ISTORY SOCIRTY OF DUBLIN,

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FOR THE

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54

SESSION S 1869-70, 1870-

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aN THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, ©

S04,94/5—

NUS
PROCEEDINGS
NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

SESSION 1869-70.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, Novemper 3, 1869.

Rorat Irish ACADEMY Housz, DAWSON-STREET.

RicwarpD PatmerR Wittiams, Esq., M.R.I.A., Vice-President, in
the Chair.

Tue Minutes of the preceding Meeting, being those of the concluding
Meeting of the Session, were read and confirmed.

The Ballot was then opened for the President, Vice-Presidents,
Council, and Officers for the ensuing year. R. Roberts, Esq., and
Thomas Kift, Esq., were appointed Scrutineers of the Ballot.

During the taking of the Ballot the following Resolutions were pro-
posed and seconded and passed :—

Proposed by George Dixon, Esq., F.R.G.S.I.; seconded by Rev.
Thaddeus O’Mahony:

‘‘That William Archer, Esq., be requested to withdraw his resig-
nation of the office of Joint Secretary of the Natural History Society.”

Proposed by Thomas Kift, Esq.; seconded by Dr. A. H. Jacob:

“That the resignation of Dr. Wright as Joint Secretary of this
Society be not accepted.”

The following Report from the outgoing Council was then read :—

“‘ Your Council beg leave to report that during the last Session the
following Papers have been read:— _ _—-

ZOOLOGICAL.

“On a New Genus of Freshwater Rhizopoda, &e.,’ by William
Archer, Esq.
““ «On Acanthocystis Pertyana,’ by William Archer, Esq.

VOL. VI. B

2 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.
““¢ On the Anatomy of Lemur nigrifrons, by John Barker, Esq.,
D

‘©¢Qn the Bony Dorsal Shield of Zragulus Javanicus,* by John
Barker, Esq., M.D.

‘“©< On the Mucous Folds in the Stomach of a Lioness,’ by John
Barker, Esq., M.D.

‘¢ «Qn some Points observed in the Anatomy of an Aylesbury duck,’
by Arthur Wynne Foot, Esq., M.D.

‘“<« On Huplecteila aspergillum,? by 8S. R. Graves, Esq., M.P.

«< ¢ On the Comparative Anatomy of the Pronator Group of Muscles,’
by Dr. Alexander Macalister.

“<On Tubipora musica,’ by Professor KE. Percival Wright, M.D.

«© ¢ On the Odonata of the Seychelles,’ by Professor E. Percival
Wright, M.D.

“© ¢ On Rhinodon typicus and its Parasites,’ by Professor E. Percival
Wright, M.D.

BOTANIOAL.

“¢ On Spheria Roberts from New Zealand,’ by Arthur Wynne
Foot, M. D.

‘© ¢ On the Flora of Kinross-shire,’ by Dr. Alexander Macalister.

‘““¢On New Species of Diatoms from Arran,’ by Rev. Eugene
O’Meara, A.M.

‘““¢ On the Discovery of Cuscuta epithymum in Ireland,’ by Dr.
Walter G. Smith.

‘« « Notes of a Tour to Sicily and Portugal in the spring and autumn
of 1868,’ by Professor E. Percival Wright, M.D.

“ Considerable delay has been incurred in the publication of Part
II. of Volume V. of the ‘ Proceedings,’ owing, in a great measure to the
difficulty of obtaining from the authors the manuscripts of the Papers
read. Part III. of Volume V. is already nearly printed, and Part IV.,
concluding the volume, and containing the Papers enumerated above,
is in progress. Seven of the ten plates required for the illustration of
this Part are already printed. Mr. Archer, with his accustomed libe-
rality, has defrayed the expense of the four coloured plates which illus-
trate his two communications. Your Council would take this opportunity
of impressing upon their successors the great importance of publishing
and illustrating their monthly proceedings.

‘* During the past Session the Society has suffered the loss, by death,
of two of its annual members—Dr. Maurice H. Collis and Mr. John
Good. The latter gentleman was for several years a member of the
Council, and a most regular attendant at its meetings, and was at all
times ready to assist any of the members of the Society in Natural
History pursuits. The records of the Society, and the fourth volume of
Mr. Thompson’s ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ bear witness to the
number of species added to the Irish Fauna through Mr. Good’s exer-
tions, and all who knew him will recollect how ready he was at all

REPORT OF COUNCIL. 3

times to subscribe towards any object having the advancement of the
Natural History of Ireland in view.

‘‘ Towards the middle of the last Session your Council received a
communication from the Committee of Science of the Royal Irish Aca-
demy to the effect that the Committee were anxious to devise some plan
for the amalgamation under one head of all the scientific societies of
Dublin. Your Council, in compliance with a request contained in the
communication from the Committee, appointed their two Honorary
Secretaries as delegates to attend a meeting specially convened for this
purpose. The meeting was held at the Royal Irish Academy House on
the 22nd of April, 1869, and at it a series of Resolutions, eleven in
number, were drafted out and printed, in order that they might be
submitted to the various societies for their consideration. These Reso-
lutions were laid by the delegates before your Council on the 3rd of
May, 1869, and a Resolution was passed to the effect that the Council
recommend to the Society the acceptance of the proposals contained in
the draft suggestions adopted at the meeting of the 22nd April. This
Resolution of the Council and the draft suggestions were, by order of
the Council, sent to all the members of the Society, and were also laid
before the members at the ordinary monthly meeting on the 5th May.
At this meeting it was resolved that the Society consider it for the
present inexpedient to merge the existence of the Society in a biological
section of the Academy. A Resolution was also passed at this meeting
to the effect that the minute-book of the Council, containing the minutes
of the Council meeting of the 3rd of May, be produced, and this although
the Honorary Secretaries declared that the minutes in question had not
as yet been written up, nor were they, until confirmed at the subsequent
meeting, to be regarded as the authorized minutes of the Council meeting
of the 3rd of May. In consequence of the passing of this Resolution,
the Honorary Secretaries tendered their resignation of office, which was
accepted, but at the request of the Council they consented to continue
their services until the election of their successors in the following
November.

“« Your Council would also call attention to the fact that, by a Reso-
lution of the Society, the night of meeting has been changed from the
first Friday to the first Wednesday in the month.

‘‘ Having now mentioned the chief events of the past Session, or at
least those seeming to call for special mention, it remains for your
Council to surrender their trust into the hands of their successors. They
would call their attention to the fact that they hand over to them a
reserve fund in Consols equal to all the composition fees of all their
Life Members, and of all the entrance fees paid within the last four
years; they leave them a balance-sheet showing no debts due, but a sum
of money to the credit side, beyond the amount to be paid for the two
forthcoming Parts of the ‘Journal,’ and a Library consisting of some
hundreds of volumes and parts of volumes, obtained by the exchange of
the Journal of the Society, and costing the Society nothing but the
expense of their carriage. With their term of office they complete the

4 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

fifth volume of the Proceedings of the Society, and they can speak with
confidence as to the increase of scientific matter that has appeared from
the first to the fifth of these volumes.

‘In conclusion, your Council would suggest that the best thanks of
the Society are due to the Royal Irish Academy for their kindness in’
granting the use of the room in which the Society meets, and for the
light and fire with which they have been so liberally provided.”

It was proposed by R. Roberts, Esq., and seconded by Joseph H.
Woodworth, Esq.: ‘‘ That the foregoing Report of the outgoing Council
be adopted by the Society.’”’ This Resolution, having been put to the
meeting, was declared carried.

The Treasurer (Arthur Andrews, Esq.) then submitted his Annual
Report, showing an income received of £107 6s. 11d., an expenditure
of £60 17s. 3d., and a balance in hands of £56 9s. 9d. This Report
was received, and ordered to be audited by R. Roberts, Esq., and Joseph
H. Woodworth, Esq.

The Scrutineers then reported the result of the Ballot as follows : —

PreEsIDENT.—Lord Clermont.

Vice-PREsIDENTS.— William Andrews, M.R.I.A., F.R.G.S.I.; Robt.
Callwell, M.R.I.A., V.P.R.G.S.1I. ; Alexander Carte, M.D., F.LS.,
M.R.I.A.; Rev. Thaddeus O’Mahony, M.A., M.R.LA.

Councit.—Robert Ball, A.M.; Henry Malkin Barton; George
Dixon, F.R.G.S.1.; Arthur Wynne Foot, M.D.; A. H. Jacob, M.D.;
Thomas Kift; John J. Lalor, F.R.G.S.I.; Alexander Macalister,
F.R.G.S.I.; David Moore, Ph.D., M.R.I.A.; Rev. Eugene O’Meara,
A.M.; Joseph Todhunter; R. H. Traquair, M.D.; Henry Wilson,
F.R.C.S.1.

Honorary TREASURER.—Arthur Andrews.

Honorary Direcror or Museum.— Robert J. Montgomery,
F.R.G.S8.I.

Honorary SEcreTartes.— William Archer and E. Perceval Wright,
M.D.

The Chairman then adjourned the Society until the first Wea
in December.

DECEMBER 1, 1869.

Wititram AnDREws, Vice-President, in the Chair.

Mr. Andrews, on taking the Chair, observed that since the last
meeting some changes had occurred in the Office-bearers of the Society.
The Honorary Secretaries having resigned their office, the Council had

appointed Dr. Macalister as Honorary Secretary, whom he now called
upon to read the minutes.

FOOT——-ON IRISH LEPIDOPTERA. 5

The Minutes of the preceding Meeting having been read, compared,
and signed,

ArtuurR Wynne Foor, M.D., Fellow of the King and Queen’s
College of Physicians, read the following Paper :—

Nores on IrntsH LEPIDOPTERA.

THE specimens of Irish Lepidoptera which I shall have the honour of
laying before the Society this evening, were obtained in the counties of
Wickow and Kilkenny during the past summer. I feel that they do
not deserve any attention on the grounds of variety or rarity; and the
notes which I have made on the subject are hasty memoranda, fre-
quently jotted down on the backs of my collecting boxes, while shel-
tering under a tree or bridge from a passing shower. To these field
observations I have ventured to add some further remarks which
suggested themselves in connexion with particular insects; and as they
have reference to the specimens exhibited, I hope the Members of the
Society will not consider them untimely or misplaced. I have always
had the feeling that this Society is one which loves to have some of the
nights of winter beguiled by the narration of field experiences of the
more cheerful out-door times of spring, and summer, and autumn; and
I think it to be a part of the duty of our Members to collect their
observations in the longer days of the year for the entertainment, and
perhaps the instruction, of one another in the longer nights of the year.
But it is my opinion, be it right or wrong, that field experiences should
be supplemented by reading the experience of others on the same sub-
ject, and I have endeavoured to combine with my few personal notes
such information derived from books as may, some time or other, save
others the time or trouble necessary té collect 1t if required. I hope
to have some future opportunity, before the close of the Session, of
bringing before the Society specimens of several of the other orders of
insects which I have met with this year, but shall on the present occa-
sion confine my remarks to the Lepidoptera.

In the early part of the past July (1869), I had occasion to spend
some time in a part of the county Wickiow—the neighbourhood of
Newcastle—which is very favourable to entomological pursuits. The
wooded glens of Dunran and Ballyvolan, as well as the Glen of the
Downs and the Devil’s Glen, were within easy reach, the two former
places quite close. My first anxiety was to get a series of the narrow-
bordered bee hawk-moth, Sesia bombiliformis, which I knew was to
be found in suitable localities in the county. Myr. More, and Mr. Car-
rington, of York, had just before I left town been very successful in
obtaining this sphinx near Lough Dan—their captures are recorded
in the ‘‘Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine” for August, 1869, p.
67. On the 5th July I caught one at 1 p.m., on a gloomy day, wind
S.W., hovering over the red blossoms of Lychnis Flos-cuculi,
in a rushy meadow, full of rank herbage, bordered by a wood on
one side, and by a stream on the other; from its dampness, and

6 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

the softness of its soil, the meadow has the local name of Chapel-
river bog. In the same place I got four more on the 6th, between
3 and 4 .m., and saw two or three more; the day was one of alter-
nate sunshine and shade, the wind westerly. On the 8th I got three
more, between 4 and 44 p.m., wind south-west, showers and sun-
shine. After this date I saw no more of them, although I frequented
the place almost every day in the afternoon hours. It was, I think,
an unusual thing to obtain this sphinx so late in the season, but the
uncommon backwardness of insects this year was most remarkable.
May is the time given for its appearance in Stainton’s Manual, and on
this account I had but little hope of being able to get any specimens in
July. It is impossible, of course, to say how long the specimens had
been out; but they all appeared quite fresh when captured, as may be
easily seen by looking at them now. I had also been under the im-
pression that these moths were most likely to be found in the hottest
sunshine, and in the brightest parts of the day; but I did not meet
with one before 1 p.m, and their time of appearance was usually
between 3 and 5 o'clock, ».u. They seemed to come from the adjacent
plantation, in which there was a good deal of alder and fir, to the
blossoms in the boggy meadow which attracted them, and to fly off
towards the same place when they left the flowers.

On the 19th of July, I saw the first silver-washed fritillary (A. pa-
phia). I had been on the look out for these butterflies from the 1st of
the month, about which time they should be out in ordinary seasons. A
fine series, male and female, of these beautiful insects was soon obtained,
almost always taken over bramble blossoms. I met with but two tiger
moths ( A. caja) during the summer: one, which when I saw it was
almost unrecognisable from its battered condition, had been found in a
garden, in the early part of August, by a workwoman, who had kept it
in her pocket the greater part of the day, which accounted for its ap-.
pearance; the other was a very perfect insect, fresh from the chrysalis,
which in the end of August came into a lighted room through an open
window. It is a common matter of observation how comparatively
seldom the tiger moth is found in the perfect condition, while the well-
known hairy larva is so frequently met with both in spring and in au-
tumn. The larve of the tiger moth may turn up in most unexpected
places. In the early part of last June I found in the course of a week
or ten days about eighteen of them, feeding upon dock and white net-
tle, in a small yard, not far from the centre of this city, enclosed by
high walls and buildings; the enclosure is paved, but the docks, white
nettle, crowfoot, and plantain have contrived to grow between the
stones with great luxuriance; it is enclosed on two sides by the buildings
of the Medical School of the University of Dublin, and by high walls
on the other sides. It is not a spot which one would think likely to
attract the female tiger moth to deposit her eggs in. I bred nine tigers
from the larve, and several of them are as good specimens as are
usually seen. There were no varieties among them, nor is this to be
wondered at, since their circumstances as to light and food, while in the

FOOT—ON IRISH LEPIDOPTERA. 7

breeding cages, were precisely similar for all; and I believe it is now
held, and I think with much probability, that lepidopterous ornamen-
tation is most affected by the degree and kind of light the larvee are
exposed to, and by the quantity and quality of the food plant they are
obliged'to use. In the locality in which I found S. bombiliformis, the
Ringlet butterfly (H. hyperanthus) swarmed after the 8th of July, and
it also occurred in the greatest profusion up to the end of that month in
damp rank meadows, and rushy places in the vicinity of woods. Mr.
Birchall, in his catalogue of Irish Lepidoptera (‘‘ Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc.
Dubl.,” vol. v., pt. i, p. 59) mentions this butterfly as rather local, and
states that he had observed it in profusion near Galway, and in Malahide
ark. ‘
: On the 21st July, at 114 a. u., I came upon two oak eggars (Lasio-
campa quercus) fluttering across aroadway through a wooded glen ; they
were both males; I saw but one other of this species through the sum-
mer, not being fortunate enough to come across an ‘‘ assembling,”’ or
nuptial gathering, of this insect, as was a friend of mine, who, driving in
his gig near Rathfarnham, passed through a company of these moths in
attendance on a female; he easily secured seven fine specimens. It is
stated that the males of this moth will even go into the pocket of the
collector, if a recently hatched female be enclosed in a box therein. The
descent of twelve Wood Leopards (Z. esculi) down Mr. Hewitson’s
drawing room chimney, in August last, may have been due to an “ as-
semblage,”’ although there was no female discovered among the lot.
From the middleof July I began to meet with the Humming-bird hawk
moth (Macroglossa stellatarum), over bramble blossonis and honeysuckle,
throughout the day from forenoon to evening. Although this moth 1s most
commonly met with in the autumnal months (at least it 1s in September
and October that I have caught most of them), it is well known that
they may be obtained all through the year, the warmth of many of our
winter days tempting them from their hybernating quarters. On this
moth Mr. Birchall observes ( Op. cvt., p. 61), “‘ very common; seems to be
on the wing day and night for the greater part of the year. It frequently
comes to sugared flowers in the evening; and once, about midnight, it
tapped for admission at the lantern of the Bailey Lighthouse, and was
secured.’ The humming-bird moth was, according to my observations,
very much less abundant during the past summer than in the previous
one; and perhaps it may have been remarked that there did not appear
to be the same number of letters, if any, on the subject in the news-
papers, which invariably appear when the moth is abundant and seen
by many for the first time. The humming-bird moths may be often
noticed in the hotter summer months resting on garden walls with a
southern aspect, and the cause of this habit has been discussed,
in the Entomological Society of London. It has been suggested that
it might result from a desire to enjoy the extra heat afforded by
such walls, or that the Gallium mollugo, a favourite food plant which
grows in such situations, attracts it ; but the most received explanation
is that the moth enters holes in sunny walls and banks to rest itself for

8 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

a while between its flights (‘‘ Ent. Monthly Magazine,’’ vol. ii,
pp. 216, 239). 12th August, saw Cynthia cardui (painted lady), for
first time this year—four specimens, very fresh ; these insects are pro-
verbially uncertain in their appearance. I did not observe a tenth of
the number of them I had seen in 1868. Thecla quercus (the purple hair
streak), I found, but it was not common: one specimen I got in the
rocky gorge of Glenmalure, near a plantation of young oaks.

The large Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) swarmed in lanes in
the evenings (on one occasion a sweep of my net took in seven); the
females were not unfrequently noticed in gardens in the daytime. The
only object in collecting these was to try for varieties; but I was not
successful in getting any striking ones.

I was continually on the look out for the large Tortoiseshell Butterfly
(Vanessa polychloris), as a gentleman living near Newtownmountken-
nedy had told me they had occurred there. In August of 1866 he saw
them in numbers, mixed with red admirals (Vanessa atalanta) about fine
arbutus trees which grow before his house; he was not collecting at the
time, but has since done so, and is certain there could have been no
mistake; he writes to me—‘‘ It was in August of 1866 that the large
tortoiseshells, mixed with the red admirals, were so plenty about our
house. There was no mistake about them, for they were as large as
the largest of the red admirals, and very much larger than the ordinary
small tortoiseshells, which are always in numbers about here. I was
not at the time collecting or I might easily have caught them to pre-
serve. In ’67 the red admirals were scarce, and we thought we saw
one specimen of the large tortoiseshell. In ’66 the large tortviseshells
and the red admirals, which were always mixed on the arbutus trees,
remained with us for some weeks, but I don’t recollect how long.” . Mr.
Birchall puts a note of interrogation after the name of this insect as an
Trish one, and says—‘‘ A specimen seen near Galway in 1861; but; as
the insect was not captured, and has not been observed elsewhere, I
insert it doubtfully.’’—( Op. cit., p. 59).

