.
Carex stricta, Good. — Very rare in Donegal, and appears to me
rare in most parts of Ireland away from the larger river-
swamps or lake-margins, where onl}' it attains its full tussocky
perfection.
Carex riparia, Curtis.— Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, near thegame-
keeper's lodge, IV.
9. Agrostis vulgaris, L., var. pumila, Lightf— Occurs apparently
in all the mountain districts, except Ben Bulben and Sperrins.
Ranges to 1,850 Galtees, and 1,550 in Donegal. (See On Ranges of
Flowering Plants^ etc.')
Phleum arenarium, L. — Portrane and North Bull (MS.)
Festuca sylvatica, Vill. — By the river between Rathdrum and

Glendalough, IV. (MS.)

TrichoiYianes radicans, Swartz. — The Donegal record, " Hart.,

1885, y," is nii.sleading. The Killaruey Fern was found by me in

1884, about a fortnight later than Mr. Mahony's discovery, the

knowledge of which led me to the special search that was

successful, as dul}- recorded in 1885, y. The " first record' should

stand "(Pierce Mahony) ; Hart {/oum. 0/ Bot., 1884, p. 213)," for I

had the pleasure of sending the notice of it. That is to say, the

first printed record, perhaps there was an epistolary one earlier.

In my Flora of Donegal, "1885" is an error for " 1884."

Selaginella sclaginoides, Gray. —Add Donegal to " sandhills

by the sea."

The Appendix has been happily made use of liberall}^

Such receptacles for matters of opinion mtist alwa3's be open

to disputes. Some of the data in this Appendix hurt our

feelings, but generally it is a great improvement to the body

of the Cybele. It would be a good rtile to relegate to the

Appendix all unconfirmed records of Wade, Smith, and

especially K'Eogh. This has been largely done, but not

completel}^ and I have not been at the pains to collect stich

omitted items. I may mention Carex strigosa, " Wade Rar.,"

Dargle, Co. Dublin, and Eupho7'bia hiberna, Anakirk (? Rine-

kirk, searched by Mr. Stewart), Co. I^imerick, K'Eogh.

K'Kogh has a formula, " it grows wild in the mountains of
Burrin " (Clare), which he applies to Saha'eia, " Hedge
hj^ssop," Gratiola ; and a study of his localities reveals great
unreliability.

40 The Irish Naturalist. [Fel^ruary,

10. Hclianthcmum vulgrarc, L. — Co. Donegal. — The simple asser-

tion that " the species was either planted or derived from
cultivation," however courteous to my expressed opinion, does
not satisfy me as an argument. It is merely so many words.
Unless the editors have seen the station, they are unable to
form an opinion of any value. I will be happj'to guide either of
them to the locality, which they are very unlikely (so remote is
it) to find without assistance. It is a most interesting country, of
man}' miles in extent, absolutely barren and devoid of possibility
of cultivation, of the same formation as the well-known South
Isles of Aran, craggy, but not so deeply fissured, and if anything
less fertile. I have never visited this district (and it takes a
week to thrash it) without great expectation, and I fully expect
it will yet 3'ield more rarities. There is no cultivation of any
sort near the Helianthenmni, nor a garden within some miles.
Nor is the plant one which shows any disposition to ramble,
even iD a garden.

* Reseda suffruticulosa, L. — The claims of this plant to a place

in the flora, from the Portmarnock habitat, are too strong to be
overlooked. It has been naturalised there abundantly for at
least 70 years It should be left in with asterisk.

* Medicago sativa, L. — Admittedly and abundantly established in

various places about Baldoyle, Portmarnock, Hovvth, and
Portrane. Its claims are better than many admitted plants.
TrifoIiuiYi maritimum, Huds. — "The district V. records are all
probably referable to T. scabnini " This is incorrect. The
Lambay record is undoubtedly referable to T. striatiun, where
Z". scabrmn has not been found, and the former is plentiful.
This is probably the case also with Kilbarrack record.

Ribes Crossularia, L. — Is thoroughly established in wild places
in Donegal. Sometimes borne thither by streams in flood, but
sometimes apparently by birds.

Anthcmis arvensis, L — Has as good a claim (from Howth,
Portmarnock, &c.), to a place in flora as various other cereal
weeds.

Centaurea solstitialis, D. — I have gathered this twice at Port-
marnock, about 1870-75.

IVIyosotis sylvatica, Hoffm A white variety of this used to

grow at Woodlands, among trees near the lake. No doubt an
escape, but in a wild place.

11. Atropa Belladonna, L.— Should be kept in flora with a star.
Mentha viridls, Lr. -I cannot follow the reasoning. When a

plant is thoroughly established, in a wild place, unaided by
cultivation, and where it has not been planted, does it come
within a "starry influence" .^ Otherwise a number of other plants
should be where these last two are. I should prefer the latter
course myself.

igoo.] Hart. — Remarks on Cybele Hibernica. 41

Pinus sylvcstris, L.— The people who "have any Irish" in
Fanet, Co. Donegal, know the Scotch fir as ' Gyoos " {Guiinhas) ;
and the silver is " Gyoos bany That from the bog is called Gyoos dhu.
Joyce gives several names derived from Guiinhas (2nd Ed., vol. ii.,
p. 358), and more could easily be added. But he says it is a
question whether the place is named from the living tree or
from bog-deal. The statement, however, that " the absence both
from the spoken language and from the place-names of Ireland
of any native name for the tree would tend to prove that it had
become quite rare if not extinct in very early times " is unwar-
ranted. O'Reilly gives the above word and also pin-cratn^ no
doubt modern.
The Cybele credits Donegal with 722 species and sitb-species.
To these I add 12 as above, making 734. This may be taken
as the number down to 1894, since when, though I have made
many explorations and discoveries, I have published nothing
but a few short notes, accounted for in the Cybele. Since that
time also I have had useful help from Mr. Hunter (the
rediscoverer of the Irish Spurge in Donegal), in Inishow^en.
Hieracia are alreadj' dealt with. They are not included in this
total, except the forms (22 in number) selected for enumera-
tion in the Cybele. Of that number Donegal is credited
with JO (!) forms. My receut researches add 7 more of
the said Cybele list, bringing the flora total up to 741. The
manner in which, however, the Hieracia are enumerated,
varieties being raised to sub species, or even to species at
pleasure, renders numerical computation almost hopeless in
this genus. I would, however, add some well-marked forms
to the total from m}^ foregoing list, which are not recorded
hitherto from Ireland, viz. : H. sparsifolitcvi, H. proxhmim^ H.
{saxifragum) orimeles, making the total 744. Brambles are to be
counted as only one all round, which is a relief. I will, however,
enumerate the Rubiis forms I have had named from Donegal.
The full localities for the following list will be found in my
Flora of Donegal. I will also enumerate (unnumbered) the
names of rare Donegal plants for which I have found new
localities, also to be found in the Flora, or else in a paper
on Inishowen and Fanet excursions during the season of iSgS."*
So that the following remarks refer mainly to information
relative to Donegalplants which was tmavailable to the editors
of the Cybele, 2nd Edition. Plants numbered are additions to

^ Jotirn. Bot., xxxvii., 1899,

42 The Irish Naturalist. [Februarj-,

the Donegal flora as enumerated in Cybclc Those unnumbered
are rare species or sub-species for which new localities have

been found.

1. Thallctrum dunensc, Dum.

Ranunculus bulbosus, L. — "Rare in the north-west," Cybele.
Frequent all round the sandy coast of Donegal, and abundant in
most suitable places.

2. R. auricomus, L- — Most rare in the north-west (Donegal). A

single locality in the eastern half of the county.
Claucium flavum, Crantz. — Has no place in the Donegal flora.

3. Viola odorata, L. — Thoroughly established in several places.

4. V. (sylvatica) Rcichcntoachiana, Boreau.— Carrablagh, &c.,

1898.

5. V. tricolor, L.— Fanet, 1898.

To these two I had not accorded segregative distribution.

6. Aratois ciliata, R. Br. — Rosses, Co. Donegal. "The best ciliata I

have seen " — A. Bennett.
Arenaria trincrvia, L. — Abundant by the River Erne.
Ulex Callii, Planch.— Inishowen, 1898. (Mr. Hunter).

7. Ononis rcpcns, L.— Omit brackets in Cybele to XI. Two new

localities discovered.
Rubus.— The forms noticed in Donegal additional to those given

in Cybele, are A', plicatiis, Wh. and N., and var. ke/nisU'inon ;

K, carpi)iifoliiis, Wh. and N., and A', inctirvattis var. ; R. rhafuni-

folius, Wh. and N. ; R. pyj-aifiidalts, Kalt. ; R. leiicostachys, Schleich,

and A', villieaulis ; R. 7'osaceiis, var. hystrix \ R. Koehhri, Wh, and N. ;

and A', eorylifolhis, Smith. These have been determined by

competent authorities (see Flora of DonegaV).
Radiola IVIillegrana, L.— Profusely abundant at Malin Head,

the extreme north of Ireland.

8. Rosa mollis, vSmitli.

Dryas octopctala, L.— Less scarce than I supposed in its single

locality.
Epilobium ang-ustifolium, L — Sea-level to 1,100 feet, Donegal.
Apium inundatum, Reichb. fil., var. IVIoorci, vSyme.
A. nodiflorum, D., var. ocreatum, Bab.
A. nodiflorum, L., var. repens, Plook. fil.

Pimpinella Saxifraga, L.— PVequent in the S.W. of Donegal, on
limestone.

9. Arctium minus, Bernh.— Clonmany, Inishowen (1898), and prob-

ably frequent.

Carduus crispus, L.— Near Malin town, Culdaff, &c., in Inish-
owen, frequent.
10. Staticc bahusiensis. Fries, var boreal is, Fr. — Determined
by Mr. Bennett. North shores of Mulroy, Co. Donegal. This
form is not mentioned in Cybele.

S. occidentalis, Moyd {binei'vosa, P. L. Smith), var. inter-
media, vSyme.

1900.] nK^T.—Re??2arks 07i Cybclc Hibernica. 43

11. IVIyosotfs collina, HofTm.-New locality, aud for var. umbrosa

Biscli. {Jide A. Eeniiett). '

12. Utricularia neglecta, Lelim — S.W. Donegal.
Ulmus montana, L.— New native localit}-.

13. Potamogeto nvarlans, Monig. { = heterophylhis x Z?c?V/).— See

Flora.
P. rufescens, Sclirad. — Not unfrequent in Donegal.
P. nitens, Weber, var. intermedius, Tisselius.— ''Closely approx-
imating to " — A. Bennett.
P. lucens, Tv., var. lancifolius, Mertens and Koch.

14. P. flabellatus, Bab.

P. decipiens, P. Zizli, P. pi*deIong:us, and P. obtusifollus;

new localities for these in Donegal.
P. pusillus, Iv., var. tenuissimus, Koch. — Doagh Island, Inish-

owen, Co. Donegal, 1898. Not in Cybele.
Zostera marina, L , var. angrustifolia, Fr.— Inishowen. Not

in Cybele.
Z. nana, Roth. — New locality in Inishowen, 1898.

15. Eleocharls acicularls, R. Br.— S.W. Donegal.

16. E. unig^Iumis, Link,— S.W. Donegal.

Carex teretiuscula. Good., var. Ehrhartiana, Hoppe. — Three
Donegal localities westwards. Not in Cybele.

17. C. acuta, Iv.— S.W. Donegal. C. aaita var. prolixa, S.W. Donegal ;

Not in Cybele.
C. aquatilis, Wahlb. (type) with var. vh-escens at Doochary Bridge,

Donegal, so this county has all three forms. An instance of

a Highland type plant (in three forms) at sea-level.
C. vulg:ar!s, Fr., var. Juncella, Fr. — Several localities in

Donegal.
C. limosa, C. pallescens, C. filiformls, all frequent west of

Lough Swilly.
C. riparia, Curtis.— A remarkable form at St. John's Point, S.W.

Donegal, " closely approaching the American var. IVatsoni

Olney "~A. Bennett.
C, ampullacea, Good., var. elatlor, Blyth — Two localities. Not

in Cybele.

18. Poa nemoralis, Iv. — Inishowen, 1898. Discovered by Mr. Hunter.

19. Trisetum flavesccns, Beauv. — Expectation correct. Found it

about Bundoran.

20. Bromus erectus, Huds. — I see no reason why Cybele should

exclude from XI. ''railway banks, Gt. Northern," and include
III., " railway banks, Portarlington " !

21. B. secallnus, L. — Apparently established off cultivation l)y

Lennan River, Donegal.
B. commutatus, Schrad. — Several more good localities in

Donegal.
Asplenlum viride, Huds. — I fear the Loughsalt locality is an

error. It dates back to 1868, and I have never refouud it there.

44 The Irish Naturalist. [February,

Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh, — Throughout Donegal., except
south-east, and not unfrequeut in mountains westwards. Var.
deutaia, in at least three localities in Co, Donegal.

Lastraea Thelypteris, U— New locality, S.W. Donegal.

22. Ophlogrlossum polyphyllum, Syme .?

23. Equisetum trachyodon, Braun.— Two localities, vS.W. Donegal.
Lyco podium clavatum, L.— Not un frequent in Donegal. To

1,950 feet.
L. alpinum, Iv— Half a dozen localities.
Isoetes lacustrls, var. falcata, Tausch —Near Ballyshannon.

{fide A Bennett).

24. Chara contraria, Kuetz.— Fanet and Ardara.

25. C. hispida, L.— Fanet, 1898.

C. fragills, Desv.. var. dellcatula. — Frequent in Donegal.

The above 25 additions bring the Donegal total to

744 4- 25 = 769. But from this we have to deduct Glaucium

flazmvi^ Lepidiiim Smithii, Hieraciiim borcale, Sinvi lati-

foli7(??ii^?) Lithosperimun arve7ise, and Mclainpyi'iun sylvaticmn,

all of which are counted in the Cybelc\.Q)\.2\ of 722. The reasons

for excluding these are given. This leaves a residue of 763.

In conclusion I wish to say that it is nowise ni}" desire to
find fault with this most careful and creditable production.
But I think it will be of use to have pointed out some of those
errors that were certain to occur, and I am bound to uphold
the character of the flora of my native count3^

I would like here to suggest an improvement to a " botanical
subdivision " of the county suggested by Mr. R. I4o3'd
Praeger."" He divides the county in two, drawing a line along
the Kilmacrenan barony to the Gweedore River and adding
that northern portion to Inishowen. Any such line crossing
the west of the count}^ is at variance with its botanj^ which is
harmonious from Sheephaven to Donegal Bay. The onl}^
division practicable would be Inishowen and Raphoe
baronies (my I., II., and V.) on the east, which are fairly dis-
tinct botanically from the rest of the county. Fanet and the
rest of District III., are intermediate but more western.
Tirhugh in the south should be added to the Fermanagh
district, scientifically, but it would be a mistake to remove it
from Donegal. The county is better left as one subdivision
as it stands. The Foyle and Malin Head are great boundaries
phytogeographically as well as biologically generall}'.
Carrablagh, Co. Donegal.

^ On the Botanical Subdivision of Ireland, Irish Naturalist, Feb. 1896.

1900.] Proceedings of 111 sh Societies. 45

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

ROYAT, ZOOI^OGICAI, SOCIETY.

Receut gifts include a pair of Giskins from Mr. W. D. Beatty. An
Antelope has been born in the Gardens. We regret to learn that the
deaths of the fine male Chitapanzee, which has been m the Gardens for
four years, and of the Silver Gibbon, leave the collections for the present
without any of the man-like Apes.

3,273 persons visited the Gardens during December.

BEI.FAST NaTURAI^ISTS' F1EI.D Cl,UB.

January 19.— Mr. Wii,i,iam Swanston, F.G.S., in the chair.

A lecture was delivered by Mr. A. Spkers, B.Sc, on cavern formations,
with special reference to the mammoth cave of Kentuck)-. For half an
hour before the lecture there was an exhibition and discussion of land
and fresh-water shells, of which a large number were exhibited by
Messrs. H. L. Orr, R. Welch, W. Swanston, W. Gray, and R. Standen, of
Manchester. Mr. R. Welch read a short paper on the rare forms of
Helix iiemoj-alis, found at Bundoran, where the normal form is made into
necklaces, and sold to visitors. Necklaces of this kind are survivals of
the pre-historic forms found in ancient Irish graves Scalariform and
reversed specimens occur at Bundoran, as well as a curious heavy form
of var. hyalozonata, all being of great interest to naturalists, and furnishing
a topic for an animated discussion. Mr. R. Standen, of Manchester
Field Club, sent for exhibition a series of English and Irish amber
shells iStucinea), and Mr. Orr exhibited a curious malformation of the
shell Clausilia bzdentata, which had two mouths, and the members
present exhibited over one hundred specimens of reversed and scalari-
form shells oi Helix neuioralis.

Mr. Speers, proceeding with his lecture, very fully described the
various forms of caves, and demonstrated by a successful chemical
experiment the solubility of limestone in water charged with carbon
dioxide. The extensive deposits of limestone in Ireland and elsewhere
are acted upon in this manner. Mr. Speers described the great Mammoth
cave of Kentucky, which he had visited, and which is found to consist
of a series of chambers on five different levels, connected by miles of
avenues through which the visitor is taken by the guides. In closing
his address Mr. Speers referred to the anthropological value of caverns,
which in pre-historic times w^ere the resort of early mankind, and
referred in detail to some special examples.

Mr. Welch and Mr. Hogg exhibited some very excellent lantern views
of caverns in many parts of central Ireland, and view of egg-cluster of
the Kerry slug (^Geonialactts^ for the first time on any screen, and Mr. Gra)'
exhibited and described views of caverns that occur in the several
geological formations of the County Antrim, mainly, however, such as
were formed by marine denudation.

46 The Irish Nafiiralist. [Pebruaiy,

BoTANiCAT, Section.— Deciomrer t6.— An instructive lecture was
given by Rev. Canon H. W. Lett, on '• Sedges," which was fully
illustrated by specimens from his own collection. He drew particular
attention to the species most likely to be confounded, and showed the
distinguishing marks. Some species might still be overlooked in the
district for this reason, such as Carcx paucijlora^ which he found in one
locality in Co. Antrim a few years ago, and which Mr. Adams has lately
gathered in another place nearer Carnlough.

Cork Naturai^ists" Fiei^d Ci,ub.
December 6.— Mrs. Brooke-Hughes delivered a lecture entitled
" vSome By-paths of Science." Mr. T. Farrington, M.A., presided, and
there were many present. The Chairman, in introducing Mrs. Hughes,
wished to inform them that in a competition for the preparation of
botanical specimens by the proprietors of CasseWs Magazine, there had
been seven prizes won by Cork people, which was a larger number than
an}' other city of the United Kingdom outside London could boast.
Mrs. Brook-Hughes then proceeded with her theme, which was both
entertaining and instructive. She related trips to several parts of the
South and West of Ireland, and recounted the different floral and
eeoloeical features of the several places. She also referred to some of
the peculiarities by which the instinct of birds and insects was made
manifest. The lecture was illustrated by Mr. J. Bradshaw. The pro-
ceedings closed with a warm vote of thanks to Mrs. Hughes.

Dubinin Microscopicai, Ci^ub.

December 21.— The Club met at Leinster House. Mr. F. W. Moore
showed leaves from the ovary oi Arachnanthe Lowii, a remarkable Orchid
from Borneo, which recently flowered in the collection at Glasneviu'
There were six racemes, varying in length from six feet to eight feet two
inches, and the ovaries of all the flowers were covered with a dense, brown,
moss-like pubescence. The hairs composing this pubescence were large,
compound, much branched, composed of many cells, and closely
crowded together.

Professor Scott showed crystals of egg-albumen prepared by Hopkins's
modification of Hofmeister's method. The crystals appeared as fan-
shaped bundles of acicular crystals or spheres, composed of a great
number of such.

Mr. M'ArdIvE exhibited the mother-spores of Lejeiinea Rossettiana,
which were found in the lower part of the capsule, where the}' occur in
circular discs. The young spores present two forms, oblong-cuneate and
oblong-elongated ; about twelve occupy the outer part of the circle, with
four in the centre, all enclosed in undulating delicate tissue, called the
anhisporhmi, which also envelopes the young spores, which are of a
bright green colour, with delicate granular markings on the exosporium.

Mr. H. J. Seymour showed several gold nuggets, the largest nearly
one-eighth of an inch in diameter, obtained by Mr. M 'Henry, of the
Geological Survey, some twelve years ago, from Mr, Acheson's washings
in the Gold Mine River, Co. Wicklow.

1900.] ^y

NOTES.

ZOOLOGY.

INSECTS.

Abundance of Colias edusa in Connemara.

In the January number of the Entom. Mo. Mag. (vol. xxvi., p. i), the
Rev. C. T. Cruttwell, of Kilworth, Leicestershire, records the occurrence
of hundreds of males of this butteifly at Renvyle during the past

summer.

Zelleria phillyrella, Mllliere, Introduced in Connemara.

On pp. 4-6 of the same number of the EiiL Mo. Mag., Mr. C. G. Barrett
records the capture by Mr. Crutwell of a single specimen of this South
European insect at Renvyle. He states, on the authority of Mr. W. F.
de V. Kane, that several species of its food-plant — PInlly)xa — are cultivated
in gardens in the West of Ireland, and expresses his opinion that the
moth has been then introduced into our country.

Late Wasps' Nests.

On December Stli, I saw three wasps' nests all working, in the vicinity
of Fassaroe, Co. Wicklow. On December 15th one of these had
apparently ceased, but the other two were still lively. Last year (189S) I
saw a wasps' nest in the same neighbourhood hard at work on December
23rd ; and I learned from Mr. Harrington that this nest continued active
until the beginning of the new year. Mr. Barrington also told me that
in a former year he had observed one so late as January loth. At Bally-
hyland I have never seen, and only once heard of, a wasps' nest working
in December ; but this would seem to be of normal occurrence in parts
of Co. Wicklow. The nests referred to above were, I believe, all inhabited
by Vespa vulgaris.

Ballyhylaud, Co. Wexford.

C. B. Moffat.

MOLLUSCS.

Arion ater, var. Bocagrei, in Ireland.

Some years ^ago Prof, Simroth described a new variety of the
common slug, Arion ater, from Portugal, which, instead of being uniform
in colour, was yellow above, with brown sides. He named it variety
Bocagei, after the Portuguese naturalist, Bocage. Mr. CoUinge now
records {Jouni. MalacoL, 1899, vol.7 p. 33\ the same variety from the
South of Ireland, and expresses the view that it belongs to the same
catagory as Geomalaciis niacnlostis, as far as distribution is concerned. Mr
Collinge, it will be noticed, uses the name Arion eiiipiricontm of
Ferussac instead of the earlier A. ater., as he believes these to be two dis-
tinct species. Prof. Simroth and I do not agree with him, and it
certainly seems to me that Arion ater, being the older name, has the
priority, and should therefore be used.

R. F. SCHARFF.

Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

48 The 1) ish Naturalist. [February,

Vertigo antivcrtlgo In Ireland.

The current number oi \X\^ Journal of Coiichology contains a note by Mr.
Welch recording the occurrence of a large colony of this little shell in
rushy ground, near Shaw's Bridge, Belfast. Mr. Welch obtained 400
specimens with ver_y little difficulty, by cutting off bunches of stems of
the rushes that abounded, and shaking them over a newspaper.

Amphipeplea glutfnosa, lYIuIler, in Ireland.

In 1871 the late Charles Ashford, a well-known English conchologist,
recorded in Science Gossip the finding of this very rare freshwater shell in
the River Brosna, King's Co., and in W\Q.Joiirn. of Conchology for 1879 its oc-
currence in the Newry Canal, Co. Down, M'here only two specimens were
obtained, though it was plentiful in the first localitj' named. Since then Dr.
Scharff informs me that Mr. Farran obtained one dead specimen on the
shores of Lake Derevaragh, Co. Westmeath, and on looking over some
shells Mr. W. F. de V. Kane collected lately in Lough Arrow, on the
borders of the Counties Sligo and Roscommon, I find a half grown
specimen.

To these records I am now able to add another. Mr. Wm. Green, of
Belfast, who has lately taken up the study of mollusca, discovered three
specimens in two drains on the edge of the Bann River, North of Porta-
down, Co. Armagh, on December 25th last. Theywere living among dead
Duckweed and plant debris on the surface of the water. Some of the
shells were almost full-grown, and were kept alive for some days in
order to examine the way in which the expansion of the mantle covers
the shell Jeffreys, Adams, and other writers state that though very
local it is sometimes abundant. Though not quite such a local species
QiS, Linnuva involiita, Aiuphipcplea glntinosa must be considered as one of our
rarest freshwater shells, and both Mr. Green and Mr. Kane are to be
congratulated in adding a new locality to those alread}- known.

Belfast. R. WEI.CH.

FISHES,

Blue Sharks in Killala Bay.

One day towards the end of October as Captain Kirkwood was walking
along the sands at the western end of Bartragh, he found a large Blue
Shark {Sc/ac/w maxima) thrown up by the surf at high water mark ; the
fish was dead, but quite fresh, and was one of the largest I have heard of
on the Irish coast, measuring between nine and ten feet in length.
.Another specimen of this species of shark was taken in the estuary
(about the 22nd November) by two persons who were out shooting wild
fowl ; as they were passing between the islands they heard a splashing
some distance astern, and rowing to the place from where the noise
proceeded, they found the fish floundering about in the shallow water
where it was aground. Having shot it, they took it into their boat with
some difficulty, as it was about eight feet in length, and very heavy.

Robert Warren.

Moyview, Ballina.

1900] Notes. 4g

BIRDS.

Irish Ornithology.

The Zoologist for November contains an article by Mr. H. E. Howard,
entitled " Ornithological Notes from the North-west of Ireland," de-
scribing the bird-life as noted by the author in August, presumabl}' on
the coast of Donegal. The paper closes with a commendable protest
against the unsportmanlike slaughter of sea-birds by so-called " sports-
men.'

Golden Plover and Lapwings in the lYIoy Estuary.

The Golden Plover did not visit the sands in any numbers until the
middle, and towards the end of October, after which time they began to
increase up to the 24th, when I saw fully 2,000 birds in one large stand
on the Scurmore sands, and since then they continued to haunt the
banks in probably larger numbers, for they now (2nd Dec.) have divided
into two stands, one haunting the margin, and the other the Scurmore
sands.

The Lapwings appeared about the banks in their average numbers up
to the 20th of November, when they visited the sands in immense flocks
more numerous than in^au}- 3'ear since 1878 (the " Great Lapwing Year.")

On the morning of the 20th, at daybreak, Mr. A C. Kirkwood, at
Bartragh, saw an immense flock at a great height coming from a
northerly direction over the bay. On reaching the island, they kept
flying about for nearly an hour, and then settled down on the Bartragh
sands opposite Moyne Abbey ; at the same time that this large assembly
of birds was resting near INIoyne, equally large flocks were further up
the estuary on the Scurmore and Castleconna sands, and a fourth
large flock was resting on the banks outside the island. Most of these
birds were evidently new arrivals distrusting their new quarters, and so
restless and easily alarmed, that it was impossible to get within shot of
any of the large stands. Mr. Kirkwood was out with his punt and gun
all day, and was unable to get within range of any, but a few scattered
birds. I was out all day on the 21st, and was equally unsuccessful.
I never met Lapwing so wild, so utterly unlike their usual unsuspicious
habits on the approach of a shooting punt. I was out again on the 22nd,
and although the birds actually swarmed on the Moyne, Bartragh,
Scurmore, and Castleconna sands, yet I was unable to obtain a shot at
any but a few scattered birds.

It is impossible to account for thisextreme wildness of the Lapwings »
the fine weather cannot be the cause, for some of ni}^ best days' Plover
shooting on the estuary were on mild, calm days, when owing to the
mildness of the weather, the birds used to assemble on the sands at the
edge of the channels to wash and bathe, and remain until driven off by
the rising tide.

It would be interesting to know whether a similar influx of Golden

Plover and Lapwings has taken place in other parts of the country.

RoBKRT Warren.
Moyview, Ballina.

50 The Irish Naturalist. [February, 1900.

Rough-Icggcd Buzzard near Londonderry.

On 4th October last Mr. Wm. Kilpatrick shot a fine male specimen of
the Rough-legged Buzzard {Butco lagopus^ Gmeliu) at Campsie, about five
miles from Londonderry.

This is the second occurrence of the species in Co. Derry, one having
been taken at Castlerock early in November, 1S91, and sent to me for
identification.

D, C, CampbeIvIv.

Londonderry.

MAMMALS.

The Hedgehog and its Food.

The Irish Naturalist for December, vol. viii., no. 12, contains an
interesting note relating to the Hedgehog and its food, by Mr, II, L. Orr.
Perhaps a few observations I made on these animals may be of interest
to Mr. Orr. I twice found Hedgehogs curled up, and on opening, or
rather uncurling them, I found they had slugs sticking to their paws.
One slug had a large piece almost completely bitten through I kept a
Hedgehog last summer for some days, and fed him on slugs, and small
and delicate-shelled snails. He seemed to prefer the slugs, but did not
once refuse a snail when offered. Their teeth are very strong and sharp .
when they bite a slug they usually take the piece out completely.

John H O'Connei^i,.

Dublin.

I venture to suggest, that the broken snail-shells to which Mr. Orr
refers under this heading, in the December number (p. 268), are not the
work of the Hedgehog but of the Rat, an animal whose runs are
commonly full of such fragments. The Hedgehog's propeusit}^ for eat-
ing snails is so well known that it is often kept in gardens to destroy
these unwelcome guests, and I have frequently watched it crunching
them up, as Mr, Orr describes; but in my experience the Hedgehog
crunches up a .shell so completely, that very few fragments are likely to
be found afterwards. Last June, having promised to supply a neighbour
with a few Hedgehogs, I caught two late one evening, shut them up for
the night, and gave them for supper twenty-four large snails {Helix
aspersa), as well as some slugs (chiefly Liinax iiiarginatus) — with the result
that great crunching was heard during the next half-hour, and on the
following morning there was not a vestige of snail or snail-shell remain-
ing. Unless, therefore, the shell of Helix nemoralis is exceptionally dis-
tasteful, I scarcely think many of its fragments would be left by the
Hedgehog, 1 have also seen Hedgehogs, in the wild state, eating Arion
ater—3. slug which, I believe, most birds reject.

C. B. Moffat.

Ballyhyland.

Irish Naturalist, Vol. IX.]

[Plate 2.

FoRAMiNiFEKA, from Dog's Bay, Connemara.

1. Gaudryina riidis nov. x 40.

2. Lagena squamosa var. Moiitagui, Alcock x 75.

To face p. 51.]

Marcn, T900.] 51

THE FORAMINIFBRA OF DOG^S BAY, CONNEMARA.

BY JOSE;pH WRIGHT, F.G.S.

(Plate 2.)

The September number of the Irish Naturalist for 1895 was
entirely devoted to an account of the excursion of the Field
Club Union to Galway in July of the same 3^ear. Among the
reports then published of the specimens collected during the
excursion, was one by mj^self on the Foraminifera of Dog's
Bay. This list was hastily prepared when a very small
portion only of the shore-sand had been examined, and
although it could not be looked on as complete, I thought it
best that it should appear in the same number as the other
reports. At the time I had hoped to have been able to
examine the re'maining material with little delaj^, but other
engagements prevented my doing so until now.

The sand at Dog's Bay is almost entirely composed of small
molluscan shells, with Foraminifera, Ostracoda, and other
marine organisms ; it is in consequence much lighter than
ordinary sand. It extends for a long distance beyond high
water mark, being blown inland by the prevailing westerly
winds.

The following list of 124 species and varieties consists for
the greater part of Foraminifera which are widely distributed
around the British coasts. Massilina secajis and Tju^icatidina
lobatula are the prevailing forms, the former occurring in
great abundance in the coarser floatings whilst the latter is
even still more abundant in the finer ones.

The porcellanous Foraminifera are well represented, many
of the species occurring in considerable numbers. The
hyaline forms are however b}' far the most abundant. '^\x^La^e7icB
are very numerous and in great variety, twenty- two species
having been obtained. Polymorphince are also plentiful, some
of the species, as P. co77tmu7iis, P. cofupressa, and P. lactea often
attaining large dimensions. The Arenacea are very rare, only
three species having been found ; of these one specimen was
obtained of Valvidhia fusca, two of Haplophragmium globi-
geriTiifortne, and twenty of H. canaricTise.

Lage7ia acuticosta^ MilioIi7ia circular is, and Polystomella 77iacella
are new to the British fauna, and Gaudryiria rudis is new to
science. The following species have been hitherto recorded
in the British Isles only from the west coast of Ireland ; they

A

52 The Irish Naturalist. [March,

have all been previousl}" obtained in dredgings taken off
Bantry Bay in 1885, during the first cruise of the s.s. ** Lord
Bandon," viz. : — Spirolocutina te^iuiseptata, Textiilaria concava^
Biiliviina Biichiana, Lagcna finibriata, Nodosaria (Gl.) rotwi-
data, Globigerina riibra, and Gypsiiia globulus.

Dr. Alcock, in his " Natural History of Connemara,"^
enumerates sixt3^-one species and varieties of Foraminifera
from this locality, all of which, with the exception of Trocham-
vmia inflata and Nonionhia uinbilicatulay have been obtained
from the sand which I examined. He also found, at a subse-
quent period, a specimen of Lagena cre^iata, wdiich was figured
by Balkwill and Wright in " Foraminifera of Dublin Ba}- and
Irish Sea. "2 This rare and lovel}^ Lagena was found in a
number of the Lord Bandon gatherings at depths varjdng
from 44 to 214 fathoms, also at Hone Island between tides.

To my friend Mr. Robert Welch I am greatly indebted for
the quantity of sand and floatings which he placed in my
hands for examination, as also for the very accurate and
artistic drawings which accompan}' this paper. I have like-
wise to express my thanks to Messrs. E. Collier and R.
Standen, of Manchester, for kind assistance rendered also in
collecting material.

lyisT OF Species.
Biloculina Irregularis, d'Orb.— Common.

ringrens (Lamk,)— Very rare.

var. elongrata, d'Orb. — Rare.

depressa, d'Orb. — Common.
Splroloculina planulata (Lamk.)— Common.

excavata, dOrb.— Rare.

canal feu lata, d'Orb. — Rare.

tenulseptata, Br. — Rare.
Millolina trig'onula (Lamk.)— One poor specimen.

tricarinata (d Orb.)— Very rare.

Inslgrnis, Br. — Rare.

obIong:a (Montg.) — Frequent.

semlnuluin (Linn.)— Common.

aubcrlana (d'Orb.)— Frequent.

contorta (d'Orb.)— Common.

subrotunda (INIonlg.)— Very common.

circularls (Bornem.)— Very common.

semlnuda, Rss.— Very common.

Feruesacli (d'Orb.)— Rare.

blcornls(W. & J.)— Common. ____„ .

1 Proc. Lit ^ Phil. Soc, Mauchesler, 1864-5. vol. iv., no. 15.
'"■ Trans. R.I. A., 1885, vol. xxviii., p. 339- pl- xiv., fig. 18.

I900.] Wright. — Foraiiiinifera of Dog's Bay, Coyinemara, 53

IVIassilina secans (d'Orb.) — Qiiinqueloctdina secans (d'Orb.) 1826, Ann.

Sci. A'aL, vol. vii., p. 303, No. 43; Modele, No. 96. Massilina secans

(d'Orb.) Schlumberger, 1893, Mem. Soc. Zool. de France, vol. vi.,

p. 218, W.C. figs. 31-34 and pi. iv., figs. 82, 83. — Most abundant.
Cornuspira Involvcns (Rss.) — Very rare.
Haplophrag^mium canarlensc (d'Orb.) — Common.

globigrerlniforme (P. & J.) — Very rare.
Valvulina fusca (Will.) — One poor specimen.
Textularia ag^g^Iutinans, d'Orb.— One specimen.

gramen, d'Orb. — Very common.

con cava, Kar. — Very common.
Spiroplecta sairlttula (Def.)— Rare.
Caudrylna rudis, nov. sp. PI. 2., figs. 1 a. b. Elongate, tapering,

often more or less irregular in contour, round in transverse section,

coarsely arenaceous.
This species, in consequence of its rough exterior, does not show the
chambers distinctly, and for the same reason its dimorphous mode of
growth is not very apparent. It is generally found with the apex of the
test broken off, and when such is the case three chambers are exposed
in cross section ; the later chambers are arranged as in Textularia.

Widely distributed around the Irish coast, it occurred in thirty of the
Lord Bandon gatherings, South-West of Ireland, from between tides, to
a depth of no fms. ; frequent off Belfast Lough, 30^60 fms, Common at
Dog's Bay.
Bullmlna pupoides, d'Orb.— Frequent,

pyrula, d'Orb, — Very rare.

fusiform is, Will.- One broken specimen.

marg^lnata, d'Orb. — Common, specimens fine.

subteres, Brd, — Frequent.

tduchianaj d'Orb. — One specimen,
Virffullna schreibersiana, Cz — One broken specimen.
Bolivlna punctata, d'Orb. — Rare.

pllcata, d'Orb.— Rare.

laevigata (Will.)— Rare.

difformis (Will,)— Rare.

dilatata} Rss.— Rare.
Casstdullna laevigata, d'Orb.— Very common.

crassa, d'Orb. — Very common.

Bradyl, Norman — Rare.
Lagena globosa (Montg.) — Very common.

Isevis (Montg.)— Rare,

var. clavata (d'Orb.) — Common,
var. graclllinria (Seg.)— Very rare.

aspera, Rss.— One small specimen.

hisptda, Rss. — Rare.

acuticosta, Rss. — One specimen.

costata (.Will.)— Common.

sulcata (W. & J.)— Rare.

var. Intcrrupta, Will.— Very common.

var. Lyelll, vSeg,— Rare.

A ^

54 The Irish Naturalist. [March»

Lsigena. Williamson I (Alcock)— Very common.
striata (d'Orb.)— Rare.
Ilneata (Will.)— Frequent.
scm istr lata Will. , — Common.
semllineata Wright,— One specimen.
squamosa (Moutg.)— Very common.

var. lYIontagul (Alcock). PI. 2, fig. 2 a. b.

This variety occurs very fine and in considerable numbers at Dog's
Bay. It differs from L. squamosa in being more globular, and frequently
more or less compressed or irregular in contour; the raised surface
reticulations are also very much smaller. I had given this variety a
MS. name, but now find that it had already been named Entosoknia
Montagiiihy V>r. Alcock in his "Natural History of Conuemara," but it
was not figured b}' him, and this is no doubt the reason that it came to
be overlooked; he thus describes it, "a squamous form but differs from
the named varieties of E. squamosa in having its surface really covered
with a pattern like scales instead of with raised reticulations. Well-
developed specimens are not at all flattened, though many are found as
if crushed, and they then present an appearance resembling a dried fig;
the true shape however is a perfect oval, full and well rounded at the
•mailer end, and from the middle of this projects a short smooth
cylindrical tube. With a low power of the microscope, the whole surface
of the body appears to be made up of small, almost square facets,
arranged in distinct longitudinal rows ; but when these are more highly
magnified each flattened surface is seen to rise a little anteriorl}^, and to
have the front border rounded so as to give exactly the appearance of a
covering of scales." Generally distributed around the Irish coast, but
much less common than L. sqiiafiiosa.
Lag'ena hexagrona (W^ill.)— Very common.

laeviirata (Rss.)— Very rare.

lucida (Will.) — Common, trigonal forms very rare.

quadrlcostulata, Rss. —Very common, trigonal forms very
rare.

marg^tnata C^V. & B.)— Frequent.

orbIg:nyana (Seg.) — Very common, trigonal forms rare.

clathrata, Br. — Rare.

pulcheila, Br. — Frequent, trigonal forms very rare.

fimbriata, Br.— Rare.
Nodosaria (Clandulina) rotundata, Rss.— Rare, surface marked
with fine longitudinal lines.

pyrula, d'Orb — Very rare.

communis, d'Orb. — Very rare.

scalarls (Batsch.) — Frequent.
Cristcliaria rotulata (Lamk.)— Rare.

crepidula (F. & M.) — Frequent.
Poiymorphina lactca (W. & J.) — Very common, a few large

fistulose forms.

var. amygrdaloldes, P. B. & J.— Rare,
var. oblong-a, Will.— Frequent.

1900 J Wright*. — Foranmiifera of Dogs Bay, Co7memara, 55

Polymorphlna sororla, Rss.— Rare.

lanceolata, Rss. —Very rare.

compressa, d'Orb. — Frequent, specimens fine.

cotntnunis, d'Orb. — Very common, specimens fine

rotundata (Bornem.) — Rare,

myrlstlformis, Will. — Frequent.
UvifiTcrlna ang^ulosa, Will. — Frequent.
Clobfgrerlna bulloides, d'Orb. — Very common.

rubra, d'Orb. — Very rare.

aequllateralis, Br. — One specimen,

I nf lata, d'Orb. — Very common.
Orbullna universa, d'Orb. — Common.
Splrillina virlpara, Blir. — Rare.

margaritlfcra, Will. — One specimen.
Patelllna corrug'ata. Will.— Rare.
DIscorblna g^lobularis (d'Orb.) — Very common.

rosacea (d'Orb.) — Very common.

nltlda (Will.)— Common.

orbicula is (Terg.)— Rare.

parislen Is (d'Orb.)— Very rare.

Wrightl Br.— Rare.

BcrthelotI 'Orb.)— Rare.
Planorbullna mcditcrrancnsis, d'Orb.— Common. 1
Truncatulina refulgcns (Montf.)— Very rare.

lobatula (W. & J.)-Most abundant.

variabilis, d'Orb.— Very common.

ungcrlana (dOrb.)— One specimen.
Pulvlnullna rcpanda (F. &M.)— Very rare.

auricula (F, & M.)— Very common.

patagronica (^d'Orb.)— Rare.
R talla Bcccaril (Linn.)— Rare.

orbicularis, d'Orb.— One specimen.
Cypsina vcsicularis (P. & J.)— Rare.

griobulus (Rss.)— One fine specimen.

Inhaerens (Scli.)— Common.
NonlonlnadcprcssuIa(W. & J.)— Very common.

pauperata, B. & W.— Very rare.

turglda (Will.)— Very rare.

stelligcra, d'Orb.- Rare.
Polystomclla crispa (Linn.)— Frequent.

maceIIa(F. & M.)— Frequent.

strlato-punctata (F. & M.)— Common.
Operculina ammonoldes (Gron.)— Very rare.

EXPI^ANATION OF P1.ATE 2.

1. Gaudryina riidis, sp. nov.—id) lateral aspect; [b) oral aspect. X 40.

2. Lagena squamosa, var. Montagui, Alcock— (a) lateral aspect ; (3) oral

aspect. X 75-
Belfast.

56 The Irish Naturalist, [March,

REMARKS ON THE SECOND EDITION OF CYBELE
HIBERNICA : A REJOINDER.

BY NATHANIEL COLGAN, M.R.I.A., AND REGINAI^D W.

SCUI.I.Y, F.Iv.S.

There can be no more wholesome discipline for a writer than
to have his work submitted to a searching and outspoken
criticism, such as Mr. Hart has pronounced on the new Cybcle
Hibe'niica in last month's issue of this Journal, When w^e first
glanced over his Remarks^ and saw our editorial sins and
peccadillos registered with all that conscientious minuteness
which usually characterizes one's inventories of his neigh-
bour's shortcomings, we began to fear that the case against
us might prove a rather damaging one. But to a closer
scrutiny it revealed many weak points. We found in not a
few instances that our critic had charged us with doing what
we had left undone, and with leaving undone what we had
done ; in short, that the negligence imputed to us was often
more fitly attributable to himself.

Mr. Hart's examination of the Cybcle has been so searching
and the objections taken to it so numerous that our defence
must necCvSsaril}' be a rather lengthy one. For the sake of
lucidity let us deal with his animadversions in sections. The
chief counts in his indictment may be headed thus : Climate ;
Irish Plant-names ; Ori^n of the Caiitabiian Group ; Omissions ;
Miscellaneous Objections ; and our apologia maj^ be conveniently
arranged under corresponding heads.

C1.IMATE.

Rainfall. — When preparing our section on climate for the
second edition of Cybcle we at first endeavoured to arrive at a
trustworthy average annual rainfall for East and West Ireland,
founded on data drawn from a numerous series of properly dis-
tributed stations and spreading over the same series of years.
Failing to find sufficient data, we abandoned the attempt to
arrive at averages and satisfied ourselves watli the two generalisa-
tions, that the east is drier than the west, and that the Irish rain-
fall reaches a maximum in the south- west. The accuracy of our
^^cond generalisation is thus c^uestioned by Mr. Hart on p. 28 of

1900.] COI.GAN AND SCUI.I.Y. — Remarks 07i Cybele Hihernica. 57

his Remarks : — " Connemara is, so far as our knowledge goes, far
and away wetter than the south-west (unless at altitudes unsuit-
able for comparison.) K3demore, in Connemara, has a mean of
8179 inches for sixteen years . . . No doubt there are valleys
in the Kerry Reeks that would perhaps eclipse Connemara, but
we have not got the proof" Now the required proof it so
happens is to be had in Mr. Hart's own Flora of Donegal^
where (p. 345) he gives us the average rainfall for the Gap of
Dunloe as 91*5 inches, and goes on to say — ''Parts of Kerry
receive the heaviest rainfall in Ireland . . . Next to these
the wettest portion would be found in Galway amongst the
Twelve Bens . . . Kerr^Ms nearly twice as wet as Donegal
in its wettest parts. Galway is about intermediate."

Clearly we have to deal with two Mr. Harts — the author of
the Flora of Dojiegal and the author of Remarks on the Second
Edition of Cyhele^ and we find one of these, to use an eastern
image, eating the words of the other. Which of them are we
to believe? We think we may fairly claim that our generali-
sations on Irish rainfall still hold the field. No doubt these
generalisations might have been supported by a more imposing
display of statistics, and our whole section on climate might
have been easily expanded to 100 pagCvS in emulation of our
critic, who has devoted no less than 67 pages of his Donegal
Flora to tables of barometric pressures, of rainfalls, and of
temperatures, marine and terrestrial. But after all climate
is only of interest to the botanist in so far as it demonstrably
affects plant distribution, and the majority of the readers of
Cybele will rather bless than revile us for the terseness of our
paragraph on this subject.

The Gulf Stream. — As for the Gulf Stream, we have only to
oppose to the opinions of Dr. Murray and the Prince of
Monaco cited by Mr. Hart, those of Dr. W. B. Carpenter
and Mr. R. H. Scott, F.R.S., of the Meteorological Council.
The former in his article " Atlantic Ocean," in the last edition
of the Encyclop(zdia Britannica (vol. iii., p. 25) says: — "The
same principle once admitted" [the principle of a great
oceanic circulation, carrying the cold polar waters southward
underneath a northward flow of warm water from the equator]
" fully accounts for that amelioration of the cold of north-
western Kurope, which, as already .shown, cannot be fairly

58 ' The Irish Naturalist. [Marcb,

attributed to the Florida Current or true Gulf Stream."^ Dr.
Carpenter (p. 20 of this article) considers the Gulf Stream *' to
be no longer recognizable to the east of the meridian of 30*^
W. longitude," and attributes the transport of West Indian
tree-trunks, fruits, &c., to the shores of western Europe to a
surface drift sustained b}^ the prevalence of S.W. winds. Our
second authoritj^ Mr. R. H. Scott, F.R.S., thus delivers him^
self in Notes on Rockall {R.I.A. Tra7is., 1897, p. 63) : " In reply
to the question about the Gulf Stream, it is perfectly well
defined up to say 50° W. longitude, but I contend no further."
We are quite content to differ from Mr. Hart, Dr. Murray, and
the Prince of Monaco in such good company as that of Dr.
Carpenter and Mr. Scott, and leave it to the reader to decide
for himself under which banner he will enlist. We have no
strong tendencies to iconoclasm, but since the Gulf Stream
threatens to pla}' as thaumaturgical a part in Irish meteorology
as Finn and Cuchulainn play in Irish legend, it seems high
time to submit its credentials to scientific scrutiny.

Irish Pi,ant-Namks.
This new feature in the Cybele is founded on inquiries begun
by one of us many years before the preparation of the second
edition was entered upon. It was with a full knowledge of
the work alread}^ done in the same field b}^ Threlkeld, Light-
foot, Wade, G'Reill}^ and Cameron that the inquiries were
instituted ; but as the investigator aimed merely at the fixing
of the more prominent native plant-names actually currejit i?i
Ireland it was impossible to make any use of these authorities.
Even the latest of them, Cameron, in his Gaelic Names of
Plafits, 1883, though he gives in addition to the Scotch Gaelic
names a large collection of Irish Gaelic names, does not
indicate whether any one of them was taken from other than
literary sources. Only one who has himself carried on such
inquiries in the field can appreciate their difficulty, and how

• A more recent authority, Mr. Dickeson, in the Quarterly Joiirn. Roy.
Meteorol. Socy. for October, 1899, contends that " the mild winters of our
western coasts are not due to the heating of the air by contact with a
surface of warm water, brought by a current from warmer regions . . .
but to the fact that the air has itself come from these warmer regions,
and is charged with abundant moisture, which sets free vast quantities of
heat through condensation."

I900.] Coi^GAN AND Scui.i«Y. — Remarks 07i Cybele Hibemica. 59

imperatively they demand the exercise of caution and of
patience, if error is to be avoided. The difficulty is two-fold ;
first, one must catch correctly the series of vocal sounds which
make up the spoken plant-name, some of the elements in the
series being obscure or indeed quite elusive ; in the second
place, one has to make sure that he applies the spoken name,
where not merely generic, to the proper botanical species, and
to arrive at certainty on this point it is often necessary to
consult several Irish -speaking namers of the plant and
compare their dicta. To these difficulties may be added a
third, that of rendering the name into the accepted system of
Irish orthography. Here a wide field for the imagination is
often opened up, and one must carefully check the tendency
to strain the rendering of the spoken sounds in such a way
as to give the written word a meaning. In many cases one
must be content to let the name remain purely symbolic.

All this is set down here merely to show that the admitted
meagreness of the Cybele list of Irish plant-names is due to
conscientiousness and a full appreciation of the difficulties of
the subject. Mr. Hart, how^ever, does not seem to feel these
difficulties, for he tells us in his Remarks ; " I have myself
collected without difficulty, though at a considerable expense
of time and travel, a large number of Celtic plant- names in
Donegal which do not appear in the Cybele^ Many will be
found in an appendix to my Flora of Do7iegair On turning to
this appendix, which contains much interesting matter, we
find such entries as the following: '' Barrafi a dhu, Fibrous
roots of bent or some other sand plant. Futhe7'm (?) seaweed.
Meehal, a yellow thick- clustered seaweed. Pardban (?) some
herb, very good for making a plaster." Now Mr. Hart is quite
justified in saying that such names as these, mere 7iomma iiuda
referable to no definite species, may be collected *' without
difficulty "; but then unfortunately the collection when made
has no scientific value.

Farther on in his Remarks, when discussing Euphorbia
hiber^ia (p. 37) and Pinus sylvestris (p. 41) he reverts to our
treatment of current Irish plant-names. He charges us with
both wrongly spelling and wrongly interpreting the native
name Baiyuie caoi7i which we give as that now current for the
Irish Spurge in Cork and Kerry, the head-quarters of the

A 3

6o The hish Naturalist. [March,

species. It is not easy to unravel the paragraph in which this
charge is made, so contradictory is it and full of unwarrantable
assumptions. Mr. Hart's reasoning appears to be somewhat
in this fashion : our name, Bainne caoi7i, is wrongly spelt
because it is spelt differently from the name, Buidhe na
7iinoea7i, given by O'Reilly ; the interpretation which we give
of our name is wrong, because it differs from Mr. Hart's
interpretation of O'Reilly's name. Now O'Reilly's name, as
Mr. Hart himself admits in this very paragraph of his Remarks^
is a purely generic one ; but for the purpose of his argument,
to prove, in short, that we are wrong, it is essential that the
name should be made specific and should be applied to
Euphorbia hibe??ia. This our critic accordingly proceeds to
do, in perfect oblivion of his acceptance of the w^ord as generic
and, so far as we can see, without a shred of evidence ; and
having further assumed that our name and O'Reilly's are the
same, the conclusion inevitably follows, that our Irish
spelling is hopelessly wrong, unless we spell better than
O'Reilly, and we cheerfully concede that any such assumption
is inadmissible. Having thus convicted us of incompetence
in spelling, there is little difficulty in convicting us of incom-
petence in translation. Mr. Hart, with great intrepidity, in
our opinion, englishes O'Reilly's name into " the yellow
wave-lover," while we english our name (conjecturally, with
a note of interrogation) into " mild milk." It is obvious to
the meanest capacity that " mild milk " is different from " the
yellow wave-lover," and Mr. Hart's rendering being right ours
must be wrong. Therefore we cannot be trusted either to
spell or to translate Irish correctly. Is it necessary to assert
the obvious fact that Bai7i7ie caoi7i and Buidhe 7ia 7ii7igea7i are
utterly distinct names, and to point out that, this fact once
grasped, Mr. Hart's argumentative house of cards topples to
the ground ?

Having in self-defence dealt thus unsparingly with our
critic in the matter of the Irish Spurge, we are happy to be
able to thank him for fresh information as regards the Scotch
Fir. His evidence for the present use of the Irish name
gui77ihas ox giiibhas (gyoos) in Donegal is most welcome ; for
in spite of Joyce's and Cameron's discussion of this question
we did not feel quite satisfied as to the current Irish use of

igoo.] CotGAN AND SCUI.I.Y. — Ronarks on Cybele Hibetnica, 6i

the name for the living tree as distinguished from the dead
bog-deal. Though we have little doubt as to the validity of
our conclusion that the vScotch Fir as a native Irish plant
" had become quite rare if not extinct in very early times,"
that conclusion can no longer be based on the absence of a
native name for it from the spoken language. But it may
fairly be based on its rarity as a component in Irish place-
names. We are further indebted to Mr. Hart for his reminder
that he has already recorded the survival in Co. Galway of the
old name for the Irish Spurge, Meaca?i buidhe (Makinboy of
Threlkeld, aiiglice yellow tap-rooted plant). We overlooked
his interesting record of this in the Journal of Botany for

1873-
To conclude our remarks on this subject, we agree with our

critic that an exhaustive work, botanical, philological, and

historical on Irish plant-names would be of great interest, and

one of us has already ventured to sketch the outlines of such

a work in the hope that he may some day succeed in amassing

materials sufficiently copious and trustworthy to justify

publication.

Origin of the Cantabrian Group*

However intimate one's acquaintance may be with the laws of
plant-life and with the conclusions and theories of geologists,
he can never hope to arrive at any very positive opinion on
such a question as this. One must studiously guard against
any approach to dogmatism in discussing it, and this we have
endeavoured to do in our brief paragraph on the subject where
we preface our suggestions with these words : '* the hypothesis
which regards them" [the Cantabrian group of plants] "as
relics of a once widespread pre-glacial flora seems to be the one
which, however open to objection, presents the least difficulty."
We have little objection to make to Mr. Hart's discussion of
this highly debatable question, one with which he is peculiarly
fitted to deal by reason of his practical acquaintance with the
Arctic flora. He points out most forcibly the great difficulty
in the way of accepting the hypothesis we favour, the difficulty,
that is, of imagining the Cantabrian group to have survived in
Ireland throughout the last Glacial Period. It is a real
difficulty; but it is, we conceive, an exaggeration of it to
characterise the Cantabrian and Alpine groups as respectively

A4

62 The Irish Nahiralist, [March,

the most delicate and the hardiest members of our flora.
Judged b}^ the vertical range of its members in Ireland, the
Cantabrian group is hy no means so sharply distinguished
from the Alpine in power of endurance, as Mr. Hart maintains.
For instance, Saxifraga umbrosa ranges to 3,370 feet, S. Geuni
to 2,650 /eet, Pinguiaila grandiflora to 2,250 feet, Dabcocia
polifolia to 1,900 feet. Erica rneditcrranea probabl)' to 1,000 feet ;
while on the other hand man}' of our alpines, accustomed in
more thoroughl}^ congenial climates to the protection of
regularly recurring and persistent winter snow^s, show them-
selves impatient of exposure to frost in more temperate climates
where this protection is often withheld. It is needless to say
that the alternative hypothesis favoured by Mr. Hart is beset
by peculiar difficulties of its own. No one who wishes to
apprehend the great complexity of such questions should
neglect to study Dr. Scharff's erudite paper O71 the Origi^i of
the Etiropean Fauiia,^ a perfect treasure-house of the polyglot
literature of distributional problems.

With a passing reference to one or two expressions in Mr.
Hart's very interesting discussion of this question, we must
hasten on to our next section. On page 30 he states that the
chief peculiarity of the Cantabrian group of plants " is the
accidental one that they do not now exist in the neighbouring
island." The group being a distributional one it is quite
inadmissible to speak of its essential characteristic — locality —
as accidental. Again, on p. 33, after touching on the wisdom
and veracity of plants which, we are admonished, should be let
" speak for themselves" since " they know and they will tell no
lies," Mr. Hart insists that hypothetical formula should give
way to the ''incontrovertible laws of nature." By all means,
but the question is — what are the incontrovertible laws of
nature in this complex and largely mysterious domain of
plant distribution ? And wdien we have got our wise and
veracious plants into the witness-box, who is to interpret for
us their inarticulate deliverances? Finally, on p. 31, Mr.
Hart says that it was almost a pity to raise this debatable
question at all in Cybele. If debatable questions had been
rigorously eschewed the book could never have been written.
Hardly a page of it is free from debatable matter : a whole

^ Proc. K.I. A., 3rd series, vol. iv., no. 3.

I900.] Coi^GAN AND SCUI.I.Y. — Remarks on Cybele Hihcrnica. 63

volume of debate — not alwa^'s parliamentary in its diction —
might easil}' be written on the i^ppendix alone ; and after all
for many readers these problems of plant distribntion are as
fascinating as the problems of metaphysics, and for a like
reason, because they are well nigh insoluble. In any case, less
than a page of Cybele is devoted to (or wasted on ?) the dis-
cussion of the history of the Cantabrian group in Ireland,

Omissions.

The charges made against us under this head are very
numerous. To some of them we plead guilty ; others, and by
far the larger number, are not omissions at all in any
damaging sense of the word. Tliej^ are not oversights, that is,
but deliberate exclusions made on principle. I^et us first deal
with the chargers on this point brought against owr Introduction.
On page 29 of our critic's Reina?'ks we are charged with the
omission of two important plants, the Irish Spurge and the
Killarney Fern, from our list of Irish Atlantic Type species
(p. xlvii of Cybele). While we at once acknowledge our error
as to the Killarney Fern, we wish to point to the inaccuracy of
Mr. Hart's statement as regards the Irish Spurge. This is not
classified either by Watson or by us as Atlantic, but as
Local- Atlantic, or a Local species with an Atlantic tendency.
If the t3'pe comparisons between the English and Irish floras
are to be made at all a rigid adherence to the limits of
Watson's types must be observed. Our error then on this
point is only half as serious as Mr. Hart makes it appear.

Again, on p. 29, we are charged with having omitted from
the Irish Highland T3''pe list no less than four plants, Aira
alpina, Cochlcaria alpina, Saxifraga hirta, and S. grcenlandica.
Here, in his haste to correct us, our critic has stumbled him-
self, for Aira alpina is not omitted from our list : Mr. Hart
has simply failed to discover it there under its thin disguise of
Deschampsia alpina. As for the remaining three plants, they
do not belong to the Highland Type at all, and this can be
easily seen by reference to our standard, Watson's Compendiiun
of the Cybele Britannica, 1870, where the latest revision of the
type is given. When Mr. Hart, at the end of his critical
paragraph, on this point asks: "Why should our Irish
mountains be deprived of the credit of yielding these plants,"

64 The h ish Naturalist. [March,

the answer is simpl}' this — that we did no injustice to Ireland
in excluding them, but merely a justice to England.

Farther on, however, we come to a charge which, unlike this
one of imaginary injustice to Ireland, is fully proved against
us. On p. 29 Mr. Hart draws attention to our omission from
the list of alpines descending to sea-level in Ireland of the
following four species : Saxifraga oppositifolia, Ardostaphylos
Uva-ursi, Isoetes lacustris, and Carex aquatilis. We are
certainly in error here. These plants should be added to the
list on p. xlv of our l7itroductio7i, and Mr. Hart is entitled to
our thanks for the detection of this oversight.

Passing on to p. 36 of the Rema}'ks, we are confronted with
a portentous list of no less than 44 items described by our
critic as ** a few omissions, &c., which are not dependent on
information unavailable for the purposes of the Cybele." On
analysis this list turns out to be a critical miscellany, by no
means restricted to supposed omissions of our critic's records.
Ofthese, however, it includes some 23 items which we shall deal
with in groups. The following 6 were omitted as dubious for
various reasons : Ra^iunctdus heterophy litis, R. Lingua, Thalic-
trumfiexuosumy Helianthenium vulgare, Saxifraga hypiioides, and
Atriplex fariiiosa. Eleven others were omitted as superfluous,
i.e., Papaver Argemo7ie, Nasttirtium palustre, Sisy^nbritim thalia-
nuni, Viola hirta, A^idromeda polifolia, Atriplex portiilacoides,
Juniperus nana, Epipadis latifolia,Ophrys apif era, Carex riparia,
and Phleum arenariiim. It seems to us that Mr. Hart has
least of all Irish botanists any reason to complain that his
work has not been given due prominence in the 2nd edition
of Cybele. That it was necessary in compiling the book to
make a selection from the vast mass of available material is
sufficiently obvious. The remaining 6 items of these 23 are
perhaps true omissions, that is, omissions by oversight.
They are as follows : Arenaria trijiervia and Festuca sylvatica
(omitted for District IV.), Taraxacum officijiale var. palustre
(omitted for XI.), Arithemis 7iobilis (vertical range omitted),
Agrostis vulgaris, var. pu7nila (not credited to Mayo and the
Galtees), and Selagi7iella selaginoides (descent to sea level in
Donegal omitted). This small number of omissions will be
reduced to 4 if, as we are inclined to believe, the MS. referred
to by Mr. Hart as lent to one of the editors did not reach him
early enough to be availed of, and two of the omitted records.

igoo,] CoiyGAN AND Scui<iyY. — Remarks o?t Cybele Hibernica. 65

those for the varieties of Taraxacwn and Agrostis are certainly
of little importance.

MiscKi^LANKous Objections.

Having thus dealt with the numerous charges of omission
brought against us, there remain many scattered objections
to be considered. First of all let us dispose of the remaining
21 items in the list of 44 already partly discussed in the pre-
ceding paragraph. Six of these remaining items deal with
highly debatable points on w^hich we are content to differ from
our critic. These are Bartsia viscosa, Melampyrum sylvaiicumi
Euphorbia amygdaloides, Salix phylicifolia^ S. Moorez, and
Eriophoiiun latifolmm. Four other items, in so far as they
impute error to us, are instances of purely captious criticism,
^')iiQSQ.2ire,A7ich7isasempervire7is, Mertensia maritima, Orobanche
minor^ and Trichomanes radica^is. The first species we distinctly
mark as naturalized, and give ample evidence to justify its
more favourable treatment in XII. than in XI. ; the second
species we did not state to be decreasing in Donegal. We
said, and we now reiterate, that it is decreasing in Ireland as
a whole. Mr. Hart himself (/^/^r. Donegal, p. 204) fears that it
is extinct in one of its Donegal stations. The third species,
Oroba7iche minor, in all the numerous records that came under
our notice (save Mr. Hart's) was set down as parasitic on
Trijoliimi pratense. We passed over Mr. Hart's record as
superfluous, our stations for District V. being already
numerous enough, and did not " gratuitously" make a general
statement in conflict with his evidence, as he accuses us of
having done. We simply overlooked his reference to Ononis
and Lotus. The objections to our treatment of the fourth
species, Tricho7nanes radicans, we do not fully understand.
Our offence is apparently nothing more serious than this, that
we did not credit Mr. Hart with the publication of Mr.
Mahony's discovery.

In the case of y^r/^?;//^/^ vulgaris, our statement "nowhere
a common species " must be modified, as the plant appears to
be common in the North. Another item, Lithospermum
arvense, is a correction of one of our critic's mistakes. In
dealing with Nepeta Glecho^na, Ayum maculatum, and Carex
stricta it is very difficult with the available materials to find a
terse, yet accurate, expression for their general distribution in

66 The Irish NaUiralist. [Marcli,

Ireland. The first two ma}^ be, as Mr. Hart says they are,
rare in the West, and the third, rare in most parts of Ireland,
away from the large lakes or rivers ; but we consider that our
word, " frequent," most fully expresses their known standing
in Ireland as a whole. The generalisation that the three
species, Lysiviachia vulgaris, Euphorbia Paralias, and
Parietaria officinalis are rare in Donegal we did not think
it prudent to adopt before we had seen Mr. Hart's final
views on the subject in his county flora. The Flora,
unfortunateh^ did not appear until the 2nd edition of Cybelc
had passed through the printer's hands. Our critic is in error
in supposing that Lysimachia vulgaris is in District XII.
confined to Lough Neagh, as there are two recent records for
stations in County Down remote from the Lough. He is also
in error in supposing Euphorbia exigiia to be absent from
West Ireland : it occurs in District VI., and its rarit}^ in the
West we have sufficiently indicated by the statement in Cybele :
" not yet recorded for Kerr}^ West Galway, Mayo, or Sligo."
Finall}', last item in this long list, comes Empetru7n nigrum.
We have fully noted in Cybele the occurrence of this species
at low levels in man}^ parts of Ireland ; but we still consider
it to be essentially a mountain plant in the West, as well as
in the East, and rare at low levels.

Page 40 of the Remarks presents us with an other list, chiefly
made up of plants which, in Mr. Hart's opinion, have been
improperly relegated to our Appendix. We need not discuss
this list in detail, as it deals almost entirely w^ith debatable
matter; but we feel bound to more fully notice one item,
Heliayithemum vulgare. We still consider it inadvisable to
concede to this plant a place in the Irish flora proper. Fuller
information is needed, above all, as to the quantity in which
it appears in the Donegal station. We do not know whether
Mr. Hart found a thousand plants there or only a single
plant ; and we hope he will further examine the craggy
district he refers to at the earliest opportunity and publish
the results of his investigation. In the paragraph introduc-
tory to this last list, we are admonished (p. 39) that it would
be a good rule to relegate to our Appendix all unconfirmed
records of Wade, Smith, and Keogh. This is precisely what
we have done in the case of Smith and Keogh (^the instance of

I900.J CoLGAN AND ScuivLY. — Remarks 071 Cybch Hibeynica. 6j

EiipJiorbia hibcrna is no exception, as we hold that the trust-
worthy Limerick records for the plant amount to a confirma-
tion) ; and Wade's authority seems to us entitled to so much
greater weight than either Smith's or Keogh's, that in many
cases we do not hesitate to accept from him unconfirmed
records if they have no obvious improbability.

In discussing our comparison of the floras of Districts XI.
and XII. (p. 34)5 Mr. Hart qualifies as erroneous certain of
our statements founded on an accurate surve}^ of the informa-
tion then available. The word "erroneous" is not justly
applicable here, unless it be an error to remain ignorant of
what has not been divulged. Again, our method of comparing
the Irish and English floras is taken exception to in the foot-
note to the same page, Mr. Hart once more resenting an
imaginary injustice -to Ireland. Some standard must be taken,
and when taken, moreover, must be rigidl}^ adhered to through-
out the various comparisons made. We have taken Hooker
as standard, and it is, of course, immaterial how he treats the
Hawkweeds, since his treatment affects the English and Irish
floras in the same way. The case of Ireland versus England
is no whit strengthened by deposing Hooker in favour of the
London Catalogue — Ireland's gain in Hieraeiuvi forms being
fully balanced b}^ England's gain. Mr. Hart again returns to
this subject on pp. 41 and 44, where he discusses various
additions to be made to the Donegal flora. In both of his
numbered lists, those on pp. 36-41, and on pp. 42-44, mere
varieties, nowhere counted by us for comparative purposes,
are included, 2 in the first list and 2 in the second, the effect
being to improperly raise the Donegal total by 4. In the first
list the numbered additions are 11, 3'et Mr. Hart in his
summing up on p. 41 counts them as 12. But one plant,
Helia^itheimivi vulgare, is numbered and counted twice, so that
the true number of his additions is neither 11 nor 12 but 10.
At the same time, 8 of the additions in this first list are plants
excluded by us and reintroduced by Mr. Hart, who seems to
overlook the fact that if every patriotic district botanist is to
revise our Appendix thus no benefit can accrue to any of
them. There is, at all events, this advantage in accepting
our views as to excluded species, that the principles on which
we acted, whether just or unjust, were laid down at the very

68 The Irish Naturalist. [March,

threshold of our work, and were applied with a strenuous
striving after impartiality throughout the 12 districts, the
result being that comparisons between their various floras
may be made with a fair approach to accuracy. With the
fullest desire to do justice to the Donegal flora, w^e cannot
place its total number of species and sub-species, as at present
known, at a higher figure than 753, that is, 10 under Mr.
Hart's estimate.

We are not called on to discuss in detail the final list on
pp. 42-44 of the Remarks dealing with additions to the Donegal
flora published after the 2nd Edition of Cybele had passed
through the press. Our rejoinder has already run to a great
length, chiefly for this reason, that a failure on our part
to meet any one of our critic's objections would infallibly
have been taken by a large mass of readers as an admission
of error. In conclusion, we can only express our deep regret
that the Flora of Donegal did not appear before the 2nd
Edition of Cybele had gone to press. Mr. Hart's book, as we
know, was in the press for fully three years and a half, while
the new Cybele^ a much larger and more complex work, passed
through the printer's hands in less than eight months,
although the greatest pains were taken to ensure typo-
graphical accuracy by repeated proof-revision. But for this
unfortunate delay in publishing the Donegal Flora, we should
have no reason to regret the incompleteness of Cybele as
regards North-west Ireland.

Dublin.

THE IRISH FLORA AND THE GIvACIAL PERIOD:

A REJOINDER.

BY R. F. SCHARFF, PH.D.

Mr. Hart wishes the question as to whether our most tender
species of plants have existed throughout the Glacial Period
or no referred to those competent to form an opinion, and a
vote taken on the subject, the minority to abide by the
decision of the majority. As I cannot believe that Mr. Hart
w^ould propose such a scheme otherwise than seriously,
I would point out that this would be a most unscientific

I900.] ScHARFF. — The Itish Flora and the Glacial Period. 69

procedure, and crush all independent thought. Moreover,
the subject is so vast and intricate that we are not able to
decide the question at present with any degree of certainty.
Most geologists, judging from purely geological reasoning^
hold that the climate of Ireland was very cold during the
Glacial Period, and that both plants and animals were exter-
minated, and could, therefore, only have migrated to Ireland
since that period. Thej^ tell us that we must fit in our theories
according to their views. This seems to be the kind of
coercion of our reasoning powers favoured by Mr. Hart !
Why should not we botanists and zoologists bring together
all the possible facts and data at our command in order to
attack the problem from another stand-point ? I have
attempted to rouse an interest among zoologists and botanists
on the subject, in order to induce them to investigate it from
their own stand-point, and have published my views in the
paper referred to by Mr. Hart, and more recently in
book form. Both of these have been ably reviewed and
criticised in the Irish Naturalist. As I have stated in my
book, the eminent Swedish botanist. Prof Nathorst, and also
the well-known Arctic traveller. Colonel Feilden, are of
opinion that part of the Greenland flora survived the Glacial
Period in that country. If any flowering plants survived
there, why not in Ireland ? Mr. Hart looks upon the
Killarney Fern as the chief stumbling block to the survival
theory. But not long ago, Mr. Moore, the able Curator of the
Dublin Botanic Gardens, told me that the roof of the fern-
house in which he stored these ferns had been once smashed
during very severe weather in winter, so that the tender
plants were exposed to great and sudden cold, without their
being injured thereby. My statement as to the County
Londonderry containing most of the Northern animals and
plants will probably have to be modified to "" North-western
Ireland " instead of " Londonderry." This, however, was not
a serious mistake, and cannot affect the general drift of my
views.

Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

70 The Irish Naticralist. [March,

NOTES ON IRISH COIvKOPTERA.

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

Mr. Bucki^k's list of beetles from the Lough Foyle district
{ajite, pp. 2-1 1) is a most welcome addition to our knowledge
of the coleopterous fauna of Ireland. The district is one of
varied character, comprising mountains, bogs, and coast sand-
hills ; these last are always a happy hunting-ground for the
entomologist. That Mr. Buckle has made good use of these
advantages is evidenced by the large number of species that he
has added to the Irish list and the manj^ good things he has taken.
On these captures and a few other points I would wish to offer
some observations. Ca7abus nitcfis, L., is a pleasing capture, as
being a very beautiful insect, and also as confirming the old re-
cords of Haliday and Patterson, who took it in the neighbour-
hood of Belfast, and of Canon Bristow, who obtained it on the
Dungiven Mountains, Co. Derr3^ The Carabi, like many other
Geodephaga, are very active just at dusk, and I was told by
an English correspondent that he found it a good plan to look
for C. 7iitcnsQ.\. that time. They are ver}' fond of running over
paths or roads, and I have seen C. 7ieinoralis, Mull., and
C gra7i2ilaius, L-, quite in numbers on a road in early summer
at twilight. The late J. F. Dawson, in " Notes on British
Geodephaga" {^?z^;;/. ^«?^?/'(^/, 1856), recommends sw^eeping at
night, and quotes Baron Chaudoir, who advocates spreading a
large white cloth (vsheet or tablecloth) on the ground at night,
and placing a brilliant light thereon ; b}^ this method M.
Chaudoir sa^^s that he took many good species.