In the county Kilkenny, on 28th of August, I saw thirteen Colias
edusa (the clouded yellow butterfly) flying over clover fields, and
along the embankment of the Waterford and Kilkenny railway, near
where that line crosses the Nore. This was the first day for their
appearance in that district. The day was very warm, wind S.l., a
clear sky, and hot sun. I caught five out of the thirteen seen; and, as
they were fresh, and therefore wild and strong on the wing, I earned
and enjoyed exceedingly a double swim across the Nore. I soon dis-
covered that in working such a place as a railway bank it is much
better to wait in the course of the Edusa, as it flies wp or down the line,
than to hunt it; they seem, in most cases, to have a certain beat, regu-
lated apparently by the amount of sunshine and shelter from the wind,
and by the profusion of flowers; and up and down this course they go,
whereas, if hunted unsuccessfully, they are apt to go straight off as fast
and as far as they can from the disturbing cause. They do not mind a
stroke at them being missed, if you do not follow it up with a chase,

i
. a

FOOT-—ON IRISH LEPIDOPTERA. 9

and I noticed that one of them paid no attention to a train passing
along the line, but kept wavering and dancing along till it fell into my
net as I stood in its course. On the 30th I saw eight more Colias
edusa, most of them flying along a country road, in the neighbourhood
of which were several clover fields. Very often they went in off the
road over stubbles; and when they did so, it was very difficult to keep
them in sight, particularly if they were over oat stubble, as the yellow
of the butterfly became confounded, on the one hand, with the light
golden brown of the oat straw, and, on the other, with the ochreous
colour of the dry baked clay; for there had been at this time an unu-
sual dryness. 3lst August, saw thirteen more C. edusa; the wind
still E.; in this point it had been for a considerable time; there had
been a frost the preceding night. September Ist was a cold, bleak,
overclouded day, with a fresh breeze from E.; and, although there was
a good deal of sunshine in the afternoon, no Colias edusa were seen. The
2nd September was a warm day, with very little wind, an air from the
N.E. in the morning, which fell off before noon. I saw twenty-six
Edusze on this day; and a lady, who was perfectly acquainted with
this butterfly, and who was driving in a neighbouring part of the
county, but in an opposite direction to that in which I was working,
saw ten. The following day, 3rd September, was overcast, though
warm, wind S.W.; searched seven clover fields in the district in which
I had seen so many the day before, but did not come across one. 4th
September was a bright day, with passing clouds, warm, wind S.; saw
ten Eduse. The weather broke on the following day, and a series of
gales from S. and W. came on, with heavy rains. The appearance of
C. edusa in that particular district of the Co. Kilkenny, the neigh-
bourhood of Thomastown, this year, was for one week, from 28th
August to 4th September, inclusive. In those eight days I saw
myself seventy, and a trustworthy observer saw ten others. Of the
seventy seen I captured thirty-six; two of them were females, and
only one of them was in the least torn or faded. I saw eight other
specimens later in September, between the 20th and 27th; so that the
gross number which I know to have been seen amounts to eighty-cight.
In the same district, in 1868, at same period of the year, I neither saw
nor heard of Colias edusa being seen; and a person capable of giving an
opinion on the subject told me it was nearly ten years since they had
noticed these ‘‘ yellow butterflies” in that part of the county. I did
not come on C. Hyale, though I had been warned by my friend, Mr.
Kirby, that I might find it when Edusa is plentiful. On Colias edusa
Mr. Birchall remarks :—‘‘ Common in some seasons on the south and
east coast; occurs more rarely north of Dublin; in profusion at Killarney
in August, 1865.”—( Op. cit., p. 58). Several observations on the occur-
rence of Colias edusa in Ireland have been laid before this Society—one
by Mr. Williams was read 23rd January, 1857 (‘‘ Nat. Hist. Rev.,”’ vol.
iv., p. 70), recording the observations of Mr. Ussher on Colias edusa in
Co. Waterford in autumn of 1855; another by Professor E. Perceval

VOL. VI. C

10 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Wright, December, 1865 (‘‘ Proc. Nat. Hist. Soc. of Dublin,” vol. v., p.7),
placing on record three new Irish localities for this insect—Co. Dublin,
Co. Down, and neighbourhood of Belfast, and giving much information
on the geographical range of this insect ; and another by Mr. Andrews,
in January, 1866.—( Op. cit., p. 20).

It has been observed that there are some Lepidopterous insects
whose appearance in any considerable number in a given year is un-
certain, while periodically there is an unusual abundance of them.
Among those most subject to a periodic scarcity and plenty are, Colias
edusa and hyale, Sphinx convolvuli, which, in the year 1846, was in
England captured on the wing in hundreds (Stainton’s Man., vol. 1., p.
82), Cynthia cardui, and A. sancia (the pearly underwing). The explana-
nations that have been offered of this irregularity of appearance are, that
the eggs or pupee lie dormant until a favourable season occurs for their
development ; that if the weather be unusually severe at the usual time
for the egg hatching, the development of most of the eggs will become
latent, and they will wait over till a more favourable season, when there
may be, in consequence, a double or treble brood; others think that
the period of maximum mortality among young Lepidoptera is when
they are small larve, having just left the egg, and that it is the occur-
rence of heavy rains at this time which causes the greatest diminution
in their numbers.

Towards the end of September I took at sugar Agrotis sancia and
Agrotis lunigera (the crescent dart); of the former, a dozen specimens,
which exhibit a good deal of variation in their tints and markings. 4th
September I was sent a fine larva of Acherontia atropos (death’s head
moth), almost full fed ; it had been found in a garden among cabbages ; it
- ate potato leaves voraciously till the 6th, when it left off feeding ; its co-
lours lost their brightness, and the skin over the anterior segments became
puffed-up, giving it a bloated, dropsical appearance. I was continually
watching the larva, and distinctly observed it working with its mandi-
bles at the skin of the distended parts till it cut it, letting out a
quantity of water, which removed the dropsical appearance, and notably
reduced its bulk; the next day (7th September) it buried itselfin clay,
with which I had filled the bottom of a breeding cage; having eight
days afterwards to disturb the clay, I found the large brown chrysalis
in its capacious egg-shaped clay coccoon. Superstitious feelings with
regard to this curious caterpillar prevent its being more frequently
obtained. My friend, Mr. Graves, told me that it is to this day in the
county Kilkenny called by the peasantry the murrain, from an impres-
sion that it gives cattle the murrain, by stinging them in the nose with
the caudal horn; and the remedy they adopt is to take the larva and
put it into a hole made in an ash tree, the hole they close up with a
plug of wood. Mr. Graves saw this done in the county Kilkenny when
he was a boy, years before the potato blight had come to this country,
which misfortune has since been attributed also to this larva—perhaps
trom the larva feeding on the leaves of the potato and the chrysalis

FOOT—ON IRISH LEPIDOPTERA. tT}

being not unfrequently turned up in digging potatoes. Mr. Birchall
observes the death’s head moth is generally distributed in Ireland, but
is not so abundant as might have been expected in the metropolis of
the potato plant. (Catalogue, Op. cit., p. 61.)

I take this opportunity, in exhibiting the chrysalis of the death’s
head moth, to show four very fine specimens of the perfect insect, with
most of which some incident of interest is connected. One isan insect,
nearly five inches in expanse of wings, taken this autumn in the county
Cork, and sent up to Dublin alive; it lived without any food for nearly
three weeks under a glass fern cap, the size of a hat; honey and sugar
were placed near it, but it was not observed to touch them, probably it
did so at night; it made a squeaking noise when handled; another is from
Sligo, and was captured by the late Captain King ; the third was taken
on board a fishing boat, at a considerable distance from land, off the
coast of Kerry. This great sphinx has on several occasions been taken
far out at sea, as have several others of the larger Lepidoptera—for in-
stance S. convolvuli has been taken 25 miles from shore, struggling
in the water; A. villica has been taken on a boat fifteen miles out;
Brassica and Aglaia, seven or eight miles from land (‘* Trans. Ent. Soc.”
N. 8., vol. ii., Proc. p. 117). Mr. W. H. Flower exhibited to the
Royal Zoological Society two specimens of a death’s head moth,
(A. atropos), taken on board the ‘‘ Hotspur,’’ East Indiaman, Captain
H. Toynlee, on her homeward voyage, in lat. 40° 29’N., long. 15°
00’ W., 260 miles from the coast of Portugal, after an easterly gale;
also aspecimen of 8. convolvuli, 2, which flew on board the’same ship in
lat. 12° 09’ N., long. 21° 17’ W.—the prevailing winds being westerly
and northerly. (‘‘P. Z. 8. L.,” 1866, p. 305). A passenger on board the
steamship ‘‘ Pera” (Oct. 12, 1860), about twelve miles east of Cape Bon,
Africa, while sitting in the after part of the vessel, observed a ‘‘ painted
lady,” which appeared to come from seaward, and readily overtook the
steamer, which was then making 104 knots an hour; the insect often
soared high, and did not seem at all fatigued (‘‘ Zoologist,” July, 1869,
_ p. 1768). The fourth specimen of the death’s head was taken out of a
beehive under the following circumstances: —A gentleman in the
county Kerry noticed that his bees were daily deserting one of their
hives in numbers; they were seen in crowds on the ground about the
hive, dead from cold and exposure to the autumnal dews. Onenighthe ~
and his gardener, anxious to find out what could be wrong inside the
hive, lifted it off the stand, which was a safe operation, as hardly any
bees remained in the hive, and they found a death’s head inside it,
quietly settled in a corner; it was sent up to me in a Vesuvian box, for
which it was rather a tight fit, with the query, ‘‘could it be a kind of
queen bee?’ Huber was the first who called attention to this propensity
of the death’s head to enter beehives; it is said to be attracted to these
places by its love for honey; and the impunity with which it can ven-
ture into such places is explained by some as due to the hardness of
its body, which is said to be impenetrable to the stings of the bees

Ae NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

indeed, a pin requires to be pushed with force before it enters its body
—while others think that it is by the sounds it makes that it overawes
the bees. In the last number of the ‘ Zoologist”’ (Nov. 1869), there is an
interesting account by an experienced beemaster, the Rev. Charles
Bury, M. A., of a raid made by this insect on one of his hives. On the
15th June he was “‘ raising”’ one of his hives in the evening twilight,
and while watching the movements of the bees, who were considerably
excited by the disturbance, something so like a bat flitted round that it
did not attract his particular notice; but shortly afterwards he saw
what he could not fail to recognise as a death’s head moth flit back-
wards and forwards once or twice before the hive, dash at the entrance,
penetrate the cluster of bees, and disappear within; he had only a small
lauding net at hand, and with this he waited anxiously close outside
the hive, to intercept the intruder on its exit. In about five minutes
out she came (for it proved to be a female), in no small bustle.
He thought he could distinguish—for it was almost dark—five
or six bees attached to her legs. Instead of taking wing, the
moth scrambled fast enough over the cluster of bees about the
door to the top of the hive, he put the net on her; but, as hundreds of
bees were entangled in and about the meshes of the net, he could not
seize the moth, which, after running round and round with marvellous
celerity, escaped, and was off like a shot. Next evening he kept
watch for her; she appeared, dashed against his study window, which
was immediately over the hive, and he lost sight of her. On the 2nd
October he found between the folds of a piece of carpeting which had
been over the same hive all the summer to protect it from rain, a
death’s head, the finest British specimen he had ever seen; and, as he
had not seen one since June 16th, he suspected it was the same, that
it descended every evening to feast in the hive, and then returned to
its place of retreat within the folds of carpet. This moth, while in
captivity, on being touched emitted sounds which could be distin-
guished by sharp ears. He had observed that while the moth was in
the hive, sounds, best described as a rather musical squeak, appeared
to come from the hive. Those given out by the moth while in capti-
vity corresponded to these. This moth, although very seldom observed
on the wing, may, in the proper season, be found in most unexpected
places—for instance, on the arrival of the mail train at Dumfries sta-
tion, on the evening of 27th September, 1868, one of the servants about
the station noticed a large insect at rest on one of the carriages; it turned
out to be a very fine specimen of Acherontia atropos, measuring over five
inches across the wings—(‘‘ Ent. Monthly Magazine,” vol. v., p. 171).
Mr. Andrews not along ago exhibited to this Society a specimen taken
in an office in this city; and the insect has been found alive in the
British Museum. A medical man has given me in writing his recol-
lections of a strange adventure with a death’s head moth in an
ominous situation, at the bedside of a patient. He was attending a
lady in James’s-street, in this city, one afternoon in autumn, more than

FOOT—ON IRISH LEPIDOPTERA. 13

twenty years ago. She wasa very nervous person, and had taken a
most gloomy view of her case. He was standing at a window oppo-
site to the foot of the bed in which she lay, when he observed a large
dark brown moth on the white bed curtains, which, on closer inspec-
tion, he found to be a beautiful specimen of the death’s head moth, and
which he still preserves. Knowing the patient’s temperament, and
the superstitious feelings entertained by some with regard to these
moths, and at the same time anxious to secure his prize, he was obliged
to exert some ingenuity to effect his purpose, which he succeeded
in doing without being noticed. It is strange how circumstances of
ill omen seem to gather round this insect, which i is in all parts of the
world regarded with fear and awe by the uneducated, and has been
considered to be the herald of plague, famine, or some dire calamity.
This moth is very generally distributed over the world; some very fine
specimens of it from China and India are in the Entomological de-
partment of the Royal Dublin Society; but none of them exceed in
size the Irish examples which I exhibit to the Society. In Japan it is
_ very abundant in favourable seasons. Mr. G. Lewis, writing from

Nagasaki, September, 1868, states he collected fifty of the larve in ten
minutes from a small patch of sesamum orientale, and that it was
equally common everywhere on the same plant—(‘‘ Ent. Monthly Mag.,”’
wOL-y:, p. 173).

The sounds made by the death’s head moth, when frightened or
hurt, are like a squeak or squeal, and have been compared to the cry
of a mouse or weasel. When attempts are made to killsit with oxalic
acid, the loud squeak uttered as soon as the poisoned needle pierces it,
sounds very like a remonstrance ; and the strange noise continues with
unusual distinctness until the powerful acid has done its work—(‘ Ent.
Monthly Mag.,”’ vol. v., p.130). Itloudly objects to the introduction of
the bulb of a thermometer into the inside of its body to ascertain its tempe-
rature. One of these moths was captured in a loft at Bandon, Co. Cork
(16th July, 1856), from haying attracted attention by its cry, which was
described:as resembling that of a rat or weasel—(‘‘ Nat. Hist. Rev.,” vol.
iv., p. 79). The loud ‘‘ squeaking” of four of these moths, on their emer-
gence from their pupal condition in the middle of the night, has awakened
the persons sleeping in the room with them—(‘‘ Ent. Monthly Mag.,”
vol. v., p. 147). It has also been observed that the insect is able to
produce this sound before quitting the pupa case; even in the larval
state it is said to be capable of making a noise. The caterpillar, if
disturbed at all, draws back rapidly, making at the same time, according
~ to some observers, a rather loud noise, which has been compared to the
erack of an electric spark—(Kirby and Spence’s ‘ Entomology,” 7th
ed., p. 492). I could not induce the larva of this moth to make any
sound, although I gave it full provocation to complain ifinclined to do so.
The noise in the adult insect is made by both sexes, sometimes, as in the
cicadee, the power of producing sound is peculiar to the males of insects,
whence Xenarchus extolled the fortune of those animals whose wives are

14 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

dumb. Its mechanism is not yet explained ; a committee of French Lepi-
dopterists (‘‘ An. de la Soc. Entom. de France,” 1839), discussed and
examined the explanations offered of it, and suggested some themselves,
but the mystery has not yet been solved. ‘The theories advanced to
account for the noise are enumerated and combated in Westwood and
Humphrey’s “ British Moths” (vol. i., p. 10, 1848).

A writer in the “ Ent. Monthly Mag.,” vol. v., p. 171, speaking of a
death’s head moth captured October, 1868, says it frequently emitted the
sounds peculiar to its species, always raising the thorax, and bending
down the head and abdomen as it did so. When breathing its last, it gave
out a long succession of sounds, growing fainter and fainter, just like a
succession of breathings, giving him the impression that the noise was
produced, not mechanically by friction, but by inspiration or respira-
tion of air. It made the noise when he first had it, every time he merely
touched it with his finger; but when it got accustomed to such treat-
ment, it never made it without rather rougher handling.

The sounds made by the death’s head moth are strong or weak, ac-
cording to the amount of vitality in the insect at the time; thus the
cries of one caught two days, and which had been pierced with a pin,
were noticed to be weak and faint, and seldom uttered. The sound is
not made by voice, in the true sense of the word, but rather by some
sound-producing instrument ; so that sonorous insects are not songsters,
but rather instrumental musicians. The buzzing of insects is not in-
cluded in the term sonorous. The emission of sounds in insects is very
interesting, ag nearly all the class are mute. The subject has been very
fully treated by M. Goureau in ‘“‘ An Essay on the Stridulation of In-
sects’ (“‘ Entomological Magazine,” 1838, vol. v., pp. 89, 357).

The death’s head moth is not the only lepidopterous insect capable
of making anoise. It has been long known that one of the tiger moths
(Chelonia pudica) found in France, produces an audible sound when fly-
ing intheevening. Dr. Laboulbene, an entomological anatomist of great
repute, has investigated the cause of this sound, and has arrived at the
conclusion that it is caused by the pressure of the posterior thighs upon
certain tympaniform vesicles on each side of the pro-thorax. Sounds are
also produced in the species of the genus Setina, which possess a highly
developed vesicle, and the cause of the sound is considered to be the
same as in Chelonia pudica (‘“‘ Ent. Monthly Mag.,”’ vol. 1., p. 70).
Basiana postica (Port Natal) gives out sounds resembling those ofa
Lamia (a beetle of the longicorn family) for minutes together—(‘“ Brit.
Mus. Cat. of Lepidop., Heterocera,” pt. 8, p. 237). All the species of
the genus Ageronia (a genus peculiar to the tropical parts of America), ~
whose history is known, produce in fiying a sound which a good
observer has compared to the rustling of a piece of parchment, to which,
also, M. Lacordaire compares it. Mr. Darwin, in his ‘‘ Researches in
Geology and Natural History,” has the following passage in regard to
one species of this genus, Papilio feronia:—‘‘A far more singular
fact”’—the fact alluded to is, that this butterfly uses its legs for running,

FOOT—ON IRISH EXPIDOPTERA. 15

the only butterfly he had ever seen do so—‘‘is the power which
this insect possesses of making a noise. Several times, when a pair,
probably male and female, were chasing each other in an irregular |
course, they passed within a few yards of me, and I distinctly heard a
clicking noise, similar to that produced by a toothed wheel passing
under a spring catch. The noise was continued at short intervals, and
could be distinguished at about twenty yards’ distance. I cannot,’’ he
adds, ‘‘ form a conjecture how it is produced; but I am certain there
is no error in the observation’—(Doubleday and Hewitson’s ‘‘ Genera
of European Butterflies,” letterpress, p. 83).

The past season was one of great scarcity, entomologically speaking ;
and many insects which I noticed in abundance, and captured to my
satiety in 1868, I hardly met with in the same part of the country, and in
the corresponding season this year. The plentiful occurrence of Colias
edusa is an exception to the statement just made ; but it has often been
remarked that it does not at all follow that good things are not to be met
with, although there may be a paucity of the more common insects.

I hope on a future occasion to have the honour of bringing be-
fore this Society some specimens of other orders of insects collected
this year, and to exhibit specimens of the Neuroptera and Diptera
as soon as I shall have arranged and identified them.

Mr. W.F. Kirby observed that it is difficult to obtain perfect speci-
mens of Bombyces, except by rearing them. Theoak eggar, commonly
found in Ireland, is not identical with the true oak eggar of England
(Lasiocampa quercus), which is very rare in Ireland; on the other hand,
the Irish sub-species (Lasvocampa calune) 1s local i in Britain, occur-
ting in Scotland, Cornwall, etc.; it feeds on heath instead of oak, and
appears ata different time of the year. The Painted Lady Pyrameis
cardwi) is known to be a migrating insect, as are several other strong-
flying butterflies.

A dwarf sub-species of Acherontia atropos, (A. styx) occurs in India,
and likewise another Acherontia (A. lachesis), which is fully as large
as our common J. atropos, but has the fore wings more variegated, and
the abdomen and hind wings much darker; it has also the eyes of the
skull much more distinct, and the skull itself is more or less marked
with red.

The Rev. Dr. Haughton made some remarks upon the connexion
existing between the meteorological character of a season, and the
abundance and scarcity of insects.

Dr. Foot exhibited to the meeting a series of preserved larve,
mounted and named for the cabinet, which he had procured from R. L.
Davis, Preserver of larvee to Museums, etc., Albert Road, New Town,
Waltham Cross, Herts.

16 NATURAL-HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

JANUARY 5, 1870.
W. Andrews, Esq., M. R. I. A., Vice-President, in the chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, compared
and signed, donations announced, and thanks voted,

Mr. Wm. Andrews read the following communication ‘ On the In-
habitants of the Rock-pools and Caves of Dingle Bay,” during the read-
ing of which, the Chair was occupied by the Rev. Dr. Haughton:—

Recollections of past years, had often brought to mind, when visit-
ing the beautiful caves of Ballybunnion, on the south side of the mouth
of “the Shannon, the multitude of forms of Invertebrate life that were
massed together on the shelving rocky ledges, and in the deep pools of
the caves. It was here that I first noticed the varied forms of that
beautiful Zoophyte, Virgularea mirabilis, at a very low spring tide, ap-
parently imbedded in soft sand.

When contemplating the host of observations that naturally would
present themselves for the paper of this evening, ‘‘ Notes on the Inhabi-
tants of Rock-pools and Caves of Dingle Bay,” the selections would be
so varied and extensive that many evenings would be occupied. I
therefore will confine myself to a few of the most remarkable of those
beautiful tribes of Sea anemones or class Zoophyta, which careful in-
vestigations have noted,

From the entrance of Dingle Harbour, both easterly and westerly
in the bay, are a series of caves and rocky ledges or islets, exposed at
low tides. The caves are more or less deep and tortuous, and their
examinations are difficult to attempt, from the constant prevalence of
westerly winds, which generally send a rolling swell through them.
The innumerable and brilliantly coloured objects of animal life that
have existence there, can rarely be seen in their developed beauty but
at low tides; and many at only the lowest springs. It was therefore
that during those equinoctial low tides, in the month of October, 1868,
that I was enabled fully to appreciate the countless forms of interest
that everywhere presented.

I shall now merely give a few extracts from my notes.

Anthea cereus.—The two varieties occur most abundantly in Dingle
Harbour, attached to zostera marina and chordafilum. The deep-nosed
pipe fish, Syngnathus typhle, was noticed to feed on the young state of
anthea, and the grey mullet (Jugil capito) also feeds on the full-grown.
Anthea is also attached to rocks at the entrance of the caves.

Aiptasia couchi.—In a large and beautiful cave westerly of Dingle
Harbour, when collecting fine specimens of the Sponge Pachymatisma,
I was surprised at the singular appearance of this actinia, so nearly
allied to anthea. It was at an extremely low tide, and the Pachy-
matisma was barely covered by the water, but in most instances Pachy-
matisma was many feet below the surface—in fact the sponge in that
locality is not attainable but at low tides.

ANDREWS—ON THE INHABITANTS OF CAVES OF DINGLE BAY. 17

Attached to the rocks, near the sponge, was the Aiptasia, in a
perfect state of expansion. The tentacles, as figured in Gosse, are per-
fect ; the colour of the column was more ruddy brown.

Sagartia sphyrodita, rosea, and venusta were found in pools, the two
latter also seen attached to the face of rocks in caves at low tides.
The rocks known as the Banaghrees, and those near Coosavoughla, are
rich in marine productions, but they can only be explored by boats in
moderate weather.

Sagartia miniata.—Surface of rocks in little pools.

Sagartia troglodytes.—East side of Dingle Harbour, rocky pools, im-
bedded in sand.

Sagartia parasitica.—At a very low tide in one of the deep caves,
brought up by means of a small dredge net from a depth of four to six
feet. It is well described and figured by Gosse. It is a western species
and among the instances of Mediterranean forms that are met with at
this part of the coast

Actinolobla dianthus —At low water along its range, attached to
rocks. Isaw most abundantly this beautiful actinia.

Adamsia palliata.—Taken up in deep water close to the cliffs, where
those large rocks are off the cliffs, called the Smoothing Iron. I sus-
pect that Adamsia is to be found on several species of Buccinum. I
observed a species of Purpura lapilius, and a very pretty form, taken up
in forty fathoms, of Natica nitita.

Actinia mesembryanthemum occurred in some abundance, particularly
the green and variously spotted varieties, mostly attached to the face of
rocks, and at the margins of the caves. When retractile I could
scarcely know the difference between some of the green varieties of Sa-
gartia chrysosplenium, both being of nearly the same shade of pale green,
and with dotted lines of white. I did not see forms expanded I could
identify as Sagartia chrysosplenium. :

Leahia crassicornis.—This beautiful species was not uncommon in
the caves, and on the rocky reefs outside the caves. Some large and
beautiful varieties were noticed near Fort del Ore, Smerwick Harbour.
I have a perfect recollection of noticing, and, indeed, noting, a beauti-
ful species of Certanthus, similar to Lloydii, in muddy recesses on the
west side of Smerwick Harbour.

A Stomphia, agreeing with Gosse’s figure of Stomphia Church,
with exception that the colour of the rim of the disk was a bright pur-
ple or carmine lake, was taken up in deep water, forty fathoms, at-
tached to a stone. I may here observe that, while noticing some
singular species of ova that were numerously congregated and attached
by pedicels to the side of rocks, and also on detached stones, my atten-
tion was struck by a pretty coral, which, on minutely examining, I
supposed to be dead specimens of Caryophyllia Smith. At the very
lowest ebb that occurred during the tides of October, 1868, I in vain
sought on the faces of the rocks and in the pools for Cariophyllia
Smithit, but I was rewarded by meeting that very beautiful coral Bala-

VOL. VE. D

18 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

nophyliia regia. It wasin the recesses of a rocky pool barely covered
with water; it could not be extricated it was so imbedded. On the
following day I again visited the spot, provided with a heavy hammer
and chisel, to force off some of the rock. The tide had fallen to its
greatest extent the previous day, and the Balanophyliia was not after |
within reach. On the closest examination I could neither discover
Caryophyllia Smitha nor the little coral. In the month of August last I
dredged Caryophyliia Smitha in the living state in fifty-two fathoms.
I am, therefore, fully confirmed in the view that it is a deep-water
species. In the Natural History Review for April, 1859, Dr. E. Per-
ceval Wright expressed surprise that Thompson should have recorded
Cyathina (Caryophyllia) Smithii taken on the Nymph Bank, off Water-
ford. ‘‘ This,” he says, “ Lregard rather a strange locality, never hav-
ing dredged them in deep water, and my own experience and that of
Mr. Gosse would go to prove that it occurs at or near low water rock,
adhering to the perpendicular sides of rock.”? At the entrance of Dingle
Bay, in upwards of fifty fathoms, this beautiful coral was dredged, and
I obtained numerous fragments of the same coral among fine shelly
sand in sixty fathoms. I am glad to find its deep-water tendency con-
firmed by Mr. Jeffreys, for since the Paper I gave on the 15th Novem-
ber last, at the Royal Dublin Society, in which I alluded to the deep-
water soundings where I had obtained Caryophyllia, Mr. Jeffreys, in
his report of the deep-sea dredging expedition in H. M.S. Porcupine,
given in the Journal of Science, ‘‘ Nature,” of 2nd Debember last, states
that he has dredged it in 110 fathoms, about forty miles off Valentia.*
Such new facts have been brought to light, and old ideas dispelled,
that it is to be hoped that Government may, in the course of this year,
again enable, with improved appliances, the same men of science to
prosecute further inquiries, for the result of such expeditions must ever
be regarded with intense interest.

As I have chiefly alluded to the Sea-anemones, I may mention,
when speaking of Stomphia as a deep-water species, I met another
form in the same soundings—vyiz., among small stones and Nullipora
compressa, abundant there, which, when brought up, and placed with
other animals in a bucket of water, I could not but observe its remark-
able features. It was attached to a flat stone, and had the appearance
of a column, partially encased in a lobed tube. It did not long remain
in that state for examination, and it contracted to a most undefined
form in spirits. In seeking references that might lead to some approxi-
mating characteristic, I found none so nearly similar as the Capnea
sanguinea, described by the late Professor Edward Forbes, in the ‘ An-
nals of Natural History,’ vol. vii., p. 81, captured in August, 1840—

* In the dredging expedition of the ‘ Porcupine,” 1869, in the trip to Rockall,
magnificent examples of Lophohelia prolifera and Caryophyllia Smithii were obtained

at considerable depths. In 458 and 180 fathoms abundance of caryophyllia were
brought up.

MACALISTER—ON THE GROWTH OF TURBINATED SHELLS. 19

‘Habitat, deep water, Irish Sea, occurring among millepora.’ Pro-
fessor Forbes further states that where the capnea was dredged, the
sea-bottom was chiefly millepora. What is this millepora of the Irish
Sea? It is certainly a deep-water species, a stony coral formed by
hydroid animals, and related to the Tabulate madrepores, and is nearly
allied to, and, indeed, considered identical with INdlepora alcicornis of
Linneeus.

We are well aware that the growth of these corals which
form coral reefs of solid stone is entirely confined to warmer re-
gions, their extensions being almost limited to within a few degrees
of the tropics. With regard to the depths at which the animals of
corals exist, but few seem to have understood the extreme depths in
which those hydroids and polyps are in active life. Sir Charles Lyell
mentions the several genera of coral that are littoral and sub-littoral,
and that the distribution of particular species in regard to the depths
of water in which they grow is remarkably uniform. According to
Darwin, reef-building corals rarely live at a depth exceeding. 120 feet,
although it has been shown that some species of coral have been obtained
at depths of 900 feet. In temperate climates it is stated that such
species as Caryophyllia Smithw are sub-littoral. Dr. A. N. Bell, late
Surgeon United States Navy, who has written on Protozoa and on
Coral Polyps, says that living coral polyps always work upwards to-
wards the light, and that they cannot exist at a greater depth than
thirty fathoms. Their peculiar office seems to have been to plant .
themselves on submarine elevations, and build them up to the surface
of the water.”

Dr. MacatistEr, read the following :—

OBSERVATIONS ON THE Mops oF GrowrtH oF Discorip anp TURBINATED
SHELLS.

A most interesting paper on the geometrical forms of turbinated and
discoid shells was published by the Rev. Canon Moseley in the Philoso-
phical Transactions for 1838, p. 351, in which some important points
were noticed regarding the geometrical construction of shell-forms.
The author of that paper describes discoid shells as generated by the
revolution around a central point of the perimeter of a geometrical
figure, which latter, although regularly increasing in size, yet remains
always geometrically similar in form. The producing figure in many
Gasteropodous Mollusks is represented by the operculum, and in all it
may be recognized by making a vertical section in the plane of the
radius vector. A turbinated shell is similarly generated, but the gene-
rating figure in the production of the helix slips down along the axis
instead of revolving in a constant plane. The Rev. Mr. Moseley gives,
as illustrations of these; points, measurements of Nautilus pompilius,
Turbo phasianus, Turbo duplicatus, and Buceinum subulatum, and de-

20 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

scribes many interesting particulars regarding the formation and growth
of the operculum in different shells.

This subject does not seem to have attracted much attention from
naturalists, as with the exception of a notice in Professor Goodsir’s lec-
ture “On the Use of Mathematical Modes of Investigating Organic
Forms,’’* it is not, to my knowledge, referred to by any writer on
zoology.

While engaged in arranging the large collection of shells in the
Museum of the University of Dublin, I was led to make measurements
of univalve shells in order to see whether any deduction of zoological
importance might be drawn from these valuable geometrical observa-
tions, and more especially to determine whether it might be possible to
arrive at constant specific numerical parameters in these cases; and in
all instances I have been surprised by finding that, in well-formed
shells, the ratios of the successive whorls have been specifically con-
stant. In making these measurements, the points to be determined are
three, viz.:—Ist, the ratio of elongation of the radius vector of the
spiral (£) ; 2nd, the degree of linear expansion of the generating figure
in the successive whorls (m); and 3rd, the degree of translation or
slipping of the spiral on the central axis (m7). The second-of these
' ‘we may call the discoidal coefficient, and the third the helicoidal
coefficient.

On applying these measurements to univalve shells, we find that
the possible combinations are five in number :—

1st, those in which »=0 and m<k,
2nd,those in which »=0 and m=f&,
3rd, those in which n= m
4th, those in which » >m
5th, those in which n <m.

The cases of discoid shells in which m=0 are two, the first and se-
cond on the list. The first and most uncommon is that in which the
amount of elongation of the radius vector in the formation of the
successive whorls exceeds the transverse linear increase of the produ-.
cing figure. The resulting form of this case (which may be formulated
thus, £>m) is an open spiral, as in the fossil Gasteropodous genus
Eceyliomphalus, or the Cephalopodous genera G'yroceras, Nautiloceras,
and Spiula. The common species of this last genus gives the following
measurements :—

Spirula prototypus, n =2°6, k= 3°38, n=0. Generating figure, a circle.
Average width of whorls 0:075 in., 0°2 in.f

* Goodsir’s “‘ Anatomical Memoirs,” vol. ii. p. 209.
+ In all the specimens measured and referred to in this paper I have made at least
three measurements of each individual, and in the majority of cases I have measured at

MACALISTER—-ON THE GROWTH OF TURBINATED SHELLS, 21

It will be noted that all these spirals are true logarithmic curves ;
and hence the widths of the whorls measured on the radius vector will
form a series of numbers in geometrical progression, the common ratio
of the progression being, in discoid shells of the second group m= fh,
equal to the coefficient of linear increase of the generating figure. To
verify the coefficients deduced from the numbers obtained by measure-
ment, I have used the method given by the Rev. Canon Moseley, which
depends upon a well-ascertained property of the logarithmic spiral, and
if u be taken to represent the ratio of the sum of the lengths of an even
number (m) of the whorls to the lengths of half that number, then k=

1Ge— 1) Applying this formula to the cases given below, I have in

the majority of cases obtained results which confirm the ratios of the
series of measurements otherwise obtained.

The second case of discoid shells, in which m= and n=0, is by
far the commoner, as to it belong all genera of discoidal mollusks, with
the few exceptions noticed above. The case m>Z£ is one which cannot
occur, as then the outer whorl must necessarily crush the inner, and
then the generating figure could not retain its geometrical identity
while enlarging; hence we find no examples of it in discoid shells.

I have placed in this second case some instances in which the ratio
of slipping or translations on the axis is not easily measured, and vir-
tually amounted to nothing.

The following Table of examples illustrate case No. 2 :—

least six specimens of each species. These measurements are in decimal parts of an
English inch, and were made with a finely-pointed pair of compasses and a diagonal scale,
the eye being in some cases aided by a magnifying-glass. Some specimens were measured
by means of sections-made in a plane perpendicular to the axis.

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN

22

gt-0 | ¢T-0] T-0| 920-0 | 80-0 | ZF0-0

91-0 | 01-0 T-0

GZ-0 | 9LT-0 | GZT-0 | 98-0] 90-0 70-0

GZ-0 | 21-0 | Zt-0] 60.0 | 320-0 G0-0 £0-0
g¢.0 | 9ze-0 | G0} GLT-0 | 920.0

¢9.0 | ¢8-0 3-0 31-0

8F-0 3-0

ZLT-0 | 80-0 400

7e.0 | LT-0 | 980-0 | 240-0

GZS. 0 GZ-0

V0-G 89-0

92-0 93-0 G10-0
Tek Gé-0

I LT-0

AG 8¢-0

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60-0
60-0
970-0
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ver-0
60-0
€60-0
6IT-0
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a) oA

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“ploquioy yy

* ‘9[o110 JO JUSUISEG

ee

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OT

oe Fe 2 Cds eigenen
me pn ee 9 72 (OG TIASERI A)
s cf es -fenjeiIe}TT snu0g
"5 + * ‘snurnyeq snuog
* — ‘greayqo01} VOTUOJOaIIYOIV
* eoyTusvul vorIUOJA}IqOIV
* ‘snyepnsuequed snjvqduony
" + + + ‘snaur0o siqiour,g
* — ‘s1yuodses-stjjod stsdorvjog
"ss + {unjzetoz wnITod
* + + snyiduted snyiqne yy
ys 5 * + SeraluBd BOLBN
‘snqeavoxe (stjo1e Fy ) snyjopeg
> ‘snared (sryortezy) snquoqng

* + ‘eyeord-ososni stjy01[e yy

7 + ss SSIpHTA STVOIT@H

*satoedg

MACALISTER——-ON THE GROWTH OF TURBINATED SHELLS. 23

Hitherto we have been examining the formule for discoid shells, but
by far the greater number ofshell-forms are those in which the whorls,
instead of remaining in the same plane, slide down on the central axis,
thus making a turbinated shell-form. A new principle enters into our
calculation here; for the shape of a turbinated shell depends on the
mutual relation of three, and not two constants. These are, first, the
form of the generating figure; secondly, the discoidal coefficient m ;
thirdly, the helicoidal coefficient ». Upon the relations of these para-
meters to each other depends the shape of the shell. Thus in some
is nearly equal to m, and in such cases the whorls scarcely embrace
each other, and the figure produced is that of an elongated cone, as in
the genera Turritella, Cerithium, Acus, &c. Sometimes n exceeds m ;
and in this case the resulting form is an open spiral as in Vermetus, or
a rapidly descending series of whorls. A third possible case is that in
which » is less than m, and the resulting figure is globular; but of this
case, though a possible one, I have not as yet succeeded in obtaining an
example.