It is somewhat remarkable that C clathratus, I,., was not
met with, for turf bogs are its haunt, and it has been taken
pretty freely in Donegal. I had hoped to have seen Pelophila
borealis, Payk., and Coelambiis v.-lineahis, 7j^\X., in the list ; but,
no doubt, further research on Mr. Buckle's part will turn up
these, as well as other desirable Coleoptera. Pelophila is
often found in company with Blethisa, but it likes /irvi mud
and stones, while Blcthisa will live in swampy places among
herbage. The non-occurrence of Ccelambus v.-lineatus is
rather puzzling, as it has occurred very generally in Ulster.
I have taken it in company with C iiKeq^ialis, F. ; in fact, where

iQoo-] Johnson. — Notes on Irish Coleoptera. 'ji

I got the latter I generally expect to meet with the former ;
ver}' probabl}' the ensuing season will bring a record of its
capture.

In connection w^ith these Ccela^nbi, can no one turn up
Ccelainbus versicolor, Schall. {7^eiiailat2is, F.) ? This pretty little
water-beetle is recorded by Halida}^ from near Belfast ; there
is also a specimen in the Belfast Museum, which was taken by
Mr. Hyndman probably near Belfast, and in M'Nab's Dublin
list is the record " Canal, Dublin" ; since that time it has been
conspicuous by its absence. I may mention that a convenient
point of distinction between it and C. v.-lhieatus, its close ally,
lies in the prosternal process, which in C. versicolor is elevated,
and in C. v.-lijicahis is depressed {vide Sharp, " D3^tiscid8e,"
Sci. T?'a7is. R.D.S., 18S2).

Mr. Buckle' speaks of not observing Hydroponis Davisii,
Curt., or H. scplenirio7ialis, Gyll., coming to the surface of the
water for air ; the fact is, that it is very difficult to see these
small water-beetles coming to the surface except in clear
water where there are no weeds, for they come up and go
down again so quickly that the least bit of weed ]3revents their
being seen.

Mycetoportis Tianus, Hr., was recorded b}^ me from Coolmore,

Co. Donegal {E7it. Mo. Mag., 1896, p. 156), and CeuthorrhyiicJius

viduatus, Gyll., from Armagh {E7ito. Mo. Mag., vol. 24, p. 195.)

Phytosus baliicus, Kraatz., is an interesting capture

especially in view of Mr. G. C. Champion's remarks concerning

it and P. 7iigriventris, Chevr. (E7it. Mo. Mag., 2nd series, vol. 10,

p. i). Mr. Champion gives '* Co. Meath" as an Irish locality,

which, with Mr. Buckle's record, are the only notices of its

occurrence in Ireland that I know of. It seems not improbable

that further research may produce both species from these

localities, and possibly from others. It appears to be entirely

a sea-coast insect. Blcdius eri'atiais, Er., is a decidedly rare

beetle. Canon Fowler gives only four localities for it {Bfit.

Col., ii., p. 373), nor do I know of any record of its capture

since, except my own from Coolmore fl. Nat., vol. iv., p. 97),

which is the only other Irish recoid except Mr. Buckle's.

It is very gratifying to know that he met with it in large

numbers. At Coolmore there was a large colony among the

sandhills quite away from ihe sea-beach proper.

Ji The Irish Naturalist. [March,

Blcdius lo7ig7il2is, Er., is, as far as I know, a new record for
Ireland, and is by no means a common insect in Great
Britain.

Perhaps the most interesting of all Mr. Buckle's captures is
Otiorrhyiichus auroptmctatiis, Gjdl. This fine weevil has been
taken on the east coast (/. Nat., vol. iv., p. 213) by Messrs.
Cuthbert and Halbert. That a Pyrenean species should occur
on our east coast was remarkable enough, but to find it on our
northern coast is more remarkable still, and proves the correct-
ness of Mr. Carpenter's remark {I.e., p. 215) " that its presence
here cannot be ascribed to recent introduction," and points to
the probability of its occurrence at intermediate stations.
Here is an opportunity for some of our friends of the Belfast
Naturalists' Field Club. The insect has been found in Dublin,
Meath, Louth, and Londonderry ; let them complete the
chain by finding it in Down and Antrim.

I see that Mr. Buckle took Philopedo7i geminatzis, F. It
would be interesting to know if he met with the large white
form which has been met with in some localities.

I must congratulate Mr. Buckle most heartily on the success
of his efforts, and I hope we shall soon hear of more good
captures, meanwhile macte virtute.

In the report of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club («7z/^, p. 19)
the following remark occurs — '* Mr. Cuthbert goiRhopalomesites
Tardyi in Alder, an unusual home for this weevil."

I have taken it in Alder, and the following quotation will
show that it is not averse to that tree ; in fact, I don't think it
cares so long as the tree is in a suitable condition for attack
what kind it is ; —

"As another example of the same kind may be mentioned, the un-
expected recognition, at Cranmore, of Cossonus Tardii^ by my friend and
fellow-member, Robert Templeton, Esq., R.A. It was found by him in
June, 1829, on the under side of an alder which lay in the farm-yard and
had been stripped of its bark. This insect is one of the Cttrailionidce or
weevil tribe. It was first discovered in July, 1822, under the bark of
decayed hollies near Powerscourt Waterfall, County of Wicklow, by the
late James Tardy, Esq., of Dublin, in company with N. A. Vigors, Esq.,
who conferred its specific name in honour of his friend. Mr. Curtis
remarks — It appears, like all wood-feeding insects, to be extremely
local ; for Mr. Tardy, in a letter, says—' I have in vain sought for it in
places abounding as much in holly, and in similar situations, in the same
county.*

I900.] Johnson. — Notes o?i the Irish Coleoptera. 73

'• In fact, I believe the Irish Cossonui, for so it is called, had not been
detected in any locality, except that where it was originally discovered,
until it fell under the observation of Mr. Templeton. It is still taken at
Cranmore,^ in precisely the same situation where it was first observed,
and usually in little groups of four or five individuals, ranged together
side by side. It is not, however, strictly confined to one spot, but has
also been taken in the adjoining garden, and is particularly abundant
under the decaying bark of alders." — ("Insects mentioned in
Shakspeare," by Robert Patterson, F.R.S., Treasurer of the Natural
History Society of Belfast : London, 1838.")

I should like to call the attention of Irish coleopterists to the
remarks of Mr. G. C. Champion, F.Z.S., with regard to
Diglossa, Haliday, or Diglotta, as Mr. Champion proposes to
call it {fi7it. Mo. Mag., 2nd series, vol. x, p. 264). He points
out that the difference in length of elytra, which used to be
relied on to separate the species, is not a constant character, gives
the points of difference and the changes in nomenclature, and
shows that the two species are now D>mersa^ Halid. {submarina,
Fairm.), and D. siyiuaticollis, Muls. and Rey. [s'^assa, Muls. and
Rey.). Both have been taken in Ireland, D. mersa at Portraine
and Baldoyle, while of D. siymaticollis, Canon Fowler {Ent.
Mo. Mag., XX., p. 168) writes that M. Javet had specimens sent
him from Ireland by Haliday, and Mr. Champion (/.^.) states
that " there is a small form in Mr. Mason's collection, probably
found by Haliday in Ireland." It seems likely that these
specimens were found, like those of D. mersa, in Co. Dublin,
but it is not impossible that they may have been taken on the
coast of Co. Down ; consequently it is an open question, and
remains for solution by the Dublin and Belfast field
naturalists, so let them polish up their optic nerves, and sally
forth on sunny days and see who will win.

Poyntzpass.

1 Cranmore is now part of Belfast.

f4 The Irish Naturalist. [March,

BRITISH DRAGONFLIES.

British Dragonflies (Odonata). By W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S.
Pp. xiv. and 356, 27 coloured plates, and 57 figures in text. London :
L. Upcott Gill, 1900. Price ^i \\s. 6d.

Students of the less well-known orders of British insects have received
much encouragement in recent years bj' the publication of reliable text-
books dealing in detail with the species which inhabit our islands.
Mr. Lucas' long-promised monograph on our Dragonflies will take a
high place among such books.

The first fifty-four pages are devoted to introductory matter, the life-
history of Dragonflies, the forms assumed by their eggs and nymphs,
the structure of the imago, and the place to be assigned to the group
among the insects generall}'. Mr. Lucas is undoubtedly right in claim-
ing for them ordinal rank. The chapter on the early stages is
especially good, and a synoptical table of the nymphs of the various
British species should prove useful. The account of the structure of the
imago is rather weak morphologically; one does not expect nowadays
to have the " lower lip" of an insect described as an unpaired organ
comparable to the labrum. The internal organs are almost altogether
neglected.

Careful synoptical tables of the families, sub-families, genera and
species, lead on to the systematic portion, which occupies the bulk of
the volume. The author may be congratulated on the full way in which
he has dealt with each species ; he traces the synonymy, transcribes the
diagnosis of the original describer, gives careful original descriptions of
both sexes of the imago, as well as of the egg and nymph when known,
and furnishes interesting notes on habits, migration, and distribution. As
the account of each species necessarily occupies several pages, specific
names should have been used as page-headings, in addition to the
generic titles. In nomenclature Mr. Lucas follows De Selys Long-
champs and M'Lachlan, rejecting the replacement of Gomphns by
Acshna and Caloptoyx by As^n'on, which Kirby believes to be required by
the law of priority. Though in our own two or three papers on Dragon-
flies we followed Kirby, we now consider that eminent systematist to
have needlessly upset established usage. Mr. Lucas, however, is not
justified in retaining hchmira as a generic name among the Odonata;
it belongs properly to a genus of scorpions, and Kirby's Micronytiipha
must be substituted.

The distribution of each species within the British Isles is carefully
given, so fai as known, under counties for England and Scotland, and
provinces for Ireland. With regard to Irish records, Mr. Lucas has had
to rely almost entirely on the notes in De Selys Longchamps' " Libellules
d'Europe," and on King's " Neuropterous Fauna of Ireland." Very little
has been done since the publication of the latter work in 1888 to extend
our knowledge of Irish Dragonflies, and such large and conspicuous
species as Libelliila depressa and Cordulegastcr annulaius still rest their claim

1900.] British Df'ago7iflies. 75

to a place in the Irish list on De Selys Longchamps' testimony. One
species which Mr. King seems not to have seen in Ireland, but which is
recorded by the great Belgian entomologist from this country, we can
certify from personal observation to be rather widely distributed here —
the familiar Calopieryx virgo. We must protest against the inclusion of
the Channel Isles in Great Britain ; geographically they most un-
doubtedly belong to France. And it is to be regretted that, except in a
few cases, the foreign range of the species is not mentioned. Mr. Lucas
seems to ignore the "Lusitanian " element in our fauna, as he expresses
surprise that a south-western form like Oxygastra C//r/«zV should occur in
the British Island at all. To students of distribution it is of great interest
to find a Dragonfly belonging to the same faunistic group as Helix pisana
or Etirynehria complajiata.

The volume concludes with useful practical chapters on breeding the
nymph, and preparing the imago for the collection. The illustrations
are all good, the coloured plates being exceptionally clear and well-
executed. We have no doubt that this excellent monograph will be
heartily welcomed by all entomologists, and that encouragement will
thereby be given to the study of an order of insects remarkable in the
interest of their structure, life-history, and habits. G. H. C.

SIvIME FUNGI.
The Wlycctozoa. By the RT. Hon. Sir Edward Fry and Agnes Fry.

Pp. i.-viii., 1-82, with twenty-two figures in the text. London :

Knowledge Office, 1900.
This little book, costing only one shilling, forms an excellent intro-
duction to the study of a group of interesting organisms now generally
regarded as perhaps the lowest of the fungi. There is probably no
group of plants better supplied with illustrated guides to aid in its
investigation than this one of the slime fungi. Lister, Massee, and now,
in America, M'Bride, have prepared well-illustrated text-books, and to
these the book under consideration serves as a useful introduction.
Though elementary it yet contains nothing that must be unlearned
when the larger books are taken in hand. The illustrations are dis-
tinctly good, and add much to the educational value of the book. The
Mycetozoa have been almost entirely neglected by our Field Club
members, though full of interest from many points of view. Recorders
of additions to the Irish Flora have almost a clear field before them, and,
once made familiar with the use of the compound microscope, can become
their own instructors in this peculiar group. One member of the group
— Plasmodiophora brassicct, Wor.— is the cause of the well-known disease
in turnips, &c., called " finger and toe," " anbury," " club-root," &c., a
disease very prevalent in the West and other parts of Ireland. Other
plant-diseases have been attributed to other slime fungi, but the group
is chiefly of interest to the lover of natural history, and it is to be hoped
that Sir Edward Fry's easy and pleasant introduction will cause some
Reader of the Irish Naturalist to make a hobby of the Irish Mycetozoa.

T.J.

76 The Irish Naturalist. [March,

OBITUARY.

PrOFEvSSOR J. F. ilODGKvS, M.D.
The late Dr. Hodges was for niany years a very well-known member
of Belfast society. He began life as a practising physician in Down-
patrick, having studied at Dublin and Glasgow. Subsequentl}' he
studied agricultural chemistry under Baron von Liebig, and took out
the degree of MD. in the University of Giessen. Returning to Ireland,
he took a leading part in founding the Chemico-agricultural Society of
Ulster in 1S45, and was appointed professor of chemistr}- in the old
Belfast College, and shortly afterwards he exchanged this post for the
chairs of agricultural chemistry and medical jurisprudence in Queen's
College, Belfast, which chairs he occupied till his death. He was the
author of several books on agricultural chemistry, and his important
researches in this science brought him honours from almost every
European country. He held for many years the post of Government
analyst, and was also analyst for the City of Belfast, and for five
adjoining counties. He passed away in December, at the ripe age of
84 years.

PROCKKDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

RoYAi, Zooi^oGiCAiy Society.

Recent gifts include Long-eared Owls from Miss Bowerman and
Mr. P. Grove, a Badger from Mr. R. J. Ussher, and a pair of Tigers from
the Nizam of Hyderabad (given through Lord Roberts). A Llama has
been born in the gardens, and a pair of Ostriches, a Bactrian Camel, and
a Kangaroo, have been bought.

4,429 persons visited the gardens in January.

The Annual Meeting of the Society was held on January 30th at the
Royal College of Physicians, and the Report of the Council then pre-
sented records most satisfactory progress. The admissions to the gardens
show an increase of 24,000 visitors, and the receipts of £,2)^o as compared
with those of the previous year. This advance is justifiably ascribed to
the increased attractions in the gardens. A new house for Ungulates
has been built, and the Bears' dens have been greatly improved ; while
the Haughton Memorial Building, with its pleasing outdoor cages and
upstairs refreshment-room (now open on Sundays as well as week-days),
has proved a great pleasure to visitors. The Council hope soon to be in
a position to erect a new Lion house, which will cost at least ^^1,500.
The breeding-stock of Lions has been strengthened by the importation
of a Nubian male, "Prince" — who has become the father of three fine
cubs by the imported Somali lioness " Germania." The old Dublin
strain is represented by another litter of three by " Caesar," out of
" Hypatia." The latter lioness unfortunately refuses to rear her offspring,
but a satisfactory foster-mother has been found in an Irish Red Setter,
The comparison between the Dublin-bred Lion, " Caesar" and '* Prince,"
wiU be interesting to zoologists : —

T90O'] Pi'oceedings of Irish Societies, 77

"By the process of artificial selection which has been carried on in
Dublin, the size of the lion, and also the height of the hind-quarters,
has been considerably increased ; but there has been a loss in the depth
of the chest, and in the strength of the forequarters.''

The young Camel born on ihe 6th March, after a gestation of 386 days
(the first event of the kind in Ireland) unfortunately died when six days
old, and the mother also succumbed a few months later. Great regret
is expressed at the death of the Chimpanzee, "Tom," and the rare
Hainan Gibbon— which had both lived nearl}' five years in the gardens.
We may mention that the latter specimen may now be seen stuffed in
the Dublin Museum, while the dead Chimpanzee has been exported to
Cambridge.

Limerick Fiei.d Ci^ub.

January 9.— Annuai, Meeting and Conversazione.— The Seventh
Annual Meeting of the Limerick F'ield Club was held in the Athenaeum.
There was a large attendance of members. A collection of botanical,
geological, and entomological specimens, photographs, and scientific
apparatus were shown. The Rev. J. Dowd, K.A., in the absence of the
President, Dr. W. Fogerty, took the chair. Mr. F. Neale, Hon. Secretary,
read the annual report, of which the following is an abstract: — "The
Committee, at the close of another year, are again able to state that much
interest has been taken in the Club, its winter meetings and summer
excursions having been very well attended. They have also, however,
again to draw attention to the continued scarcity of workers, and
seriously ask members to identify themselves as students with some
section of the Club. Your Committee, after full and careful consideration,
have decided to recommend that Rule 6 be altered, so as to provide that
each year shall end with the month of September, and that each
member shall contribute a subscription of five shillings per annum.
On the larger but still very moderate fee, your Committee hope it may
be possible to increase the usefulness and activity of the Club, and to
arrange for the better, if gradual, furnishing of its room with accom-
modation for specimens and photographs, as well as the hire or purchase
of diagrams, &c., for lectures. It is also desirable that some books of
reference should be available in connection with the Club, as well as
magazines and periodicals bearing on the objects of its various sections.
Your Committee have pleasure in reporting the completion of arrange-
ments with G. H. Carpenter, B.Sc. (London), of the Science and Art
Museum, Dublin, for the delivery by him of a course of six lectures on
zoology, in March next. The membership of the Club on the 30th
September, 1898, was 243, the number to same date in 1899 being 270.

" Several botanical specimens have been added to the Club Herbarium
during 1899, more especially from amongst the plants characteristic of
the Burren district of County Clare, of which several examples are on
view this evening.

"An interesting addition has been made to the fauna of this locality —
a cave-dwelling spider (^Meta Menardii), of which nests and specimens
yrerc taken during the year near Kildimo, Co- Limerick, and nests with

78 The Irish Naturalist.' [March,

eggs near Quin, Co. Clare. vSeveral species of butterflies not usually
common with us occurred during the past summer, one of which, the
Clouded Yellow {Colias editsa), is of more than ordinary interest. Our
single specimen is from ^louutshannon, w^here it was taken early in
August, but it occurred also at Adare, Limerick, and Foynes. Another
butterfly, the Painted Lady {Pyrameis cardui), has been noticed in the
past year at Cratloe, Mountshannon, and elsewhere in this district, only
one other example having been observed since 1890, near Kilkishen, Co.
Clare. A full-grown caterpillar of the Brimstone Butterfly {^Gonopteryx
rhainnt) was found wdien the Club visited Holy Island, Lough Derg, on
the 13th July, additional specimens having been obtained later in the
season ; also near Mountshannon, on which occasion they were seen on
the same day in three stages— larva, pupa, and imago.

"During the year a notice has appeared in one of the scientific
magazines as to a member of the grasshopper family swimming in
water. This habit had been reported by this Club on several occasions,
the first of them being about six years ago ; and it is satisfactory to have
it confirmed now, as some doubt w^as thrown on the accuracy of the
record at the time.

'* Good jwork has been accomplished by the Photographic Section of
the Club, members of which have furnished illustrations for the valuable
work on St. Mary's Cathedral published during the year by the Rev.
James Dowd, B.A. Several geological slides prepared by our members
have been accepted as suitable by the committee of the British Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science.

" The Archaeological Section of the Club has not developed to the ex-
tent hoped for, and it appears difiicult to arouse an interest in connection
with it or in the study of local history.

"The following meetings took place during the year: — January loth,
'99— Sixth Annual General Meeting. January 31st, '99 — " A Ramble
through some of the Ancient Monuments of Kerry with a Photographer,"
by Mr. P. J. Lynch, M.R.I.A. P'ebruary 14th, '99 —" Architectural
Photograph}'." March 14th, '99 — " Practical Points in Exposure, Develop-
ment, and Printing." March 28th, '99—" Historic Limerick, The Old
Towm," illustrated with lantern transparencies, by Rev. James Dowd,
p. A. April loth, '99 — Exhibition of Prize Lantern Slides. October
31st, '99 — "The Life History of Ferns," illustrated, b}^ the President.
November 14th, '99 — ''Transformation Scenes, or Chapters in Insect
Life," by Mr. John L. Copeman, Vice-President, Cork Field Club.
November 28th, '99 — " Common Objects of the Sea Shore," illustrated by
lantern slides and specimens, by Mr. Wm. Gray, M.R I.A., Hon. Sec,
Belfast Field Club. December 12th, '99 — "Archaeology," by Rev.
Timothy Lee, Administrator.

"Excursions. — April 20th — Broadford, via Parteen and Sallybank.
May 4th — Ballycar and Newmarket. June 8th — Scattery Island. July
13th — Holy Island, Lough Derg. July 27th — Clare Glens.

" The Club Journal, issued in June last, is held by common consent to
have been the best yet published. It contained matter representing

1900.] Pfoceedi7igs of Irish Societies, 79

each section, and several good illustrations, these latter being in con-
nection with an address on " Old Limerick,"" delivered during the winter
session."

The report was adopted.

The following were elected officers for the year 1900: — President — Dr.
W. A. Fogerty. Vice-Presidents — Miss Alice Do34e ; Rev. Timothy Lee,
Administrator. Hon. Treasurer — Mr. Joseph Stewart. Hon. Secretary
— Mr. Francis Neale. Hon. Secretary of Photographic Section — Dr,
G. J. Fogarty. Committee— Miss Buubury, Miss Bbrill, Mr. W. Ebrill,
Mr. P. J. Lynch, CK- ; Mr. J. Fitzgerald-Windle, C.B. ; Mr. George Scott,
Mr. B. Barrington.

The following were the exhibits : — Selected specimens of dried plants
from the Club Herbarium: a collection of local limestone fossils; lantern
slides, prints, and enlargements, by members of the Photographic
section ; Miss Bennis — Mounted examples of mosses, &c. ; W. W. Cooke
(Pigott & Co.)— Phonograph ; W. A. Fogarty, ALA., M.D.— Microscopes ;
Miss Garnett — A potato ; MisS Haughton^ — Abnormal Calhma vulgaris ;
Mrs. Neale— Fasciated willow stems; F. Neale — Butterflies, Colzas ediisa,
Pyrameis cardtn, Gonopteryx rhamni ; nest with eggs of cave spider
Meta menardii.

Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fie:i,d Ci,ub.

November 14. -The President (R. LI. Praeger, B.A.) in the chair.
About forty members and visitors w^ere present.

Prof. Grenvii,i,E a. J. CoivE read a paper entitled "The Floor of a
Continent, with special reference to the older rocks of Ireland." The
paper was illustrated by lantern-slides. Prof. Cole explained how little
we know as to the real primitive crust of the globe. Even the oldest
masses that are brought by earth-movement to the present surface may
have been formed by mutual intrusion of molten rocks, long after the
first consolidation of the crust. The old crust may have been broken up
again and again, before our earliest surviving sediments were laid down.
Various Archaean areas in Europe were described and illustrated, and Sir
A. Geikie's views were quoted, to the effect that the ancient gneiss of
Loch Carron, in Scotland, includes earlier sediments, and is not in itself
a fundamental rock. The author described his own similar conclusions,
derived from a study of eastern Tyrone and southern Donegal. The
sedimentary or schistose series included in the Irish gneiss may well,
however, be of Archaean age. It is questionable if we know anywhere,
even in the American Laurentian, a truly " fundameutal" gneiss. As
yet, w4th our knowledge of some twelve miles at most of the thickness of
the present crust, we are worse ofi^ than a fly crawling on the dome of
St. Peter's, and endeavouring to estimate the nature of the complex
structure beneath his feet. Dr. W. R. EvanS and Dr. A. H. Foord
spoke on the subject of the paper.

Mr. W. A, Cunnington, Mrs. Herdman, Mrs. W. P. Robinson, and Miss
J. F. Thomson were duly elected members of the Club, and two candi-
dates were nominated for election at the next meeting.

8o The Irish Naturalist. [March,

NOTES.

We have pleasure in drawing attention to the excellent plate which
accompanies Mr, Wright's paper in the present number. The half-tone
block from which it is printed was presented to the Irish Nattwalist by
the makers, Messrs. W. and G. Baird, of Belfast, who have recently set
up the most complete installation of process-block machinery to be
found in Ireland. The excellence of their work is sufficiently shown by
their reproduction of Mr. Welch's drawing.

BOTANY.

MOSSES.

Sphag^nutYi tnedlutn, Liinpr'., In Ireland.

In \.\i^ Jounml of Botany for January, 1900, Mr. Harold W. Mornington
describes and figures Sphagniini viediuni, Limpr., which he says, "has
been frequently gathered and is generally distributed throughout
these islands. It has been long known as the purple form of S. cymbi-
folium, the var. purpurasans of Russou, but the identity of which with
vS". medium appears to have hitherto escaped notice. The first record
seems to be that from Witherslack Moss, Westmoreland, specimens
from which, gathered by Barnes in 1872, were issued in Braithwaite's
Sphagn. Brit. Exsicc. as S. cymbifolium var. purpiirascens, Russ. To Mr.
Stabler belongs the credit of first recognizing S. medium as a British
species, it being included in his ' Hepaticie and Musci of Westmoreland '
{Naturalist, 1898, 124)."

In August, 1899, [ had the pleasure of a tramp on Foulshaw Moss
between Kendal and Morecambe Bay, in Westmoreland, in company
with Mr. Stabler and the Rev. C. H. Waddell, when the former pointed
out S. mediiun growing among the heather. Foulshaw is a wide peat
moss, reminding one very much of the Bog of Allan,

Up to that time I had no knowledge of 5. medium, and was not aw^are
that a moss which I had gathered on the margin of the Bog of Allan, at
Geashill, King's Count}-, in 1890, and had named S. papillosum var.
eonfertum, was actually S. medium, but so Mr. Mornington, who has a
portion of m}- specimen, states in his paper from which I am quoting.

The locality where I gathered S. medium is the same as that in which
I found S. Austiniy another very rare moss. Both these plants should
be looked for in other places in Ireland, and their discovery ought to
incite byologists to search some of our extensive bogs.

S. medium resembles in size, habit, and general appearance S. cymbi/olium,
" but with the tufts variegated, dappled with green and red to violet-
purple. It varies to some extent in the arrangement of the branch-
leaves, but preserves in nearly all cases a facies by which it can be
readily detected."

The crucial point which Mr. Mornington describes and illustrates by
drawings, is that " the chlorophyllose cells in cross section are small,
elliptical, central and completely enclosed on both sides by the biplane
hyaline cells," which is not the case in the leaf*structure of any other
Sphagnum.

I900.] Notes, 8 1

To see this requires the use of a i-inch and a ^-inch objective on the
microscope, and to make a section of a leaf. Dr. Braithwaite recom-
mends, in making sections of leaves of Sphagnum^ '' to enclose the wet
branch in a split vial cork, and tie them tight, then with a razor to make
very thin slices of the whole, placing them in a few drops of water on a
slide, when they will immediately expand, and the cork may be picked
X)ut with a needle." I have often obtained good results b}' this method.
But when I can obtain a turnip — preferably a Swedish turnip — I
always use it, because it does not blunt the razor as cork does, and it is
equally clean to work with.

I cut a cylinder of turnip to fit tightly into the tube of a simple
microtome, in the end I make a cut into which I insert a branch of the
Sphagnum that is to be sectionized, and keeping it wet, cut with a razor.
It is not necessary to make absolutely perfect s&ctions of \.\ie Sphagnum
leaf in order to see the arrangement of the cells ; rather thick ones are
sufficient. But an essential point in examining them under the micro-
scope is not to put a cover glass on the object, just examine in water
and uncovered, any pressure rendering it difficult if not impossible to
see the arrangement of the beautifully delicate cells.

Loughbrickland. H. W. LETT.

ZOOLOGY.

BIRDS.

Bittern near Londonderry.

On loth January, Mr Daniel Deeney shot a fine specimen of the
Bittern {BoUiurus stellaris, Linn.) at Burnfoot, about five miles from
Londonderry. This is another rarity for the Inch district.

Londonderry. D. C. Campbei<i*.

Grey Phaiarope on Loug^h Foyle.

On tSth September last Mr, Asshmur Bond shot a Grey Phaiarope
{Phalaroptis fulicarius, Linn.) on the shore of Lough Foyle, near Eglinton.
Londonderry. D, C. CAMPBEl^if.

Supposed Reed Warbler In Co. Tipperary.

On reading Mr. Gleeson's description of the Warbler he saw on
May 4th {Irish Mat., vol. viii.^ 1899, pp. 161, 267), it occurs to me
to ask him if he is acquainted with the Garden Warbler, which breeds
regularly at Castle Lough and elsewhere on the shores of Lough
Derg. Its haunt is not however the reedy shores, but the leafy
branches and the masses of briars in which it nests. As regards the
bright 5^ellow-green birds seen with Tits, it may not be amiss to point
out that in September Willow-wrens turn very yellow ; but if Mr.
Gleeson would send a specimen now and then to Dr. ScharfFat the
Science and Art Muceum, Dublin, he would not only enhance the skin
collection, but get his birds identified. The distribution of the Warblers
in Ireland is little known, birds of that group being so fond of evading
observation, and I shall be indebted to Mr. Gleeson if he can add to the
facts stated in my paper on the " Distribution of Birds breeding in
Ireland" in the Irish Naiuralisl, 1897, pp. 64-73.

Cappagh, Co. Waterford. R. J. USSHKR.

82 The Irish NaUiralist. [ivlarcii, 1900.

Pled Wagtails Roost! n^r among^ Reeds.

On the evening of the 29th November last, about twenty minutes after
sunset, I was passing a reedy pool not far from Bray, when I was struck
with a continuous rustling among the sedges, from which at first I
imagined thatsome ratherlarge animal was threadinghiswayamongthem.
After watching for several minutes, I found that the sounds proceeded
from a number of small dark objects which were moving in titmouse-
like fashion on the tops of the faded herbage ; these proved to be Pied
Wagtails, of which I think fully 150 were congregated in the place.
While I watched, small companies of from two to six birds occasionally
arrived, and dropped down into the sedge-bed ; and on a subsequent
evening (December 4) I saw flocks of fifteen and twenty-three arrive and
descend in similar fashion. I believe that this assembling for the night
and roosting in reed-beds is a habit of the Pied Wagtail, for I have more
than once (in winter) disturbed large numbers of these birds after dusk
among the reeds by the Roj'al Canal ; but I had never before been able to
watch them in the act of collecting and settling themselves for the night.
Before going to sleep they exercise themselves clambering about on the
tops of the sedges, and this, on still evenings, makes noise enough to
attract attention to their presence.

Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford. C. B. MoFFaT.

MAMMALS.

The Hooded Seal reported from Qalway Bay.

In the summer of 1898, I chanced to see a fine specimen of this poly-
gamous and pugnacious seal {Cystophora cristaid) while it was leaving the
shore and making out to sea. A man, who was gathering seaweed,
disturbed it while it was basking on shore. He was evidently quite as
much frightened at it as it was of him. The inflated hood gave the
animal's head quite a human appearance. On seeing it, I proceeded
with all possible haste to the spot. By the time I reached the edge of
the water it was fully fifteeen yards from the shore. I had an admirable
view of it. While swimming away to sea, it kept one eye steadily fixed
on the shore and on its infruders. The man, who disturbed it, was awe-
stricken, and addressing me said — what is it ? I informed him that it
was a seal. As he seemed incredulous, I explained that it was not a
common seal ; that it was a rare visitor to the Irish coast. As this man
is a frequent visitor to the sea-shore, and has often seen the Common
Seal {Phoca vitulind), his not having previously seen this sort is testimony
that the Hooded Seal is a rare visitor to Galway Bay. Though I have
been on the look out for it, and have since seen many seals, I have not
again seen the Hooded Seal.

Galway. R- M. G11.MORE.

[The only Irish record of this seal appears to be an early doubtful one
from Westport (Thompson, "Nat. Hist. Irel.," vol. iv.). We hope that
Mr, Gilmore's further observations may confirm his opinion that this
species is indeed a visitor to our shores.— EdS-J

Irish Naturalist. Vol IX ]

[Plate 3.

To face p. 83.]

Heads, with Skulls, of Irish Cetacea.
(Greatly Reduced.)

April, 1900.] 8^

- — I . »ji . »

A LIST OF THE IRISH CRTACEA.
(WHAIvES, PORPOISES, AND DOLPHINS).

BY R. F. SCHARFF, PH.D., BSC
(Plates 3 and 4).

Whai^es and their allies were formerly a great puzzle to
naturalists owing to their fish-like external characters,
whereas their internal structure showed close affinity to the
higher animals. But everybody kno-svs now that they are not
fish. On account of their aquatic mode of existence, they
possess a remarkably fi.sh-like form — their front limbs being
paddle-shaped, while external hind limbs are entirely absent.
In all other respects, however, they agree with the ox, horse,
and also with man, and differ from fishes in breathing by
means of lungs; in being warm-blooded, and in bringing
forth developed young, which are fed with milk during the
earlier stages of their existence. Whales, porpoises, and
dolphins are, therefore, now classed among the milk-giving
vertebrate animals or mammals.

We can distinguish two well-defined groups of these whale-
like creatures. The members ofthe/irst g^'oup, comprising a
single family {BaIcB7iidcE), possess no teeth ; but the absence of
teeth is compensated for by the development of the peculiar
elastic substance known as " whalebone." This whalebone is
of a horny nature, and is attached to the roof of the mouth,
from which it hangs in the form of a series of long narrow
plates, placed transversel}^ to the long axis of the mouth.
These constitute a kind of sieve-like wall on each side of the
mouth, through which the water is pressed when the whale
closes its mouth— thus imprisoning the small creatures which
find their way into it

The members of the seco?id g7'oup are characterised by the
presence of teeth, and the consequent absence of whalebone.
As far as we are concerned, all the forms belonging to these
toothed whales can be classified into two families, viz., the
one including the sperm-whale and its allies {^Phys derides),
and another to which the porpoises and dolphins belong
{^DelphinidcB).

Owing to the great difficulty of observing these large
creatures, the rarity of their capture on our shores, and the
meagreness of the descriptions given, we know less about

A

84 TJ^c Irish Nahiralist. [April,

them than we do of most other groups of Irish animals. In
most cases, it is quite impossible from the description obtain-
able, to decide which species was the one noticed. However,
it is certain that no less than fifteen different kinds have been
obser\'ed off the Irish coast. If those interested in zoology
would send me accurate descriptions, measurements, and, if
possible, a photograph whenever a specimen of whale is
stranded in^ their neighbourhood, several other species might
be added to the list I now give.

Through the kindness of the Director of the British
Museum (Natural History), I have been allowed to reproduce
some of the figures from the British Museum Catalogue of
Mammalia (Part I., Cetacea, 1850), which will assist observ^ers
ver}^ materiall}" in distinguishing any of the whale tribe
stranded on the shore. One of the remaining figures is
modified after Van Beneden and Gervais, and another after
Bell.

The following five species recorded from English and
•Scottish waters have not yet been identified on the Irish
coast: — Balcsnoptcra borcalis, Ziphiiis cavirostiis, Monodon
inonoc€7'Os, Ddphinaptcriis Iciicas, and G7'amp7is gjiseiis.

L— WHALEBONE WHALES.

FAIYIILY BALi^ENIDAE.

Southern Right Whale — Balaena australis, Desm.

(Plate 3, fig. I).

It is almost certain that one of the species of Right Whale has occurred
off the Irish coast, but the question whether it was the Southern or the
Greenland Right Whale has still to be decided The probability seems
to be in favour of the former species, but the differences between the
two are not very striking, so that the illustration given (plate 3, fig. i,
Greenland Right Whale) will stand for both. These large w^hales may
be at once recognised from other Whalebone Whales by the absence of
the back fin, the smoothness of the throat and the very long and
valuable whalebone.

Among the many Irish records of whales which might possibl}' refer
to this species, one mentioned by Thompson (XX., p 56) from the Bay
of Enver, Co. Donegal, seems to indicate a Right Whale on account of
the special reference to the value of the whalebone, which was com-
puted to be worth from ^^Soo to ;^900 The average size of these Whales
is from 50 to 60 feet long.

igoo.] ScHARFF. — Irish Cetacca. 85

Hump-backed Whale- lYIegraptcra boops, Linn.

(Plate 3, fig. 3).

This wliale, apart from its conspicuous hump on the back, is easily
distinguished from all others by the enormously long and narrow white
flippers. They are about one-fourth the total length of the body, which
averages between 40 and 50 feet.

To Mr. Robert Warren, of Ballina, belongs the credit not only of being
the first to describe this species from the Irish coast, but also of
capturing the wliale which came ashore at Enniscrone, Co. Sligo(XXII.,
p. 1 19 ) It is entirely owing to his speedy efforts that this Hump-backed
Whale (immature female) was secured for the Dublin Museum, where the
skeleton is preserved. The cranium of a Hump-backed Wliale, dredged
up in the Irish Sea, is now in the Liverpool Museum.

Sibbald's Rorouat^— Balaenoptera Sibbaldi, Gray.

This is not only the largest whale, but also the largest of all living
animals. It agrees with the next two species of whales in the possession
of numerous closely-set groovings in the skin of the throat, but differs
from them in the colour of the body, which is dark bluish-grey, and in
the whalebone being black. The adult reaches a length of from 80-90
feet.

It was first definitely recorded as Irish by Mr. Crouch (XIII., p. 215).
This record refers to a specimen which was stranded in March, 1891, in
Wexford Harbour, and subsequently sold to the British Museum. A
photograph of this whale, which was 82 feet long, is in the Dublin
Museum. Further particulars were afterwards supplied by Mr. Barrett-
Hamilton (III., p. 306). Although this was the first properly identified
Irish specimen of Sibbald's Rorqual, it is highly probable that
some of the more indefinite records which we possess, refer to the same
species, among them at least three of those mentioned by Thompson,
viz. ; the whale stranded in December, 1857, in Bantr}^ Bay (XX., p. 57),
and those cast up at Castletownsend (p. 58) in 1767, and Glandore in
1S44 (p. 59). The length of the first was given as 94 feet, and that of the
other two as 85 and 84 feet.

Common Rorouai, — Balaenoptera musculus, F. Cuv.

The Common Rorqual is smaller than the last-mentioned species, being
never more than from 60-70 feet in length. The general colour is slate-
grey above and white beneath. The whalebone is of a bluish-grey — not
deep black as in the last species, and often mottled with white. A
skeleton is in the Dublin Museum from Bantry Bay, and several of
Thompson's records (XX , p. 56-60) no doubt refer to this species, which
is fairly common in the British seas. Some of these records may possibly
refer to Rudolphi's Rorqual {^Balanoptera borealis), but the descriptions
are too meagre to identify the latter from them.

A 2

86 The Irish Nahu^alist. [April,

Lksskr Rorquai. or Pike-Whai.e— Balaenoptcra rostrata, Mull.

(Plate 3, fig. 2).

The total length of this species is only from 20 to 30 feet, it being
much the smallest of the Rorquals. It is easily recognised, not only by
its sharp snout, from which the specific name rostrata is derived, but also
by the possession of a broad white baud which crosses the flippers.
With the exception of this band, the upper parts of the body are greyish
black, the under parts being white. The whale-bone is yellowish-white.

To judge from the number of records, this species is probably common
all round the Irish coast. Thompson's records are too indefinite to be
of much value. The first undoubted description of this whale from the
Irish coast was given in an important contribution by Carte and
Macalister (XII., p. 201), who dissected a young female caught near
Drogheda. Two more are mentioned by Mr. Barrett-Hamilton as
having been obtained on the coasts of Kerry (IV., p. 75), and Cork
(V., p. 27), while the young whale alluded to Mr. Hart (XV., p. 28),
which was secured for the Dublin Museum, and which is still in process
of maceration, is probably also this species.

II.— TOOTHED WHAIvES.
FAMILY PHYSETERIDiiE.

Sperm \Vhai,e or Cachat.ot— Physctci' macrocephalus, Linn.

(Plate 3, fig. 4).

The Sperm-whale is the largest of the toothed whales. Its enormously
large and truncated head — a third the length of the body — distinguishes
it at once from all other species. The males of this whale are considerably
larger than the females, the former growing to a length of about 60
feet. On our coast the Cachalot can only be regarded as a very rare
accidental visitor. Still we possess several records of this species,
because it is so easily recognisable.

One of the references dates back to the year 1695, when Dr. Molyneux
described three Sperm-whales as having been stranded on the west
coast of Ireland (XX., p. 54). Another was taken about the year 1750 at
Castlehaven, Co. Cork, and one on the Dublin coast in 1766. The
valuable spermaceti contained in the head of this last whale was
subsequently refined in Dublin. Mr. Rathborne, of Dublin, has used
two Irish Sperm-whales — one from Connemara and one from Cork — in
his spermaceti- candle factory within the last seventy or eighty years.
Mr. Barrett-Hamilton mentions the capture of a Sperm-whale near
luishkea Island, Co. Mayo, in 1890 (VII., p. 72).

Irish Natiralist, \'ol. IX.]

[Plate 4.

To face p. 87.]

Heads, v ith Skulls, of Irish Cetacea.
(Greatly Reduced.)

I900.J SCHARFF. — Irish Cetacea. 87

B0TT1.E-NOSKD WHAI.E— Hypcroodon rostratus, Gray.

(Plates, fig. 5.)

The teeth in this species are reduced to a single pair in the lower jaw
and are concealed by the gums. The colour is olive-black above, a little
lighter beneath. The skull has a peculiar high crest in the middle, and
is subject to great variations as regards sex and age. The Bottle-nosed
Whale reaches a length of from 20-30 feet.

This whale was first described as Irish in 1825 by Prof Jacob, who
dissected a specimen stranded at Killiney, Co. Dublin, and presented
the skeleton to the Museum of the College of Surgeons in Dublin
(XX. p. 47). According to Thompson, several other specimens were seen
by Prof Jacob on the Dublin coast. Another — a male— was cast up at
Salterton, Co. Ivouth, and described by Dr. Bellingham (X. p. 414), and
Thompson mentions one obtained in Belfast Bay in the autumn of 1845,
the skeleton of which is in the Belfast Museum. Two more are
referred to by Mr. Patterson (^XIX., p. 194) from the same locality, and
he states incidentally that what is known among fishermen as the
" herring-hog " is this species. Mr. Barrett-Hamilton gives an account
of two from the coast of Wicklow (VI., p. 72). These, which I saw
myself, were a male and female. Then there is still another record from
Co. Dublin. In September, 1890, a young female was captured at
Skerries and conveyed to the Dublin Museum, where its skull is now
preserved. A photograph of this specimen, which measured 17 feet,
was taken. Mr. Henry B. Rathborne, of Dublin, who used some of
these specimens in his factory for the purpose of extracting the oil,
informs me that the oil of the Bottle-nosed Whale is good for lubricating,
and that this species also contains the valuable spermaceti — a semi-solid
oily substance already referred to.

Bkaked Whai,f,— IVIcsopIodon bidens, Sow.

(Plate 4, fig. 6).

This is one of our rarest species of whales. It is small— only from
15 to 20 feet long— and according to Mr. Lydekker (XVI., p. 280), the
general colour is white above and black beneath, with vermicular
white streaks on the flanks. The head is produced into a long beak, and
the lower jaws possess a pair of prominent teeth.

Only one of the numerous species of beaked whales visits our shores
from the south, and it is surprising that the only two Irish records come
to us from the same small bay, viz., that of Brandon, on the Kerry coast.
The first Irish specimen was discovered there by Dr. Busteed, of Castle-
gregory, in 1S64, the second was stranded on the 3Tst May, 1870. Both
these males were described by the late William Andrews (I. and II.)

88 The Irish Nahtralist. [April,

FAMILY DELPHINIDi^E.

Porpoise— Phocoena communis, Less.

(Plate 4, fig. 7).

The Porpoise is one of the members of the second family — the
Delphiiiidic — which are distinguished from the Physeten'dis by the
possession as a rule of numerous teeth in both jaws. The skull is
generally not so elevated behind the nasal aperture in the former
family as in the latter. The Porpoise is black above and white beneath,
and has a length of from four to five feet. The back fin is triangular,
and the teeth are small and numerous.

This small cetacean is common all round the Irish coast. A coloured
cast of a full-grown one and also a skeleton are in the Dublin Museum.

Kii,i,ER— Orca gladiator, Lacep.
(Plate 4, fig. 9).

The Killer is a much larger species than the Porpoise, growing to
a length of 20 feet or more. The colour is much like that of the
Porpoise, but the Killer has a white spot over each eye, which is absent
in the other. The skull is more massive and flattened above, and
there are a number of stout, conical teeth in each jaw. The flippers are
large, and the back-fin tall and pointed. It is easily recognised by the
latter when swimming near the surface of the sea.

Thompson (XX., p. 43) mentions the occurrence of this whale off the
north coast of Ireland^ and states that a skull from Donaghadee is in
the Belfast Museum. In the Dublin Museum there is a skull from
Killala Bay, Co. Sligo, given by Captain Dover, in 1871.

Ca'in Whai,e or " Bi,ack-fish"— Clobicephalus me I as, Trail.

(Plate 4, fig. 8,)

The name " Black-fish " which is erroneously given by man}- fishermen
to this whale, indicates at least the prevailing colour. It is black all
over, except a white patch on the breast. The shape of the head is
something like that of the Bottle-nosed Whale, but there is scarcely any
nose on this. A thick accumulation of blubber in front of the skull
causes a treniendous bulging out of the forehead. The absence of teeth
in the skull figured is due to old age. In younger specimens there are
a considerable number of small conical teeth in the anterior half of
both jaws. The back fin is short, the flippers elongated. The name
"Grampus" seems to be indiscriminately applied to the last species
and to this, but there is no evidence as yet that the real Grampus
{Grampjts ^risens) has ocQ.urrQ(\\i\ Irish waters. The Ca'in Whale is said
to reach a length of 20 feet.

1903] SCHARFF. — Irish Cetacea. 89

Whether the thirty-eight whales which were driven ashore at the
Raven Point outside Wexford Harbour, in July, 1840, belong to this
species, as Thompson seems to think (XX., p. 45) is doubtful, but I agree
with him in referring the immense shoal— 303 in number— which were
captured in Bantry Bay in 1844, to the Ca'in Whale. The late Dr. R. Ball
observed this species at Youghal, Co. Cork, where it appears to be of
frequent occurrence, in June. He stated that they average from 11-18
feet in length, but that one individual had attained to 22 feet. An in-
teresting account of the capture in 1853 of about twent3'-five specimens
in Dundrum Bay, Co. Down, was given by Dr. Gulliver (XIV., p. 63.)
He also dissected a foetus and described its anatom3%

White-beaked Doi^phin— Lagenorhynchus albirostris, Gray.

(Plate 4, fig. 10.)
As will be noticed from the figure, this species possesses an indication
of a beak, which moreover is brilliantly white. The under parts of the
body are also white, the remainder being purplish black. The teeth are
very small and numerous. The White-beaked Dolphin is a rare northern
species, and grows to a length of 9 feet. A coloured cast of a supposed
Bottle-nosed Dolphin from Dublin Bay was identified by Mr. More as
belonging to this species (XVII., p. 202). In 1887 Mr. R. LI. Patterson
exhibited a skull of this species before the Belfast Natural Histor}'
Society, and he afterwards presented it to the Dublin Museum. It was
taken at Portavo, on the coast of Co. Down.

White-sided Doi^phin— Lagenorhynchus acutus, Gray.

This Dolphin is probably the rarest of all the Irish species of cetacea,
and has never been taken on the English coast, though some skulls
from the Orkneys and Hebrides are known. It differs from the last
principally in colour. The back is black and the under parts white, but
there is a drab-coloured band along the flanks, so as to make the colouring
rather a striking feature.

Although Mr. Lydekker, in his recent work (XVI.), makes no mention
of the occurrence of this species on the Irish coast, it was noticed near
Portrush twenty-four years ago by Mr. Ogilb}^, and duly recorded in the
Zoologist (^V\\\.,^. ^QO-f). More recently Mr. Barrett-Hamilton (VIII.,
p. 384) procured a lower jaw of this Dolphin on the Wexford coast, and
presented it to the Dublin Museum.

Common Doi^phin- Dclphinus delphis, Linn.

(Plate 4, fig. II.)
The typical Dolphins, to which this species belongs, differ from the last
in having a much more pronounced beak. The Common Dolphin has
from 40-60 pairs of small, conical teeth in each jaw, the skull being very
flat above. According to Mr. Beddard (IX., p. 255) the colours of this
dolphin are unusually variegated for a cetacean, and liable to much
variation. " The usual black of the dorsal and white of the ventral surface
are supplemented by two lateral areas of a fulvous or greyish tinge ; a

go The Irish Naturalists [April,

black or greenish band extends from the lower jaw to the base of the
pectoral fin ; there is a ring of black round the eye ; one or two bands of
greyish or greenish traverse the light colour of the lower part of the
sides."

This species, common in the Mediterranean, is much rarer with us,
though it probably occurs in small numbers all round the coast.

BoTTivE-NOSED D01.PHIN— Tursiops tursio, O. Fab.

(Plate 4, fig, 12).

The accompanying figure of the skull of this Dolphin gives but a poor
idea of its structure. It was copied from Bell (XL, p. 469), no better
figure being available. The shape of the head somewhat resembles that
of the Bottle-nosed Whale, but it differs of course in size and in the
possession of a large number of teeth. The teeth are stouter in this
than in the Common Dolphin. It is black above, gradually shading into
white beneath, and from 8 T2 feet long.

The specimens referred to by Thompson (XX., p. 41) are probably not
this species. At any rate the one from Dublin Bay determined by Dr. R.
Ball as the Bottle-nosed Dolphin, of which he had a cast made, was sub-
sequently shown by More (XVI T., p. 2<^2) toho: Lagenoj-hynchus alhirosiris.
The only Irish specimen therefore of which we can be certain is that
mentioned by Bell (XI., p. 468) as having been taken in 1829 on the south
coast of Ireland. This was subsequently figured by Gray in the
'* Zoology of the Erebus and Terror."

Description of Pirates.

Skulls of Cetacea with outlines of heads in black.

Pi.ATE 3.

Fig. I. Right Whale {Balatta viysticettis, Linn.)

Fig. 2. Lesser Rorqual (^Balivnoptera rostrata^ Miill.)

Fig 3. Humpbacked Whale (il/^^<3;//^;-a (^tjo/i-, Linn.)

Fig. 4. Sperm-whale {Physeier macrocephahis, Linn.)

Fig. 5. Bottle-nosed Whale {Hyperoodon rostratus, Gray.)

P1.ATE 4.

Fig. 6. Beaked Whale {Mesoplodoji bidejis, Low.)

Fig. 7. Porpoise (^rhocccna communis. Less.)

Fig. 8. Ca'ing Whale (G'A?/.'/r^///a///i- ///d-Zaj-, Trail.)

Fig. 9. Killer ((9;Ya^/a(f/(7/^r, Lacep.)

Fig. 10. White- beaked Dolphin {Lageiioj-hynchus albirostris. Gray.)

Fig. II. Common Dolphin (^Delphinus delphis, Linn.)

Fig. 12. Bottle-nosed Dolphin {Tiirsiops tursio, O. Fab.)

All figures are greatly reduced, and not to the same scale.

Fig.s, I, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II are from Brit. Mus. Catalogue of
Mammalia, Part i ; fig. 3 after Van Beueden and Gervais (Monographic
des Cetaces); fig. 12 after Bell (British Quadrupeds.)

igoo.] SCHARFF. — Irish Cdacca. 91

References.

I. Andrews, W.— On a cetacean new to Ireland, /ournal of the
R. Dublin Society, vol. v., 1870.

II. Notice of the capttire of Zipliius Sowerbyi, Proc. A'. Irish

Acad. (2) Science, vol. i., 1870-74.
III. Barrett-Hamii^Ton, G. E. H.— Sibbald's Rorqual on the Irish
coast, Zoologist {'^, vol. xv-, 1891.

IV. Ivcsser Rorqual in Kerry, Zoologist (3), vol. xvi., 1892.

V. Lesser Rorqual on the coast of Co. Cork, Irish Naturalist,

vol. viii,, 1899.

VI. Bottle-nosed Whale in Wexford and Wicklow, Zoologist (3),

vol. xiv., 1890.

VII. Sperm Whale in Mayo, Zoologist (3), vol. xiv., 1890.

VIII. The White-sided Dolphin in Ireland, Zoologist (3), vol. xiv.,

1890.
IX. Beddard, F. K. — A Book of Whales : London, 1900.
X. Bei,i<ingham, O. B.— Short description of a Bottle-nosed Whale
stranSed upon the coast of Co. Louth in 1840, Annals and
Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. v., 1 843.
XI. Bei^Iy, T. — Histor}^ of British Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. : London, 1874.
XII. Carte, A., and M'Ai^ister, A. — On the Anatomy of Balsenoptera
rostrata, Phil. Trans., vol. 158, 1868.

XIII. Crouch, W.— SibbakVs Rorqual on the Irish coast, Zoologist (j^),

vol. XV., 1 89 1.

XIV. Gur,i,ivER, G. — Notes on a cetaceous animal stranded on N.K.

coast, Ireland, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, vol. xxi., 1853.
XV. Hart, H. C. —Lesser Rorqual in the Swilly, Irish Naturalist, vol.

viii., 1899.
XVI. Lydekker, R. — Handbook of British Mammalia, London, 1895.
XVII. More, A. G. — White-nosed Dolphin on the Irish coast.

Zoologist (3), vol. ii., 1878.
XVIII. OG11.BY, J. D. — Occurrence of the White-sided Dolphin on Irish
coast. Zoologist (2), vol xi., 1876.
XIX. Patterson, R. Lb — Birds, Fishes, and Cetacea of Belfast Lough,
Belfast, i88t.
XX. Thompson, W.— Natural History of Ireland, vol. iv., 1856.

XXI. Notice of a Bottle-nosed Whale obtained in Belfast Bay,

Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist.., vol. xvii., 1845.
XXII. Warren, R.— The Hump-backed Whale on the Irish coast, Irish
Naturalist, vol. ii., 1893.

Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

A 3

92 The Irish Natiiralist, [April,

DISTRIBUTION OF m^ ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS

GROUP IN IRELAND.

BY EDWARD F. I^INTON, M.A.

Five years ago I began to collect notes to show the dis-
tribution of the forms of ^ /<://<:'/;/ z7/« vulgaris in Ireland, at a
time when I had recently learned from M. Buser to dis-
tinguish them, and published a short paper in the Journal of
Botany (1895, no), with descriptions and the distribution in
Great Britain. Since then Mr. R. 1,1. Praeger has sent me a
large number of specimens of this group of plants, to criticize
or name, from many parts of Ireland ; and he has kindly per-
mitted me to incorporate the results of his observations with
the notes I have gathered from other sources for the purposes
of this paper. I have also to thank Mr. S. A. Stewart for
sending me a few specimens.

In the following account I have numbered the counties and
vice-counties in accordance with the scheme set forth by Mr.
Praeger in his paper on the Botanical Subdivision of Ireland
in the Irish Nahcralist and Journal of Botany iox February,
1896.

A. vulgaris, L-, sensti restricto ; A. pratensis, Schmidt.
9. Clare.— Hb. R. P. Murray.

22. Meath. — Near Oldcastle, R. LI. Praeger.

23. Westmeath. — H. C. Levinge ; R. LI. Praeger.

24. Longford — R. LI. Praeger.

25. Roscommon. — By Lough Key, R. LI. Praeger.

29. Leitrim. — R. LI. Praeger.

30. Cavau. — Near Lough Sheelin, R. LI. Praeger.
33. Fermanagh. — R. LI. Praeger.

36. Tyrone. — R. LI. Praeger: and Cookstown, Miss M. C. Knowles.

38. Down. — Near Holywood, R. LI. Praeger.

39. Antrim.— Rev. S. A. Brenan; near Belfast, S. A.Stewart; Dunloy,

and White Park Bay, R. LI. Praeger.

Ai alpestrls, Schmidt. A. vulgaris, L., var. glabra, Mert and Koch,

1823 (non DC, 1S05).

10. North Tipperary. — R. LI. Praeger.

16. West Gal way. — Near Recess, R. LI. Praeger.

27. West Mayo.— Near Castlebar, E. S. Marshall.

28. Sligo.— Keishcorran, and another locality, R. LI. Praeger.

29. Leitrim.— R. LI. Praeger.

33. Fermanagh.— At Carrickreagh by Lough Erne, R. LI. Praeger.

I900.] I^iNTON. — Alchauiila imlgaris group hi Irdaiid. 93

35. North Donegal.— By Lough Salt, hb. British Museum.

36. T5-rone. — Near Omagh, Miss M. C, Knowles.

39. Antrim.— Hb. Science and Art Museum, Dublin; near Belfast, R. P.
Murray; Dunseverick, R. LI. Praeger; Squires Hill, near Belfast,
S. A. Stewart.

A. filicaulis, Buser {Bull, de V Herb. Boissier, i., app. 2, p. 22, 1893).
I or 2. Kerry. — Hb. British Museum,

5. East Cork.— Hb. Science and Art Museum, Dublin; hb. British

Museum ; in both cases from Fermoy.

6. Waterford.— Cappoquin, R. LI. Praeger; also hb. Science and Art

Museum, Dublin, from Kilmacow.

7. South Tipperar)'. — Fethard, R. LI. Praeger.

10. North Tipperary. — R. LI. Praeger.

11. Kilkenny. — Ballyragget, R. LI. Praeger.

13. Carlow. — R. LI. Praeger.

14. Queen's County. — Grantstown and base of Arderin, R. LI. Praeger.

15. S.E. Gal way. — About Woodford, R. LI. Praeger.

16. West Gal way .'—Recorded from Cloubur {Joicrn. Bof., 1896, 254), E. S.

Marshall; Moycullen and Kilbeg, R. LI. Praeger.

17. N.K. Galway. — R. LI. Praeger.

18. King's County. — R. LI. Praeger.

19. Kildare. — R. LI. Praeger.
21. Dublin. — R. LI. Praeger.

23. Westmeath. — By Lough Derevaragh, &c., R. LI. Praeger.

24. Longford. — R. LI. Praeger.

25. Roscommon. — Mote Park, &c., R. LI. Praeger.
29. Leitrim. — R. LI. Praeger.

31. Louth. — Near Kearney's Cross, R. LI. Praeger.

36. Tyrone. — Near Omagh, Miss M. C. Knowles.

37. Armagh. — Near Tynan Abbey, S. A. Stewart.

39. Antrim. — On Cave Hill, Belfast, S. A. Stewart; Knockagh, R. LI.

Praeger.

40. T>Qrry.—F2deS. A. Stewart.

Excepting this last, and the two contributed by the Rev.
K. S. Marshall, specimens from all these localities have
passed through my hands ; and I am well assured these three
exceptions were also rightly named. It is a little remarkable
that A. filicaiilis, Buser, should be twice as well distributed
as either of the other two. In England and Scotland, the
type is nearl)^ as widely distributed ; but A. alpeslris, Schmidt,
being seldom found except in subalpine situations, is naturally
more restricted.

Bournemouth.

94 The Irish Naturalist. [April,

A NKW WATER MITE FROM UI.STKR.

BY J. N. HALBKRT.
[Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, March 13th, 1900. J

During the summer and autumn of lastj^ear Mr. W. F. de V.
Kane very kindl}- sent to the Museum several small collections
of water mites, captured while dredging for Kntomostraca in
various localities in the North of Ireland. One of these
gatherings, made towards the end of September in Upper
lyough Erne, contained several rarities, among the rest a
most interesting Arrcnujms, in structure quite unlike any of
the previously-known British species. This specimen was
subsequent!}' lost. About a month later Mr. Kane ver}^
fortunately succeeded in capturing both sexes of what is
without doubt the same species in a lake in the County of
Monaghan, and from these specimens the following notes have
been made.

The newly-discovered mite is of considerable interest, as
the only known lorm at all resembling it in structure is a
Swedish species, Arrenuriis 7iobilis, described by Neuman^ in
1880.

Acarefulcomparisonof the Irish mite with the description and
figures of A. nobilis shows that, although they are evidently
closely allied forms, the}^ cannot be united under the one specific
name, and in this opinion I am supported by Dr. R. Piersig,
of Annaberg, to whom drawings have been submitted. It may
be worth noting that Neuman's species has apparently not
been detected b}^ recent workers, and no trace of his unique
example is now to be found amongst the remnants of his
collection preserved in the Gotenburg Museum. ^

The species oi Arre7i2crus are amongst the most beautiful of
the HydraduiidcB. They are remarkable for the hard skin,
which is always more or less coarsely granulated, and the
great specialization in structure attained by the males. The
species are comparatively numerous, and are as a rule very
brightly coloured. The species has been named after its dis-
coverer, who has been instrumental in bringing to light many
rare forms from our northern lakes

^ " Om Sveriges Hydrachnider," Kongl. Svcnsk. Vet. Akad. Hand!., xvii.,
No. 3.

^ Zoolog. Anzeigcr^ xx., 1897, p. 333.

L900.1 HalbkrT. — A Nciv Water Mite from Ulster.

95

Arrenurus Kanel, sp. nov.
Mai.e (Figs. T, 2, 3). — Length, including appendage, 1-2 mm.,
breadth, 088 mm. Colour yellow, tinged in places with green
and with reddish-brown blotches. Legs and epimera pale green.
Body oval, very gradually narrowed in its posterior half, thence
suddenly contracted and produced into a well-defined appendage (length
0-22 mm., breadth at base o 32 mm.) The '' impressed line "
encloses a considerable portion of the dorsal surface, is widely rounded
in front, bent outwards in the middle, and terminates on the side of the
appendage. On the back is a double row of circular depressions, and
near these, springing from small papillie, are a few long hairs. The body
of the animal, as well as being coarsely granulated, shows a very distinct
longitudinal striation. The posterior end of the main appendage is
furnished on each side with several pairs of hairs, the arrangement of

Fig. I.

Fig, 2,

Fig> I, Arrenurus Kanei, sp. nov., Male, dorsal view without legs or
palps. Fig. 2, Male, lateral view. Magnified.

which can be best seen in Figure i. The male genitalia are remarkably
complex, from the end of the main appendage projects a trilobed trans-
parent appendage"" (length 004 mm.) — the " hyalines hautchen" of German
writers— close to this on each side is a small outwardly-cui-ved horn. Below
the processes just described lies the comparatively long petiolus (length
Q-iS mm.) which is cylindrical, somewhat widened about the middle, and
bent upwards at the apex. This is again enclosed by two transparent
club-shaped organs, which meet just beyond and beneath the free end of
the petiolus. As in the case of the latter these spring from the ventral
surface of the main appendage. Epimeral plates very large, together
with the genital area occupying most of the under side of the body. The
legs and palpi are of the normal type, the former being rather long and
robust, the fourth segment of the last pair carr3dug a curved spur at the

apex.

* In the Lough Erne specimen this appendage is decidedly longer than
in the Monaghan example,

A4

9^ The Irish Natnralist. [April,

Femai^e (Fig 4).— Length 1-4 mm., greatest breadth roS mm. The
body is strongly narrowed in front, " impressed line" enclosing most of the
dorsal surface ; as in the male there is a double row of depressions down
the middle of the back, and the body is striated. Kpimeral plates very
much smaller than in the male ; close to the last pair lies the genital
area. In general shape the female of this mite is not unlike that of
A. albator, Miiller.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 3, Arreuiims Kanei, sp. nov., Male, ventral view of hinder region.
Fig. 4, Female, ventral view. INIagnified.

LoCAi^iTiES. — Upper Lough Erne, September 20th, 1S99 (one male) ;
Uartrey Lough, in the County of Monaghan, October, 1899 (one $ and
three p p). T3-pe specimens now in the Dublin Museum.

Science and Art Museum. Dublin.

AN IRISH GEOGRAPHY.

Elcnncntary Geography for Irish Schools. By John
Cooke, M.A. (Dubl.). London : John Murray, 1899 ; pp. i.-x.
and 1-114.
This work is one of the many signs of the changes that may be
expected in Irish education. It is an attempt to interest the elementary'
pupil from the outset in the country in which he lives, and to employ
its natural features as illustrations of those prominent throughout the
globe. Such an ideal could not be reached in countries of more uniform
structure, Holland, for example ; but Ireland fortunately lends itself on
all sides picturesquely to the purpose. The introduction, on general
principles of Geography, gives us a view and plan of Londonderry for
comparison ; and similar treatment of Glendalough, in Co. Wicklow,
illustrates the forms of mountain-sides and valleys. Some of the Irish
illustrations, prettily reduced from photographs, are given without
names, which seems a break in the general plan of the volume ; and
surely by inadvertence, a false impression is conveyed when it is stated
in the preface that " all the plans, maps, and illustrations have been
specially prepared for this book." This is true of the mechanical
process-blocks ; but they are made in great part from the photographs

I900.] A7i Irish Geog7'aphy. 97

issued by Mr. Welch for the North of Ireland, and by Mr. Lawrence for
the South, .Mr. Welch comes ofif rather badly, for his fine peak above
Doo Lough, in Co. Mayo, on p. 24, receives no title at all, while his Slieve
Bearnagh, in the Mourne Mountains (p. 25), is ascribed to a mountain-
range in "Co. Antrim," where mountain-ranges are conspicuously
absent. Mr. Lawrence's Bridge of Lismore, on p. 32, is said to be in Co.
Cork. Mr. Cooke knows Ireland so intimately, that these details must
be held to show signs of haste in the serious task of preparing a " first-
book of science."

The maps are in duplicate, one series being photographed from raised
models without place-names ; the other maps contain the names of
countries on a uniform red ground, as a sort of key to the valuable
physical map that precedes each throughout the volume. The treat-
ment of the principal features of the globe (pp. 38-74) is on the old-
fashioned lines of treating the rivers apart from the mountains, the
capes apart from the islands, and so on. Thus, on p. 65, the Balkan
Peninsula, Corea, Labrador, Alaska— why is Alaska a peninsula? — and
Yucatan occur ^together, of course with others, as a list of the
"peninsulas of the world." We have no doubt that some current
curriculum hampers the author, and brings down his admirable ideals
into these regulation grooves.

Ireland, however, occupies pp. 75-114, and is written for the most part
graphically, and with the enjoyment born of personal knowledge. No
attempt is made to correlate or explain the various features; and
probably this is left for lessons in Physical Geography. It is impossible,
of course, to " explain everything," like the mother of Lady
Windermere ; but a word in season would, at any rate, check the spread
of some romantic fallacies, such as those, for example, which gather
round the Giants' Causeway. This object is, by-the-by, stated on p. So
to be 400 feet high. We note also, on p. 86, that an explanation is put
forward as to the petrifying properties of the waters of Lough Neagh.
The petrified wood in question, however, is silicified, and is washed out
from the Cainozoic plant-beds ; its occurrence has, we believe, nothing
to do with the modern waters of the lake, despite two centuries of
tradition.

We seem to be pointing out flaws in this pleasant and original little
book ; but they are mainly such as result from the limitations imposed
upon the author. A work on the same lines for secondary schools, con-
necting the structure and surface- features of Ireland with the adjacent
island of Great Britain, and thence in a broad way with continental
Europe, may, perhaps, follow from the same pen, and would carry out
the promise that cannot be perfectly fulfilled in these 114 excellently
printed pages.

G. A. J. C.

98 The Irish Naf?(ralisf. [April,

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

RoYAi, Zooi.oGiCAiv Society.
Recent gifts include a pair of Black-headed Gulls from Dr. C. J. Patten,
a Monkey from Mr. T. Broome, and a Barn Owl from Mr. A. Thomson.
3,646 persons visited the Gardens in February.

Dublin Microscopic.\Tv Club,

January 18. —The Club met at Leinster House, Mr. Greenwood
PiM in the chair. It was announced that Mr. Andrews wished to resign
the presidency of the Club, and Mr. Pirn was unaniiuously elected to the
vacant office. Dr. J. A. Scott was appointed Vice-President, Mr. F. W.
Moore, Hon. Secretary, and Mr. \V. N. Allen, Hon. Treasurer. Some
proposed alterations in the rules were discussed, and a decision thereon
postponed until the next meeting.

Prof. T. Johnson exhibited a preparation of a sclerotium of the
fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, taken from a diseased Jerusalem artichoke,^
grown at Greystones, from " seed" imported from England two years in
succession and each year increasingly diseased. The disease is due to
the same fungus as that which helps to cause the 3'ellow-blight in
potato-plants in the west and other parts of Ireland. The material was-
received from Miss Hughes.

Mr. Henry J. Seymour showed photo-micrographs of rock-
sections, and also a thin section of a peculiar silicified limestone from
Slane, Co. Meath. This rock was originally a fossiliferous and oolitic
limestone of Carboniferous age, and contained some minute quartz-
granules. Subsequently the carbonate was almost entirely dissolved away
and replaced by secondary silica, which has grown in optical continuity
around the original quartz-granules as a nucleus. The result has been
the formation of a mesh-work of interlacing acicular crystals of quartz,
many of which are bi-pyramidal. So gradual has been the replacement,
of the calcium carbonate, that the concentric rings of the " oolite" are
perfectly preserved as pseudomorphs in silica, and may be seen passing
through as many as five or six independent quartz crystals.

Mr. J. N. HalberT exhibited living examples of the '* Mud Mite,"
Limnochares holosen'cea, Lat. In its structure and habits this species forms
a connecting link between the true water mites (^HydrachnidcR) and the
land mites (7>i?W(^/fl^/«/w, &c.). Only the one species is known, which is
not uncommon at the bottom of pools and semi-stagnant water in the
neighbourhood of Dublin.

February 15. — The Club met at Leinster House.

Mr. Greenwood Pim, President, showed a very curious mould,
Botryiis dichotoina. The specimen which had been in his possession since
1874 was mounted dry, and was in perfect preservation. It consisted of
rather thick hyphae, branched dichotomously, and covered with spherical
spores, each suppvorted on a short pedicel, resembling very short, round-
headed pins. It occurred on a decaying stem in Mr. Pim's garden, and
does not seem to have been found in the British Isles either before or

1900.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 99

since, as by an oversight it is not included in Mr. Massee's book, and it
seemed quite unknown to the members of the British Mj'cological
Association to whom it was exhibited in 1898. It agrees exactly with
Corda's figure {/cones Fimgonuii).

Mr. M'Ardi^E exhibited Lepidozia setacea, Web., var. serhilarioides,
Hubeu., which he found on a damp bank at Lough Adoon, Co. Kerry, in
September, 1897. From the type it differs in the much elongated stem,
longer leaves more distantly placed and of a paler colour. The name
was given to this curious form by Hubener, on account of the resemblance
it bears to one of the plant-like Hydroids. It is an addition to the
cryptogamic flora of Ireland. It is known to occur in Germany and
North America.

Mr. H. J. Seymour exhibited a photo-micrographic apparatus designed
and made by him, and adapted especially for use with low magnifying
powers such as are wanted in photographing rock-sections, for which
purpose it has been found by him to give excellent results. It consists
of a heavy base of wood about three feet by nine inches, and two and a
half inches thick.. On this two platforms carrying a microscope and a
camera rCvSpectively slide between grooved runners. An incandescent
mantle gas-lamp furnishes the illuminating power, the light being
condensed by a small lens on to the micro-slide. A novel feature is an
extremely simple arrangement for focussing, carried out by a suitable
combination of brass rods and binding screws and clamps, such as are
used for making electrical connections. The apparatus was shown in
working order and explained by the exhibitor.

Mr. F. M. SEi<iyENS showed a preparation of the common moss
Funaria hygrometrica.

March i. — The Club met at Leinster House.

Mr. Greenwood Pim (President), showed a specimen of Marasmiiis
Hudsoni, which was mounted in glycerine, and had been in his possession
since 1875, This is a minute agaric, not uncommon on dead holly
leaves ; the pileus not exceeding in size the head of an entomological
pin, and beset with long stiff bristles.

Mr. M'Ardi,E exhibited Scapania plajiifolia, Hook.^ which was collected
on a rocky ledge at 1,500 feet, at Moidart, in Scotland, by Mr. M 'Vicar,
in 1898. Sir William Hooker, in his " British Jungermanise," reports
the plant to have been found by Dr. Taylor on the summit of Mount
Brandon, Co. Kerry, in 1813. Its rediscovery in Ireland would be of
botanical importance. It differs from all other ScapanicR in the beautiful
cell-structure and the dentato-ciliate margins of the leaves, which are in
two rows ; the upper, or smaller row, which represent the lobule in other
Scapanice, is quite separate in S. planifolia from the large row of leaves on
the underside of the stem ; in this way it bears considerable resemblance
to some genera of mosses, as Hookeria, Hypopterygium, &c.

Mr. H. SivYMOUR showed a simple method of drawing micro-slides by
means of a grating formed of a series of intersecting parallel sets of fine
lines. The method of making the grating, which consisted of a circular
disc of cardboard, the lines being single fibres of silk, was demonstrated.

loo The Irish Naturalist. [April,

The grating is dropped on to the ej-e-piece diaphragm, the field of view
being thus divided up into distinct areas. The sheet of paper on which
the drawing is to be made is divided up into areas corresponding to
those of the grating, and each sub-division then filled in by ej'e.

Mr. F. M. SeIvI^ENS showed preparations of the diatom, Arachjioidiscus
ornatus, and of the fossil protozoan Canipilodiscm clypeits.

Bei,fast Naturai, History and PhiIvOSophicai, Society.

February 6. — A meeting was held in the Museum, when a paper was
read by Mr. Conway ScotT— subject, " Some Thoughts on Rome."
Afterwards Mr. W. H. Patterson, M.R.I.A., described the "Growth of
the Ink Blot," with illustrations.

March 6. — A meeting was held in the Museum, when a paper was
read by Wii.i,iam Gray, Esq., C.E., M.R.I.A. Subject—" The Position
of Belfast in relation to Technical Instruction under the Agricultural and
Technical Instruction Act." A discussion followed, in which several
members of the City Council, School of Art, Technical School, Queen's
College, etc., took part.

Bei^fast Naturai^ists' Fiei^d CI.UB.

January i6.— Mr. Wii^IvIAM Swanston, F.G.S., presiding, Mr. F.J.
Bigger exhibited and described a vSeries of " plateau" implements lent
by Mr. R. D. Darbishire, of Manchester. These w^ere collected by Mr.
Harrison in high-level gravels in the Darent Valley, Sevenoaks, Kent.
Mr. Gray described the relation of these plateau worked flints to the
worked flints of Antrim.