The following cases illustrate the formula > m :—

Width of Whorls in

n m. REGEN GR Gir HaGlt Amount of Translation.
Vermetus lumbricalis, 142 | 1:3 | 0:075 | O°1 | 0°18 | 0°175 | 0°15 | 0°22 | 0°3 | 0:45
Delphinulaatra, . . {| 6°00 | 2°85 | 0°018 | 0°5 | 0°148 | 0°41 | 0-01 | 0:05 | 0°3

The following instances exemplify the case n = m:—
Species. n=™M. Length of Whorls in decimals of an inch.
Helicostyla polychroa, | 2 0°41 |0°081 | 0°158) 0°32 | 0-7
Fusus colosseus, . | 1°71 |0°09 |0°14 | 0°26 |0°43 | 0°76
Phasianella bulimoides,| 1°8 |0°07 |0°125) 0°23 |0°45
Scalaria preciosa, . 1°56 |0°05 |0°078|0°18 |0°2 |0°32 |0°52
Fusus antiquus, 15 =| 0°15 |0°225|0°343/0°54 | 0°84
Mitra episcopalis, . 1°44 | 0°245}0°4 + |0°575)0°82
Trochus niloticus, . 1°41 |0°2 |0°3 |0°425/0°63 }0°9 {1-2
Fusus longissimus, 1°341)0°25 |0°3 10°44 |0°6 {0°81
Fusus colus, 1°33 {0°15 |0°2 |0°26 |0°35 |0°-42 |0°54 |0°83
Pyrazus sulcatus, . 1°33 |0°13 |0°17 |0°29 |0°38 |0°51
Acus dimidiata, 1:277|0°2 |0°267|0°31 |0°4 |0°52 |0°62 |0°88
Acus maculata, 1:25 |0°15 |0°176| 0°23 |0°29 |0°37 |0°45 |0°53 |0°7 {0-9
Acus crenulatus, . 1:25 |0°2 |0°35 |0°32 |0°38 | 0-496) 0°6
Cerithium nodulosum, | 1°24 |0°23 |0°3 {0°37
Pirena terebralis, . 1:23 |0°08 |0°12 |0°15 |0°178)0:22 |0°28 |0°35
Pyrazus palustris, 1:22 |0°15 |0°182| 0°22 |0°27 |0°34 |0°42 |0°5
Zaria duplicata, 1°23 |0°078|0°1 |0°125/0°16 |0°2 [0°24 |0°3 |0:26 |0-44 10:53 |0-625/0-76
Acus subulata, . 1°163|0°175|0°2 {0°23 |0°265|0°32 |0°367/0°432/0-47 | 0°641
Telescopium fuscum, | 1°14 |0°1 |0°112/0°125)0°15 |0°18 |0°2 |0-24 [0:28 | 0°325]0:365

The Rev. Dr. Haventon read a Paper ‘‘ On the Geometrical Classi-
fication of Muscles.”” Referring to Borrelli’s old classification he made
several alterations in it, adding to it, among others, the class of muscles
whose fibres, though straight lines, yet conjointly make skew sur-
faces.

24 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Mr. J. J. Lator offered some observations of an original nature upon
the manners and habits of the oyster.

Dr. SamueL Hewitt was balloted for, and unanimously elected a
Member of the Society.

FEBRUARY 2, 1870.

RicuarD Patmer Wittiams, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, compared,
and signed, donations announced, and thanks voted,

Dr. AntHur Wywye Foor read the following communication :— -

On GorrkE In ANIMALS.

I wAvE lately had an opportunity of seeing a goitre in a bitch pup of
the black and tan terrier breed, and it occurred to me that it might not
be uninteresting to bring the animal under the notice of the Natural
History Society, and to make a few remarks upon the subject of goitre —
in the lower animals. JI do not bring the case forward as a rare or
even as a novel circumstance; but it suggests various considerations,
which I venture to think are not altogether unworthy of the notice of
this Society. Observations upon animals in health are always accept-
able to naturalists, and I can hardly be mistaken in supposing that
observations upon the subject of the diseases of animals would also be
welcome to them, since no one can fail to be aware of the great and
increasing value attached to comparative pathology in the present day.
The visitation of the Cattle Plague in 1865-66, has given a surprising
impulse to this branch of science, and has caused it to assume an 1m-
portance quite new to itin England. It would be difficult to exagge-
rate the value of the study of the diseases of animals; it may be looked
at from a commercial or from a national point of view, according as it
tends to affect a valuable source of income, or conduces to the mainte-
nance of the public health; or even a more personal view may be taken
of the subject, if we consider for a moment the question of the diseases
which originate in animals, and which are communicable to man, such
as favus, glanders, hydrophobia, and the trichina disease. A further
argument in favour of the importance of inquiring into the diseases of
animals is the fact, that the phenomena of disease in the simpler forms
of the creation, serve to elucidate the phenomena of disease in man;
and as the problems of physiology and of structural anatomy are best
studied in the lower and simpler forms of animal life, so also are many
of the morbid processes which affect the existence of man himself.

On the 24th November, 1869, a young bitch pup, of the black and
tan terrier breed, was shown me with a bilobular swelling at the root
of the neck, in the situation of the thyroid glands; this swelling had
been noticed soon after birth, and had been increasing in size up to the
time when I saw it. There had been three pups in the litter, and

FOOT—ON GOITRE IN ANIMALS. 25

another of the three was similarly affected. There had been nothing
of the kind observed in either of the parents. The tumour was very
visible, especially in profile, and when the pup was let run along the
ground the neck bagged downwards like a dewlap—the girth of the
neck over the tumour was eight and a-half inches. The tumour gave
a thrilling impulse to the fingers, and when pressed against the ear a
bruit was audible; but it was not easy to ascertain whether this sound
proceeded from the tumour or from the arteries of the neck. There
was no protrusion of the eyes, difficulty of swallowing, or alteration in
the voice perceptible. It was a lively and active pup, and the gentle-
man who owned it, being anxious to rear it, had shown it to me for the
purpose of knowing what would cure it. I recommended him to rub
tincture of iodine diligently to the swelling, and made an agreement
with him, that if the treatment proposed did not prove beneficial, I
should be given the pup to do whatI liked with it. When I next
heard of it, 17th January, 1870, the report was that the swelling had
been so much reduced, that the pup was not likely to become my property.
The pup has now grown very much, the swellings are smaller, but still
in the same situation, distinctly double, soft and elastic to the feel,
moving up and down with the windpipe, apparently making no inter-
ference with the neighbouring parts. The circumference of the neck
over the swelling is now eight inches; but the natural increase from
growth in the thickness of the neck, in the space of more than two
months, prevents this measurement of the prominence of the tumour
being an accurate indication of its decrease in size.

I may perhaps be allowed to refer for a moment to the nature and
situation of the part which is the seat of the affection, popularly known
in men and animals, as goitre. The disease consists In an en-
largement of an organ in the neck, closely related to the windpipe,
and called the thyroid body, from its proximity to one of the cartilages
of the larynx, shield-shaped in man. This organ is recognisable in all
classes of mammalian animals; yet its use is totally unknown, and
respecting its functions, nothing reasonable has even been suggested.
It is amost remarkable fact that, in reference to a permanent body found
in all the higher animals, and whose conditions in health and disease
can be investigated almost daily, nothing beyond its anatomical struc-
ture should be known; no satisfactory hypothesis having yet been sug-
gested as to its office or function in the economy of man or the lower
animals. This thyroid body consists of a pair of oblong, rounded
masses, which in some of the higher mammalia, as in man, are united
by a transverse band of like substance, crossing the sternal aspect of
the air tube. The thyroid glands of the adult lioness, here exhibited,
wiil best illustrate the usual appearance of this structure. It is this
organ which is the seat of the affection called goitre, probably from the
word guttur or throat. Many animals have been observed to be subject
to goitre, and I have endeavoured to collect, by research and inquiry
on the subject, as many cases of the occurrence of this affection as pos-
sible, in order that they may form a nucleus for a larger collection, or

VOL. VI. E

26 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

serve as a starting point for further investigations. There are instances
on record of goitre in the following animals :—lion, hyena, dog, cat,
pig, horse, cow, sheep, goat, mule, monkey, racoon, and mouse.

A small hyena died in the Surrey Zoological Gardens, 14th January,
1846, with an enormous goitre in his throat; the animal had lived
twenty-four years in those gardens; it had arrived in England quite
young in the year 1820. ‘The stuffed skin and the skeleton of this
animal are in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, London.
Besides the fact of the goitre in this hyena, it is interesting to be able
to know its age at the time of death ; because the duration of life of sav-
age animals, either in their wild state or in confinement, is a subject upon
which there is a great want of precise information.

The thyroid glands have occasionally been found very much en-
larged in young lion cubs. In April, 1864, Dr. Crisp exhibited to the
Pathological Society of London (‘ Transactions,’’ vol. xv., p. 260) the
thyroid glands of three lion cubs—one belonging to one lioness, and
two to another. In each cub the glands were enlarged to twenty times
their natural size, and he believed that death was occasioned by their
pressure upon the recurrent laryngeal nerve at the time of birth. The
cubs were well formed, of the natural weight, and all other parts, ex-
cept the thyroids, were normal. On another occasion, Dr. Crisp found
a similar affection in a young lion cub. Another young lion lived to
the age of four or five months with very large thyroid glands. Dr.
Crisp observes at the close of his remarks, that he has not been able to
find a well authenticated case of greatly enlarged thyroid glands in a
child, at birth; but congenital goitre has been occasionally noticed ;
for example—Hedenus | Hasse Pathol. Anat., Syd. Soc., p. 386] has
presented to the Museum of Leipsic a preparation in which the enlarged
thyroid gland of a new-born infant is seen engirding the whole tube of
the windpipe—strangulation was the consequence. There are examples
also of intra-uterine goitre in the human foetus of five and a half
months, and other instances in which such enlargements in infants at
birth have interfered with parturition, by preventing the proper flexion
of the head upon the thorax, and caused the death of the child. The
title of the Paper, of course, confines me to the subject of goitre in ani-
mals, and I only digress for the purpose of illustrating what I have to
say. The diseases of animals are in many cases so closely connected
with those of man, that it is almost impossible to understand those of
the lower class without frequent reference to those of the higher. Con-
genital or acquired goitre has not been noticed in the few lion cubs that
have died in the Royal Zoological Gardens in Dublin. Out of the
seventy lion cubs which have been born in the Dublin Gardens from
the year 1857 up to the present date (February, 1870), but six have
died at or soon after birth. Of three of these I have examined the
thyroid glands, with a view of ascertaining if-they were diseased, and
if not, their natural weight and size, so as to have some standard to
which to refer in cases of alleged enlargement. The normal size of
these glands in young cubs is very small; in one cub, a female, which

FOOT—ON GOITRE IN ANIMALS. 27

weighed forty-six ounces, the thyroid glands weighed four grains; in
another, a male cub, which weighed thirty-three and a half ounces, the
glands weighed one grain and three-quarters ; in a third, a female cub,
weighing forty-one ounces, the glands weighed six and a half grains.
These three cubs died immediately after birth, apparently from having
been the weakly ones of litters larger than usual. The thyroid glands
of a full grown breeding lioness, which died lately from perforating
ulcer of the stomach—a disease which proved fatal to a camel in the
Hamburgh Zoological Gardens in August last—weighed 188 grains.
It may be of use to record these few observations on the size of these
organs in the young and full grown lions.
I am indebted to Dr. Murie, the Prosector of the London Zoological
Gardens, for an account of a goitre in a racoon, and of the operation
performed for its removal. An adult female racoon had been in the
Gardens for about three years and a-half, during which time she had
apparently enjoyed perfect health. At the end of the time stated, a
‘slight swelling of the throat and under jaw was observed; but as the
animal took her feod well and regularly, nothing was done in the way
of alleviation. Months elapsed, and the only sensible alteration was a
gradual increase of tumidity in the parts. Great difficulty was expe-
rienced in making an examination; so it was almost a year after the
tumour had been noticed that active interference was attempted. An
examination of the parts affected was made while the animal was under
the influence of chloroform, the administration of which proved tedious,
as no sooner did she get a whiff than’she rolled herself up, and bit in-
discriminately at whatever approached her. Dr. Murie was convinced,
by the examination, of the presence of a semi-solidified tumour, the
nature of which was somewhat uncertain, though from its position and
a degree of fluctuation, he feared an abscess and the implication of the
left thyroid gland. As treatment by medicine was considered to involve
great difficulties, it was resolved to try the effects of an operation. Dr.
Murie removed an encysted tumour, but, in doing so, discovered
another on the opposite side of the neck, which, previous to the in-
cision being made, could not be felt, from the tense and swollen condi-
tion of the parts. A considerable quantity of blood was lost during the
operation, and the animal died in about an hour afterwards, apparently
through shock or sanguineous loss. The tumours proved to be enlarged
thyroid glands. I may mention that the number and size of the blood-
vessels connected with this organ must always make its removal a dif-
ficult and dangerous proceeding. The diseased thyroid glands have
been several times successfully removed in horses ; but they are not so
largely developed as in carnivores and ruminants, and strange to say,
the successive or simultaneous extirpation of these organs has not ap-
peared to influence the health of the animal in any way, so that no
light is thrown upon the function of this part by the operation. (‘‘Chau-
veau Traité d’ Anatomie Comp. des Animaux Domestiques,” p. 437.) It
does not appear that the strictly vascular form of goitre has been ob-
seryed in the lower animals.

28 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Some years ago the subject of goitre in domesticated animals was
investigated by M. Baillarger (‘‘ Med. Times and Gazette,’ October 4,
1862), an eminent French physician, and several statements of im-
portance made with regard to this affection. He found that in a num-
ber of places in the departments of the Isére and Savoie, the greater
number of mules had an immense hypertrophy of the thyroid body, and
of a much larger size than that generally seen in man. In one stable
in Modane, amongst twenty animals, nineteen were affected with this
disease; and of all the mules examined, only one-third were free from
it. Amongst horses goitre was not nearly so frequent ; but still much
more so than is generally believed. In one place seven horses were
examined, which were well fed and cared, lodged in light and well-
ventilated stables ; and yet four of them had goitre. ‘The same disease
was found to exist, in a diminishing ratio, in dogs, cows, sheep, goats,
and pigs. The human population of the districts in which the domes-
tic animals were thus affected, likewise suffered from enlargements of
the thyroid glands. The fact of the frequency of goitre among mules
is of great interest, as these animals are sterile, and sterility is a cha-
racteristic feature of a certain class of goitrous human beings. Dr.
Edwards Crisp informs me that cast colts are never subject to it, but
that it is not uncommon in blood colts, and that occasionally in tho-
roughbred animals the thyroids have been removed in consequence of
the disfigurement they cause being regarded as a blemish in valuable
animals. Others have observed, that the horse is not very liable to
goitre. Youatt (on Horse, p. 258), remarks that Mr. Percival is almost
the only author who takes notice of enlargement of the thyroid glands
in the horse. They sometimes grow, he says, to the size of an egg or
larger; but are unattended by cough or fever, and are nothing more
than an eyesore. He has also seen the disease in a monkey. It ap-
pears that certain breeds of the dog are particularly liable to this dis-
ease. Mr. Youatt says the spaniel or pug are the most so; that ifa
spaniel or pug puppy is mangy, pot-bellied, rickety, or deformed, he
seldom fails to have some enlargement of the thyroid glands. Exertion
causes him to pant from the pressure of the swelling upon the wind-
pipe, and Youatt has seen suffocation ensue; an occurrence which has-
happened in the human subject from a similar cause. He further ob-
serves, that there is a breed of the Blenheim spaniel, in which periodic
goitre is well-marked, the slightest cold is accompanied with enlarge-
ment of the thyroid glands, but the swelling altogether disappears in
the course of about a fortnight ; he is quite assured that goitre in dogs
is hereditary, and thinks that no one accustomed to dogs can doubt this
fora moment. He is satisfied that iodine has almost a specific action
in reducing the swelling. Blaine (‘‘ Canine Pathology,” 2nd ed., 1824,
p- 1138), observes that bronchocele, which is synonymous with the term
goitre, 1s a very common complaint among dogs ; and that pugs, barbets,
and French pointers are peculiarly liable to it. (The barbet is a small
poodle, the result of some unknown and disadvantageous cross with the
true poodle.) He thinks that in dogs it rather runs in the breed than

FOOT—ON GOITRE IN ANIMALS. 29

depends upon local or endemic circumstances. Other dogs, as terriers,
spaniels, &c., sometimes have it; but in the larger tribes it is very
seldom seen. The swelling comes on generally while very young, and
continues to enlarge to a certain size ; after which it usually remains
stationary, seldom increasing to such a degree as to prove fatal. It is,
however, troublesome, and in some measure hurtful from the pressure
it occasions on surrounding parts. In some experiments, which M. St.
Lager has recently performed, with a view to establish his theory of
the geological origin of goitre in men and animals, he has found that
mice acquire goitre very readily. Out of a dozen of these animals,
which he kept for three months, three had enlargement of the thyroid
gland at the end of that time ; and these three diseased mice had had
sulphide and sulphate of iron mixed with their food, while the rest had
had various other mineral substances administered to them. He also
experimented on two dogs, with a view of producing goitre artificially,
but both of these came to an untimely end, by devouring the ‘‘ appats,’’
or enticing bait, which the French police employ to destroy stray dogs.
One, however, who had been taking small doses of the sulphide of iron
daily for four months, had a decided though slight hypertrophy of the
thyroid gland. He suggests, that in case any one should desire to re-
peat these experiments, either dogs or pigs should be selected, as the
herbivora seem to be less liable to goitre, where it is endemic, than the
omnivorous or carnivorous animals.