Mr. W. J. FENNEt,i., M.R.I.A.I., read a paper on the Island of Inis-
clerauu, in Lough Ree, and the great ecclesiastical establishment which
at one time flourished there. The paper was illustrated by limelight
views of plans, drawings, and photographs, and rubbings from the old
incised crosses, from views, sketches, and careful measurements made
on the spot by Mr. Fennell.

Mr. F. J. Bigger, M.R.I.A., vice-president, read a paper on "A Half-
hour in the Garden,'' and stated that a garden should be a garden all the
year round, for, as Bacon says in his essay on " Gardening," " I doe hold
it in the royall ordering of gardens there ought to be gardens for all the
moneths in the years, in which severally things of beautie may be then
in season."'

The paper was exhaustively illustrated by a series of plant slides,
taken by Mr. F. C. Bigger during the past summer in the garden at
Ardrie. Each slide was fully described, and the botanical details pointed
out. The water-lilies {Nymp/uca alba) and the tall Typiia laiifolia were
particularly admired ; also the different grasses, the Bullrushes {Scirpus
lacustris), and the Great Water-dock (^Ritiiicx Hydrolapathuni). After a very
animated discussion, the meeting was closed by the election of several
new members.

January 20.— Botanicai, Section.— The first portion of Cyperacese,
the spike-rushes and their allies, was discussed.

1900.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 10 1

February 16.— Rev. C. H. Waddkll, B.D., presiding. A collection of
shell ornaments from Torres Straits and New Guinea were sent for
exhibition by Professor Haddon, F.R.S., and illustrations of their
practical use were thrown on the screen.

Mr. R. Ivi^OYD Praeger, B.E., M.R.I.A., delivered a lecture on the
result of his botanical excursions over the centre and west of Ireland,
illustrated by limelight views on the screen. The lecturer said that,
owing to its position as the most westerly portion of the Continent of
Europe, Ireland was of peculiar interest to the student of botanical and
zoological geography. Here, on the extreme edge of the Continent, we
might expect to find vestiges of the plants and animals that had gone
before, pushed out to the very verge of the ocean by stronger species
spreading from the great Eurasian land area. The present distribution
of plants in Ireland was profoundly influenced by soils, and, according
as the prevailing rocks were limestone or non-calcareous, a large
number of species were often present in or absent from a district
Ireland could be divided into several botanical districts, the features of
which he would next describe. The natural botanical districts were
then described, and illustrated by means of lantern slides and specimens
of plants. Turning now to the subject of botanical research in Ireland,
a brief sketch was given of the histor}- of Irish botany, from the time
when Caleb Threlkeld compiled the first Irish flora in 1726 down to the
present day. The most recent work, the second edition of Cybck
Hibernica, divided the country into twelve districts, and showed the
distribution of each plant according to this scheme. A much more
accurate knowledge of plant distribution was, however, requisite for the
purposes of the photogeographer. Maps were shown illustrating how
H. C. Watson had sub-divided England, Scotland, and Wales into
112 divisions, and how, on similar lines, the lecturer had sub-divided
Ireland into forty divisions. What was wanted then to render our
knowledge of Irish plant distribution complete was full lists of the
plants growing in each of these forty divisions. To this task the writer
had applied himself four years ago, and he gave details regarding the
progress of the work, which was now approaching completion. During
the discussion that followed, it was suggested that the county borough
council should be asked to restore and complete the botanical collection
that formerly existed in what is now known as the Botanic Park, and
also to provide an aquarium, both objects being of great value from a
technical education point of view, and, with the assistance of the
members of the Club, could be established and maintained at very little
cost.

BoTANiCAi, Section. February 17.— Mr. Praeger read a paper on
" Plants of the Ulster Borderland." He said that he proposed to exhibit
specimens of a number of more or less common Irish plants, which in
their northward range either stopped short on the borders of Ulster or
were very sparingly distributed in that province, and his remarks would
have special reference to the North-east. Some of these plants might
still be extended to Ulster, and of others new stations were probably

I02 The Irish Naturalist. [April,

awaiting discovery. He then showed and described the characters and
distribution of plants which he grouped as follows: — Plants of lakes and
ditches — RaniDiculns circinatus, Mytiophylhiin verticillatum^ Potaniogeton
plafitagincits. Plants of marshes and hogs—Stdlaria glauca, Galium
nliginosiun, Jiinciis ohtusiflonis, Lastrea sp'uiulosa. Plants of pastures and
banks — Hypericum dubiitm, Trifolitim filiforme^ Lcontodon hirtus, and L.
h'.spidics, Primtila veris, Gentiana Aniarella, Orchis Alorio, O. pyramidalis.
Plants of dry places — Poteriiim Sangtiisorba, Dipsaciis sylveslris, Erigcron
acre, Carlina vulgaris, Festiica rigida. Plants of the sea-shore — Trifoliu)n
jragiferiim, Crithiniim niaritimiim, Atriplex portnlacoides. Alien plants
spreading in \x€\.2i\\(S.-Diplotaxis tntiralis, Senebiera didyma^ Arenaria tenui-
folia, Valerianclla Auricula, Matricaria discoidea, Crepis faraxacifolia, Linaria
minor^ Orobanche minor.

Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei.d Ci,ub.

December 12 — Professor A. C. Haddon in the chair. About forty
members and visitors were present.

Mr. W. A. CuNNiNGTOX read a paper on "The Crabs of our Sea-
shores," which will shortl}' appear in the pages of this magazine.

Professor A. C. Haddon, Mr. W. F. de V. Kane, and Dr. N, H. Alcock
spoke on the subject of the paper.

Mr. J. N. Laird and Mr. J. vS. Joly were elected members of the Club,
and three candidates nominated for election.

Nomination of officers and committee for 1900 were made. The
following resolution was adopted— " That this meeting will cordially
support the committee in carrying out the provisions of Rule 13."

January 30. — Annuai, Meeting. — The outgoing President, Mr.
R. LTv. Praeger in the chair. Thirty-one members and visitors were
present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and signed.
The officers and committee nominated at the last meeting were declared
elected, no other candidates having been nominated. Mr. Greenwood
PiM then took the chair. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing
President, Vice-president, and Secretary, and to the Royal Irish
Academy for the use of their rooms.

The Report for 1899 was read and adopted. The following is an
abstract: —

Your Committee begs to submit herewith its fourteenth Annual
Report. At the beginning of the year the Club numbered 191 ; at the
beginning of 1900 the membership stands at 177, 9 new members having
been elected, and 23 names removed from the list, owing to resignation
of members or other causes.

The Winter Business Meetings, seven in number, have been well
attended, the average attendance being much as in previous years.

As usual the papers were fully illustrated by specimens, microscopic
preparations, and lantern slides.

The Winter Session opened with a Conversazione held on October
25th, attended by 220 members and visitors, including representatives of
the Belfast. Limerick, and Cork Field Clubs.

igoD.] Pi'oceedings of Irish Societies, 103

Much useful work has been carried on in connection with the
Excursions. Your Committee has still to regret, however, that more
members, with leisure, <\o not take a more active part in the prosecution
of some special branch of natural history. The interchange of lecturers
between the Irish Clubs has been continued. Your Committee pro-
poses to act, during the year 1900, on their powers under Rule XIII.,
viz. : — to offer prizes for competition for collections of scientific objects
of the district, &c.

The proceedings at both the Summer and Winter meetings of the Club
continue to be reported in the pages of the Irish Naturalist. The
Committee would again urge on members the necessity- of supporting
this Irish Natural History magazine, by subscribing to it regularly.
The Committee recommends that the grant to the Editors to defray cost
of publication during the year 1899 be ;^I5. The best thanks of the
Committee are due, and are hereby tendered, to the Council of the
Royal Irish Academy for again granting to the Club the privilege of
meeting in their house during the year.

The Treasurer's report was not before the meeting in consequence of
the illness of the Treasurer, Mr. H. Gore Cuthbert.

Mr. PiM then brought forward a communication on " Notes on the
Application of Photography to Natural Histor}-." The communication
was highly interesting and instructive, being profusely illustrated with
lantern slides, many of which were beautifully coloured by Mr. Pim.
Dr. C. J. Patten and Mr. Seymour spoke on the subject, and con-
gratulated the President on his paper.

Messrs. J. A. Valentine, W. J. De C. Wheeler, and R. J. Fleming were
elected members of the Club, and two candidates nominated.

February 20.- The President (Mr. Greenwood Pim, M.A.) in the
chair. Thirty-five members and visitors were present. After the signing of
the minutes of the last meeting the report of the Treasurer for 1899 was
adopted on the motion of Mr. H. J. Seymour, seconded by Mr. W. de V.

Kane.

Dr. N. H. AiyCOCK (Hon, Sec.) announced that the Committee offers
prizes of ;!^i each for the best collections in any of the following groups
made during the present year : —

Flowering Plants. Mosses and Hepaticse. Lichens. Algae. Fishes.
Land and Freshwater Molluscs. Crustacea. Coleoptera. Hymenoptera
or Diptera. Marine Worms. Pleistocene Fossils. Igneous Rocks.

The following Special Prizes are also offered by ])rivate members: —

The President, Mr. Greenwood Pim, offers a prize of £1 for the best
set of four lantern slides illustrative of any department of natural his-
tory (including photomicrographs). Mr, R. Li^oyd Praeger offers a
special prize of ;^i for the best list of records of flowering plants from
any part of Ireland, additional to those already collected for the purposes
of an Irish " Topographical Botany." Mr. H. J. Seymour offers a prize
of the value of toi. for the best collection of microscopical minerals
obtained from sea-sands, river-gravels, or decomposed rocks in Ireland,
with a view to encourage the study of Irish mineralogy. Conditions and
particulars may be obtained from the Secretaries of the Club.

I04 The Irish Naturalist. [April,

Mr. H. J. Skymour read a short paper giving details as to the methods
to be followed by members of the Club who may compete for the special
prize which he has offered for " the best collection of microscopical
minerals obtained from sea-sands, river-gravels, or decomposed rocks in
Ireland." By means of a series of lantern slides he showed the best types
of localities for collecting material, the apparatus necessary, and the
method of working to be adopted. Drawings and lantern slides of some
of the rarer minerals found by him in sands were also exhibited.

The President, Dr. Foord, Dr. C. J. Patten, and Dr. Alcock discussed
the paper.

Dr. C. J. Patten (Hon. Sec.) brought on a communication on (a) The
Pigeons native to Ireland; (b) Alaclietes ptigjiax\ (c) Tringa arena7-ia.

The general characters of the pigeon family were first indicated, after
which the different native species were dealt with, and distinguished by
the aid of mounted skins and series of lantern slides. Among the rare
forms may be mentioned Stock Dove, Turtle Dove, and Passenger
Pigeon. The last has only once been recorded from Ireland. The
geographical distribution of pigeons was referred to, also the descent of
the many varieties of domestic pigeons from one ancestral stock, the
Rock Dove. Note was also taken of the history of pigeons — their
domestication being traceable as far back as the 5th Egyptian dynasty in
3000 B.C.

The general characters of the RufFwere next described, together with
the remarkable variation in size, according to sex. The plumage of the
male and female also differs very much in the breeding season. Lantern
slides, illustrating these remarks, and also the pugnacious habits of the
RuflF, were exhibited. Their occurrences about Dublin Bay as autumn
migrants were noted.

The diminution and increase in numbers of the Sanderling in Dublin
Bay at different times of year and their change of plumage w^ere also
mentioned. The paper was fully illustrated with lantern slides and
stuffed specimens. Messrs. W. F. de V. Kane, J. E. Palmer, and Dr.
Alcock spoke on the paper.

Mrs. D. R. Alcock and Mr. A, L. Otway were elected members of the
Club, and two candidates for membership were nominated.

March 13.— The chair was taken by Mr. R. Liv. Praeger in the
absence of the President. Thirty-nine members and visitors were
present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and signed.

Mr. J. N. H ALBERT read a paper on "A New Water-mite from the
North of Ireland," which appears in extenso in the present number.

Dr. Patten and Mr. Se)'mour spoke on the paper.

Mr. R. Liv. Praeger read a paper on " Notes on Botanical Exploration
in 1899." His remarks were illustrated by a collection of dried plants.
This communication will shortly appear in the Irish Naturalist. The
paper was discussed by Mr. Seymour, Mr. Ellison, and Dr. Patten.

Dr. C. J. Patten (Hon. Sec) read a short paper on the Grey Phala-
rope {Phalaropus fulicarius), which will be p\iblished in a subsequent
number. Mr. Halbert and Mr. Ellison spoke on the paper.

I900-] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 105

Mr. W. J. D'C. WheeIvER exhibited portion of the cranium of a Bear
found fifteen years ago in a cave in Sligo. He gave a short account of
the history of its discovery originally, and the manner in which it came
into his possession. Mr. Wheeler pointed out peculiar markings on
the side of the skull, due to the washing of small stones over the
exposed surface for a considerable time. The question of species was
gone into, and it is supposed that the remains of Irish Bears had an
ancestral stock from Vrsitsferox (Grisly Bear).

Mr. Wheeler quoted the writings of many able authorities, including
the late Dr. Valentine Ball, Dr. Carte, Mr. W. Thompson, and Mr.
Wilde. Mr. Praeger spoke on the paper, and congratulated Mr. Wheeler
on his interesting communication.

The Rev. W. F. A. Ellison, Victor E. Smith, and S. H. Pethebridge,
were elected members of the Club, and three candidates were nominated
for membership.

NOTES.

BOTANY.

PHANEROGAMS.

Stachys Betonlca, Benth., in Co. Armagh.

It may be of interest to note that I saw this plant growing last summer
in North Armagh. I do not give the exact locality, as there seems to be
a danger of its becoming extinct. It was not on the old rath at Crowbill.

W. F. Johnson.

Poyntzpass.

Winter Flowering of Corydalis claviculata.

Notwithstanding the present frost and snow, Corydalis claviculata is
already (February 2) in flower, the young shoots are six to twelve inches
long, beautifully green and graceful as they are before me in a plate of
water, the delicate tendrils arching and stretching out for support. The
plant grows in the clefts of the Old Red Sandstone (which is mostly
conglomerate rock here) on the Co. Waterford hills near Carrick-on-Suir,
500 to 600 feet over sea level.

J. Ernest Grubb.

Carrick-on-Suir.

Scirpus Savii, S. and M., growing inland.

In 1894 I gathered this plant at the S.W. base of the Great Sugarloaf,
Co, Wicklow, by the edge of a pool at about 700 feet elevation. S. Savii
plant appears so rare away from tidal influence, or at any rate away from
sea-level, that this station may be worth recording.

R. I,i,oYD Praeger.

io6 The Irish Naiiiralist. [April,

ZOOLOGY.

MOLLUSCS.

Arion cmplricoruiYi, Fcr., var. Bocagei, Simr.

In the February number of the Irish Naturalist, Dr. ScharfFhas a short
note on a recent paper of mine {Journ. MalacoL, 1899, vol. vii., p. 33), in
which I recorded Arion empii-iconim, F^r. var. Bocaa^ei, Simr., from Ireland.
I should not have trespassed on the valuable space of this Journal to
notice his remark on the subject of the nomenclature of the British
slugs, had his observations been correct.

Dr. Scharff states that "Some 3'ears ago Prof. vSimroth described a
new variet}- of the common slug, Arion atcr, from Portugal, which,
instead of being uniform in colour, was yellow above, with brosvu
sides." A reference to Prof. vSimroth's paper {Nova Acta, 1S91, Ed. Ivi.,
p. 347, t. xiii., figs. la, ib), with which I presume Dr. ScharfFis acquainted,
proves that Simroth did not dcso-ibc a variety of A. atcr, which species finds
no mention ; but a variety of A. einpiricoriun, Fer. {cf. op. cit., p. 346), as I
have stated in my paper.

Dr. Scharff continues, " Mr. CoUinge, it will be noticed, uses the name
Arion anpiricoriini of Ferussac, instead of the earlier A. ater, as he believes
these to be two distinct species. Professor Simroth and I [the italics are
minej do not agree with him, and it certainly seems to me that Arion ater,
being the older name, has the priority ; and should, therefore, be used."
Dr. Scharff is quite at liberty to use an}- name he thinks fit, but he
must not expect malacologists either to agree with or follow him.

Prof Simroth, in a recent letter, confirms my statement that he
described a variety (viz. i^cira^fc'/') oi Arion empiricoriiui; he further points
out that he has not yet decided the point as to the specific difference of the
forms ater., riifus, and cmpiricoriim, for which I have described certain
specific anatomical characters [Joitrn. MalacoL, 1S97, vol. vi., p. 7, pi. ii.).
From his published works, and the above-mentioned letter, it appears
that he does cucept the name empiricortiui for the large black Arion ; but
whether ater and riifus are distinct from this species he has not yet
decided.

Prof. Pollonera, the greatest living authority upon the European
Arionidce, is also of the opinion that the species found in the British Isles
is the A. ejnpiricortun of Ferussac.

It would be well another time if Dr. Scharff would take the trouble to
ascertain the correctness of such a statement as he has criticised, b)^
referring to the original description.

Wai^ter E. Coi^i^inge.

Mason University College, Birmingham.

It IS to be regretted that so many records and so many misleading
descriptions have been published in the Irish Naturalist and elsewhere
by some of our most trusted leaders in Conchology, all of which are
based upon a total misapprehension of the remarkable characters
distinguishing the true Arion ater, var. Bocagei, a form not as yet found in

iQoo.] Notes. 107

this country. The various descriptions published and applied to this
remarkable variety and to its so-called sub-varieties are not merely
incorrectly applied, but in all cases are diametrically opposed to the
peculiar characters by which it is distinguished.

My wish for accurate identification and reliable records has induced
me to point out that ^^rw^ aler var. Bocagei when adult is totally tohite, except
the locomotor disc ^ which is black. This striking colouring does not however
characterize its youthful stages, but is an accompaniment of full-growth.

Jno. W. Tayi^or.
Horsforth, near Leeds.

In reference to Mr. Taylor's note I should like to state that the
sub-varieties to which he refers have never been regarded by me as
forms of the var. Bocagei, Simr., but only as " closely approaching" that
interesting variety. I have always been most careful to point out the
colour of the foot-sole, which at once separates them.

I entirely disagree with the first paragraph in Mr. Taylor's note. If
he will refer to my paper (/<??/;;/. Malac, 1899, vol. vii., p. 33), he will find
that I there stated that the form of A. empiricorziui which I had received
from Ireland was '' identical in all external features with the var. Bocagei^
Simr." This specimen was full grown, with a perfectly white dorsum,
and light sepia-brown or dirty straw-coloured, just above the foot-fringe,
with an almost black foot-sole. Exactly similar specimens I have
recently seen from Portugal, and also specimens with a perfectly black
foot-sole and j-ellowish-grey dorsum ; in both cases they were adult
specimens.

The black foot-sole is the all-important feature, otherwise it is simply
an approach to albinism, as Professor Simroth points out in the
following sentence: — "Dr. Scharff's description is wanting as regards
mention that A. evipiriconun var. Bocagei has a dark sole, with a light back.
Without this I should simply think of albinism." — {In litt., Feb. 22, 1900).

WAI.TER E. COIvIvINGE.

Mason University College, Birmingham.

Irish slugs are coming to the front, and are the primar}- cause of the above
interesting notes and criticisms from our English friends. T am only
the secondary cause in mentioning in the Irish Natiirali^^t (February, 1900)
Mr. Collinge's record of the variety Bocagei oi Arion ater in Ireland. Let
us take Mr. CoUinge first. I have in no way criticized his statements.
I have only made the observation that Professor Simroth and I did not
agree with Mr. Collinge in the belief that Arion empii-icorum and A. ater
are distinct species. In spite of what Mr. CoUinge may say to the
contrar}-, I repeat that this statement is perfectly correct. My only fault,
as far as I can see, is that I followed Mr. Collinge in reproducing his
erroneous record, as Mr. Taylor justly points out. Both Mr. CoUinge
and I were wrong in stating that the variety Bocagei (of A. empiricortun
or A. ater) is yellow (or yellowish) above, with brown (or sepia) sides. To
Mr. Taylor belongs the credit of pointing out this serious error. It is all
the more to be regretted therefore that Mr. Taylor should now add to the

loS The Irish Nat^iralist. [April,

already existing confusion in also quoting a somewhat incorrect
description of the variety Bocagei. Mr. Taylor states that when adult it
"is totally white, except the locomotor disc which is black." The
description of this variety appeared in the Nova Acta (vol. Ivi., 1S91, p. 346),
and is as follows (an absolutely literal translation is impossible) : — " Var.
Bocagei is whitish on the back and blackish brown towards the sole, which
is rather dark, the colour of the locomotor field being distinctly separated.
In larger animals collected in summer the back is lighter — light far down
towards the sole, which is still darker."

R F. SCHARFF.

Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

INSECTS.

Late Wasps' Nests.

One of the nests referred to by Mr. Moffat (p. 47 of this volume) was in

"full blast" on Christmas Day — at least 15 wasps entering per minute

and about as man)' leaving. Eveiy mild winter here a few nests work

away into January — some feebly, others strong-^but I do not remember

seeing any after loth of that month. The}' usually seem to expire

suddenl}' on the first heav}' frost or rain after Christmas.

R. M. Barrixgton.
Enniskerry.

Beetle Records from Co. Wicklow.

In connection with Mr. Johnson's note on Otiorrhynchus aw-opiinctahis,
in the Irish Naturalist (p. 72 above), it may be of interest to record that I
took a specimen of this insect in last July, at Ballybrood, Co. Wicklow.
I have not seen any previous record from Wicklow. I should be glad if
an}' reader of the Irish Naturalist could inform me as to the occurrence,
in the Dublin and Wicklow districts, of Sinodendron cylindricum. In
1S95 I took a male specimen in a piece of decayed wood, at Dollymount,
Co. Dublin. Since that date I have not met with another specimen until
July last, when I captured a female of the same species in the Powers-
court demesne, Co. Wicklow. The insect was, strange to say, flying,
and pitched on my coat.

James S. Starkky.
Rathmines.

[Mr. Starkey's discovery of 0. auropunctatus from Co. Wicklow is of
great interest, as this beetle had not been found hitherto south of
Dublin. S. cylitidricuni is on record from Bray. — EdS.]

FISHES.

Sharks In Killala Bay.— A Correction.

The Sharks I recorded (p. 48 of this volume) have been, I see, named
Sclache maxima by the editors This is an error, the species I intended to
record being the Blue Shark (Cfl!;r>^rt,7a^^/<zwrw.r). I now find that I also
have given the species a wrong name, being misled by the description I
received. Meeting Captain Kirk wood a short time ago I got from him

I900-] Notes.

109

a correct description of the fish, which proves to be the Fox Shark

{Alopias viilpcs). It was about 13^ feet long, and the elongated portion of

the tail fin was nearly as long as its body, which I think proves it to have

been the Fox Shark.

R. Warrkn.
Moyview, Ballina.

BIRDS.

Snow-Coosc in Ireland.

In the List of Irish Birds by the late Mr. A. G. More, he stated : —
Mr. H, Blake Knox informs me that about ist October, 1S86, he received
a fine male Snow-Goose, which had been shot by one of his tenants, near
BelmuUet, Mayo.

I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Blake Knox for the loan of this
specimen, which I sent for inspection to Dr. R. B. Sharpe, at the
Natural History Museum, South Kensington. It was exhibited by him
at the meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club on the 22ud of
November, 1899, 'and is considered to be of the larger race named
Che?i nivalis, by Forster,

It should be remembered that Mr. Crampton's Snow-Goose, now in
the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, was one of a flock of seven which
visited the same part of Mayo, in October, 1877, and that other
specimens were obtained in Wexford, early in November, 1871 ; while
two birds were procured for the aviary at Knowsley, previous to 185 1
that were said to have been met with among tame geese running on a green
in Ireland. This is not impossible, for Mr. Crampton's bird above-
mentioned lived under the same conditions for more than six years after
he had been trapped.

Though birds of this species are believed to have been seen in the
North of England, none have been obtained in the United Kingdom
except in Ireland.

R. J. USSHER.
Cappagh.

Sea Birds and Severe Weather.

Sea birds, as well as land birds, suffer from exposure to cold. On
February 17th, 1900, I noticed 'on the North Bull strand, Clontarf (an
expanse of about three miles), the following dead birds : —

Three Oyster-catchers in a fresh condition — very thin, and slightly
eaten by rats— and other birds, judging from the surrounding footprints.

One miserabl)' thin Curlew, half buried in the sand, and only recently
deceased.

Six Black-headed Gulls ; some of these may have been previously
wounded by gunshot.

Four Common Gulls; two of these fresh, but half eaten by rats and
birds.

Five Herring Gulls ; very thin— probably starved.

One Cormorant, and the fragmentary remains of a freshl3--killed
Mallard.

no The Irish Naturalist. [April, 1900.

The bird footprints surrouudiug most of these dead birds were those
of Gulls and Herons. These species have no objection to eating their
dead comrades.

The date on which these obsei"vations was made immediately followed
the very severe snowy weather of the first fortnight of February, 1900.

It was interesting to note that no Guillemots or Razorbills were
washed ashore dead. This is due to the fact that the weather at the
time, though extremel}^ cold, was not particularly windy. These birds
stand cold weather well, but rough seas destroy many of them by dashing
them against the rocks.

Chari^es J. Patten.

Trinity College, Dublin.

MAMMALS.

The Hedgehog and its Food.

I beg to thank Mr. John H. O'Connell, for his observations (p. 50 of
this volume) on Hedgehogs.

Mr. C. B. Moffat's contribution is very welcome. We have found that

Hedgehogs eat Helix iiemoralis and H. aspera with other species of Molluscs,

sometimes eating the whole of the shells and at other times rejecting

part. Mr. Moffat accuses the Rat of eating Helix nemoralis. I^et us

prove if this is well founded — the Field Mouse might also come within

the scope of our investigations.

Hugh L. Orr.
Belfast.

The Irish Rat (IVIus hibernicus).

A specimen of this rat has been lately killed here, which was very
different in colour from any rat I have ever seen. The fur was of a
browny black colour, with occasional white hairs through it, shading off
to quite pale brown on the lips and feet — and it had a large triangular
white patch on the breast. The specimen was an old male, and had,
unfortunately, lost half its tail when caught.

I sent it to Dr. Scharfif, Science and Art Museum, Dublin, who says he
has no doubt that it is a true Irish Rat, and not a brown one. It is still
in his possession.

In the year 1890 I had a correspondence with Mr. G. E. Barrett-
Hamilton on the subjectof BlackRats, and at that time beseemed to think
that they were probably commoner here than in an}' other part of
Ireland, but I never saw a parti-coloured specimen before. They are
now much less common here than they used to be.

Denis R, Pack-Bereseord.
Bagenalstown.

May. 1900.] Ill

BOTANICAL NOTES ON THE GALWAY AND MAYO

HIGHLANDS.

BY NATHANIKIv COI.GAN, M.R.I.A.

It may sound like a paradox to say that the botanical survey
of an Irish mountain region derives a peculiar zest from the
very poverty of our flora in alpine species. Yet the assertion
may be made with perfect truthfulness. That the rapture of
discovery varies directly with the rarity of the object sought
for, that the value of the thing attained is measured by the
labour of attainment — these are time-honoured truisms in
every system of proverbial philosophy ; and their essential
truth is daily borne in upon the mind of the botanist who
devotes himself to the exploration of any of the mountain-
groups of Ireland. The fans of the Alpine Club-moss, which
he spurns with callous feet on the slopes of Snowdon, he half
worships when they meet his longing eyes in the Wicklow or
Kerry highlands ; and so with many others of our alpine
species — unconsidered trifles abroad, they become for him
objects of enthusiasm at home.

It was with a full knowledge of this appetizing poverty of
the Irish highland flora that my friend, the Rev. Canon d' Arcy,
and myself turned our faces westward early in July last, bent
on a fortnight's scrambling and plant-hunting amongst the
Twelve Bens and the mountain massif lying east of Dhoo
Lough in Southern Mayo. We had carefully studied before-
hand Mr. H. C. Hart's admirable Report on the Flora of the
Mayo and Galway Mountains,^ indeed, we had carried it with
us the year before in ascents of Muckanaght and Mweelrea, but
it was with no intention of revising his work that we decided
to follow in his track. Let it be said at once that we added
nothing to the tale of alpine species observed b}^ Mr. Hart
seventeen years earlier, but that we learned a deeper respect
for his powers as a botanist and a scrambler. The work which
he did so well in one month we should have felt proud of
doing in three, and, gleaning where he had reaped, we were
satisfied with discovering a few new stations for the rarer
plants.

^ Proc R.I.A.^ 2nd series, vol. iii., p. 694.

112 The Irish Nahiralist. [May,

On July loth we established ourselves in Martin Joyce's
roomy cottage at Cloonacarton, Glen Inagh, scarce a mile and
a half from Recess railway station and within easy distance of
the highest summits of the Twelve Bens. Here the vagabond
botanist finds an ideal resting-place, where he can " enjoy the
comforts of home combined with moderate charges," and with
perfect freedom to surround himself with that litter at once so
essential to his happiness and efficiency, and so odious to the
ordinary hotel manager. When one stands in Joyce's rough
meadow, where the Dabcocia trails over the rocky knolls, the
shapely pyramid of Ben Corr is the point that above all others
catches and holds his eye. The great rock-buttress, stretching
eastwards from the summit and crowned with what seems to
be a very steeply pitched arete, looks most seductive to the
climber, especially when viewed in the evening light Irom a
boat mid-way up the lake ; at all times and from all points of
view the whole mountain, a grey mass of arid stone, looks
absolutely repulsive to the botanist.

Our first day's scramble on Tuesday, nth July, was up Ben
Corr by this rock-buttress. The hoped-for arete turned out to
be a delusion. It was merely a steep staircase of shattered
quartzite, flanked here and there by cliffs, and the poverty of
the flora even exceeded our expectations. Though we followed
the high ridge running south from Ben Corr to the summit of
Derryclare Mountain and descended thence to Derrj^clare I^ake,
keeping well over 2,000 feet for a considerable distance, we
found only two alpines, Ardostaphylos Uva-ursi diWA Jzmiperus
7ia7ia. The first occurred rather sparingly, the second was
most abundant, and spreading out in wide sheets tipped with
the tender green of the young shoots, gave a peculiar character
to the summit-ridge and the higher slopes. Great bosses of
Thrift, rosettes of the Fox's Cabbage {Saxifraga timbrosa), and
occasional sheets of the Sea Campion {Silene viaritima) relieved
the monotonous hue of the naked rocks, and here and there
Saint Dabeoc's Heath was found flowering up to fully 1,800
feet.

Next day, July 12th, we crossed the naked Maam Turk
range by the well-marked maum or gap between the rocky sum-
mits of Ilian and Derryvoraihedha into the lonel}' Glen Glosh
without noting a single plant of interest ; the 13th was rainy,

igoo.J CoiyGAN. — Botany of Galway and Mayo Highla7ids. 1 13

with the hills wrapped in cloud, so that we had to postpone a
contemplated ascent of Ben Baun, or the White Mountain
(2,395 feet), the highest point of the Bens, until Friday, the
14th, This was a perfect day, and taking Joyce's car for some
six miles up Glen Inagh, we attacked the mountain by the
long spur running north-east from the summit. The end of
this spur is marked by a point reaching to 1,362 feet, named
Knockpashemore on the Ordnance map, and here on cliffs
facing north at about 1,300 feet we found Sedtim Rhodiola in
a new station for the Twelve Bens. At 1,200 feet a few plants
of Lastrea csnmla were observed, and on and near the summit
Thrift appeared in fine bosses interspersed, as on Ben Corr,
with sheets of Sea Campion. From the top of Ben Baun, well
named from the light-coloured screes seaming its upper slopes,
an impressive wilderness of stony peaks and deep-cut glens
opens out, a dismal prospect to the botanist;, but not without
stimulus to the lover of unadorned solitude. There is just
one point in the near prospect on which the eye of the botanist
can linger with pleasure, the great truncated cone or gable-
end of Muckanaght, a mile distant towards the west, its
verdant slopes standing out in marked contrast to the sur-
rounding desert of grey stone. This oasis of schist in a
Sahara of quartz is the "crowning mercy" of Mr. Hart's
indefatigable labours of seventeen years ago, and no other
point in the Bens, least of all Ben Baun, can compare with it
in the richness of its alpine flora.

We came down south-east into the head of Glen Inagh
where the Glen Inagh river takes its rise under the grand
rock-face of Bencailliaghduff For austere beauty this thousand
feet of precipitous crags is perhaps unsurpassed in the whole
group of the Twelve Bens, and as a training-ground for
moderately ambitious climbers it seems well worthy of atten-
tion. The deep-cut channel of the infant Glen Inagh river
gave us abundance of finely developed Crepis paludosa, and at
a height of about 800 feet appeared a most remarkable variety
or form of Saxifraga stcllaris, somewhat approaching to the
arctic var. comosa of Poiret, synonymous with 6*. foliolosa of
Robert Brown. At first sight the Glen Inagh plant, which
grows in considerable quantity recumbent on moss-clad stones
in the bed of the main stream and of a tributary rill, appears

A 2

1 1 4 The h ish Naturalist. f.Ma3%

to be a luxuriant viviparous form of ^S. stellaris, with much
branched panicle and the flowers transformed into minute
rosettes of leaves. But a closer examination shows that while
some of these leaf-rosettes are derived from flowers, others,
and by far the greater number of them, are quite sessile on
the panicle branches in positions where the flowers are never
found in ,t3^pical 5. stellaris. That the plant does belong
to this species is testified by the few flowers which remain
untransformed at the extremities of the panicle, though the
leaves in the basal rosette with their long, winged footstalks
more resemble those of the North American ^S. leucanthemifolia
of Michaux. Mr. Arthur Bennett tells me that he has a
specimen from alpine rocks near I^args, Ayrshire, nearly as
foliaceous as the Glen Inagh plant.

The whole of the eastern face of the Twelve Bens, though
much of it lies at an elevation of over 2,000 feet, gives but
four Highland Type plants — Saxifraga stellaris, Sedu7n
Rhodiola, Arctostaphylos Uva-2crsi, and Jicniperus 7iana —
while the isolated hill of lyisoughter, on the opposite side of
Glen Inagh, and reaching to little more than 1,300 feet, gives
no less than six — Dryas octopetala, Saxifraga oppositifolia,
Hieraciiun anglicuni, Ju7iipcrus nana, Aspleniuvi vijide, and
Selaginella selaginoidcs. Here, in August, 1898, we found
Saxifraga oppositifolia descending alongside a rill in abundance
to the low level of 450 feet.

On Monday, the 17th, we drove from Joyce's to Leenane,
where we found good quarters in the modest Mweelrea View
Hotel. On the road, in a moorland longhaun east of I^ough
Fee, we saw the Yellow Water-lily, apparently a rare species
in West Ireland. The afternoon was given \v^ to a pleasant
scramble on Benwee, a point rising to 2,000 feet just behind
the hotel, and having some well-placed cliffs near the top.
Here Thalictruni colli^itim, Sednni Rhodiola, Hieracium iricum,
Saxifraga stellaris, and Carex rigida were gathered, and a
solitary plant of Habenaria albida was observed at 1,600 feet,
the highest Irish station so far recorded for the species.

Tuesday, the 18th, was spent on the high mountain-ridge
north of Glenummera, a glen running due east from the foot
of Dhoo Ivough, in County Mayo. For two miles this ridge
maintains a height of little less than 2,400 feet, and in one

I900.] Coi^GAN. — Bota?iy of Galway and Mayo Highlands. 115

point exceeds 2,500 feet. Mr. Hart explored this ridge in
1882, and in the absence of any definite name on the Ordnance
map he styles it I^oughty. The only local name we could find
for it was ShefFry ; but no doubt neither name is applied to the
whole ridge by the handful of shepherds which makes up the
population of Glenummera. The ascent from the valley floor
to the highest point was over monotonous grassy slopes, and
no plant of interest was noted until the crest of the ridge was
reached. Here Lycopodiion alpimcm, already recorded by Mr.
Hart, appeared in abundance, and we afterwards traced it for
fully a mile eastward along the crest. Nothing could look
more disappointing than the reverse or northern slope of
ShefFry. lyooking eastward, it presented an extremely steep
talus of finely broken slate, like the rubbish screes of a great
Welsh quarry. , Here and there knobs of rock protruded from
its upper reaches, but the whole looked painfully dry and
naked. Turning westward, the form of this northern slope
looked somewhat more promising. Bastions of steep rock,
arranged in ledges, capped the talus for a height of about fifty
feet, and a careful examination of these was rewarded by
Saiissurea alpiyia in a new station. It occurred here in con-
siderable quantit}" at a height of 2,200 feet, and re- appeared at
1,600 feet further to the eastward on the same slope. Hitherto
this alpine has in District VIII. been known only from one station
in Mayo, Croaghpatrick, where Mr. Hart discovered it in 1882. A
glissade on the steeply pitched slopes of shifting slate debris
took us down 500 feet to its base in a few minutes, and here,
on moist rock-shelves, at about 1,500 feet, Thalictriim alpi7ium
and Selaginella selaginoides, both new to Shefifry, appeared in
abundance. Returning to the crest of the ridge in thick mist
we found on rocks near the top Sedtim Rhodiola, Oxyria
reniformis, and Carex rigida, the latter, as Mr. Hart has pointed
out, almost ubiquitous on the higher mountains of Galway and
Mayo. It was nightfall when we reached Bundorragha ferrj^
on the Killary, thoroughly soaked by some three hours of
steady rain, but well pleased with the results of our long day.
The alpine flora of Sheffry, adding to Mr. Hart's list the few
additions we were fortunate enough to make, numbers no less
than II species: — Thalictruni alpinum, Sedum Rhodiola,
Saxifraga stellaris^ S. oppositifolia, Saussurea alpina^ Vaccinium

ii6 The Irish Naturalist. [May,

Vitis-Idcea, Oxyria re7iifo7mis^ Salix herbacca, Carex rigida,
Lycopodium alpinumy and Sclaginella sclaginoides. This total
compares very favourably with that for the great mass of
Mweelrea, whose imposing ranges of lofty cliffs yield only 12
alpine or Highland Type species.

A quiet day at Leenane, and on Tuesda}', July 20th, we
drove by the beautiful Krriff Valley to Westport, whence we
took the afternoon train on to the picturesque little town of
Newport. Here, as at Westport, we were surprised to find
Matricaria discoidca established in abundance, as already
recorded in the Irish Naiu7'alist for October last. We fixed
our quarters at Newport for a few days for the purpose of
climbing Cushcamcarragh (2,343 feet), the second highest
point in the Nephin Beg mountain-system, which, with the
wide-stretching bogs that isolate it on north and east and
west, forms, perhaps, the largest wilderness in all Ireland.
Mr. Hart explored, or, rather, reconnoitered, this region in
1882, attacking it from the north and traversing its peaks and
ridges from Deel Bridge to Newport in one arduous day's
tramp. Disheartened b}- the botanical nakedness of the
country, he made no further exploration of it, and does not
appear to have climbed Cushcamcarragh, or Cushcam, as it is
locally called.

On the 2ist July, a breathless, hazy day, we made the ascent
by a four-mile-long ridge which runs north to the summit
from the Mulranny high-road near the hamlet of Marj^land.
The top of the mountain when we reached it proved to be a
fine piece of rock-sculpture, a narrow crest, at one point
passing into a true arete, and rising here and there into rocky
pinnacles as it swept south-eastward into the long and lofty
ridge which links it with Bengorm (1,912 feet). Clambering
down the steep northern slope to the floor of Glenamong, we
found nothing rarer than Saxifraga stellaris, and after a short
halt we returned to the crest by some steep gullies facing
north-east. On our way up, at a height of from 1,500 to 1,800
feet, we came across Saxifraga oppositifolia and Oxyria
reniformis in abundance, both additions to the flora of the
Nephin Beg region, and the first previously recorded for the
County Mayo onl}^ from Mr. Hart's station on I^oughty or
Shefifry Mountain. Near the crest, along the northern face of

1900.] COI.GAN. — Botany of Galway and Mayo Highlands. 117

the arete, which gave us a few yards of hand and foot
climbing^ Carex rigida and Salix herbacea turned up in abund-
ance, as we fully expected they would.

The view northward from the summit of Cushcam extended
as far as the eye could reach over a perfect desert of mountain
and lough-strewn bog, the form of the mountains as seen
from, this point fully justifying Mr Hart's depressing estimate
of their botanical capabilities. Close at hand, to the south-
west, the mountains looked more promising, but we had no
time to explore in this direction. The examination of some
of the cliffs towards Bengorm, the descent to Glenamong, the
tramp along its rough and trackless bogs, with an assiduous
escort of bloodthirsty midges, and the final descent along the
western shore of Lough Feeagh to the Newport high-road by
a rocky mule-track worthy of the Spanish Pyrenees — all this
was more than enough to fill in the day's work, and to con-
vince us that we had fully earned our two additions to the
Nephin ^^% flora. As at present known, the alpine flora of
this extensive region is certain 1)'- a poor one, numbering but
8 species altogether : — Sediim Rhodiola, Saxifraga stellaris^ S.
oppositijolia, Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Oxyria re7iiforniis, Salix
herbacea^ Carex rigida, and Isoetes lactistris.

Jul}' 22nd was a lazy day, spent round about the southern
end of Lough Beltra, the fine sheet of water from which the
Newport river rises, some five miles north-east of the town.
Amongst the sixt5"-odd species jotted down in a hasty survey
of one of the islets at this end of the lake were Gali^mi boreale
and Crepis pahtdosa, and on our way back to Newport Juncus
obttisiflorus was gathered in wet bogs by the roadside. On the
old bridge at Newport we found Sagina apetala, hitherto un-
recorded for District VIII. of Cybele.

On Monday, the 24th July, we pushed on from Newport to
Dooagh, in Achill Island, where we found in an inchoate
hotel accommodation fully on a level with the sobriety of our
expectations. It may be doubted whether this hostelry,
situated though it is in the most picturesque part of the island,
will ever be made attractive or, indeed, tolerable for the
tourist. If not, the adventurous pilgrim can at least count
on finding there ample opportunity for the practice of plain
living and the study of modern Irish. Dooagh is within easy

ii8 llie Irish Naturalist. [May,

reach of Croaghaun (2,192 feet), and we promised ourselves a
glorious day on the crest of its famous sea-cliffs when we
turned in that night. We had a lively day's work, though not
quite what we had expected, for when Tuesday morning broke
a half gale was blowing from the west, with frequent bursts of
rain, and the clouds lay heavy on the flanks of Croaghaun
down to 300 feet above sea-level. It was manifestly impossible
to sta}' fuming within doors in such weather, so we started for
the mountain armed with waterproofs and a compass, and felt
our way to the top by bearings taken from the shores of
Loughacorrymore. The last half hour's .struggle up the final
scree, on all fours against the powerful blast, was inspiriting,
but botanising was far from easy, and the only result achieved
here was a high station for Hymenophyll^im tunbridgense, which
we found in good fruit at 1,900 feet. The alpine species
observed numbered but three : — A^xtostaphylos Uva-ziisi,
J2i7iiperus na7ia, and Car ex 7'igida.

We came back to Dooagh by way of Keem Bay and the fine
cliff road, held a Gaelic symposium that night, at which the
local '* men of light and leading " attended to read and discuss
Dr. Hyde's folk-tales in the vernacular, and on the morrow
turned our faces regretfully towards the east and civilization.

Rathmines, DubHn.

STARFISHES AND THEIR RELATIONS.
A Treatise on Zoologry. Edited by E. Ray Lankester, LL-D.,
F.R.S. Part III. The Echlnoderma. By F. A. Bathrr, M.A. ;
J. W. Gregory, D.Sc, and E. S. Goodrich, M.A. Loudon: Adam
and Charles Black, 1900. Pp. viii. -f- 334. 15^. net.

Ten years ago it was difficult to find an English work which gave a
good account of general zoology, and those in use were mostly
translations from the German. But a number of general works on this
subject have been published within recent 3^ears, so that things have very
much changed now. The difficulty at present seems rather to know
which one to choose among the number of books written by British
authors. What is known as the " type-system " of zoological work has
been much in vogue for some years, and the market is now well supplied
with books containing minute descriptions of one species or " type " out
of every large group of animals, everything else being condensed to the
utmost.

1900.] Starfishes and their Relations. 119

The first instalment of Professor Lankester's Treatise on Zoology has
now appeared. It is not one of that class of works just referred to. On
the contrary an attempt is made to mention every known genus,
whether recent or fossil. The general aim of the work is to give a
systemetic exposition of the characters of the classes and orders of the
animal kingdom, but it is intended rather to assist th e student who has
already acquired a preliminary knowledge of zoology and who wishes to
proceed to a more thorough study of the subject. The volume just
issued has an introductory chapter containing a general description of
the sub-kingdom or phylum Echiuoderma (sea-urchins, starfish, &c.);
then follow chapters on the various classes, viz. : Cystidea, Blastoidea,
Crinoidea, Edrioasteroidea, Holothuroidea, Stelleroidea, and Bchinoidea.
One of the principal merits of this treatise is that the extinct groups of
animals are dealt with quite as fully as the recent ones. The idea of
giving a continuous detailed history in which the evolution of a series of
forms may be traced from the earliest Palaeozoic periods up to the
present day is an excellent one, and no book attempting such a task in
so comprehensive a manner has ever been written.

The present volume contains a vast amount of information, j-et it is
inevitable that the various groups of Echinoderma should have been
treated somewhat unequally. It is perhaps not in the scope of the
work to enlarge too much upon the habits and the mode of life of the
animals referred to, still it seems strange that scarcely any special
mention is made of these particulars in the case of the Crinoidea
and Stelleroidea, whilst as regards the Echinoidea we get a brief
description at least of their mode of life.

The announcement by the Editor that the treatment of the subject
must necessarily be brief, as the treatise will have to be completed in ten
volumes, will give the student some idea of the magnitude of the subject
and of the advances which have been made in recent years. Professor
I^ankester is assisted in his great undertaking by a number of experts —
mostly graduates of the University of Oxford, who have promised to
contribute portions of the work. The names selected are a sufficient
guarantee that the volumes when completed will be thoroughly reliable
and satisfactory.

A most useful bibliography of the groups described is given at the end
of every chapter. The index at the end of the volume might with ad-
vantage be enlarged, so as to include the family names, which have been
left out, and increase the number of cross-references.

The book is excellently printed and illustrated by a large number —
about 300 -of clear and useful figures, most of which are original. This
great work will be indispensible to all teachers and advanced students
of zoology, and especially to curators of natural history museums, and
it is to be hoped that the remaining volumes may soon be published.

R. F, S.

A3

I20 The Irish Nahiralist. [May,

THE CRABS OF OUR SBA-SHORK.

BY W. H. CUNNINGTON, A.R.C.SC. LOND.

[Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, 12 December, 1899).

Thk crabs of the Irish area have by no mean-s received the
attention they deserve, and in consequence, we have not yet
such satisfactor}' lists of the forms which have been found, as
we should, and easily might have. I laj^ stress upon this
particularly, because it affords an opportunity^ for the members
of this Field Club. Kverj^one, at some time or another, has
foitnd crabs, whole or fragmentary^ during walks along the
shore. The fishermen, too, frequently bring in with their
more valued relatives, a variety of strange crabs, which might
be easily secured, as they are of no use to them. Again, crabs
are almost entirely identified b}^ peculiarities of external
structure, and so to a large extent, a dried specimen will
answer for our purposes. Thus, a specimen not very fresh, or
even an empty shell, would not be necessarily valueless.

The habits of crabs, as of other animals, are largely reflected
in their form and structure. That is to say, we may expect
to tell at a glance, by some very striking differences, whether
we are dealing with swimming crabs or running crabs, with
burrowing crabs or land crabs. This in fact is the case, and
we may always recognise a swimming crab for example, hy
the flattened condition of his legs, while the last joint of the
last pair of legs is generally expanded and plate-like.

Coming to deal with particular forms, I should, perhaps,
mention first the Grken Crab {Ca7'chnis vioenas), as it is
undoubtedly the most common on our shores. This creature
belongs to the group of the swimming crabs, although it can
run about on land well enough, and has not attained to the
flattened end of the fifth leg, so characteristic of its relations.
The shell, too, which is somewhat broader than long, has the
front edge divided up into a number of prominent teeth.
These crabs do not ever grow ver>^ large, but perhaps make
up for this in numbers, as they may always be found on our
shores, lurking in little rock-pools and beneath stones and
sea-weed. Their food, in common with most crabs, consists
of young fish, small shrimps, and suchlike; but they are
greedy little things, and no kind of animal refuse seems to

I900.] CuNNiNGTON. — Seashove Crabs. 121

come amiss. The eggs, which may be laid at any time from
spring to autumn, are buried in the sand, and from them
emerge — not young crabs — but forms so perfectly distinct as
to have originally received a separate name. We are dealing
here then, as in most of the crabs and lobsters, with a distinct
metamorphosis, a larval form being set free from the ^%%,
which sooner or later however, assumes the adult condition.
Though differences, of course, exist between the larval forms
of different crabs, the plan followed here is really pretty
typical. The little organism on emergence is known as the
Zoea larva, and certainly is a most grotesque-looking object,
with enormous eyes, and a head shield armed with long spines.
From this stage, by the shedding of the skin we get another —
the Megalopa — which is certainly far more crab-like, and has
the pincers and walking legs developed, though the tail is still
in the primitive position, and not tucked up. A third moult,
and we have once again a young crab differing but little from
the adult.

This Green Crab was at one time extensively brought to the
markets as food, but is now seldom eaten, except perhaps by
the very poor in some parts. It makes very good bait,
however, especially when soft, after shedding its shell, and in
certain parts of the coast the fishermen have devised a very
simple trap to catch them for this purpose.

This consists of nothing more than the placing between
tide-marks of a number of common half-round roof-tiles.
Beneath these convenient shelters, the crabs about to moult
naturally creep, so that the fishermen have merely to go at
low tide and pick them out.

Portiums the Fiddler Crab, and Porttminus are among the
commonest of the other Irish swimming crabs, and they, of
course, have the oval flattened joint to the last leg, which is so
noticeable a feature. The name of " fiddler crab " has been
given to Poftunus by the fishermen, because of the see-saw
motion of the bent and flattened leg-joints, which is supposed
to suggest the operation of fiddling. These forms are both
good swimmers, but are eclipsed in this direction by Poly bins,
which is perhaps the strongest swimmer of all. The other
legs here have also become extremely flat and thin, and by
aid of them all, the creature skims about, up to the surface of

122 The Irish Naturalist. [May,

the water if need be. It is said that Polybius even pursues
active fish like the mackerel, and fastening on to one by its
sharp and powerful pincers, holds tight until its victim is
exhausted.

Another group of curious, and in some cases quite weird-
looking crabs, is that containing the s^^ider-crabs. These
forms, as their name sufficiently denotes, possess long spidery
legs, wdth comparatively small bodies, which latter in this
case, are triangle-shaped, with the point directed forwards.
Notwithstanding all their long limbs however, they are
sluggivSh, slow-moving animals, and in consequence readily
fall a prey to fishes and other enemies. Nature, which gene-
rally devises some plan for the protection of slow-moving or
awkward forms, has here accomplished that purpose in a very
interesting way. For years before the true nature of the case
was understood, these crabs had specially attracted the
attention of observers, from their very untidy appearance.
Their shells were generally more or less overgrown by sea-
weeds or various kinds of fixed and colonial animals.
Fortunately some of these forms have been kept in captivity
of recent years, so that their habits have been definitely
observed. The crab known as Hyas, which has not really
such very long legs, but evidentl}^ belongs to this group, is
usually so overgrown by colonies of sea-mats, etc., that its
true form is entirely hidden, and one can well believe that it
would be well-nigh indistinguishable in its native wilds. But
although these organisms are growing happily on the crab's
shell, the3^ did not settle there of themselves, as one might
perhaps suppose. It has in fact been observed that these
crabs, if placed quite clean in an aquarium with sea-weeds and
living sea-mats, will actually tear off little bits of them, and
deliberately plant them on the back of the shell ! By their
marvellous, instinct too, the crabs know well enough what
organisms will bear this rather rough-and-ready transplanting,
for the pieces they plant are always such as will live and grow.
All the observers who have had these interesting creatures
under their notice, remark on the effectiveness of the disguise,
and in fact there have been cases in which the crab was at
first thought to have escaped, from the way in which it had
entirely disappeared.

1900.] CuNNlNGTON. — Sea-shore Crabs. 123

Even further than this may the discriminating powers of
these crabs be displayed, for not only will they cover themselves
with these protective clothes, but they v/ill take them off
again if need be. If a Hyas, covered it may be, by bright-
coloured sea-weeds, be placed in a tank, containing, for
example, more sombre-coloured sponges, the creature will be
found after a little while to have diligently plucked off all the
bright colours, and covered itself once more with fragments
of the surrounding sponge. There is yet another curious
feature about Hyas, in which it differs from other spider-crabs.
The pincers are ver}^ white and clean, and the creature is
seen to keep them constantly moving, in a rhythmic fashion,
these white points thus appearing very conspicuous objects,
where the animal is almost hidden by its living covering. The
meaning of this apparent anomaly was discovered a few years
ago by the Messrs. Dixon, formerly of Trinity College, Dublin.
On one occasion they happened to introduce into the tank
containing a Hyas a number of small gobies. These little
fish had their curiosity at once aroused by this white vibrating
structure ; but the moment these investigations brought one
well within reach of the concealed crab the unfortunate fish
was seized and devoured. Thus, you see, the conspicuous
whiteness of the claws really acts as a very efficient lure into
the neighbourhood of the watchful, but almost invisible crab.

Besides Hyas there are several other spider-crabs among
the inhabitants of our shore, and the}^ all exhibit more or less
this remarkable habit of dressing themselves with the
surrounding organisms. Among them I may mention the
forms Pisa, Inac/ms, and Macropodia, the I^ong-legged Spider-
crab, while Mais sqjiinado, the Spiny Spider-crab, is far the
largest of them all. The latter is indeed the largest of all the
British species with the exception of the Edible Crab {Cancer
pagtcrtis) w^hich, as you know, is sometimes taken of a great
size. In some parts it is said to be commonly found as much
as nine or ten inches in length. A curious case of companion-
ship is sometimes to be made out here, for another little
Crustacean, Is^a by name, has been found clinging to the
crab's shell, by means of the broad serrated ends of its feet,
which are thus specially w^ell adapted for the purpose. Strange
to say, this particular form seems to be never found anywhere
else.

124 The Irish Naturalist. [May,

Go7ioplax the Angular Crab, is another remarkable form, but
one which is by no means common on these shores, though it
is among the known Irish species. The pincer-legs are here
enormously long, while the eyes again are very noticeable by
being placed on extremely long stalks. The pincers, further,
have the joints so situated that while food can be seized at a
considerable distance, it can also be conveyed to the mouth.
The male is in the habit of clashing together these great
nippers, in a noisy and threatening manner ; or at any rate
has been seen to do so when in captivity. The creatures are
said to live in burrow^s formed in hardened mud, which
dwelling-places they leave open at both ends. They would
seem to form a very favourite food for the Cod and such like
fishes, for they are not infrequently found in their stomachs.

The form Corystes, which is rather more frequently taken on
our coast, belongs to a group which, in many ways certainly,
seems to carr}' us towards the hermit crabs. The head-shield
is considerably longer than broad, while a very striking feature
is the length and nature of the antennae. The nippers of the
male also are very long, but in the female the claws are very
ordinary in size. The back of this creature, at any rate to the
vivid imagination of some of the older observers, has con-
siderable resemblance to the human features, a fact which has
attracted to it far more attention than on that account it
deserves. Its popular title of the " Masked Crab" is due to
this, and it is very funny to see how in some of the figures by
the old writers this supposed resemblance has been purposely
accentuated. In its habits, nevertheless, Corystes is so
interesting as to well merit our further notice.

It is a sand-burrowing form, and the last joints of its legs
have become elongated, sharp and claw-like, in connection
with this habit. When commencing operations the crab sits
upright on the surface of the sand, and by digging its legs in
deeper and deeper, pulls itself down, while the claws are
engaged in pushing at the sand in front to prevent it getting
into the mouth apparatus. When the body has completely
disappeared beneath the surface of the sand, the long antennae,
which still project, are generally seen to be rubbed against one
another, apparently to get rid of any sand sticking to them.
Now by placing the antennae side by side, the long hairs
fringing them interlock, and the crab is provided with a

1900.] CuNNiNGTON. — Sea-sJiore Crabs. 125

perfect little tube placing him in communication with the
outside world. The process of burrowing will then go on still
further, until nothing remains visible but the tip of this tube.
Resting thus passivelj^ in its bed of sand, Corystes spends the
daytime concealed from observation, though at night it
apparently comes out, and wanders about in search of food.
One operation at an}^ rate — that of respiration — has to be
carried on even beneath the sand, and this is effected through
the medium of the antennae tube. By experiments in which
coloured water was introduced close to the tube of a buried
crab, it has been ascertained that the water is always sucked
down through it, finally passing out from the gill chambers at
the sides. Recalling what is the normal direction for the
water flow, it will be seen that the condition here is precisely
the reverse. Occasionally, and for a moment or two,
apparently when the crab wishes to throw out some objec-
tionable particle, the current is changed, and becomes
normal in direction. The reason for the existence of this
reversed current, as the usual condition, in a buried Corystes,
is not far to seek. It is simply the outcome of its burrowing
habit, and is a beautiful adaptation to altered circumstances,
for it is obviously far more satisfactory to draw water from the
clear region overhead than to attempt to suck it in at the
sides when buried in sand.

Turning to the hermit crabs themselves, we find a number
of remarkable features to be noticed in them. The most
familiar ones to us, those which live in old whelk-shells and
the like, are perhaps rather more like the lobsters ; but among
the group, we find some, which very largely fill any gap there
may be between these two main divisions.

Dromia, a form which has been taken off the southern
British coasts, but which is far commoner in the Mediterra-
nean, still approximates to the crabs proper, though a good
deal of its tail is to be seen in a top view, and the last two
pairs of walking legs are almost shifted up on to its back.
This creature, too, may do something towards hiding itself by
other objects ; one is often found covered by a sponge.
Among some foreign allied forms another plan is adopted,
where the animal holds tight by its upturned hind legs to a
mangrove leaf, or old bivalve shell, which it carries about
with it.

126 The Irish Naturalist [May,

PorccUana^ too, belongs also to the group of the hermit crabs,
and is found on several parts of the Irish coast. This again
is crab-like in general appearance ; but on looking more
closely we at once notice important differences. The last
pair of legs is ver}^ small, and tucked up over the back, in a
manner which is characteristic of many of these allied forms,
while the tail is not at all of the t5^pical crab form, but
possesses those broad wing-like expansions which we notice
in the lobster. The feelers, particularl}^ the antennae, are
very long in proportion, while the claws are curious great
clumsy-looking things. The creatures are usually found
under stones, between tide-marks, or else occur in shallow
water on a rock}^ bottom. The zoea larva of this form is a
truly romantic-looking creature, and one really cannot help
'wondering how it can manage such a long spine at all.

The common hermit crabs, such as inhabit old mollusc shells,
belong principally to the genera Pagurzis and Eicpao^tincs.
Perhaps the commonest of all — the "Soldier Crab," so called —
is Eicpagurtis Benihardits. In the greatly elongated condition
of the antennae, and in the large size of the tail region we see
points of agreement with the lobsters, while the e3'es are here
situated upon considerable eye-stalks. Degeneration has most
evidently been at w^ork in these forms, for otherwise why
should all the tail region be so soft and membranous that
the creature is forced to seek protection for it in some shell ?
Again in connection with the habit of thus protecting its
tender parts, the last legs have become greatly modified— the
first two pairs onlj^ remaining normal, for w^alking purposes,
while the last two are concerned wdth clinging into the shell.
Further, as an adaptation to this mode of life, the tail region,
which was primitively quite symmetrical, has acquired this one-
sided lateral twisting, and it is most interesting to note that in
the earliest stages of their life the young crabs are perfectly
symmetrical. In the course of their growth, it stands to
reason, that these crabs have several times to move lodgings,
so that one may find different-sized animals in a variety of
different shells, from the humble periwinkle up to the whelk,
a full-sized specimen of which is necessary^ for a well-grown
adult crab. Whether the hermit always chooses for his
habitation an empty shell, or whether he ma}* not seize and
kill the owner of a suitable one, is a point which has not been
definitely settled.

I900.] CuNNiNGTON. — Sea-shore Crabs. 127

That empty ones are sometimes used I think there can be
no doubt ; but at the same time it is quite likely that, under
certain circumstances, the Soldier Crab is true to his name,
and makes a murderous attack upon some inoffensive snail.
A curious habit of companionship, or to give it its more
proper name, commensalism, has been noticed in Prideaux's
hermit crab, Eiipagums Prideauxii^ which is also common
enough on our shores. This creature is seldom found without
a sea-anemone-- y4^rtw«<2 by name — living on its shell. Of
the mutual advantages to be gained by this association we
can at least suggest one or two. The anemone, in course of
time, tends to absorb the heav}^ shell of the crab, which would
be some advantage, and again, while certain fish are very fond
of hermits, which they swallow shell and all, few of them
would be much inclined to tackle the sea-anemone. The
latter, however, on the other hand, gets its share of advantage,
from the crab's moving powers, which take it about from place
to place in search of food.

And now to return to the practical side of the question.
How are crabs to be found, or where are we to look for them ?
A crab hunt is neither a difficult nor a very exacting occupation.
Go at low water, or when the tide is some wa}- out, to any
rocky piece of shore, and search in the rock-pools, and
beneath the masses of sea-weed. Turn back the growing
patches of bladder-wrack, and look beneath stones, and before
long you may be sure to find some little fellows, snugly
hidden away.

Royal College of Science, Dublin.

PROCKKDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIKS.

RoYAi. Z001.0GICA1. Society.

Recent gifts include eight Peruvian Cavies from Miss Fennell-White,
a Monkey from Mr. E). Marshall, three Bramblings from Mr. E. Williams,
a Bear cub and a vSilver Fox from Mr. N. H. P. Vickers a White Pheasant
from Ivord F. Fitzgerald, and a Royal Python and a lizard from the Hon.
P, C. Smyly. A pair of Racoons, a pair of Hairy Armadilloes, eighteen
monkeys, and seven Rose Cockatoos have been bought.

6,963 persons visited the Gardens in March,

128 The Irish Natiiralist, [May,

Cork Naturai^IvSTvS' Fiei,d Ci.ub.

March 21. AnnuaTv Meeting. — The annual meeting of the Cork
Naturalists' Field Club was held in the Assembly Rooms : Mr. T.
Farrington, President, in the chair.

The Treasurer's report showed that the society began the year with a
credit balance of £'] los. gd. The subscriptions for the year amounted to
£11 5J., and the expenses, including the usual contribution to the /rzs/i
Na/urah'sf, WAS £11 iSs. 6d., leaving a balance to be carried forward of
£6 17s. S'L

The Secretary's report showed a small falling off in membership during
the 5''ear. In all nine excursions were held during the season, amongst
the places visited being Ivittle Island, Rochestown, Douglas, Youghal,
Macroom, Ardrum, Healy's Bridge. During the winter three lectures
were arranged for, one of which was delivered by the President on
"Some Relations of the Atmosphere to Plants" on Octobei 19th ; another
on December 6th on "Some Paths of Science," by Mrs. B Brooke
Hughes, and their season would close that evening with a lecture by Mr.
Porter on "The Geology of the Bandon Railway."

The Chairman said there was a prospect of improving on one of last
year's excursions this year. When they visited Ardrum last 5'ear they
had nobody to show them over the place, and they did not get entrance
to Ardrum House. If another visit were organised he was informed
they would get on better.

The meeting then ])roceeded with the election of President and
officers for the following year, when the following were appointed: —
President, Mr. Farrington ; Vice-Presidents, Miss Martin, Professor
Hartog, Messrs. Copeman, Shaw, Bennett, and Lund ; Secretar}-, Mrs.
Brooke Hughes; Curator, Mr. R. A. Phillips; Committee, Messrs. D.
Franklin, J. Noonan, W. B. Lacy, W. H. Johnson, and F. R. Rohu.

Some arrangements having been decided on with regard to the forth-
coming excursions, the meeting terminated.

NOTES.

BOTANY.

The Dublin Field Club Prize Scheme.

I hope the prizes offered by the Committee of the Dublin Naturalists'

Field Club will not result in the diminution of any of our rarer plants.

In 1S64 the Royal Horticultural Society of England offered prizes for

the best collections of dried wild flowers collected in that year in any

part of the United Kingdom, and I well remember the outcry then

made by botanists who feared that competitors might imagine that the

rarity of a specimen increased the value of the collection. It ought to

be made quite clear in the Irish botanical competition of 1900, that

there is no inducement held out to gather any rare species whose

numbers are diminishing.

Rtciiard M. Barrington.

Fassaroe, Bray.

I900.] Notes. 129

By the courtesy of the Editors we have seen Mr. Harrington's note.
The Committee of the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club fully appreciate
the value of his suggestions, and indeed had already stipulated that any
collection which bore evidence of undue interference with rare plants or
animals should be thereby disqualified, and it was only by inadvertence
that this was omitted from the printed rules. Intending competitors
will therefore note this.

N. H. AWCK,) jj^^ Secretaries.
C. J. Patten, >
Trinity College, Dublin.

Irish Topographical Botany.

For four years past T have been engaged on a work which proposes to
show the distribution of flowering plants, &c., in Ireland, so far as
present information goes, in the forty divisions (counties or portions of
counties) into which, in a paper published in 1896 m the Journal of Boiajjy
and Ii-jsh Naturalist, I divided the country. The work is now sufficieuth'^
far advanced to show the deficiencies in each of the count}' lists. A
number of common plants still remain unrecorded from all but a few
counties, and plants of frequent occurrence are still wanted from almost
every county. I shall esteem it a great favour if readers of the I.N. will
assist the completion of the county lists in either of the following ways : —
T. By furnishing me with unpublished notes of plants observed in any
part of Ireland. A definite record of any species in any county, giving
place, finder's name, and date, will be welcome. 2. By searching in any
county for plants still unrecorded from same. As I hope to publish early
in 1901, the coming season will be the last during which information
supplied can be incorporated in the work.

Dublin. R. Li<oyd Praegbr.

Ranunculus parviflorus In Co. Wexford.

I believe this plant is sufficiently rare to merit a record of its occur-
rence in a new locality. This is on the roadside not far from the New
Ross workhouse and before the workhouse is reached on the way thither
from Kilmanock. Other Wexford localities for this plant have been
given by Miss L. S. (ilascott and myself in the Jotirnal of Botany for
January, 1889, and these, together with two others, are quoted in Cybele
Hibernica, ed. 2, p. lo (1898).

G. E. H. Barrett-Hamii,ton.

Kilmanock, Co. Wexford.

ZOOLOGY.

INSECTS.

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale in Co. Antrim,

This plant-bug has been found on a window-blind in my sitting-room.

I have sent the specimen to Rev. W. F. Johnson, of Po3mtzpass, and

think a notice in the Irish Naturalist may be desirable, as I believe the

species has not previously been taken in this county.

S. A. Brenan,
Knocknacarry, Co. Antrim.

130 The Irish Naturo.list. [May,

Notes on Coleoptera.

I must thank Mr. Johnson for his congratulations and good wishes
{sttpra, p. 70). There are one or two points in his notes which do not
concur exactly with my own observations, to which I should like to
draw attention. While I fully accept his observation that many of the
Carabi are particularly active at dusk, I was rather surprised to hear
that such is the case with C. niton, since it is only in bright sunshine
that I have found this species active on the Donegal mountains. In
dull weather I have always found it hiding during daytime in common
with other Carabi, It is somewhat remarkable that an insect which
becomes particularl}- active in bright sunshine should also become
active at dusk. I have onl}' met with C. nitens on the upper, uncultivated
portions of the hills,

Mr. Johnson's reminder as to sweeping at night is particular!}- happ)'
at the present time, just at the commencement of the season, and ma}-, I
feel sure, be borne in mind profitably by coleopterists in general. Wh}-
is it that so many advocate sweeping at night, while so few seem to
adopt this method of collecting ? Personally, although I am convinced
that night-collecting would yield most encouraging results., I must
confess that I have never yet tried it on a practical scale, but hope to be
able to give a good account of it at the end of the present season.

It is, as Mr. Johnson says, somewhat remarkable that I did not meet
with C. clathratus ; I have no doubt that it exists in the Fojde district.
It occurred in the collection of the late Dr. Osborne, of Milford, Co.
Donegal, which is now in the Dublin Museum. Pdophila borealis also
occurred in Dr. Osborne's collection. It is quite possible that I over-
looked Ccelainbus v-lineatus ; C. incRqtialis is certainly abundant everywhere
in the Foyle district

"With regard to Hydroponis Davisii and H. septenh-ionalis, has Mr. Johnson
ever actually observed either of these species rising to the surface for
air } I have invariably found these two species at the foot of mountain
rivers, in situations devoid of weeds. Being struck with their remarkable
habits, I have watched them frequentl}'' and long, but have never once
seen one rise to the surface, nor in fact rise more than two inches above
the river-bed on any occasion. Perhaps further observations on these
species may be forthcoming. It is to be presumed that they must
occasionally rise to the surfpce, but they certainh' do so at very long
intervals.

I must thank the Rev. Mr. Johnson for drawing attention to the previous
records of Myceiopoms nanjts and Ceiithorrhynchiis vidjiahis, which I am
sorry were overlooked. PJiytosns balticus I took blowing along the sands at
Buncrana, Co. Donegal, near the golf links. It was plentiful on the day
when I took it, but I did not meet with it subsequently.

I note that Philopcdon geviinafiis, which occurs in great abundance on

the sand-hills at Magilligan and Buncrana, varies considerably both in

size and colour, but I did not meet with an)' distinct large white form to

which Mr. Johnson refers.

C1.AUDE W. BUCKI.R.
Chichester.

1900. J Notes, 1^1

Additional records of Irish Coleoptera.

In going over my lists in connection with the catalogue of Irish
Coleoptera which I am preparing in conjunction with Mr. Halbert, I
have found a number of species which I have omitted to record. The
object of the present note is to rectify the omission as far as the
Geodephaga are concerned: — Cai-abus arvensis, F. — Ardara, in a bag of
moss; Newtown-Hamilton, among heather and at the margin of a little
stream ; all the captures were on high ground. Bradycellus placidiis, OyW.
— Ivoughgilly, in moss close to the lake, also among beetles sent to me
by Mr, K. R. Curzon from Ballycastle, Co. Antrim. Along with
it I received Plerostichus oblongo-pmictatus, F. A/nara siniilata, Gyll. —
Armagh. A. lunicollis, Schiod.— Newtown-Hamilton, and among beetles
sent to me by Rev. S. A. Brenan from Cushendun A. fami/iaris, Duft.
— Armagh, Maghery on Lough Neagh, and Newtown-Hamilton.
A. lucida, Duft. — Armagh and Coolmore. Anchomenus atmlus, Duft. —
Ardara, in moss. Cillenus lateralis, Sam. — sent by Mr. Curzon from
Waterford. Bembidiuui obtusum., Sturm. — Ardara. B. icneufu, Germ —
Benburb, among stones on bank of River Blackwater. B. Clarki, Daws. —
in moss from Scotstown, Co. Monaghau. B. doris, Panz. — among stones
on Coney Island, Lough Neagh. B. ///;/«/£•, Duft —Cushendun, per Rev.
S. A. Brenan. B. femorahim, Sturm. — Loughgall- B. briixellense, Wesm.
— Newtown-Hamilton and Loughgilly ; at latter place I took a number
under stones on which stacks of corn had rested. Pairohiis assimilis,
Chaud.— Carlingford, Maghery on Lough Neagh, Armagh at Drumman-
more Lake, and Ardara ; the specimens from the two last localities were
by error recorded as Pterostichns gracilis, Dej. Fogonus chalcetcs, Marsh. —
Greenore. Lcbia chlorocephala, Hoff. — a single specimen among some
beetles sent by Mr. D. C. Campbell from the shores of Lough Swilly.

W. F. Johnson.

Poyntzpass.

MOLLUSCS.

Some New Varieties of Irish Land IVIoIIusca.

Some years ago reference was made to a new Irish species oi Pisidiiim
which had been described by Dr. Westerlund in a paper published in
Vienna. The same distinguished conchologist now makes known to us
two new varieties of Irish species, but he has gone still further afield this
time in his choice of a journal wherein to announce his discoveries to
the scientific world.

The descriptions appear in a Russian journal, but luckily he refrains
from using the Russian language. They are in Latin, and since the
Annuaire duMusee Zoologiqtie de F Acadiviie Iniperiale des Sciences de St. Petersbourg
1898, is somewhat inaccessible to Irish readers, it may perhaps be as
well to reprint the description in full. The specimens were sent to Dr.
Westerlund by Dr. SchariF, who had taken the Siucinea Pfeifferi {elegans of
British conchologists) at Clondalkin, in the County Dublin. The
variety of Claiisilia bidentata was collected by Mr. R. Welch near Dunluce
Church, County Antrim.

132 The Irish Naturalist. [May,

Succinca Pfcifferi^ var. reticulata^ West.

Testa oblouga, dense striatula etliiieis spiralibus deusissimis, tenuissi-
mis at sub leiite perdistiiictis pulclierrime clathrata, anfracta 3,
supremus miuimus, secuudus couvexus, ultimus elougatus, couvexius-
culus, apertura oblouga, superue acuta, basi rotundata et retusa, duplo
quam spira lougior. — Loug. 12, diam. 4, apert. long. 8 mm.

Claiisilia bidcntata, var. variostriata. West.

Testa ventricosa, spira graciliter attenuata, fusca, ad suturam
impressam albidam plus minus crebre maculatim strigillata, anfr. lo-ii,
superi convexi, inferi planulati, summi laevigati, sequentes 5 et ultimus
antice fortiter striati, duo medii densissime striatuli, omnes densissime
spiraliter lineati, apertura rliomboideo-piriformis, lamella iufera profunda,
intus furcata, antice dilatato-abbreviata, plica principalis ultra, lunellam
producta, callus palatalis tenuis, coeruleus, plica (callo) basali forti. —
Long. 9-10, lat. 25-2I mm.

Forma sculptura singulari, lamella infera, plica priucipali producta
et colore calli excellens.

Bird Notes from North Tippcrary.

I am much obliged for Mr. Usslier's note on the supposed Reed
Warbler in the March Irish Naturalist (p. 81). I am anxious to obtain the
advice and criticism of experienced observers such as he is, and with
that object have ventured to contribute a note to this Journal. I hope
he and others will help from time to time, and thus make the Irish
Naturalist specially interesting to students like myself. I am not
acquainted with the Garden Warbler, though I had previously heard it
nested iu a few places near Nenagh. Comparing the description of it
and the Reed Warbler in Saunders' '" British Birds," it seems to me the
bird seen by me last May was much more like the latter than the
former.

My acquaintance with our spring migrants is generally made on
angling excursions, when I have no means of capturing a specimen.
Would it be possible to use a cartridge loaded with small shot in a
revolver, or how do collectors bring down their birds ? I have landed
bats on two occasions when evening fishing, and a swallow in daylight ;
but a fly rod will not do for birds generally. This district (Ormond Valley,
North Tipperary), is well wooded and sheltered, and it appears to be a
favourite resting-place for birds in the spring and autumn migrations,
and worthy of a naturalist's attention. On looking over Mr. Ussher's
paper, " Distribution of Birds Breeding in Ireland," I do not find the
Sand Martin mentioned in his lists. He queries the breeding of the
Great Crested Grebe iu Tipperary. For some years it has been fairly
common on Lough Derg, and breeds there. Last year I met it at the
mouth of the Nenagh river with young ones, at the edge of the reed
beds which line the lake. The Tern and Cormorant are on this lake all
spring and summer, and, I nm told, breed there. I have often met the
Yellow Wagtail on Islandmore and at Luska, Lough Derg, but could

1900.] Notes. 133

not find its nest. The Jay lias lately appeared iu Lord Dunally's
demesne at Kilboy, near Nenagh.

During the first fortnight of March flocks of Tits, Great Blue, Coal, and
Long-tailed, passed here ; many of them noisy in song, xlpparently
there were two kinds of Coal Tits, one with a clear blue-grey back, the
other oUve green. The blue-backed one appeared stronger and more
richly marked on the head. Are they distinct ? The large flocks of
Thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares, and Lapwings, which were to be seen
in every field up to the middle of last month, have quite disappeared ;
and numerous Magpies and Reed Buntings arriving with the south-
east wind and milder temperature give preliminary warning that the
great spring migration is near.

Nenagh. Michaei< G1.EESON.

Reed Bunting^s on the Sea-beach.

In my list of " Birds of Dublin Bay,'' published in Vol. vii., p. 229-239,
Irish Naturalist, I did not include the Reed Bunting {Eniberiza schaniclus')
not having observed it about that locality till this winter, when I
noticed it on four occasions.

(i.) January 27, 1900. — Noticed a Reed Bunting hopping about on the
edge of a salt water drain close to the Dollymouut golf links. Full
winter plumage. Sex, male.

(2 and 3.) February 25, 1900,) Noticed a male Reed Bunting on Doll}--
February 28, 1900./ mount strand.

The bird seen on these two dates was in full summer plumage. The
deciduary or marginal vernal moult having been completed, the head
was jet black, and the ring round the neck a beautiful clean white.

(4.) March 4, 1900. — Noticed another male Reed Bunting in winter
plumage on the DoUymount strand.

It is curious that all the records were of male birds, and that one
should have appeared iu full summer dress at so early a date. The
possibility of its being an old male retaining its nuptial plumage
throughout the year should not be lost sight of. Do Reed Buntings
often frequent the sea-beach 't

Trmity College. Chari^ics J. Fatten.

Nocturnal Habits of Grey Plover.

In the dusk of the winter evenings on many occasions, especially

during November and December, I noticed Grey Plover {Squaterola

helvetica) feeding on the hard ribbed sand uncovered by ebb tide. They

were generally noisy at the same time, pouring forth their plaintiff cry

of alarm. When it became quite dark, and the moon shone out, I

could see them still hunting for food. At night they seemed tamer than

in daylight, often flying across me at 40 yards distance. ] have seen

Grey Plover searching as actively for food in the daylight, but generally

on soft grass or mud-slob in preference to hard ribbed sand. Do they

prefer a change of diet at night ? From their constant active habits, it

seems these birds require but little sleep.

Chari,K3 J. Patten.
Trinity College. Dublin.

134 The Irish Naturalist. [May, 1900.

MAMMALS.

New Irish Locality for Leisler's Bat.

In his interesting communication to the Irish Naturalist of August,
1S99, pp. 169 to 174, and plate 8, Dr. N. H. Alcock showed that Leisler's,
or the Hairy-armed Bat, Pipistrellus Leisleri (Kaup), is at present known
only from the North and middle East of Ireland, and that in the former
portion of the country at least it is common.

It would appear that the distribution of this bat in Ireland may be
considerably wider than our present knowledge would have led us to
infer, for my valued correspondent, Mr. P. \V. Finn, sent me for identi-
fication from St. MuUin's, Co. Kilkenny, a live specimen (as well as a live
Pipistrelle), with a letter dated October 21st, 1S99. Mr. Finn remarked
that " it is a specimen of bat one rarely sees here, the long-eared one
being the most common." It appears that this specimen had its home
in a deep hole, of which the diameter was about li inches, in the wall of
a barn. From this hole Mr. Finn watched it for a fortnight, sall3'ing
forth "every evening to the minute at the same time." One day,
however, chancing to look up at the hole in the wall, he saw his friend
the bat at the edge of its abode asleep in the sun. With the aid of a
ladder its capture was easy, and it is now a thriving prisoner in the pos-
session of my friend, Mr. Oldfield Thomas, who reports that it has made
a most charming pet, clean, and absolutely devoid of fear. I have
myself seen this specimen in captivity, and its habits to some extent
agree with those of Mr. Alcock's specimen. Like that specimen it has been
taught to come for food on hearing a particular noise. On such occasions
it will fly right across a room and alight on the hand that feeds it; but
at other times it is averse to flight, and, if made to do so, will simply
fly straight across the room and settle on some object on the wall at
the opposite end. Its habits in this respect are in striking contrast to
those of its fellow-prisoner, the Pipistrelle (since dead), which was fond
of exercise on the wing, loved to fly in circles around the room for many
minutes at a time.

I feel almost sure that Leisler's Bat occurs here also, since, although
I have no specimen to produce in evidence, I have on more than one
occasion seen bats of a distinctly large size, usually flying in a straight
course and at a considerable height from the ground. Thus for about
half an hour from 8 p.m. on May 29th, 1898, I watched a large bat flying
about in front of the house at a height of about 60 feet or more. After a
time it flew away and disappeared over some high trees. It is probable
then that, as at St. Mullin's, so here, we have at least three species of
bats ; at least the distribution of Leisler's Bat may now be regarded as
including in its area the whole East of Ireland.

G. E. H. Barrett-Hamii^TON.

Kilmanock, Co. Wexford.

Juue, 1900.] 135

BOTANICAI. EXPLORATION IN 1899.

BY R. 1,1,0 YD PRAKGKR, B.A., M.R.I. A.

(Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, March 13, 1900.)
Owing partly to the si^lendid. weather of last summer, and
partly to the kindness of the Trustees of the National lyibrary
in allowing me an extended period of absence, I was able
during the season of 1899 to push on rapidly with the explora-
tion of the less known counties, and to add largely to the
records already accumulated for "Irish Topographical Botany."
About fifty days were spent in the field, and, though much of
the time had to be devoted to the compiling of lists of plants
(the necessary but hitherto neglected groundwork of local
ph3'togeography), the results were by no means devoid of interest,
as the following narrative will show. Owing to the length of
the season's work, it is possible only to refer to the various
excursions in the briefest possible terms. All picturesque
description and general considerations, of whatever interest,
have been of necessity cut out ; and the residue is little more
than an enumeration of plants which are either new to the
Districts or counties in which they were found, or which
possess some special importance.

The season was a ver}' backward one. A preliminary two-
day tramp on May 13-14 from Edgeworthstown to Granard,
and thence down the bog-filled valley of the Inny into
MuUingar, yielded little of interest except Lachcca 7ii7iralis at
Knockdrin, where a glance at Mr. I^evinge's papers showed
me it was already known to exist. On May 28-29 ^ went
further afield, and, as the guest of Mrs. Frank Joj^ce at St.
Cleran's, S.E- Galway, I had the advantage of her guidance
over the interesting limestone country with which, to Irish
botanists, her name is associated. The first da}^, spent about
Moyode, yielded new stations for Neotinea intacta and Ophrys
vmscifera, and Viola stagriina was seen flowering in profusion
in the turlough from which Mrs. Joyce has already recorded it.
On the second day Knockmae, near Tuam, the most con-
spicuous hill in N.K. Galway, was visited, and Mrs. Joyce
made an important find in Epipactis violacea, previously
known in Ireland only from the Clare limestones and one station

near Cong.

4

136 The Irish Naturalist. [June,

On June 3 I went to Shillelagh and worked across the hills
to Tiillow. The season was still backward, which was the
cause of my gathering Myosotis collina in good condition on a
wall at Tullow — the second inland station for the species in
Ireland, the other being Lough Neagh near Antrim. This
formed an interesting addition to the flora of District III.
Next da}' I worked down the picturesque Slane}^ as far as
Ballintemple, getting Geiim intcrviediiwi, Lath^'cea sqnamaria,
Eqjdsetuni hyemale, and other plants, and back across the
hills through Shillelagh to Tinahely, seeing great abundance
of Lastrea spi7mIosa in dr}^ woods between these places : in
Ireland it usuallj^ grows in open bogg}' ground. Next day I
w^as almost suffocated by heat in the Vale of Ovoca, where I
was listing the plants of Avondale.

June 9 to 13 was spent in North-western Ireland, in five

counties — one day in each — noting spring plants. The heat

was the fiercest that had been experienced for some years, but

fortunately I was in a region of lakes and rivers, and refreshed

by frequent swnms, I averaged 20 miles of walking and 60 of

rail per day. With Carrick-on-Shannon as head-quarters I

spent the first day in Co. Leitrim, northw^ard of that town.

The first plant to catch mj^ ej^e as I left the railway station

(on the Roscommon side of the Shannon), w^as Alatricaria

discoidea, an alien previousl}^ known onl}- from Co. Dublin,

but destined to play an important part in the present

season's work. The best plant of this day was Potamogeto7i

filijormis, which grew in the little lough of Annaghearl5\

The neighbourhood of lycitrim furnished an inland station for

Vicia angnstifolia, unrecorded for District IX. Next day I

listed plants in East Mayo, near Ballaghaderreen. ]\Iatricaria

discoidea welcomed me again at the railway station, and

further west Lnziila vcrnalis turned up in its second station

west of the Shannon, an addition to the flora of District IX.

The nth was spent south of Carrick-on-Shannon, among the

maze of lakes lying east of Klphin, in Co. Roscommon. A

long and verj^ hot time was spent in beating the woods and

marshes, and in crossing impossible streams — a couple of feet

of flowing water choked with weeds, with a j^ard of soft mud

underneath. The flora was interesting, though in no way

remarkable ; but on the homeward journey an exhausting

I900.] Prakger. — Botanical Exploration, 137

30-mile day was compensated for by the discovery of Carex
axilla?is in its fourth Irish station, the others being Kinsale
1866 (Carroll), Mountmellick 1885 (Hart), and Malahide 1894
(Colgan). It grew here sparingly by the roadside between
Grange and Lough Elia, accompanied b}^ both its reputed
parents, C. vulpina and C remota : C. mnricata was not present.
Next day I left Carrick-on-Shannon, and halting at CoUooney,
struck eastward along the heathery ridge of metamorphic
rock that breaks through the limestone plain between the Ox
Mountains and Lough Gill, worked along the Lough Gill
shore, and back to CoUooney. Habenaria albida on the
uplands and Neottia Nidus-avis by the lake were the most
noteworthy plants observed. Knniskillen was reached that
evening. Next day the heat was so intense that after a few
hours' work Mr. Plunkett and I were fairly driven home,
and did not venture out again till late in the afternoon, when
some work was done on the Lough Krne vShores below Ely
Lodge.

With this hot spell the flowers of a late spring all vanished,
and when I next went afield on June 17 it was full summer.
That day I worked down the River Nore from Attanagh to
Kilkenu}'. The stream yielded the running-water form (var.
gramiiiifolius) oi Potamogeto7i heterophyllus, new to District III.
Other additions to III. were Chenopodiiim B 071ns- Hc?iriais,
Plantago media (well established on a rough, brambly slope
near Lismaine House) and Lysimachia N^innnularia by the
river. Above Ballyragget was gathered Salix frnticosa
( = S. anrita x vimhialis^, a hybrid not previously recorded from
Ireland, and kS. tria^idra. On old walls both above and below
Ballyragget, removed from an^^ garden, Draba vmralis was
gathered in abundance. I had previously found it near Kil-
kenny (/. N., viii.. 88) and I should not be surprised if it
proves to be native in this part of the country. An evening
train took me to Athy, whence next morning I walked down
the Barrow to Levitstown Lock, and thence eastward across
the southern end of Co. Kildare, ending up my day at
Baltinglass, in Wicklow. Lysimachia Nummularia (new to V.)
below Athy and Festiica Myuros at Baltinglass were the best
plants seen.

A 2

138 The Irish Nahiralisi. [June,

On June 24 I took up quarters at Nenagh to pursue the
exploration of North Tipperary. Fesiuca Myuros and Lepi-
dium hirhwiy which grew on limestone walls near the town,
were new to District VII. ; my now familiar friend Matricaria
discoidea was here too. These, with Carex 7nuricata at L^ough
Ourna, were the spoils of the short first day — not to mention
the reall}' important item, a list of some 300 species. Next
morning I struck down the Nenagh River to lyOUgh Derg.
Crepis biennis and Dipsactis sylvesUis put in an appearance near
River View — the former very abundant in this neighbourhood,
the latter new to District VII. The shores of I^ough Derg
were examined from Dromineer to the end of Youghal Bay.
Geranitmi cohwihimcm appeared native on limestone rocks near
Shannonvale. On the north shore of Youghal Bay Inula salici?ia
was found. This is the most southerly station yet known
for this rarit}', and I doubt if it will be found further south
on Lough Derg, as the limestone here gives way to the inhos-
pitable Old Red Sandstone. Below Youghal grew CEnanihe
crocata, unrecorded for District VII., and Stellaria palustris.
The Teazel turned up again ; also Matricaria Chamomilla, new
to VII., but hardly established here. Next day I struck south
over the low ground to Silvermines, under a threatening sky.
The Silvermines Mountains were crossed in drenching mist,
and by the time I got down into the grand glen of the Mulkear
River it was evident that it was hopeless to attempt work on
the high grounds of Keeper, which towered up into the driving
clouds, so I worked down stream. Additional stations for
CEnanthe crocata and Lcpidiiun hirttim were found. The
clouds rose as I cleared the mountains, and I worked across
to Killaloe, where Petasitcs fragrajis, unrecorded for VII., was
seen ; also Festiica Myuros in both Tipperary and Clare. A
rapid reconnoitring of the Arra Mountains and an evening
walk to Birdhill brought a 30-mile day to a conclusion. Early
next morning I travelled to Athlone to join the Dublin Field
Club. Some account of our three days' work there has already
appeared in these pages.

I was back in Athlone on July 2, and spent a day in the poor
countrj^ lying to the westward — in Co. Roscommon. Four of
the plants noted were new to District IX. : — Viola odorata,
looking wild on banks near Athlone; Valeyianella olitoria,

1900. Prakger. — Botanical Exploration. 139

near Athlone ; Cauaclis nodosa, among the ruins of Castle
Sampson ; and 1 Mentha piperata on the site of Corkip Lough.
The railway tracks some miles west of Athlone yielded
Diplotaxis 7nuralis and Armaria tenuifolia, and, of course,
abundance of Lt7iaria viscida ; close to Athlone Matricaria
discoidea began, and almost monopolised the space. The same
group of plants, minus Diplotaxis, grow on the railway east of
Athlone (Co. Westmeath). Taking train next morning to
Mullingar, the first plant seen was Matricaria discoidea again,
swarming about the railwa}' and over the adjoining roadway
to the canal banks. Six miles of canal to the west of
Mullingar yielded little, and I turned northward to lyough
Owel, and thence to lyough Iron. Lough Iron does not appear
to have been explored by Mr. Levinge, and its southern end
yielded a good marsh flora, including Lathynis palustris^
Cicuta virosa, Galiiim uligijiosiun, &c. The River Inny,
between I,. Iron and Ballinalack, yielded some peculiar plants,
including a large pondweed still unnamed, and a sedge
which most resembles C aquatilis. I now struck across
country towards Lough Deravaragh. For some years past 1
have noticed when passing in the train a large patch of what
I felt certain was Typha angustifolia growing in the Inny below
the railway bridge. An opportunity was now afforded of con-
firming my diagnosis, and I was much pleased to find that my
surmise was correct. Excepting the recently discovered
station in Kilkenny (/.A^., viii., 11) this plant was known to
grow only in Ulster. The new^ station furnishes a connecting
link between the northern and southern localities. It was
now late, and I caught the train for Dublin at Inny Junction.
. My next trip was to Co. Waterford. July 7 found me
established at Dungarvan, which may be the dirtiest town in
Ireland, as stated in one of Mr. Hart's papers, but possesses
one of the cleanest hotels. The first day was devoted to
listing plants in the near vicinity. The following morning I
turned my steps eastward along the coast. About Abbeyside,
Ru?nex pulcher grows in some quantity. Excepting its casual
occurrences about Dublin, this plant was previousl}'
known only from Co. Cork. It w^as accompanied here by
Raphanus maritijuus. Clonea marsh, which has been described
by Mr. Hart in his " Flora of the Wexford and Waterford

140 The Irish Naturalist. [June,

Coasts," next claimed attention, and yielded two interesting
plants wliicli apparently escaped the keen ej^e of that observer
— Osmmida regalis, growing in grand tussocks amid a jungle of
reeds and willows, and Pinguicula hisitanica, here only a few
feet above sea-level. A long da}- w^as spent on the grand cliffs
from Balh'vo3de to Bunmahon, and thence up the Mahon
River to Kilmacthomas.

Next morning I started w^ork at I^ismore, explored the fine
wooded glen there, and worked down the Blackwater to some
miles below Cappoquiu. Potamogcton nitens, new to District
II., is plentiful in the river. On the banks above Cappoquin
I gathered a peculiar Nasturtium, which Mr. Bennett names
A^. barbara:deSi Tausch, = A'', amphibiiim x sylvestrc. As both
parents are known to grow about this portion of the Black-
water, the occurrence of the hj-brid is not unlikely. A plant
which is apparently the same, though unfortunately immature,
I had previously gathered b}^ the Shannon, on the I^eitrim
bank below Carrick. As A^. sylvestre is one of our rarest Irish
plants, and according to our present knowledge confined to
the Blackwater, Nore, Barrow and Erne, its extension to the
Shannon basin would be important, and I trust that some
botanist will take the hint supplied hy the h3'brid, and search
for it there. In the salt marsh below Cappoquin Cerastiiwt
holostcoidcs, Fries, a giant variety of C. triviale, was found in
its second Irish station. About Cappoquin, and indeed at
every town I visited in Waterford, Festuca Myuros grew. It is
a grass that has been overlooked in man}- districts of Ireland.
Heavy rain overtook me on my way to Cappagh. I gathered
Galium Mollugo on the railway bank there, and succeeded in
turning up one or two calcicole sj)ecies on the limestone — -
Orchis pyramidalis and Geranium lucidum. But the limestone
valley of the Blackwater is so choked with non-calcareous
debris from the hills on either side that the calcicole flora of
Co. Waterford is reduced to some half dozen species.
Thoroughly soaked, I took train at Cappagh for Dungarvan.
A 6-o'clock start next morning enabled me to skirt round
Dungarvan Harbour and examine the Conigar before taking
the morning train to Dublin. The Conigar is a strange sand-
bank i-^ miles long and often only a stonethrow wide, w^hich
almost cuts Dungarvan Harbour in tw^o. Cuscuta Epithyviu77i

1900,] pRAKGER. — Botanical Exploration. 141

and /imcus acuttcs, both recorded from here, were gathered, and
other plants less rare, but more useful for my lists.

On July 13 I went to Tuam for five days' work in Co.
Galway. In the afternoon I worked over Knockroe, a low but
conspicuous hill in this featureless country, past Moyne Abbey,
and northward to the Grange River. In a marsh east of the
stream, three-quarters of a mile north of Barbersfort, I got a
sedge which, thrown off my guard by its inland habitat, I did
not recognize as the familiar sea-side C distans\\\\ Mr. Bennett
named it for me. The only other inland locality I know of in
Ireland is Cleenishgarve, on I^ough Erne {LN,, i., 113) which
is omitted in Cybele. Splashing through the Grange River in
the dusk at the ruined corn-mill above Barbersfort, my eye
caught a smalLpondweed growing on the gravelly bottom of
the shallow rapid stream, which I recognized as the rare
endemic P. lanccolatus,^^\^%\\0'SA.s confirmed by Mr. A. Bennett,
who remarks that it is the same large-leaved form which I
sent him from Clonbrock {LN., v., 243), and for which he
suggested the name var. hibernicus. The only other Irish
station for the species is in Clare, and, so far, a 25-mile radius
will include its known localities in this island. Elsewhere,
it is known only from Anglesea and Cambridgeshire.

On July 14 a long loop was made for the exploration of
several lakes lying to the northward of Tuam. Not far from
the town Lamiiim intet medium, new to District VI., was
gathered. The Clare river below Weir Bridge yielded a
number of interesting plants, of which the conspicuous var.
Moorei of Apiiim inundatiim was unknown outside Ulster, and
Carex acuta was unrecorded for District VI. On the edge of
the bog here Carex distans was gathered again. A wet
patch of bog lying half a mile east of Killower lyOUgh
yielded a group of good plants — Lobelia Dortmanna, Eriocaiclon
septangular e, Rhynchospora fusca, Carex Ihnosa^ growing amid
an abundance of all three Droseras. This is an important
extension of range for the Pipewort. It was unknown
east of Lough Corrib, and the line showing its limit on
the map in Cybele must now be shifted 15 miles further
inland. Both it and Lobelia looked strangely out of place on
this low-lying limestone countiy. The rest of this day,
though highly interesting, calls for no special comment.

142 The Irish Naturalist. [June,

Next morning I sent ni}^ traps to Ougliterard b}^ rail, and
struck south-westward from Tuam. Maitha piperata, looking
wild a few miles out, is unrecorded for District VI. Further
on, characteristic plants of the limestone "crags" became
conspicuous — Aspcrula cyyianchica, Galiuju sylvestre, &c. I
struck lyough Corrib at the head of its long eastern arm, and
spent the day in working along its shores to Kilbeg. When I
had gone a short distance, an excellent piece of rough lime-
stone ground was met with due south of lAiimnagh (see i"
O.S. maps, 95 and 105). Here Gera7iium sa7to2iiiu7im, Rubia,
Thalidrum colliftiun, Gentia7ia venia, Galium sylvestre, &c.,
were abundant. Close to the lake grew Equisetuin variegatum ;
and best of all, on a stony knoll, Neoti?iea intada, now in
fruit. The headquarters of this rare orchid are on the Burren
limestones, where it is frequent over an area extending from
near Athenry to Castle Taylor, and thence westw^ard to the
Atlantic. Outside this continuous area, the only known
station was near Cong, where Dr. Moore found it many years
ago. My pleasure at discovering a connecting link between
these widely separated localities may be imagined. The
failing light compelled me to turn back at Clydagh to Kilbeg
Ferry, and it was dusk ere I touched the Connemara shore.
While waiting for a car to take me to Oughterard, I added
Matricaria Chamomilla to the flora of District VIII., found
Cala7ni?itha offici7ialis, and also Pi77ipi7iella 77iag7ia, which kept
me compan}^, in profusion, for many miles as I drove west-
ward. The following daj^ I devoted to listing Connemara
plants, working along I^ough Corrib and up the beautiful
western arm, and back by I^ougli Bofin. On the Corrib shore
below Newvillage bridge a ver}^ unexpected find was made in
Carex exte7isa. This is a characteristic sea- coast plant, and the
only inland station recorded for it in the British Isles appears to
be that in lycighton's Flo7'a of Shropshire^ which is now doubted,
as no vSpecimens exist, and the species has not been rediscovered.
Abroad, the only inland stations I can discover are in North
Italy, where it occurs occasionally quite inland — " rara nella
parte settentrionale ove si trova anclie a qualche distanza dal
mare" (Parlatore : Flora Italia7ia, ii., 207) — as at Bobbio for
example. The occurrence in western Ireland of maritime
plants in inland situations is a very interesting point, and

I9O0] Prakgkr. — Bota7iical Exploration. 143

clearly requires further observation. The rest of the day,
spent amid delightful scener}^, and surrounded by the
fascinating flora of Counemara, need not be enlarged on here"
About the railway west of Ougliterard an interesting group of
plants turned up — Arenaria temiifolia, Filago germanica,
F. viinima, and Sderantlncs anmius, all in some abundance.
The first is becoming a notorious railway denizen, but the
others are native plants, and the last two distinctly calcifuge
in their distribution : and as local material only was used in
making the line, I am inclined to treat them as indigenous here ;
they probably spread to this tempting open ground from other
stations in the vicinity. The Arenaria and Scleranthtcs have
no previous record from District VIII. On my last day I
started from Moycullen, and w^orked along the chain of lakelets
to Ross I^ake, thence eastward to lyough Corrib, and along its
shore to Kilbeg Ferry, and back to Oughterard. This is the
strangest country I have seen in Ireland. It lies on the very
verge of the great limestone plain, where the latter runs up
against the ancient highlands of Connemara. Wide bogs, the
flora ofwhich recalls Connemara rather than the limestoneplain,
in the apparent absence of Vaccinlum Oxycoccos 2i\i^ Andromeda
poll/olia, are interspersed with stony esker-like limestone ridges
thick with boulders, on which grow Gera7imni sangidneicm,
Ardostdphylos Uva-tiisl, Jnniperus nana, Aspenda cy7ia7ichica,
Gentlana verna, and other characteristic plants of what we may
conveniently term the Burren flora. With them Erica cmerea^
usually reckoned as a confirmed lime-hater, grows in plenty —
the only time I have ever seen it on limestone. Rising abruptly
out of the bogs are plateaus of limestone, their level tops some-
times composed of bare " crags " with their peculiar fiora, more
often covered with a low growth of hazel and briars so dense
that for the first time in Ireland I found myself absolutely
compelled to abandon my line of march. After half an hour
spent in struggling along, slipping on the smooth and deeply
crevassed rock, and pushing a way by sheer force through the
dense tangle, I thought myself fortunate in emerging, with
clothes, face and hands considerably damaged, not at the
opposite side of the thicket, but close to the point where I
had entered it. To return to the rarer plants — Oiionis
dfvensis and %Cichorimn Intybns at Moycullen, and Ejiphorbia

A 3

144 "^^^ Irish Naturalist, [June,

exigua at Ross Lake, were additions to District VIII. ; a more
interesting addition was Epipadis palustriSy which grew in
glorious profusion on the lake-shore all round Annagh Wood.
Best of all, Neotijiea intacta turned up again on limestone
mounds about Ross Lake and for a couple of miles north-
westward, forming another connecting link between its
northern and southern stations. I have little doubt that it
will eventually be shown to occur throughout the limestone
region stretching from Lisdoonvarna in Clare around Galwa}^
Bay and along the chain of lakes to Lough Carra in Mayo.
Potamogeto7i 7iite7is grew in Ross Lake, and Ophrys vinscifera
on ridges in the bogs between that and Gortmore, where I
struck Lough Corrib. Several islets were explored hy
swimming as I worked northward, but the rest of the day was
comparatively uneventful.

The next trip was to Co. Leitrim. July 21 was spent in the
district around Drumod — a curious country, consisting of
parallel low ridges and hollows, the former tilled, the latter
filled with bog or lake. On the bogs Rhynchospora fiisca was
abundant — a considerable northward extension of its range —
and Drose7'a i7ite?'media occurred. Rinn Lough jielded among
other things Stellaria pahcstris and Cicnta virosa. A late train
brought me to Ball3\sodare, whence an early start enabled me
to reach Manorhamilton by breakfast-time, and I was soon off
on foot for Bundoran via Glenade. In a wood b}' the roadside
north of Lurganboy I had the good fortune to get the beautiful
Pyrola inirior. Previous records consist of a single station in
Wicklow, two in Westmeath, and a number in the North-
eastern province (Down, Antrim, Derry). A rayless form of
Senecio aquaticus, corresponding to var. flosadostis of S.Jacobcsa,
was gathered here on the roadside. Willows are verj^ abundant
in Glenade, 5*. peiitand^-a, S. purpiirea^ and 6*. Caprea being
conspicuous. By the road I also gathered Polygo7mm Mite,
for the second time in Ireland, the other station being Lough
Ramor in Co. Cavan. I botanised round Glenade Lough, and
spent a few delightful hours on the huge cliffs which overlook
it, amid the profusion of alpine plants for which they are
famous. The fine specimens of Poly gala gra7idijl ova and Poly-
stichu7)i Loiichitis were particularly pleasing. Crossing the
valley I ascended the less attractive cliff-walled mountain

1900] pRAEGKR. — Botd7iical Exploration. 145

(1,487 feet) over L<argydonnell, and thence dropped down into the
low ground which stretches to the Atlantic. At Uragh I^ough
Rhyyichospora fusca turned up again in profusion, far beyond
its most northerl}' recorded station, with Dfosera interynedia and
other western plants. A swim in the dusk at Bundoran con»
eluded the day's work. I was off early next morning through
Kinlough and along the shores of Ivough Melvin. These
proved rather uninteresting. Salix fragilis, looking wild on
the lake shore, is unrecorded for IX. In the S.W. corner of
the lough, near the mouth of the Ballagh River, Poiamogeto7t
filifofviis was a welcome find, and P.Zisii, which I swam for
at Ross Point, is new to District IX. From Lough Melvin
through the mountains to Manorhamilton nothing special
turned up. Next morning I was on the I^eitrim shore of
I,ough Gill, via Dromahaire, at 9 o'clock. The scenery here
is exquisite, and the botany of no mean order of interest,
lyimestone bluffs overhang the lake, on which Taxus and Cortiu$
sa7igumea are native, and Orohanche Hederce grows freely. In
a deep glade Agrimo7iia odorata was in profusion, and it was
seen several times later in the day. By the Bonet River
Lysi77iachia Ntwwitdaria was abundant. In Dromahaire, on
the way back, Sisy77ibr'ium Thalia7Ui77i, unrecorded for IX., was
gathered, and train was taken for Dublin.

Three days were spent in Carlow on July 29-31. The
weather had again become intensely hot, which made field^
work ver}' arduous. Commencing operations in Borris
demesne, Lysi77iachia Niwmiularia and Agri77i07iia odorata^
growing in profusion in wild ground by the Barrow, were
added to the flora of District III. ; with them were Salix
tria7idra and Carex Pseudo- cy penis. Working up stream, a high
gravelly bank yielded E7igero7i acre^ Valeria7iella Aurii^ula, and
Gera7iium colu7}ibi7iu77i. Pota77togeto7i fiabellatus and P. hetero'
phyllns var. gyai7ii7iifo litis, are common Barrow pondweeds,
though hitherto unrecorded for III. Further up Cy7ioglossii7rt
officinale appeared in one of its rare inland stations. Near
Goresbridge I gathered Polygo7tu77t maculatum ("/3. densu77i f.
i7ica7iii77i " — A. Bennett), also new to III. Thence I cut across
to the railwa}^ and confirmed a station for Equisetum hyemale,
seen from the train on my journey down. Next day I tramped
southward many miles along the railway, and thence to the

146 The Irish Nahcralist. (June,

base of Blackstairs, where Radiola liiioides (new to III.),
Ajifhanis nobilis, Filago minima, &c., grew. Blackstairs was
ascended in sweltering heat, and thence in the cool of the
evening the lowlands were crossed to Borris. On the 31st I
worked from Carlow along the limestone country west of the
Barrow to Bagnalstown, and added some calcicole species to
the Carlow flora. Galcopsis aiigiisiifolia was, perhaps, the best
plant seen.

The weather was hotter than ever when I reached Waterford
on the night of August 11. The country was parched, and
the landscape danced in the pitiless heat. A start at 6 a.m.
appeared the best chance of doing any work, and I got away
ftom Mullinavat eastward, beat some moory ground covered
with delicious tart cranberries, and striking south ascended
Tory Hill, a conspicuous conical peak of Old Red conglo-
merate. On its southern flanks Agrimonia odorata and Liiitwi
a7igusiiJoIium Were observed, and by the stream at Catsrock
Bridge fine tufts of Osmunda, now very rare in Carlow. I
revisited lyOUgh CuUin without adding anything remarkable
to its flora, and struck south-eastward across country for
Ballinlaw Ferry, on the tidal Barrow. Agri77i07iia oderata
again appeared near the river. I worked down the Barrow
and up the Suir to the mill above Snowhill with good results,
and need onlj^ mention here plants additional to the notes
published by Mr. Barrett-Hamilton on the flora of the neigh*
bourhood {Joii??i. Bot., xxvii., 7 ; xxviii., 88.) At Ballinlaw
Beta maritima, and at Snowhill Spergularia media and Zostera
mariiia represented additions to the District III. flora. Two
much moreinteresting additions were, however, made. Corydalis
claviadata grew plentifully on a high rocky bluff overhanging
the river below Ballinlaw, and, curiously enough, splendid
specim_ens in full flower were obtained in this scorching mid-
August. Lower down, on rocks overhung by trees on the
beach, the beautiful variety aciitum of Asplenitwi Adiantiun-
nigrum grew with the type, in luxuriance rivalling its
Killarney home. The trees here hang far over the water, and
their lower branches are draped with seaweed, just as the
Florida trees are hung with pendent grey lichen. Waterford
was reached at 10 p.m. Next day I went early to Tramore.
A visit was paid to the far end of the remarkable isthmus
trom which the place derives its name in order to study the

I900-] Praeger. — Botanical Exploration. 147

question of the nativity of Bj'achypodium piyuiatum in its only
Irish station ; and I may at once say that I agree with its dis-
coverer, Mr. Phillips (/.iV., vii., 253), in admitting it without
reserve to our indigenous flora. Coming back over the salt-
marshes which lie behind the beach, ErythrcBa pulchella was
found in great profusion over a wide area ; Trijoliufn fragiferum
and Suceda were with it, and manj^ other halophytes. The
drier grounds near Tram ore yielded Agrimonia odorata,
Linaria Elatine, Li7itim angustifolium. Striking inland to the
westward, a group of rocky hills was visited which embosom
two little lakelets, which, with one other near Dun more, consit-
tutethe only standing water in the whole County of Waterford.
The larger of the two, Ballyscanlan Lough, is deep and clear,
and yielded Isoetes lacustris, in addition to Lobelia Dortma7ina
already recorded from here. Both species of Scutellaria and
other marsh plants grew by the margin. A terribly hot tramp
brought me northward to Mount Congreve, where once again
Agrimonia odorata was noted. Here it grew abundantly along
the roadside banks, mixed with A. Eupatoria^ afibrding a
very pretty study in the specific characters of the two. From
Mount Congreve to Waterford the Suir proved uninteresting
— a continuous mud-bank fringed with a forest of reeds. Now
for the first time the heat of this tropical summer was fairly
too much for me, and I retired ingloriously home.

I was on the tramp again on August 24, when five days
were devoted to East Galway. The weather was cool and
shower^', a delightful contrast to previous experiences, and I
averaged twelve hours in the field and twenty-five miles of
walking per day for the ensuing week. My principal object
was to carefully list the maritime flora of Galway Bay, an
almost unworked region. On the first day I worked from
Oranmore to Galway, along the only bit of coast-line which
N.K. Galway possesses. The poverty of the maritime flora of
the West compared with the East was steadily forced upon my
attention all day. The most interesting plants seen were
Glaucium flavum and Chenopodium rubrum. Dipsacus occurred
on dry' banks, and Solanum nigrum and Hyoscyamus in some
abundance on the beach east of Galway. From Galway I
wentN.E. along the course of the remarkable Terryland River^
which, reversing the usual order of things, flows out of the

A4

148 The Irish Naturalist. iJune,

River Corrib, meanders along a valley for a few miles, and
vanishes abruptly under a rocky hill. The modest twisted
flower-spikes of Spiranthes autumnalis^ with their delicious
fragrance, accompanied me everywhere. A five-mile gallop on
a rough dusty road in a cart without springs, accompanied by
wild 3'ells in our beloved Irish tongue, brought me in a some-
w^hat breathless condition back to Oranmore.

The coastline of the upper end of Galway Bay, between Oran
and Kinvarra, is broken by long peninsulas and inlets, like
the teeth of a comb, so that the twelve miles between the
points named is increased to fifty if one follows the shore.
The coast is low, bare, and inhospitable, excessively stony,
and devoid of sand or shingle beaches ; and so tangled are the
land and sea that one hardly ever gets a glimpse into the open
bay. I devoted two days to the exploration of this totally
unknown region, w^orking half way down the coast and
on into Kinvarra by road on the 25th, and next day working
up the other half of the coast and into Oran by road. Kven
omitting a number of long promontories, this gave close on
thirty miles of rough walking each day. The results were
poor, but not disappointing. The most remarkable plant of
the region is Artemisia 7naritima^ which first put in an appear-
ance near Kilcaimin, and throughout my two days re-appeared
in profusion at frequent intervals from there all the way to
Kinvarra. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that there is
more of this rare plant on that bit of coast than in all the rest
of Ireland put together. The only Galway record for the
plant is one from Carranroe, just on the border of Clare.
Polygo7ium Raii, near Ardfry, was the only other uncommon
maritime plant noted. On the first day, after leaving the
coast, I struck a delightful piece of ground at Ksker I^ough,
lying remote amidst a great tract of limestone pavement or
'* crags." The lake is a mile long, quite straight, and only 50 to
100 yards wide. Except in wet weather it is filled not with water
but wnth a level deposit of cream-coloured limy mud, hard
enough to walk on. Bushes of Rha?nnus catharticus and Coriius
sanguinea rise along the margin, and tall clusters of Lastrea
Thelyptetis ; the adjoining rocky slopes are covered with sheets
of A rctostaphylos and Dry as,, and a search revealed the fruit-
stems oi Neo tinea 3.n& of Gentiana ver?ia. Heavy rain and failing

1900.] Praeger. — Bota7iical Exploratio7i. . 149

light compelled me to beat a retreat here, and I was soaked
through when I reached Kinvarra, where grew Linaria
Cymbalaria, unrecorded for District VI. The features of the
return journey are summed up in the abundance of Artemisia
mariti?}ia and of the delicious Spiranthes autum7ialis. The
27th was spent listing seaside plants in W. Galway, from
Galway to Barna. Several plants unrecorded for District
VIII. were noted — Sagina apetala, at vSalthill^ ; Myriophylhcm
spicahim, at Galway Docks; Carduus pyc7iocephalus, at Galway
and Gentian Hill ; Li7iaria Cy77ibala^ia, at Galway ; Ruppia
rostellata, at Gentian Hill. Searching the gravelly promontary
opposite Barna House I was interested to find that the alpine-
calcicole flora for which Gentian Hill is famous — Gentiana
ver7ia, Ju7iiperus na7ia^ Dryas octopeiala, &e. — extends to this
place. On my fast day in Galway I worked up the Corrib
along the east bank. The rare Lemna polyrhiza in ditches at
Menlo was, perhaps, the best plant found. The great flats
where Lough Corrib narrows into the river yielded nothing
uncommon. In a ditch near Carrowbrowne a very pretty
form of Poia77iogeto7i heterophyllus^ unrecorded for VI., was
abundant. Thence I made a wide semicircle over rather
featureless inland country to Oranmore.

That evening I shifted headquarters to Athlone, and next
day worked across through Clara to TuUamore, in King's Co.
About Clara grew PeucedanuTn sativum (abundant on an esker),
Polygo7iu77i lapathifolium^ and Festuca Myuros, all unrecorded
for VII., and my old friend, Matricaria discoidea, formed a close
mat on the fair-green. The 30th was spent in Westmeath,
between Athlone and Moate, listing late plants. Centaurea
Scahiosa and Carex ^a^/anearGlynwood House, and \ Matricaria
Cha77iomilla on an esker north of Moate, represented additions
to the flora of VII. The last day of the season, August 31, was
cold and showery, and I spent a quite uneventful day in Ros-
common, about Ballinasloe. The most promising plant
gathered was a Burdock, which I suspected to be A. majus.
Mr. Bennett shares my suspicions, but also my lack of cer-
tainty. Thus ended my field-work in 1899.

National Library', DubHn.

'A station in VIII. is given b}' Mr. Colgan in last month's issue.

150 The Irish Naturalist. [June,

THE CROOKEDNESS IN THE STERNA OF CERTAIN
BREEDS OF DOMESTIC FOWLS.

BY PROF. R. J. ANDERSON, M.D.

Ordinary Barn-door Fowls have usually sterna with straight
keels, and the tail bones are set commonly in the same vertical
plane as that in which the vertebral column is situated.
Crooked keels are very common amongst the pure breeds.
What is the cause of the asymmetry? The nature of the
roosts, the early roosting of the birds, the nature of the breed,
the weight of the birds, the proximity of the roosts to the
w^alls of the fowl house, the state of health of the birds due to
the season or the time of hatching, or to the presence or
absence of certain substances such as lime in the food, or
w^ant of iron, or a rickety condition of the skeleton, due to
close interbreeding, may have an effect. Animals in our own
climate are much subjected to unnatural conditions (too little
fresh air and too much moisture are often causes of unhealth) ;
it is necessar>^ to take account of such factors in at-
tempting to ascertain the cause of the anomalies such as
the skeleton presents. It is also necessary to take note of
the fact that the isolation of certain breeds means more than
the separation of birds having certain colours or great local
growths of feathers or grotesque wattles. The cultivation of
a colourless or white breed of fowl may mean the perpetuation
of an imperfectly' pigmented nervous system, and although
pigment and lime do not appear to be necessary to each other,
it would seem that phosphates and phosphoretted fats
promote the efficiency of the nervous system. The
increased growth of wattles or feathers is also associated with
activities of another kind, which, if the skeleton do not
experience a corresponding increase in vigour, may actually
lead to a weakening of the bones. C. Darwin showed long
ago how the skeleton varied in rabbits, &c., under domestica-

1900.] Anderson. — Sterna of Domestic Foivh. 151

tion, and Ray Laukester has pointed out how a tissue of high
potential value may, in vanishing, afiford food for the manu-
facture of more massive tissues less highly organized. Hence
one must exercise much caution in coming to a conclusion
with reference to the real origin of the deformities in fowls.
The following breeds of fowl were kept separate for some
years : — Minorcas, Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, Brahmas, and
Spanish Blacks. Two lyCghorns showed wry tails ; all the
others were free from any marked deformity of this kind.
Crooked-keeled sterna were, however, frequent. The most
crooked keel of those preserved by me belonged to a Brahma.
The keel where the bend is greatest is almost horizontal.
There are marks of pressure in some cases. A broadening of
the edge is perceptible in two keels bent to the right and in
four bent to the left. An indentation occurs in front of the
middle of two sternal keels bent to the left. Two keels have
marks of beitig broken and reunited. The bend of the keel
is to the left in nine cases out of fifteen, and in six keels
to the right. The keels are sometimes crooked in water-fowl
which do not roost. There is a note to the effect that a
''Black Norfolk Turkey" with a crooked breast was mated
with a straight-breasted hen. The roosts were low and flat, the
reporter goes on to say, five male birds out of sixteen had
crooked breasts. The separate flocks referred to above were
allowed to intermingle after some years, with the result that
the crooked keels diminished in number. Guinea-fowls seem
not to follow the lines of the ordinary domestic fowl. Those
under observation at present have straight keels although
they are the fifth generation from a common stock. It is
possible that the original eggs were not laid by the same

bird.

The table herewith appended contains the answers of some
of the best known English fancy-fowl breeders to a series of
questions I sent round. The answers and foregoing records
seem to show that (i) in-and-in breeding, (2) the nature of
the roosts, (3) the nature of the season, (4) early hatching,
(5) defective food and cold may all contribute to produce
variations, and may rank among the predisposing, con-
genital, exciting, and concomitant causes of the anomalies.

152

The Irish Naturalist.

[June,

Thjs Cause of Drformity of the Keei.s of the Sterna,
AND OF Wry TAII.S in Fowxs.

Replies of twelve English Breeders of Piirc-bred Fancy Fowls.

No. of
Reply.

Question i — Are

crooked keels due

to roosting ?

Question 2 — May

crooked keels or

wry tails be due to

in-and-in breeding 'i

Question 3 — Are
such defects
hereditary ?

I

2

Yes,

No,

No.

Yes,

Crooked keels are.
Wry tails not.

May be, but crooked
keeled birds have
offsprings with
straight breasts.

Yes, if not acquired.
If acquired, not
transmissible.

3

Yes,

Partly,

4

No,

Yes, constitutional,

Yes.

5

Yes,

No,

No.

6

Yes,

Sometimes,

May be.

7

Sometimes,

Contributory,

Sometimes.

8

Due to roosts,

Contributory,

Yes

9

Early roosting ma}'
contribute.

Cannot offer an
opinion.

Wry tails are.

lO
TI

Due to roosts.

Crooked keels not,
but wry tails are .

Yes.

Due to perching too
early. Wry tails
due to perches
placed too close
to back wall.

Yes, partly,

No.

12

Early roosting, or
round perches.

No, .

No.

Queen's College, Galway.

I900,] • 153

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

Royal Zooi^ogicai. Society,

Recent gifts include a Markhor, and a Urial from Lord Roberts, a
number of Gold-fish from Mr.H.Pim, three Japanese Fowl from Mrs. C. B.
Marla)^ a number of small birds from Master Despard, a Golden Pheasant
from Mr. W. J. Williams, a Common Pheasant from Captain J. Carroll,
a Black Rat from Dr. H. FitzGibbon, a pair of Pigeons from Mr, C.
MacNaughten. Eleven hj'brid colts, between Horse and Zebra, were
most kindly lent to the Gardens by Professor Kwart of Edinburgh. A
Bactrian Camel has been born in the Gardens. A Genet, a Suricate, a
Hairy Armadillo, two Californian Quails, six Parrakeets, and a Rock
Mynali have been bought,

26,322 persons visited the Gardens during April,

Bei^fast Natural, History and Philosophicai, Society.
April, 3. — Under the chairmanship of Mr. Robert Young, C.E., Vice-
President, a paper, entitled " Some of the Work done by Committees of
the British Association," was read by Professor M. F. Fitzgeral,d,
B.A., M.I.C.E. In the course of his lecture the Professor said the real
and permanent value of the Association lay largely in the work not done
at the conferences, but elsewhere during the intervals between. Since
its inauguration the Association had granted about ;!f64,4oo for the
furtherance of inquiries of great public importance, while the eminent
scientists connected with it had freely granted their services. Every,
where the practical men of the world had to turn to the theoretical men
for their ideas and opinions. Through the efforts of the Association
Committees research and experiments of extreme importance had been
carried out in regard to electrical standards, steam navigation, steamship
performances, strength of iron and steel, requirements of provincial
museums, systems of teaching, inspection of elementary schools,
chemical subjects of a wide range, and numerous other matters ; while
at present a committee was engaged in testing w^hat dyes w^ere fast and
what fugitive. The influence of the Association in national matters had
not been by any means a negligible quantity, and had brought about
many reforms. It was by neglect of the advice of the Association that
many serious disasters occurred. The Association had placed before the
Board of Trade the necessary data for the framing of regulations on
various subjects at one-twentieth the cost which would otherwise have
been involved. At the conclusion of the paper, on the proposition of
Mr John Brown, seconded by Mr. C. M. Cunningham, a hearty vote of
thanks was accorded Professor Fitzgerald. Subsequently, through the
courtesy of Mr. E- A. MacGeorge, J. P., the members had an opportunity
of inspecting a large bomb found recently at a depth of eight feet in
estaurine clay convenient to the Scottish Provident Buildings,
Wellington-place.

154 The Irish Naturalist, [June,

BKI.FAST NaTURAUSTS' F1KI.D C1.UB.
March 20. — The Vice-President (Mr. F. J. Bigger) in the chair.
During the usual half-hour " gossip " Mr. IT. L. Orr exhibited the result
of his examination of a portion of ordinary' wild land, measuring only
3 feet by 2 feet, from which he collected, on the i8th February, 38 beetles,
comprising 21 species— i isopod crustacean, 6 icheumons of one species,
a moth, a butterfly, 23 shells of seven species, 2 species of spider, and
a mite. Mr. Hamilton exhibited some fine Lias fossils, and Mr. Gray
some foliated cr3'stals of iron pyrites from Co. Down.

At the formal meeting, held at eight o'clock, Miss S. M. Thompson
contributed a paper on " The supposed occurrence of a patch of White
Lias rock on the shore north of Macedon Point." This portion of the
shore of Belfast Lough was formerly covered with sand and shingle,
which were removed by spring storms, exposing the rock that attracted
Miss Thompson's attention, who considered the rock belonged to the
Rhaetic beds, and not to the Bunter division of the New Red Sandstone,
as mapped by the Geological Survey. Miss Thompson consulted
Professor Cole, and submitted specimens to Mr. M'Henry, of the
Geological Survey. Both gentlemen admitted the resemblance of the
rock to the beds at Waterloo, near Larne, and justified Miss Thompson's
provisional identification.

The next paper submitted was from Canon H. W. LETT, on the
occurrence of Natterer's Bat and the Whiskered Bat in Co. Down. The
former he captured at Aghaderg Glebe in June, 1897, and at the same
place, in March, 1899, he secured a specimen of the Whiskered Bat,
which, as in the case of Natterer's Bat, had not previously been
recorded from the Co. Down. The paper furnished interesting details
with reference to the character and distribution of all the known species
of Irish bats. During the discussion that followed Mr. R. Patterson
exhibited a specimen of the Whiskered Bat, captured by him at Dromore
in July, 1899.

Mr. Joseph Wright, F.G.S., delivered a lecture on " Post-Tertiarj'
Formanifera." The results of his labours tend to modify hitherto
accepted theories in reference to the origin of Boulder-clay, and the
results obtained within the area of the Field Club's investigations have
been confirmed by examples sent him for investigation by the Duke of
Argyll, Dr. Dawson, of Canada; Mr. Neilson, Scotland; Miss Andrews,
Wales ; Rev. Maxwell Close, Wicklow ; I. Smith, Ayrshire ; Colonel
Feilden, Novaya Zemlya, and many 'other contributors and correspon-
dents. The careful research necessary in the examination of these
beautiful but minute organisms may be guessed when it is considered
that a specimen of clay supplied by Mr. Gra)', from Bovevagli, Co. Derry,
which weighed only 4nbs., yielded 57 species, of which there were
43,000 specimens, which were so small that 100,000 could be placed on a
sixpence. Each communication was discussed, and after the election
of members the meeting was closed by the Chairman reading an
invitation from W. F. de V. Kane, D.L., to the Club to visit Co. Monaghan
during the coming summer excursions.

igoo.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 155

Aprii. 6.— Compi^imenT to Mr. John Vinycomb, M.R.I.A.— Some of
Mr. VinycomVs friends, having learned that there was a likelihood of his
soon leaving Belfast for London, took the opportunity of presenting him
and Mrs. Vinycomb with valuable expressions of their respect and
sympathy.

It was moved by Mr. Francis J. Bigger that the chair be taken by Mr.
Adam Speers, B.Sc, who, in his opening remarks, said that he had had
the privilege of long intimacy with Mr. Vinycomb. Mr. Vinycomb was
not only an artist unequalled in those departments he had made his own,
but he was a literary man as well — a rather rare combination— of which
his valuable contributions to Kx Libris, Sphragistics, Archaeology, and
Heraldry (in which he is recognised as one of the first authorities) gave
ample proof His genius and worth were best known to those who held
the highest places in the departments of art, literature, and science
in which he had specialised.

After the Chairnian's remarks, the meeting was addressed by Messrs
John M. Dickson, Joseph Wright, J. J. Phillips, John Stevenson, S.
Shannon Millen, B.L. ; and William Gray, all of whom spoke in terms of
warmest admiration of Mr. Vinycomb's genius and of his life-work in
Belfast.

The Chairman then presented to Mr. Vinycomb a purse containing
100 guineas, and to MrSc Vinycomb two magnificent silver candelabra.

Mr. Vinycomb^ replying on behalf of himself and his wife, said that he
was quite unable to give adequate expression to what he felt. He was
most grateful for all their kindness, and his earnest desire should ever be
to merit their esteem.

ApriIv 12. — Mr. J. M. Dickson in the chair. During the half-hour
" gossip" the structural details of belemnites, ammonites, and nautilites
were discussed, and illustrated by a series of instructive specimens
collected by the members. At the formal meeting, Mr. W. Gray,
M.R.I. A., submitted his report as delegate to the Dover meeting of the
British Association, reported on the steps originated by the Field Club
for inviting the British Association to revisit Belfast, and the favourable
reception given to the deputation from Belfast by the general committee
of the Association, indicating that the Association would probably come
to Belfast in 1902.

The Rev. M. Fahy delivered a lecture on '' Antiquarian and Natural
History Notes of the Parish of Duneane and Baron}^ of Toome." The
parish and church of Duneane, or Dunaeen (the fort of the two birds).
are of ver}- ancient date, extending back to the sixth century, or earlier.
Mr. Fahy, having fully described the topography and folklore of the
parish, described the crannoges, souterrains, forts, holy wells, and other
forms of antiquarian remains. Mr. Fahy spoke of the botany and natural
history of the locality, naming the characteristic plants, birds, and fishes.
From an economical point of view the Pollan, Salmon, andl^el are the
most important fish captured at Toome. Of Eels as many as 67,200 have
been taken in a night, and yet there is very much still to learn about the
life history of the Pollan, Salmon, and Eel.

At the conclusion a discussion took place, and some new members
were elected, and the meeting terminated,

156 The h'ish Natnralist. [June,

April iS.— Annuat, Me3':ting.— Francis J. Bigger, M.R.I.A., in the
chair. Mr. William Gray (Hon. Secretary) read the report of the Com-
mittee, which stated that there were now 322 members on the Societ3''s
list, and that the practical interest taken in the work of the Club was
fairly maintained. The following field meetings were held during the
year: — Armagh, May 20th; Cargan and localit}', June loth ; Dundrum,
June 24th; Dungiven and Limavady, July nth, 12th, and 13th; Toome,
August 12th ; Ballynahiuch, September 2nd. All the excursions were
well attended. A list was read of the papers brought forward at the
winter meetings, of which reports have appeared in these pages.

The report of the botanical section was satisfactory, their methods of
operation affording exceptional opportunities for becoming acquainted
with the flora of the North, under the presidency and guidance of the
Rev. C. H. Waddell, whose devotion to the interests of the Club the Com-
mittee gratefully acknowledged. The Cyperacese was the branch mainly
studied.

Of the prizes offered by the Club, Miss S. Blackwood secured one for a
collection of Liassic fossils, including twenty-five species from the Lias
of Islandmagee. Mr. Joseph Malcomson also received a prize for a
collection of Irish plants, consisting of 284 species, well-selected
examples, and beautifully mounted. The reports and statement of ac-
counts were passed. The election of officers was proceeded with. Mr. F.J.
Bigger, M.R.I.A., was elected President, and Mr. W. H. Phillips was
elected as Vice-President. Mr. Phillips was also re-electedTreasurer, and
Mr. William Gray, M.R.I.A., and W. D. Donnan, M.D. Hon. Secretaries,
with the following members of Committee : — George Donaldson, W. J.
Fennell, M.R.I.A.I. ; J. St. J. Phillips, A.R.I.B.A. ; John Hamilton,
Alexander Milligan, H. L. Orr, S. A. Stewart, F.B.S.E. ; John Vinycomb,
M.R.I.A. ; Robert Welch, and Joseph Wright, F.G.S. With reference to
the coming year's w^ork, it was suggested that a committee be appointed
to investigate the fauna of Lough Neagli, and, in anticipation of the
visit of the British Association, that a revised edition of the Club's guide
should be prepared.

Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei^d Ci.ub.

Al'RiIv 10. — The last business meeting of the winter session was held,
Mr. Greenwood Pim, President, in the chair. The minutes of the
previous meeting were read and signed. The Rev. W. E1.1.1SON read a
paper on " A New Use for an Astronomical Telescope," which will appear
in cxtcuso in a succeeding number of the Irish Naturalist. The President,
Mr. Palmer, and Dr. Alcock spoke on the paper. Dr. Alcock (Hon.
Sec.) read several " Natural History Notes " for Mr. J. G. Robertson,
who, through illness, was unable to be present at the meeting. One
of Mr. Robertson's notes on the occurrence of the Kingfisher at Ranelagh
will be found on page 159 of this number. The other notes dealt with
the growth of the old Acacia trees in the Sandford district, as
testifying to the age of the settlement of the neighbourhood. One
tree growing in the garden connected with the rectory of Sandford

iQoo.] Proceedhigs of Irish Societies. 157

is probably the oldest and largest specimen of the species to
to be found in Ireland, being about sixty feet high. It originally
possessed five great limbs springing from a trunk, which contrary to the
usual habit of growth of the Acacia is is only about three feet high.
This tree has lost two of its great limbs ; one of them measured in
section 21 inches by 16 inches ; the three remaining limbs appear to be
equal to this size. The circumference of the trunk at a foot above the
ground is about thirteen feet. The great limbs are bare of branches
until they reach a height of thirty feet or so. But what is most remark-
able in connexion with this tree, is, that a common Holly about ten feet
high, with a stem of two inches in diameter and branches thin, greatest
spread about six feet, foliage of a fine healthy growth, is growing upon it.
In the concave surface of the top of the trunk, encircled as it is by the
limbs, in course of time a deposit of decayed vegetable matter, added to by
dust and soot during along series of years, formed a sufficient bed for the
vegetation and support for a time of a holly-berry dropped by some
passing bird. But how has a Holly-bush, resting on such shallow soil,
withstood the drought of many seasons } No doubt its roots made their
way into the trunk, and have now worked through it into the ground.
The Rev. W. Ellison, Messrs. Peth3^bridge and Smyth were duly elected
members, and Mrs, Ellison and Mr. G. W. Nicholson nominated as can-
didates for election at the next meeting.

May 12,— The first excursion of the summer season took place, A
party of thirty left Amiens-street by the 1.50 p.m. train for Malahide.
The Rev. W. Ellison acted as conductor. The members walked along
the Portmarnock road in the direction of the strand, until the fossiliferoiis
limestone rocks were reached. Here Dr. Foord demonstrated to the
party the presence of many forms of fossils (brachiopods, trilobites,
crinoids, &c,), and collectors secured some interesting specimens. After
a most enjoyable afternoon the party proceeded back to the Malahide
Hotel, where tea was provided at 5 o'clock.

Cork Naturai,ists' EiEi.t) Ci.ub.

May 5, — The first excursion of the season was made to Waterfall and
Ballincollig. The party explored the glen, and bog between the two
places, with the following results: — Ranitucuhis kcderaceus was very
abundant, and Chrysospknium oppositifolinm was in some places a veritable
covering for large pieces of rock. The fertile stems of the Equisetiim
arvense were very much in evidence. Two thick clumps of Saxifraga
tridactylites were found on an old wall. Many of the hedges were
composed almost entirely of Vaccinitun myrtillus. A great scarcity of
mosses was noticed in this district.

158 The Irish Naturalist. [June,

NOTES

BOTANY.
Cladlum Jamalccnsc and Carex riparia In Co. Down.

A winter's da}^ ten years ago, I spent in going over the then partially
constructed line from Downpatrick to Killough, by invitation of my
friend, Leonard Bell, C.E., Resident Engineer. At the point where the
foundations of the bridge over the Killough-road were pegged out, the
leaves of a large sedge were noticed, which I could not identify at the
time ; and driving back to Downpatrick in the twilight, another
unfamiliar cyperaceous plant was seen forming a dense grove in the
centre of a marsh by the roadside, three miles from Killough. "When
cycling last Easter I revisited these spots. The plant at the former place
I now recognized as Carex riparia^ and I observed it growing abundantly
in ditches by the railway around Killough distant signal. The second
plant was also duly refound, and turns out to be Cladinnijamaicense. Both
of these species are to be reckoned among the rare plants of Co. Down.
Cladium had not been seen in the county for a century till Mr. Stewart
and I rediscovered its only station near Castlewellan, and I subsequently
found it near Strangford {I.N. vi., 219). C. riparia had four previous
records :—Gillhal! (Corry); Lough Neagh, 1838 (Hyndman); near
Belfast, 1806 [extinct] ; and Lough Neagh, 1810 [close to Hyndmau's
Station], Templeton.

R. L1.OYD PraegER.
Dublin,

ZOOLOGY.

CRUSTACEA.

Trichonlscus vividus at Cappag^h.

When on a visit to Mr. Ussher's beautiful demesne at Cappagh, Co.
Waterford, last summer I met with Trichoniscus vividus in large numbers.
This rare woodlouse occurred under fallen leaves and sticks close to the
shores of an artificial lake. It was first recorded from Portlaw, Co.
Waterford, by the late Prof. Kinahan. I subsequently' took it at Borris,
Co. Carlow {Irish Nat. vol. iv., p. 319) so that Cappagh is the third locality in
Ireland. It has never been found in Great Britain, and on the Continent
it only occurs in the Pyrenees.

R. F. SCHARFF. '

Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

1900.] Notes, 159

INSECTS.

Lepldoptera of Coi Cork,

A valuable list of Lepidoptera, taken for the most part uear Tiinoleague,
by Mr. R. J. F. Donovan, appears in the current number of the
Entomologist (vol. xxxiii., pp. 143-7), The rare noctuid Laphygtua exi^ua
is added to the Irish list, while Leucania imipunda {extraned) and Sterrha,
sacraria are recorded from this country for the second time ojily,

MOLLUSCS,

Irish Land and Freshwater Mollusca.

In the /ournal of Conchology, vol. ix., 1900 (pp. 299-301), Mr. L. B. Adams
in his presidential address to the Conchological vSociety has some
interesting notes on Limncta involuta, Geomalacus inaadosiis, and Irish
slugs generally. Commenting on the great variability of Irish slugs, he
remarks that the distribution of varietal forms in the British Isles *'is
exactly what we should expect if we accept the theory of a Lusitanian
origin for our slugs which has been so ably set forth by Dr. R. F. Scharff
in his European FannaP

BIRDS,

Springy lYIlgrrants In Co. Wexford.

It may interest readers of the Irish Natiiralist to know that on April
19th the Cuckoo came into this neighbourhood. On the 6th April a
Golden Oriole came to my lawn, remaining till next day. On May 8th
the Orange-tip Butterfly was in full flight.

Thos. B. Gibson.

Ferns.

A Kingfisher at Ranelaerh.

About three months ago, whilst taking a walk in the grounds attached
to the residence (Sandford) of Mr. J. Pile, I was surprised at starting a
Kingfisher. It appeared to have been looking after some of the small
fish which have been put into an artificial pond formed within the last
four years. As the Kingfisher is a rare and shy bird, this appears to have
been a daring little fellow to come down from a mountain stream in
search of food within a few yards of the back of a terrace, which may be
said to form a continuation of city streets.

J. G. Robertson,

Dublin.

i6o The Irish Naturalist. [June,

Hoopoe In Co. Antrim.

A fine male Hoopoe ( Upupa epops) was shot on April 23rd at Glendun,
Co. Autrim, by Sir vSamuel Black's gamekeeper. It had probably only
just arrived, as its stomach was quite empty. It was in excellent
plumage.

Robert Patterson.

Belfast.

Call of the Spotted Crake.

On the loth of May, 1900, having been informed by my butler that an
unknown bird had been calling for several nights, I follow^ed the sound
for about half a mile until w^e located it in a swampy spot that was
impassable. It was then about 10 p. m. The note w^as incessantly repeated,
like " whuit, whuit, whuit," uttered in a loud, clear tone that reached
far and wide in the stillness of the night, and was not interrupted b}' m}'
approaching within thirty or forty yards. Since the loth inst. it has
only been heard once, so that the bird may have passed aw^ay ; but it
should be remembered that the Spotted Crake has bred in Co. Roscommon,
where Col. Irwin found the eggs he has presented to the Dublin Museum.
As this bird is a summer visitor to England, it should be watched for in
sw'ampy places in Ireland now, and as its call-note is so clear and far-
reaching there should be no difficulty in recognizing it. The descriptions
of this sound given by Mr. Howard Saunders and Mr. Dresser left no
doubt on my mind that my conjectures as to what the species was were
correct, though I could not see it.

Richard J. Ussher.

Cappagh.

Egyptian Goose In Co. Derry.

A very perfect specimen of the Egyptian Goose was recently shot near
Toomebridge by a farmer who found it feeding among his own geese.
Where it came from is not known. It is now stuffed, and in the
possession of Mr. Frank Grant, Toomebridge. It measures 21 inches
in length, iS in height, with a length of leg about 6 inches.

This bird is hardly ever found in these climates except in ornamental
waters. Many unusual visitors, such as the Stormy Petrel, have also
been found iu this neighbourhood, round I,ough Beg.

M. Fahy.
Duueane Rectory, Toome.

[No authenticated wild specimen of the Egyptian Goose has occurred
in these islands, and there can be little doubt that the bird recorded by
Mr. I'ahy had escaped from confinement. — Eds.]

1900.] Notes, i6i

Notes on the Influence of Man and Civilisation

on certain Birds.

We often read statements in print to the effect that man and his civi-
lisation are frequently driving away birds or other living creatures from
their haunts, not because such haunts are thus made unsuitable, but
because the too close proximity of man is objectionable, I suspect that
such cases are frequently exaggerated, and that, in the case of birds, it
is often rather the capture of the adults, the robbing of their nests, and
the general destruction of suitable and attractive breeding places, than
any indirect influence which is at work. At all events it is pleasant to
record instances where birds have become quite accustomed to the
inroads of civilisation. While travelling from Dublin to New Ross,
through the beautiful country traversed by the Dublin, Wicklow, and
Wexford Railway Company's line, I have more than once noticed Wild
Ducks sitting quij:e at their ease on some pool quite close to which the
train passed at full speed. F.ven the wary Heron too has come to regard
the works of man with such familiarity, that he sees no need to interrupt
his fishing when a train appears. I must confess, however, that I was a
little surprised to catch a glimpse of the reddish breast and blue back
of (what I had previously regarded as quite a shy bird) a Kingfisher as
the train rushed past the dyke by the Slaney over which it sat, We
passed within about twenty yards of the bird, but it remained seated, as
far as I could see, quite motionless on a branch overhanging the water.
The large black and white Kingfisher, Ceiyle rudis (Linn. ), is, apparently,
not so sensible. This bird is a common and conspicuous species in lower
Egypt, its haunts being the banks of the Nile, and of the numerous canals
and dykes which intersect the cultivated country. An interesting thing
happened to me in connection with one of these birds on one occasion
as I was travelling by rail from Ismailia to Cairo. A dyke ran alongside
the line for some distance, and by this, at a place where no intersecting
branch met it, sat a Kingfisher. On the approach of the train the bird
took flight and attempted to fly away, keeping its course, however,
along the d3-ke. Its speed, however, was not as great as that of the
train, which slowly, but surely, overtook it. The chase lasted for some
little distance. At length we came right up to the bird, which all the
time had not the sense to attempt to escape by leaving the dyke. It was
forced to turn and fly back, and I could plainly see its open bill as,
utterly fatiguedj it gasped for breath and shrieked with terror just as
the carriage in which I was passed it. The observation is also, I think,
of interest as giving a slight idea of the pace attainable by this bird
when on the wing and at its best speed. It evidently cannot fly at a
rate of thirty miles an liovir, at least for more than a very short distance.

G. E. H. Barre;tt-Hamii,ton.

Kilmanock, Co. Wexford.

1 62 The Irish Natufalist, [June, 1900.

MAMMALS,

Martens In North of Irelandii

A female Marten (J/a;7'c.T.'.j/z'a//Va) was trapped at Bryausford, Co. Down,
on 15th February, 1899. It was in rather poor condition. But the finest
Marten I have yet seen was trapped at Castle Dobbs, near Carrickfergus,
Co. Antrim, on 8th July, 1899. It was a male, weighed 4 lbs., and the
colour of the fur is almost black. Thompson records Martens from both
of the above localities,

Robert Patterson.

Belfast.

Whiskered Bat In Co^ Down.

On July 28th, 1898, I received a Whiskered Bat (VesJ>erh'h'o 7nystacimis)
from Dromore, Co. Down, being the first record for the county. In 1899
another one was obtained by Canon Lett, as mentioned in a paper read
by him at a meeting of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club on 20th March,
1900.

Robert Patterson.

Belfast.

Hairy-armed Bat In Co. Wexford.

I am pleased to be able to corroborate my friend, Mr. Barrett-Hamilton's
belief, that the Hairy-armed Bat occurs in Co. Wexford. lyast summer
I repeatedly observed it at Ballyhyland, where a group of bats of this
species are in the habit of frequenting a certain pasture-field (called the
"lower cow-pasture") every evening throughout a great part of the
summer. Having become familiar with the aspect of Vesperugo Leisleri on
the wing in Co. Wicklow — where Dr. Alcock kindly conducted me to
some of its favourite haunts — I was able to recognise it here with con-
fidence, though of course I am still desirous of finding its sleeping-place
and obtaining a specimen. In previous summers the shrill and frequent
cries of this bat had often attracted the attention of myself and others
when passing the gate of the lower cow-pasture, showing that the spot
has long been a customary haunt ; but until 1899 I had noidea from what
species the screams proceeded. Cow-pastures seem, both here and in
Co. Wicklow, to be favourite resorts of the Hairy-armed Bat, though not
visited till somewhat late in the evening.

C. B. Moffat,
Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford.

Irish Naturalist, Vol. IX.

Plate 5.

Abnormal Shells of Helix nemoralis, from Bundoran. 7iat. size

¥

,a««.

>.**«ii5«e^JimKr-

av^.

Egg-cluster of the Kerry Slug, Geomalacus maculosus, Allman, x 2.
To face page 163.

uly, 1900.] 163

ABNORMALITIES IN THE SHEIvL OF HELIX

NEMORALIS.

BY R. WELCH.

[Read before the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, December, 1S99.]

(Platk 5-)
Of the comparatively few and much prized specimens of
reversed Helices that are to be found in public museums, or
in the cabinets of private collectors in the British Islands,
probably the majority are of Helix neuioralis, and of these the
greater number, if localised at all, will be found labelled
" Bundoran, South Donegal." Visitors to that well-known
health resort find old peasant-women selling, for a few pence,
long necklaces made of the dextral forms of either H. acuta,
H. cf icetoncj/i or H. nemoralis ; the last, being more plentiful
and more ornamental than the others, is the species generally
used. These land-shells are collected on the great sand-dunes
that stretch from the cliffs at the Fairy Bridges, Bundoran,
almost to Ballyshannon, and along the Erne River to its
mouth. So far, the old women only use the empty shells that
may be found in thousands in the dune hollows, and the
stock there seems sufficient to supply the local demand for
long years to come, without touching the living ones.

With theseoccurafew beautiful scalariform shells (Figs. 12-19)
which are doubtless recognised in the collecting, and suitably
cared for ; the less rare sinistral (Figs. 1-8) and malformed
specimens being likely noted and laid aside as the mass of
shells are pierced for use.

Although abnormal shells like these are occasionally

recorded in the scientific journals from other places, the total

finds of reversed and scalariform specimens of this species

from the whole Kingdom during this century, are probably

far below those found at Bundoran alone in the last twenty

years. During this period about 900 of the former have been

received by members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club,

mainly by Messrs. Gray and Svvanston, who have passed most

of them on to collections in various parts of the United

Kingdom, a smaller number having also been obtained by

visitors to the district from the old women themselves. For a

A

164 The Irish Naturalist. [July,

number of years past about 60 to 100 per annum seem to have
been found, with one or two "spiders" as I have heard the
scalariform shells called at Bundoran.

In addition, some rather interesting " repairs " occur (Fig.
8), also specimens having a considerable rough extension to
the otherwise complete lip (Figs. 10 and 11), and an occasional
reversed form wdth a tendency to the scalariform shape (Fig.
7). The majority of the latter are however lower in the spire
than the common dextral form. Some of the last are very
high in the spire, wdth deep suture, and I have seen ten
specimens distinctl}^ scalariform ; a few of these are in the
Dublin Museum. One or tw^o were fairly fresh young
specimens. These are, I take it, merely monstrosities wiiich
occur oftener here than elsewhere. Of the reversals, on the
contrary, were they a distinct race now extinct rather than
mere "sports"? Their numbers seem to favour the former
idea, and I have never seen a really fresh specimen, or one with
epidermis on. A few^ show the banding as clearly as frCvSh
shells, but this (as witness the well-known Dog's Bay finds)
may be the case even though they have been buried in dunes
for ages. The}^ are of fair size, and, on the whole, wxigli more,
when not sand-eroded, than the typical living specimens.