In considering the subject of goitre in animals, it is necessary to
review briefly the conditions which appear to induce the complaint in
man, as the same conditions undoubtedly operate, to a great degree,
upon the lower animals. The snow-water theory of its cause has long
been given up, on account of the occurrence of the disease in tropical
climates, such as Brazil, Java, India, and Sumatra. Towards the end
of the last century, Coxe and Deluc first suggested that carbonate of
lime was the noxious ingredient in the water used, and subsequently
the magnesian salts were blamed. Dr. Inglis (‘‘Treatise on English
Bronchocele”’’) accused the ridge of magnesian limestone running from
north to south through the centre of Yorkshire, and margining the
shires of Derby and Nottingham, of being concerned with the preva-
lence of goitre in these parts of England. However, in the case of the
city of Paris, the water is very hard, and contains sulphate of magne-
sia enough to purge most new-comers, but goitre is almost unknown
there. After the curative action of iodine was discovered by Coindet,
Prevost suggested that the disease might be owing to the absence of
that element from the water used. The Sardinian Commission lately
appointed to consider the question of the cause of goitre, leaned to the
view that privation and a generally defective hygiene had very much
to say toit. The most recent culprit is, according to St. Lager, iron
pyzites. There appears to be a great deal of evidence in favour of the
calcareous origin of goitre in animals. The disease is defined in a
standard medical work (‘ Aitken’s Pract. Med.,” ii. 57), as ‘‘ a specific
affection of the thyroid gland, induced by the persistent use of water,

30 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

which has percolated through magnesian limestone rocks or strata, and
containing the soluble salts of lime and magnesia in solution.”’ In the
Kingdom of Oude, which is considered to be geologically made up of
the alluvial detritus of the Himalayan chain, goitre is very common in
animals. The water percolating through the soil of the province contains
abundance of lime held in solution by carbonic acid. At Hissawpore, a vil-
lage about twelve miles distant from Secrora, on the Surjoo River, dogs
and other animals are affected with goitre. Goitre in animals has also
been observed in Nepaul. On one occasion, a goat gave birth to a kid
with a goitre as large as its head ; and it is noticed that pups ofa
month old, bred from English dogs, are very frequently affected by it,
and also lambs. M‘Clelland observed that dogs and colts were often
affected with goitre in certain districts of Gorruckpore. It appears to
be from some peculiarity in the water they drink that animals acquire
this complaint. It is a matter of notoriety, that there are springs in
Savoy which will infallibly give goitre to all, men or animals, who
drink of them. It is said, that the drinking water of La Maurienne
(Savoy) so rapidly produces goitre, that young men liable to the con-
scription are known to make use of this means of escaping military
service. The difficulty is to find what ingredient it is in the water
which has this effect. From a close examination of the geology of
France, Switzerland, and Lombardy, especially of the districts where .
goitre occurs in men and animals, M. St. Lager comes to the con-
clusion, that where goitre is endemic there the soil will always be
found to contain iron pyrites; copper pyrites, galena, and baryta are
also frequently found. Where goitre is found occurring on alluvial
soils, the soil has been brought down from strata containing pyrites, as
in the valleys of the Rhine and the-Po. Goitre is endemic in Surrey,
Sussex, Hants, Bucks, and Norfolk, on chalk containing silex and
pyrites, and in Derbyshire and Nottingham over coal containing pyrites.
On volcanic soil goitre is observed when sulphurous vapours are in
contact with ferruginous clays, as in Java, Sumatra, and the Azores.
It appears to me that the study of goitre in the lower animals offers
attractions to the geologist and the naturalist, and that it presents a
fresh and wide field for observation. The geography of disease is in
many cases mapped out by the affections of the lower animals as
plainly as by those of man; and in no case more distinctly than in that
of goitre. The lower animals are seen in this instance to be affected
by local terrestrial conditions, in a manner similar to man himself; and
they at the same time afford a simpler field for study. Independently
of the humane motives which ought to impel every lover of nature to
care and cure, if possible, the diseases of the lower animals, he must
feel that in doing so he is likely to be instrumental in directly benefit-
ting the human race. The great exertions which are being at present
made to raise the science of Comparative Pathology to its proper rank,
testify to the importance of this long-neglected branch of knowledge;
and will, I hope, be taken as my apology for having made these very
few remarks before this Society. It is very much to be desired, that

FOOT—ON GOITRE IN ANIMALS. ol

observations could be made upon the sex of the animals affected with
goitre, with the view of ascertaining if the complaint shows the same
preference for the female sex it has been remarked to do in the human
race, 90 per cent. of cases of goitre occurring in women. ‘The litera-
ture of goitre in animals is at present scanty and scattered. I have
mentioned the animals in which the disease has been noticed, as far as
I have at present been able to ascertain—lion, hyena, racoon, monkey,
dog, cat, pig, horse, mule, cow, sheep, goat, and mouse—and have
alluded to the principal geological conditions which have been alleged
as concerned in its production; and I venture to express a hope, that
the members of the Society may become sufficiently interested in the
- subject, and consider it of sufficient importance to record any instances
which have already come or may hereafter come under their observa-
tion.

Dr. MacaristEr read a paper ‘‘ On the Comparative Anatomy of the
Sartorius muscle,” with especial reference to its homotypical anatomy.
This muscle is supposed by Professor Huxley to represent one of the
heads of the biceps flexor cubiti ; but this view is inconsistent with its
relationship to the extensor muscles, to the second joint of the limb,
and to the iliacus muscle. The varieties of the sartorius met with in
the Nyl Ghaie and Ai indicate the relationship of this muscle to the
iliacus ; so if this latter muscle be the homotype of the sub-scapularis,
the sartorius will correspond to the tricipiti accessorius or dorsi-epi-
trochleos muscle.

Dr. Foot exhibited specimens of the following species of dragon-
flies, which he had collected during the past summer in the county
Wicklow, and made some observations upon the means of preserving
these insects :—

Libellula striolata.

9 quadrimaculata.
Ap coerulescens.
Calypteryx virgo.
»» splendens,

Agrion elegans.
», minium.
», puella.
5, cyathigerum.

Aéschna pratensis.
>> juncea.
» grandis.

Lestes nympha.

32 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

MARCH 2, 1870.

Rev. Professor Haveuton, F. R. 8., Vice-President, in the Chair.

Tue Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, compared, and
signed, donations announced, and thanks voted:

Professor Ramsay H. Traqvarr exhibited three fine specimens of
the rare ganoid fish, Calamoichthys Calabaricus, from the Old Calabar
River. These specimens were much larger than the original specimens
described by Dr. Smith of Edinburgh.

Professor MAcatisTER exhibited a specimen of the lizard Ameiva
guttata of Brazil, which was killed on Mangerton, county Kerry. The
animal had most probably been a very recent importation, as it was
quite lively when killed. Dr. Macalister showed an American speci-
men of this, not uncommon, lizard for comparison.

The Rev. Professor Haventon detailed the circumstances connected
with the death of a lioness in the Royal Zoological Gardens, Phoenix
Park, and described the pathological appearances discovered on post-
mortem examination in the viscera, the most interesting of which were
a large perforation in the coats of the stomach, two corpora lutea in one
ovary and one in the other.

APRIL 6, 1870.

Ricuarp Parmer Witttams, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair.

Tue Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, compared, and
signed, donations announced, and thanks voted : |

Professor Macatistrr exhibited some Arachnidan parasites from
the Ornithorynchus paradoxcus of Australia.

Mr. Witson, F. R. C. S. L, exhibited a collection of Coleoptera
from the Rhine Valley, collected in the district between Mannheim and
Bonn, and in connexion therewith made a series of very interesting re-
marks upon the habits and economy of several of the species represented
in the collection.

MAY 4, 1870.
Witu1am Anprews, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair.

Tue Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, compared, and
signed, donations announced, and thanks voted :

The Cuarrman read the following communication, entitled—
IcutHyonocicaL Notes.

THERE are no subjects fraught with greater interest than discove-
ries which arise from a practical knowledge of any branch of science,
whether it relates to botany, geology, or to any of the orders or genera
of zoological investigations.

ANDREWs—ICHTHYOLOGICAL NOTES. 33

When we contemplate the vast scope of the branches of the natural
Sciences, we cannot fail to meet most perplexing difficulties in the de-
termining of correct classification, the opportunity of practical investi-
gation not being afforded; for without that most essential aid, no
certainty can possibly be arrived at, especially true characteristics
depending upon habit, geographical range, seasons, depths, and pecu-
harities of soundings, and on those natural causes which influence
forms and changes of animal and vegetable life. !

The subject of the Paper this evening relates to deep-water species,
the present observations being with reference to notes on some fish oc-
curring on the south-west coast of Ireland, in Dingle Bay, and off the
coast of Kerry. I have before brought to notice, at a meeting of this
Society, the discovery of the Sedastes Norvegicus, Norway haddock, on
that coast, a fish peculiar to deep water, and to those character of
soundings favourable to the haunts of the codfish. Hence, off the
Faroe Islands and the coast of Norway, it is well known to the fisher-
men as the frequenter of grounds the favourite locality of the codfish.
On the coast of England its record is not well authenticated; but on
the coast of Scotland, and especially Zetland, it has been occasionally
obtained. It is truly a deep-water species, and the fine specimen ex-
hibited was taken on a long line, at a depth of sixty fathoms, the
soundings being coarse shingly gravel, abounding in crustacea and
mollusca.

Some most interesting Crustaceans and species of rare fish have
been met, which are confined to peculiar soundings in deep water;
yet I may say that at a depth beyond eighty fathoms much of interest
as to variety of forms ceases, and the dredge in soundings of 100
fathoms, and beyond that depth, rarely brings up but remnants belong-
ing to shallower soundings, or those forms of forantinifera and globi-
gerina which require microscopic manipulation in the determining
of their numerous forms. ;
_ It is singular, however, the extreme depths that minute Crustacea,
Echinoderms, sponges, and corals are brought up; therefore I may say
that when we proceed further than a depth of eighty fathoms the inte-
rest, so far as the ichthyologist is concerned, to a great extent, closes.
Wherever crustacea and mollusca abound there the fish congregate, yet.
those depths are generally most prolific between the soundings of thirty.
to eighty fathoms; and again, wherever fish most congregate their
enemies invariably frequent. Dogfish and Sharks are numerous and
troublesome to the long lines of the fishermen. The large spotted dog-
fish (Scyllium catulus), the common tope (Galeus canis), the smooth
hound (Mustelus vulgaris), and the black-mouthed dogfish (Pristrurus
melanostomus), I have frequently met. The picked dogfish (Acanthias
vulgaris) are numerous in deep water as well as in shoal water when
running up the bays and inlets in pursuit of fry, especially of sprat and
the herring. The specimens exhibited of the young state, with the
vitelline sac attached, were taken in deep water off the Wild Bank in

VOL. VI. F

o4 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

the month of July. The parent fish, when brought on board, exuded
the young in that state on the deck.

In soundings of thirty fathoms, among small stones, millipores,
and coarse sand, I took numerous specimens of rare crustacea. I shall
only now allude to some beautiful specimens of Lepodogaster of a most
beautiful vermilion colour, it was LZ. bimaculatus, which by their
suckers were firmly attached to the stones. I had formerly noticed
L. cornubiensis to have been taken in pools at low spring tides, at the
west Blasket Island.

To obtain any knowledge of utility in our fisheries, the character
of soundings must form our particular research, for the habits of all
kinds of fish, their superiority of growth or goodness, depend so much
upon peculiar feeding grounds, and on animal life that afford their
sustenance, that on such we must depend, in the proper seasons, for the
more certain capture of the different kinds of our more valuable edible
fish.

Fine specimens of the red mullet (Alullus surmuletus) have been
taken in Brandon Bay, Kerry, and off Ventry Harbour, Dingle Bay'
The mention of the above localities leads me to make some remarks
with reference to the Clupeide, or herring family.

Some years since, when the fisheries of Dingle Bay were more ex-
tensively worked than they are at present, or rather, when fishermen
and boats were more numerous, herrings were taken in great quantities ;
now the men who have good boats turn their attention almost entirely
to trawling and to line fishing. I was then much surprised to meet in
quantities the true sardine of commerce, and in after years constantly
noticed them, being the young of the pilchard. No suitable nets or
means of capture were ever attempted by the fishermen, although they
annually frequent the Bay of Dingle. My lamented and excellent
friend, the late William Thompson, of Belfast, was much surprised
when I communicated to him the meeting in the estuary of Brandon
Bay of the true whitebait (Clupea alosa). It was the young of the
Alosa which ran up into the brackish water of the estuary to spawn,
and where the young fry are met. The Alosa also spawns in the Lakes
of Killarney, and are taken there by the fishermen when hauling for
salmon. I have seen the young of the Alosa and the fry of the herrings
in the fishmongers’ shops of London on sale as whitebait, and large
quantities of herring fry have been taken at the entrance of the River
Liffey and sold for whitebait. There is no doubt that both the fry of
the herring and the fry of the shad have both been sold and described
as the whitebait, the latter more particularly, which is correctly figured
by Donovan (‘‘ British Fish,” plate 98).

I am led now to bring to notice another interesting species of the
Clupeidx, the true Anchovy (Zngraulis encrasicholus), the first time
placed on record as captured on the shores of Ireland. I had heard of
a species of small herring that had been taken in the herring nets of a
peculiar silvery brightness. I was delighted to obtain a specimen last —

ANDREWS —ICHTHYOLOGICAL NOTES. 35

autumn off Ventry Harbour, being another among the many interesting
additions that have been made on that part of the coast of fish peculiar
to the Mediterranean. The specimen exhibited is of full size, being in
length six inches, thicker in proportion than the herring, no serrations
on the abdomen, and the sides and belly being of the most silvery
brightness, and having no apparent scales. The back was a dark bluish
green ; the mouth with a remarkably wide gape; teeth exceedingly
minute in the maxillary; none in the lower jaw; snout much project-
ing. At first examination I thought it might be a species of Welette,
as it did not bear sufficient resemblance to several of the figures of the
anchovy in works on ichthyology. The best and most perfect outline
of the specimen is that figured by Duhamel—‘‘ Traitée des Péches,”’
vol. i1., sec. 3, pl. 17, fig.5. Duhamel has given most elaborate details
of the characters and modes of fishing for the anchovy. The anchovy
is chiefly taken in the Mediterranean, principally off the coast of Sicily,
the Isles of Elba, Corsica, Antibes, Frejus, Saint Tropez, and Cannes.
They are chiefly prepared on the Provencal coast. It has been met in
several localities on the coast of England, and Mr. Couch considers that
it may be abundantly taken on the Cornwall coast. Gunther mentions
specimens in the British Museum, obtained from Van Diemen’s Land
and New Zealand, and states a difference between European specimens
and those from the southern hemisphere is the slightly increased num-
ber of the anal rays, eighteen to twenty. This, however, is the first
record of its capture on the shores of Ireland, and it is not unlikely but
that in the autumn season the anchovy, with nets of a proper mesh,
may be taken in Dingle Bay and other bays on the south-west coast.

Dr. Antaur Wynne Foor read the following paper :—

On THE BREEDING OF SoME BIRDS FROM THE SouTHERN HEMISPHERE IN
THE DuBLin ZooLoGicaL GARDENS.

A parr of Cereopsis gegse were purchased by the council of the Royal
Zoological Society, 7th September, 1866. On the 17th November, 1868,
a nest, made by the goose, was found with three eggs init, on the
evening of the same day a fourth egg was laid in it, and a fifth on the
19th. The goose sat on the nest from the time it was discovered till
the 19th, when the superintendent put a crate over it for the purpose
of sheltering it; this caused the goose to forsake it. The gander re-
mained near the nest as long as the goose was sitting, and showed fight
when any one approached it; the circumstance of his running at the
superintendent when he went near the shrubbery in which the nest
was, first led Mr. Carter to suspect the goose was hatching in the neigh-
bourhood, and to make a search for her. The nest was made of sticks
and twigs arranged in a circular form on freshly dug ground at the foot
of a lilac bush, the mass of twigs measured two feet in diameter and was
raised about six inches from the ground, the central part of the plat-
form was lined with the grey down and small feathers of the goose.
The nest was in an elevated part of the gardens quite away from the

36 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

water. There was no fear of there being any cross breeding between
the Cereopsis goose and any of the males of the other numerous varieties
of geese about the grounds, no other gander would be allowed to ap-
proach her; these Australian geese at all times bully the other geese,
pursuing them until the latter take to the lake, whither the Cereopsis
will not follow, appearing to have a great dislike to water. On the 12th
December, a little more than three weeks after she had forsaken the
five eggs first laid, the Cereopsis goose was observed to be building
again, not far from the former nest, but in a much more open and less
sheltered situation: the second nest was made on clay at the foot of a
laurel tree, beside a walk and within six feet of a cage in which was a
white-headed eagle which attracted many visitors. An egg was laid
14th December, a second on the 16th, a third on the 19th, a fourth on
the 20th. The gander remained continually on guard, and ran at any
one who went too near the nest and goose. Whenever she left the nest
she concealed the eggs by pushing the loose feathers over them with
her bill. The four eggs were hatched 23rd January, 1869, thirty-five
days from the day on which the last egg was laid, reckoning both that
day and the day on which the goslings appeared. Five days after they
left the shell they were of a mottled colour, grey and black, the cere
quite grey; they fed themselves with meal and water, grass, and bread
and milk. In about three weeks they were marked with three black
streaks, a median and two lateral ones, commencing on the head and
passing down along the neck and body. But one of the four survived.

Nine eggs in all were laid, five in December, ’68, four in Jan., 69;
the former batch were deserted, the latter hatched out. The major axis
of the eggs measured 3} inches, the minor 23; their average greater
circumference about 83 in.; average smaller 77 inches. On the 1st of
November, 1869, the same Cereopsis goose had made another nest and
laid the first egg ; a second egg was laid on the 3rd, a third egg on the
6th (the fifth being a very wet day, she appears to have postponed the
egg due on that day to the subsequent one), a fourth egg on the 7th, a
fifth on the 9th: all were hatched out 13th December, thirty-five days
from the day on which the last egg was laid, reckoning both that day
and the day on which the goslings appeared: the five died young. The
goose laid an egg again 18th February, 1870, a second on the 22nd, a
third on the 24th; two goslings were hatched out Ist April—the third
egg was addled.

Mr. Gould remarks that the Cereopsis goose—the Cape Barren goose
of the colonists—is one of the Australian birds which particularly
attracted the notice of the earlier voyagers to that continent as being
very plentiful on all the islands in Bass’s straits, and so tame that they
might be easily knocked down or even captured by hand. During Mr.
Gould’s sojourn in that part of the world he visited most of the localities
above-mentioned, and found that so far from its being still numerous
it is almost extirpated; a few, however, he found still inhabiting the
smaller islands in Bass’s straits, and he killed a pair on Isabella island,
one of a small group near Flinder’s island, on the 12th January, 1839.

FOOT-—ON BREEDING OF BIRDS FROM SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, o7

He believes that it may still be abundant on some of the unexplored
parts of the south coast of Australia, but in the colonized districts where
it has been much molested, it has now become so scarce that it is very
rarely seen. The Cereopsis goose passes the greater portion of its time
among the grass, and rarely takes to the water ; 1t appears to be strictly
a vegetable feeder; and to subsist principally upon grasses in the neigh-
bourhood of the coast; consequently its flesh is excellent, and all who
have tasted it agree in extolling its delicacy and flavor. It bears con-
finement remarkably well, but is by no means a desirable addition to
the farmyard, for it is so pugnacious that it not only drives all other
birds before it, but readily attacks pigs, dogs, and any other animal
that may approach, and often inflicts severe wounds with its hard and
sharp bill.

The period of the year (November) in which, during the two past
years, the Cereopsis goose began to lay in the Dublin gardens is that at
which the greater number of the birds of the Southern Hemisphere
begin to build and sit on their eggs. The habit of laying at a particu-
lar season may be considerably affected when birds are transported from
the Southern Hemisphere to the Antipodes; thus in the London gar-
dens these birds breed in March, and perhaps these breeding later here
in their second year than they did in their first shows that they are
becoming acclimatised, and are accommodating themselves to the cli-
matic conditions of this country, so opposite to their own. The breed-
ing season of the Black Swan commences in October, and continues
until the middle of January. The Piping Crow begins to breed early
in the month of September, continuing till January, during which
period two broods are generally raised by each pair of birds.* The
breeding season of the Grass Paroquets is in December, and by the
end of the month the young are generally capable of providing for
themselves.| The Semipalmated goose commences to lay in September. t
The month of November is the breeding season of the Petrels and
Ferns of Australia.

The period of incubation of the Cereopsis goose is thirty-five days,
the same time as the Black Swan and the Rhea.§ The time with our
domestic goose is from thirty to thirty-four days; the Sandwich Island
goose thirty-one days.

A dislike to water and great pugnacity are two remarkable charac-
teristics of the Cereopsis goose. They are complete masters of the
other waterfowl. There lurks a combative spirit in some of the other
breeds of geese; and in Russia this trait of the genus is appreciated,
developed, and turned to account. Geese are trained to fight in goose-
pits, as game cocks in this country; the birds peck at each other’s

* Bennett, ‘ Wanderings of a Naturalist,” p. 224.

+ Op. cit. p. 231.

+ Op. cit. p. 240. ie

§ Owen, ‘* Comp. Anat. of Vertebrata,” vol. ii., p. 257.

38 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

shoulders, so as to draw blood; well-trained ganders have been known
to sell for as much as £20; and betting on them runs high.

The habit of covering up the eggs when the goose leaves the nest is
observed in several of the ducks and geese of the Southern Hemisphere. -
The upland goose, which inhabits the Falkland Islands and adjacent
parts of the South American continent, has this habit. When the
female leaves the nest after laying, she covers it up with straw; but if
the eggs are set, she covers it up with down; it is supposed her object
in the former case is to prevent their destruction by birds of prey, and
in the latter to keep warmth in the eggs. This goose has got its name
from keeping to the interior of the islands, being seldom or never
found near the coasts; it has the same dislike to water and love of Brass
which the Cereopsis has.

The plumage of the Cereopsis geese is precisely alike in both sexes.
It is strange that there is, as a general rule, so little sexual difference
of plumage in geese when there is so much in many of the ducks; the
male and female of the upland geese afford a striking contrast to each
other, although the ashy-headed are exactly alike. Good examples of
birds, in which the sexes are exactly alike, as far as plumage is con-
cerned, are snipes, swallows, doves, crows, kingfishers, parrots, and
the majority of the waders. Sex may sometimes be determined by
sound when not by plumage. Mr. R. P. Williams, who has had much
experience of Cereopsis geese, thinks the noise the female makes, a
kind of hoarse grunting bark, quite characteristic of the sex. The
male of the Warbling Grass Paroquet or love bird (Melopsittaeus undu-
latus), known also by many other names, such as the Canary or Zebra
Parrot, the Scalloped Parrot, Budgeree-gar of the colonists (budgeree,
handsome), has a pleasant inward warbling song, with which, on:a fine
sunny day, he serenades the female, who apparently listens with great
delight and attention, but is mute as far as any agreeable sound is con-
cerned. In the Emeus, in whom the sex cannot be distinguished by
the plumage, the female utters a booming noise like a tap upon a large
drum. Among song birds the distinction of sex by voice, when the
plumage is alike, is very marked. It is unnecessary to allude, as a
sexual characteristic, to the difference of pitch in the human voice,
amounting to a whole octave. It has been asserted by some, and the
opinion is generally entertained by dealers, that the male bird, in the
case of parrots and cockatoos, speaks better than the female; but there are
some instances of both the rose-crested, white-crested, and lesser sulphur-
crested cockatoos being good talkers, and laying eggs in confinement.
When plumage and voice fail as sexual diagnostics, size may be taken
into consideration ; but the male is not always larger than the female.
In the case of the hawk, the falcon or female is one-third as large as
the tercel or male bird. The female eagle is larger than the male, and
in almost all the species of owls, the female exceeds the male in size,
the difference being very remarkable in the Snowy Owl (Surnia nyctea).
Another bird of the Southern Hemisphere, which not unfrequently
breeds in the gardens, is the Emeu. One of the hen Emeus laid six

FOOT—ON BREEDING OF BIRDS FROM SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, 39

egos in the month of March, 1869, one of which was broken by the hen
bird. The three eggs of the batch of 1869, which were first laid, I
weighed and measured at the time; the weights were 17, 204, and 21
ounces ; the average major circumference of the three was 14 inches ;
the minimum 11; the average length 52 inches; average breadth 33
inches. One of the eges was much smoother and of a paler green than
the others. The Kestrel lays four and occasionally five eggs; the fifth
ege has been known to weigh several grains less than any of those pre-
viously deposited; and it has also less colouring matter spread over the
shell than the others. These differences have been attributed to the
constitutional exhaustion she has sustained in her previous efforts; and
perhaps such may be the explanation of the difference in weight and
colour of one of the Emeu’s eggs. The Emeu’s eggs require from
fifty-four to fifty-six days for incubation. As the birds showed no dis-
position to sit, the eggs were removed as soon as laid, and reserved for
sale, it not being considered worth while making an attempt to hatch
them artificially. The number of eggs laid by an Emeu in a state of
nature is stated to be always an odd number; perhaps in this case the
even number, if the contrary be the rule, may be attributed to the
effects of confinement. An Emeu’s egg is considered to equal in bulk
a dozen hen eggs. Mr. Gould observes, that the natives in Australia
esteem them very much as an article of food, and feed upon them ex-
clusively whenever they can be procured. The flesh of the bird is said
not to be so palatable; it is rich and oily, and very apt to disagree with
the stomach. In the narrative of the journey of M‘Kinlay across
Australia, there is an entry :—‘‘ The Emeus made us sick, the meat is
so oily ; they weighed, when ready for the pot, 48 lbs., 33 lbs., 31 Ibs. ;
the smaller ones were better, and they saved us some sheep, which is a
consideration.’’*

Emeus have been very successfully reared in England in the
aviaries erected by the Duke of Newcastle in his grounds at Clumber
Park, Nottinghamshire. The adult birds chiefly feed on grass; those
of Clumber graze with the cows and horses in an open field, and are
fond of cabbage, lettuce, or any garden refuse; but, for their size and
weight, are unquestionably small eaters. During the laying season
they are also supplied with a proportion of meal mixed with water, or .
soaked ship biscuits. They are readily kept within bounds by ordinary
fences, never attempting to force through a hedge or pass over a gate.
They are also very prolific, the hen laying nearly thirty eggs every
season. In the year 1868 the hen Emeu commenced to lay on the 5th
of January, and laid every second or third day until she had deposited
twenty-seven eggs, which were placed on the floor of a shed which
opened into a small enclosure in which the birds were confined at that
time. After seven eggs had been deposited, the male proceeded to sit

* “ Tracks of M‘Kinlay across Australia,’’ by John navi one of the Expedition.
London, 1863, pp. 320, 321.

40 . NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

upon them, and sat steadily for eight days, when the female disturbed
him, and he left the nest for eight days, the eggs being exposed during
the whole of this time to the severe weather of February. At the end
of this period the cock resumed his task of incubation, and sat for
sixty-two days after the commencement of the second incubation.
At this time it was thought that the health of the male bird would
suffer from the long continued confinement and abstinence from food,
as he refused to eat anything while on the nest, although food and
water were placed within his reach, and he only came off the eggs three
times during the long period of incubation. As the date at which the
‘egos should have been hatched, counting from the first commencement
of incubation had passed, it was feared they were not fertile; but on
placing them in warm water their active. motion soon testified to the
existence of living Emeus within; they were consequently returned to
the nest and hatched in due course. Of the seven eggs one was rotten,
two young Emeu chicks died in the shell, and four were hatched, one
of which was accidentally killed by the male. Of the remaining eggs
several were eaten, and found of unquestionable excellence. The shell
is very stout, and but for the singular breaking up of the arrangement
of the structure just before hatching, the chicks would apparently be
unable to get out of its strong cradle. The young Emeus were reared
by hand lest their parents should injure them, and were for a few days
crammed with chopped lettuce, rib-grass, clover, leaves, and custard.
Before the end of the first week they had learned to feed themselves,
and their chief food soon consisted of grass, rib-grass (Plantago can-
ceolata), cabbage, with clover, and some bread and meal. In drinking
they were observed to spoon up the water with the lower mandible and
allow it to run to the back of the mouth. They soon became so tame
that they were troublesome from the difficulty with which they were
kept out of the house.

It is fortunate that there do not appear to be any insuperable diffi-
culties in the way of breeding both Cereopsis geese and EKmeus in these
islands, since they are rapidly becoming scarce in their native country,
and will probable meet the fate of the original human population
of the Australian continent and be exterminated. Dr. George Bennett,
writing of the Emeu, says that in 1832 in visiting the interior of Aus-
tralia he travelled some hundreds of miles before even a solitary speci-
men was seen, and then instead of the flocks heard of in the early
periods of the colony, consisting of a dozen or more, he only saw two or
three at the most, and usually only a solitary bird. It is very much to
be feared that these birds, with the black swan, the ecassouary, the
mooruk, the apteryx, the kangaroos, and many other smaller animals
of the southern fauna, will become as extinct as the bear, wild pig, wolf,
beaver and elk are in Britain, and the dodo, rhytina, moa, and great
auk, have in every part of the known world.

The Emeus in the Zoological Gardens have not laid this year as yet;
and it is not likely that they will do so this year, as the season is so far
advanced ; they do not lay every year, but I have no doubt that if at-

FOOT—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. 41

tention were directed specially to the subject these animals would be
found to reproduce as rapidly in Ireland as they have done in England,
France, Belgium, and elsewhere. They exhibit an extraordinary power
of resisting cold. At Paris one lived for several years in the open air,
refusing the shelter provided for it, and sleeping in winter half covered
with snow, protected by its impenetrable fleece of feathers. Its flesh,
according to M. Prévost, who forms a more favorable opinion of it than
travellers have done, would be valuable as butcher’s meat, as the thigh
of an Emeu may weigh more than twenty-two pounds, and the Imperial
Acclimatisation Society have marked their appreciation of the value of
these hardy birds by offering a medal of fifteen hundred francs for their
successful domestication.

_ Dr. Arntuur Wywnet Foor then read the following :—
Notes on Anrmat Luminostry.

My object in bringing the subject of animal luminosity under the
notice of the members of the Natural History Society, is not to lay be-
fore them any recent personal observations, but to entertain them with
a resumé, though a very imperfect one, of some of the principal facts
which have been ascertained in the investigation of this subject. In
studying any phenomenon of wide distribution in nature, it is well
from time to time to pause and review the work that has been accom-
plished in the past, in order to ascertain the proper starting point
whence future inquiries should be instituted, otherwise observations
may be recorded and statements reiterated as novel which a little re-
search into the literature of the subject would have shown to have been
long forestalled by previous and perhaps forgotten authors. In so large
a field of study as that which the subject of animal luminosity affords,
and in which so many are working, unknown sometimesto each other, it is
quite possible that some of the labourers may not be aware of the amount
of work which others with superior advantages may have accomplished,
and hence the utility 1s obvious of now and then taking stock, as it
were, of progress, and of seeing how far the work has been advanced by
the conjoined exertions of all, great and small, concerned in the task.
The subject is one which can hardly fail to arrest the attention, if not
to interest, all who are concerned with any branch of natural science ;
the labour of its study is divided amongst the botanist, the mineralo-
gist, the zoologist, the anatomist, and the student of physics, and by
their friendly co-operation vastly greater and more useful results are
attainable than by single-handed exertion, even though Titanic, Time
and a due regard for the feelings of the audience will prevent me from
going into anything like a minute consideration of the subject, and will
only permit of reference to its salient points, and I earnestly crave in-
dulgence if the remarks made appear desultory, as they can hardly fail
to do from the hasty manner in which they have been put together.
The term luminosity has been chosen in preference to the more usual

VOL. VI. G

42 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

one of phosphorescence, only because that it in no way implies—at least
in respect to the nature of the light emitted by animals—any theory as
to the cause of the phenomenon; but in other respects there can be no
objection to the use of the term. Phosphorescence is one of the various
sources of light, and has been referred by Becquerel* to five causes :—
1. Spontaneous phosphorescence in certain vegetables and animals.
2. Phosphorescence by clevation of temperature, which is best seen in
certain species of diamonds and in fluorspar, which, when heated to
300° or 400°, suddenly become luminous, emitting a bluish light.
3. Phosphorescence by mechanical effects, such as friction, percussion,
cleavage, &c.; for example, when the crystals of quartz are rubbed
against each other in darkness, or when a lump of sugar is broken.
4. Phosphorescence by electricity, lke that which results from the
friction of mercury against the glass on the tube of a barometer, and
especially from the electric sparks proceeding either from an ordinary
electric machine, or from a Ruhmkorff’s coil. 5, Phosphorescence from
insolation. A large number of substances, after having been exposed
to the action of solar light, or of the diffused light of the atmosphere,
emit in darkness a phosphorescence, the colour and intensity of which
depend upon the nature and physical condition of these substances. The
sulphides of calcium and strontium are those which present it in the
highest degree. When well prepared, after being exposed to the light,
they are luminous in darkness for several hours, even for as many as
thirty hours, whether in vacuo or in a gaseous medium. Besides |
minerals, a large number of organic substances also become phophores-

cent by insolation; for instance, dry paper, silk, cane-sugar, milk-sugar,

amber, the teeth, &e.

Without dwelling longer on luminosity in the mineral kingdom,
we may allude to the occurrence of the phenomenon in vegetables.
Certain Fungi, particularly species of Agaricus, have been observed to
emit light. Agaricus olearius, not uncommon in Italy, is sometimes
seen at night feebly shining amidst the darkness of the olive groves.
The mycelium or spawn of the truffle emits light. A Brazilian
Agaricus is phosphorescent to such a degree, that two or three of
such fungi in a dark room give out a pale-greenish light sufficient
to read by; and Mr. Drummond has described an Australian fungus
with similar properties.| Light is perceived in all parts of lumi-
nous fungi, but chiefly in the young white shoots; and it is more
vivid in young than in old plants. It ceases if the plant be placed in
vacuo, or in any atmosphere which does not contain oxygen, but re-
appears when it is restored to the air, even after remaining for some
hours in vacuo, or in nitrogen. The Rhizomorpha subterranea, a fun-
goid organism occasionally met with in mines, exhibits upon its rami-

* Ganot’s ‘‘ Physics,” 1867, p. 480.
+ Carpenter, ‘ Principles of Comp. Phys.,’’ 4th ed., p. 442. Badham, “ Esculent
Funguses of England,” p. 15, 1847.

FOOT—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. 43

fied structure points which possess an irregular phosphorescence,
sometimes rising to such a degree as to enable surrounding objects to
be distinguished.* The species of Rhizomorphz are numerous in the
coal mines in the vicinity of Dresden, and emit a light like faint moon-
shine, which is influenced in intensity by the temperature of the mine.
Some mosses have been observed to be phosphorescent, especially the
species of the genus Schistostega, which grow in caverns and other
damp places. The milky juice of Kuphorbia phosphorea, a Brazilian
plant, becomes luminous when removed from the plants, and gently
heated. The leaves of Phytolacca decandra have been observed to
shine in the dark, sometimes with a bluish-green, sometimes witha
yellowish-green light. Decaying wood is well known to be often
phosphorescent under peculiar circumstances; it is generally observed
in the wood of trees which have been buried in earth while they were
in a green state; and perhaps may frequently be caused by the my-
celia of fungi, many of which are known to be luminous; it is removed
irrecoverably by drying up the damp rotten wood. Dr. Hooker, in the
2nd vol. of his “*‘ Himalayan Journals,’’ p. 151, gives interesting obser-
vations upon this subject. At Doigiling, he says, during the damp
warm summer months (May to October), at elevations of 5000 to 8000
feet, the phenomena of phosphorescence in wood may be witnessed
every night by penetrating a few yards into the forest. <A stack of
fire-wood, collected near the cottage in which he was lodged, presented
a beautiful spectacle for two months (in July and August); and on
passing it at night he had to quiet his pony, who was always alarmed
by it. The phenomenon, he continues, invariably accompanies decay,
and is common on oak, laurel (Tethranthera), birch, and probably other
timbers; it equally appears on cut wood and on stumps, but is most
frequent on branches lying close to the ground in the wet forests. He
had reason to believe that it spreads with great rapidity from old sur.
faces to freshly cut ones, and did not in the least doubt that it is a vital
phenomenon, and due to the mycelium of a fungus, as he had observed
it occasionally circumscribed by those black lines which are often seen
to bound mycelia on dead wood, and to precede a more rapid decay.
‘He tried often, but in vain, to coax these mycelia into developing some
fungus by placing them in damp rooms. When camping in the moun-
tains he frequently caused the natives to bring phosphorescent wood
into his tent for the pleasure of watching its soft undulating light,
which appeared to pale and glow with every motion of the atmosphere ;
except in this difference of intensity, it presented no change in appear-
ance night after night. Alcohol, heat, and dryness, soon dissipated it;
it had no odour, and his dog, who had a fine sense of smell, paid no at-
tention to it when it was laid under his nose. The statements as to
_ the luminosity of flowers are so very contradictory, that fresh observations
alone can procure unimpeachable evidence on the subject. The flowers

* Henfrey, ‘‘ Element. Course of Botany,” p. 615.

44 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

which have been asserted to show phosphorescence are all of brilliant red,
orange, or yellow colours—the marigold, orange lily, scarlet poppy, sun-
flower, nasturtium, and Indian pink. It has been said by those who have
not been fortunate enough to see the phenomenon, that the asserted lumi-
nosity was the result of a peculiar effect upon the eye of the observer,
arising from the brilliancy of the blossoms; but if the phenomenon
were looked for in twilight and on dark nights, at which time it is
stated to have occurred, it is difficult to conceive how the colours of the
petals could so greatly influence the eye; and knowing the remarkable
evolution of heat which occurs during the flowering of plants, and the
peculiar electrical conditions of the flower, the facility with which red
petals absorb solar rays, and that phosphorescence from insolation
occurs in several organised structures, it appears unphilosophical to
disbelieve in or deny the possibility of the occurrence, because 1t may
be of an extraordinary nature, and rarely met with. Luminosity has
been not unfrequently observed in peat; the appearance is quaintly
alluded to by Plot,* as known in Staffordshire, in his well-known work,
the history of that county, published in 1686. Speaking of certain clays,
he says: ‘‘I pass them over, and proceed to another black, moist, and
rotten sort of earth, that lyes just under the turfin heathy places, where
as I was seriously told by the Worshipful and most ingenious Charles
Cotton, Esq., and others, that if one ride in a dark night in so wet a season
that a horse breaks through the turf, and throws up this black, moist,
spungy sort of earth, he seems to fling up so much fire, which lyes
shining upon the ground like so many embers, by the hght whereof
one horse may trace another, though at some distance, and it be never
so dark; it continuing light upon the ground, and being gradually
dying away, for near a quarter ofan hour. To which,” sayshe, ‘let me
add another agreeable relation, whereof I was informed by that worthy
Loyal Gent., Captain Tho. Lane, Esq., of Bentley, who, endeavouring
to help a friend and kinsman of his (one Mr. Jones), who casually
fell into a ditch in Bescot grounds in the night time, and having
stirred the mud and dirt pretty much in performing that good
office, they presently found their gloves, bridles, and horses, as far as
the water or dirt had touched them, all in a kind of faint flame, much
like that (as he described it) of burnt brandy, which continued upon
them for a mile’s riding.” The phosphorescence of turf in the bogs in
the western parts of the county of Cork was investigated by G. J. All-
man, and its cause, as will be shortly mentioned, ascertained to be a
small annelid. No reference is made upon this occasion to the lights
often observed in bogs, and other similar situations, caused by the evo-
lution of spontaneously inflammable gases.