On one of my visits to Bundoran, while hunting for " shell
pockets " I found living on a small area of the dunes a thick
heavy form of var. hyalozonata (Fig. 9) with the white lip w^hich
accompanies that variety. The pale yellow epidermis is very
thin and hardly a trace of it remains by the time the shell is
completed. This, wherever else I have collected it, has
always been a much lighter shell than the type of the locality
where it occurred, and this is also the experience of friends
who have given special attention to this species ; by type of
course I mean the ordinary banded and unhanded forms with
dark lip. At Bundoran, on the contrary, many of the shells
of hyalozonata, though smaller than the type there, are thicker
and heavier, so much so, that three or four of the heaviest
weigh almost as much in proportion to their size as the average
heavy sub-fossil specimens from Dog's Ba}-, Co. Galwa}^ Four
specimens w^eighed respectively 50, 42, 30, and 27 grains,
average 37, a high average even when compared with the
heaviest typical shells,

igoo- 1 WkIvCH . — A bnormal Shells of Helix nemoralis. 1 65

These were evidently some of the " oldest inhabitants," as
the epidermis was quite gone. Of the fourteen in all collected
alive, eight weighed over 20 grains, and the others, younger
shells of the first or second year with lip barely completed, 10
grains or over. The only other place where I got this variety
over 10 grains in weight was at Islandmagee, Antrim coast ;
one of three there weighed 15 grains. But my friend, Mr.
Edw^ard Collier, of Manchester, obtained one at Folkestone of
17 grains, and another at Bally vaughan, Co. Clare, of the
same weight, with two much lighter ones. Three specimens
in his collection from Peel, Isle of Man, weigh under 6 grains
each, and four others from various localities average 8 grains.

The typical shells at Bundoran are rather strong and heavy
(as will be seen from the weights of others, from coast
localities also, that I give for comparison), but though I
examined hundreds, I could find none over 34 grains, and only
one of that, the average of the four best being 28 grains, of the
ten best 25 grains, much under the weights of the variety
respectively. The discrepancy is still greater in the following,
which were also selected from the heaviest specimens I could
get in each case. Of course, though all were alive when
collected, the shells were well cleaned and dried before
weighing.

WEIGHTS IN GRAINS.

Grains.
Portrush dunes. (Out of alarge number, two weighed

17 each.) Average of nine best, . . . = n

Whitepark Bay, Co. Antrim. Average of ten, . = 9J

Portstewart dunes, Co. Derry. (One 17.) Average

of 10, . . . . . . . = 10

St. John's Point, Co. Down. (None over 13.)

Average of 12, . . . . . = 10

Newcastle, Co. Down. (Shells are thin on dunes

here, especially at southern end, and the lightest

I have collected anywhere.) Average of ten, • = 4

These were the ordinary banded and unhanded forms

(mostly libelliUa), and they were all collected at places w^here

there seemed to be an abundant food-supply —the main factor, one

might expect, in the formation of a heavy shell. In the case of

the Bundoran specimens, on the contrary, all of the heavy

A 2

1 66 The Lisli Naturalist. [July,

variety were found on a ver}' bare sandy patch in the most ex-
posed part of the dunes close to Finner Strand, where only a few
plants grow sparingly among the Bent {Psamma are7iana).
Here they are very liable to be covered up several inches or
even several feet deep bj^ the shifting sands blowing in from the
beach with the prevailing wind. Though many of the type
are to be found here also, the latter are in greatest abundance
in the inland hollows of the dunes near the River Erne, which
are well turfed over, with plenty of food-plants.

I could understand the Bundoran shells, as a whole, being
heavier than those from inland or north-eastern coast localities,
if a moist climate and freedom from severe frost are among the
favourable conditions necessar}^ for long life, and consequent
possession of a thicker shell. But why the var. liyalozonata,
usually a much thinner shell, should here become heavier
than the typical Helix 7temoralis I cannot understand, and
mention the fact in the hope that it maybe of interest to those
conchologists who are engaged in working out life-histories
of the land mollusca.

It is certain that a moist, mild climate does not alwa^'s lead
to a thick shell, unless other conditions favourable to its
formation are also present. It does seem to influence the
size as a rule, and on Valencia Island, S.W. Kerry, the mildest
corner of the British Islands, this species is large, though thin
and light. I judge by a large number which have at different
times been collected there by Miss Delap. She states that
they do not hibernate in winter, but only retire for short
periods in dry or cold weather to the roots of plants. Thirty-
five of these large shells weigh on an average onl}^ 9*25
grains, the heaviest being only 1 1 grains, yet they feed prac-
tically all the 3^ear round, and the food supply is plentiful.

On the Great Isle of Aran, Co. Galway, this species grows
to a larger size than elsewhere in Britain ; for their size
(many 26 by 19 mm., average 25 b}" 19 mm.) they are
not heavy, nine specimens collected by Mr. R. LI- Praeger,
now in the Dublin Museum, averaging only 13 grains. The
climate is like Valencia, moist and mild, and the molluscs
live in the deep crevices of the limestone terraces, where there
is good shelter and food is plentiful. These shells prove that
an abundance of calcareous matter present does not necessarily

1900.] Wei<CH. — Abnormal Shells of Helix nemoralis. 167

result in a thick shell, even when the other conditions also
seem favourable to weight or size, or both combined.

Dr. Scharff kindly calls my attention to the fact that our
thickest British shell, Unio viargaritife7% lives in the mountain
streams of granite areas, where the amount of lime present
must be very small indeed. But for these, and some similar
cases, I would have ventured the opinion held by many others,
that thick shells were the result— in part at all events — of a
plentiful supply of lime in the animal's food. So far as these
heavy Bundoran shells are concerned, Dr. Scharff considers
that, possibly by the action of the salt spra}^, an abnormal or
pathological condition of the mantle is produced which may
explain the excessive deposition of lime in the shell. The
number of specimens found there which have an abnormal
continuation to the otherwise complete shell, like Figs. 10, and
II, seem to confirm the correctness of his conclusions.

It would be interesting to know how long this species will
live under the specially favourable conditions present in many
places on the west coast of Ireland. I have some still alive
that were full grown when collected in September, 1898, on
the Belfast hills ; and the majority of 44 Helix aspersa collected
in October, 1S96, at Whitepark Bay, are now, after more than
three years, still alive. Some of these were quite adult and
fully a year old, I should say, when collected. They have
been well fed each summer, and protected from severe frost
in winter.

EXPI^ANATION OF Pl.ATE 5-

Figs. I — 8. Sinistral shells.

,, loandii. Specimens with abnormal continuation to
the shell.

,. 12 — 19, Scalariform specimens.
Fig. 8. Repaired and distorted sinistral shell.

„ 9, Heav)', thick specimen, var. hyalozonta (50 grains).

Belfast.

1 68 The Irish Naturalid. [July,

THE EGGS OF THE KERRY SLUG,

GEOMALACUS MACULOSUS, AI.LMAN.
BY THOMAS ROGERS.

(Pt.ate 5-)
Though many naturalists have gone hunting for the Spotted
Slug in its native haunts, ver)^ few seem to have seen its eggs :
indeed, I know of only one published reference to them — that
quoted by Dr.Scharff in his "Slugs of Ireland,"^ on the authority
of Simroth, who states that Signor de Silva e Castro had seen
the eggs in Portugal, and that the}- were quite transparent.
In view of this, perhaps, the following observations on 0:%^
clusters obtained man}' years ago b}' myself, and some lately
by Mr. R. Welch, ma}^ be of interest.

In August, 1875, I received a Gcovialanis from Kerry, and
placed it in a glass jar along with a little carrot, cabbage
leaves, and lettuce, which were renewed from time to time,
occasionall}' washing out the jar with clean water. The
Geo7)ialacus seemed to keep in good condition and bright-
looking. In the August of the year following I found that it
had deposited eleven eggs of an oval form, about three-
sixteenths of an inch long, which appeared to me ver}- large
for the size of the slug. The eggs were almost transparent,
or opalescent. A month later, when cleaning out the jar, I
found that six of the eggs had assumed a dark colour, due to
the development of the pigment-cells of the 3'oung slugs ; and
soon afterwards I found that one of the young slugs had been
hatched out, and began to creep about the bod}' of the parent.
The two remaining eggs had become quite dull, with no
apparent vitalit}' in them, and in one I observed a small
worm-like entozoon working round the inside of the inner
wall of the ^gg. Another egg-case had collapsed from some
cause. All the young that were hatched out were kept during
the following winter, except that now and then one or two
were missing.

On the 30th of May, 1877, the jar was examined, and T found
that all the young slugs, except one, had disappeared ; this
one I placed in a separate jar, but it ultimatel}' died. I came
to the conclusion that the 3'oung slugs had been eaten b}'
their parent. From the j^oung slug that had been separated
from the mother slug I took out the internal shell.

^ Tratisactions o{ W\e Royal DubHn Society, 1S91, p. 553.

I900.J Rogers. — The Eggs of the Kerry Slug. 169

On the 29th July following I noticed that the Geomalaais
had deposited fourteen more egg'>. which were slighth^
adhering to each other by mucus. These were removed
into another jar, and kept separate from the parent slug. On
20th August eight more eggs were deposited, and placed in
a separate jar, as I was anxious to raise a few adults. The
eggs which were laid at the end of July were examined on
October 12th, and I found that seven slugs were then grown to
about half to three-quarters of an inch long ; one Qgg had
collapsed ; what became of the others I cannot tell.

The eggs deposited on August 20th had not been hatched
when I looked at them on October 12th, but by the end of the
month the}' were all hatched, except one, which appeared to
be dead. These young slugs increased in size until the
beginning of February, 1878 (having been fed with carrot) ;
two of them were then found dead, and very much attenuated.
The odontophores of these were found to have the same
characters as those of adults.

Of the slugs hatched from the eggs deposited at the end
of July previousl}', I found one dead on the 20th of Februarj^,
1878. Thinking that they died for want of animal food, I
cut an earthworm in three pieces, and placed it in the jar
with four or five Zonites nitidulus. On clearing out the jar
on March 17th, 1878, I found that the j'oung slugs had
begun to diminish in size and number, only two moderately
healthy ones remaining, and another much reduced in size,
with its head eaten off and the internal shell exposed ; of
the others I could not find a trace. The earthworm had not
been eaten, the head and tail divisions of the worm were still
alive, but the centre part was dead. 1 also found that one of
the Zonites had a hole through its shell, and the latter was
empl}'. On the 17th March I examined the jar in which were
placed the first batch of eggs which I had separated from the
parent, and found all the young slugs dead, except two. The
discovery of four internal shells of the others leads me to put
down their disappearance to cannibalism.

On July 19th, 1878, the parent slug was found dead, but
from what cause I could not determine. It might have been
through old age, want of proper food, or excessive heat of the
month (the latter most probably). The young slugs seemed

lyo The hish NahwaUst. [Ju^y>

to die when they attained the length of about half or three-
quarters of an inch. I did not know their proper food, and
perhaps I ought to have attended oftener to the cleaning out
of the jars with fresh water.

Mr. R. Welch informs me that, while in the Kenmare district
in Ma3% 1898, assisting in the arrangements for the Field
Club Union Conference held there two months later, he
collected a large number of Gcomalacus, some of which he fed
well on lichens and lettuce, to show at the winter meetings in
Belfast and Dublin, On Jul}' 22nd one of the slugs laid
eighteen eggs in a cluster, parti}' eating three before he had
time to remove them, and on the 25th three more were laid.
These were loose, not attached. About a week later the eggs
had turned quite brown, and had shrivelled up to half their
size, .so he placed them in weak alcohol for preservation.

During an Kaster visit to the same district last 3'ear, Mr.
Arthur W. Stelfox kindly collected for him some more
specimens near the tunnel on the Glengarriff road. These
were larger and much darker in colour than those previousl}*
obtained in more sheltered positions at about 900 feet less
altitude. On July 20th the largest specimen (40 mm. long
when at rest, 17 mm. wide, 15 mm. high) laid twent\'-seven
eggs, twenty-four in a cluster and three free; the cluster
measured 31 by 16 by 14 mm, ; the eggs were fairly uniform
in size, the largest 8 J by 4:^ mm., the smallest 6 by 4 mm.
The}^ varied slighth' also in shape, some being almost ovoid,
but the majority distinctly tapered at one end, not unlike the
shape of a Guillemot's egg. No attempt was made to hatch
these ; they were promptly distributed to friends who had
never seen them. These GeoviaIac2(s egg-clusters are very
beautiful objects, as the photograph (Plate 5) of the last lot
Mr. Welch obtained will partly show. They are translucent,
with a pearly opalescence which it is impossible to render
properly in monochrome, if, indeed, at all.

The Irish specimens are certainly not transparent like
those reported from Portugal by Simroth {loc. cit.) ; trans-
lucent, with a small transparent area at the narrower end in
some cases, would better describe them.

Manchester.

i9oo] 171

SOME MOSSES FROM NORTH-EAST IRELAND.

BY J. H. DAVIKS.

In the case of muscological botany it seems unsafe to say of
any large district that it has been so thoroughly explored that
nothing remains to reward the patient investigator. Many of
the mosses are so minute, and their distinguishing marks
such that they cannot well be recognized without micro-
scopical examination, they are liable to be overlooked or
mistaken. Even in areas that have been best searched by the
keenest-eyed and most experienced observers one need not
dCvSpair of meeting with something which has been previously
unnoticed. From time to time in the course of the last few
months, as my scant opportunities permitted^ I have found
pleasure in renewing and extending an old acquaintance with
these attractive plants, and have met with several species of
some rarity and with others that I had never before gathered.
A few brief extracts from my notes on some of those that have
come under observation, chiefly within a radius of about four
miles from Lisburn, and a few noticed between Kilroot and
Whitehead, on the County Antrim coast of Belfast Lough, may
not be unwelcome to those interested in our Irish moss-flora.
In addition to some of them being new to the north-eastern
district, the short list now supplied includes the names of
three species and two varieties which were not before known
as Irish plants. These are Torhila inarginata, Amblystegium
Jiiratzkamtm, and A. variuvi ; the var. acutifolia oi Barbula
tophacea, and the var. subglobosa of Weisia viridula. The
latter variety it would seem has not before been noted as
British.

It will have been noticed that for several of the more
minute Fissidenics, which have a wide distribution in Britain,
the Irish stations so far recorded are singularly few. In the
absence of fructification the}^ are difficult to determine, and
even when in fruit may have been passed over without being
discriminated from the nearly allied and everywhere common
Fissideyis bryoides. But the bryological productions of many
parts of our island have been too much neglected. In Dr.
Moore's " Synopsis of tbe Mosses of Ireland" -(1872) only

A3

172 The Irish Naturalist. [July,

eighteen counties are mentioned. Irish bryologists are
unhappily few in number, and the places of those best known,
who in recent years have gone ad phcrcs, have not been filled.
Such researches as I have been able to make during the past
winter (the season in which most of the species of the genus
Fissidais are in perfection) have been rewarded by the
detection in the neighbourhood of Lisburn of three scarce
species, F. cxilis, F, incurviis and F. viridnlus. Specimens of
each have been examined by Mr. H. N. Dixon, M.A., F.L-S.,
for whose kindness therein, and in various other wa3'S I wish
here to express my most sincere thanks. F. pusilhcs, a species
which Mr. Stewart discovered in Co. Antrim some years ago
(and which is not known elsewhere in Ireland), and /'. taniarin-
difolius, which I have had in view, have so far eluded me, but
these I hope may yet be found.

Polytrichum g^racile, Dicks.— Damp peaty places ou White Mouii-
taiu, Co. Antrim. Moore states that it is common in Ireland. It is
not found to be so in the North, but, as he says, it may sometimes be
passed over as a weak state of P. coinmtme, to which it has a general
resemblance.

Dlcranella crlspa, Schp. — With Polytrichum nanum var. longisctiim.on
a sandy bank by the Ravarnette river, near lyisburn, Co. Down, where
it was abundant and in good fruit in November. It is one of the
rare species, first recognized as Irish near Belfast by Templeton in
the beginning of the present century.

Dlcranella SQuarrosa, Schp. — In wet places on White Mountain,
Co. Antrim.

DIcranoweisia cirrata, Lindb.— On Hornbeam and other trees in
several places about L,isburn, Co. Antrim. Seems to be rare in
Ireland (though frequent in England), and cannot now be found in
Templeton's original locality, which was the only other station for
this moss in Co. Antrim.

Flssldens exills, Iledw. — On a clay bank, by the roadside, near the
quarry, at the foot of White Mountain, Co. Antrim. One of our
rarest Irish mosses, hitherto known only in two places, both near
Belfast, the last notice of it being by Mr. Stewart (iSSo). A very
minute and beautiful species, which mij;ht be overlooked for a small
form o{ P. l»yo ides, but, even without close examination, the short
bright red seta and large acutely-conical lid, which is about as long
as the capsule, will be found to be good distinguishing characters.^

1 Since writing this I am informed that P. exilis has recently been met
with by Mr. S, A. Moore, also in Co. Antrim.

1900.] DavieS. — Some Mosses from North-East Ireland. 173

Fissldens virldulus, Wahl.— On moist sandy banks, by the side of
the road over Tullyard, and at Lisnatrunk, Co. Down, also in similar
situations at Ballymacash and Derriaghy, Co. Antrim, and in other
places near Lisburn. Dr. Moore knew of only one Irish locality
(Howth), and it cannot be found that there is any later record.
From the frequency of its occurrence about Lisburn it may be
assumed that it will be met with elsewhere. A smaller plant, with a
shorter fruit stalk than F. bryoides. As Mr. Dixon points out to me,
the male inflorescence is very small at the base of the stem, whereas
in F. bryoides it is pretty conspicuous in the axils of the upper leaves.

Fissidens Incurvus, Starke.— Cla}- banks by the wayside at the
southern slope of White mountain, and in a like situation by the
sea-side at Kilroot, Co. Antrim. There is no mention of this in the
"Synopsis," and it was unknown to Mr. Stewart when making his
catalogue of mosses for " Flora of the North-east of Ireland.'' The
moss, I make out, was first recognized in Ireland by Canon Lett, who
has sent me specimens which he gathered at Derryadd, Co. Armagh,
in 1S85. Mention of his discovery, he informs me, was made in a
paper soon afterwards read by him before the Belfast Naturalists'
Field Club, but not published in their Proceedings. The same
bryologist also met with it later in Co. Louth (^Proc. R.I. A., 1890).
We have thus four Irish stations for the moss, two of which are in
the Norih-east. In its typical fruiting state it is easily separated
from the allied species. The seta is longer than in the preceding
plant, and the capsule ceruuous, not erect as in that. In his most
serviceable "Handbook," Mr. Dixon says: "When in fruit, and
closely tufted, the plant bears a superficial resemblance to Dicranella
varia,'' a remark which, if taken as having reference mainly to the
fruit, is very good. The plant occurring at Kilroot is a very small '
and most interesting form, one which Mr. Dixon, to whom I sent
speciiriens, says he had not before seen, but both leaves and fruit
having all the characters oi F. incujvus, it must, he states, be referred
to that vSpecies.

Pott la Heimii, Flirnr. — Abundant along the sea-coast from Kilroot to
Whitehead, Co. Antrim. A maritime species, which Moore gives as
rare in the North, I suspect it is not uncommon. It would seem
that he missed seeing it in Co. Derry, but Mr. Lett has collected it
at Portstewart in that county, and Mr. Dixon records it from the
Giant's Causeway.''

Tortula marginata, Spr.— On the face of red sandstone rocks near
Derriaghy — Milltown, on the left-hand side of the road from Lisburn
to that village, May, 1900. An addition to the Irish moss-flora. In
the locality named it occurs in profusion, growing not in tufts or
cushions, but in wide-spreading patches. The thickened leaf-margin
is best seen under the microscope, but the form of leaf with nerve
excurrent in a greenish mucro is distinctive, and by the delicately

^ fourn, Bot. xxix., p. 362.

174 The huh Naturalist. [July?

slender vSeta of pale amber colour tinj^ed with red it ma}- readil}- be
separated from other species of the section to which it belongs.
Derriaghj' was one of Templeton's favourite localities, and the
exposed sandstone by the w-ayside there has been often searched
both by Mr. Stewart and myself. It seem? singular, therefore, that
the plant was not previously recognised. The stem is very short,
and in the absence of fruit the plant would be almost certain to
escape notice.
Barbula tophacea, Mitt., van acutifolla, Schp.— With IVebera
carnea on a steep clay bank b}' the Lagan canal at the first locks
above Lisburn, Co. Antrim. The t3'pe is rather common, but the
variet}', I think, has not before been noticed in Ireland.

Welsla microstoma, CM.— In old gravel-pits about Ivisburn, both
in Down and Antrim, where it is usually associated with Phasatm
sulmlatuvt. lyiable to be mistaken for Weisz'a viridula, which it nearly
resembles, and is likely not uncommon.

Welsla viridula, Hedw., var. subg-Iolisosa, Schp.— Bank by the
Lagan, about a quarter of a mile below Lisburn, Co, Dowm. In fruit,
May, 1900. The form of fructification differs widely from that of
normal W. viridit/a, the capsule (on a shorter seta) being sub-globose
with a much shorter lid. "Your IVeisia seems to agree very well
with the var. subglobosa, Schp. as described by Lirapricht. The
peristome teeth are red instead of pale, but I do not think this would
stand in the way of the identification. It is curious that the spores
seem larger in some of the varieties than in the type. This is the
case with the above variety (in which your plant agrees), and with
the var. densifolia. I do not think it has been recorded in Britain
before." Dixon in lit., 23 May, 1900.

Encalypta vulg-aris, Hedw\--On limestone by the sea at Whitehead,
Co. Antrim. Seems to be rare in Ireland In the north there are
three other stations, in none of which has it recently been seen, so
I am informed by Mr. Stewart.

Funaria fascicularls, Schp.— Sandy stubble fields at Blaris, Co.
Down. In no place did I notice more than a few stems together.
A rare species, which Moore has recorded from only two counties.

Wetoera annotlna, Schwgr. — On crumbling red sandstone in the glen
near Derriaghy, Co, Antrim. With immature fruit in June, 1900.
Five stations have been placed on record for this plant in Ulster,
where it seems to be confined to Down and Antrim, and in two of
them (Templeton's) it has not recently been seen. Klsewhere in
Ireland it would also appear to be very scarce. The time for fruiting,
according to Mr Dixon, is summer, but it is a dioicous species and
very rarely fertile. Early in June the fructification of my plant was
vStill unripe. Templeton states that he obtained it in fruit in March,
1806, and again in April, 1809, which notwithstanding his characteristic
care and accurac}', causes some suspicion that a mistake may have
been made. Mr. Dixon informs me that most of the alpine plants

1900.] Daviks. — Soi}?c Mosses from North-East Ireland. 1 75

distributed as W. amiotiua with fruit seem to he IV. comimiiata. I
have not seen examples of the plant recorded from the Mourne
Mountains by Canon Lett. It might be well to re-examine the
specimens gathered on Slieve Donard, on the chance of their proving
to belong to IV. covmnitata., a rare moss not known to occur in
Ireland.

Bryum murale, Wils. — Wall at " The Plantation," Lisburn, Co. Down,
and bridge over Lagan at Lambeg, Co. Antrim. Apparently rare
wnth us, but more likely that sufficient care may not have been used
to separate it from nearh' related species.

Brachythccium salebrosum, B. and S.— Boggy ground in a field
on the left hand side of road from Lambeg village to Derriaghy, Co.
Antrim. An addition to the North-eastern list. In his ■' Synopsis,"
under B. Mildeamim, of which Hypnuiii salebrosum is cited as a
synonym, Moore gives only three stations for the species, and notes
it as " very rare in Ireland."
Eurhynchium, praelongum, B. and vS., var. Stokesii, Brid. —
Foot of Beech trees in the wood at Ballymacash, Co. Antrim. Not
before recorded for the North, and appears to be uncommon in
other parts of Ireland. Interesting as having been first described
and figured as a separate species by Dawson Turner in " Muscologise
HiberuicEe " (1804) from specimens gathered hy Dr. Stokes at Lough
Bray. Turner, however, expressed a doubt of its being entitled to
specific rank, and it seems right that it should have been reduced to
the position of a variety.

Eurhynctiium pumilum, Schp.— Sandy banks in the wood bj- the
roadside at Ballymacash, Co. Antrim. From the scant}- records we
have for this plant it seems to be rare in Ireland, but it is more
likel}', I think, that it has been overlooked. It is usually barren,
and, in the absence of fruit, not easily distinguished in the field. In
the locality now given it is very abundant, covering a high sandy
bank for a distance of many yards. I was successful in finding
several tufts with perfect fruit in April. The fruit-stalk being very
short, the capsules are only slightly exserted above the dense
cushiony ramifications, and not readily detected.

Eurhynchium murale, Milde. — Damp walls about Lisburn in both
Down and Antrim. It seems a mistake to suppose this species has
any special preference for calcareous districts. Common in England.
I vsuspect, from what I have seen of it here, it will be found less rare
in Ireland than the few stations recorded have led one to suppose.

Amblystegium Juratzkanum, Schp. — Stony and peaty ground by
the sea, about half a mile east of Kilroot, Co. Antrim, April, 1900.
New to the Irish flora. Amongst some tufts of a Bryum of doubtful
species collected at Kilroot that I had sent to Mr. Dixon, he informed
me that he had met with a few short stems winch he considered
might safely be referred to this species. The}- agreed well with
specimens of Juratzka's own gathering of the plant. A fragment

iy^ The Irish A^ahi> a list. [July,

about half an inch long he o1)li^in<^]y returned to me, and pointed
out characters by which the speciCvS might be known. So much
interest was aroused l)y his kind information that T revisited the
locality, when I had the satisfaction of finding it with fruit. It is
more robust than A. serpens, with broader leaves, more distant and
subsquarrose, and spreading when dr}'. A plant of continental dis-
tribution, it was first described as British in a recently published part
of Dr. Braithwaite's '' British Moss-P'lora.' At that time it was
known only in one locality in Sussex (Mitten, 1893), but has since
been met with in other English counties.

Amblystcgrium varlum, Lindb.— Stony and peaty ground, close bj-
the sea, about half a mile east of Kilroot, Co. Antrim, April, 1900.
In my quest for the preceding species another Amblystegiiun was
noticed differing alike in habit of growth and general aspect both
from A. serpens and A, Jiiraizkannvi. On subsequent examination this
proved to be the present species, A. variian, and is also an addition to
the Irish moss-flora.

Amblystegrium irriguum, B. and S. — On decayed wood in the over-
flow^ stream from the reservoir, Magheraleane, Lisburn, Co. Antrim.
There seem to be only two other Irish stations known for this
plant. Mr. Stewart informs me that he has "found it only in
Drumbo Glen, Co. Down, where it was fruiting in summer of 1887,
but it was omitted from ' Flora N.E.I ' through an oversight."
Moore knew of it only in Roscommon. Perhaps not so rare as
appears, since it might be overlooked when not in fruit.

HypnuiYi revolvens, Sw. — Boggy places on White Mountain, Co.
Antrim. Though noting this plant for only three counties Moore was
probably correct in writing " not rare in Ireland." In North-east,
we have no mention of it for Derry, but it is frequent amongst
the Mourne Mountains, and has also been found near Carrickfergus.

Lisburn.

I900.] 177

SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERS.

Sexual Dimorphism in the Animal King^dom, a Theory of
the Evolution of Secondary and Sexual Characters. By

J. T. Cunningham, m.a. Londou : A. aud C. Black, 1900 : Svo,
pp. xi. & 310. Price, 12s. 6d,

To criticise is one thing, to construct another. In this book, Mr.
Cunningham, whose criticisms of the Wallacian denial of the inheritance
of acquired characters have been so efficacious in repelling a lodgment
by the followers of Weismann on debateable ground, has himself
attempted to occupy it and to build thereon a theory of the application
of the transmission of acquired characters to the secondary sexual
characters of animals. To do this he has given us a very interesting, if
not quite exhaustive account of these characters with many new facts,
and this part of his book will, I think, give it a permanent value. But
I feel sure that for those of us who are in the same camp as Mr.
Cunningham, the better part for the present is to aim at keeping the
ground clear, rather than to put up works and push forward wxak forces
which will but give fresh occasion for the advances of our leading
opponents ; while their inevitable destruction will strengthen the idea
prevailing among the enlightened laity, like Mr. Balfour and Mr. Kidd,
that the views held by Charles Darwin are now exploded.

As follows from what we have just said, the author seeks to demonstrate
that secondary sexual characters are the results of the response of
the organism to stimulation, either from within or without. Thus, the
growth of the beard in Primates is " due to the stimulation of the growth
of the hair by teeth or nails in the combats of mature males ;" but on
the next page we find: "What is wanted is evidence concerning the
influence of mechanical irritation of the hair follicles on the growth of
the hair." The probable cause of the loss of the body hair is traced to
the wearing of clothes. " In all communities the women pay more
attention to the wearing of clothes than men, and this agrees with the
fact that women, as a rule, have less hair." In illustration he cites the
fact that young animals, like mice and rabbits, born into close warm
nests, are naked, and suggests that the carrying of the children on the
mother's back, in a fold of some garment, in primitive times, was the
cause of the denudation of the infant. On the contrary, the Mandrill is
supposed to have acquired the bare grooved patches of its face, by the
males scoring one another in their fights for the rarer females, while
their coloration elsewhere is explained by the attentions of their mates.
Again, the mane of the male Baboons and of the Lion, like the plumes
of cock birds, are supposed to have been gained by the habit of these
animals of raising them when excited.

The development of vocal sacs in the males of mammals, birds, and
frogs is more obviously traced to the yielding of the walls of the cavities

178 The Irish Naturalist. [July,

under the stress of sexual excitement. Horns are derived from the use
of the head in buttini^. In the very interesting discussion of the various
kinds of horn no mention is made of the use of the horns in the reindeer
for shovelling away snow, as an explanation of their presence in the
female. We miss in all this section any attempt to bring these secondary
sexual characters into correlation with " recognition marks," so obvious
in the deer and antelopes, with their combination of white " sunflower "
patches of erectile hair with scent glands, so as to make a double appeal
to their fellows. This seems the more remarkable, as it is an obvious
suggestion that sexual ornamentation is derived from recognition marks
by intensification.

The chapters on insects and crustaceans are very interesting, the
former dealing, to some extent, with the question of protective mimicry.

The book is admirabl}' got up, well written, well illustrated.

MarcUvS HarTOG.

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

RoYAi. ZooLOGiCAi, Society.

Recent gifts include an African Wild Ass from Mr. W. H. Goodwin,
three black-headed Gulls from Mr. F. H. Greene, a pair of Crowned
Pigeons from Mr. J. N. Lentaigne, a Parrakeet from Mrs. Blair White, a
Kestrel from Mr. W. W. Despard, and a Long-eared Owl from Mr. R.
Warren. "Five Wolf-cubs have been born in the Gardens.

13,320 persons visited the Gardens during May.

Dublin Naturai^ists' Fiei<d Ci.ub.

June 9. —The second excursion of the season — to Lambay Island —
took place under the direction of Dr. C. J. Patten, Hon. Sec. The
attendance numbered twenty-eight members and visitors. The party
left Amiens-street by the 10.30 a.m. train for Rush station, where cars
awaited to convey them to Rush Harbour. Here they embarked on a
lugger for Lambay Island. Unfortunately the weather became so
inclement that it was quite futile to attempt landing on the island. It
w^as thus decided to return to Skerries, where the party disembarked at
about 5.30 o'clock.

Dinner was served at 6 o'clock in the Temperance Hotel. The party
having nearly two hours at their disposal after dinner, before the arrival
of the train, took a walk along the Skerries strand, where a number of
natural history objects were examined. The different species of sea-birds
seen from the boat were pointed out and enumerated by Dr. Patten.

The party returned to Dublin by the S.40 train from Skerries,

1906.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 179

Bei^fast NATURAI.ISTS' FiEivD Club.

June 9. — The second field meeting of this Club was held in a salt mine
near Carrickfergus. A party of fifty reached Kilroot by the 12.30 train,
and walked along the shore to examine the raised-beach gravels that
occur near the station.

While man}' members of the part}- were carefully examining the
gravels others were equally busy making additions to their botanical
collections. The short time and very limited range of exploration did
not promise much, but some of the plants collected are worthy of
mention. The Viper's Bugloss was seen growing on waste ground close
to the station, and the Pepperwort {Lepidiitiii Draba) was found near
Eden. The rare moss Zygodon Stirtoni was found on the wall of the bridge
north of Kilroot. This species is rare in Britain, and seems to be con-
fined in Ireland to the North-east. Many forms of insects were captured
and preserved for future identification.

Leaving the shore, the party walked on to see the Garden of Eden,
and thence on to the Tennant Salt Mines. Here every suitable arrange-
ment was made for the descent into the mine, and the whole party were
lowered to the floor of the mine, some 335 feet from the surface. The
ordinary miners' lamps were supplemented with coloured lights, and the
grand face of salt 46 feet thick, was very carefully displayed — so clearly
indeed that a photograph was taken of the scene.

In 1850 the then Marquis of Downshire, anxious to develop the mineral
resources of the county, made trial borings in search of coal near Carrick-
fergus, and along the slopes between it and Carrickfergus. At Duncrue,
to the north-west of the town, rock salt, not coal, was struck at about
600 feet from the surface, and since then the rock salt has been worked
with more or less energy, and it is now developed into a very valuable
local industry. About ten years ago the Chemical Salt Company opened
the mine at Eden. The thickness of the bed of salt rock at Eden is 96
feet. Of this about 50 feet is kept intact to form the roof of the mine,
and the lower 46 feet is worked almost in one face of pure salt in a series
of great spacious chambers 30 to 40 feet high. Mr. T. A. Walker con-
ducted the party through the workings, and explained that all the rock
was shipped to their works in England and Scotland. An interesting
discussion took place in the mine as to the nature and origin of the
deposit and its relation to all the other geological formations of the
County Antrim.

At the formal meeting held in the mine under the chairmanship of the
Vice-President, Mr. W. H. Phillips, some new members were elected,
and the thanks of the Club passed to Mr. Walker for his attention and
courtesy during the day.

After a smart walk back to Carrickfergus the party had the very great
advantage of seeing over the Castle, by the '.kind permission of the
military authorities. This excellent example of an Irish castle bristles
with historic reminiscences.

i8o The Irish NatKralist. [July,

BEI.FAST Naturai. History and Philosophical Society.
June 14.— Annual Meicting.— Mr. John Brown, J. P., President-
Elect in the chair.

Mr. R. M. Young, Hon. Secretary, read the notice convening the
meeting, and afterwards submitted the annual report, which recorded
the work of the winter session and enumerated the papers read, adding
that the (xilchrist course of lectures had been ver)- successful, and that a
nioiety of the balance remaining after all expenses were paid had been
handed to the Council b}- the local Committee, with the recommendation
that artisans should be admitted to the Museum b}- ticket on certain
daj-s. After referring to the additions to and changes in the Museum
collections, the report deplored the loss of the President, the late Mr.
Thomas Workman, J. P., who died after a short illness at St. Paul's,
Minnesota, on the nth of Ma}- last. He had been for many 3'ears an
active and valued member of our Society, and of the Council, in which
he was a vice-president and librarian. During his two years of office as
president he was most zealous for the interests of the Society, and in
last September was chosen to issue the city's invitation to the British
Association at the Dover meeting. Council, at their annual meeting on
the 6th inst., unanimously passed a resolution recording their deep
sense of the lOvSs the Society, the scientific public, and the communit}' at
large had sustained in his removal, and tendering to his widow and family
their deep sympathy with them in their sad and sudden bereavement.
The Council also received with much regret the announcement of the
deaths of Professor John F. Hodges, M.D., a former President of the
Society, and of James Thompson, J. P., one of the oldest and most valued
members, whose brother William died when President in 1852. Captain
Robert Campbell, the donor of many valuable specimens in the Museum,
has also passed awa}' much regretted. The meeting was asked to elect
five members of Council, in place of the five who retire by rotation and
are eligible for re-election, viz.. Professor P'itzgerald, President Hamilton,
T. F. Shillington, Sir Otto JafFe, and R. M. Young.

The Treasurer (Mr. W. H. F. Patterson) submitted the financial
statement, which showed a balance of £^0 to the Society's credit, in
addition to ;<^4oo invested in York-street Company debentures. He
added that the subscriptions showed a slight falling off, which had been
the case for several years past.

President Hamilton moved the adoption of the report, which was
seconded by Mr. R. Ll. Patterson, and passed.

The retiring members of Council were then re-elected, and the officers
for the year elected as under : — President, Mr. John Brown, J.P. : Vice-
Presidents, Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Messrs. R. Ll. Patterson, D.L., Robert
Young, J. P., and William vSuanston ; Hon. Secretary, Mr. R. M. Young,
J.P. ; Hon. Librarian, Mr. J. H. Davies.

Tlie Hon. Secretary reported that Mr. Davies had discovered three
species of mosses which were new in Ireland, specimens of which would
be placed in the Herbarium.

igoo.'J 1 8r

NOTES.

BOTANY.

Orobanche major fertilised by Wasps.

I do uot know whether it has been recorded that wasps are agents in
the fertilisation of the Greater Broou:-rape {Orobanche major, L.)- At the
beginning of June this year I twice observed a wasp busy gathering
hone_y from that plant, the upper surface of the insect's thorax getting
conipletel}' dusted over with the whitish pollen. The wasp was Vcspa
riifa in at least one instance, probably in both. Wasps are known to be
the principal pollen-carriers of Scrophularia aquatica and S. nodosa, and,
according to Darwin, are the only insects which perform that office for
Epipactis latifoUa. But, on the whole, the wasp-fertilised flowers of this
country may be considered a small and select group. As far as I know,
they are all dull in colour, in which respect Orehattche major is well
qualified to join the circle. Have bees, hive or humble, been observed
visiting this Broom-rape ? I do not remember having seen them at it.

C. B. Moffat.

Ballyhyland.

ZOOLOGY.

ANNELIDS.
British Marine Worms.

The second part of Prof \V. C. MTntosh's great monograph of the
British Annelids has recentl}' been issued by the Ray Society. The first
part was published in 1873--74, and included the nemertine worms — a
group but little known to the ordinary public, although comprising
some marine species attaining to a length of several yards. The part
now issued included five families of PoU'chseta, almost all of which are
marine worms. They have a conspicuous head and the segmented body
is furnished at the sides with bristles.

It may be mentioned that Prof M'Intosh applies the term British
(now frequently used for purely English and Scottish species) to species
occurring not only in Irish waters, bnt on the coasts of the Channel
Islands. Prof M'Intosh has had the opportunity of examining the large
collection of marine worms in the Dublin Museum, and he acknowledges
the assistance received from various Irish naturalists in the wa}' of
specimens. Over thirt}- of the species mentioned in this part of the
monograph are Irish, the following being peculiar to the Irish marine
area : — Euphrosyne artnadillo, Lactmatonice producta var. britannica ;
Harmothoe Fraser-Thomsoni, Phyllantino'e mollis ^2iXi^ Sthetielais [effreysii.

Eusthendais hibernica, since its discovery off the Irish coast, has also
been taken in the Mediterranean, but nowhere as yet in the strictly
British marine area.

i82 The Irish Nahiralist. [July,

CRUSTACEA.

British Atriphlpoda.

In the January, February, and April numbers of the Ann, Alai^. Nat.
Hist. (7th ser., vol. v.), Rev. Canon A. M. Norman commences a revision
of the British Amphipoda, including not only Ireland, but (like Prof.
M'Intosh) the Channel Islands also in the " British " area. The list is
most useful to zoologists, and contains a large number of Irish records.

INSECTS.

Psychodlaa from Co. Doncgral.

Two rare species of this obscure family of Diptera— /V/zV^iwaf viutua,
Eaton, and P. trivialis, Eaton— are recorded from Kilmacrenan, Co.
Donegal, b)^ Mr. J. J. F. X. King in the June number of the Entom. Mo.
Mag. (vol. xxxvi., 1900, p. 135.) The specimens, identified b}- the Rev.
E. A. Eaton, have been kindl}' given by Mr. King to the Dublin
Museum.

Additional Records of Irish Coleoptcra.

In continuation of ni}* previous note (ante, p. 131) I have to record the
following : —

Hahplus oblic]U7is,V'., and H. con finis, Steph., Lough gall ; H. flavicoUis,
Sturm., Keady ; H. fiiiviatilis, Aube, Toome, and near Belfast; Noterus
clavicornis, De G., Loughgall and Clonmacate close to Lough Neagh, in
drains ; Ccelambus ix.-lincatus, Steph , Toome, taken by Mr. R.Welch ; Hydro-
porus tristis, Payk,, Churchill, Co. Armagh ; H. angustatus, Sturm., Armagh ;
H. morio, Dej., Newtown-Hamilton, Co. Armagh ; H. discretiis Fairm.,
Coolmore, Co. Donegal; liybius ohscums, Marsh, Loughgall ; Khantus
bistriatus, Berg., Ardara ; Gyrinus elongatns, Aube, and G. opacus, Sahl.,
Armagh; Phil hydros nigricans, Z,^\X., Clonmacate; Chcvtarthria semimthim,
Herbst., Derryadd and Maghery on the shores of Lough Neagh;
Hydnena pulchelia. Germ., Armagh; SpJuTridium bipustnlattim, F., Cushen-
dun, Co. Antrim, var. marginatum, V., Armagh; Cercyon obsoletns, Gyll.,
Armagh ; Aleochara bipunctata, Ol., near Belfast, taken bj' the late R.
Terapleton ; A. r/^/z/a/Zc^r//?//, Kr., Lowry's Lough, near Armagh ; Aleochara
marens, Gyll., Armagh ; A. grisea, Kr , and A. algarnm, Faur., Greenore, on
the sea shore; Oxypoda nigrina, Wat.. Holy wood, in moss; Ocynsa
inctassata, Kr., Armagh and Holywood, in moss ; both the above were
recorded by me (/. Nat., I., p. 19), but erroneously the former as
Aleochara morion, Grav., and the latter as HomaJota cegra, Heer. ; Ocalea
latipennis. Sharp, taken near Newtown-Hamilton, Co. Armagh, in moss in
the month of April; Calodera nigrita, Mann, Armagh; MymedoniacoUaris,
Payk., in moss from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan ; Ilomalota insecta, Thoms.,
Loughgilly, in moss.

W F Johnson.

Poyntzpass.

igoo.] Notes. 183

Entomologrlcal Notes from Ulster.

Mr. W. H. Patterson, of Strandtowu, Co. Down, has been kiud
enough to send nie from time to time beetles which he has collected in
various parts of Co. Down since the beginning of this year. Among those
forwarded the following are worthy of a record : — In Stormount
Demesne — Benibidiiini Mafinerheimi, Sahl. ; Hydroporus discretus, Fairm. ;
Olophrum pkeinUy Gyll. ; Cryptopha^us affinis, Sturm. ; Dorytomus viaculatus,
Marsh, by beating willows ; Hypera polygoni, L. In a swamp near the
Lagan Canal — Bonhidiiiin nifesccns^ Guer. ; Hydroporus vitliila, Er, ;
Laccobiiis alutaccus^ Thoms. In the vicinit}' of Holywood — Pterostichus
strenmis, Panz. : Hydroporus discreius^ Fairm. ; //. nigrita, Fab. ; and by beat-
ing poplars at Knocknagone}', near Holywood, Halyzia xiv. -guttata, L. ;
Dorytoiniis tortrix., L. , quite a nice series of this very distinct weevil ; also
another Dorytomwi, which seems most likely to be tieviida, F., especially
as it was, from Mr. Patterson's description, Populiis alba that they were
on. I have not, however, a type oi tre>nulcc, so hesitate to give an absolute
record. At Newcastle, Go. Down, Mr. Patterson collected on the sand-
hills and golf links, and succeeded in getting some nice insects. His best
capture was Acidota crenata, F., recorded by Mr. Buckle from Buncrana
sand-hills. I have recorded it from Armagh and Ardara, but the deter-
mination was incorrect, and referable to Olophrum piceum, Gyll. In the
present case, as I had made a mistake before about this species, I sent
the insect to Mr, G. C. Champion, who kindly confirmed my determina-
tion. In addition to this beetle Mr. Patterson captured Aniara trivialis,
Gyll. ; Laccophilus interruptus, Panz. ; Hyd} opoj'us lituratus, L. ; Rhantus
exoletus, Forst. ; Ocypus viorio, Grav. ; ^Hgialia arenaria, F. ; Geotrupes
typhosus, L. $ . On a former occasion Mr. Patterson sent me a male
specimen of this Dor-beetle ; Lochmea caprece, L. , the onl}' other Ulster
record seems to be my own from Coolmore ; Otiorrhynchus fincscoruf?i, Bris. ;
O. rugifrons^ Gyll. ; Philopcdoii geminatus, F. Though a number of these
were obtained, and some of considerable size, none of the curious large
white form which have occurred in Donegal and Antrim were met with.

Near Strandtown — Notiophilus palusiris, Duft. ; a very dark form of
Agabus paludosus. F. ; the var. niarginatum^ F., o{ Spharidium bipustulatum,
F. ; Staphylmus pubc'scens, De G. ; S. a€sareus,Q.^A&Y.

I have met with a few beetles here that are worth mentioning.
Under the bark of a fir log I found a colony, consisting of Homalium
pusillum, Grav.; H. puncttpetifu; Thorns.; and Rhizophagus depnssus, F.
In the bottom of a haystack which I had removed I found great numbers
of Typhcea funia!a, L- ; they were clinging to the sides of stones and
mingled with hayseed, to which they have a resemblance, and from
which an untrained eye would scarcely distinguish them. A single
specimen of Lochiiuxa crattegi, Forst. ^ was captured by Mrs. Johnson ;
Piinus fur, L-, and Neptus creuatus, F., occurred crawling on walls of
outhouses.

Earl}' in May I took two specimens of the Hemipteron, Acauthosomn
hcemorrhoidale, L., on Cupressiis — they are the green form. I hoped to have
met with others, but though I kept a constant watch I was unable to

184 The Insh Naturalist. [July,

meet with it again. On May 16 I found Piczodoncs iituralus. Fab.,
iu great numbers on Furze {Ulcx ciirojja-iis), and I saw them for several
days afterwards swarming on the flowers. Mr Saunders says
(" Ilemiptera Ileteroptera," p. 31) that it occurs in the autumn, so
that either the insect has a different habit here, from what Mr. Saunders
observed in England, or else this was an extra brood. I shall watch for
it in autumn to see if there is a second brood.

Among the Lepidoptera my most interesting record is from Donegal.
In the first week of April I had a letter from my friend, W. A. Hamilton,
Esq., J. P., of Coolmore, near Ballyshannon, telling me that a couple of
days previously he had seen in an empty house a butterfly, which, from
his description, I felt pretty sure was the Peacock Butterfly {Vanessa io.,
L.). This conjecture was liappil}' proved to be correct by my receiving
the battered remains of a Peacock Butterfly which Mr. Hamilton had
knocked down with his driving whip between Coxtowu and Rossnow-
lagh. This is apparently the first time this butterfl}- has been met with
in Co. Donegal, for Mr. Kane, in his list of Irish Lepidoptera (' Ento-
mologist," xxvi , p. 189), does not mention that county. Vanessa urticcv,
L-, was, as usual, the first butterfly to show, but I did not see it till April
15, when it manifested its ecclesiastical tastes b)- appearing iu the church
here In May there were a few moths about, and I got a couple of nice
specimens of Sclenia ilhinaria, Hb.

In August last Mr. Carpenter wrote to tell me that larvae of Smerinthus
oce/ia^us, L. , ha.d appeared in numbers at Crowbill, near Lough gall. I
wrote to Mr. Joseph Atkinson, D.L., of Crowbill, to ask him to send me
any that he could get. He sent me four, but only two arrived. These
duly pupated and have now emerged (June ytli and 9th).

My friend Mr. Hamilton has sent me a nice specimen of Halias
prasinana, L. $ which he caught in his house at Coolmore, Co Donegal, on
June 4th. Mr. Barrett (" British Lepidoptera," II., p. 177) notes that this
moth has the power of producing a squeaking sound, which it appears
to do when on the wing.

In reference to Mr. Buckle's queries (ante, p 130), I know of several
coleopterists who practice sweeping at night, and by this means get
many good species. I have practised myself occasionally, but I seldom
got anything of interest ; but that was probably my fault in not going
where the insects were waiting to be caught.

I never met with Hydroponis Davisii, Curt., but I have with H. seplen-
trionolis, Gyll. , and I saw it rise to the surface for air ; but it is very
probable that, as Mr. Buckle suggests, it does so at long intervals. In
connection with this question of water-beetles coming to the surface for
air, can anyone enlighten me as to what happens to water-beetles during
frost ? I have myself seen a Dytisciis underneath the ice on which I was
skating. I presume there would be a small quantity of air, but during a
prolonged frost ihis would probably become exhausted and thus the
supply be cut off. If any of the readers of the Irish Naturalist can
enlighten me on this matter I shall feel much obliged.

Poyntzpass. W. F. Johnson.

I900.] Notes. T85

FISHES.

Attempted Introduction of the American Shad Into Irish

Waters.

It was announced in a recent issue of a Dublin daily paper that Mr.
Moreton Frewen was about to deposit 100,000 eggs of the American vShad
(^Clupca sapidissiDid) in the River Shannon. On my appl3-ing to this gentle-
man for further information, he wrote to say that he regretted that the
consignment of Shad ova had all perished on their way to Ireland, but
that he hoped to make a further trial. As it is probable, therefore, that
we shall soon be able to add the American Shad to the list of fishes
inhabiting Irish waters, a few remarks about this fish may be of interest
to the readers of the Irish Natitralist.

In the first place it is perhaps not generally known that we already
possess two different kinds of Shad in Ireland. These, like the Salmon,
are marine fish which ascend rivers for the purpose of spawning, and in
some parts of Ireland (particularly on the Atlantic coast), they seem to
be fairly abundant' They are closely allied to the Herring, belonging to
the same family {Clupeidix). That they are not highly esteemed as food
in Ireland is indicated by the term " bony horses " often applied to them.
In England they are known as Twait vShad and Allis Shad. In this
country the term " bony horses." "bony horsemen," or " rock-herrings"
is probably applied indiscriminately to both species.

From a zoological point of view the introduction of foreign species of
animals, unless they can be kept within proper bounds, must be looked
upon with disfavour, and should be discouraged. In most cases the
artificial introduction of species has not proved a blessing, while many
introductions have caused enormous financial losses to the countries
which they were supposed to benefit. vSuch introductions frequently
produce a disturbing influence upon the native fauna, and great caution
should therefore be exercised in adding new members to it.

Moreover, it is almost certaii: that Irish people w^ould not take very

readily to the American Shad, although it is said to be a much finer

flavoured fish than our own. I do not know whether Irish rivers contain

very much more food than our 3'oung Trout and Salmon require. If not,

the latter would have to divide their daily rations of small Crustacea and

insect larvae with the newcomers, who, at any rate, would never possess

the same commercial value as Salmon and Trout.

It might however be argued (as Mr. Frewen has done very ingeniously

in the NinetcciUJi Ceiilury, vol. 46, 1899, p. 399), that the Shad fry would

be invaluable as a food supply'for our older river Trout and Salmon smolts,

so that the great depredations of the latter fish amongst their own kind

would be avoided.

We look forward to Mr, Moreton Frewen's experiments with great

interest, and hope that he may be correct in his supposition that the

introduction of the American Shad will prove of very great benefit to

Irish fisheries.

R. F, SCHARFF.

Science and Art Museum, Dublin,

1 86 The Irish Naturalist. [Jul}', 1900.

BIRDS.

Birds' Nests In Strange Places.

I have at present (May 24) two birds' uests in a rather unusual place.
A new hay-shed was put up last summer — timber with iron roof; need-
less to say it is quite empty now. There is a large square tie-beam going
across underneath the roof. An American hand-rake was left lying with
its head on this beam and the end of the handle resting on the wall
plate. On the head of this rake— just on the wooden bows that are used
to strengthen the heads of such rakes — a Blackbird has built her nest
and is hatching quite contentedl}', while only a few yards away a
Song-thrush has built hers on the smooth, white surface of the wall
plate. The shed is in a very unfrequented place, so that I hope the
young songsters may get away safely. Last June I saw a Wild Duck
hatching on top of a wall more than 15 feet high on Devenish Island in
Lough Erne, Query, how did she expect to get the young ones down }

Corr, Cornafean. John A. Faris.

Birds of Ireland and S\AAltzerIand.

In the Zoologist for May, 1900, Messrs, C. J. Patten and W. J. Williams
publish a paper in which they record in comparative form a number of
observations on the relative frequency of birds in Ireland and Switzer-
land.

Curious Note of a Cuckoo.

A Cuckoo has come to this place regularly for the past ten summers
(the length of time I have been in the locality), and does not seem to
move far from the house. Its voice is the most peculiar I ever heard,
being a cross between a stutter and a hiccough, and some seasons it has
been very bad, other seasons not quite so bad, but continues the same
the whole season through. Can any reader account for this oddity, or
say how long a Cuckoo lives .-'

Killinchy, Co. Down. J. G. Burton.

MAMMALS.

Wlartcn in Co. Londonderry.

On June 4th, 1900, a fine male Marten {Martes sylvaticd) was caught in a
rabbit-trap on the river-bank at The Umbra, Benone, near Magilligan,
and sent to the Belfast Museum. The fur was almost black. It had
been in the neighbourhood for some time, as an underkeeper had seen it
twice on the mountain and wondered what it was ; it then took up its
quarters near the river, as it had worn a regular j^ath to the edge of the
water, being probably attracted by the numerous young Waterhens at
present there. It was caught at day- break, as its cries were heard at
that time.

Belfast. Robert Patte;rson.

Irish Naturalist, Vol. IX.]

[Plate 6.

Map showing Occurrences of the Ruff
ix Ireland.

To face p. 187.

August, 1900.] 187

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RUFF.

By CHARLES J. PATTEN, B.A., M,D.

[Read before the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, February 20, 1900.]

(Pirate 6.)
There are certain species of migratory birds included in the
Irish fatina which cannot be considered as absohitely rare,
still they occur in such limited numbers, and their visits to
our country are of such a brief duration, that they are liable
to escape the observations of many ornithologists. Of such
birds the Ruff — Machetes pugnax (lyinn.) — is a good example.
It probably occurs in Ireland every autumn, but still is by no
means plentiful. The late eminent ornithologist, Mr. A. G.
More, mentions it as " a rare visitor^ chiefly in autumn," ^
and many other observers agree likewise on this subject.

The question as to whether the particulars of each and every
occurrence of the Ruff should be fully recorded or not is an
important matter for consideration. There seems to be a
difference of opinion on the subject. Some ornithologists
seem to think the bird too common. For my own part I think
it is well worth while collecting information of as full a nature
as possible concerning the occurrence of the Ruff in Ireland.
The bird is, to my mind, sufficiently rare for such research.

This is evident when we hear that all the records known of
the Ruff as a visitor to our shores when compiled number
approximately only about 86.

At first sight these numbers may seem large, but, consider-
ing that the records date^ from the year 1821' up to the present
{i.e.. a period of nearly 80 years), it is very unlikely that the
total number of birds occurring each year could be very large.

Since I last published notes on the occurrence of the Ruff
in Dublin Bay {Irish Naturalist, vol. viii., p. 225), I have
endeavoured to extend my knowledge on the natural history
of this bird. I have lately received some valuable information
from correspondents and have added new specimens to my
collection for the purposes of examination and comparison.

^ Life and Letters of A. G. More, p. 601.

= To Mr. TJssher I am largely indebted for notes on this part of the
subject. I have also consulted Thompson, and Watters' " Birds of Ire-
land," the Proceedings of the Dublin Natural History Society. &C., &C-;, from
which sources I have obtained much information.

A

1 88 The Irish Naturalist. [August,

It should be remembered that the Riiff, like many other
wading birds, becomes still scarcer on our coast lands as
autumn advances, consequently it afforded me no small
amount of interest when I obtained an immature specimen
on the nth of October, last year {i.e., ^899), shot by Mr. \V.
Walker at the North Bull, Dublin Bay, and forwarded to me
by Mr. K- Williams. But the late date of occurrence was not
the only interesting point about this specimen, for in addition
it had ab'cady assumed almost completely its winter phimage.
Immature Ruffs generally leave our coavSts while still in autumn
garb, hence the increased value of a specimen obtained in
winter plumage.

I made a comparison between the plumages of some imma-
ture autumn specimens and that of the winter Ruff' and found
that they differed considerably.

Autumn. =

At this time of year the feathers of the forehead and crown are blackish
brown, edged with buff. Those of the occiput and nape are nut brown,
with faintly marked black centres.

The cheeks, ear coverts, and lore are rufous coloured, and faintly
speckled. Under the chin is a wdiite triangular patch. From this a faintly
marked white line extends upwards and backwards under the ear coverts.
The ante-orbital feathers are light grey. The whole throat (upper and
lower regions) and breast are of a rich buff colour. The abdomen and
undertail coverts are wdiite. The rectrices are greyish, with black tips
and rufous edges. The middle upper tail coverts and lower back
feathers are dark brown, with dull rufous edges. The outer upper tail
coverts are white. The inter-scapulars, scapulars and tertiaries are
black, with rnfous edges. The wing coverts greyich brown, edged
similarly. The secondaries are dark grey, with white edges, the
primaries being dull black or very dark brown. The small leg feathers are
dun-coloured, slightly mixed with white. Any slight differences which
exist between the plumages of the male and female in autumn are to be
found chiefly in the region of the breast and throat. In the female these
are often of a richer buff colour, which may extend further backwards
towards the abdomen than in the case of the male.

Mr. Williams has kindly allowed me to examine his pair of immature
Ruffs shot 2Sth August, 1S97. They are particularly well-marked, and

^ In autumn and winter the males and females are practically alike in
plumage.

^ Inasmuch as the feathers are liable to fade after death, even in well-
preserved specimens, I have taken notes on the colour of the plumage
while the birds were still in the flesh in a freeh condition.

T900.] Patten. — The Natural History of the Ruff. ] 89

the shading of the feathers is very rich. The owner pointed out to me
the following minor differences in the plumages of the two sexes. Firstly :
the difference in the shade and distribution of the buff-coloured feathers
already described. In the female these reach almost as far back as the
under tail coverts, hence a considerable amount of the abdominal feathers
are buff-coloured. In the male the buff stops short about the middle of
the abdomen. Secondly : the rufous edges of the scapulars and inter-
scapulars are broader in the female than in the male, and the central
portions of these feathers are darker in the former sex. Thirdly ; the
tertiaries of the female are crossed with bars of black and buff,^ whereas
in the male the same feathers are only edged with these colours.

Winter.

Feathers of the forehead, crown, nape, and occiput ashy grey in colour,
with indistinctly marked darkish centres. The cheeks, ear coverts,^
chin, lore, and upper throat are of a dirty white color.^ The lower
throat and breast feathers are lightish grey, dappled with faintly marked
irregular and broken transverse bars of a darker grey colour. The ante-
orbital feathers are dark grey. The abdomen and under tail coverts are
white, as in autumn. The rectrices are dappled grey and white. The
upper tail coverts and lower back feathers are similar in colour to those
of the autumn plumage, except that the rufous edges have nearly dis-
appeared. The inter-scapulars, scapulars and tertiaries are grey, with
dirty white-coloured margins. The tertiaries are in addition tipped with
black. The secondaries and wing coverts are also grey, the white edges
being more distinct. •* The primaries resemble those of the autumn
plumage. The leg feathers are dapoled grey and white.

It is not m}^ intention in this article to enter into a detailed
account of the occurrence of each Ruff hitherto observed in
Ireland. Most of the facts concerning these have been
already published. It ib more expedient to draw up a table
containing many important statistics of the history of the
Ruff as a visitor to Ireland. In this way it may be possible to
review any changes which may have taken place in the dis-
tribution of this bird in time and space.

In the fifth column of the Table, M stands for male, F for
female. In the sixth column, A = adult, and I = immature.
In the seventh column, N = nuptial plumage, A = autumn
plumage, W = winter plumage, S = summer plumage.

■" I did not find this condition of the autumn plumage in all female
Ruffs examined.

2 The ear coverts are fairly dappled with grey.

^ In the winter, the white patch under the chin passes continuously
into the same colour of the cheeks and lore.

4 In autumn the white edge is narrow and less defined.

A 2

igo The Ijish Nahiralist. [August,

Tabulated Records of Rufes from Irei^and since 1S21.*

Number.

Year.

Month.

County.

Sex.

Age.

Plumage

3

1821

May, .

Derry, .

M.

A.

N.

2

j>

Sept., .

Down, .

?

A.

6

1822

August, ,

>i

?

A.

2

1828

>>

Antrim,

F. + .?

A.

I

1833?

?

Dublin,

p

A.

I

1833

August, .

Down, .

M.

A.

I

1835

j>

>>

F.

A.

A.

I or 2

>>

Sept., ,

j>

M.+F. + .?

A+A+I.

A.

I or 2

>>

>)

>>

M. + F. + .?

A+A+I.

A.

"1

1837
1838

p
?

Donegal,

p
?

•

A.
A.

3

>»

Sept., .

Down,

p

•

?

3

j>

Nov. ,

>>

p

?

?

6

»>

March, .

Kildare,

M.

A.

W.

I

1840

Sept., .

•J

•

?

?

I

1841

>>

Down, .

p

p

.?

2

1842

>>

)♦

M.

A.

S.

2

1844

>>

>)

p

p

p

I

1845

October,

>>

?

•

?

2

I

1847
1847

October,
and Nov.

?

Kildare,
Dublin,

p
p

p
?

p

•

I

1848

October,

Down, .

F.

p

p

2

1848

August, .

Tipperary, •

M.

A.

s.

4

1848

>>

))

?

?

?

I

1849

October,

Waterford, .

F.

.?

?

■1

1850

Nov.,

Antrim,

F.

?

?

or

1851

j>

>>

F.

?

?

I

1853

?

Wicklow,

p

?

?

* Excluding those recorded from unknown counties.

1900] Pattkn. — The Natural History of the Ruff.

191

Number.

Year

Month.

County.

Sex.

Age.

Plumage.

I

1864

?

Roscommon,

M.

?

2

1870

Sept., .

Dublin,

M + F.

I-

A.

2

1880

33

Armagh,

M + F.

I-

A.

I or 2

1884

?

33

?

?

I

5>

Sept., .

Sligo

F.

A.

I

1888

?

Kildare,

?

?

3

1887

Sept., .

Down, .

?

?

I

1889

33

Mayo, .

?

I-

A.

I

3>

August, .

Galway,

?

X •

A.

I

>>

/

October,

Cork, .

F.

!•

A.

I
I

1890

before
1891

35

?

Waterford, .
Donegal,

F.
M.

?

N.

I

??

9

33

?

?

I

1891

Sept., .

Mayo, .

?

?

2

1892

33

Donegal,

?

?

I
2

■-1

I

5)

before

1893
1894

or

1895
1895

October,
August, .

33

Roscommon,

Dublin,

Wicklow,

M.

?

F.
F.

^ i

?

?

?

A.

I

1896

Sept., .

Sligo, .

M.

A.

2

5J

33

Mayo, .

?

?

I

J)

3>

Wexford,

M.

A.

I

35

February

Cork, .

?

W.

I

3 J

Sept., .

Dublin,

M.

A.

2

1897

August, .

33

M + F.

A.

I

1899

Sept., .

it

F.

A.

2

33

October,

33

F+M.

A + W.

I

55

August, .

Cork, .

?

?

192 7 he Irish Nat2iralist. [August,

From the above table it ma}^ be seen that the Ruff has
occurred in iS counties out of the 32, that is in more than half
of the total number. It has visited the coastlands of all four
provinces (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connaught), but has
been most frequently seen in Ulster and lycinster — CvSpecially
the counties of Down and Dublin.

At the time when Thompson wrote it evidently visited the
North-eastern coastlands of Ireland more frequently than
other districts. Still, I think, had this species been better
known by other ornithologists at the time, that more records
from the I^einster coast should have been published.

Along the Ueinster coast no more suitable localit}^ could be
found for the Ruff than the extensive mudslobs and grassy
slopes of the North Bull, Dublin Ba}-, and I have little doubt
that if this bird w^ere more eagerly sought for that it would be
oftener observ^ed.

The table further .shows that the Ruff is more often found in
August and September than at any other time of year, also
that the vast majorit}^ of birds taken were immature\ in the
autumn plumage. As the 3'oung birds often go in pairs, the
sexes in autumn seem rather evenly divided.

In the spring, according to Thompson's records, it is chiefly
males that have been captured, often in batches, up to six in
number. This is an interesting fact, as manj^ observers
consider that the females on the wdiole are more numerous
than the males. Subsequent to the publication of Thompson's
valuable work there have not been many Ruffs noticed in
Ireland.

Watters, who wrote much about the same time as Thompson,
mentions two specimens obtained on the Bog of Allen in
July, 1850.

Few occurrences of the Ruff are recorded in the Proceedings
of the Dubliu Natural Histor>^ Society between 1849 and 1S71.
During these years the Ruff^ seems to have visited Ireland in
smaller numbers than during the earlier parts of the century.
It may be suggested that perhaps it was overlooked. This

^ Unfortunately the sexes and ages of man)' specimens were not
determined.

=" Nat. Hist, of Ireland, vol. ii., p. 230 to 232.

1900.] Patten.— 77^^ Natiiral History of the Ric^. 193

can liardl}' have been the case to any great extent, as many
careful and arduous observers were working at ornithology at
that period, a period indeed which marks a distinct era in
the science in Ireland {vide Proceedings of the Dublin Natural
History Society).

Although the Ruff may, to a certain extent, be overlooked,
it is nevertheless more often observed than many other wading
birds of equal scarcity for the following reasons : — Firstly,
with respect to the locality which it frequents. It is found
not only on the seashore and mudflat, but also inland, on
moor and hillside. Hence, it runs the double chance of being
vshot both by the ordinary sportsman (out perhaps after
grouse, &c.), and by the scientific collector. Sportsmen,
though often possessing only a very meagre knowledge of
ornitholog}', are, as a rule, keen observers, and so few strange
birds pass them unnoticed. Secondly, the Ruff is a good
sized bird, and easily seen. Thirdl}', it is usually tame, can be
approached without difficulty, identified, and easily shot.

In the year 1870 Blake Knox records two Ruffs (a male and
a female) from Dublin Bay. They were immature birds shot
in September.^

Nine years afterwards the late Dr. Cox^ wrote a most admir-
able article on the " Birds of the Co. Dublin and Wicklow,"
and although he was an accurate observer, it is most remark-
able that he did not mention the Ruff as occurring in Dublin
Ba}^ and so did not include it in his list. Hence it is likely
that the Ruff was scarcer in that locality in the time of Cox
than it is now. This is the more confirmed by the fact that for
many years past Mr. Williams has been looking out for Ruffs
in Dublin Ba}^ and did not shoot any till 1897, Furthermore,
I have recorded several instances of Ruffs from Dublin Bay,
all of v.'hich have occurred only quite recently. {Irish
Naturalist, vol. viii.). Mr. Williams, however, informs me
that the two Ruffs in the Irish Collection of Birds (Science
and Art Museum, Dublin) were shot by the late Dr. Cox on
the River Bann in September, i88o. They are an immature
male. and female.

■• Zoologist, 1870, p. 2410. ^ Zoologisl, 1879.

194 The Irish Nahiralht. [August,

As in the case of the IrhJi A^atiiralist, so, too, in the Zoolooist,
few records of the Ruff from Ireland have been publislied of
late years. Briefl}^, they are as follows : —

^September Sth, 1S84.— One shot by Mr. Little (whilst looking
for grouse) on a lone flat moor near Tullylin, Co. vSligo. He
presented it to Mr. Warren, who draws attention to the fact it
was W\^ first vict ivith in the zvestern district of Ireland. (Mr.
Ussher informs me that it had occurred in Roscommon in
1864.)

In 1896- there seems to have been a small immigration of
Ruffs to the west and south of Ireland. On September 4th
Mr. C. Gallagher shot a male on a grouse bog, a few miles from
the town of Easky, Co. Sligo. He gave it to Mr. Warren. The
bird was solitary and ver}' tame. Mr. Williams received three
the same autumn, and Mr. R. J. Ussher had two sent to him
from Belmullet, Co. Mayo. (See also Tabulated Records,
p. 191.) Mr. R. M. Barrington kindly informs me by letter that
he purchased a Ruff in the Cork markets in Februar}^ 1896.
Mr. Williams preserved it and tells me that it is a beautiful
male in full winter plumage.

It only remains to mention, regarding the occurrence of
the Ruff in Ireland, that, assuming that it has not been over-
looked to any great extent, it seems to have been most fre-
quent during Thompson's time (having occasionall}^ occurred
on its vernal migration), to have subsequently diminished in
numbers, and to have, of recent years, been visiting our
shores in larger numbers again. As a vernal migrant it has
not for many years been noticed.

Possibly its geographical distribution in Ireland is spreading.
This still remains to be fully seen. However, in Thompson's
time, with the exception of a few records from Kildare,
Dublin, Wicklow,Tipperary, Waterford, Clare, (?) and Kerry, (?)
the Ruff was confined in its visits to the north-eastern coast,
especially Down and Antrim. (See Table, p. 190-1.)

Later, in 1864, it spread to Roscommon, where it has been
seen as late as 1893. Lastl}^ during the past 20 years,
it has been ol)served several times in Armagh, Sligo, Mayo,
Wexford, Cork, and once in Galway. (Table.)

^ R. Warren iu 'Zoologist, 1884, p 429.
' R. Warren in Zoologist, 1896, p. 384.

I900.] Patten. — The Natural History of the Ruff.

195

Tt is to be hoped that thivS species will extend its range in
Ireland, so that it may become better known. It is a bird
the habits and structure of which afford a very interesting
field of research.

Before concluding this part of the subject I append a table
showing how the Ruff has been observed in Ireland during
the nineteenth century :—

TABUI.AR VI RW OF THE EaRI^IEST AND LATEST RECORDS FROM

EACH Irish County.

Couuty.

First Year
recorded.

Last Year
recorded.

Down, .....

1821

1887

Derry, .....

1821

1891

Antrim, . . . .

1828

1851

Dubliu, ...

1833

1899

Donegal,. . . . .

1837

1891

Kildare, .....

1838

1888

Tipperar}^ ....

1848

Waterford, ....

1849

1890

Wicklow, ....

1853

1895

Roscommon, ....

1864

1893

Armagh, . , . .

1880

1884

SHgo,

1884

1896

Mayo, .....

1889

1891

Galway, .....

1889

Cork, .....

1889

1899

Wexford, ....

1896

Clare, . - . . .

•

?

Kerry, .....

?

?

196 The Irish Natioalist. [August,

Having thus dwelt for some length on the histor}- of the
Ruff as a visitor to Ireland, I will now briefly touch upon its
general morphological characters.

In no group of birds are the external sexual differences so
marked. In the case of most waders the males and females
differ but little in size, and still less in their plumage. The
Ruff stands out in marked contrast to other waders in this
respect.

Before I point out the differences to be noted between the
male and female, it should be remembered that in many other
respects, both in structure and habits of life^ the Ruff resembles
such well-known birds as the Redshank, Godwit, Sandpiper,
Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Snipe, &c., &c. To these it claims
close affinities, and is thus included not only in the same large
order, Limicolcc, but even in the same family of ScolopacidcB.
The generic name of Jllachctes has onl}' been given to the
Ruff b}' Cuvier^ on account of its pugnacious habits, w4th some
minor structural differences, and not because it differs to any
marked degree from the rest of the familj- ScolopacidcB ;
indeed, the great sj'stematist, Linnaeus, included the Ruff in
the genus Triiiga!^ It therefore seems extraordinary how
this bird has come to differ so much from, other "w^aders" in
special structural characters (mainly sexual) and in habits of
life.

Sexual differences in size and eolo7ir. — In autumn the imma-
ture plumage of the male and female is practically identical.
Likewise in winter both sexes are similarly attired.^ Yet the
difference in size between the two sexes is so apparent that
when they are compared there is no difficulty in determining
them. The average-sized male is fully one-third larger than
the average-sized female. In spring and early summer the
male alters his plumage very much, assuming at that time of
year his characteristic " frill," which serves to distinguish him.
This is his nuptial plumage, which I wall refer to again later

■■ Regne Animal, i., p. 490 (1817).

2 Tringa pugjiax, Linnaeus. Syst. NaL, Ed. 12, i., p. 247 (1766).

3 In the " Descent of Man," p. 390, Darwin stated that the sexes
differ in winter pUimage. If they do the difference is practically
imperceptible.

I900.J

Patten. — The Natural Histojy of the Rtiff. 197

on. At the same time of year the female changes but little
from her winter dress (see winter plumage of Ruff, p. 189); she
simply becomes more spotted with black, brown, chestnut,
and grey. These colours replace many of the more sombre
greyish-brown winter feathers of the upper and under parts.
I now return to the differences in size between the two sexes.
Thanks to the courtesy and kindness of Mr. Williams I have
from time to time been able to examine a good number of
Ruffs in the flesh. These I have supplemented by an examin-
ation of dry skins kindly placed at my disposal by Mr.
Carpenter, of the Science and Art Museum. Even in the same
sex variation in size is apparent. I found this more so in the
females.

In addition to the ordinary measurements given in text
books, such as' the total length of the bird and the length of
the wing, I have added some more, with a view of determining
more precisely the external sexual differences.

Out of a large number examined the following are the
avera2:e measurements at which I have arrived : —

Mai^E.

Femai^e;.

Total length,
Length of wing, .
Rxpanse of wings,
Sternum to cloaca,
Mid-back to breast,
Breadth of mid-breast, .
I Tibio-tarsus,

IvCgS J

( Tarso-metatarsus,
Ivength of beak, .
Nostril,

Inches.

T2l
23i

34

2\
If
2-^
2j

I*

1
•t

Inches,

lOi

211

3

If

1}

2t

If

li

1
4

.

I wish to call attention to the fact that I measured the wings
from the carpal joint to the end of the first flight feather.

igS

The Irish Naturalist.

[August,

It may be seen from the foregoing measurements that in both
the male and the female the wing is the same length, viz., 6j
inches. Hence the first flight feathers are the same length
in the two sexes ; but the expanse of wings (length from the
tip of one extended wing to that of the other) is greater in
the male than in the female. This, therefore, must be due
to the upper and fore wing being longer in the male. This I
found to be true, as the humerus, ulna, and radius of the latter
are longer than those of the former.

The body of the female is smaller proportion atel}^ than that
of the male, but much of the same shape, as shown b}^ the
relative measurements. The same remarks apply to the legs.
The bill, however, is much the same length in both sexes ;
moreover, it is very constant in length, in that respect
differing from many waders (Dunlin, Sanderling, Curlew.
&c.), in which the length of the bill, even of the same sex, is
very variable. It should be noted, however, that the base of
the bill of the male Ruff is stouter than that of the female.

The colour of the legs and toes var}^, not only according to
sex, but also at different seasons of the year, as follows : —

■* Male (immature),
Female, ,,
Male (nuptial plumage),
Female (summer),
Male (adult, winter), .
Female, „

Colour of legs aud toes.
Dark greenish black.
Dark brown.
Dull orange.

Same colour, but a little paler.
Light brown.

jj

Difference in weight between the two sexes : — With a variation
in size between the two sexes we expect a variation in weight.
The average-sized male weighs 6 ounces ; the female 4
ounces. Most writers agree on this point, and judging from
the specimens which I weighed mj^self, I find that I have
arrived at a similar rCvSult.

Extreme sexual differences in size a7id ivcioht : — The female
Ruff, shot on Balbriggan Strand on 3rd October (Irish Nat.,
vol. viii., p. 225), was very small, and all measurements were

■" Mr. Williams pointed out to me the difference in colour between the
immature male and female legs on the specimens which he shot on 28th
August, 1897. In these pair the colours were well marked.

sgoo.] Px\TTEN. — The Natural History of the Ruff. 199

under those of the average given. It only weighed 2^ ounces.
It was in poor condition, being probably somewhat exhausted
after its migratory flight.

The female Ruff, shot by Mr. Williams i^Irish Nat., vol. viii.,
p. 225), was exceptionally large and weighed 5^ ounces, being
only half an ounce lighter than the male shot the same day.
There is an important point to be noticed in connection with
this observation. For, as a rule, when a pair of immature
Ruffs are shot early in the seaso7i as these were, and they differ
onl}^ slightly in size, it is the male that is smaller than the average,
and not the female larger. This points to the fact that the males
grow more slowly than the females, as is the case with many
other animals.

Sir R. Payne Gallwey' has seen male Ruffs which only
weighed 5 ounces, and according to Mr. YarrelP and Mr.
Saunders^ a fatted Ruff will weigh as much as 10 ounces.

Variations in the nuptial plumage of the male: — The assump-
tion of the nuptial " frill " of the male is in itself a most
remarkable phenomenon, occurring as it does in a single genus
of the large family of Scolopacidae. But the variation in this
plumage is stranger still, and constitutes a theme, the explana-
tions of which might baffle some of our most brilliant orni-
thologists. It is a well known fact to ornithologists* that for
a short season of the year, during the months of May and June,
the neck feathers are greatl}^ changed. They undergo special
development, and becoming elongated and much curved the)^
form a '* frill " or " rufl"" from which the bird receives its name.
Now most observers point out that " scarcely any two males
have the ' ruff' alike ;" and whilst laying emphasis on this
point they omit to mention that most of the rest of the
plumage varies at the same time. In other words, it is not
only the neck feathers of one bird which difter from those
of another, but also the greater part of the rest of the

^ " Letters to Young vShooLers," 3rd series, p. 439.

= " British Birds," 4th Edit., vol. iii., p. 453, 1884.

3 " Manual of British Birds," p. 600, 1899.

" The Right Hon. Lord Lifford, F.L.S., kept Ruflfs in his aviary, and

states that by March 15 "they are beginning to resume their shows"

(^Zoologist, 1896, p. 51).

A 4

200 The Irish Nat2iralisi. [August^

plumage.^ True it is that some few observers have pointed
out that the feathers of the upper parts vary also, and Sir R.
Payne Galhvey- mentions that the variation generally corre-
sponds in tint with the bird's " ruff." But when a number
of Ruffs in nuptial plumage are examined it will be founds
in the majority of cases, that not only do the feathers of
the neck and back vary correspondingl}' in colour, but also
those of the top of the head, the breast, and upper part of
the abdomen. Now, whilst I freely admit that no bird varies
as much in plumage as the Ruft, still I maintain that this
variation is restricted to certain definite limits, and so an
indefinite number of indiscriminate colours are prevented
from appearing. Were this not so it would be well nigh
impossible to offer an}' explanation for the cause of the
variet}^ in the nuptial plumage. It is highly important to
note that although the shades of the nuptial plumage differ
a good deal in intensity, nevertheless the fundamental
colours from which these are derived are few in number.

Thus, out of a number of Ruffs examined onl}^ three
types of plumages can be recognized. These, however, are
decidedly distinct. They are :— those in which the predomi-
nating colour is (i.) Purple-black. (2.) Rich reddish brown.
(3.) Yellow, often mixed with white. According to Sir R.
Payne Gallwey the reddish brown is the most common, and
the 3-ellow and white the rarest.

Some nine years ago, when Ruffs used to be imported as an
article of food from the Holland markets to Ireland, Mr.
Williams picked out three specimens from a large number
on sale in the Dublin markets. These birds were in their
nuptial plumage, the '* frill " being well developed. They
since have come into my possession, and I find that they
conform to the three types alreadj- mentioned. The following
is a brief description of their plumage : —

No. I. Head and upper part of the " ruff" puvplish black, exhibiting
nietalhc sheen or lustre when seen by reflected Hght. Cheeks and rest
of "ruff" transversely barred and splashed with black and white.
Breast feathers mostly purplish black, tipped white, some old winter

1 To be exact it should be borne in mind that the primaries, second-
aries, lower abdominal and undertail feathers are practically the same
colour in all RulTs.

" Letters to Young Shooters," p. 441,

igoo.] Patten. — The Natural Histojy of the Ru.ff. 201

feathers being still present. Abdomen and under tail coverts, dirty white,
■with a few black spots. Thigh feathers, dark brown and white. Inter-
scapulars and scapulars, rich glossy purple black, some feathers being
finel}' edged with light yellowish white. Tertiaries, half barred with
black and white, and indistinctly spotted. Lower back and upper
•-central tail coverts, mostly old winter feathers, but some transverseh-
T^arred like the tertiaries, tlie bars extending -right across the feathers.
Outer and upper tail coverts, dirty white. Rectrices, brown; inner ones
barred at the extremities like the tertiaries. Wing coverts, principal!)"
old winter feathers, the new ones being banded black and v/hite, chiefly
at their extremities. Secondaries and primaries, same as in winter.

No. 2. Entire head and neck, including the " ruff," rich reddish brown ;
man}' of the feathers, especially of the upper throat and cheeks, tipped
with purplish black, and exhibiting a faint metallic sheen on reflected
light. Breast, rich brown, dapped with purple black, chiefly at the points
of the feathers. Abdomen and under tail coverts, dirty white. Thigh
feathers, reddish brown. Inter-scapulars and scapulars, richly variegated
with reddish bro\<-n and glossy purple black. vSome feathers thinly
•edged with buff. Tertiaries, barred regularly and transversely with bands
■of black and chestnut, the edges of the feathers being tipped with buff.
Lower back and upper tail coverts, dapped brown and black and cross
barred. The outer upper tail coverts contain much white. Rectrices : —
•outer, brown ; central barred with chestnut and black and tipped with
l)uff. Wing coverts, mostly winter feathers, but some new variegated
■ones resembling the tertiaries. Secondaries and primaries, same as in
winter.

No. 3. Throat, head, upper, and back part of "ruff" pale "Naples"
yellow, delicately streaked on the top of head and cheeks with black.
Remainder of " ruff." white, with a few glossy black feathers interspersed.
Breast, {a) man}' dirty greyish white feathers— old winter plumage, {b) A
few new black feathers tipped with yellow. Abdomen and under tail
coverts, dirty white ; a few^ tipped wnth black. Thigh feathers, light
brow^n and white. Inter-scapulars and scapulars, variegated yellow and
black, being beautifully peppered with fine black dots. Tertiaries
transversely barred, with yellow and black, spots of black being inter-
spersed amongst most of the yellow bars. Lower back and inner upper
tail coverts principally old wnnter feathers, the new ones resembling the
tertiaries. Outer upper tail coverts, white. Outer rectrices brown,
loner barred at the end like the tertiaries, and faintly spotted. Wing
coverts, mostly old winter feathers, the few^ new ones being barred like
the tertiaries, the yellow being somewhat duller. Primaries and
secondaries, same as in winter

Of these three birds, No. i exhibits the greatest amount of

gloss on the feathers. No. 2 is the largest and possesses the

best developed " ruff," the feathers of which are very long;

curved,'' and wavy. Some of the feathers are moderately

1 Some of the "ruff" feathers measured 2\ inches.

202 The Irish Naturalist. [August.

glossy. No. 3 is the smallest. Its " frill" is least developed,
and the feathers show almost no sigii of g^loss. The im-
portance of these facts will be discussed presently.

The ground is now somewhat cleared, so that an attempt
may be made to answer two much vexed and contended
questions, i. For what function is the " ruff" or " frill ""
developed ? 2. Why are its feathers of such rich and varied
colours in different examples ? The first question has been
fullj^ dealt with, and in connection with it many explanations
have been offered. When Darwin first enunciated in a definite
way his theory of Sexual Selection^ he took the Ruff among
other birds as a tj'pical example to illustrate the " I^aw of
Battle." The males (poh'gamous in nature like many
gallinaceous birds) fight for the possession of the females.
Space does not permit me to describe the combat.^ Sufiice
it to say that the neck feathers are erected resembling a
shield, which is supposed to protect the more tender parts.
The shield-like function of the "ruff" feathers has been
pointed out by Montagu, subsequently mentioned b}^ Darwin,
and advocated by others. But that this is not the main
function of these feathers is shown by the following facts : —

Firstly. — The nature of the " frill" feathers. They are soft^
wav>% and offer but little protection.

Secondly. — Their position. Assuming even that the}' protect
tender partSy some of the most vital parts are exposed to
danger, for the shield is absent over the head and face and
wattles, regions which in other fighting birds are frequently
injured.

Thirdly. — According to Montagu every feather, as well as
those of the "frill," is more or less distended. Hence it is
likely that the cause of this general erection is one simply
of anger or excitement.^

Fo2irthly. — Ruffs fight at other times of the year. Why are
they not always protected by a neck shield ?

1 "Descent of Man," p. 360.

- Macgillivray, " Hist. Brit. Birds," vol. iv., 1852. Also Yarrell "British
Birds," vol. iii., p. 427 to 434 ; and other standard manuals.

3 J. T. Cunningham points out that erection or display of feathers is
often invariably associated with excessive development. (Sexual Dimor-
phism, 1900, pp 108-154-155.)

1900.] Patten. — The N'aficral History of the Ricff. 203

Fijthly. — According to Montagu, Ruffs seldom injure each
other. This is not because the shield protects them, for the
parts exposed are seldom scratched. It is because the beak is
soft and weak, like that of other waders and so incapable of
inflicting a severe wound. Hence the possession of a shield
is unnecessary.

Lastly. — If the " frill" only functioned as a shield why
should it possess such rich, handsome, and varied colours ?

The probable function of the modified neck feathers is to
serve as an ornament, as already pointed out by Darwin and
others. This brings us on to the second question, viz. : For
what reason is the "frill" and, indeed, the nuptial plumage
generally so rich and variable? It is now generally believed
by many observers that most female animals, including birds,
exercise a certain amount of choice in the selection of their
mate. Darwin lays stress on the fact that the more highly
ornamented males are those more often selected. Hence if
we assume that the female Ruff is particularl3^ fastidious in
her choice, then by a process of sexual selection not only
might the colours of the males become highly ornamental, but
even the feathers might tend to vary in colour. But this is an
a priori argument, and is only begging the question. We have
no evidence of the female Ruff being more particular in her
choice than any other birds of the same sex. However there
is evidence to show^ that it is not the victorious conqueror that
is chosen by the female,^ inasmuch as the battle between the
male Ruffs generally ends in a scoreless draw, and so, I think,
we are .safe in assuming that in the case of Ruffs the female
exercises her sense for the beautiful, and selects the most
ornamental and vigorous looking male. It might be asked,
why do the males fight when the females are more numerous ?
For two reasons : firstly, the females only choose certain males,
and so the latter sex enter into a competition of warfare to
"cut each other out." Secondly, although the males are
actually less numerous than the females, they have no ob-
jection to any number of waves (polygani}^), and so fight
among themselves to attain this end. Thus, through the
females exercising their selective powers, the male descendants
have kept up the richl} -ornamented nuptial plumage. So

^ Differing in this respect from many gallinaceous birds.

204 The Irish Naticralist. [August,

much for the evidence beiug in favour that the " frill" is
ornamental in function. But we still ask, why do these orna-
mental feathers vary so much ? Without making any
assumptions this question is a most difficult one to answer.
Wallace points out that constanc}^ of colours maybe explained
on the principle of protective colouration. The females
require this more for hatching, &c. Hence they are more
sombre plumed. Hence we may argue that where protection
is actually unnecessary and even injurious in the economy
of nature, coloration may become inconstant and even
varied. This is, in part, advocating Stolzmann's^ views.
According to him it is often advantageous that many male
birds be destroyed by their natural enemies, more especially
if polygamous, because the females^ when hatching, may be
disturbed by a male which has not found a mate. Now,
inasmuch as the male Ruffs seldom injure each other in battle,
and so their numbers are not diminished, and moreover they
aspire to keeping many wives, I maintain that the result must
be that many males never get the chance of mating. Hence
in reality, in the economy of nature there are a number of
superfluous males. They require to be destroyed, and so
natural selection, which only attends to the preservation of
species, ceases now to act. Thus the male plumage, no longer
conservative in colour for any protective purpose, may undergo
a considerable amount of variation. It is worth suggesting
that age may also have something to do with the variation in
the nuptial plumage. The excitable, highly- strung, polj-gamous
nature of Ruffs may have brought about a plumage change
comparable to w4iat takes place in a much less marked degree
among other waders normally as age advances.

Thompson- states that when visiting the London Zoological
Gardens, Regent's-park, in 1833, the Keeper, Mr. Hunt, in-
formed him that a bird in captivity for two or three years
assumed a different " ruff" each summer. Mr. R. Ball noticed
the same in the Dublin Zoological Gardens. He states that
a Ruff received in full plumage changed twice. Montagu and
Bartlett,^ on the contrary, maintain that the nuptial plumage

^ Proc. Zool. Soc, 1S85.

= "Nat. Hist, of Ireland," vol. ii., p. 233.

3 Yarrell " British Birds," vol. iii., p- 433-

1900.] Fatten. — The Natural History of the Riiff. 205

never varied in confinement. These two conflicting statements
are most interesting. I should not lay so much stress on the
fact that some Ruffs retai7t the same nuptial plumage. 'Some
birds in captivit}^ never even assume theirnuptialplnmageatall.
This is due no doubt to captivity affecting their reproductive
system. A case in point is that of a Knot^ {Trifiga camitus) at
present in the Dublin Zoological Gardens, which throughout,
the year has retained its winter plamage. On the contrary I
have observed gulls in captivity change from winter to
summer plumage with great rapidity. Hence it appears that
observations made on plumage changes of birds in captivity
hardly gives up a true insight as to what happens in a state of
nature.

Judging from analogies and comparisons, I am inclined to
think that the three types of Ruff already described (pp. 200-2)
represent three different ages betw^een which slight variations
may occur. Those with the yellowish-white frill may be the
youngest^ ; for they are the smallest, have the "frill" least
developed, and show almost no gloss on the plumage.

The reddish-brown birds are probably older ; they are,
on an average, larger, have longer and better developed
" ruffs," and show a moderate amount of gloss on the feathers.

The oldest birds are likely those which display a pre-
dominating amount of black in their feathers. They are the
most glossy, and increasing lustre of feathers indicates
increasing age. This is seen in many of the Crows, Ducks,
Pigeons, Gallinaceous,'and other groups of birds. If comparison
helps us we may say that the dark colour in the Limicolae
is an indication of age. In some species — notably the Dunlin
and Sanderling — the old, and often barren, birds lose much of
the buff shading of their summer dress, its place being taken
by a greater amount of black feathers. What exact ages these
tj'pes may represent it is hard to say. The question requires
further investigation, and 1 only throw out ni}^ suggestions in
the hope that they may help others to lead to more definite
results.

■• Mr. Bartlett noted the same thing happening many years ago in the
London Zoological Gardens. (^See Darwin, " Descent of Man," p. 399).

^ The young male mentioned by Montagu in Thompson's work had a
" frill " of white and chestnut.

2o6 The Irish Naturalist. [August,

The rich and varied coloration of the nuptial plumage
may in part be accounted for in yet another way. Headley^
points out that pigments in animals are waste products derived
from the food. In the breeding season these are discharged
more freely than at other times of the year, owing to increased
katabolism- of the organism. This is seen by the intensi-
fying of the colours of the feathers, in the spring, of such birds
ivhich neither actually change coloicr or groiv 7iew feathers.

Now, granting that the pugnacious Ruff is a highly-strung,
excitable creature, especially in the breeding season, it may be
that the katabolic changes which then take place are, perhaps
of greater extent than what occur in other birds, and so with
a copious discharge of waste pigment, not only rich, but
even varied, colours Avould be produced.

Habits of Life. — So much has been written upon this part
of the subject that I do not intend to enter upon it. Many
people are aware of the eccentric conduct of the Ruff during
the breeding season. I have already incidentally referred to the
polygamous and pugnacious habits of the males ; but a fuller
and more interesting account of the combats for the females
with descriptions of the battle-fields may be found in the
standard works of Yarrell, Saunders, Thompson, Watters,
Seebohm, &c. The observations of Cordeaux^ are well
worthy of perusal. He points out a thing which should be
of considerable importance to taxidermists, namel}^, that, con-
sidering the length of the legs, Ruffs are by no means high
standing. They bend the tibio-tarsal joint to a great extent,
and carry the body horizontally. I must say that I agree with
these observations, and I even noted the same attitude
assumed by Ruffs in captivity. How often do we see Ruffs
stuffed in an erect standing position, set up like a pouter
pigeon, and looking most unnatural.

I have never heard the Ruff make any noise, and this,
together with the low attitude which it assumes, sometimes
makes it a little difficult to identify this bird on the mud-slob,
as in the distance it may be mistaken for a plover. The Ruff

^ vStructure and Life of Birds, 1S95, p. 315.

2 Constitutional changes of a destructive character.

3 The Ruff and Reeve in Lincolnshire, Zoologist. 1890 (pp. 204-209).

I900.] Patten. — The Natural History of the Ruff. 207

usually flies low and rapidl)% but sometimes it ascends to a
considerable height.

According to Yarrell this bird formerly bred in Somerset-
shire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon, Norfolk, and lyincoln-
shire. According to Thompson there is no record of it as
having bred ever in Ireland or Scotland. The Ruff has
practically ceased to breed now in the British Isles. R. J.
Howard' thinks they bred in Lancashire as recently as 1884.

General Geographical Distribution. — The Ruff nests as high
north as 75*^ N. lat., in Siberia, Scandinavia, and Russia ; and
according to Saunders it breeds also in Poland^, Germany,
Holland, Belgium, and N. France.

When migrating it is widely distributed over Europe. It
winters from the south of the Mediterranean as far as Cape
Colon}', also ini^outhern and Eastern Asia.

An interesting note on the nesting habits of the Ruff on
the Munio River (the natural Russian-Swedish frontier) is
mentioned by Sutton Davies.'^ He sa3\s — "The Ruff was very
numerous in the marshes round Kaaresuando, where we
obtained eggs.^ As one la}^ watching the birds in the
marsh they w^ould keep passing and repassing over our heads,
uttering a low^ croak." We have seen that usually the Ruff is
quite silent.

Food. — According to Yarrell the natural food consists of
insects, their larvae and worms, mixed with fine gravel.
Collet found seeds of a sea-shore plant in birds shot in
autumn near Christiania. Stevenson found in the stomach
small bronze wdnged beetles and earwigs."*

Cordeaux^ noted Ruffs in company with young Curlew
feeding on the dried dung of the Great Cotes Marshes (I^incoln-
shire). He maintains that in the dry season these birds live
chiefly on coleopterous insects obtained in this locality. T. E-
Gunn found in the stomach remains of insects and fibrous
substance, and in the gullet a caddis-worm with an entire case.

' Zoologist, 1884, p. 467,

^ Zoologist, 1895, p. 326 to 335.

3 Four constitutes the clutch. Colour of eggs is greyish buff, blotched
and spotted with reddish brown (Payne Gallwey).

4 See Norgate on "The Food of Birds, " Zool.^ 1881, vol. v., 3rd series,
p. 411.

5 Zoologist, 18S4, p. 446.

2oS The Irish Nalnralist. [August,

In another bird he found remains of insects and seven or eight
pebbles in stomach.

Dr. Scharff, who ver}^ kindl}' examined the stomachs of
Ruffs which I submitted to him, reports as follow\s : — " Con-
stituent contents are —

Gravel, largest pebble measuring 4 mm., average being
2 mm. Sand, with a great many remains of Gasteropod shells,
probably marine. Bits of vegetable substance like marine
algae, and very minute seeds of plants. Setae, probably of
marine worms."

The Gasteropod shells, detected by Dr. Scharff, confirms
my idea that Ruffs feed, at any rate in part, upon Mollusca, in
addition to worms, insects, and vegetable substances. The
Ruff is considered a very edible bird. This we should expect
on account of the mixed food it eats, and also because it is
found inland and hence is not exclusively a sea-shore bird.
However, judging from the immature birds, which I have
myself tasted, I must candidly admit that I should prefer
to eat bird flesh with a less pronounced flavour of brine and
fish.

Conclusion.

Time and space do not permit me to enlarge further on
the subject of my paper. I have laid down my remarks
with a two-fold object, viz., to put together as much infor-
mation as is practically knowm of the Ruff as an Irish bird.
For this end I have collected together all the occurrences
of this bird in our countr^^ for many j^ears back. Secondly,
to try and make the subject matter of my paper readable
to not onlj^ the specialist in ornithology but even to those
who may be interested in general natural history work with-
out any preference for a special branch of the subject. For
this end I have not omitted to deal with speculative ideas
and theories as a means to help us to understand how
special structural modifications have been brought about
correlated with the particular temperament and modes of life
of the bird in question.

I wish to express my best thanks to Mr. Warren, Mr. Ussher,
Mr. Barrington and Mr. Williams for their kind aid and
suggestions on the subject, also to Dr. Scharff and Mr.

I900.] Patten. — The Naturul History of the Ruff.

209

Carpenter for so kindly allowing me to examine many skins
in the collection of the Science and Art Museum.

Campbei,!*,

Barrett-Hamii^ton,
Patten, .

Warren,

Payne-Gai^wey,
Saunders,

LiFFORD,

Cordeaux,

Howard,

Davies,

Norgate,
Cordeaux,

Wa INTERS,

Harting,
Cunningham, J. T., .

Recent Literature.
RufFs at Inch, Lough Swilly {^Irish Nat., voh i.,

P 195)-
Ruff in Co. Wicklow (Jruh Nat.., vol. iv„ p. 296).

Sea P'owl of Dubhn Coast (^Irish Nat., vol. viii.,

p. 225).
{a) Ruff in Co. SHgo {Zoologist, 1884, p. 429).
(J)) {Zoologist, 1896, p. 384).
Letters to Young Shooters (1896, p. 439).
Manual of British Birds (1899, p. 599-600).
Zoologist, 1896, p. 5l\
The Ruff and Reeve in Lincolnshire {Zoologist,

1890, p. 204-209).
Breeding of Ruffs in Lancashire {Zoologist, 1884,

p. 467).
In quest of Birds on the Munio River {Zoologist,

1895, p. 326-335).
Food of Birds {Zoologist, 1881, p. 411).
Zoologist, 1884, p. 446 and 466.

Fauna of Outer Hebrides {Zoologist, 1896, p. 142).
Ruff in Winter in Sussex {Zoologist, 1895, p. 150-

151).
Sexual Dimorphism (1900, pp. 108, 154, 155).

B^XPI^ANATION OF Pl,ATE 6.

Map of Ireland showing counties shaded from which Ruffs have been
recorded from 1821 to 1899. The horizontal shading indicates counties
in which the Ruff was known previous to 1853. Only three of the
maritime counties (^Louth, Meath, and Leitrim) are yet without record of
the bird.

Trinity College, Dublin.

210 The Irish Naturalist. [August,

NOTES ON IRISH CKTACKA.

BY R. I^I^OYD PATTl^RvSON, F.I,.S.

The perusal of Mr. Beddard's recently published " Book of
Whales " led me to re-read Dr. Scharffs article on this subject
in the April number of the Iiish Naturalist \ and to endeavour
to further elucidate a little-known subject I have referred to
my notes, and think the following may be considered of
sufficient interest to justify its insertion in the same Journal.
Omitting anything that has already appeared in ni}^ book on
" The Birds, etc., of Belfast I^ough," and coming to more recent
years, I find in my fishing notes of 1892 to 1897, both
included (I have none since) numerous references to the
Cetacea. The Porpoise is of almost daily occurrence, and
need not be further mentioned. Three others, namely, the
common Beaked (better known as the Bottle-nosed) Whale,
Hyperoodon rostratus ; the Ca'ing, or Pilot Whale, Globicephalus
melas ; and the Rorqual, Balcsouoptera inuscuhis, occur, I may
say, every autumn ; and I have occasionally seen all three
here in one day, the first and last- mentioned generally singly
the others sometimes singly, but also sometimes in small
" schools " of from two or three up to four or five or so
together. They can be distinguished by the different shape of
the heads— the ''beak" of the first-mentioned, the blunt,
rounded front of the second, and the flat topped head of the
third being distinctly seen when the animals come to the
surface to breathe or to attack a " ball " of fry. I have numerous
and some interesting notes of them — one to the effect that I
have no doubt the two larger species sometimes look round
them in a leisurely manner when they come to the surface ;
for I have often observed them change the direction of their
course and go straight to a "play" of birds over a "ball " of
fr}^ towards which their attention had been directed when
on the surface, by sight or sound, or both, of the birds hovering
and crying over and dipping on the fry.

If they rise pretty near and to windward a strong fishy
odour is very evident.

1900.] Patterson. — Notes on Irish Cdacea. 211

Besides the above, I think Sibbald's Rorqual may also occur
here. I had remarked that I had never seen any of these
creatures either " broaching" clear of the v/ater or " peaking
the flukes," as the Sperm Whale does on going down ; but I
have noted, under date 22nd June, 1S95, having sailed over to
near Portpatrick, on returning, and when in about mid-
channel, "a large whale ' broached' clear of the water near
the boat." Unfortunately I did not see it in the air, but
heard the tremendous splash it made, and saw the effects of it
in spray and small waves on its returning to the water.

In reply to my inquiries the boatman declared it was " three
times the length of the boat and about as big as her in the
body," which would have given it a length of some 102 feet
and a girth of nearly 30 ! But on my declaring these dimen-
sions, impossible he said, " Maybe it was not more than twice
the length of the boat," which would have made it 68 to 70
feet long, below which estimate he would not come ! My own
note adds, '' The splash I saw might have been 50 feet long,
possibly considerably more."

I have no doubt that the Killer, Orca gladiator, sometimes
visits our waters.

Under date 20th August, 1895, I have noted : — Saw a large
Rorqual several times, then two, and a Pilot Whale, and,
I believe, a Killer. I have occasionally had three large
Rorquals in view at once, and considered there were five or
six in the Bay at the time. These seemed to be about 30 to
40 feet long, and I have occasionally seen them fully 50 feet.
The Bottle-nosed Whales were estimated at 20 to 30 feet, and
the Pilot or Ca'ing Whales at 10 to 15 feet. Of late 3"ears the
Rorqual is seen here more frequently than the Bottle-nosed
species.

An interesting note of a much rarer species is under date
8th December, 1895, w^hen " M}' nephew, Mr. Egmont Praeger,
told me of a strange Cetacean having been cast ashore just
beyond Rockport Quay"(z.^., between two and three miles
from here), on the Co. Down shore of the bay. Accompanied
by General Sir Henry Geary, K.C.B., and his son, I went to see
it the following day, and examined and measured the animal.
I found it to be a Bottle-nosed Dolphin, the Delphijius tursio

2T2

The Iris/i Naturalist.

[August,

of Bell and Southwell, the figure of the animal given by the
latter author on p. 124 of his "Seals and Whales of the
British Seas " being ver}^ good, except that the dorsal fin is
rather too pointed.

The dimensions of this very rare visitor were about as
follow, strict accuracy being difficult owing to the mutilated
condition of the creature when seen by me : —

Length (in a strai
Tail, broad.
Flipper, long,
Do., broad,
Girth, about.

ght line),

10 ft. 6 in. to 9 in.
2 ft. 2 in.
T ft.

o ft. 4 in.
5 to 6 ft.

The attenuated beak had a gape of mouth of about 9 in., and
about 3 in. more showing, but not open, inside the cheeks.
The lower jaw was slightly the longest. The colour was slate
above ; under jaw, breast, and remaining underparts dull
white. I paid it a second visit the next day, after referring to
my books and to confirm previous observations, and found
nothing to add. I sent down the next day to secure the head,
but it had unfortunately been removed and the body cut up.

Holywood.

NOTES.

BOTANY.
Flowers and Insects.

I am much interested in Mr. C. R. Moffatt's remarks on the fertihzation
of Orobam-he major and other flowers by wasps. Noticing how other
visitors are kept by these insects from the flowers of Scrophularia nodosa
during the day, on one occasion I watched some plants of that species at
night, and found them abundantly visited by several of the common
Noctuid moths. It may be doubted whether these are useful in the
pollination of the flowers. I have seen them visited also by a few small
Diptera, which certainly are of no service to them.

W. E. Hart.

Howth.

1900.] Notes. 213

ZOOLOGY.

MOLLUSCS.

Hydrobia Jenkins!, Smith, in South-east Ireland.

On May 20th last, during an afternoon stroll, I discovered this interesting
little mollusc occurring in abundance for a couple of miles along the
marshy banks of the River Barrow at New Ross (Counties Wexford and
Kilkenny) in company with I^iiniuza tntncatula and Stcccinea elegans.

The specimens I collected are all smaller and less pointed than usual
in Irish and English specimens, but otherwise seem to agree with the
type, though Mr. Lionel E. Adams, who has kindly confirmed my identifi-
cation of the species, states that he noticed traces of carination on one
or two.

R. A. Phii^IvIPS.

Cork.

The Food of Trout.

The angler's complaint against the use of the turbine water-wheel
may be just or otherwise. There are other matters that might claim his
attention, viz., the food of the fish. I have conversed with many anglers,
and few of them know more than that a certain artificial fly will kill
Trout under favourable atmospheric conditions, and that they readily
take worms during a flood. How few consider upon what the fish live
during the entire year. I have examined some rivers with works and
mills upon them, and have failed to find many shell-fish that are plentiful
in adjoining streams not so polluted. In this connection I would point
out that in the stomach of a Trout little over one pound weight, I found
IQO s\i€i\s, oi LimncBa peregra, our commonest fresh-water snail, and over
130 small Pisidiiim fontinale, and P.piisilhitn. Anything that is detrimental
to the creatures upon which the fish live must affect them in a cor-
responding degree. Would our fishers become naturalists, not specialists,
they would enhance their pleasures.

H. L. Orr.
Belfast.

BLRDS.

Spring iviigrants at Poyntzpass.

As might be expected many of the birds were late in appearing this
spring; the Chiffchaff was here on March 31st, but from that date till
April 15th there was no further token of its presence ; the Willow Wren
arrived on April 20th, the Corncrake on April 24th, the Swallow on the
same date, the Cuckoo on April 28th, and I saw the first Swift on the
following day. None of these birds however were present in any number
till May.

W. F. Johnson.

Poyntzpass.

214 TJ^^^ Irish Naturalist. [August, 1900.

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

Royal Zooi^ogicaIv Socip:ty.

Recent gifts include a Linnet, a Canary, and a Goldfinch from Miss
Williamson, a Monkey from Mr. A. Gore, and a Kestrel from Mr. J. B-
Norris Kane.

19,405 persons visited the Gardens in June.

BeivFast Naturalists' Field Club.
May 12. — The summer session was inaugurated by an excursion to
Saintfield. The extremely wet and otherwise unfavourable character of
the day tested the zeal of the members, so that the party met at Saint-
field b}' the Rev. C. H. Waddell, B.D., was small, yet it included several
ladies, and all Avalked direct for Creevy Lough. There is an ancient
artificial island, fortified residence, or crannoge in the lake, which is still
in a fair state of preservation. The Creevy Rocks above the lake are
associated with the events of '98. The day was not favourable for
botanical investigation, 3'et some notes were taken. The pretty Marsh
Violet was in flower, and the Bog Bean was just beginning to put forth its
racemes. During the hour spent in the rain b}^ the lake shore sixteen or
eighteen species of shells were collected, the best being Valvata cristaia.
After a steady resistance, the party were at length baffled by the severit}-
of the weather, and returned in good order to the vicarage, where they
found shelter and hospitality, dispensed by Mrs. and Mr. Waddell, which
were thank full}' acknowledged at the formal' meeting, presided over by
the vice-president, Mr. W. H, Phillips, at which also some new members
were elected, and then the party returned to Belfast.

Cork Naturalists' Field Club.
June 4.— Excursion to Inchigeela.— The party, numbering twenty-
seven, travelled by train to Macroom. From jMacroom the party took
coaches and drove to Inchigeela. The following plants were observed
and collected : — Ranunculus Lenorviandi, in roadside pools. AquUegia
vulgaris and Linuui angustifoliiiDi, abundant in meadows. Viola ericetorutn,
along the edge of lake. Ceianitcm coluinbinum, G. lucidum, and Arenaria
tritiej-via, roadside. Saxifi-aga unibrosa a'ld Sedum anglictan, plentiful on
rocks. Carduus nutans, found l)y ]\Ir. Johnson on rough ground near the
lake. Lobelia Dorlnianna, abundant in the lake. Litliospcrinuui officinale,
roadside, near Tooni Bridge. Pinguictila grandiflora, in every boggy spot.
Euphorbia hibcrna, in many fields. Potainogeton lucens, Nitclla flexilis, and
N, opaca, dragged in lake. Cladiuni janiaicense, Carex fulva, C. filiforinis,
C. flava, C. binervis, and Schccnus nigricans, along the boggy shores of the
lake. At 5 o'clock the party partook of tea at the Lake Hotel, and once
more taking coach, returned towards Macroom, arriving in Cork at about
830.

September, 1900.] 215

THK IRISH SPPXIKS OF I,AND PI.ANARIANS.

BY R. F. SCHARPF, PH.D., M.R.I. A.

Thk recent publication of Prof, von Graff's magnificent
monograph on the assemblage of worms known as " Land
Planarians," gives me an opportunity of reviewing this group
as far as we are concerned in Ireland. Anyone who wishes
to obtain additional information on the subject of these
remarkable flatworms can see the original (" Monographic der
Turbellarien," part ii., 1899) in the National Library of
Ireland. Until recent years a few species only of land
planarians had been discovered, though many marine and
freshwater species were known to science. Prof, von Graff
now makes known to us some hundreds of species of land
planarians, of which however onl}' seven have hitherto been
found in Europe. Most of the others are confined to the
warm and moist tropical forests. In shape they are much
flattened from above downw^ard, so that some of them are leaf-
like ; others more elongated, might be described as ribbon -
like, and a few are more or less cylindrical. A distinct head
is never recognisable, but there is always something to
mark off the anterior from the posterior end. Minute eyes
are nearly alw^ays present, and sometimes the anterior end has
a different shape from the posterior. The mouth is usually
placed some distance back on the ventral surface.

Only seven species of land planarians have been recorded
as European, but I was so fortunate as to discover another
in the Pyrenees last autumn, which has lately been described
in the Proceedings of the Lhinean Society. Probably all the
land planarians are carnivorous. Their presence need not
therefore be dreaded by owners of greenhouses in which
they may make their appearance. On account of their
underground habits, these worms have only a very restricted
range, and their natural means of dispersal must be exceed-
ingly limited. To students of the geographical distribution
of animals they are therefore of particular interest. Now as
regards the Irish species, there are only three, one of
w^hich moreover is probably introduced, viz. ; — Placocephalus
{Bipaliuvi) Kewensis.

2j6 The bish NaHcralist. [September.

Placocephalus kewensis (Mos.*)

(Fig. I.)

This species, which is better kuown uuder the name of Bipalinm
kewense^ was first discovered in the greenhouses at the Botanic Gardens
of Kew, near London, in 1S78. It grows to over a foot in length, though
those I have seen have never exceeded 6 inches or about 15 cm. The
anterior end is a semicircular flat disc much like the shape of a cheese-
cutter, while the body is narrower and ver)^ elongated. The colour
is somewhat variable, but as a rule it is greyish above with five darker
longitudinal stripes, and lighter underneath.

Since its original discover)^ it has been taken according to von Graff,
in several conservatories in Kngland and Germany. It has also been
found in Madeira, at the Cape, in North America. Brazil, Hong Kong,
Samoa Islands, Australia, and New Zealand.

It has been first found in Ireland bj' Major Barton in his greenhouse
at Straffan, Co. Kildare {Irish Nat., vol. iii., p. 242). More recently
Mr. Moore took it in the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens near Dublin {Irish
Nat.y vol. iv., p. 165), and he has since forwarded specimens from there
to the Museum from time to time. Prof, von Graff (p. 272) inclines to
the belief that the Oriental Region is the original home of P. kewensis,
and that it has thence been introduced by human agency to other parts
of the world. He also refers the centre of origin of the Bipaliidae,
p. 272)— the family to which this species belongs — to the Indo-malayau
sub-region, five-.sixth of the known vSpecies being confined to the Oriental
Region.

Rhynchodemus tcrrestris (Miill.)

(Fig. 2.)

This was the first land Plauarian ever discovered, though by its
original describer, O. F. Midler, it was taken for a slug. This is however
not surprising, as even to the present day many who see it for the first
time would certainly classify it among the Mollusca. It is about an
inch long, the anterior and posterior ends being cylindrical, the middle
part slightly compressed. Above it is dark gre}', underneath light grey,
and during its progress it leaves a track of slime behind precisely like a
slug. It probably feeds upon snails — at an}' rate I once found a specimen
in Switzerland half immersed in the shell of a Hyalinia.

I first observed it in Ireland in 1S94, when the late Miss Kelsall brought
me a specimen from Blackrock, Co. Dublin (vide N'ature^ vol. 1., p. 617).
Since that 3'ear I have taken it near Carlow, at Woodford and Clonbrock,
Co. Galway, at Kenmare and Parknasilla, Co. Kerry, at Mallow, Co.
Cork, near Dundalk, Co. Louth, and at Tempo. Co. Fermanagh, while
Mr. Halbert took a specimen at Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow, and another
at Leenane, Co. Galway, for the Royal Irish Academy Fauna and Flora
Committee. The little worm prefers damp and shady places, and
generally shelters under stones or rotten wood.

In England it seems widely distributed. It was first taken by the Rev.
L. Jenyns, near Cambridge. Additional localities are given by Sir John

I900.]

SCHARFF. — Irish Land Planarians.

217

Lubbock, and more recently Mr. Gamble recorded it as far north as
Westmoreland. I took it myself near Coniston in Cumberland, but so far
as I know it has never been met with in Scotland.

Abroad it has been taken in Denmark, Germany, Holland, Austria,
France, Switzerland, and the Balearic Isles.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3-
Fig. I. Placocephalus Kewensis ; Fig. 2. Rhynchodetnus terrestris ;

Fig. 3. R. Scharffi. Natural size.

Rhynchodemus Scharffi, v. Graff.

(Fig- 3-)

The third Irish species, like the last, was first discovered by the late
Miss Kelsall in her garden at Blackrock, Co. Dublin. She handed it to
me, saying that she found a sickly-looking worm, which description
quite agrees with its yellowish flesh-colour and flabby condition. I
recognised it as a new species, but knowing that Prof. v. Graff was then
working at his great monograph, I forwarded the specimen to him. A
lull description of its external and internal anatomy with figures now
appears in the work referred to. The largest of the specimens I have
seen measured about 2\ inches (65 mill.), in length, and about |th inch
(3 mill.) in width. The lower surface is somewhat lighter than the
upper, and, like the last species, it has two small eyes near the anterior
end.

Rhynchodemus Scharffi is closely allied to R. terrestris and also to R.
pyrenaicusy but differs from them both in several important structural
points. Its size and colour distinguish it at once from R. terrestris

2i8 The Irish Naturalist. [September,

Prof. V. GraflF agrees with me that this species must be considered as
one of the endemic European forms, and it seems to me highly probable
that it is indigenous in Ireland. It has recently been discovered in a
second locality in Ireland by Mr. F. W. Moore at the Glasneviu Botanic
Gardens near Dublin. The fact of the occurrence of this worm in both
instances in an artificially heated structure does not necessarily favour
the view of its introduction from abroad. All land planarians thrive
best in a warm damp climate, and while they generally remain hidden
under stones or clods of earth so as to avoid the sun's rays and drying
winds, whenever they accidentally find their way into greenhouses, they
meet there with conditions congenial to their nature without having to
seek shelter. They are thus more easily noticed by us. I think R.
Schar§i has been introduced into both the localities where it has yet been
found, but it seems to mc probable that it has come with the turf or
perhaps with Sphagnum moss which are so largely imported from the
countr5\

It is to be hoped that this short note will induce naturalists
in various parts of Ireland to pay partictilar attention to this
group of worms, as it is not unlikely that other species may
still be discovered.

Science and Art Museum, Dublin.

BOTANICAL NOTES FROM NORTH IRELAND.

BY J. H. DA VIES.

The chief purpose of the following is to place on record an
additional station for Epilobium rosewn and another for Poa
co7npressay two plants to which I have lately been led to give
some attention. Though denied a right to native citizenship,
it is gratifying to know that they are not outcasts from the
Irish list. Withoitt wishing it to be thought that I have
formed a fixed conviction on this question, I may say I still
cling to the opinion that the considerations in favour of the
unqualified admission of both species are hardly outweighed
by any that I conceive can be urged against.

Our knowledge of the range of these plants in Ireland I
think is not yet complete.

Lepldlum campestre, R. Br. — In extraordinary profusion on rocky
ground (car])oniferous limestone) on the County Armagh .side of the
River Blackwater at Benburb.

I900.] Daviks. — Botanical Notes from North Ireland. 219

EplIoDium roseum, J^inu.— In July last 1 gathered examples of this
Epilobe on a wall and iu damp copses in the demesne at Lurgan, Co.
Armagh. Although recorded in the Cybch for only Districts V. and
XII., the editors are doubtless right iu noting the plant as
questionably rare. Its superficial similarity to E. montanum is so
very close that it may most easily be passed over.

Cnicus arvensis, Hoffm., var. setosus (Bess.)— In some plenty in
waste ground by a roadside at Lambeg, Co. Down. When seen
growing there is a conspicuous difference between the variety and
the type. To my mind Sir J. D. Hooker would seem to be quite
justified in placing the plant as a sub-species. It is given in Cyb, HUk
for District XI. only. Mr. vStewart gives me a note stating that this
plant was found by Miss Knowles and himself iu a disused gravel-pit
by the road from Kilrea to Garvagh, Co. Derry, July, 1898.

Scrophularia aquatica, Linn, — Though locally rare in Ireland it
appears to have a wide range, and has been recorded from all the
botanical districts, with the exception of District X. The blank is
now filled through the occurrence of the species, in some plenty, by
the margin of the lake in the demesne at Lurgan, Co. Armagh, where
it has been observed, independently, by INlr. Richard Hanna and
myself. At the same place there is abundance of Elcocharis ackularu>

F*oIy&onuin minus, Huds. — In August, T met with this species, for
which Cybelc gives no Co. Antrim locality, in quantit}- on a gravell}-
part of Lough Neagh shore, about half-mile west of the Sixmile-
water. The station at Whitehouse, given in F/ora of Ulster and
accepted in Flora N.E, Ireland, may, after all, have been right.

Potamogeton Zizil, Roth. — Occurs in a watercourse between the
canal and the River Blackwater at Benburb, and also in the Callan
Water, Co. Armagh.

Eleocharis uniglumis, Link. — Mr. Stewart's only station for this
plant in the North- east (near Bangor, Co. Down, 1867) has been lost
through building. It has, however, been found to occur on the
muddy sea-shore at Groomsport, where I met with it in July last,
in considerable quantity. The only other north-eastern locality is
Killougli, iu the same county.

Carex paludosa, Good. — Being one of the rarest of our north-eastern
sedges, not recently seen in District XII., it may be worthy of note that
it has lately been found in marshy places along the greater part of the
County Down shore of Lough Neagh. At the same time I saw it
also, but in lesser quantity^ on the County Armagh shore of the
Lough, near the junction of the two counties.

F>oa compressa, Linn. — On a wall by the roadside at Ballyvorally,
about midway between Glenavy and Lough Neagh, Co. Antrim,
The grass was found here on the excursion of the Belfast Field
Naturalists' Club, 4th August. Some time ago the prediction was
hazarded that it would prove to be more widely diffused than was then
known, and it will most likely be heard of from still other places.
Lisburui

220 The Irish Naturalist. [September,

A VISIT TO LOUGH ERNE IN SEARCH OF THE

SANDWICH TERN.

BY ROBERT WARREN.

My friend, Mr. R. J. Ussher, having heard from Mr. C.
Langham, of Tempo Manor, that he had received from I^ough
Erne four 3'onng Sandwich Terns for his collection of live
birds, requested me to visit Lough Erne and verify the dis-
covery, as he was anxious to be certain of the terns breeding
there, because up to that time only one breeding-haunt in
Ireland was known to us, that of Rathroueen Lough near
Ballina, Co. Mayo. However, from Mr. Langham's description
of the birds, and his acquaintance with the species, from
previousl}- having shot specimens in Donegal Ba}-, I had no
doubt of his correctlj^ naming the birds sent him.

Intending to make Enniskillen ni}- headquarters for ex-
ploring the lake, I left Ballina on the 9th July by the 1.45
limited mail train, and on reaching Claremorris Station,
changed into the Waterford and Limerick train for Ball}"-
sodare, hoping to meet at that vStation the Sligo and Leitrim
train for Enniskillen but, unfortunately, just as otir train was
nearingtlie station, the one for Enniskillen was steaming out.
So I had to go on to Sligo for the night. I left next morning
by 6 a.m. train for Enniskillen, arriving there at 8.30, and
after breakfast left by the Dundalk 9.30 train for Lisbellaw,
where Mr. Langham very kindl)^ had a car waiting to take me
on to Tempo Manor, which. I reached after a pleasant drive of
five miles through a prett}' and thriving-looking district.

Tempo Manor is the ideal home of a naturalist, a picturesque,
handsome residence in a fine demesne, planted with fine old
timber, with a beautiful little lake surrounded by trees and
shrubs at the foot of the lawn. The lake is well-stocked with
wild fowl of various kinds : Grej^-lag, Bean, Whitefronted,
Barnicle, Canada, and Eg3'ptian Geese, while the ducks are
well represented by Sheldrakes, Wild Ducks, Wigeon, Teal,
Gargarry, Shovellers, Tufted Ducks, and American Summer
Ducks. Lesser Blackbacked Gulls, Herring, and Blackheaded
Gulls were in a separate enclosure from the ducks, along with
a pair of Green Cormorants.

I900.] Warrkn. — A Visit to Lough Erne. 221

In a large aviary close to the lake were four healthy young
Sandwich Terns, a Grey Plover, and some young Blackheaded
Gulls, as companions for the Terns, while in a part of a
little shrubbery, enclosed by an iron netting, but uncovered,
near the lake, lived two pairs of the New Zealand Weka Rails,
so tame and domesticated that they reared several young birds,
some of which I saw were as large as their parents, and equall}^
tame.

The upper part of the lawn was tenanted by White Storks,
and a remarkabh* handsome specimen of the Crowned CranC;
while Silver Pheasants ran about the grass near another large
aviary, containing a pair of Ravens, Grey Crows, and
specimens of the Tawny, I,ong-eared, Barn, and Short-eared
Owls, and an Australian Piping Crow. Altogether, it was the
most interesting private collection of living birds that I ever
saw, and all looking so healthy as to do the greatest credit to
their management.

In a room used as a museum, Mr. L^angham has a fine
collection of native birds, nicely arranged in a large central
case, and a number of smaller ones round the room. Among
the birds I noticed a fine specimen of the Iceland Gull in that
very white phase of plumage common to both Glaucous and
Iceland Gulls in the last season before assuming the perfect
plumage of the adult. This specimen was the whitest I ever
saw, not a trace of the pale grey mantle on back or shoulders,
but this extreme whiteness of colour was probabl}^ owing to
the lateness of the date when the bird was obtained, Mr.
Langliam having found the bird dead on the MuUaghmore
sands on the 5th June, 1896. After passing a very pleasant
day I returned to Enniskillen, intending next morning to go
out on the lake in search of the Sandwich Terns' breeding
haunt.

When passing Lough Eyes, a small lake on the roadside
between Tempo and Eisbellaw, I observed a young Great
Crested Grebe swimming near a little island; it appeared full-
grown and well able to fly across the lake, and on mentioning
the fact to Mr. lyangham, he told me that two pairs of Grebes
bred on that small sheet of water. Next morning I went out
on I^ough Erne, and visiting the terns' breeding-haunt, found

222 The Irish Naturalist. [September,

about twenty pairs of old birds flying about the island, but
the}^ had apparently all hatched out their young, which
had either fled out on the lake with the j^oung Blackheaded
Gulls, or concealed themselves among the weeds growing in
dense thickets about the island. I found onl}^ one 3^oung bird
a day or two old, two fresh eggs, and three addled ones. The
3'oung bird being required to finish a nest-case in the Dublin
Museum, I killed it, and to ni}' surprise when dying it dis-
gorged parts of a sand-eel, the vivid green of the back and
the silvery white colour of the under parts showing that it was
unmistakably a sand-eel brought from the sea, a distance of at
least fifteen miles, a long way for any bird to bring food for
its 3^oung.

No doubt the Sandwich Terns may, like the common species,
feed their young with fish from the lake, but I never saw any
of them make the least attempt to fish while I was on the
lake, although there were numbers of Common Terns fishing
all round at the time. Among the breeding birds of the lake
the Blackheaded Gulls appear to be the most numerous ; there
is a colony of Lesser Blackbacked Gulls on an island far
down the lough, while the Common Terns breed on various
islands.

The Tufted Duck is one of the commonest ducks breeding
on the islands. We found two nests amidst the long reeds'
on the tern island ; on one the duck was hatching five eggs,
but the other was a deserted nest, containing three dead birds
and five eggs. On another small island, frequented by
Common Terns, we found a third duck's nest with four newly-
hatched 3'oung, and five eggs chipped ; one 3'oung bird was
so strong that it scrambled out of the nest and swam out on
the lake like an old bird ; afourthnest we found on another tern
island, the female sitting so close on seven eggs that I almost
trod on her before she rose from the nest. These nests
all found without an3' special search being made show how
common the Tufted Duck is on the lake, and when returning
up the lake to Knniskillen we passed several broods swimming
after their mothers, one with ten or twelve, another w4th seven,
and a third with four little birds, all apparently the same size,
and onl3' two or three days old, which shows what late breeders
these ducks are, even later than the Mergansers.

1900.] Warren. — A Visit to Lough Erne. 2 23

Tame vSwans are very common about the lake, nearlj^ every
little sheltered ba}" being tenanted by a pair and their young
broods, five to six being the average number of cygnets I
observed with each, but one pair I thought had seven. The
many finel3--wooded islands scattered about Lough Erne add
greatly to the beaut}' of its scenery, but are ver}- disappointing
to the ornithologist. The dearth of bird-life in some of these
old oak woods is remarkable, for where j'ou would expect to
hear the cheerful notes of the Chiffchaff or those of the rarer
Wood Warbler, the silence of death reigns all round, with
nothing to break it. I walked through one of these old oak
woods for a long time, and the only appearance of bird-life
that I saw was a solitary Woodcock rising out of the thickest
part, and the only sound I heard was the flap of his wings.

In the evening, after returning to Enniskillen, I walked out
to Castlecoole, Lord Belmore's beautiful place, to see the
celebrated flock of Gre^'-lag Geese kept on the lake in the
demesne there for over 160 years. According to William
Thompson these geese had been brought there by Colonel
Corry (ancestor of the present Lord Belmore), about 120 years
before 1848. They are the true Grey-lag, and live nearly
altogether on the lake in a half wild state. While looking at
them swimming slowly about I counted twenty-three old birds,
but saw no young ones, w^hich probabl}' were kept out of sight
among the long reeds that fringed the lake. The flock, I was
informed b}'- one of the workmen, numbers about fort}', and
they would be more numerous only for the large number of
goslings destroyed b}^ the pike. This small lake is also a
favourite breeding-haunt of the Great Crested Grebe, and
while looking at the geese I observed eight grebes (old and
young) on the water.

I was informed that on most of the lakes in Fermanaorh the
Great Crested Grebe breeds, wherever the}- are of any size.
Lough Eyes, already mentioned; although but a small sheet
of water, having two pair.

Moyview, Balliua.

A3

224 The Irish N'aturalist. [vSeptember,

ROUND LOUGH CONN.

BY R. LLOYD PRAEGER, B.E.

It miglit, perhaps, have been more in keeping with the times
to have headed this narrative " How I climbed Nephin,"
especial!}' in view of the fact that the ascent of this mountain
was absolutely devoid of incident ; but Lough Conn will be
found to represent the centre of interest in the ramble described
in the following pages, and may well stand sponsor for the
whole. The necessity of filling up many gaps in the floras of
West and East Mayo took me to that part of Ireland in the
last week of Juh% and Ballina made a convenient and com-
fortable head-quarters, where salmon formed the staple article
of diet. The main features of the surrounding district will be
seen by a glance at a map. The river Moy flows northward
through the town. Below Ballina it is tidal, and widens into
an estuar}^ which in turn gives place to the broad waters of
Killala Ba}'. At Ballina the river descends a series of lime-
stone ledges like a flight of stairs, and for many miles above
this fall it is deep and slow, flowing through great flat bogs.
The Moy at Ballina separates West Maj'o from Sligo, but a
few miles southward Sligo gives wa}' to East Ma3'o. All
around Ballina the Carboniferous limestone prevails, but on
either hand lie great areas of mountainous metamorphic
countr}'. Lough Conn, eight miles long bv about three miles
wide and (what is practically its continuation) Lough Cullen
(three by two miles) lie on the edge of the limestone,
west of the Mo}^ ; and close to the lake-shore the huge
quartzite mass of Nephin (2,646 feet) towers imposingl}', and
forms the dominating feature of the district.

The botan}^ of this area is not too well known. A. G. More
stayed at Foxford, on the Moy nine miles above Ballina, for
several months in the summer of 1864, and what we know of
the botan}' of Lough Conn is due to him. Dr. Dickie visited
Nephin, and in the Introduction to " Flora of Ulster" (1S64)
gives a list of its plants in descending order. Mr. Hart, in his
exploration of the Ma5'0 and Galway mountains, also ascended
the mountain, and has published a good account of its scanty
flora.^ This appears to complete the enumeration of the
explorers of the Lough Conn region.

■• Report on the Flora of the Mountains of Mayo and Galway, Proc.
K.I. A., 2 (Science) iii., pp. 702-4. 1883.

1900.] Praegek. — Round Lough Coim, 225

I arrived in Ballina late on the afternoon of Jnly 26th, for,
in spite of *' acceleration," the journe}^ from Dublin still
occupies seven hours. The daylight remaining was devoted
to listing plants in the neighbourhood, on the Mayo side of
the river. The first plant my eye fell on was that irrepressible
alien, Matricaria discoidca, which is abundant about the town.
The Moy yielded little. In marsh}- ground were Epipadis
palusfris in full ^ower, /it? lais obiusijiorus, Pinguicula lusitanica^
Spa7-ga7iiuin miniuium. Coming home along the raihva}'
Linaria viscida appeared with Matricaria Chamomilla and
Fcstuca rigida, and what was more interesting, a good colony
of the rare Poa coniprcssa. I watched for this grass on old
walls, and other places less open to suspicion, but did not see it
again, and to this station a t or | must be appended. This
last, with Linaria viscida and Pctasites fragrans, constitute
additions to the flora of District VIII. of " Cybele Hibernica."

Next morning I took train to Killala, situated on the sea
near the mouth of the Mo}', and first explored an extensive
stretch of sand-dunes that lie three miles north of the village.
Like all the western dunes, the flora was amazingh^ scanty.
On the shore, not even S a/sola or Cakilc brightened the bare
sand ; and the onh^ arenicole plants on the dunes were Psamvia^
Viola Ctutisii, and Cci'astitun tctrandrzim. A relieving feature
was furnished by the great abundance of Gentiana Amarclla
in full bloom, interspersed with the white stars of Sagina
nodosa. Refreshed by a swim, I returned along the shore,
adding considerabl}' to the Mayo salt-marsh list. Killala
consists of a round tower and man}^ public-houses. In one
of these I had lunch, in company with an aged lad}' fiddler,
and to her unmitigated blessings, ^ when I offered to pay her
modest reckoning, the best find of the day, which was made
immediately after, must naturally be attributed — nameh', the
alpine Draba incana, growing on sand-dunes half a mile east
of Killala, unknown hitherto in County Mayo. Killala yielded

^ This goorl lady's speech is realh' worthy of preservation : — •'F'aith,
an' I didn't know, acushla, what the divil I was to say to Mrs. Casey, for
sorra a pinny I had an me barrin' three-ha'pence, an' the half of that
owed alread}' ; but the Lord has sint a holy man from the dear knows
where with a tin drum on his broad back [the reference is to my
vasculum], who has relieved me of all ni}- dishtress; and ma}- all the
blissius," &c., &c., &c.

226 ' The Irish N^afuralist. [September,

also three additions to the flora of District VIII. — Sisymbrium
Alliaria, Chcnopodiiim Bonus-Hcnricjis, and Carcx riparia.
Thence I followed the shore eastward, with the sand-dunes of
Bartragh Island cutting off the open sea, to the beautiful
ruins of Moj'ue Abbey, where Iinila Hclcniitm and Fctivselinum
satizmm still tell of the Franciscan kitchen-garden. Then up
the Moy estuar}-, past Rosserk Abbey, and inland to Rathroeen
Lough, where a good haul of bog and water plants was obtained,
including Potamogdoyi obtnsifoliiis, new to VIII., Carcx limosa,
&c. A few^ miles by road brought me to Ballina.

Next morning I started w^estward, and first halted at Deel
Castle. The woods there added some plants to m}^ list,
including Epipadis lafifolia, new to VIII., and Viola odorata,
also new to VIII., but to be marked here with at. I struck the
Lough Conn shore at the mouth of the Deel River. The
characteristic flora of Lough Conn turned up at once —
Sanguisorba officinalis, first found here by Mr. More, one of
the most local of Irish plants, its other stations being all in
the North-east (District XII.) I may say at once that I found
it right round the lake, but never more than a hundred 3'ards
from the water's edge ; it is more abundant on the eastern
than on the western side, and becomes rare on the southern
shores, where the limestone is replaced b}' gneiss and granite.
With the Potcrium were Thalictrtim coUnuini and Galium
borealc, w^hich also occurred right round the lake ; Plantago
Diaritima, abundant over this whole district ; Lithospermum
officinale \n quantity; Riibns saxalilis, Sic. The shores of
Lough Conn on this side are exceedingly ston}', and the
characteristic scene on the lake-shore consists of a slope like
a badh' macadamized road ga}^ with the flowers of the
Potcrium, Thalicti'um. and Plantago aforesaid set among sheets
of Wild Thyme — a combination to be seen nowhere else in
Ireland. My boots were beginning to complain of the knife-
like edges of the stones wdien I reached a patch of bog on the
shore opposite Annagh Island, and when crossing it what was
my delight to see the erect bushes of Erica nicditcrranea
growing among the commoner heaths. There was not much of
it here — only a half dozen plants were counted — but six were
as good as six hundred. The known range of this, one of the
most interesting of our Cantabrian plants, was well defined,

I900.] Prakger. — Ro2ind Loicgh Com. 227

stretching along the coast of the wild metamorphic country
from Roundstone to Broad Haven ; here it was far to the
eastward of its most easterlj^ station, and on the low-lying
inland limestone.

At Cloghans I left the lake-shore for a while, and visited
Derrymannin I^ake, which proved barren, and I returned to
Lough Conn at its south-eastern end. Here the limestone
ceases, and a bolder shore-line is formed by gneissose rocks.
Heathery bluffs project over the lake, alternating with lovely
bays of clean reddish sand. A bathe was the natural result of
the advent of deep water, and then the change of the flora
was noted which followed the change of soil. A new group
of plants appeared, among which were Radiola, Filago
ger7ua7iica, Hypericum clodes, Gnaphalhmi sylvatiainiy and all
the commoner calcifuge members of our flora. Lough Conn
is separated from Lough Cull en by a wild, picturesque rocky
neck of land, and over this I passed to the beautifully situated
little inn at Pontoon. An evening stroll along the Lough
Cullen shores revealed nothing new except Scutellaria nmior
and a couple of Charas.

On four out of the five days which I spent in Mayo, the
weather showed a commendable habit of raining smartly for
an hour in the morning, to freshen things up, and then clearing
to a glorious day. The morning I left Pontoon was no
exception. A steep pass between wooded hills led to the
Lough Conn shore in its south-western corner, where Poferiujn,
TJialictriwi, and the rest were waiting to welcome me. A
rocky bluff yielded Taxus and Populus trcumla, evidently
native, and a couple of Hawkweeds not yet named. Further
on, another Hawkweed of the accipitrine group was gathered,
and Lobelia Dortmanna in the lake ; also Sclcranthiis and
other additions to the calcifuge group. Striking inland at
Wood Park, Levally Lough was visited, and a great bog
whereon Rhynchospora fiisca was the most interesting plant.
Then I turned towards where Nephin towered into the clouds
on the north-west. One of the few explorers of Nephin
invites his readers to " start from the summit and descend
downwards in various directions." I found it possible only
to ascend upwards in one — the one I chose being the course
of a streamlet on the south-east side. The ascent is steep and
the mountain very bare. For a long time Saxifraga lunbrosa

228 The Irish Naturalist. [September,

is the ouly interesting plant, but towards the summit large
areas of stony slope are covered with this and Arrneria
inaritima. The clouds cleared away as the top was reached,
and I enjoyed a glorious view, extending from Slieve lycague
and Ben Bulben to Longford, lyOUghrea, and Achill. Carcx
rigida and Salix herbacca were on the summit. On the north
side of the mountain is a gigantic cirque, into which I
descended, seeing Saxifraga stcllaris, and at least a thousand
feet below the summit l^acciniuvi Vitis-idcea, found b}' Dickie
but not by Hart. From the base of Nephin I returned to
the Lough Conn shore at Castlehill. North of this, a con-
siderable ])eninsula projects into the lake. Its neck is boggy,
and the bog extends northward towards Inishcoe House. I
was stumbling along here through heathery tussocks, when
to m}'- delight I came on Erica 7ncditcrranea again. This time
it was in abundance, its erect-growing round bushes rising on
all sides among the low scrub of ilJyrica and Schcemis that
fringed the lake, and though of course out of blossom (save a
few tiny sprays) it was a sight to gladden the heart of a
botanist. The heat and flies were both forgotten, and in great
good humour I crossed the woods of Inishcoe and rejoined
the lake shore. Here Agrirnonia odorata put in an appearance,
growing in quantity under the sheltering fringe of bushes that
marked storm-level, and it continued abundant right up to
Gortnaraby (now figuring as Gortnor Abbey !) where I swam
for some pond-weeds. Salix alba, unrecorded for VIII., looked
as native here as it usually does — which is not saying much.
It was late w^hen I reached Crossmolina, and a pleasant,
evening drive brought me back to Baliina.

The anticline which runs across northern Sligo and forms
the bleak bog-covered range of the Ox Mountains continues
into Mayo as a dark forbidding ridge of i,ooo feet or more in
height, which terminates at Foxford on the Moy. My previous
work in East Mayo having been mainly un the limestone,
this ground was chosen for the next day's work. An early
train was taken to Foxford, where Matricaria discoidca turned
up as usual. Crossing the Moy, I passed fn^m West to Kast
Ma\(), and from District VIII. to IX. Pa paver soimiifenwi,
apparenth' naturalized about here, is unrecorded for IX.
Crossing a group of rocky hills, Callow Lough was visited
and I turned northward along the edge of the high ground.

igoo.] Praegkr. — Romid Lough Conn. 229

There are great mounds of gravel here, which contain enough
limestone to harbour Carlina, From Ballina and Nephin I
had noticed a rather bold clifif in among the hills, and a
circuitous mountain road brought me to where it looks down
on the sequestered vallej^ and peat)' lakes of Glendaduff.
Unaware at the time that Mr. More had recorded Saxifraga
nmbrosa from "hills north-east of Foxford " — probabl}' this
identical station, its onl}^ habitat in District IX. — I had set
my heart on finding the London Pride here, and sure enough
here it was, growing abundantl)' from top to bottom of the
cliff and talus. This spot is within a couple of miles of the
Sligo boundary, and as the hills increase in height to the
eastward, it appears not unreasonable to hope that this gem
of the Irish flora may yet be added to the list of Sligo plants,
despite Mr. Colgan's negative results {LN., v., 301). Be it
noted that Mr. Colgan's explorations did not extend to the
Mayo end of the Ox Mountains.

Thence northward to Bally more Lake, where Lobelia
Dortvianna and Nymphcca alba vied with each other in
decorating the boggy margins. This was good ground, and I
added materially to the East Mayo list. Antheinis nobilis and
Viola tricolor were new to the flora of District IX. Lough
Doo and Carrowkeribly Lake, which adjoin, proved com-
paratively a failure, and as the sun went down I headed
northward for Ballina through the endless bogs of the Moy
valley, the featureless road being enlivened by the crowd of
men, women, and donkeys — ridden, driven, or panniered —
which were returning from the fair.

On my last day I had intended working across the flat bog-
covered limestone country from Ballyhaunis to Swineford, but
heavy rain set in when I was but a few miles from the former
place, and after sheltering behind a wall on a bleak grassy
ridge (houses and trees were almost non-existent) for tv/o
hours, I had to beat a retreat to Ballyhaunis, and thence to
Claremorris. The rain over, a profitable afternoon was spent
in wooded countr}' south of the latter place, and a number of
woodland plants added to the flora, of which the best was
Milium cffnsiim. Claremorris was reached as darkness fell,
and next morning I said aii fevoir to Mayo.

230 The Irish Naturalist . [vSeptember,

PROCKEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIKTIKS.

ROYAI, ZooT^oaiCAi, SOCIKTV.

Recent gifts include a Corn-crake from Mr. G. V. I^ovell, a Sparrow-
hawk from Mr. A. B. Leeper, a pair of Kingfishers from Mr. R. Edwards,
a Puffin from Mr. R. Kennedy, a Cockatoo from Miss O'Donnel, and a
Sanderling from Dr. C. J. Patten. A Bactrian Camel, a White-tailed
Gnu, a Python, and four INIonkeys have been bought,

17,042 persons visited the Gardens in July.

Bei^fast Natur.\i,ists' F1EI.D Cl^UB.

August 4. Gi,Kna\'Y and IvOUGH Neagh. —A large party left Belfast,
and w^ere joined by members from Lisburn and Antrim. Deviating from
the county road, the party entered Glenconwa}', and for some distance
traced the banks of Glenavy River. Here the photographers made some
records, and the entomologist some captures, while the botanists were
by no means idle. The eastern margin of Lough Neagh, wuth its sandy
borders, possesses a varied and very interesting land flora. The lake-shore
yielded the Yellow Loosestrife, Lysi/nac/u'a vii/i;aris^ one of the rarer pond-
weeds (/'^/rt///^^t/t7;^ //6V6V-^//^j////i), and the Cow-wheat, Mchinipynim pratensc.
An otherwise unattractive roadside wall furnished the best plant of the
day. This was Poa comprcssa, a species which until recently was only
recorded for two stations in the North of Ireland, as it is not a conspicuous
plant; it has probably been overlooked, and may ])OSsibly be found
elsewhere. The well-known fossil w ood or '' petrified wood " of Lough
Neagh was collected along the shore near Sandy Bay. Good cabinel
specimens were selected, which illustrated stages in the process of
silicification, one part being soft lignite and part solid stone. Solid
blocks of ferruginous clay or ironstone were also obtained, which, when
split open, were found to contain beautiful inij^ressions of leaves,
Similar plant-remains occur in the iron-ore beds of lUdlypalady, Glenarni;
and elsew here in Co. Antrim.

BKI^EAST and DU Jil^IN NaTURAUvSTS* PlEl.1) ClyUBS.

J LiyV 1 1-J3. Joint K^xcuksiox to Navan and the Bovne VaIvI^ev.—
The parties from Belfast and Dublin, numbering altogether 36, met at
Drogheda on the morning of the nth, and took train to Beauparc, a few
])roceeding to Navan direct. By kind permission of Mr. Lambert, the
members passed through the demesne of Beauparc, and across the
Boyne, where the fine foldings of the Carboniferous limestone were
photographed, and some good plants collected, including Poa palustris,

1900. J Proceedings of Irish Societies. 231

which has here its only Irish station. Thence the tow-path was followed
for six miles to Navau. The botany of the river banks was interesting.
The best find was Acorns Calamus, and among the other plants collected
were Thalictruni Jlavm/i , Ranunculus Lingua^ Stellariapalusiris, Rosa rubiginosa
(common), Cala/ninfha officinalis, Hydi-ocharis l\Iorsus-rana:, Carex acuta. Mr.
Welch photographed a magnificent clnmp of Alisma Plantago, The
weather on the whole was too dr}' for collecting moUnsca, but a shower
brought np, on the Iris by the riverside, ver}' large Succinea puh-is, some of
which had very deep, rich colouring. Later in the evening a new Irish
station was found for the very rare and local Helix hortensis, which
swarmed all over the gravestones in Ardbraccan churchyard. Planorbis
Jonianus of a rather large size was found in small pools close to the Boyne,
while Vahafa crista fa, so local in the north-east, was common ever)--
where. In the evening the local objects of interest were visited, includ-
ing Mr. Fitzherbert's salmon hatcher}^ and Donaghmore round tower.

Next morning train was taken to Oldcastle, whence the party drove
eastward and thoroughly explored Slieve-na-calliagh and its interesting
prehistoric burial 'chambers. Cystoplcris fragilis was gathered on one of
the earns, and a number of calcifuge plants noted. The drive was
resumed to Kells, where dinner was waiting. The evening was devoted
to inspecting the many antiquities of this interesting town, and a late
moonlight drive brought the party back to Navan. In Kells churchyard
Helix hortensis was again plentiful, more so than H. nemoralis, which
swarmed in the other damp localities visited.

On the third day cars were taken to Trim. The enormous bushes of
Rosa arvensis in full bloom in the roadside hedges excited much admiration.
Rain commenced to fall at Trim, but did not prevent full justice being
done to the fine old castle, the " yellow steeple " (near which the snails
Helix virgata and H. acuta abounded) and other famous remains of this
historic town. The Rev. Canon Norman, who was with the part}^ stated
that he never knew Helix acuta to occur inland in England. In Ireland
it rarely does so, and only on the central limestone plain. In the
evening the Belfast members left for the north, followed a couple of
hours later by the Dublin contingent.

Myriads of the " Meadow Brown " butterfly {Epinephile janira) were
observed rising from the bramble-bushes in the overgrown hedges
])etween Slane and Newgrange in an extension trip made by some of the
members. Fifty or more would rise as the car passed from an area only
5 to 10 feet square, and this abundance of the species was noticed for
miles along the narrow roads near Newgrange and Dublin.

232 The Irish Naturalist. [September,

NOTES

BOTANY,

PHANEROGAMS.

IVIatrlcarta discoldea In Ireland.

In the course of an excursion to New Grange and Monasterboice, made
on the 28th June last, I came across this aggressive alien in several
stations both in Louth and Meath, in neither of which counties does it
appear to have been observed previously. It was noticed for the first
time that day about a mile beyond Drogheda by the side of the road
leading to Oldbridge, and a couple of miles farther on, at Oidbridge
itself, appeared again in a deserted quarry close by the Boyne monument.
Both of these stations are in county Louth. Passing into county Meath
just beyond Oldbridge, the plant again turned up on the roadside near
Dowth and re-appeared in considerable quantity between Dowth and
New Grange. Soon after leaving New Grange for Mellifont and
INIonasterboice, the plant made its fifth and last appearance for the day,
this time at Rossan, where it occurred in great profusion, covering the
roadsides with a characteristic carpet of greenish yellow. So far the
plant has been observed in the following nine Irish counties: — Dublin,
Louth, Meath, Westmeath, King's Co., Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, and
Sligo, its area of distribution forming a broad band stretching right
across Central Ireland. Records from Northern and Southern Ireland
are still wanting. Appearances all point to its independent introduction
into numerous localities, from none of which the plant has yet had time
to spread very widely. Further observation will no doubt show that the
isolated centres of distribution in which it has alread}^ made a lodgment
are much more numerous than would appear from existing records.

Dublin. • NaThaniei, Coi^GAN.

To Mr. Colgan's Meath station I can add three others — Navan, Drumree.
and Hill of Down. To his list of counties three others may be added —
Monaghan, where it was recently observed by Mr. A. Somerville, and
Longford and Cavan, where I noted it this season. It will be seen that
the invasion of Ulster by this enterprising alien is now fairly begun.

R. Lt<oyd Prap;ger.

Rediscovery of Poa compressa at Londonderry.

On July 4th I gathered this grass on a wall about half a mile further
north than the "Old Walls." It is growing in considerable quantity.
Mr. S. A. Stewart very kindl)- identified it for me.

Mary J. LEKBODY.
Londonderrv.

1900.] 'Notes. 233

ZOOLOGY.

ANNELIDS

Irish Nephthydldae.