Passing from the vegetable to the animal kingdom, we shall find that
light is emitted from animal bodies under two different conditions,
during life as a vital act, and after death. Taking up the consideration

* “The Natural History of Staffordshire,’ by Robert Plot, LL. D. 1686.

FOOT—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. 45

of the latter condition first, it will be found that posthumous luminosity
has no necessary connexion with any advanced putrefactive change, or
sometimes with any perceptible degree of it: on the contrary, the
evolution of light, though not absolutely incompatible with well-
marked putrefaction, is almost always annihilated by any great amount of
cadaveric decay. Posthumous luminosity has been observed in various
kinds of meat, especially in veal, while still apparently quite fresh;
also in the flesh of fowls, fish, crustacea, and many of the less highly
organized animals, and several communications on the subject were
made to the Royal Society during the last two centuries by the Hon.
R. Boyle,* Dr. T. Beal,t and Dr. Hulme.{ One instance of luminosity
in veal may be quoted as an example of phosphorescence in dead flesh.
At Yeoval, in Somersetshire, a neck of veal, which seemed to be well
coloured, and in good condition in every respect, being killed in the
evening of the day before, was hung to a shelf in a little chamber.
The following day, in the evening (twenty-four hours after it had been
killed), the veal shone so bright that the woman of the house was
frightened. She called up her husband, who hastened to the light,
fearing fire, and seeing the light come only from the flesh, he caught
it in his left hand and struck it with his right hand, endeavouring to
extinguish the flame, but without effect, as the flesh shone as much as
before, if not more, and his hand with which he struck the veal
appeared all in a flame, as bright and vivid as the flesh of the veal
was, and so it continued as he went from place to place showing it to
others; and though he thrust his blazing hand into a pail of water,
the flame was not extinguished, but his hand shone through the
water. At last he took a napkin and wiped his hand till he wiped off
all the light. The next day the veal was dressed, and it eat very
well.§ The flesh of fish is that which most frequently exhibits
luminosity after death; it has been particularly noticed in the
whiting, herring, and mackerel, and has been stated to occur in the
‘sardine, pollock, and pilchard, and other fishes. Freshwater fish, with
the exception of the carp, appear seldom to exhibit this phenomenon.
Dr. Hulme has shown from experiments made on the post mortem
luminosity of fishes, that the quantity of light emitted by fish after
death is not in direct proportion to the degree of putrefaction, as was
commonly supposed, but that, on the contrary, the greater the putres-
cence the less is the quantity of ight emitted.|| Dr. Jacob has observed
the luminosity of a fish to be bright enough to read a book by, placed
near it, while as yet there was not the least putrefactive odour per-
ceptible. The phosphorescence of dead fish is imparted to the hand,

a bbls Trans:,” 1667,_volo i, ps ooh 16725 vol, vii. p. 5108.

ee ebil Trans,” 167.6; vol; xi:, p: 599.

i emt Trans,, £800; vol. -xe., p. 161.

rd. Beal, “Phil. Praus..:” 1676;,-vol. xi-, p.. 599.

|| «* Phil. Trans.,” 1800, vol. xc., p. 161.

{| “Essay on Evol. of Light from Living Human Subject.” Sir H. Marsh, 1842,
p.18.

46 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN

or to clothes rubbed against them, and is not extinguished by water;
it is diminished if the animal be placed in the receiver of an air pump,
and the air exhausted, and is revived and increased in brilliancy by
the re-admission of air into the exhausted receiver. A portion of a
luminous whiting which the Hon. R. Boyle kept in an exhausted
receiver for forty-eight hours, by degrees wholly lost its light, but
recovered it again as soon as the air was restored.*

Human flesh has been observed to be phosphorescent after death,
and also before death ; the phosphorescence after death, as in the case
of the phenomenon in the dead bodies of the lower animals, does not
appear to have any connexion with the advanced stages of decom-
position, nor has it, as far as I am aware, been observed in human
flesh in that condition. Dr. Hart describes the luminous condition of
human flesh as observed by himself, and remarks that the phenomenon
has been noticed by Drs. Harrison, Jacob, and Houston.} ‘‘ Having had
occasion to enter the dissecting-room of the Park-street School of Medi-
cine, on a dark, damp night in 1827, my attention was attracted by are-
markably luminous appearance of the subjects on the tables, similar to
that which fishes and other marine animals exhibit in the dark. The
degree of illumination was sufficient to render the forms of the bodies,
as well as those of muscles and other dissected parts, almost as distinct
as-in the daylight. This luminosity was communicated to my fingers
trom contact with the dead bodies, from any part of which it could be
removed by scraping it, or wiping it with a towel. I observed that
the surfaces of the dissected muscles were brighter than any other
parts. Although I have repeatedly visited the dissecting-room since,
at all hours of the night, and at all seasons of the year, I have never
since been able to discover a similar luminous appearance.’ I may
observe that, having long known of this observation of Dr. Hart, I
have taken many and various opportunities of trying to see something
similar myself, but have so far not been successful. The bodies of
those who have taken phosphorus before death, or who have died
from its effects as a poison, emit in the dark, from the various orifices,
a luminous vapour so characteristic as to be regarded as pathognomonic
of the poison. It does not appear that any experiments have as yet
been made upon the degree and duration of the phosphorescence of the
flesh in such cases, although the opportunites for doing so are not few,
as it appears that at present phosphorus is the popular toxic agent
upon the Continent; and Tardieu informs us that in criminal statistics
phosphorus takes the first rank as a fashionable poison. Although in
the case of post mortem phosphorescence, it is so frequently asserted
that light is emitted from flesh, fowl, fish, and other meat, as that
of lobsters, which is perfectly fresh, yet this assertion must be taken
in a qualified sense. It cannot be denied that incipient decomposition

* «Phil, Trans,” 1667, vol. di;,; p.s0o..
+ Sir H. Marsh’s Essay, p. 20.

FOOT—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. 47

is present in such cases, because it is known that that process follows
so closely upon the heels of life, that it is present and at work upon
dead matter long before its presence is betrayed by those offensive pro-
ducts by which persons generally measure the progress of decay.

The evolution of light has been observed in cases where local de-
composition was in operation upon the yet living body.* Quoy and
Gannaid observed phosphorescence from the ulcerated back of a living
turtle, from which the shell had been removed ; several luminous points
were plainly visible at night. It will be remembered that the cara-
pace is often removed from these animals, for the sake of the tortoise-
shell its outer layers yield, by the cruel process of lighting a fire on the
reptile’s back, the heat of which causes the plates of the dorsal shield
to curl upwards, and separate more readily than they do in the ordinary
process with a knife; they then return the animal to the sea, on the
hopes that on some future occasion, when the shell has grown again,
they may rob it a second time. A parallel instance of the phosphores-
cence of a part in which disintegration of tissue was taking place in
the living human subject came under the notice of Dr. Stokes, and it
is such a remarkable observation that I shall take the liberty of quot-
ing it in his own words :—‘‘ When I was residing in the Old Meath
Hospital, a poor woman, labouring under an enormous cancer of the
breast, was admitted. The breast was much enlarged, and presented a
vast ulcer with irregular and everted edges, from all parts of which a
quantity of luminous fluid was constantly poured out. Upon being
asked whether she suffered much pain, she answered, ‘not now, Sir,
but I cannot sleep, watching this sore, which is on fire every night.’
I directed that she should send for me whenever she perceived the
luminous appearance, and on that night I was summoned between ten
and eleven o’clock, the lights in the ward having been then ex-
tinguished; she was sitting leaning forward, the left hand sup-
porting the tumour, while with the right she every now and then
lifted up the coverings of the ulcer to gaze on this, to her, supernatural
appearance. The whole of the base and edges of the cavity phospho-
resced in the strongest manner. The light was steady. I directed
that the ulcer should remain open, while I retreated gradually, keeping
my eyes fixed on the light, which I found distinctly visible at the end
of the ward, which must have been more than twenty feet from her
bed. The light within a few inches of the ulcer was sufficient to enable
me to distinguish the figures on a watch dial. I have no very distinct
recollection of the colour of the light, but I remember that its intensity
was variable, it being on some nights much stronger than others.’’}

Coming to the subject of luminosity in living and healthy ani-
mals—to what may be called Physiological Phosphorescence—it will be
found that this kind of phosphorescence is principally, but by no

* An, d. Sci. Nat.,” 1825, t. iv., p. 8, note.
¢ Sir H. Marsh’s “ Essay on Evol. of Light,” op. cit., p. 54.

48 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

means exclusively, observed in certain of the marine invertebrata,
and in the coleopterous order of the insect class. Among the marine
Infusoria, the organism named Noctiluca miliaris possesses this property
in an eminent degree, most of the orders of the classes Hydroza and
Actinozoa, but especially the orders Sertularide, Physophoride, Me-
dusidee, Lucernaride, Alcyonaria, and Ctenophora. Many of the
Annelids emit light; the Nereide are particularly noted for this pro-
perty, also species of Syllis, Polynoe, Choetopterus, and Sabella. In
the Myriapoda we have the Scolopendra phosphorea, and Geophilus, a
genus of luminous centipedes, some of which are by no means scarce
in this country ; there are examples of luminosity among the Arachnida,
Crustacea, and particularly among the Insecta. Several of the mol-
lusca are luminous. The luminosity of living fish is thought by some
to be due to an excitement of the phosphorescence of the sea by their
rapid motion through the water ; by others it is attributed to the ad-
hesion to their bodies of some of the smaller luminous organisms.
Pliny* speaks of a fish known as Lucerna, or the lantern fish, because it
thrusts from its mouth a tongue that shines like fire, and emits a most
brilliant ight on calm nights; but Cuvier considered that the Pyro-
soma, one of the Mollusca, is the luminous animal alluded to. Mr. Ben-
nett, in a Paper read at the Zoological Society of London, has described
some fish of the Scopelus family taken near Cape Horn which emitted
vivid phosphorescent hight from various parts of the body; the lumi-
nosity entirely disappeared upon the death of the fish. As we rise in
the scale of creation instances become rarer of vital luminosity under
ordinary conditions, and we are obliged to end with a mere reference to
the statement of Azara that the urine of the Skunk is habitually lu-
minous.

The presence of the Noctiluca miliaris is one of the causes of the
phosphorescence of the sea—a phenomenon which is observed, though
a less splendid degree, in cold and temperate latitudes as well as within
the tropics. This organism, from the simplicity of its structure, is
classed among the Protozoa, yet its light-producing power ranks among
one of the most subtle problems of nature. M. Suriray, a doctor of
medicine, while investigating lhe cause of the phosphorescence of the
sea water at Havre, appears to have been the first who observed,
and called attention to, the genus Noctiluca, which ke described
and figured in the Memoir which he communicated to the class of
Sciences of the French Institute. In size the Noctiluca miliaris
varies from ‘04 to ‘01 of an inch; so that a single drop of sea water
may contain one or several individuals, and when they are nume-
rous the water may assume the appearances of a phosphorescent solu-
tion. By filtering this phosphoric water, these organisms can be ar-
rested and retained for examination ; the water which has passed through
the filter has lost its luminous property, which can be restored to it at

* COISt Natasa Cro,

FOOT-—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. 49

once by replacing in it some of the Noctiluce which had been removed
from it by filtration. Infusoria, of the genus Peredinium, contribute
to the phosphorescence of the Baltic Sea. Some fresh-water Infusoria
are also possessed of luminous properties. Sir Philip Crampton ob-
served phosphorescence in the water of Lough Bray, and the surface of
a piece of muslin through which some of the water of the lake had been
strained presented a luminous appearance.* The hght emitted by
Noctiluca miliaris appears to be the combined result of a rapid succes-
sion of vivid scintillations, differing in this respect from the steady
glow of posthumous phosphorescence in fishes. No photogenic appa-
ratus, or special organ for the production of light, similar to that which
is observable in luminous insects, is discernible in the simple organisms
of the Infusoria; every part of the structure seems to have the power
of emitting a nebulous light, resolvable with high magnifying powers
into an infinite number of sparks. There is no sensible development of
heat, no evidence of any secretion of a luminous mucus, nor does the
emission of light appear to be connected with combustion of any kind ;+
sulphuretted hydrogen passed into the water, or a few drops of ether
dropped upon it instantly destroys the luminosity of the Noctiluce.
Another cause of the phosphorescence of the sea is the luminosity of
various orders of the Hydrozoa and Actinizoa, especially of the order
Meduside. According to Ehrenberg, the Arabians on the Red Sea
name the entire family of Medusee ‘‘ Sea Candles” (Kandil el Bahr);
and Spallanzani observes that the luminous Meduse are called by the
same name in the Lipari Islands (Candelliere di mare). Dr. Macartneyt
was inclined to attribute the principal portion of the phosphorescence
of the sea around our own islands to a species of Medusa of very small
size (M. scintillans), first described by himself, and which are frequently
present in these waters in great abundance. On one occasion he sepa-
rated a pint of these Meduse from a gallon of sea water by straining
through a cloth. He observed these Medusz to continue to emit light
when put under the receiver of an air pump, notwithstanding complete
exhaustion of air, and he satisfied himself that the light was by no means
of the nature of phosphorus, as it was often most strongly shown when
excluded from oxygen gas; when electrical shocks were transmitted
through a collection of them, they were excited, andshone with great bril-
liancy. Dr. Macartney’s observations were communicated to the Royal
Society in 1810. Many of the fixed Hydrozoa are endowed with phospho-
rescent properties, several of our native Sertularidz glowing when irri-
tated with greenish light, like that of burning silver. Ina foreign spe-
cies, Darwin§ observed that the flashes of light always proceeded up
the branches, from the base towards the extremities, as often as he rubbed
any part of a branch. The Sea-pens exhibit a beautiful phosphores-

* Sir H. Marsh, op. cit., p. 24.

+ Quatrefages, ‘‘ An. de Sci. Nat.,” 1850, 3d ser., t. xiv. p. 236. «

t “‘ Observations upon Luminous Animals,’’ Phil. Trans., 1810, p. 268.
§ ‘“‘ Naturalist’s Voyage round the World,” p. 202.

VOL. VI. H

50 ‘ NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

cence, which, as Forbes observed, when excited by shock, sparkles
onwards from the portion struck in an upward or distal direction, still,
however, continuing to be emitted from the point of prime contact. Of
one of this group (Renilla) Agassiz remarks that ‘‘it shines at night
with a golden-green light of a most wonderful softness; when excited,
it flashes up more intensely, and when suddenly immersed into alcohol
throws out the most brilliant light.” Several of the Ctenophora are
phosphorescent. Specially distinguished for its luminosity is the Cestum
veneris of the Mediterranean Sea, which has the form of a band of
more than five feet long and two inches broad, gleaming at night like a
ribbon of flame as it moves beneath the surface of the water. Various
genera of the family Beroide are also possessed of luminous properties.
Among the marine Mollusca are found some of the most splendid instances
of luminosity. The Pyrosoma, or Fire-body, is one of them; it is one
of the compound ascidians, and forms a cylinder six or seven inches in
length, open at one end, at the other closed, and bluntly rounded off.
Mr. F. D Bennett* observed that when a Pyrosoma was taken into the
hand out of a bucket of sea-water, the whole mass became instantly
illuminated by myriads of bright dots, much resembling in hue the
points on the elytra of a diamond beetle (Curculio imperialis), The
Pyrosoma, enveloped throughout its whole extent in a flame of bright
phosphorescence, shed sufficient light to render objects distinctly
visible in every part of an otherwise dark room. The light appeared
to be chiefly emitted from small specks of a brown or red colour,
embedded in the parenchymatous structure of the body, and inter-
mingled with the prominent rigid and pearly tubercules which stud
the surface of the mass. No light was emitted after the death of the
animal; no luminous matter was communicated from the surface of
the Pyrosoma to any finid or solid in contact with it, and the brown
specks did not emit any light after their removal from the body.
Friction at one point of the Pyrosoma induces the light at that point,
and from thence the phosphorescence spreads over the whole mass,
while the creature is quite freshly taken; afterwards the illumination
arising from friction is only local.t The various forms of Salpa,
another ascidian Mollusk of gelatinous consistence, possesses luminous
powers. One of the Pteropodous Molluscs (Cleodora cuspidata) emits
a speck of delicate blue light, which shines through the apex of its
extremely thin and glossy shell. |

Two principal kinds of phosphorescence of the sea have been
observed—one in which the surface appears studded with scintillations
of a most vivid description, upon any agitation of the water ; a heavy
tropical shower, for example, is said to produce a gorgeous effect at
night upon the sea, when it is in this condition. This kind of phos-
phorescence is assigned by Mr. Bennett to the presence of the luminous

* “Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.,” 1833, Pt. 1, p. 79.
+ Huxley, ‘ Phil, Trans.,” 1851, p. 580.