In his notes from tlie Gatty INIarine Laboratory of St. Andrews, Prof.
W. C. M'Intosh, Ann, and Mag, Nat. Hist. (7), vol. v., March, 1900), reviews
the British Nephthydidce, a family of marine worms. Of the nine British
species several are known from the Irish coasts, and one, vi/,, N. hystricis
is new to science. The latter was obtained at Castletown-Berehaven
during one of the Royal Irish Academy dredging expeditions. Another,
N. incisa, procured on the shores of Connemara by the late Mr. A. G.
More, is not known from any English or Scottish stations, but also occurs
in Scandinavia.

INSECTS.

Achcrontlaatropos off the Wexford Coast.

Mr. A. B. Wall, Master of the Coningsbeg Lightship, ten miles off the
south coast of Co. Wexford, has just presented to the Dublin Museum
through me a Death's-head INIoth, caught on board the lightship on
June nth. Within the past eighteen years I have received about a
dozen specimens of this moth from Irish lighthouses, but always from

mainland stations.

Richard M. Barrington.

P'assaroe, Bray.

MAMMALS.

Bats In the North of Ireland.

Perhaps the following notes may be of interest as helping to add a
little to our knowledge of the distribution of Bats in Ireland.

In 1898 I received four species of Bats from the undernoted localities : —
Plecotus anritus (Long-eared Bat).— Belfast, Co. Antrim. Kilkeel, Co.

Down. Clough, Co. Down. Cootehill, Co. Cavan. Castlederg, Co.

Tyrone. Limavady, Co. Londonderry.
Vesperugo pipistrelhis (Common Bat).— Belfast. Co. Antrim. Rostrevor,

Co. Down. Donaghcloney, Co. Down. Annalong, Co. Down.

Strandtown, Co. Down. Holy wood, Co. Down. Cootehill, Co.

Cavan. Limavady, Co. Londonderry. Sligo, Co. Sligo. Granard,

Co. Longford. Castlederg, Co. Tyrone.
Vfsperugo Leisleri (Hairy-armed Bat).— Whitehouse, Co. Antrim. Marino.

Co. Down. Belturbet, Co. Cavan. I also saw a specimen got at

Belmont, Co. Down, in September, 1896.
Vespertilio mystacinus (Whiskered Bat).— See Irish Naturalist for June, 1900,

p. 162.

Robert Patterson.

Belfast.

234 '^^^^ Irish Naturalist > [September, 1900.

TWO NEW TEXT BOOKS.

Text-book of Zoology treated from a Bioloi^ical vStandpoint. By Dr.
Otto Schmr i Iv. Translated from the German by Rudolf Rosenstock,
M.A. Edited by J. T. Cunningham, M.A. Part i. Mammals. With
numerous illustrations. London : A. and C. Black, 1900. Pp. viii.
and 13S. Price 3^-. M.
The special feature of this useful volume is that it "treats animals
always as living organisms." To quote Mr. Cunningham's preface
"Zoology from this point of view attracts children almost without
exception, while for them the subject has but little interest from any
other point of view." Consequently the author's plan has been to take
one or more t^'pical mammals of each order and describe these in some
detail, laying particular stress on the relation between their structure
and their manner of life. The systematic part of the volume is unfor-
tunately disfigured by several errors, such as the inclusion of the
Chimpanzee and Orang in the same genus.

The book is marked " for the use of schools and colleges." For purely
elementary work, we fanc}' that it will be more used by teachers than by
their pupils, as there are many hints, directions, and unanswered questions
which are clearly addressed to the former, while the diagnoses of the
phylum, class and order are among the facts of zoolog}' that have " but
little interest " for the latter. An intelligent teacher will find the book
full of invaluable hints, and we congratulate the class of boys or girls
who learn zoology from actual specimens on the lines here laid down.

First Stage Botany as illustrated by Flowering Plants.

For the Elementary vStage of the Science and Art Department. By

Ai^FRED J. EavarT, D.Sc. Pp. viii. and 252. London : W. B. Clive,

University Tutorial Press, is.

During the past few j-ears several excellent introductory books on

Modern Botany have appeared. Not the least useful of these is this, the

latest, under review. The book is written by a botanist who has done

work in vegetable physiology, and has also had experience in teaching.

The first hundred pages are devoted to the structure and functions of
the stem, root, and leaves of a plant, directions being given for practical
work, and series of questions here, as in other parts of the book, set.
Accounts of flower, fruit, seed, and classification follow, the characters
of many natural orders being given and illustrated. The appendix on
physiology is very good as far as it goes— probably as far as one could
expect in an elementary book. The book is illustrated by 236 figures,
some of which are severely diagrammatic, but as the book is avowedly
prepared to meet the requirements of a certain examination this feature
in the illustrations is to be expected as clearness is a distinct advantage.
If the subject of elementary botany could be generally taught in Irish
schools on the lines laid down in Dr. Ewart's book there would be a
marked advance, with benefit to student and country.

October, 1900.J 235

THE HABITS OF THE HAIRY- ARMED BAT,

Ve:SPKRUGO LKISI.KRI, KUHI,.
BY C. B. MOFFAT.

In the Irish Nahiralist for June of this year (p. 162) I stated
that the bat which forms the subject of the present paper
frequented a certain pasture-field at Ballyhyland, and that I
had some hopes of finding its sleeping-place there, and of
obtaining a specimen which would add it without doubt to the
Wexford fauna. These objects have since been accomplished ;
and I have succeeded in learning some facts relating to the
animal's mode of life, which call for a somewhat detailed
record.

All excellent account of this animal's general characteristics
was given by Dr. Alcock in his valuable paper in the Irish
Naturalist for August, 1899 (vol. viii., p. 172). It is the largest
of Irish bats, specimens weighing from 220 to 310 grains
whilst the common Pipistrelle, in my experience, weighs
from 70 to 90, and the I^ong-eared Bat from 100 to 130 grains.
It flies early"", high in the air ; its voice is powerful and shrill ;
and its habit of constantly screeching in certain spots is apt
to betray its presence. Its exact periods of flight and repose
have hitherto not been investigated, and on this point Dr.
Alcock expresses himself wdth scientific caution : — ** As far
as I can ascertain — the point is difficult to determine — the
Hairy-armed Bat flies for about an hour, and then retires, not
to reappear till the next evening."

For a mammal to enjoy so short a period of activity as this
would be very singular, and during a recent visit to Fassaroe
— a headquarters of Vesperugo Leisleri — I obtained evidence
that the flight is not so strictly limited, for on July 22nd I saw
several bats of this species flying in the early mor?iing : — the
first and last being noted respectively at 2.56 and 3.36 a.m., or
65 and 25 minutes before sunrise. That they were Hair>^-
armed Bats I was certain ; but specimens could not then be
procured.

^ On August 8th Mr. James Kelly, herd at Ballyhyland, pointed one
out to me which he had observed on the wing at 7.30 p.m., 11 minutes
before sunset.

236 The hish Natuj'alist. [October,

However, the discover}^ that Vespcj'ugo Leislcri is a morning
flier was a useful step towards tracing some of these animals to
their sleeping place at Ballyhyland, the morning light being
infinitel}^ preferable to that of evening for such a purpose*
On the morning of August loth I accordingly w^atched from
2.45 a.m. in the pasture-field already referred to, taking my
stand near an old and hollow ash-tree which I had reason to
suspect the bats might inhabit. At 3.35 a.m. their screams
were audible in the open, where several w^ere soon afterwards
seen, hawking and sporting above the level of the tree-tops.
At 4.2 one of them suddenl}^ dipped from its elevation, and
when near the ground darted towards the trunk of the old ash,
where it entered a hole about seven feet from the ground. At
4.5 another dipped, and shot into the same hole. At 4. 11 a
third followed suit ; at 4.12 a fourth entered another hole, some
two feet higher up in the same tree. This was the last bat
seen that morning. The four individuals noted had homed
respectively 33, 30, 24, and 23 minutes before sunrise.^

The hole into which three of the four bats had vanished was
evidently the entrance to a cavity of some extent, but it was
too narrow to admit of any examination of the interior. In
the evening I saw the three come out again, one at 7.53 and
two at 8 p.m., or 16 and 23 minutes after sunset. On the
following evening five were seen, all issuing from the same
hole, between 7.47 and 7.57 — their times of emergence being
respectively 12, 16, 17, 19, and 22 minutes after sunset. On
the 12th I again saw five come out : the first one minute, the
others respectively 8, 11, 13, and 16 minutes after sunset.
When quitting their abode, though high fliers at other times,
these bats skim very low over the grass.

The question of the animal's return to its sleeping-den during
the night was less easily settled. On two evenings I watched
the hole without au}^ success, though the moon was full and
bright, and I hid in the shadow of the ash-boughs not to dis-
concert the homing bats. The fact, however, that this large
and noisy species suddenly ceases to be either visible or
audible about an hour and twenty minutes after sunset weighed
strongl}^ against the idea of its continuing on the wing all

' In explanation of these figures, I should state that at Ballyhyland
(lat. 52° 31 N., long. 6^ 43' W.) sunrise on August loth is 4 minutes later
than at Dublin, and sunset i minute earlier.

I900.J Moffat. — The Habits of the Hairy-armed Bat. 237

night. Other considerations also pointed to the probability
of its retiring earlj^ as the Noctule is known to do (though
that species has not 5^et been ascertained to come out again in
the morning). Dr. Alcock had drawn my attention to the
fact that Hairj^-armed Bats shot by him an hour after sunset
had their stomachs so crammed with food that it seemed a
physical impossibility they could feed much longer.

I therefore argued that since I could not detect the bats
going i7i in the evening, I must endeavour to catch them as
the}^ came out in the morning. This would at least prove the
fact, though not the time, of their retirement after dusk. So,
on the night of August 12th, I fixed a net at midnight over
the mouth of the hole. In the early morning hours of the 13th
I watched by this net (some brilliant Perseid meteors relieving
the monotony of the vigil), and at 3.15 a.m. heard a bat gently
flop into it. I found that I had secured a fine female Vesperugo
Leisleri, caught emerging for her morning flight, one hour and
twenty-six minutes before sunrise.

Having made sure of my specimen, I quickly removed the
net so as not to disturb the remaining inmates of the hole in
their egress. I failed to see any bats emerge — the light being
too dim — but at 4. 20 had the satisfaction of seeing one re-enter.
As this individual cannot have left the hole while the net
was over it, the duration of its flight had not exceeded sixty-
five minutes.

In the evening of the same day I saw four bats (the sur\dvors
of the colony of five) emerge for their evening flight in quick
succession between 7.38 and 7.42, 6 and 10 minutes after
sunset ; and at 8.53 by a fortunate chance, the moon's rays
falling full on the line of flight at the moment, I succeeded in
seeing one go in. This was one hour twenty-one minutes
after sunset. As the interval between earliest and latest
emergence had been so short, the duration of this example's
flight can be told with some exactness. It cannot have been
on the wing for a longer period than 75 or a shorter one than
71 minutes.

We may thus claim to have a set of data, limited in number,
but precise as far as they go, determining the flight-time of
this local and somewhat imperfectly-studied species. It has
an evening flight and a morning flight, the two being of about

A 2

238 The hish Naturalist. [October,

equal duration. The evening flight is usually commenced a
little earlier than 15 minutes after sunset, the average of
seventeen actual emergences noted being 13 J minutes, the
earliest i minute, the latest 23 minutes, and the mean between
the extremes 12 minutes after sunset. The bat returns at
night to the same hole as serves it for sleeping apartment by
da)^ ; the precise time of its return, in the only instance noted,
having been 81 minutes after sunset. Its moment of leaving
the hole in the morning has also been noted only once, in the
case of the specimen caught on August 13th ; but it should be
remembered that this individual must have been the first to
emerge on the date in question, and therefore the usual time
of emergence is probably a little later than 86 minutes before
sunrise. The time of going home in the morning, on an
average of five observations, is 26 minutes before sunrise, the
earliest and latest instances having been 2>Z ^iid 21 minutes
before the sun. It has been shown that the duration of one
individual's (evening) flight was at least 71 minutes, whilst
that of another's (morning flight) was not more than 65
minutes. The usual duration is, in all probability, not far
from the mean between these two figures. The animal, there-
fore, in summer, spends one-tenth of its time on the wing,
and the remaining nine-tenths in its sleeping-hole. In the
shortness of its fiight-time it is probably unique among Irish
bats.

Whether the same retreat is used in winter as during
summer I cannot say."" The field is frequented to a certain
extent from May to September ; but until midsummer, when
the cattle are pastured there, the bats fly in it for only a few
minutes each evening, just before retiring for the night. This

^ I can uow (September 15th) answer this question with a qualified
negative, as the bats have lately desertecl the hole, and bestowed
themselves in separate crevices in the higher part of the tree. It is
noteworthy that they migrated singly, on different dates. On Sept. loth
three (instead of four) emerged from the common den ; on the nth, two ;
on the 13th, none. This shows that they changed their abode voluntarily ;
if they had been disturbed or alarmed they would all have left at once.
They still fly every evening from their new quarters. No two inhabit
the same hole. This apparent scattering for the winter — though it
might be thought a useful sanitary precaution before becoming torpid
and helpless — is the exact opposite to what has been reported of several
pther species, including F, noctula.

I900.] Moffat. — The Habits of the Hairy-armed Bat. 239

shows that they range some distance in quest of food. During
the late summer months the half-hour before retirement is
spent in careering about the field. Their fancy for cow-
pastures is a point to which I have previously drawn attention
(p. 162), and is doubtless explained by the presence of certain
species of insects in such localities.

My captive, whom I fed exclusively on insects for a week,
refused various house-flies, as well as the blue-bottle {Calliphora
erythrocephald), common crane-fly (Tipula oleracea), and horse-
fly {Hcematopota pluvialis)y but enjoyed the common Volucella.
She partook with relish of the honey-bee {Apis 77iellifica), and
of five species of wasp ( Vespa vulgaris , V. ger^nariica, V. rufa,
V. sylvestris, ^ and V. 7iorvegica). A humble-bee {Bombus
terrestris) and red-tailed bee {B. lapidaritcs) were eaten, but
subsequent specimens of B. terrestris were declined. The only
coleoptera ofi"ered, a few small scatophagous beetles, were
promptly devoured. Above all, she evinced an extraordinary
partiality for the common cockroach {Blatta oriefitalis). This
^vas a highly convenient taste, since it could be gratified at the
most unearthly hours, and at such hours did her ladyship,
who lived in a box in my bed-room, frequently wake me with
orders to fetch her something immediately from the kitchen !
She has eaten nearly a third of her weight in cockroaches in
one night

Next to the cockroach, I think her favourite food (among
the insects ofiered) was the honey-bee, when dead ; but she
showed the greatest horror when I offered her a living bee,
though I held it securely in my hand, and had previously
extracted its sting. This was no mere accident, for the
experiment was repeated on successive days. In two instances
she managed, apparently by a sudden *' flick" of her tongue, to
throw the bee to a distance. At first I was surprised that this
nocturnal mammal should so well comprehend the offensive
capabilities of a day-flying insect ; but when we remember the
common propensity of both Vespericgo Leisleri and Apis
mellifica to take up their abode in hollow trees, it is at once
seen to be quite natural that they should know something of
each other's powers. The identical ash-tree in which the
Hairy-armed Bats now under notice reside has often been
occupied by bee-swarms.

240 The Irish Nahiralist. [October,

The pedestrian habits of this species in captivity (so unlike
those of the Pipistrelle) have been noticed by Dr. Alcock
(/. N'at., vol. viii., p. 173), and by Mr. Barrett-Hamilton (/. Nat.^
vol. ix., p. 134). Those of my specimen were .similar ; I onl^^
once saw it take flight, from the edge of my bed, and I
suspect til at Vcspcrugo Leisleri has some difficulty in taking
wing from a level .surface. Once, too, I was wakened by the
whirr of its wings cutting circles round the room.

This bat is undoubtedly an early hibernator, retiring
abruptly about the 26th of September, the date mentioned in
Dr. Alcock's paper. The exact period is probably fixed by
the falling temperature. At Ballyhyland, in 1899, my obser-
vations in the accustomed place of flight were — September
25th, usual number flj^ng ; 26th, onl}- one ; 27th, none. The
maximum temperatures for the above three dates were
respectively 57^^, 53^, and 49*^ Fahr.

But though hibernation thus commences early, it is subject,
like that of other species, to interruption on the return of
warm weather. Near Fassaroe, during a warm spell, I have
seen I^eisler's Bat flying numerously on October 17th, and a
single specimen on October 20th. The late A. G. More
identified one captured indoors at Cromlyn as late as November
1 6th, 1894 {Irish Naturalist, 1897, p. 135), and Mr. Nichols has
informed me that this specimen is in the Museum. The
lowest temperature at which I have noted Hairy-armed Bats
in the open is 46° (on October 8th, 1899), but on that evening
they were out in some numbers. I therefore think that this
species is more influenced by the heat of the day than by
that of the actual time of flight ; for I have never seen it when
the day's viaximuvi was below 52^'-', and never numerously with
a lower maximum than 56® Fahr.

A slight odour, not unlike the '* scent" of the fox, marks the
entrance to the den of the Hairy-armed Bat.

Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford.

I900-J 241

OBITUARY.

THOMAS WORKMAN, J. P.

The suddeu death iu St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.A., on nth Ma}', of
Mr. Thomas Workman, caused deep regret not only in Belfast and its
Natural History and Philosophical Society (of which he was at the time
President), but throughout Ireland. Although largely occupied in
business, religious, and philanthropic work, INIr. Workman devoted much
time to natural history pursuits, and undertook several journeys to
tropical countries largely with the object of studying exotic animals in
their natural surroundings. In 1881 he visited Brazil ; in 1883 he spent
eight months in the east — India, Burniah, Singapore, China, and the
Phillipines. In 1888 he was in vSingapore and Ceylon, in 1890 in Singa-
pore and Java, and in 1892 in Cejdou, Singapore, and India again. As
already mentioned, his death — at the age of 56 — took place during an ex-
tensive journey in North America. Notes of many of these journeys were
communicated to the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society.

Mr. Workman was well-known to zoologists as an ardent student of
the spiders. On the suggestion of the Rev. O. P. Cambridge he made
large collections of these animals in Ulster. He published a valuable
Irish list in 18S0 {Entomologist^ vol. xiii.), and gave much generous help
to one of the editors of this journal in recent years. Mr. Workman
leaves an unfinished book on Malaysian Spiders, with plates and
valuable synonymic and bionomic notes. Only one complete volume
has been published, but it is hoped that the deceased naturalist's MSS.
will allow at least some more of his valuable work to be given to his
fellow-students of a most fascinating group of animals.

ARTHUR WYNNE FOOT, M.D.

A link with the former generation of Irish naturalists is severed by the
death of Dr. A. W. P'oot, which took place on September ist, after years
of delicate health. Born at Dublin in 1838, he graduated in Arts and
Medicine at Trinity College in 1862, and subsequently rose to great
eminence in his profession, occupjdug in later years the posts of Vice-
President of the College of Physicians, and Professor of Medicine in the
College of vSurgeons, He will be remembered by naturalists for his
researches in Irish entomology. Almost the only follower in this
country of the great Haliday's work on the Diptera, Dr. Foot published
two valuable papers in the sixth volume of the Proceedings of the Dublin
Nat. Hist. Society (1869).

242 The Irish Naturalist. LOctober,

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

RoYAi, Zooi^oGiCAi, Society.

Recent gifts include a pair of Pochards from Sir Douglas Brooke,
Sparrowhawks from Mrs. Harte and Colonel Mausergh, monkeys from
Mr. A. B. Kenny and Mrs. Blakene}', a Kestrel from Miss Lovell, an
Otter from Mr. M. Timulty, two Giant Tortoises from the Hon. Walter
Rothschild, a cockatoo from Mrs. Booth, Peregrine Falcons from Mr.
Brooke and Mr. H. M. Winder, and a pair of Green Linnets from Mr.
Kdwards.

18,064 persons visited the Gardens during August.

Belfast Naturai^ists' FieivD Ci.ub.

June 23 — The third field meeting of the summer session was held in
Tollymore Park, by kind permission of Lord Roden. The park is laid
out on the sloping sides of a valley, through which the Shimna River
traces a winding course. The bed of the river is formed of some of the
oldest stratified rocks in Co. Down, and illustrates in a remarkable
manner the eroding effect of river action, and the fantastic forms into
which running water can sculpture the very hardest rocks. About
eighteen birds were recorded, and a large number of beetles were collected
for further examination. As this is a noted botanical district, the botanists
were very active, and verified the names of many species. The Vice-
President (Mr. W. H. Phillips) offered a prize for the best lists of ferns
observed. Mr. Porter, the winner of the first prize, verified seventeen
species of ferns, and Mr. Orr took the second prize with fifteen species.

A formal meeting of the Club was held in the Roden Arms, in the
village of Bryansford, just outside the park gate. Mr. Robert Welch
Was formally congratulated upon his being appointed photographer to
the Queen. His accepted works included many that were taken in con-
nection with the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. After the election of
members, the party adjourned for tea, and returned to Newcastle in time
for the last train to Belfast,

August it. — The fifth meeting of the session was held at Glenavy
and the shore of Lough Neagh. A large party left Belfast, and were
joined by members from Lisburn, Antrim, &c. The walk from Glenavy
railway station to Lough Neagh — a distance of about two miles — was
undertaken under the most favourable conditions, and has highl}- appre-
ciated b}^ the part}'. Deviating from the country road, the party entered
Glenconwa}^ and for some distance traced the banks of Glenavy River.
The latter was very much swollen by the recent rains.

The eastern margin of Lough Neagh, with its sandy borders, possesses
a varied and very interesting land flora. The aquatic and sub-aquatic
plants of its waters and neighbouring drains add considerable interest,
and constitute a region most attractive to the botanist. The river glen
yields a good many of the sylvan species. Here the melic grass {Mclica
Mniflord) was found in profusion and very luxuriant. The Yellow Loose-
trife {Lysimachia), one of the many pretty lacustrine plants, was met with

I900.] Notes. 243

on the lake shore ; more like a garden species, it was conspicuous by
reason of its brilliant heads of yellow flowers. In the lough and adjacent
pools one of the rarer pondweeds was found {Poianiogeion hcterophylhis)', it
was very abundant, but out of flower. The unusual high water of the lake
prevented the collecting of Charas. The Cow- wheat {^Meianipyrum praiense)
was found on the roadside going to the lake. An otherwise unattractive
roadside wall furnished the best plant of the day. This was Poa conipressa^
which until recently was only recorded from two stations in the North
of Ireland. As it is not a conspicuous'plant, it has probably been over-
looked, and may possibly be found elsewhere.

The well-known fossil wood, or petrified wood, of Lough Neagh was
collected along the shore near Sandy Bay.

NOTES.

BOTANY.

MUSCINEyE.

Irish Mosses.

Messrs. H. W. LETT and C. H. WaddeIvI/ (in Journal of Botany for
vSeptember), write : — While on a botanical ramble in July, 1900, we spent
two days in the neighbourhood of Benevenagh, in the north of the
County Derry. Amongst the sandy Magilligan Flats, at the entrance of
Lough Fo3-le, we found Hypmini rngosuni^ Ehrh., and Catoscopinm nigritiun
(Hedw.) in some quantity. The former grew in luxuriant masses amongst
dwarf heather and grass on the tops of the slight elevations, and the
latter — which was in nice fruit — amongst the herbage in the damp
hollows of the sandy soil.

CHARACEyE.

Chara canescens, Loisel., in Galvvay.

Early in August last I found a pretty form of this rare plant plentiful
in one small pool in a salt-marsh east of Galway. This represents a good
extension of its range, its only other known localities in the British Isles
being in Kerr}', Wexford, Cornwall, Dorset, and vSuflblk. Messrs.
H. and J. Groves have kindly confirmed the identification of my
specimens.

R. A. Phii,i,ips.

Cork.

244 '^^^^ Irish NaUiralist. [October,

PHANEROGRA MS.

Viola lactea, Smith, in Ireland.

On the occasion of the excursion of the Cork Naturalists' Field Club
on Whit-Monday last (June 4) to luchigeela, Co. Cork, I collected at that
place specimens of several Violas, one of which, on subsequent examina-
tion, proved to be V. lactea, Sm. The other specimens included
V. erketonim, which was abundant along the lake shore, and hybrids of
V. lactea and V. ericelonim, which occurred with the former on rough
heathy ground. The occurrence of V. lactea in Ireland seems to have
been doubted as, though originally recorded in Dr. Power's " Flora of
Cork" (1845) as found by J. Drummond on mountains near Bantry, it is
placed in the first edition of Cybele Hibcrnica under V. caiiina, while in the
second edition of that work no mention is made of it. Mr. W. H. Beeby,
F.L.S., who kindly examined and verified the identity of my specimens,
informs me that he possesses specimens of V. lactea sent him May, 1899,
collected by Dr. Playfair at Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, so that there is no
longer any reason to exclude this interesting plant from the Irish flora.

R. A. Phii,i,ips.

Cork.

Hypochaeris glabra in Co. Dcrry,

In the Journal of Botany for September Messrs. H. W. LiCTT and C. H.
WADDEi^r, publish the following note :— At p. 497 of the second edition of
the Cybele Hibernica, Hypochceris glabra, Iv., is placed in the appendix, where
it is given among the " excluded species," and Mackay's early records
of it, which were not repeated in his Flora Hibcrnica, are described for
this reason as " no doubt errors," while the only other record of this
plant is extinguished with a "perhaps." It is interesting therefore to
be able to record the finding of a quantity of this plant in Jul}^, 1900,
growing on the extensive wild sandy Magilligan Flats in the north of
the County of 'Devry. The plants were all small, dwarfed perhaps by
the sandy soil in which they were growing, and not by any means con-
spicuous. The station is a level space about a rood in extent, where
Thymus Serpyllum wove a purple carpet, varied with white flowering
patches, which was a sight to see. There are indications that at some-
time or other the patch of ground had been cultivated, as there were
slight indications of ridges through it like those left after a crop of
potatoes, grown in what the Ulsterman calls "rigs," and are elsewhere
designated " laz3'-beds" ; but it is a long time since it bore a crop, as
evidenced by the plants now occupying it, and it is now far from any land
under tillage. The Flypocharis was also found on the rough ground beyond
the limits of the thymy patch. There can be no question from the nature
of the locality of its being native.

Vitality of Allium vincalc.

On June 6 I collected a couple of specimens of the Crow Garlic at
I'oulaphouca. The flower-head was then barely showing at the end of
the long arching stem. They were put into press, the paper changed a
few times, and then set aside .under a heap of other dried plants. On

iQoo.] Notes. 245

going througli the buudle at the end of August, these specimens were
found to have produced fully-developed heads of bulbils of quite the
average size. This surpasses the Sedums, such as S. riipestre^ which has
continued growing for six weeks with me after being put into press. The
London Pride is another plant of great vitality, ft does not actually
grow, but the leaves will retain their moisture and remain fresh for a
mouth or six weeks after being gathered, in spite of pressure and
frequent changes of paper.

R. IvLOYD PrAEGER.

Dublin.

Senecio squalidus, L<, in Dublin.

In June, 1S99, when passing through luchicore in a train, I caught
sight of two or three specimens of this species on a wall-top. In the
same month this year, being in Dublin, I paid a visit to Inchicore to see
if the plant was there only as a casual or as a colonist, and was rather
surprised to find it/ first, on the wall by the railway, then, more plentifully
on other walls and by pathways in the vicinity, and finally, in profusion,
in an enclosure in which was stored a lot of old building and railway
material, and in disused garden plots and other waste places.

In several spots I also noticed what looks like a radiate form of Senecio
vulgaris^ but may be the hybrid S. squaiidtis x vulgaris ( = S, hibernica^ Syme)
as, in most cases, it grew in company with these two species.

In the same localit}- I noticed a few other interesting aliens, viz.,

Lychnis alba, Cardnns crispns, d'cpis taraxacifolia, and Hordetun mnrinwn.

The presence of S. squaiidtis in Dublin is, I think, worth recording as an

instance of a South European plant which, having become well established

in the south of Ireland, at Cork, Baudon, Kinsale, &c., within the past

seventy years, seems now in a fair way to become a colonist in this much

more northern station. I have little doubt that it has been introduced

at Inchicore with old building and railway material brought from the

Cork terminus of the Great Southern and Western Railway, and it will

be interesting to watch the rate at which it spreads to other parts of Co.

Dublin. My friend, Dr. R. W. Scully, F.Iv.S., informs me that he has

noticed it at luchicore for the past seven or ten years, and that it

appears to be spreading.

R. A. Phili^ips.
Cork.

Piantagro media In Co. Wexford.

Towards the end of July Miss E. V. Cooper showed me some specimens
of this plantain, which she had found growing plentifully in a plot of
ground belonging to Killanne National School. As in all its other Irish
stations, the plant was probably sown with grass-seed. According to
the Cybek Hibernica, Plantago media, or Lamb's-tougue, is spreading in
Ireland, but the present seems to be the first instance of its having been
gathered in District IV. Its light lavender filaments make it much the

prettiest of the genus.

C. B. Moffat.
Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford.

246 The Irish Natia'aiisf. [October,

ZOOLOGY.

CRUSTACEA.

Haplophthalinus iviengrei, Zaddach, in Ireland.

I am glad to be able to report the occurreuce in Ireland of this rare

woodlouse— only yet recorded from one locality in Great Britain. It was

taken at Carcumroe Abbey, Co. Clare, bj'the Rev. Canon Norman, F,R.vS.,

when we visited that interesting neighbourhood in Jul}-. Two examples

only were found.

Wm. F. de V. Kane.
Drumreaske, Monaghan.

Colias edusa In Ireland.

Travelling from Clonbrock to Dublin to-day (27th August) I saw a

number of specimens of Colias edusa — four or five specimens near Ballina-

sloe, three males on the Roscommon side of the Shannon at Athlone,

one male at Hill of Down, one male near Kilcock, and two specimens near

Maynooth.

R. B. Dii,i,ON.
Clonbrock.

On nth September I had the rare pleasure of seeing at Howth a
beautifully fresh male of Colias cdusa. It was sucking the flowers of
Lotus corniailatus and, while I watched it, visited no other sort. As it flits
from tuft to tuft closing its wings completely on alighting, the protective
resemblance is surprising in an insect in which, looking only at cabinet
specimens, one would hardly suspect it.

W. B. Hart.

Howth.

Lepidoptera near Londonderry.

The following are new to me as local species ; I think they have not
been previously recorded for this district : —

Vanessa io. — My sister. Miss A. M. Campbell, captured a lovely specimen
of the Peacock on 30th August, at Ballynatena, near Londonderry. It
had evidently just emerged from the chrysalis.

Melitaa aitrinia.—On. 9th June my nephew, F. C. Campbell, jun.,
took this fritillary at Port Awe, near Buncrana, just at the spot where
his father, Mr. W. Howard Campbell, took Heliothis scutosa in August,
1878.

Zygoc)ia loniccrcc. — On 29th June my nephew took among a lot of
Z. filipLiidiilLC, a specimen of Z. lonicerce^ at Inch Road Station on the
Buncrana Line.

On 20th May my friend, Mr. Wm. Taylor, saw Theda rubi at Lackagh
Bridge, near Creslough, Co. Donegal, and procured a specimen. I had
never seen either M. aiuuiia or 7'. rubi in this district, but I believe the
late Dr. Osborne, of Milford, Co. Donegal, took both .species.

D. C. Campbei,!,.
Londonderry.

1900.] Notes, 247

<* WarUIcs " in Horses.

It is apparently a foct not generally recognized that " warbles " similar
to those found in cattle also occur in horses. Last April several warble-
maggots were squeezed out of a horse at Ballyhyland, where the coach-
man assures me that he has extracted others in former 3'ears. In the
Zoologist for July last (p. 340) is a r^sumd of an article on " Enemies of the
Horse " by Mr. F. V. Theobald (contributed to the Journal by the South-
eastern Agricultural College, Wye), in which some reference is made to
this subject. Mr. Theobald is there quoted as saying that a fly, so far
unidentified, which forms warbles or tumours under the horse's skin,
like the Ox Warble, is probably Hypoderma silenus', its attacks are said to
be uncommon in this country. Whatever be the name of the fly, I think
it well to mention that it occurs in Co. Wexford, and probably elsewhere
in Ireland, though I do not suppose it is anywhere in this country a
source of serious mischief.

Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford, C. B, Moffat.

BIRDS.

The Ruff in Ireland.

I have just had the pleasure of reading Dr. Patten's carefully prepared
article on the Ruff {supra, p. 187). In it he treats of the occurrences of
this bird in Ireland in more detail than I have had space to do in the
" Birds of Ireland," a work w^hicli is now in the publisher's hands.

In drawing deductions from available records of a rare bird, allowance
is to be made for several circumstances before a just estimate can be
formed of its range or the season of its visits. Thus the discontinuance
of shooting in spring, which was evidently practised a good deal in
Thompson's time, may partly account for the more recent absence of
records of the Ruff in March, April, and May, such as he cites.

It is natural that the greater number of the instances that Thompson
gives should have taken place near Belfast Lough, the immediate scene
of his observations, and also that many Ruffs should have been heard of
on Dublin Bay, where many good observers have shot, and where
taxidermists are not far off. Thompson had few correspondents in the
West, especially in Connaught, and the greater number of records of
the Ruff from the western part of Ireland made since his time, may be
due to the spread of interest in ornithology rather than to any extension
of the range of this species in Ireland.

Dr. Patten makes one remark in which I am unable to concur, namely,
that sportsmen as a rule are keen observers, and that few strange birds
pass them unnoticed. I would beg his attention to the following which
have been found among game sent in from various parts of Ireland : —
the Pink-footed Goose, Snow Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Little Bustard,
American Lesser Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Bartram's Sand-
piper, Red-breasted Snipe, and Eskimo Curlew. No doubt Mr. Williams
can add instances of many other occasional visitors that he has found
exposed for sale as game in the Dublin markets. These remarks are
made in that friendly spirit of free discussion which I would myself
gladly invite.

Cappagh, Co. Waterford. R. J. USSHEiR.

248 The h'ish Naturalist, [October,

Irish Birds.

We welcome the publication of the great work on the Migration
of Birds, on which Mr. R. M. Barrington, aided by Mrs. Barrington
and Mr. C. B. MofFatt, has been engaged for several years. The book
not onl)^ gives in full the reports of the committee on bird-migration
from iSSi to 1897, but includes elaborate analyses of the reportsfrom
1881 till 1897. The observations on which the reports and analyses are
founded were made by the Keepers of the light-ships and light-houses
around the Irish coasts, with the aid of printed schedules and instructions,
and the correctness of their identifications were checked by means of the
preserving of a leg and wing of the birds killed by striking the lanterns.
The book is published by Kdward Ponsonby, Dublin, and may be
obtained from the publisher or the author, price 25^-. net. Only 350
copies have been printed.

The long-promised general work on the Birds of Ireland b}' Messrs.
R. J. Ussher and R. Warren is just issued. W^e observe that a reliable
record of the distribution of each species of bird in Ireland has
been made the primary object of the book, which contains also many
original observations on life, history, and habits. This book is published
by Messrs. Gurney and Jackson at 30^-. We hope that both works will
be duly noticed in our next issue.

MAMMALS,

The Vision of Whales and of amphibious animals

generally.

In reference to the interestingsuggestion of Mr. R. Lloyd Patterson, page
210, that whales probably have the power to ascertain the position of a
ball of fry by " looking round them " when at the surface so as to see the
birds hovering over and dipping for the fry or to hear their cries, a
question arises — Can the whale see when its eyes are out of water .?

Just as in diving under water, w^e whose eyes are adapted for use in air
cannot see clearly, so conversely an animal with eyes suited only for
water could not see clearly in air.

Are a whale's eyes "only" so suited.? To enable the human eye to
see clearly under v/ater it is only necessary to use a convex lens of a
focus correcting for the difference in the index of refraction of water as
compared with that of air. When a whale rises out of the water has it
any means of making a correction the converse of this by lengthening
the focus of its eyes, or can it perhaps shorten the distance between the
lens and retina ? This question suggests one which no doubt could be
more easily investigated— Can a frog see well both in air and water.? I
have not the honour of being a naturalist, and therefore know not if
such questions have been already asked and answered, but if not they
would seem to present an interesting field for research.

J. Brown.

Belfast.

I900.1 Notes. 249

SOME RECENT I^ITERATURE.

Text-book of Zoology, treated from a Biological Standpoint. By

Dr. Otto Schmeii<. Translated from the German by Rudolph

Rosenstock, M.A, and edited by J. T. Cunningham, M.A. Part 2.

Birds, Reptiles, Fishes. Loudon: A. aud C. Black, 1900. Pp. vi.

and 306. Price 31. 6f/.

With commeudable promptitude, the second part of Dr. Schmeil's

work has been issued to English readers, so tliat the whole of the

Vertebrates have now been dealt with. The same plan is followed as in

Part I (Mammals) which we noticed last month, a somewhat full account

of a typical species of Bird, Reptile, or Fish serving as an introduction

to the study of its Order or family. We notice with pleasure that the

author advocates the protection of birds. The descriptions of the

structural details, of the creatures in relation to their mode of life are

excellent and stimulating, but there is regrettable weakness in the

systematic treatment of the subject. The Lampreys and Lancelet are

classed among the Fishes, and the latter animal is stated to occupy " the

lowest stage in the Vertebrate division of the animal kingdom," while

the account of " the Chameleon" would inevitably lead the student to

imagine that there is but a single species of that group of reptiles. The

numerous illustrations are, for the most part, accurate and attractive.

G. H. C.

White Cattle : An Inquiry into their origin ancJ history,

by R. H. Wai^LACE, Trans. Nat. Hist. Soc, Glasgow, vol. 5 (N.S.), parts
2 and 3, 1897-99.

Mr. Wallace's paper on the origin and histor}- of white cattle is full of
interest to Irish naturalists. Although he considers his paper simply as a
preliminary collation of data, he devotes over a hundred pages to a care-
ful inquiry into the subject, giving also a most useful bibliography at
the end.

IVIr. Wallace seems to us to give satisfactory evidence that the commonly
accepted view of the so-called wild white cattle being the descendants
of feral prehistoric cattle is incorrect. Wliile his view is by no means
new, having also recently been advocated by Prof M'Kenny Hughes, of
Cambridge, Prof. Boyd Dawkins, and others, he thinks the origin 'of
white cattle can be traced to one or two sources. They come either from
white cattle imported in Roman times for sacrificial purposes or from
collections of white calves, which, being dropped by dark-coloured cattle,
were regarded in those times as a portent of good, and therefore care-
fully preserved.

Throughout this interesting paper we find frequent references to Kerry
cattle, which Mr. Wallace considers a ver}- ancient breed, which has
remained in the same condition as it is now for a good many centuries.

R. F. S.

250 The Irish Naturalist, [October, 1900,

Flora of Bournemouth, including the Isle of Purbeck, being an
account of the flowering plants, ferns, &c., of the country within a
twelve-mile radius of the centre of Bournemouth. By Edward F.
IvTNTON, M.A., Oxon. 8vo. 10+290 pp. Map. Bournemouth:
published by the author [1900]. Price 85-. ^d.

Mr. Linton has given us a pretty and pleasant book. While clearly
intended for popular use, its scientific accuracy is in no way impaired
thereby. The Bournemouth area embraces portions of two counties, and
in the preparation of his work our author had the great advantage of the
existence of a comprehensive Flora of each of the counties concerned —
Townsend's " Flora of Hampshire " (1883), and Mansell-Pleydell's "Flora
of Dorset " (2nd ed., 1895) ; but the great bulk of the localities given are
original, and represent the work of the author, and such valuable
assistants as Rev. W. R. Linton, Rev. W. Moyle Rogers, and many
others. The distribution of each plant in the prescribed area has been
worked out in great detail. The Introduction is useful and concise,
with paragraphs on topography, climate, geology, botanical divisions,
and comparison of the floras of the two counties, and of the six divisions
into which the Bournemouth area is divided : also a key to less known
localities, recommended walks, and Latin and English vocabulary —
features unusual in such works, but useful in popularizing a know^ledge
of local botan5\ We are surjjrised to find no history of Bournemouth
botany or botanists, nor any bibliography : this strikes us as an unhappy
omission. Another important point not referred to is the general extent
and character of the flora, and its analysis, showing its relation to the
flora of England in general and the adjoining districts.

In the body of the work all plants, from natives to the merest casuals,
appear in the same type. While giving a look of pleasant uniformity to
the pages, the ver}^ unequal value of the entries so displayed is hardly
made sufiiciently clear by the word " outcast," "introduced," or "casual,"
in the line succeeding the heading ; no attempt is made to distinguish
truly indigenous species from colonists or denizens. Even plants which
are probably errors, such as Viola stagnina, appear in the same type as
the best established natives.

The working out of the distribution of the plants is excellent, and the
critical genera have received an amount of attention that is very seldom
possible in a local flora. The book is excellentl}' printed and neatly
bound, and should prove invaluable to the l)otanist at Bournemouth,
whether resident, migratory, or casual.

R. Li., p.

November, 1900.] 251

THE BIRDS OF IRKI.ANDJ

BY C. B. MOFFAT.

The completion of Mr. Ussher's long-expected work is an
event to be hailed with universal satisfaction. The ornitho-
logists ol this counto^ now possess a manual of which it is
impossible not to feel proud, embodying as it does an account
of our avifauna so comprehensive and thorough as to be
literally beyond praise. The work to which Mr. Ussher has
devoted so many 3^ears of patient toil is worthy of him in every
respect. Besides bringing our knowledge fully up to date as
regards the distribution of birds in our own island, it is a
valuable contribution to general British ornithology, and the
more closely it is studied the better it will be prized.

In speaking of the volume as Mr. Ussher's, it is not meant to
ignore the important aid given by his colleague in the author-
ship, Mr. Robert Warren. Mr. Warren, besides writing a
number of the articles, has contributed enough from his great
store of personal observations on birds to considerably enrich
the book. But it is at the same time well known that the work
is substantially Mr. Ussher's, and that to him we are primarily
indebted for the accumulation and arrangement of the vast
mass of materials which are here presented to the student with
such mature judgment and such scrupulous care.

The book opens with a preface in which the authors state
briefly their object and plan, paying a well-deserved tribute to
the memor}^ of their distinguished predecessor, Thompson,
whose work^ though long out of print, contains so much
original information that it can never cease to be a standard.
The preface is followed by an introduction, treating of the
striking features of Irish ornithology, and noting the principal
changes which have taken place in it of late years. Then
comes a very carefully prepared table, showing the distribution
of our breeding birds in counties. Mr. Ussher takes the

^ The Birds of Ireland, an Account of the Distribution,
lYllg:ratlon, and Habits of Birds as observed in Ireland,
with all additions to the Irish list; by Richard J. Ussher
and Robert Warren. Including an Introduction and Tables
showing the Distribution of Birds in the Breeding Season. With
a coloured Plate, Maps, and other illustrations ; pp. xxxii. + 419.
;^i los. lyondon : Gurney & Jackson, 1900.

A

252 The Irish Nat7iraUst . [November,

counties in an order of his own, wliicli is neither Professor
Babington's nor Mr. Praeger's, but is made to correspond with
their arrangement into provinces ; thus the Munster counties
come first, followed by those of Leinster, Connaught, and
Ulster. The S3'mbols emploj^ed in this table need to be .studied
attentivel}^ but we think we are safe in inferring, although Mr.
Ussher does not sa}^ so definitelj' in his ''ke}^" that wherever
an asterisk is used and is not followed b}^ a note of interroga-
tion, the implied statement is that the species breeds regiilarly
in the county under whose name such asterisk occurs. Then
come the articles on each species which compose the bod}' of
the work (pp. 1-396), the order followed being that of Mr.
Howard Saunders' Illustrated Manual. In an Appendix, fifteen
aliens, whose claims to inclusion in the list of Irish birds are
considered insufficient, are shortly noticed ; and a final supple-
ment communicates some additional information received
since going to press. There is a handsome coloured frontis-
piece— " Peregrine Falcon's Eggs from Ireland," — and several
photographs, showing nests of the Siskin, Peregrine, Cor-
morant, Woodcock, Little Tern, &c., add to the attractiveness
of the book. A map of Ireland, in two sections, showing the
unreclaimed land, is placed after the index.

It is obvious on the most cursor}^ inspection that the volume
before us nobl}^ fulfils its primary- object of outlining the dis-
tribution of birds in Ireland. On this subject Mr. Ussher has
spared himself no pains, and the information given is as full
and exact as could possibly be asked for. It was a work of
years to collect the data presented in the opening table, and
equal labour has been bestowed on the occurrences of irregular
visitants. These are chiefly grouped according to counties,
but when onl}^ about six occurrences of a species are known,
they are placed in order of time, instead of in geographical
arrangement. As might be expected, habits and nidification
have not been lost sight of, especiall}^ as regards birds which
are considered characteristic of Ireland. The articles on the
Peregrine Falcon, Chough, Siskin, Crossbill, Woodcock, and
Common Guillemot are, from this cause, written at much
greater length than most of the others, and are of more than
average interest. The Peregrine article is probabl}^ the
masterpiece of the book, and the passage descriptive of the

I900.J Moffat. — The Birds of h'cland. 253

eyrie of that bird ivS most graphic. Some readers may think
the account of the Chough's home even better. A conspicuous
feature of the book is its frequent references to Mr.Barrington's
recently published Migration Reports, and in this connection
it is right to point out that Mr. Ussher's inferences from the
Reports are the result of his own independent analj^sis, and
are not in any way based on Mr. Barrington's, though in the
main the two sets of deductions accord very well. Where they
differ, the source of disagreement will usually be found in
some uncorroborated light-keeper's observations which Mr.
Ussher has accepted and Mr. Barrington doubted ; this being
so, it is, perhaps, not a subject for regret that both points of
view should be before the public.

Mr. Ussher includes in the Irish list 288 species of birds, of
which 134 breed in Ireland, or have done so within the ex-
piring centur}^ while 37 others visit us annually, and the
remaining 117 are irregular visitants. The above total does
not include any of the following 15, which are relegated to the
Appendix : —

American Robin, Belted Kingfisher. Egyptian Goose.

Reed-Warbler. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Canada Goose.

Gold-vented Thrush. Black-billed Cuckoo. Passenger Pigeon.

Purple Martin. American Goshawk. Green-backed Gallinule.

Ortolan. Black-winged Kite. Yellow-billed Sheathbill.

It is not disputed that some of these 7nay have been bona
fide migrants, but it has been thought safer to take the
sceptical side of the question in each instance.

The additions which have been made to the list since

Thompson's day are numerous, and include the following,

which were added since the 2nd edition of More's list was

published in 1890 ; —

Lesser Whitethroat. Lesser Kestrel.

Barred Warbler. Lesser Golden Plover.

Yellow-browed Warbler. Sociable Plover.

Rufous Warbler. Spotted Sandpiper.

Woodchat Shrike. Red-breasted Snipe.

Serin. Wilson's Petrel.
Short-toed Lark.

Apart from these, the Crested Lark, which was included by
Thompson but rejected by More, has been re-admitted, on
grounds which we propose to discuss before concluding this

A 2

254 '^^^^ Irish Nahiralist. [November,

notice. Another change is the displacement of the Dusky
Shearwater {Piiffimis obsairtis^ Gmel.), by the I^ittle Dusky
Shearwater {P. assimilis, Gould), the bird caught off Valentia
having been re-examined and found to belong to the latter
type.

Of more interest than such stragglers are the regular
visitants and resident species, and the fluctuating character of
our fauna is well illustrated by the numerous changes which
Mr. Ussher shows to have taken place in the distribution and
relative abundance of these since the publication of Thomp-
son's ^vork. The disappearance of our larger birds of prey has
been rapid. The Golden and Sea Eagles are nearly gone, and
the Buzzard, as a breeding species, quite so. The Hen Harrier,
common in the western counties fift}^ years ago, has become
scarce ; and scarcer still is the Marsh Harrier, though in 1853
this was the most abundant of all our larger Accipitres. With
the Eagles and Harriers we are quickly losing the Raven, and
the range of the Chough is much more restricted than formerl}-.
From unascertained causes the Quail has nearl}^ ceased to
visit us, and the Roseate Tern is no longer known to breed.
It would also seem that the Common Tern is losing ground,
since it has now no known breeding station on the east coast
of Leinster. The Wood- Lark, Mr. Ussher thinks, has in most
of its haunts been exterminated by bird-catchers, and the
Marsh Titmouse, which was perhaps resident in ver}^ small
numbers in Thompson's day, has not been met with for many
years. The Goldfinch has decreased in the vicinity of large
towns, but elsewhere, unlike the Wood-Lark, holds its own.

Against these losses \w^y be balanced a considerable number
of gains. The settlement of the Stock-Dove and Tufted Duck,
and the rapid increase of the Crossbill and Woodcock as
breeding species, are particularly remarkable. The Starling's
recent extension of its breeding-range in Ireland is also matter
of notoriety, and the same may be said of the Siskin. There
is strong reason to believe that the Chiffchaff was not, in
Thompson's day, so widespread and common a bird as now.
The Coal Titmouse, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree-Sparrow, Lesser
Redpoll, Bullfinch, Rook, Jackdaw, and Red-breasted Mergan-
ser, are further instances of species which Mr. Ussher
considers to be increasing. We think he might have said the

I900.1 Moffat. — The Birds of Irela7id. 255

same of the House-Martin, as regards the rural districts of
Ireland, though of late years it has diminished in Dublin. The
Swift has extended its range to the west, where in Thompson's
time it was rare. The Jay, whose former wide range had been
much reduced by the destruction of woods, is spreading again.
The Mistle-Thrush is probably still gaining ground, and it is
doubtful whether the ubiquitous Magpie's increase has yet
been checked.

There are other species of which it must remain open to
doubt whether they have actually increased or not, since it is
possible that they were locally overlooked in former years,
owing to paucity of observers. Such, among breeding birds,
are the Redstart, Blackcap, Garden-Warbler, Grasshopper-
Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, Dunlin, Sandwich Tern, and Fork-
tailed Petrel. There is also the curious case of the Black
Redstart, once accounted a very rare straggler, while now it
must be ranked as almost a regular winter visitant to our
south coast. We cannot as yet say whether the greater
frequency of its recent ocurrences is real or apparent. But
the careful data now accumulated will make it easy to gauge
the increase or decrease of any of the above-named in future ;
and this is a great step in advance, for which Mr. Ussher is to
be thanked.

The subject of distribution, which has been so fully worked
out, is infinitely more important in itself than any questions
regarding the treatment of reported occurrences of rare
stragglers ; and we are therefore not disparaging Mr. Ussher's
work in expressing ourselves at variance with him on several
of these minor matters. It would have been best either to
have banished to the Appendix every bird not absolutely
proved to have visited Ireland, or else to have admitted to the
regular list all species for whom a p7 ima facie case could be
made out. Instead of adopting either of these courses, Mr.
Ussher has drawn or accepted an arbitrary line, discarding
eight American birds — most of which undoubtedly occurred
in this country in a wild state — because they are open to
suspicion of having obtained ''assisted passages" on vessels ;
while he admits the Crested Lark, I^esser Spotted Woodpecker,
and I^ittle Egret, whose alleged occurrences are not vouched
for by any specimens whatever. As regards the exclusions,

256 The Irish Nahiralist. [November,

Mr, Ussher may consider that he has sufficient warrant in
following Mr. Howard Saunders ; but thi^: does not vindicate
the consistency of the book, for it may fairly be asked whether
any vSpecies has been admitted by Mr. Saunders to the British
list on evidence so slight as Mr. Ussher adduces for saddling
the Irish list with Alauda cristata.

The facts as to the Crested L^ark are as follows : — The Dubli7i
Painy Journal of February 27th, 1836 (Vol. IV., p. 276),
contained an announcement of the shooting of an example of
that species near Tane}^ Co. Dublin, the communication being
signed " W. R.," and accompanied by a woodcut representing
thebird. Thompson, on the strength ofthis anonymous evidence,
admitted the species to the Irish list, but it was subsequently
excluded by More, and indeed the case for its admission at
that period was so obviously w^eak as to call for no further
examination. In 1893, however, some fresh evidence on the
subject was adduced, showing that the writer of the letter to the
Dublin Pejiny Jottrnal was none other than the now celebrated
war correspondent, Sir W. H. Russell, who was a boy of fifteen
when he shot the supposed Crested Lark and forw^arded
the notice and figure for publication. Whether this revelation
of the writer's identity makes the case for admission stronger
or weaker than it was before is a question on which opinions
will differ ; but the circumstances at least show that there w^as
room for error. It is true that the bird was taken for identifi-
cation to "a Mr. Colville, a member of the Royal Dublin
Society," w^ho pronounced it a Crested I^ark, and showed his
young interrogator a figure of that species in an illustrated
translation of Buffon. But it remains to be proved that Mr.
Colville was any better at natural history than his pupil. An
ornithologist would surely have made some effort to induce
his young friend to have so valuable a specimen preserved,
but it is evident that Mr. Colville did nothing of the kind.
By Mr. Ussher's courtesy, we are enabled to add to the known
facts of the bird's story the following details, communicated
by Sir W. Russell in a letter dated December 24th, 1897 : —

Dear Sir, — You ask me what I did with the bird which is causa causans
of our correspondence, and my answer is that probably we ate him. I
am sure I did not send it to the Trinity College Museum. I did not enter
Trinity till 1838-9. My trophies of the chase were usually handed over
to the cook, and all I can remember about Alauda cristata I have already
imparted to you.— Yours, &c., W. H. RusSi;i«if.

I900.] Moffat. — The Birds of Ireland. 257

That the famous bird was actually cooked and eaten does
not, we repeat, say much for Mr. Colville as an ornithologist ;
and when we remember the numerous errors as to Irish birds
which have been set right by re-examination of specimens
long after they had been killed, it seems peculiarly unfortunate
to have a new departure made in the direction of accepting a
species so unsatisfactorily vouched for. Mr. Ussher has
himself played an important part in securing the rectification
of erroneous records of the Nightingale, Montagu's Harrier,
King-Bider, and Hooded Merganser, which, prima facie, had
much higher authority in their favour than can be claimed for
the Crested I^ark. The figure in the Penny Joufnal would
appear from Sir W. Russell's language to have been a copy of
that in the edition of Buffon to which he refers, and therefore
is. of little importance; and apart from that figure there is
literally no authority at all for the bird, against whose inclusion
in the Irish list we earnestly protest.

We will not dwell at any length on the question of the
L,esser Spotted Woodpecker's claims to retention among our
birds, but we believe the time has arrived when it ought to be
** turned out." No specimen exists, though Glennon the bird-
stuffer stated to Watters that " six or seven " had been sent
him for preservation at different times. That so many should
have been sent to one taxidermist, while no other evidence
of the bird's occurrence in Ireland has been produced from
that day to this, is simply incredible. Watters appears to
have been shown two specimens in Glennon's shop, but in
view of the bird-stuffer's manifestly unreliable statement about
the " six or seven," we should be slow to accept his evidence
as to where the two had been killed. Glennon's data were
sometimes proved to be at fault, as in the instance of a certain
Ruppell's Tern, which he palmed off as Irish by way of a
"practical joke/' Under such circumstances, the present
position of Dendrocopus nnnoroii our list is most unsatisfactory.
It is just such a case as Appendices exist for dealing with, and
to place it elsewhere is, in our humble opinion, to deprive the
Appendix of all raison d'etre^

In conclusion, we would wish to remove a slight error which
might mislead visitors to the Belfast Museum. Mr. Ussher
states, on Mr. Barrington's authority, that the supposed

258 The Irish Naturalist. [November,

Carrion Crow in that Museum is a Rook. This is only partly
correct, for there is a true Irish-killed Co}V2is coroiie 2i\\\on%
the specimens at Belfast, and that bird, which has full data,
was seen and its identification confirmed by Mr. Barrington
in August, 1897. Besides this example, there was a Rook
erroneously labelled " Carrion Crow,'* as Mr. Barrington
noted ; but as the latter bird had no data its identity is of
comparatively little importance, and it does not deserve to be
styled " the supposed Carrion Crow in the Belfast Museum.'
The fact that two specimens were examined, and 07ie found to
be wrongly labelled, will be found noted in the Irish Naturalist
for 1898, p. 41.

The volume on which Mr Usslier has expended so much
pains is very handsomel}' bound and illustrated, and well
printed. To Irish ornithologists it is a mine of information,
and no naturalist's library ought to be without it.

SPONGES, CORAI.S, AND JEI.I.YFISH,

A Treatise on Zoolog^y. Edited by Prof. E. Ray Lankester,
LL.D., F.R.S. Part II. The Porifera and Coelentera. By E. A.
MiNCHiN, M.A., G. H. Fowi^ER, Ph.D., and G. C. Bourne, MA.
London: Adam and Charles Black, 1900. Pp. vi. +37 + 178+81+84
+25. I5,y. net.

Two divisions of Invertebrates, viz. : — the Porifera (sponges) and the
Coelentera (corals, jellyfishes, &c.), are dealt with in the second part
of the great new English treatise on Zoology referred to in the May
number of the Irish Naturalist.

Nearly half of the book is devoted to the sponges — a most difficult
group, whose true position in the animal kingdom is to the present day
a source of dispute among zoologists. While even a beginner can easil}'
recognise a sponge among a variety of natural history specimens, the
classification of the group presents the greatest difficulties. The
principal divisions are still founded on the nature of the minute spicules
which form the skeleton, though the old division into calcareous and
non-calcareous sponges no longer holds good. Three classes of recent
sponges are recognised by Prof. Minchin — the author of this portion of
the work, viz.: — Calcarea, Hexactinellida, Demospougi^e. P'^roni the
point of view of evolution ?nd morphology the Calcarea (sponges with
calcareous spicules) are of special interest, so much so, indeed, that
Prof Minchin deplores the powerful attraction which they offer to
speculative intellects, a sad state of confusion in classification and
nomenclature having resulted from overmuch theorizing.

I900.] Sponges, C orals ^ and Jellyfish. 259

The question whether sponges are animals or plants has long ago been
settled in favour of the former view. Their protozoan nature has been
upheld by many zoologists, though the opinion that they belong to the
Metazoa is now generally adopted among zoologists. It is, however,
when we come to a further definition of their position in the system that
modern authors are so much divided. Are sponges to be regarded as an
independent phylum distinct from all the rest of the animals, or should
they be placed in one of the existing sub-kingdoms ? Since the coelen-
terate theory, according to Prof. Minchin, has become quite untenable,
he rightly adopts the view so ably advocated b}' Sollas and Biitschli that
sponges belong to a separate phylum, which probably originated from a
choanoflagellate infusorian ancestor. It is to be regretted therefore that
Mr. Bourne, in the sixth chapter (p. 4) again classes the Porifera among
the Coelentera.

The chapter on Enterocoela and Coelomocoela by Prof. Ray Lankester
is particularly interesting. The term ccelom was originally applied to
the body cavity in vertebrate animals. The same term is now extended
to the cavity or organ in other groups of animals which may be consi-
dered genetically identical with this primitive vertebrate pleuro-
peritoneal cavity. As Prof. Lankester remarks, the presence of the
ccelom is of the highest physiological importance. Hence all the
Metazoa, except sponges, are divided into those in which the sole cavity
is the enteron — the Enteroccela— and those in which the ccelom is pre-
sent as an independent second cavity — the Coelomocoela. The author
then enumerates the phyla included in these two grades, their chief
organs and organ-systems and discusses the various theories connected
with the ccelom in a strikingly novel and attractive manner.

The chapter on the Hydromedusse and the Scyphomedusae, which
contain the jelly-fishes and their allies, has been very ably written by Dr.
Fowler. The illustrations, many of them new, are throughout the book
excellent, though some of the diagrams might with advantage have
been printed in different tints, as has been done by Delage and
Herouard in their great French work on zoology.

Finally, Mr. Bourne deals with the Anthozoa and the Ctenophora. The
apparently aberrant group containing Ctenoplana and Cceloplana which was
supposed to connect the ctenopho^es with the planarian worms, are now
classed among the former under the order Platyctenae. Until the
development of these peculiar forms have been studied, they give us no
further clue as to the suggested relationship of Platyhelminthes and
Ctenophora.

The volume (Part II.) now before us quite sustains the high standard
of excellence which characterizes its predecessor, and justifies in every
sense the opinion already expressed in this Journal.

R. F. S.

A3

26o The Iiish Natuialist. [November,

NOTES ON THE LIMERICK FLORA,

BY R. LLOYD PRAEGKR, B-E

Several discoveries of high botanical interest have recently
been made by members of the Limerick Field Club ; and as I
had an opportunity of studying the plants in question in situ
during three da^'S spent in that count}' in August last, I have
combined these records with others which appear worthy of
publication, and thrown the whole into narrative form. That
these notes did not appear earlier is solely d!ue to the time
required for working out the identity, distribution, and
standing of one or two of the most important plants recorded.

The flora of Co. Limerick has never been systematically
investigated; a glance at " C3^bele Hibernica" reveals a great
paucit}^ of records from that county. Recentl}^ (1897) the
Field Club commenced the formation of a herbarium repre-
senting the flora of Limerick and Clare; and in 1899 Mr. A.
Somerville, B.Sc, mostly kindly spent a week in working up
a Limerick list for "Irish Topographical Botany." Never-
theless further work appeared necessar>% and with this object
in view I reached Limerick on the evening of August 14th.
The flora of the county turned out unexpectedly rich. Over
500 species were listed in three da3^s, and this without tapping
the maritime flora of the Shannon estuary, which, as Mr.
Stewart has shown, ^ is tolerablj^ extensive. From the brief
glance at the flora which I had, I augur for Co. Limerick a big
total when its botany is w^orked out, and the addition of some
further rarities as interesting as those which it will be my
pleasure to record.

Just before leaving home. Miss Knowles informed me of the
finding a few days before of Rnmex rna^dtimics, one of the
rarest Irish plants, b}- Rev. Canon O'Brien at Lough Gur, one
of the few lakes of Limerick, lying in the centre of the county.
On arrival at Limerick, it was with much satisfaction that I
examined the specimen at the house of ni}' hosts, the Doctors
Fogert}', and found that Mr. R. D. O'Brien's diagnosis was
undoubtedly correct. We decided to spend the first da}' at
Lough Gur, and next morning Dr. George Fogerty, Mr. R. D.

^ Stewart : Report on the Botany of South Clare and the Shannon.
Proc. R.LA. (3) I., 1890.

I900-] Praeger. — Notes on the l^hncrick Flora. 261

O'Brien and I drove twelve miles to that favoured spot, long
famous for the Irish Elk skeletons and prehistoric remains that
it has yielded. Only two plants of R. maritivius had been seen
by Canon O'Brien, and I feared the plant might prove to be
merely sporadic, but to our great satisfaction we at once found
it, growing in profusion about the boat-house under Grange
Hill, and saw it later at several other points round the lake,
so that its claim to native rank cannot be questioned.
Previous Irish records sum up as follows :— Kilcoleman, Co.
Cork — Carroll (prior to 1872, not seen since?); Lady's Island
Lake, Co. Wexford, 1883 — Hart; Garristown, Co. Dublin —
Ogilby and Moore (last seen in 1883, now extinct?). The
discovery of a new station is therefore eminently satisfactory.
While gathering R. inaritinius my eye fell on Ceratophyllum
demersuni, growing in the shallow water by the lake edge, and
later it turned up choking, in its immense luxuriance, a broad
drain near the old castle at the north-east end of the lake.
This was a most welcome find, the plant being local and rare, and
unrecorded from District VI. Nor were the rarities of Lough
Gur yet exhausted, for at a number of places round the lake
margin T gathered Nastttrtiiim sylvestre, hitherto unknown in
this part of Ireland, being confined to four rivers in the south-
east, and one (Erne) in the north-west. Chejiopodium rubru7tt
was also a welcome find, growing among both species of Bide7is,
which fringe the lake in great profusion, and Ranunculus
circi7iatus was fished out of the water. We sampled one of the
rocky limestone hills which rise about the lake. ChcErophylkim
temulum was the best plant found. The site of a former lake
adjoining Lough Gur on the south-east, now largely swamp
and bog-hole, yielded Leni7ia polyrhiza, stated by Harvey to be
common about Limerick (" Flor. Hib.", 1836), but apparently
not seen since ; also Car ex teretiuscula. The clear spring-fed
bog-holes here, filled with CharacecB, were a pleasant change
from the dirty pea-soup-coloured waters of Lough Gur. I
pushed on to a worked-out bog, full of deep holes, lying south
of the lake. The pools 3delded a fine haul of CharacecB^
including C. polyacantha, also Potamogeton coloratus, P.
obtusifolius, Sparganium minhnum, and other additions to the
Limerick flora. We drove back to Limerick delighted with
our day's work.

262 The Irish Naturalist. [November,

Previous investigation having been almost confined to the
limestone, we made for the Old Red Sandstone uplands of Slieve
Felim the following morning. As on the previous day, the
roadsides for miles were ga}^ with the white umbels oi Pimpinella
viagna. A halt at a roadside quarry-hole yielded Le^mia
polyrhiza again. Beyond Cappamore w^e (Dr. G. Fogerty, Mr.
O'Brien and I) alighted, and worked across the remains of a
large bog, now almost entirely demolished. The typical bog-
flora had nowhere survived the draining and cutting ; Os7nu7ida
and Lastrea spinulosa were the best plants seen. Dr. Fogerty
and Mr. O'Brien have since explored the less plundered bogs
at Castleconnell, and filled a number of blanks in the I^imerick
list, for bogs are almost absent in that county. After lunch at
Doon, we struck in among the hills, working chiefl}- up the
fine glen of the Bilboa river. Satisfactory results were achieved
in the addition of a large number of calcifuge plants to the
list, though most of them possessed no special interest : the
best plants found were Rubus saxatilis, Agrimonia odorata
(new to VI.), Ca7xx pendtda, Lastrea Oreopteris, L. cBviula. On
our long drive home Fest^ica Myuros was gathered near
Cappamore.

Next morning before breakfast Mr. O'Brien took me to see
in situ the best of all the Limerick plants — Scirpus t^iqueter,
which he had found only a few days before. As a British
species this is extremel}^ rare. It is confined to the tidal
reaches of the Thames, the Arun in Sussex, and the Tamar,
which separates Devon from Cornwall. And here, on the
muddy forevShore just below lyimerick Docks, Mr. O'Brien
showed me the plant growing abundantly. The proximity to
the shipping suggested the possibility of introduction ; but Mr.
O'Brien has set this point at rest by a series of explorations
which show that it grows profusely on both banks of the
Shannon for about five miles below Limerick, nor is the extent
of its range yet fully defined. The discoverer had better be
allowed to speak for himself: — **I took a boat and dropped
down the river about five miles. There can be no doubt, I
think, that it is native ; it grows by the rood together, like
grass, on both sides. I traced it down as far as the bottom of
Tervoe reach on the Limerick shore, That may be its limit,
as the water gets rougher there, but I expect to find it in the

I900.1 Praeger. — Notes 071 the Limerick Flora. 263

Maigue and Bunratty River" (3i-8-'oo). " I went on Tuesday
to Cratloe Creek on the Shannon (Clare side), but did not find
Scirpus triqucter \n the main river; there was one clump in
the Creek . . On Wednesday I went to Newtown, which is
opposite Cratloe on the lyimerick shore. There I could not
find kS. triqueter at all. You will understand that the river is
very difficult to reach either by land or water, so that no
thorough search is possible ; but I think you may take it that
abundant growth of the plant ceases at Coonagh lower light,
and the point opposite where the river widens — that is, it is in
Tervoe reach and no further" (y-g-'oo.) It is impossible to
refuse the plant a place in the indigenous list, and the finder
is to be congratulated on making one of the most interesting
additions of recent years to the Irish flora. We gathered good
specimens of it, and growing hard by I was much pleased to
find Nasturtiimi sylvestre again.

Thence to waste ground adjoining the docks, where Mr.

O'Brien had an interesting lot of colonists to show, among

which Lepidiiivi latifolium andZ. Draba were well established,

and, according to him, spreading. Then across Carey's

Road to a large disused quarry, now being filled up with

rubbish, where a truly remarkable assemblage of aliens was to

be seen. There were all kinds of plants here: — half-native

plants which hang about towns and waste ground, such as

Brassica nigra^ Lepidiiim latifolium, A^epeta Cataria, Cheyio-

podium murale ; colonists like Lcpidium Draba and Melilotus

arvensis^ Wallr. ; confirmed casuals, such as Saponaria

Vaccaria, Malva parvi flora, Melilotus alba, M. pay vi flora,

Medicago falcata, Ceyitaitrea solstitialis, Caiinabis saliva ;

English plants which do not extend to Ireland, such as

Lythrum hyssopifolia, Centaurca Calcitrapa, Lactuca virosa, and

Polypogon vi07ispeliensis ; plants of Southern Europe, like

Nasturtium austriaciwi, Lepidium virgiiiicum, Gren. et Godr.

{ = L. majus, Darracq), Polyg07iuvi Bellardi, Aspkodehis

fistulosus (the second a very rare plant, growing only at

Bayonne) ; North American species, such as Ambivsia

artemisicefolia and the lovely grass Paiiicum capillare ; and

garden outcasts of various sorts, down to vegetable marrows

and Virginian creepers.^

^ My best thauks are due to Mr. K. G. Baker, of the British Museum, for
kind assistance in naming these foreign plants.

264 The Irish Natitralist. [November,

The morning train (save the mark !) conveyed Mr. O'Brien
and myself to Askeaton, a straggling village on a small tidal
stream with rocky limestone banks, and decorated with
beautiful ruins. The flora here is striking : many of the
plants are recorded in Mr. Stewart's report already referred to.
A conspicuous group of doubtful!}' native plants first arrests
the e3'e — Fccniculum^ Verbena, Malva sylvestris, Silybum ;
with them some native species, such as Salvia Verbcnaca and
Dipsacus. On the abbey ruins I was delighted to recognise
Ezcphrasia Salisbtcrgensis, hitherto in the British Isles on
record from Clare, Galwa}^ and Mayo onl}^, though I have it
also from Leitrim. Along the rocky banks of the river this
Kyebright appeared again abundantl)^, growing as usual in
dense clusters on bare patches of soil or on little eminences.
The river-banks were full of good plants, such as Corjins
sanguinca, Calamintha officinalis, Spiranthes autuninalis,
Allium vineale, Viola hirla, Gerajiinni colunibinum, Rubia, the
first four not in Mr. Stewart's list ; neither is Feshcca Myicros,
which grew on old walls with Oroba7iche Hederce. Papaver
hybridtun, growing on the roadside, furnished another addition
to the Limerick list. Mr. O'Brien next took me to MuUagh,
where there is a considerable area of bare limestone crag,
most tempting to the eye. A wet marsh which I waded here was
tenanted by Cladium, Jtmcus obiusijlorus, Ubicularia vulgaris
and minor, Potamogeto7i colorahis, and Chara polyacantha, most
of them wanted for Limerick. The flora of the crags proved
characteristic, though curiously restricted. The thickets
consisted chiefly of Hazel and Dogwood — no Buckthorn ; the
herbaceous flora of Viola hirla, Poterium Sanguisorba, Carli7ia
vulgaris, Euphrasia Salisb2irgensis, all in immense abundance.
On such ground it was most strange to see no Ger-anium
sangtiine^cm , Asperula cynanchica, Seslefia, or the other rarer
plants which one associates with the West of Ireland lime-
stones. Geraniicm columbinuyn w^as here again, unquestionably
native, and Rubies saxatilis.

A nine-mile drive brought us finally to Curragh Chase,
where we were joined by Canon O'Brien. This ground was
visited also by Mr. Somerville last year, and ii will well stand
further working. We added to its flora Neollia Nidus-avis and
Carex Pseudo-cyperus, and in particular I was glad to find
Hypopithys Monoiropa, one of our rarest Irish plants, dis-

I900.] Prakgkr. — Notes on the Limerick Flora. 265

covered here by Dr. George Fogert}- in 1897, but looked for in
vain since. We enjoyed Canon O'Brien's hospitality that
evening, and returned to lyimerick by the night mail.

Early next morning Dr. G. Fogerty took me to another
quarry, adjoining the railwa}', where a number of strange
casuals were to be found, but the rich list of the Carey's Road
quarry practicall}^ covered the ground. I caught the midday
train to Dublin, and the detecting of Linaria viscida,
Diplotaxis imcralis, and Arcnaria temiifolia on the railway at
Killonan finished for a time my botanizing in I^imerick.

RECENT I.ITERATURE.

The Fauna and Flora of Valencia Harbour on the West
Coast of Ireland [Proc. Royal Irish Acad., 3rd sen, vol. v., 1900.)

In the spring of 1895. Mr. W. I. Beaumont, Mr. E. T. Browne, and Mr.
F. W. Gamble visited Valencia HarlDour for the purpose of investigating
certain groups of marine invertebrates — " Medusse, Turbellaria,
Nemertea, and Nudibranchiata — which groups had received ver)' little
attention from previous workers on the west coast of Ireland." Their
efforts were so successful that in 1896 they again visited Valencia, and
were accompanied this time b}^ three additional naturalists, viz., Prof
F. F. Weiss, Mr. M. D. Hill, and Mr. A. O. Walker. This valuable paper
gives an account of the results obtained in these two visits, and of a
series of tow-nettings taken from October, 1896, to December, 1898, by
the Misses Delap, of Valencia.

The various groups of animals collected and the Algae have been
examined, and reports drawn up by competent authorities. Perhaps the
most interesting of these reports is that on the Medusae by Mr. Browne,
who remarks that the medusoid fauna of Valencia Harbour is now
better known than that of any other locality in the British area, and gives
figures of the radial canal system of that interesting Medusa, Dipleurosotna
iypicum, Boeck. A large number of species are recorded which are new
to the Irish Fauna, and two species new I0 science are described, viz.,
Obelia wz^ra (from the Medusa form), by Mr. Browne, and an unnamed
species o{ Luc em aria, of \^llich Mr. Beaumont promises us shortly a more
detailed description. The few references to the previously known dis-
tribution of the species on the Irish coast are not^ however, always quite
accurate. Litcernaria cainpanulata, stated not to have been previously re-
corded from the coast of Ireland, happens to have been recorded from
Bray, Miltown-Malbay, and the west coast in Thompson's Natural History
of Ireland, and from Kerry by Dr. F- P. Wright in Proc. Dublin Univ. Zool.
and Bot. Assoc, vol. i. Idalia Leachii, which " does not appear to have been
recorded from Ireland," i§ mentioned by Mr. i\.lder in Jeffreys' '' British
Conchology'' as having been found in Birterbuy Bay b)- Mr. Barlee.

A. R. N.

266 The Irish Natiwalist. [November,

A List Of the lYIarlne IVIollusca of Ireland. B} A. R. NichoIvS,
R.A. (Report from the Fauna and Flora Committee). Proc. R. I.
Academy (3\ v. No. 4. 1900.

The publication of Mr. Nichols's list of Irish Marine Mollusca marks
another stepin the advance of our knowledge of the Irish fauna, and
supplies an implement which will be most useful to those of the craft —
students of either zoologj- or palaeontology. The records of Irish
mollusca were brought together by Thompson in 1856, but the numerous
papers and notes published in the intervening forty-four years were
uncatalogued, and scattered through many Journals, and Proceedings of
scientific societies. The recent publication of the important results of
the Royal Irish Academy's dredging expeditions made it especially
desirable that the whole of the literature should be brought together
and. condensed into one systematic paper, and this Mr. Nichols has done
for us. For the purposes of showing distribution, Mr. Nichols has
divided the Irish coast into six provinces, while he has adopted 1,000
fathoms as the bathymetrical limit of the Irish fauna. The submerged
Ireland beyond the 100 fathom line thus added to our jurisdiction is
larger than the island itself, extending far beyond the Porcupine Bank.
One of the best features of the paper is its excellent bibliography of
Irish mollusca. The nomenclature will horrify those who still use their
Jeffreys, or Forbes and Hanley, but the numerous changes in the names
of our molluscau favourites are necessar}' in order to bring us into line
with the general advance of conchology. Mr. Nichols has mercifully-
added in brackets the familiar names of JefTreys's " British Conchology "
where these differ from the names now employed.

R. Ivi.. P.

A sug^gestlon as to a possible mode of ortg^In of some
of the Secondary Sexual Characters in Animals as
afforded by observations on certain Salmonoids. By

G. E. H. BARRETT-HAMII.TON, Proc, Cambridge Phil. Soc.,^o\. x.,1900.

In a short paper Mr. Barrett-Hamilton discusses some of the current
views as to the changes of colour or form which the males of many
vertebrates undergo during the breeding season. He believes that there
must be some fundamental cause to which all such cases owe their origin.
Having had an opportunity of making observations on Salmon in the
rivers of Kamchatka, he maintains that the abnormal coloration and
growth during the breeding time are due to pathological conditions by
which both sexes are affected.

Mr. Barrett-Hamilton suggests that we have in these phenomena a
possible source and origin of many of the highly developed sexual
characters met with in other animals, and that they may possibly be
reminiscences of a former condition of things through which their
ancestors passed.

R. F. S-

1900.] 26']

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

RoYAi, ZooT^oGiCAiv Society.

Recent gifts include an Otter from Mrs. Howard St. George, a Cockatoo
from Mr. H. M. Winder, a Willow- Warbler from Mr. Bushe, a number
of Carp and Trout from the Commissioners of Irish Inland Fisheries, fifty
American Brook Trout and fifty Lochheven Trout from Mr. J. N.
Lentaigne. A pair of Lories have been bought.

13,962 persons visited the Gardens during September.

BeivFast Naturalists' Fiki^d Ci^ub.
September 8. — The last field meeting was held. The excursion in-
cluded the ancient rath or tumulus at Dundonald, the Kemp stone
cromlech, Newtownards Priory and Grey Abbey. A numerous gathering
of members and friends were favoured with fine weather. Mediaeval
architecture seemfed to be the chief object of quest, and the ancient
Priory at Newtownards was first visited and critically examined, after
which the ruins of the abbey — De jiigo Dei — in the Ards, were investigated.
Mr. J. J. Phillips (author of an illustrated monograph on the abbey)
having kindly consented to act as cicerone to the Club in this part of the
day's programme, briefly explained the plan of the abbey, commencing
at the church.

Dubinin Naturai^ists' Field Club.

August 4. — A small party of members and visitors attended the ex-
cursion to the Scalp. The party travelled to Carrickmines Railway
Station by train, and walked from this point to the Scalp by the footpath
over the hill. A considerable number of botanical specimens were ob-
tained, the road near the station proving the best hunting ground.

September i. — The excursion to the North Bull was also botanical in
character. Siueda /nariiima and Salkoniia herbacea were found in consider-
able quantity along the shore. The range of Artemisia stelleriana has
considerabl}- extended since the last visit of the Club, and Statice spathidata
was found growing in great abundance on the marshy land near the rifle
ranges.

vSepTEMBER 19. — The last excursion, as usual, took the form of a
Fungus Foray, the localit}- chosen being Lord Massey's pretty demesne
of Killakee, to which he kindly gave free admission to the Club.
Although the afternoon was fine the attendance was not as good as could
be wished, only 14 members and visitors being present. The cold and
wet of the earlier portion of the autumn seemed to have had a prejudicial
effect on the growth of Fungi, as the larger forms — Agarics, Boleti, &c.—
were by no means numerous. Nevertheless a number of interesting things
were met with, the best find being, perhaps, Peziza {Otidea) otwtica. Amongst
others, the following were identified by the President (Mr. Greenwood
Pim) ; — Arniillaria melka, Clitocybe laccata, C. inftuidibuli/ormis, C. fragrans,
Tricholoma rutilans^ Collybia confluens, Mycena, one or two species ; Pholiota

268 The Irish Naturalist* [November,

sqiiarrosa, Hebclonia rintosum, H. gcophyUuni^ llypJioloma fasciculatii/n, Psathy-
rdla disseminata, Coprinns coniatns, Kussula, species ; Lactariiis blenniiis,
L. piperaius, L. hysginiis, Boletus Intciis, Clavaria nigosa, Corticium lave,
Selerodernia vulgare^ Lycopcnlon Ciclaiiiiii, L. pyrifoniie. Phallus inipudieus,
Peziza (Otidea) o/iotiea, P. (Coe/ileata) auranlia, P. {Scutellinia) sculellata,
Uncinula biconiis, Xylaria Iiypoxylon, Trochila lauro-cerasi. Myxoiiiycetes were
fairly abuudaut, Lycogala epidendru/n, Didyi/iiu/u farinaceum, Areyria
punieea, and an undeveloped Triehia being noted.

Cork NaturaIvISTs' Fiei^d Ci,ub.

Skptkmbkr 19- — Excursion to Bi.ackrock. — The party walked
along the shore by Lough Mahon, and the following plants were
collected: — Plantago Coronopus, Salieoniia herbacea, Sutcda inaritii/ia, Stat ice
spathulata, and Aster tripolium, some specimens of which had the outer
florets pure white.

NOTKS,

BOTANY.

FUNGI,

TrulTles In Ireland.

An interesting discovery has recently been made in County Galway bj'
Major Klmitt, F.R.G.S., of Carrickfergus. Major Elmitt, who is a well,
known figure in scientific circles, was for a long time certain that
truffles ought to exist in the Western counties, and after juuch trouble
and research he succeeded in discovering some in a wild and thinly-
populated part of Galway. The next step, obviously, is to teach the
Galway pig to hunt for truffles. All who are acquainted with the lean,
high-backed, sharp-nosed, active '• Old Irish " pig will agree that it is
eminently fitted for the purpose. — Belfast News- Letter.

MOSSES.

lYIoss Exchange Clult).

We have received from the Secretary (Rev. C. H. Waddell) *• Reports
and Extracts from the Club Note Books for the years 1S99, 1900,"
recently issued by the Moss Exchange Club ; also List of Desiderata for
1 901, List of British Sphagna, and Rules. From the reports the Club
would seem to be in a flourishing condition. The membership is not
large — between 30 and 40— but plenty of activity is manifested, as shown
by the fact that in the two years over 5,000 specimens were sent in and
distributed. Irish plants have been kept well to the front by Rev. H. W.
Lett and Rev. C. H. Waddell.

I900.J Notes. 269

PHANEROGAMS.

Elymus arenarius in Co. Dublin.

While walking south along the railway from Killiney on the 29th
September last I unexpectedly came across an abundant growth of this
handsome grass in a new locality, about a quarter of a mile north of the
Bray river. At this point the line closely skirts the shore, passing along
the summit of a drift bank which falls steeply to the sea. Along the
edge of this bank, right beside the permanent waj^, the grass spreads for
fully 100 3^ards in a luxuriant growth, many of the plants reaching to
fully 5 feet in height, with the characteristic flat leaves in some cases
I inch wide. Though mostly quite past flowering, here and there a
plant appeared in second flower with spikes up to 10 inches in length.
The usual habitat of the species; in the British Isles at least, is sandy
sea-shores ; here it flourished in rather tenacious drift material of clay
and gravel, and in one spot some plants have pushed their way through
the joints of the granite facing of the embankment. All the appearances
are in favour of this conspicuous species having been long established in
this station, and it is certainly remarkable that it should have so long
escaped discovery at a point where passenger trains pass almost half-
hourly and at a slow rate all the year round. The claim of Elymus
arenarius, apparently a rare plant in Ireland, to a place in the Count}*
Dublin flora luis hitherto rested on Mr. Hart's record for Skerries, dating
from 1S83, The plant still grows there, but much more sparingly than
in the station just recorded.

N. Coi^GAN.

Dublin.

The march of Matricaria cliscoidea.

In the September number of the Irish Naturalist Mr. Colgan and Mr.
Praeger put on record the presence of this floral invader in a number of
the Irish counties. j\Ir. Praeger tells us that the invasion of Ulster by
this alien is now fairly begun, and the burden of my present message is
that the invasion is still progressing. That active member of the
Botanical Section of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, Mr. Richard
Hauna, has shown me a specimen gathered by him, last August, by the
"ailway line between Lurgan and Portadown. This occurrence adds
Armagh to the list of counties already enumerated.

S. A. Stewart.

Belfast.

Poa compressa again.

This long neglected Irish grass has been found in still another locality,
Mr. Richard Hanua, of Belfast, having gathered it, early in September,
on an old wall near Doagh, County Antrim.

S. A. Stewart.

Belfast.

^70 The Irish Naturalist. [November,

ZOOLOGY.

Naturalists in Sligro.

Two well known members of the Conchological Society, Dr. Chaster
of Southport, and Mr. Collier of Manchester, have had a most successful
ten days' collecting tour in the northern Lake District, in company with
Messrs. Bigger, Stelfox, and Welch of the B.N.F.C., visiting Lower
Lough Erne and its islands, the district south of Lough Macnean, Lough
Gill, Glencar, and Inishmurry. The return home was made via Bundoran
to visit the dunes where so many reversed, &c., Helices have been
found, and with some success, Dr. Chaster finding one living specimen.

INSECTS.

A Braconid parasitic on Anobium domestlcum.

Some time ago these beetles {Anobiuni) attacked the pedestal of a
valuable table. I then applied carbolic acid and hoped to have stopped
the mischief. Last year Mrs. Johnson informed me that the attack had
recommenced, and brought me a small Ichneumon fly which she had
found running about the table and which she was inclined to partly
blame for the harm done. Last month she again drew my attention to
the presence of these Pymenoptera, and having captured some specimens
I sent them to Mr. E. Saunders who kindly forwarded them to Mr. Claude
Morley, and he pronounces the insect to be Spathiiis exarator^ L. Anobium
domesticum is a small brown beetle which bores into wood, making little
holes like shot holes. The beetle and its larva feed on the wood, and in
course of time quite destroy it, eating away the solid substance and
leaving a residuum of dust. In old houses they are often far too plentiful,
and at times do much injury to woodwork and furniture. The beetle is
one of the Death-watch tribe, the noise which it makes being supposed
to be caused by its tapping with its head as a signal to its mate. It is
very pleasing to know that so destructive an insect has a natural
enemy in this Braconid, and I should recommend all householders when
they observe a little fly, with what would be taken for a long and vicious-
looking sting, hovering about a room, not to assault it with the poker or
a slipper, but to allow it to pursue unmolested its appointed task of

reducing the numbers oi Anobium.

W. F. Johnson.

Poyntzpass.

Vanessa lo in Co. Londonderry.

With reference to Miss Campbell's capture of the Peacock butterfly
( Vanessa io) near Londonderry {supra, p. 246), I may mention having seen
one many years ago at Kilderry in the same neighbourhood. I made a
note of the occurrence at the time, but am unable now to lay my hand

upon it. „^ _ ^^

^ W. E. Hart.

Howth.

I900,] Notes. 271

Noteworthy Irish Lepldoptera.

I have been notified of the occurrence of the Death's-head Moth,
Acherontia atropos, either in the imaginal or larval condition, from various
parts of the country- this year, both in the Co. Cork, at Kells in Meath,
and in this county of Monaghan, a full fed caterpillar having been
brought to me so late as the 22nd September. Also it is interesting to
find that Va?iessa io, the beautiful Peacock butterfly, usually very rareh'
seen in the northern half of Ireland, has this year appeared in some
numbers in this demesne ; and also, I find from a correspondent, at
Newry. I wish also to record the capture by Mr. R. Donovan of Cucullia
absynthii flying to the blossoms of a lime tree this summer, near Timo-
league, and from the same neighbourhood Eupithecia pygmcBaia, E.
coHstridata, and E. togata, all good finds.

Wm. F. de V, Kank.
Drumreaske, Monaghan.

MOLLUSCS.

Scalarlform Helix nemoralls living at Bundoran.

A very interesting article, it may be remembered, appeared in the Lrish
Naturalist of July, 1900, dealing with the abnormal shells of Helix
nemoralis, by Mr. R. Welch, of Belfast, who for many years has devoted
much time and care to the study of that variable shell. The sinistral
and scalariform shells were particularly referred to, also the abundance
with which these occur at Bundoran in comparison with the rest
of the United Kingdom. Still, although a large number of the shells,
particularly the t3'pe form, run into van conica, it is the exception to find
a true scalariform specimen. Those which have been obtained up to
the present, as Mr. Welch remarks, have usually been found among the
hollows of the great wind-swept sand-dunes, in all cases empt}', and
usually with the epedermis weathered off. Last September, however, I
was fortunate enough to find a perfect full-grown specimen living I had
been searching close by the entrance to the dunes, a little beyond the
Fairy Bridges, in a spot where my wife remarked that var. conica seemed
very abundant, when I picked it up feeding on the short scrub which
carpets the turf just below the sand-hills. On the theory that this
monstrosity, being only a still further production of the variety (conica'),
would be most likely to occur again where the variety was most plenti-
ful, I spent another morning about the same spot, and was rewarded by
finding a second scalariform, this time, however, dead, within about ten
yards of the place where I found the first. Though slightly weathered,
the epidermis was still perfect enough to lead one to conclude that the
animal had been recently living. Both shells were an abnormal
production of the ordinary five-banded type, and I would not be sur-
prised if careful searching turned up a few more about the same place.

Wm. a. Green.
Belfast.

272 The Irish Natiiynlist. [November,

BIRDS.

The Ruff in Ireland.

It gives me the greatest possible pleasure to see in the pages of the
{Irish Natufalist {supra p. 247), ]\Ir. Ussher's remarks ou m}' recent paper
on the Natural Histor)' of the Ruff. I am ouly too glad to learn more of
the subject in question from my brother ornithologists, and one of my
chief objects in contributing articles to the Irish Natiiralist has been to
invoke discussion, enough of which it is a regrettable circumstance
seldom arises. Mr. Ussher suggests that " the discontinuance of shooting
in spring" may account for more recent absence of records at that time
of year. This is true as far as records made from shot specimens are
concerned, but if the Ruff during more recent years has been protected
in spring its numbers as a vernal migrant should have tended to increase
rather than diminish, and it at least should have been seen (c/en if not
shot) by competent observers looking out for it, and yet we hear of no
such observations for many years past. I am aware that it is often
necessary to shoot a bird to identify it, but the Ruff in nuptial plumage
is so conspicuous that a good observer with a field-glass should be able
to satisfy himself as to its identit}' without at all times securing the
specimen. Is it not likely that the decrease of Ruffs in spring in Ireland
has accompanied a similar decrease in England, as we know that in the
latter countr)- the Ruff is now seldom observed, even as a vernal migrant
and in counties where it formerly bred ? According to IMr. vSaunders,
drainage has greatly restricted the haunts of the Ruff.

I certainl}' agree with Mr. I'ssher's idea that the spread of interest in
ornitholog}' may go towards accounting for thegreater number of records
of the Ruff from the western part of Ireland, but in addition it is worth
noting that during Mr. Warren's residence for many years in Killala he
did not obtain a specimen till 1S84, and that from Sligo. Since then
several RulTs were taken in Connaught (as tabulated in my article), and
I am not aware that these birds were shot by people very specially
interested in the science of ornithology, but rather b}- sportsmen looking
for grouse and such like.

Lastly, Mr. Ussher says he cannot concur with my remark that sports-
men, as a rule, are keen observers, and hence few strange birds pass them
unnoticed. I do not mean that sportsmen are at all accurate observer.
They often shoot a species because they do not know what it is. In this
way we are indebted to them for many records of more or less rare birds,
sometimes really rare ones.

I know a gentleman who some short time ago shot a Squacco Heron.
He said he shot it because he did not know what it was. He was, to my
mind, a keen observer, because he saw the bird, but not an accurate
observer, as he did not know it. I have received examples of Water
Rails, Nightjars, Short- eared Owls, and other species detected by the
sharp eye of the sportsman, and shot birds which an ordinary observers
might altogether overlook. Are we not indebted to sportsmen for
sending to our markets rare Ijirds from time to time, which subsequently

igoo.] Notes, 273

have been secured and identified by scientific ornithologists ? I conclude
by thanking Mr. Ussher for the interest he has taken in discussing the
subject. Charters J. Pattkn,

Trinity College, Dublin.

CoiYiinon Bittern in Co. Down.

On Thursda)', 9th August, 1900, a Common Bittern {^Botavrits sfel/aris),
was shot at Groomsport, by Mr. Walter Smyth, while he was walking
along the sea-shore,

Belfast. Robert Pattrrson.

Early arrival of Redwing.

When on abog near Coagh, Co. Tyrone, on 2nd October, three Red-
wings {Tiirdiis iliacus) flew past me. They were flying low, in a south -
westerl)' direction, and were fairly close to me.

Belfast. Robert Patterson.

MAMMALS.

The Vision of Whales.

Mr. John Brown's allusion in the October number of the Irish Naturalist
to my communication on the local Cetacea, which appeared in the
August number, has re-directed my attention to this subject. In con-
versation about it this morning with Mr. Wm, Crawford, of Craigavad,
who has had many opportunities, when sailing and fishing in this lough,
of observing its inhabitants, he expressed the very decided opinion that
whales could see above water. Many j^ears ago, before the lough was
as disturbed as it now is by steamers, the whales were, if not more
numerous, at least more approachable ; and Mr. Crawford said he has
often seen them, fifty or sixty feet long, lying quiet, not more than
fifteen to twenty yards off"; and he added, " we were sure the beggars
were looking at us " Among my books the only reference I have yet
found to whales looking about them is in one of the prize essays sent in
to the International Fisheries Exhibition at Edinburgh in 1882 (Black-
wood and Sons,Edinburgh, 1883, p. 7.) The essay in question, on " Whale
fishing in the Faroe Isles," was contributed by Sysselmand H. C. Miiller,
of Thorshaven, and in it he states, with reference to the pursuit and
capture of a herd of Pilot Whales, ** Now and then some of the M'hales
stand erect in the water, with their heads above the surface, seeming to
spy." I am aware that neither of these statements answers the scientific
part of the question raised by Mr. Brown, and I should welcome further
information on the subject. Meantime we know that seals, which lead
an amphibious life, must be able to adapt their eyes to seeing both above
and below water. I watched a seal for quite a long time a couple of
days ago offCultra Point, half a mile from here, and each time it rose its
head was projected a foot or more above the surface, and it turned
looking round it in all directions, sometimes showing the dark back of
the head, and again the lighter fawn colour of the throat.

Holywood. R. Lr^OYD PaTTERSOX.

274 '^^^^ hish Naturalist, [November, 1900.

MAMMALS.

Natterer's Bat In Co. Antrim.

Ou July 24th, 1900, 1 received from my friend, Mr. H. L. Orr, a Natterer's
Bat {Vesperli/ip Nattereri, Kulil.)- It was captured at Woodburu Gleu,
near Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, and I believe is the first recorded in this
county.

Robert Patterson.

Belfast.

GEOLOGY.

Irish Fossils.

Two important monographs, dealing, the one partly, the other wholly,
with Irish fossil mollusca, progress in the publications of the Palaeonto-
graphical Societ)-. In vol. liii. (For 1899) Dr. Wheelton Hinde's " British
Carboniferous Lamellibranchiata " reaches its fourth part, the families
treated of being the Edmondida, Cyprinida, and Crassitellidce. To this
volume Dr. Foord has not been able to contribute the third part of his
" Carboniferous Cephalopoda of Ireland." The last published instalment
of this important work will be found in vol. Hi., and deals with the
straight and curved Orthoceras-Vi^^ forms.

The foramlnlferal deposits of Dog's Bay, Co. Galway.

An important paper on " Mechanically-formed Limestones from
Junagarh (Kathiawar) and other Localities," by Dr. J. W. Evans, F.G.S.,
appears in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol.
Ivi., pp. 559-589 (August, T900). Junagarh is built thirty miles from the
sea, on a limestone formed of small rounded grains, which are really
*' organic calcareous particles derived from shallow- water organisms of
recent types. Each particle is ordinarily surrounded by an envelope of
deposited carbonate of lime." Dr. Evans, aided by Mr. F. Chapman's
microscopic investigation of the organisms, concludes that the limestone
has been formed by the action of wind, which has sifted out the smaller
organisms and grains from a shore-deposit, and has carried them to form
new beds inland. At that time (p. 573) Junagarh was probably close
against the shore. Dr. Evans supports his argument by a careful
description of the foraminiferal deposits of Dog's Bay on the south-west
coast of Co. Galway (p. 576 ; see also Mr. Chapman's account, p. 588),
drawn up from letters written by Mr. R. Welch, and from papers in the
Irish Naturalist, vols, iv., vii., and ix. Mr. Welch's observations, which
are always placed so freely at the disposal of other scientific workers, are
fittingly enshrined in a paper of such wide geological application. Dr.
Evans concludes b}' suggesting that some of our British oolitic deposits
were similarl)- accumulated by aeolian action.

G. A. J. Coi,E.

Dublin.

December, 1900.] 27«;

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE FOX FROM

CO. ANTRIM.

BY ROBERT PATTERSON, F.Z.S.

By the kindness of the Earl of Antrim I have been permitted
to examine an old " Court I^eet " Book for the Manor of
Glenarm, and I have been much struck b}" the evidence
therein of the great numbers oi Foxes that formerly existed in
Co. Antrim. T-hinking that the information might be of
interest to readers of the Irish Naturalist, I have been at some
pains to decipher the faded — and often nearly illegible —
writing,* and now give a summary of the results.

The '' Manor of Glenarm " extended from the town of I^arne
to Glendun River — practically what is known now as the
Baronies of Upper and Eower Glenarm — a narrow strip on the
extreme east of Co. Antrim, about 22 miles long b}^ about
6 miles average breadth. The Courts were held twice a year,
in spring and autumn, and the records in this volume begin
in 1765 and end in 1812. Passing over entries of purely
antiquarian and ornithological interest, we come upon in-
numerable records such as the following : —

•^ 17th day of November, 1765.

** We psent the Sum of one pound four shills to be
" Levyed ofif the inhabitants of the parish of Ardilenish and
" paid to Daniel McVicar for killing twelve foxes of prey.

** We psent the Sum of one pound twelve shills to be
" Levyed off the inhabitants of parish of Laid and paid to
** Daniel McVicar for killing sixteen foxes of prey.

" We psent the Sum of two Shillings to be Eevyed off the
" inhabitants of the parish of Carncastle and paid to Thomas
*' Palmer for killing one old fox."

Thus two shillings a head was the reward, whether the
animal was a " fox of prey," or merely an '* old fox."

276

The hish Nahwalist.

[December,

The following is the number of Foxes "■ presented " and paid
for in the different 3'ears : —

1765^ •

42 :

P'oxes.

1766, .

51

1767* •

46

1768, .

57

1769, .

• 52

i77o> •

• 70

1771. •

• 51

1772, .

. 29

i773» •

. 67

1774.

1775.
1776,

1777.
1778,

i779>
1780,

1781,

53 Foxes.
46

4

54
22

76

32
26

1)

ji

)>

?>

>>

J5

V

" ist day of May, 1782. We the Grand Jurj- of the Barony
" of Glenarm are determined for the future not to allow any
" money for killing foxes, as they are paid for at the Assizes,
*' the Bailiffs are ordered to let this our Resolution be known
** to the Country."

** 14th day of Ma}^ 1783. As wee understant that the Grand
" Jurey at last Assises would not pay for anny Foxes, now the
** Jurey of Glenarm means to Continue the Premium as formerly
" and that the Bailifs should inform the Country of the same."

1783* •

. 15 Foxes.

1786, .

•

. 34 Foxes

1784, .

• 30 „

1787, .

•

• 34 »

i785> •

• 43 J'

1788, .

■

• 7 .>.

The sudden drop in numbers here seems to have been
caused by a misunderstanding as to the responsibilit}^ for
payment, for on 2nd May, 1792, we find the following: —

" Whereas several people have lately been disappointed at
" the Assizes in not getting any thing for Killing Foxes —
" Resolved by the Grand Jury now present, That all persons
" Killing Foxes in this Barony in future, on Presenting them
" at the Courts I,eet as usual, will be paid an English Half
" Crown for each."

This seems to have had the desired effect, for at the next
Court, only six mo7iths later, w^e find 57 Foxes were paid for !

1793, . . .52 Foxes. I i794> • • -70 Foxes.

After paying £% 155. for Foxes in one year, the Grand Jury
must have thought the amount too large, for at the same
Court, held on 12th November, 1794, we read: **We agree
" only to Pay the sum of two shillings and two pence for Kach
" fox and to be leyied of the Parrishes they are killed in."

1900]. Pattejrson. — Disappearajiceqf the FoxJro7nA7itrim. 277

The people resented this reduction by only producing 7
Foxes in 1795.

1796, .

. 36 Foxes.

1805, .

. 14 Foxes.

1797. •

• 25 „

1806, .

• 30 »

1798, .

• 21 „

1807, .

• 13 »

1799, .

■ 8 „

1808, .

• 5 »

1800, .

30 „

1810, .

• 20 „

I80I, .

31 »

181T, .

. 26 „

1802, .

, 20 „

1812, .

. 23 „

1803, .

33 >»

Thus in forty-seven years we get the enormous total of 1,462
Foxes produced at the Courts I^eet for this small portion of
Co. Antrim only, for which the " Manor of Glenarm " paid the
sum of ;^i59 4.?. 6^.

Coming to more recent years, Thompson in his *' Natural
History of Ireland," vol. 4, page 12, says: ''The fox is still
found in suitable localities throughout the island, wherever it
can remain in spite of man." But he does not mention any
occurrences in Co. Antrim, although he records the killing
of 400 Foxes in Co. Down between 1827 and 185 1.

The B.N.F.C. " Guide to Belfast," published in 1874, says
Foxes " seem to be rapidly decreasing before the gamekeeper's
gun and shepherd's trap."

Lord Antrim informs me that the only Fox he ever heard of
in the two Baronies was killed in his deer-park about the year
1870. It was running with a rabbit trap on one of its legs, and
a wood- cutter killed it with a stick. The skin was preserved.
Lord Antrim is convinced there is not now a single Fox in
the two Baronies, nor has there been any since the 1870
capture. Even this one is supposed to have been " turned
out" by the late Mr. Chaine, for hunting purposes. Mr. Sheals,
the well-known Belfast taxidermist, informs me he cannot
remember having received any Foxes from Co. Antrim.

Finally, in the whole of Ulster there is not one pack of Fox-
hounds, although there are two packs of Stag-hounds, and
eleven packs of Harriers, to satisfy the hunting proclivities of
the Northern gentry, who would doubtless hunt Foxes if there
were any Foxes to hunt.

Malone Park, Belfast.

A 2

273 [December,

SOME ADDITIONS TO THE BEETI^ES OF THE

DUBININ DISTRICT.

BY J. N. HAI^BERT.

During the last five years a good deal of additional information
has been acquired concerning the beetle fauna of the Dublin
and Wicklow district. Quite a number of rare and unrecorded
species have been met with during this time, so that a
supplementary list is necessary, in order to bring our district-
records up to date. M}^ own field-work during this time has
been almost altogether restricted to a more thorough invefsti-
gation of a few localities, most of which have been favourite
hunting-grounds for collectors in former years. Notably the
marshes and sandhills on the north coast at Portmarnock, the
Dodder valley between Templeogue and the Dublin hills, and
the North Bull sands in Dublin Bay. I have also taken the
liberty to include in our district list some insects which have
occurred on the coast of Meath between Laytown and the
Boyne mouth, as the addition of this few miles of coast will
give us a claim to many interesting species.

The working of the North Bull is due to a suggestion of
Mr. Praeger's that the insect fauna and flora of this isolated
sandbank should be carefully examined, in view of its
comparatively recent formation. As this undertaking will
require some time for its completion it seems desirable to
record some of the rarer species which have been found there
up to the present time. All of the species recorded from
Dundrum were taken a few years ago by Mr. F. H. Bullock,
many of these he has kindl> presented to the Dublin Museum.

Over ninety per cent, of the following records are additions
to the Dublin district list, and of these about thirty species
have not been previously recorded from Ireland ; the latter
are indicated by an asterisk. I have again to thank Dr. D.
Sharp and Mr. G. C. Champion for much kind help in the
naming of critical species. In the matter of nomenclature
the " Catalogue of British Coleoptera " of Sharp and Fowler
(1893), has been followed.
Carabus glabratus, Payk.— Rare on the Dublin hills; found under

moss at the roots of trees, Tibradden.
Dyschlrlus s^neus, Dej. — Portmarnock, occurs on the banks of
brackish ditches along with D. sa/mus, Schaum.

i9oo.l ^A.T.'^V^^t.—Beeths of the D7ibli7i District. 2^9

Amara rufoclncta, Dej.— One specimen found near the end of the

North Bull sands.

A. lucida, Duft. — Not common.

Bembidium normannum, Dej. — Portmarnock, under stones on
the shore; B. aneum, Germ., and B. varium, 01., are not uncommon
under moss on the banks of the stream in the same locality.
*B. ani^Iicanum, vSharp.— Dodder banks, near Templeogue. I found
this northern species commonlj^ under stones in June, 1895.

B. affine, Steph. — Rare, in the same locality as the preceding.
B, punctu latum, Drap.—Blessington and Killiney strand.

Acpus marinus, Strom. — Shore at Dollymouut.

Haliplus flavicollis, Sturm. — Royal and Grand Canals, common.

Bidessus minutissimus, Germ. — I captured a specimen of this very
rare water-beetle amongst Water-Thyme {Elodea) in the River
Camac, near Clondalkin, on the 12th of last August. There would
seem to be some doubt as to the origin of the original British
specimens of this species, which were said to have been taken in
rivers near Cork (Wollaston, Ent. Mo. Mag., vi., p. 141.) But it now
proves to be rather widely distributed in Ireland, as I have taken
specimens in the Sheen River, near Kenmare, in the month of April.

Ccelambus conf luens, F. — Quarry holes near Lucan and Clontarf.

Hydroporus septentrionalis, Gyll,— Common in Lower I^ough
Bray.

H. Davisii, Curt— Once found in the stream near the Little Dargle.

H. Ilturatus, F.— Local.

H, discrctus, Fairm. — Royal Canal, in spring.

H. vittula, Er. — Lucan, ponds on the Grand Canal bank.

Agabus guttatus, Payk.— Duudrum.

Ilybius obscurus, Marsh.— Royal Canal, a pair captured in May.

Rhantus bistriatus, Berg.— Taken by Mr. G. P. Farran in a bog-
pool on Kippure Mountain, iu the same locality where he discovered
Agabus anticus, Payk, in the summer of 1896 {Irish Nat., vi„ 86.)

Cyrinus clongatus, Aube.— Raheny Ponds, &c. ; much rarer th&n
G. natator, in this district.

O. opacus, Sahl.— Royal Canal, in early summer.
*HcIopliorus lYIuIsantl, Rye. -Portmarnock ; one in a salt-marsh.
*Octhe)t)ius auriculatus, Rey.— I first met with this local species
near Laytown, on the coast of Meath, Again, in the summer of 1898,
it occurred on the North Bull, under the mud in places where there
had been small shallow pools, along with numbers of 0. marinus,
0. bicolon and 0. piibescens.
*0. Lejolisi, Muls.-Greystones. This interesting species, but recently
' added to the British list, was taken in some numbers by Mr. G. H»
Carpenter from stagnant rock-pools, near the coastguard station, in
the beginning of June, 1897. It has been recorded only from the
French coast, and the extreme S.W. of England.

Cercyon terminatus, Marsh.— Local, in flood refuse.

28o The Irish Nahiralist. [December,

*AIeochara succlcola, Thorns.— Taken by Mr. Farran in refuse
from the Dodder, and b}' myself at Portmarnock ; named by Mr.
Champion. A. grisea occurs on the shore at Kilcool and Killiney.

'Oxypoda alternans, Grav. — Ovoca and Powerscourt common in
fungi, along with Bolitobhis binoiatus^ B, exolettis, and B. pygmaus.

Obtained from moss in the Dun-

•O. Wat«rhouscl, Rye.

drum district by Mr. F. H.

*HoniaIota pavens, En
Ht vlllosula, Kr

Mschnogrlossa prollxa, Grav. ^ Bullock. The species were

identified by Mr. Champion,
and are now in the Dublin
Museum collection.
H. lurldlpennfs, Mann.— Found on the Dublin hills, I am indebted

to Dr. Sharp for the naming of this and the five following species :~
H^ loniTuIa, Heer.— Killiney strand, on the bank of a small stream.
H. montlcola, Thoms.— Taken at the Scalp.
H. corvlna, Thoms.— Ovoca, in fungi.
Hi atrlcolor. Sharp.— North Bull; a specimen queried as a dark

variety of this species by Dr. Sharp, I have taken a similar form on

the Rosslare sands, Co. Wexford.
H. nlfi:ra, Kr. — Laytown sandhills,
Ocyusa Incrassata, Kr. — Howth Demesne, found in moss in early

spring, along with Leptusa fumida.
^Xenusa uvlda, Er. — Greystones, taken in rock-pools by Mr. Carpenter
Cyrophsena Idevipennls, Kr.— Ovoca, in fungi.
Phytosus balticusy Kr. — Coast of Meath, abundant in decaying

star-fishes, along with P. spinifer. Curt.
Ollgrota punctulata, Heer. — Bed of the Dodder, with 0. in/lata, Maun.
Conosoma pubescens, Grav.— Ovoca.
•Lamprlnus sag^inatus, Grav.— Tallaght, obtained in moss from the

Dodder banks in April.
Heterothops binotata, Kr.— Local, on the Dublin coast.
Quedius punctlcollis, Thoms.— Swept off larches near Blessington.
Q, fumatus, Steph.— Powerscourt, taken by Dr. Scharff.
Q. umbrlnus, Er.— Templeogue, found in flood refuse from the

Dodder last September by Mr. Farran. This is a local species in

Ireland, the only record is Killarney, but I have taken a specimen

on the summit of Leenane Mountain, Co. Galway, in April.
O. attenuatus, Gyll. — Local.
Ocypus compressusi Marsh.— Dundrum.
Phllonthus Intcrmcdlus, Boisd. ,
P. carbonarlus, Gyll. [ Though unrecorded, all of these

P. alblpes, Grav.
P. cephaloteS) Grav.
P. sordid us, Grav.

P. debllls, Grav.

P» longlcornis, Steph

P. umbratillSi Grav.

species occur more or less
locally in the Dublin district.
P. nigiita, Nord., is rare,
specimens were obtained from
wet moss near the Raheny
Ponds. P. albipes, Grav.,

P. nigrlta, Nord. occurs on the North Bull.

P. mlcansy Grav* j

1900.] Hai^bert. — Beetles oj the Dublin District. 261

*XanthoI!nus fulgridus, F Dundrum, taken by Mr. Bullock.

Othius myrmecophilus, Kies.— Howth, &c., in moss.

Stllicus similis, Er.— Templeogue, found in flood refuse by Mr.

Farran ; named by Mr. Champion.
*IVIedon obsoletus, Nord.— Dundrum, taken by Mr. Bullock along

with Lithocaris ochracea, Grav.
Dianous coeruIescenSp Gyll. — Dodder banks near Tallaght, and

other mountain streams. Found resting on stones close to the water

in bright sunshine.
Stenus canalicuIatuSf Gyll.— Local.
8. crassus var. littoral is, Thoms Occurs on the shore at Port*

marnock.
*S. picipenniSy Er.— Tallaght, a specimen swept ofl"flowers»
Bledius fracticornis, Payk. — Portmarnock. I found a numerous

colony of this local species in the drier part of a salt-marsh in May,

1895.
B. opacus, Block.— North Bull, along with B. arenaritis, Payk.
Oxytelus maritimus, Thoms.— Found under pieces of wood on the

North Bull strand, and at Laytown.

Of scuIptus,Grav. ^ ^

^ , J. T-v VCommon.

O. complanatus, Er. j

Trogophloeus eloni^atulus, Er. — Lucan quarries, off water-plants*

T. tenellus, Er. — Dodder Banks.

Lesteva longelytrata, Goeze.— Blessington, in refuse from Liffey.

IVIicralymma brevipenne, Gyll. ~ Greystones, taken by Mr.

Carpenter.

Omalium Allardi, Fairm.— Dundrum, along with 0. concinnumi

Marsh.

O. cxcavaturrij Steph.— Local, marshy places.

O. csesum, Grav Sandhills at Portmarnock and Lay town.

Tychus niger, Payk. '\

Bythinus bultoifer; Reich./

*Bryaxis Watcrhousei; Rye. — Portmarnock, under stones on a grassy

bank close to high-water mark. According to Fowler this species

has not been found north of the London district.

*EupIectus sanguineus, Denny,^ Dundrum, taken by Mr. F. H.

*Euconnus fimetarlus, Chaud. j Bullock.

*Scydmaenus scutellaris. Mull.— Tallaght, found in a nest of the

small black ant i^Lasius niger) on the Dodder bank.

Choleva Wilkini, Spence.— Occurred in fungi from Co. Wicklow.

C. nigrita, Er. — Laytown sandhills. Verified by Mr. Champion.

Hlster purpurasccns, Herbst. — North Bull, a specimen from this

locality is referable to the rare variety niger^ Er.

H. neglcctus. Germ. — Local, occurs on the coast.

H. xlli-strlatus, Schr. — Found commonly at Dundrum by Mn

Bullock, along with a few H. bimaculatusy Lt.

Saprinus maritimus, Steph.— North Bull, Kilcool, &c.

Acritus minutus, Herbst.— Dundrum

^Gorylophus sublaevlpennlSi Duv.— Portmarnock saud hillsi

282 The Ifish Naturalist. [l^ecembet,

Scrlcodcrus lateralis, Gyll — Templeogue and Duudrum.

Epuraea deleta, Er.— Local in fungi.

Omoslta colon, L.— Portmarnock.

Pocadlus ferruglneus, F.— Dundrum.

Melli^ethes lumbaris, Sturm— Rare.

Ml plclpes, Sturm.— Somewhat local, on brambles.

M. otoscurus, Er.— Avoudale.

WI. crythropusi Gyll.— North Bull; swept off flowers.

Cychramus lutcns, var- fungicola, Heer.— Ovoca, from fungi in

woods.
Rhlzophag^us cribratus, Gyll.— Little Dargle, under stones near

conifers; A', fcrforatiis, Er., occurs locally about Dublin.
Cortlcaria pubescens, Gyll.— Tolka valley in spring, Dr. D

Freeman.
C. crenulata, Gyll.— North Bull, a specimen found on the golf-links

in the mouth of May.
Cryptophagus lycoperdl, Herbst—Killiney strand
♦C. sai^lnatus, Sturm. — Local.
*C. cellaris, Scop.— North Bull.
C. distlnguendus, Sturm.— Lay town sandhills.
C. bicolor, Sturm.
Atomaria aplcalis, Er.
A. analis, Er.
A. ruflcornis, Marsh.

J

Dundrum, taken by Mr. Bullock ;
species identified by Mr.
Champion.

Elm Is Volkmarl, Panz. — River Liffey, near Blessington.

Hctcroccrus f Icxuosus, Steph. — North Bull, under stones, in the
month of July.

Aphodlus nitldulus, F. — Templeogue, taken in flood refuse from the
Dodder by Mr. Farrau, along with A. erraiicns, L., and A. fcetens, F.,
The last-mentioned species occurs on the North Bull sands in
autumn.
•A. plaglatus, L.— North Bull salt-marsh. I found this local species
in numbers under dried mud in the summer of 1898, all of the
unicolorous black variety. It has not been recorded from the main-
land.

Ai porcusi F. — Dundrum, Portmarnock, and the Laytown sandhills ;
found singly and always in the autumn mouths.

Trox scaber, L.— Taken by Dr. R. F. Scharff near Dundrum.

Melolontha hippocastani, F. — A specimen taken by sweeping
herbage on the coast of Meath.

Throscus dcrmestoldes, L. — Lifl'ey banks at Lucan.

Hydrocyphon deflexicollls, Miill. — Templeogue.

Sclrteshemlsphderlcus, L.— Raheny Ponds off Equisetum.

Telephorus figuratus, Mann l/ucan, in the demesne.

T. darwinlanus, Sharp. — This interesting species was first discovered
on the Dublin coast, near Dollymouut, by Messrs. Brooks. I
subsequently found it under stones in the same locality, close to
high -water mark The only other Irish locality on record is the Foyle
district, where Mr. C. W. Buckle has taken it abundantly.

I90O.] YLM,-^%^t. — -Beetles of the Diiblin District, 283

Thanasimiis formicarius, I^. — Grand Canal Dock, several found

in a tree trunk said to have come from central Ireland.
Ptilinus pectiniGornis, L. — The remains of this species were found

in a tree stump near Artane by Mr. Farran.
Octotcmnus ^labriculus, GylL— Dundrum.
Strang-alia armata, Herbst.— Abundant at the Dargle, July.
Leiopus nebulosus, L.— Beaten off oak trees in the Lucan demesne.
Donacia versicolorea, BrahrK — Ralienj- Ponds, and in a marsh by

the Lifife}' near Blessington.
D. thalasslna. Germ. — Ro3-al Canal, near Dublin.
D. vulgaris, Zsch. — Rare. I have taken single examples in the
Royal Canal, Raheny Ponds, and in the quarry holes near the village
ofCrumlin.
ChrysoiYiela hyperici, Forst.— Local ; found in the Devil's Glen by

Mr. Carpenter.
Phaedon armoraciae> L. --Rare.

Aditnonia tanacet!, L.— Templeogne; once found in a spider's web.
Lochmaea crataegi, Forst.— Portmarnock ; abundant on hawthorn
"blossoms in May.
G alerucclla sagittariae, Gyll.— Occurs in the Royal Canal.
l-ongitarsus piciceps, Steph.^j

L. fcmoralis, Marsh. I Very local ; the two last occur on

L, gracilis, Kuts. j ' the coast.

L. laevis, Duft. j

*PhyIlotrcta consolbr'ina. Curt. — Kingstown. Mr. T. Porter found
this species in vast numbers, destroying turnips, &c., in the summer
of 1898. See Mr. G. H. Carpenter's " Report on Economic Entomo-
logy" for that year. Mr. Champion has kindly verified this deter-
mination, referring the specimens, which were not quite typical, to
•a dark variety oi P. consoh-ma, Curt. Curiously enough the species
had not been previously noticed in Ireland.
Psylliodcs marcida, 111.— North Bull sands.
Tcnetorio molitor, L. — Dublin.

Rhinosimus viridipennis, Stepli. — Dundrum, under -elm bark,
*Choragus Sheppardl, Kirby. — Templeogne, taken by Mr. Farran

last September. Identified by Mr. Champion.
*Apion rubcns, Steph.— Woodlands, Co, Dublin.
*A. stolidum, Germ.— Lay town sandhills.
Otiorrhynchus auropunctatus, Gyll.— This most interesting
weevil has now occurred as far south as Co. Wicklow {/risA N'at,, vol.
ix., p. 108). I have taken it abundantly at Portmarnock and Santry
b)' beating hedges of hawthorn, ash, and privet. It seems probable
that the insect recorded as O. tenehricosus, Herbst., in Hogan's
Dublin list, may have been in reality the present species, as the two
insects bear a superficial resemblance to each other The locality
where 0. tenebricosus is said to have been found— Baldoyle — has
been repeatedly worked, but we have never succeeded in finding it

A3

284 T^^^^ Irish Naturalist. [December,

there, uor has it occurred elsewhere in Ireland. On the other
hand O. auropituctatus is common near Baldoyle. It is interesting
to note that the species has not yet been detected in either England
or Scotland.

O. muscorum, Bris.— Portmarnock, along with O. ovaliis, L., which
is a much rarer species in this localitv.

TrachyphKDBus scaber, L. — Taken near Tallaght by Dr. ScharfT.

Caenopsis WaltonI, Schiiu. — Ovoca, in wooas.

Brachysomus echinatus, Bonsd — Local.

Orobltis cyancus, L. — Portmarnock.

Acalles turbatus, Boh. )

A. ptinoides, Marsh. JDundrum.

*Ccuthorrhynchiclius mixtus, Muls. — A specimen of this insect
occurred on the Laytown sandhills, coast of ]\Ieath. This specimen
which was taken by sweeping plants, remained in my collection for
two or three years, until Mr. Champion identified it as the above
species. In Great Britain it is only known to occur in Devon and
Lincolnshire.
*C. Dawson I, Bris. — Found by searching about the roots of plants on
the shore at Portmarnock.

Eutorychius velatus, Bech, — Grand Canal, Dublin; and near
Monasterevan.

Rhopalomesitcs Tardyi, Curtis. — Taken abundantly near Dundrum
and Balbriggau.
*CauIotrypis aeneopiceus, Boh. — Mr. C W. Buckle got a nice series

of this local weevil out of an old ash tree at Portmarnock.
♦Codiosoma spadix, Herbst — South Bull, found in a piece of wood,
lying on the shore, by Mr. lUiUock.

The following vSpecies occur among some insects presented
to the Dublin Museum by Mr. H. G. Cuthbert. They were
all taken by him in south I^outh : —
Hclophorus rugosusi 01. — Termonfeckin strand.
Procadius ferrugincus, F.— Clogher Head; found in a "puff-
ball."
Laemophloeus ferrugineus; Steph. — One specimen.
lYIalthinus fasciatus, Ol.
*IVlezium affJnc, Boield. — This curious insect occurred in an old
fishing-tackle box, which had been lying by for years. It would
seem to be an introduced species in some localities.
*Ano)t)iuin paniceum, L.
Lema septentrionis, Suffr.

Science and Art ?Iuseum, Dublin.

I900-J 285

NEW STATIONS FOR RARE PLANTS.

BY R. IXOYD PRAKGER, B-E.

The following notes of rare plants would not in the ordinary-
course obtain publication in the notes on my own recent field-
work ; and they appear to deserve a more extended notice than
I can hope to give them in ^' Irish Topographical Botany."
Nasturtium sylvestrc, L— Messrs. W. West and W. N. Tetley, of
Portora Royal vSchool, informed me last July that they had gathered
this at Belleisle, on Lough Erne, where they found a large bed of it ;
and they have since forwarded specimens in confirmation of their
statement. The plant was recorded by Mackay {Syst. cat. rare planls)in
1806, as found on Lough Brne by Dr. Scott ; and the only confirmatory
evidence of its existence there lay in an immature specimen gathered
at Belleisle by Mr. Harrington (Barrington and Vowell : Report on
the Flora of the shores of Lough Ree, 1887), and doubtfully referred
to this species. Its occurrence in the northern half of Ireland is now
for the first time placed bej^ond doubt.
Arabis hirsuta, Scop., var. g'labrata, Syme. — Mr. A. Bennett so
names good specimens grown from plants gathered on the Great
Island of Aran in 1895 as A. ciliata. Both plants have been recorded
from Aran, the latter by Hart (A List of Plants found in the Islands
of Aran, 1875), the former in Eng, Bot., ed. 3, L, 168, Rev. B. S.
Marshall writes that he considers the common West of Ireland
A. hirsuta is not the English A. hirsuta, and suggests that it is^. ciliata,
var. hispida, Syme. Between glabrous hirsuta and hispid ciliata there
appears to be a good chance of a very pretty muddle, and botanists
visiting the West of Ireland would do well to gather a good series of
any Arabis they find there, for critical examination.
Geranium pusillum, L. — I am glad to be able to record two new
stations for this, one of our rarest Irish plants. In June last Mr.
Joseph Meade sent me sjDecimeus from cultivated ground at Old
Connaught, near Bray, and in the autumn he again sent me living
examples from waste ground not far off.

A doubtful scrap of a Geranium, in the herbarium of Mrs. D. D.
Persse, collected a few years ago near Ballinrobe, appeared to belong
to this species. ]\Ir. Stanhope Kenn}' kindly revisited the spot last
autumn under Mrs. Persse's directions, and sent me therefrom an
undoubted specimen of G. pisillu/n.
lYIedicag^o sylvcstris, Fries.— (See I.N., v., 249, 1896). On going
through the Irish herbarium in the Science and Art Museum I find
a specimen of this plant labelled ** Medicago sativa. Portmarnock,
September, 1867." The handwriting shows it to be from the
herbarium of Rev. H. G. Carroll. A more robust specimen, which I
can only refer doubtfully to this species (neither specimen is in fruit)
is labelled " Medicago falcata. Sandy fields near Baldoyle ; July, 1846.
Ex, herb. Dr. Steele." Another hand has altered the name to sativa.

2S6 The Irish Naturalist. [December,

These specimens are interesting as showing proof that the plant has
grown at Portmaruock certainly for over thirty years, and probably
for at least half a century.

Artemisia maritiina, L-— Mrs. Frank Joyce sends this (June, 1900),
from the coast beyond Barna, W. Galway, an interesting addition to
the flora of District VII [.

Scropliularia umbrosa, Dum. — In my own herbarium I find a
specimen of this plant gathered by the Lififey, above the Salmon-leap
at Ivcixlip, Co. Kildare, on the occasion of the Dublin Nat. Field
Club excursion in August, 1894, but not recognised at the time. Its
only other Irish stations lie a little further down the river in Co-
Dublin, where it was found and identified by Mr. Colgan in 1895
{_LN., v., 1S2, 1896.)

Spiranthes Romanzoviana, Cham. — I received last September
from Mrs. Crookshank, The Warren, Portrush, a specimen of this
extremely rare orchid, gathered in a new station near Kilrea, Co.
Derr}'. Mrs. Leebody's station lay by the river, about a mile below
Kilrea (/./v'*., ii., 228, 1893), Mrs. Crookshauk's locality is close to
the town.

Cephalanthcra ensifolia, Rich.— Mr. W. F. de V. Kane sent me in
June, 1898, an orchid gathered close to Pontoon Bridge, West Mayo.
The specimen arrived in so battered a condition, owing to an
accident in transport, that I was afraid to name it definitely; but
after a minute examination Mr. Rolfe has no hesitation in saying
that my provisional naming is correct. This forms a valuable
addition to the flora of District VIII.

LeucojuiYi aestivum, L.— This plant was found growing in some
abundance in a swamp by the river Slane3% near Macmine, in 1897,
by Rev. E. S. Marshall, who stated {Journ. Bot., 1S9S, p. 49) his con-
viction that the plant was native there. It was not admitted as such
in Cyhele Hihcniica. Mr. Marshall repeated his opinion injourn. Bof.,
1899, p. 272, and Messrs. Colgan and Scully reply on the general
question in the same volume, pp. 315-7.

In May last Mr. Wm. F. Nicholson sent me specimens of this plant
from near Waterford. In replj' to inquiries Mr. Nicholson writes that
the plant grows in Kilbarry Bog, on the outskirts of Waterford ;
that it has groM'n there for thirty or forty years ; and that the place
is not near any house or garden.

I have also received specimens from Mr. R. D. O'Brien, collected
on the Clare side of the Shannon, two miles north of lyimerick. The
finder writes; —

*' A creek enters the Shannon on the Clare side, about a quarter of a
mile below the salmon weir, which is almost at the head of the tide-
way, and the land intervening is the only bit of the Shannon marshes-
which has not been embanked. They are overflowed at spring-tides,
and consist of marshy meadows and sallies.

*' In June, 1897, I found Laicojitm fruiting in the meadow, and have
since observed it there every spring. This year I examined the place

t9oo.] pRAHGKR. — Neiv Statiom for Rare Plants. 287

carefully, and found it growing here and there in the meadows,
and more abundantly in the sallies. I also traced it up the course of
the creek as far as the tide flows. Following the water I dare say its
habitat extends over something less than half a mile of ground. I
also found two or three plants of Narcissus bijlorus along the stream.
"There is a gentleman's place, ' Whitehall,' adjoining the creek,
and it is possible that someone may have thrown a lot of the roots
into the water, and that they were distributed by the tide ; but I think
this a very forced explanation of the occurrence of this deeply-
rooting and not much cultivated bulb over so large an area, and in
so scattered a way ; besides it seems to be strictly confined to the
land subject to tidal overflow. I searched all the places that I thought
likely in the neighbourhood, but I could not get it elsewhere."

It will be seen that, although none of the stations mentioned are
free from suspicion, the plant is at least well established in three
localities in the southern half of Ireland, the habitat being in each
case just the kind of ground that it effects in England (where Watson
ranks it as a denizen, possibly native in the south-east) and on the
Continent, where it has a wide range. Further investigation will
probably show that it may be admitted as a permanent member of
our flora, with the double dagger prefixed, which signifies "probably
introduced."
Trichomancs radicans, Sw. — The investigations of Messrs. West and
Tetley have added the Killarney Fern to the flora of Co. Fermanagh.
They sent me a specimen last August, describing the exact locality —
a deep crevice in limestone rocks ; but I think it better not to
publish the station, so terribly has this lovely plant suffered from the
depredations of unscrupulous collectors.
National Library, Dublin.

PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES.

RoYAi, ZooT.oGiCAi. Society.

Recent gifts include four Giant Tortoises from the Hon. Walter Roths-
child, a pair of Wild Mallards from Mr. R Donegan, a South African
Penguin from Prof. D. J. Cunningham, and an Oyster catcher from
Mr. E. Williams.

10,726 persons visited the Gardens during October.

Dubinin Microscopicai, Ci.ub.

May 3. Mr. MooRE showed specimens of Cribraria aarantiaca, an

interesting fungus of rare occurrence in Ireland. The specimens
exhibited were found growing on the clay in the tubs in the large cool
Fern-house at Glasnevin.

Mr. M'Ardi.E exhibited leaves of the Yew-tree, closely covered with
germinating pollen grains, which must have been blown a considerable
distance by the wind.

288 The Irish NaUcralist, [December,

Mr. W. N. Ai^ivEN showed seeds of Aristolochia serpentaria taken from
capsules found in a parcel of the dried rhizomes as an accidental
admixture. The seeds are bluntly triangular, convex and warted on
lower surface which is traversed by a thick flesh}' white raphe.

Mr. F. M. SeIvI^ENS exhibited two slides: — (i) a preparation of fossil
Diatomaceae from Monticelli, U.S., and (2) a preparation of Tripoli earth
from Kritohelbergh, Bohemia.

BEI.FAST Naturai. History and Phii^osophicai, Society.
Nov. 6. — The President, Mr. J. Brown opened the session with an
inaugural address on "Some Matters Electric," with lantern and ex-
perimental illustrations.

Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei^d Ci,ub.

November 6. — The winter session was opened with the usual Con*
versazione in the house of the Royal Irish Academy, 19, Dawson-street,
under the presidency of Mr. Greenwood Pim, M.A. The attendance
was large, notwithstanding the inclement weather. About 200 members
and visitors were present, including many ladies. The function com-
menced, as on previous occasions, in the form of a social gathering, which
was held from 7.30 till 8.45 p.m. At the latter hour the President took
the chair, and made an opening address, welcoming all present to the
inaugural meeting of the session. He then gave a succinct account of
the work and progress of the Club. He was glad to see such a large
attendance at the opening meeting, which compensated for the falling-
off in the number of members attending this summer's excursions.

Next the Prize Awards were declared, the winners being as follows :—
President's prize for a series of photo-micrographs of geological sections,
Mr. H.J. Seymour; Flowering Plants, Miss E. M'Intosh, Mrs. R. D. Alcockj
Crustacea, Mr. W. F. de V. Kane ; Land and P'resh-water Mollusca, Miss
Massy; Igneous rocks, Mr. Seymour. Reports from the various
judges were read by the Hon. Sec, Dr. N. H. Alcock.

At nine o'clock Dr. C. J. PatTEN, Hon. Sec, commenced his lantern
demonstrations on "Irish Birds." The speaker opened his address b}-
urging on the members of the Club the necessity of bringing on com*
munications at the winter ordinary meetings. To the junior members
these remarks were particularly applicable. The Club required that
more discussions should arise at the winter meetings. The membership
was large, and, no doubt, if the members were encouraged, a more varied
programme of scientific communications would be brought before the
meetings. Following these remarks. Dr. Patten commenced to exhibit
his lantern slides on " Irish Birds." Many of the scenes thrown on to
the canvas were from photographs taken from nature, representing a
variety of birds indigenous to Ireland, and some of the photographs
were those of birds in captivity in the Dublin Zoological Gardens. A
concise classification of Irish birds was gone into, and typical examples
in each large order were exhibited on the screen to illustrate their
habits.

1900.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 289

As next speaker, Mr. R. M. BarringTon referred chiefly to the
migration of birds as observed at Irish lighthouses and lightships. He
dealt particularly with the migration of the common Song Thrush, a
bird generally supposed to be resident and sedentary, but which comes
to this country in great numbers between 20th October and middle of
November. The course taken during the migratorj' flight was clearly
indicated.

Mr. R. J. USSHER following, gave an interesting account of the habits
and distribution of Irish birds in general. He urged that much more work
could still be done on Irish ornithology, and he hoped to see workers in
the field of ornithology persisting patiently in their arduous toil. The
speaker referred to the increase and decrease of certain species, and he
hoped that those birds approaching extinction would be vigorously
protected.

Next Mr. SKymour exhibited a series of lantern slides of rock sections.
These were the prize micro-photographs, and were well executed.

Dr. AivCOCK shewed some lantern slides of bats from nature, also of
minute structures of nervous and vascular tissues. Many of these
photographs were most difficult to prepare, and they showed much skill
on the part of the exhibitor.

The President threw on the screen several capital photographs of birds
and beasts in captivity in the Dublin Zoological Gardens, which afforded
much interest to the audience.

During the evening a number of scientific exhibits were on view.

Mr. R. J. Ussher'S collection of birds' eggs certainly require special
mention. It was of very large extent, and occupied most of the centre
table. It is admittedly the finest collection of its kind in Ireland, and a
large series of the best clutches have now been acquired by the National
Museum. Ornithological exhibits were strongly represented, including,
in addition, some beautifully mounted specimens, of birds from Dublin
Bay vicinity by Mr. Williams ; rare specimens from the Science and Art
Museum, shown b}' Dr. SchariF; together with Dr. Patten's exhibits
illustrating the plumage, changes, and life-history of certain wading birds
Space will not permit of the description of all the exhibits, but among
them maybe mentioned the following: — Mr. Carpenter— Beech- wood
bored by the Weevil, Mesiles Tardy i ; Professor Cole — Illustrations of
gems and precious stones as they occur in nature; Dr. Foord — Irish
Cricoids; Mr. J. N. Halbert— Collection of Water-beetles from the
Museum series of Irish animals ; Prof. Johnson — Fungus on Tobacco
plant grown in Ireland; Mr. Patterson — Fungi from Dunran ; Mr.
Moore — Rare plants from Glasnevin ; Mr. Seymour — Igneous rocks
and photo-micrograph apparatus; Mr. Welch — Land and Fresh-water
Shells.

Coff"ee was supplied shortly before 10 o'clock, at which hour a very
successful and enjoyable meeting was brought to a closd

290 [December,

NOTKvS.

ZOOLOGY.

INSECTS.

Entomologrical Notes from Ulster.

Mr. W. H. Patterson, of vStrandtown, Belfast, has coutiuued liis efforts
to add to our knowledge of the coleopterous fauna of Ireland, and has
sent me a number of beetles from various localities ; the more interesting
of his captures I now enumerate: —

At Ball3'castle, mostly inland — Philonthiis laminatus, Creutz. , Qucdiiis
niesomelimis, Marsh., Tehphonis nigricans v. discoideus, Steph., Lema e}'ichsoni,
Safifr., an interesting caj^ture, extending the range of this insect from
Cork to Antrim ; Crcpidodera helixines, L.

At Kilroot, near Ca.vric'ki&rgxxs—Harpaliisru/ibaf'bis, F., Hydroportis vittiila^
Er., Homalinni rujipes, Fourc. , Corymbites qnercus, Gyll. , Brachypterus piibescens,
Br., Cyphon nitidultis^ Thoms., Anaspis nijlcollis, F., Otiorrhynchus mtisconiM,
Bris., Doiytomiis tortrix, L.

At Killough, Co. Down — Pterostichtis stremms, Panz., Hydroponis lepiduSi
01., H. pubescens, Gyll., H. lituratus, F., Laccobius bipttnctaiits, F., Sphceriaiwn
marginatum, F., Liosoma ovatulum, Clairv.

At Strandtown, Co. Dovm— A maraplebeia, Gyll., Note r us spar stis, Marsh.,
Phyllopertha horticola, L., Donacia vulgaris, Zsch. {typ/ics, Ahr.), Dorytotnus
tortrix, L.

At Tollymore Park, Co. Down — Cychramus fungicola,'H.itQr, Dr. Sharp,
I believe, considers Cfunqicola, Heer., and C. lutcus, F., to be — the former
the male and the latter the female of the same species; and in
Fowler and Sharp's Catalogue fnngicola is given as a synonym of luteus.
Epurea astiva, L-, Adrastus limbatus, F., Athous niger, L., Corymbites quercus,
Gyll., He/odes minuta, 'L,., Grammoptera rufoornis, F. Mr, Patterson also
beat from trees a number of Hemipterous larvae, which I referred to Mr.
E. Saunders, who pronounces them to be the larval form of Podisus
{Asopus) luridus, Fab. ; they were present in numbers, but none of the
perfect insect occurred.

At Newcastle, Co. Down, on sandhills — Harpal us tardus, Panz., Dromius
linearis, 01., Byrrhtis fasciatus, P\, Lacon murinus, L., Strophosomus retusus^

Marsh.

At Stormount, Co. Bown-^Byturus iomentostis F., Athous niger, L-)

Crepidodera ventralis, lib

At Bundoran, on September 4, Mr. Patterson found swarms of
Coccinella yi\-puuctata, L., along with its larva on the Bent^grass and
crawling on the sand ; they must have been very numerous, for he
remarks: "where they had congregated they were so numerous that a
thousand might have been counted in a short time"; besides this
Ladybird Mr. Patterson took Broscus cephalotes, L., Adimonia tanaceti, L-,
Otiorrhynchus atroapterus, De G., a fortn with bright red femora, and
Barynotus Schonherri^ Zett.

1900.] Notes. 291

At Groomsport, Co. Down — Amara fulva, Dej., A. coiisularis, Duft.,
Ccelambus iDipressopunctaiiis , Sch. {j>icipes, F.)

Considering that Mr. Patterson makes no pretension to being an
entomologist, I think he is much to be congratulated on the success that
has attended his collecting; there are not man}- who would so unselfishly
give their time and trouble to help others in a pursuit of which they
themselves are practically ignorant. Mr. Patterson generously gives all
his captures to me, and as he has not studied the Coleoptera he is
deprived of that exquisite delight which attends the capture of a " good
thing."

Mr. S. A. Stewart sent me a fine specimen oi Acanthocintis (tdih's, L., male,
which was taken in the end of August by a workman on the Queen's
Island, Belfast ; the insect probably emerged from timber in the shipyard ;
w^hoever the captor was, he deserves commendation for capturing the
beetle without injuring its immensely long antennae.

My friend, W. A. Hamilton, Esq., of Coxtown, Co. Donegal, sent me,
on August 10, a fine specimen of Carabtcs glabratiis, Payk., which he had
captured on a mountain about three miles from Coxtown. In a letter
dated vSeptember 12 the same gentleman writes that he has during the
season seen six Vanessa io, L- — five at Coxtown and one at Coolmore — so
that the butterfly is evidently pretty well established in that locality. He
also sent me a specimen of the pretty H3'menopteron, Chrysis ignita, and
from a description given, Szrex gigas has turned up at Coxtown, causing
an alarm of " hornets " to be raised.

From another part of Donegal, viz., Narin, by the kindness of Colonel
W. J. Alexander, of Acton House, Poyntzpass, I received specimens of
Thecla nibi, L., Zygcena lojiicerce, Esp., Eiithenionia riissula, I-/., Centra vinnla'
Iv., and Anarta myrtilli^ L.

Of captures made here I have but few to record : — a few days ago I took
Bembidium bruxellense, Wesm., in my potato field crawling about among
the lumps of earth ; in July I took Herminia grisealis^ Hb., Plusia pulchrjna.
Haw., Gonoptera libatrix, L., Cidaria pyraleata^ L., which is much more like
forms from York than those from Donegal, and Enrrhypara tirticata, L/,
On August loth, Heliophobus popularise Fab., flew into my dining-
room and was captured. On September 5 I made a capture which
much pleased me. I was returning from paying a visit in Co. Down, and
was walking along a by-road in the townland of Loughadian not very far
from Poyntzpass, when a Painted Lady {Vanessa cardui, L.) settled on the
road just in front of me. 1 had no net, so made at the butterfly with my
hat ; my first attempt was a failure, but the butterfly settled again on the
road, and using greater caution I got my hat over it, and as I had a box
in my pocket soon had it safe. It was a perfectly fresh specimen, the
result no doubt of eggs laid in the early summer by some immigrant.
Va?iessa atalanla, L., was remarkably plentiful this autunm, and I found
one to-day (October 15) on my avenue where it had evidently dropped
and been trodden on. I was in Armagh on October 11, and was
informed by a man that a shopkeeper in the town had captured a
>vonderful " bat.'' I knew from experience that this meant a large moth-

292 The Irish Naturalist. [December,

On visiting the shopkeeper in question, Mr. Alexander Wallace, grocer,

Scotch-street, I found that the "bat " was a fine Death's-head moth. It

had flown into his kitchen, whither I think it was probably attracted by

a bunch of bananas that were hanging there. In my last note {ante, p,

184), I mentioned the appearance of numbers of theHemipteron, Piezodorus

h'iuraiits, Fab., in May, and remarked that the time of appearance was

different from that given by Mr. Saunders. I wrote to Mr. Saunders on

the subject, and he replied that in indicating autumn he merely meant

that the insect was most usually met with at that time. I have this day

(October iSth) found the autumn brood in abundance on gorse, evidently

just out.

W. F, Johnson,
Poyntzpass.

Vanessa !o in Co. Down.

Perhaps the following may be of use to you: — A friend of mine, when

at Newcastle, Co. Down, about the third week in October, saw several

of the Peacock Butterflj', Vanessa to, and captured one. Mr. W. Gray saw

one in his garden 'at Belfast. One was brought to me got here, but this

may have been an escape, as I had a quantity of larvae feeding, which I

got sent from Donegal. I see by the guide book there is only one

specimen recorded.

J. HaMITvTON.
Holywood, Co. Down.

Gnophrla quadra In Co. Wexford and the Isle of IVIan.

The rare moth, Gnophria quadra, occurred in some numbers about
Ballyhyland this year. I came across two females and (I think) four
males between July 28th and August loth. These were all picked up
after heavy rains, the males mostly in a very bedraggled state, and both
the females dead, and I made no attempt to preserve them. I have since
seen, with regret, that there is no specimen of this moth in the Irish
collection in the Museum. It has previously been recorded for Co.
Wexford.

Since writing the above note I have had a letter from my friend, Mr.

H. Shortridge Clarke, F.E.S., of Sulby, Isle of Man, who has a splendid

collection of Manx lepidoptera, the result of many years' work, and he

informs me that the same species turned up this year for the first time

in the Isle of Man, where three specimens were taken. I think this is a

very interesting coincidence, when we consider how closelj^ the fauna of

the Isle of Man resembles that of Ireland.

C. B. Moffat.
Ballyhyland.

FISHES.

Porbeasrle Shark and Tope In Klllala Bay.

About the middle of October, when walking along the sands of Ennis-
crone, looking out for any storm-worn birds that might have been driven
ashore by the N.W. gale of the previous days, I came across a specimen

I900-] Notes, 293

of the Porbeagle Shark, Lauina corniibica (Yarrell) ; it was about four feet
in length. It appears to be very rare on this coast, being the only
specimen I have ever met,

On the same day I found a specimen of the Tope Dogfish, Galeus
vulgaris (Yarrell), about a hundred yards from where the Porbeagle was
lying, and in appearance the contrast between the two fishes was very
remarkable, the rounded pig-like form of the Porbeagle with its large
round eyes, looking so utterly different, from the long, slender body of
the Tope, with its flattened, depressed head and small oval-shaped eyes.

Robe;rt Warren.

Moyview, Ballina,

BIMDS.

Crossbills nesting^ In South Cork.

Mr. Moffat's remark (see p, 254 above), that the Crossbill is increasing
as a breeding species in Ireland reminds me that among our bird visitors
during the severe weather of Februarj' last we had a pair of Crossbills
which .nested with us, and I have seen no record of their yet nesting in
Cork, though they nested in Tipperary in 1839.

I first noticed them on the morning of February 20th, before the snow
which fell on the loth had all melted, and though I did not actually see
their nest till a fortnight later, I am sure that it was then finished. So
that the brave little birds had commenced building while long icicles were
still hanging in places from the pine branches, and perhaps while many
other birds were dj-ing of cold. Starlings especially suffered. On the
morning of the 14th fifteen of them died in our stable about thirty yards
from the site of the Crossbills' nest, and from the loth to the 14th very
many Starlings, Redwings, Song Thrushes, Fieldfares, and Blackbirds,
besides some smaller birds, died, though haws and ivy berries were
plentiful then and long after. I, however, saw no dead Mistle Thrushes.

Well, as I have already said, the Crossbills had their nest quite finished
before the 20th ; they very obligingly nested right in front of the house,
where from either my bedroom or breakfast-room windows I could
easily watch them coming and going until I left at 10 o'clock, though
the nest was hidden by a br?nch. And in the evenings after school my
little son kept sharper eyes than mine on their movements during
preparation time, and reported anything unusual. They were very tame,
the cock often allowed us to come quite close while he rested on a bare
ash branch or hacked at a fir cone. We never saw either of them on the
ground save once when the cock rose from some Raspberry canes, but
occasionally he alighted on the eave-shoots perhaps for water. The nest
was hard to see from the ground, and I was afraid of frightening them
by climbing the tree on which for a long time before we saw it we knew
it was. Hatching commenced on February 23rd; before then the pair
were always together, but afterwards the cock was usually alone. I did
not go to see the nest till March 9th. Nothing disturbed them. Our cat
had disappeared for ever since last year. I saw him from the window

294 ^'^^ hish Naturalist, [December, 1900.

standing in a Mistle Thrush's nest. Robins' and Wrens' nests had been
previously destroyed, but not since ; and for some time I have discouraged
the visits of Grey Crows, Magpies, and Sparrow Hawks with a gun.

On April ist the young birds took their first fly, and until the 12th
we saw two or three or four almost every day. We have seen none since*
but hope, though we hardly expect, the}- will, favour us again next
February. Anyway we made their stay with us as pleasant for them as
we knew how.

Bramblings were rather plentiful while the snow lasted, as usual during
our rare heavy snowfalls, though we never see one at other times.
Eight or ten came every morning to feast on some seeds provided, they,
like their cousms the Chaffinches, seemed little the worse for the cold.
I also saw Bramblings in two other places at some distance then. They
were equally plentiful in January, 1894, but for six years we had not seen
any.

Perhaps in these rambling notes I may mention that the Swallows
have not all left us yet. At least three were here on November 8th.
The latest date I have ever seen them was November 19th, but even
here their appearance any time in November is unusual.

Skibbereen. John J. Woi^fej.

The Ruff in Ireland.

I have read with very much interest Dr. C. J. Patten's article in the

August number on the Natural History of the Ruff in Ireland, and

though at present away from Ireland, cannot refrain from sending a very

brief note on a specimen shot in August, 1895 or 1896, at Calary Bog, Co.

Wicklow. This specimen, a female adult, was stuffed for me by Mr.

Williams, of Dame-street, who will be able to furnish Dr. Patten full

particulars should he desire them. I shot it in the identical spot

where I shot two Wood .Sandpipers a year or two afterwards, this full}'

bearing out Dr. Patten's accurate remarks about the inland migratory

habits of the Ruff, and its partiality for heathery and peaty districts.

As my address shows, I am away far from my ornithological note-books,

which are locked up at my home.

Ernest Bi,ake Knox,
Lydenberg, Transvaal.

MAMMALS,

The Vision of Cetaceans,

In the summer of 1887 I stayed some time afthe head of Loch Alsh, in
Ross-shire. There was at the time of our coming there a Porpoise with
two young calves. The two calves were usually to be seen basking on
the water, with their heads and backs well above the surface. I never
saw them go under. There they used to lie quietly enough ; but when-
ever we tried to approach them they would at once begin to move away,
always keeping about the same distance from our boat. There did not
appear to be any reason for doubting that they were watching our move-
ments.

Howth. W. E. Hart.

MBL WHOI LIBRARY

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