FOOT—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. ol

Infusoria, such as the Noctiluca miliaris ; the other kind of phosphores-
cence observed is an appearance upon the sea of sheets or trains of
whitish or greenish light, often sufficiently brilliant to illuminate the
sails and deck of a passing vessel, to permit of print being read near
the stern cabin windows, to show night birds hovering over the water
in search of prey. This luminosity is produced by the presence of
vast numbers of light-producing Acalephae and Mollusca, by various
species of Berow, Medusze, and Salpze, which are often congregated in
such multitudes, that a ship sailing rapidly may continue during the
entire night to pass through extensive fields of these floating and
glowing organisms. The phosphorescence of the sea has a close con-
nexion with the abundance of organic beings; in parts of the ocean
where they are scarce, this phosphorescence is more rarely and less
brilliantly seen. Occasionally, when they abound to such a degree as to
make the water gelatinous, the sea at night takes the appearance of a
plain covered with snow, or of an ocean of milk. Besides these surface
animals, there are sources of illumination of the sea often at con-
siderable depths, such as the great Medusa pellucens discovered by Sir
Joseph Banks, which, with a disc six inches in diameter, shines like a
globe of fire. Darwin* mentions that near the mouth of the Plata he
observed some circular or oval patches at a considerable depth, from
two to four yards in diameter, and with defined outlines shining deep
down in the water, with a steady but pale light, while the surrounding
water only gave out a few sparks. The appearance resembled the
reflection of the moon, or some luminous body, for the edges were
luminous from the undulations of the surface. ‘The ship, which drew
thirteen feet of water, passed over without disturbing these patches.
An animal which is one of the fixed sources of the luminosity of the
sea is the conchiferous Mollusk, the Pholas, or stone-borer, edible, and
reputed to have an agreeable taste, with a flavour of pepper. One species,
P. costata, is sold in the market at Havannah as an article of food.
Pliny} was aware of the phosphorescent properties of this shell-fish ;
and in his chapter on the marvellous properties of the Dactylus,
remarks that it is the peculiarity of these fish to shine brightly in the
dark, when all other lights are removed, and the more moisture they
have the brighter is the light they emit. In the mouth even, while
they are being eaten, they give forth their light, and the same, too,
when in the hands. The very drops, in fact, that fall from them on
the ground, or on the clothes, are of the same nature. Beccarius, who
tried numerous experiments upon the Pholas, found that of all the
liquids into which he put the Pholades, milk was rendered the most
luminous. A single Pholas made seven ounces of milk so luminous
that the faces of persons might be distinguished by it. He also states
that when the animal is preserved in honey, the property of becoming

* ¢* Naturalist’s Voyage round the World,” p. 163.
¢ “Hist. Nat. Lib.” ix., cap. 87.

o2 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

luminous would continue longer than a year, and then it would, when
plunged in warm water, give as much light asever. Many of the
Annelids, both terrestrial and marine, but especially the latter, are phos-
phorescent. The genera of Nereis, Syllis, Polynoé, Choetopterus, and
Sabella, possess this property. Dr. Allman, many years ago, brought
before the Natural History Society of Dublin a notice of the fact, new
at the time, that a small Annelid possessed of luminous powers is
frequently found in turf. He observed in the month of September
that some of the turf bogs in the western parts of the county of Cork
exhibited by nizht, on the recent removal of their surface, a great
many minute luminous points, presenting almost the appearance of the
sea when its waters are agitated during the night. This appearance
was very transitory, lasting but for a few seconds after the exposure
of the subjacent peat, and requiring for its subsequent manifestation
a second removal of the surface. On bringing home some of the
luminous peat, and making a careful examination of it, he found
that this interesting phenomenon was caused by a small white setige-
rous Annelid, about half an inch in length. The power of emitting
the light appeared voluntary, and to require for its manifestation that
the animal should in some way be irritated. On holding one of them
over alcohol, an exceedingly brilliant phosphorescence would take
place, and last for a few seconds, excited, doubtless, by the irritation
of the alcoholic vapour. ‘This phosphorescence consisted in a very
beautiful clear green light, and did not appear to be confined to any
particular spot, the entire «animal appearing luminous. He found
upon inquiry that the phosphorescence of the bogs was well known to
the country people of the western part of the county of Cork, though
not referred by them to this cause. The cause of the phenomenon
was a small white Annelid about half an inch in length, and com-
posed of a number of setigerous rings, very distinct after the animal
has become contracted from immersion in spirits. Each ring bore a
fasciculus of very minute setee on either side, requiring, in order to
render them visible, a very high magnifying power. Duges has
‘described a luminous Annelid, which he called Lumbricus phosphoreus,
found by him in the tan of the hot-houses in the Botanic Garden of
Montpelier. And it is not improbable that the phosphorescence of the
turf-mould in Staffordshire, alluded to by Dr. Plot, may have been due
to an analogous cause. A common centipede, the Geophilus phosphorea,
is one of the phosphorescent Myriapoda. This centipede has been dis-
covered in considerable numbers on the Hill of Howth by Dr. Stokes,
who drew Dr. Allman’s attention to its presence there, and is very
generally distributed throughout the country. Fearing to be weari-
some, I shall not go through the luminous genera of Crustacea, and
shall conclude with a brief reference to the phosphorescent phenomena
exhibited by insects. In the Hemipterous order of this class (Insecta),
are the lantern and candle flies, whose luminosity has been very much
questioned, but it is now pretty generally believed that they are
luminous, but not equally so in both sexes, and not continually so, but
occasionally or periodically.

FOOT—-ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. Ys)

The Coleopterous order includes the principal examples of phospho-
rescence,—the glowworms and the fireflies; both sets of insects (not-
withstanding their names) are beetles of the same Elater family ; the
most brilliant fireflies are inhabitants of the hot and temperate regions
of America. ‘The glowworms are found in England, France, Germany,
Italy, and other parts of Europe. The glowworms belong to the
genus Lampyris, of which there are about two hundred species all more
or less luminous: of the genus Elater, to which the firefly belongs, there
are at least seventy species, and probably many more, with both sexes
equally luminous. The word glowworm has arisen from the ver-
miform aspect of the female of the British species, Lampyris noctiluca,
which is apterous and not very locomotive. Aristotle was aware of
this fact, as he says—ants for example are both winged and apterous,
and so is the glowworm.* In cther continental species both sexes are
winged. The males of the British species are but feebly luminous, and
that only at the pairing season ; those of the continental and foreign
species are phosphorescent at all times. The luminous organs of the
various species of Lampyris are of a special nature and well defined,
not to be confounded with the intervisceral adipose substance, and
present a determinate form, size, and position; presenting in the
females of L. splendidula (the German species) four or five pairs
of lateral organs of the form of flattened globules, situated on the
abdominal segments from the first to the sixth rings. The luminous
orgaus consist of an investing membrane enclosing a parenchyma of
cells, tracheze or air tubes, and nerves; the cells are of two kinds,
white and pale, and it is in the contents of the pale cells the proper
luminous substance resides ; it corresponds in its microscopical reactions
with an albuminous material, but owing to the extremely minute quan-
tity of the substance which can be obtained, it has been impossible, as
yet, to subject it to a more satisfactory chemical examination. All
endeavours to detect the presence of phosphorus in the luminous or-
gans have been fruitless. The organs of thirty males of L. Splendidula
were treated with sulphuret of carbon, and when this was allowed to
evaporate on blotting paper no luminosity was evident, nor was the
paper charred. When organs which have been isolated by dissection
are treated with nitrate of silver no black precipitate is formed. The
luminosity is dependent upon the will of the beetle, and exists by day
as well as at night, though very frequently absent in the day time,
simply from the fact that these insects are nocturnal in their habits,
and usually lie concealed in the dark during the day. Many irritants
exercise an influence upon the production of the light, but the most
powerful excitant is caustic potash, in all degrees of concentration,
from 7 to 50 per cent. Luminous glowworms, especially the females,
moistened with a solution of salt, placed with the cephalic and caudal
extremities on the cushions of Du Bois’s current apparatus, have de-

a Hist. Anm., lib. iv., cap. 3.

o4 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

flected the needle of the multiplier from 3° to 7°, the head at the same
time appearing to be positive. Non-luminous insects, even when they
moved on the cushions, usually afforded, with a multiplier of 16,000
turns, no indication whatever of a current, or, at most, did not deflect
the needle more than 1° or 2°.* From the foregoing experiments,
coupled with the anatomical facts, Kolliker concludes that the luminous
organs in the genus Lampyris are a nervous apparatus, whose nearest
analogues might be sought in the electrical organs, and that the lumi-
nous matter, which is of an albuminous nature, and is abundantly
supplied with oxygen by its numerous trachee, undergoes during
life a decomposition, one of the ultimate results of which is urate
of ammonia, which is found to be contained largely in the white cells.
The luminosity of Lampyris is quite hereditary, for the eggs and
larve are phosphorescent, as well as the perfect insect. If the lumi-
nous matter be extracted from its receptacle, the part heals and becomes
filled again with a fresh supply. M. Moren,t Professor of Botany in
the University of Liege found that when the spiracle next to the lu-
minous material in L. Noctiluca is closed, the light is immediately ex-
tinguished, and reappears when it is opened, as the trachean ramifications
which surround the luminous matter issue from a spiracle situated
immediately at the side of the luminous mass.

The light of the phosphorescent Elateridee of America, which is
emitted from three principal points, has been examined with the spec-
troscope, but as yet without increasing our knowledge of the pheno-
menon. ‘The spectrum produced by the firefly of New Hampshire was
perfectly continuous, without traces of lighter or darker lines, extending
from a little above Frauenhofer’s line Cin the scarlet to about Fin
the blue, gradually fading at the extremities. The spectrum of their
light is continuous, without any black rays ; it differs from the spectrum
of the solar light merely by a greater intensity of the yellow colour. It
is considered to be probably produced, as in Lampyris, by the slow
combustion of a substance secreted by the animal. The splendour of
the light can be decreased or diminished, at the will of the beetle, by
means of membranes which it interposes like screens in front of the
phosphorescent lamps which it has on, what is popularly called, its
forehead. Professor Van der Hoovent of Leyden got possession of an
Elater noctilucus, which had been imported in a cargo of logwood,
after it had lived some weeks in other hands; he kept it alive for a
fortnight. The phosphorescent spots were, in the dark, first blue, then
emerald green, then incandescent. Large printing could be read by
the light, but it was necessary to carry the insect along the lines to
read continuously. In their native country, on a dark night, their
light can be seen at about 200 paces distant. In oxygen gas the lumi-

* « Quart. Jour. of Microscop. Science,” 1858, vol. vi., p. 166.
+ Kirby & Spence, ‘‘ Entomology,” 7th ed., p. 512.
t ‘‘ Handbook of Zoology,” vol. i., p. 526.

FOOT—ON ANIMAL LUMINOSITY. 59

nosity was not more splendid. Experiments to determine whether the
temperature rose with the phosphorescence were interrupted by the
death of the animal. On dissection, nothing peculiar was observed be-
neath the spots on the thorax, except large or smaller masses of the adipose
body connected by numerous trachee. The two spots on the thorax,
through which the light issued, though destitute of the brown colouring
matter, and therefore translucent, were of the same thickness as the
neighbouring integument. Does this thickness, he asks, account for the
transmission of the green light, whilst that which proceeds occasionally
from parts of the inferior surface, where the membrane is thin, is
yellowish ?

It is a remarkable fact how seldom a red light is emitted from lumi-
nous animals; green, blue, white, yellowish, and various shades of these
colours, are the ordinary tints of their phosphorescence. In the case of
a strange coleopterous larva of Brazil, lights of two colours are pro-
duced—red from the head, and green from the sides.* The light of
luminous animals has been observed to become red as they were about to
die. Darwin remarks that in all the different kinds of glowworms,
shining elaters, and various marine animals which he has observed, the
light has been of a well-marked green colour.

The wide distribution of a vital luminous property throughout the
animal kingdom may be gathered from the long list of animals which
have been ascertained to be possessed of it, and probably the catalogue
will be greatly enlarged in the progress of future investigation.

The objects of this luminosity are probably various—to some ani-
mals it is protective and a means of defence. A carnivorous beetle has
been seen walking round a luminous scolopendron, apparently deterred
from attacking by the brightly-shining light. When M. Quatrefages was
one night prosecuting his investigations on the phosphorescence of the
sea at Boulogne, a dog came down to the edge of the water, and barked
at him in his boat. A can full of water thrown upon the sea in the di-
direction of the dog, caused such a blaze of light, that the animal ran
howling away, probably mistaking it for fire. Another object of the
light is sexual attraction: the apterous female of our English glowworm
beacons the male to her by it. Dr. Browne, in his ‘‘ History of Jamaica’”’
(1789, p. 483), describes the mode in which the negroes hold a firefly, or
even a lighted stick, between their fingers, and wave it up and down, so
that it may be seen by others (fireflies), who, taking it for some of their
kind, fly directly towards it, and pitch upon the hand, unless they discover
the deceit before they come too near. In other animals the luminosity
appears to be an inherent quality, inalienable from their organism as
long as their vitality is preserved.

The nature and the cause of the luminosity of living animals, of
physiological phosphorescence, cannot be yet precisely stated. To some
it is not satisfactory to assert that it is phosphorescence, or an evolu-
tion of light from a body which undergoes thereby no loss of substance,

————

= Yrans, Ent1S0c.,.. Ne. S., Vol. ili, p. 0 (Pioc:),

06 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

and which is the same at the end as it was at the beginning of the pro-
cess ; and others are equally displeased with the suggestion that itis de-
pendent upon a direct conversion of vital force into light. In some cases
chemical action goes far towards the explanation; but the more this
subject is studied, the less inclined will one be to advance any positive
opinion upon its cause and nature, and the more convinced will they
become that animal luminosity is one of the most subtle and marvellous
phenomena of nature.

[The following Paper ‘‘on Orthagoriscus oblongus’” (the oblong
sunfish), read by Mr. Andrews at a meeting of the Natural History
Society, 14th of November, 1845, and hitherto unpublished, is here
inserted in accordance with an order of the Council that it should
appear in this volume of the ‘ Proceedings,”’ with a coloured drawing
of the fish. | :

- Among the donations that are this evening to be acknowledged, I
may take the opportunity of making some general remarks upon the
oblong sunfish, Orthagoriscus oblongus. It was taken in the early part
of last month (October, 1845), at Tramore, near Waterford, and se-
cured to the ichthyology of this country, through the vigilance of a
member of the Society, Dr. Farran, a naturalist ever most active in
promoting the knowledge of, and investigating the natural history of
his native country. This fish has, through his kindness, been pre-
sented to the Society, a valuable addition, indeed, to the Museum, to be
placed with the other fine species in the Society’s collection, the short
sunfish, Orthagoriscus mola.

I have, however, to express my extreme regret that the circum-
stances under which it came into my possession, prevented an examina-
tion of its characters until decomposition had almost obliterated its in-
ternal organisation. A beautiful and accurate drawing had been made
before its external characters or any change of their true features were
lost.

As far as I have been enabled to trace, this appears to be the fifth
occurrence of the capture of this fish on the coasts of Britain. Dr.
Borlase is mentioned as having been the first who described it as British,
noticing, in his ‘“ Natural History of Cornwall,” a specimen from
Mounts Bay, and he also describes one of large size taken near Ply-
mouth, in 1734, which weighed 500lbs. Donovan has figured in his
‘‘ Natural History of British Fishes’? a small specimen obtained in the
Bristol Channel, and from which Mr. Yarrell’s figure in his ‘ History
of British Fishes’ is copied. The fourth specimen on record is that
described by Mr. Couch, in the sixth volume of the ‘‘ Annals and Ma-
gazine of Natural History,” taken at Par, in Cornwall, in September,
1840.

The oblong Sunfish, together with its allied species, the short Sun-
fish, belongs to the order Plectognathi. The principal distinctive cha-
racters are the maxillary and intermaxillary bones being firmly at-
tached or soldered as one entire piece, forming ai immovable jaw, con-

ANDREWS—ON ORLTHAGORISCUS OBLONGUS. 57
nected with the palatine arch, which, by a suture, is united to the cra-
nium. The Orthagoriscus forms a section or sub-family of the Gymno-
dontes, by having no apparent teeth, the jaws being furnished inside
with an ivory-like substance, divided into lamina, and which, accerd-
ing to M. Cuvier, are essentially true teeth united. The specific cha-
racters of this very rare and singular species are distinct from those of
O. mola, by the oblong form of body—the pectoral fins being pointed,
the skin being perfectly smooth and divided into irregularly-formed
hexagonal compartments, the sutures of which fit smoothly to each other,
the caudal fin being truncate or square, not rounded—this true caudal
fin being immediately connected with the dorsal and anal fins. Its
measurements are—

From snout to extremity of caudal fin, . . -. 284 inches.

Breadth from mesial line on the back to abdo-
mmmaledsevot the belly, «0 .. «= 6+ Jobe 4,

Length from snout to the eye, . . Seat stl an tee
Do. to anterior base of pectoral fin, se eat ads ©) i
DareOl Pectoral AN, <i wet es |e ied su us uO

The dorsal and anal fins are long and gradually tapering—

Extreme breadth of dorsal at the base, . . . 34 inches.
Length of SR eR 5 CY ea
amar nnm. extreme breadth, ..-.. «+ 4s «. <8 -
FCG LOMO Few nis. se, Gem, yen ails of 3,
Beerden OL Cauda AN, oon seo ey et, | Og. 9
Depth of DOR Mee eyes ach eh Onc as elas

The number of fin rays are—pectoral, 13; dorsal, 18; anal, 17; caudal,
19; probable weight, when captured, 16 lbs.

The colour of the back was of a dusky amber brown, in the lighter
shades or variegations of which the hexagonal plates of the cuticle are
strikingly seen: the sides silvery white, marked from the mouth with
double lines of waved stripes pointing downwards, and which assumed
a maculated appearance, passing into fainter lines beneath the pectoral
fins; abdomen dusky brown, becoming of a beautiful pink or flesh
colour around the anal and urinary vents; aperture of the eyes nearly
round, 14 inches in breadth; iris silvery white, pupil dark and promi-
nent, protected by a nictitating membrane; branchial orifice or spiracle
smali, semilunar, placed immediately anterior to the base of attachment
of the first pectoral ray.

Of its internal organization I regret that the opportunity was lost
of examination. Its state of decomposition was such, on being opened,
that it was not without much difficulty and care its skin was preserved
in a perfect state. The internal skin covering the body was formed of
a pale flesh-coloured tissue, the colour being uniform throughout, and
although extremely thin beneath the eyes, and anterior to the pectoral
fins, yet showing no trace of the waved lines that marked the external
cuticle, and which were confined to, and appeared the permanent mark-

VOL. VI. I

58 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

ings of the plates that formed the cuticle; thus evidencing that no physi-
cal changes in the fish could have been accessory to the creation of these
' markings that in the recent state were as vivid and as beautiful as the
drawing actually delineates. This internal tissue from the pectoral fins
to the tail became extremely thick and tough, necessarily so where the
more powerful display of muscles and action existed. Thick layers of flesh
surrounded the spinal column, the spine being prolonged into a series
of vertebra, terminating in simple coccygeal vertebrae. ‘The dorsal and
anal fins were supported by a series of bones, which pass into the spi-
nous process; the bones of the anal fin were particularly strong, requir-
ing some exertion to sever; the cartilaginous caudal fin rays were sup-
ported by semi-osseous interspinous processes; these three fins exhi-
biting a powerful development of muscles for their action. The rays
of the caudal fin bifurcate in a beautiful and regular manner into finer
filaments, to the margin or extremity of the fin. Beneath the spinal
column no air bladder could be detected. The opercula and branchial
rays, and a great portion of the liver, which appeared to have been
large, were in such a state of decomposition that no further investiga-
tion could be proceeded with.

My friend, Dr. Bellingham, has been the first to detect and to remark
in the mola the movable proboscis which projected beyond the upper
lip. In the oblongus the snout appeared formed of a cartilaginous pro-
cess, the upper lip having a fold, and apparently possessing mobility
and great sensitiveness, being largely supplied with nerves. In the
Lophide, the Anglers or Frog-fish, the several long tentacula from the
top of the head are organs of great sensibility ; the same are seen most
remarkable in the Szlurida, or Cat-fish family ; these cirri being analo-
gous to the tentacula in the Acalephe, and to the antenne in certain
insects. I have observed as to the prominent form ofthe eye in the O.
oblongus. In the projecting or very convex cornea it would seem that
it was afforded a kind of periscopic vision, and which is a necessary
power to animals whose movements must be decidedly slow. Fish which
remain constantly at any great depth at the bottom have generally very
prominent or large eyes. In the O. mola, Dr. Bellingham has noticed
a membrane covering the cornea, similar to the membrana nictitans.

The late Rev. Lansdowne Guilding, who held the office of Colonial
Chaplain at St. Vincent’s, and for whom as an accomplished naturalist
the highest respect must be entertained, has described a new genus of
the Sunfish tribe, of gigantic size, inhabiting the seas of the West Indies,
which has been named Pedalion gigas. Guilding first observed the re-
markable characters in the eye of the Sunfish, its construction being
conical and versatile, enabling the fish to look different ways at one time,
or to have an exceedingly wide range of field. He has observed this spe-
cies to exhibit during the night a splendid phosphorescent appearance.
The same is mentioned as having been noticed in the O. mola, and in
the oblongus.

In the characters thus drawn of this rare species we necessarily look
to the analogies or connecting links with the families or groups in the °

ANDKEWS —ON ORTHAGORISCUS OBLONGUS. 59

order plectognathi, or cheloniform fishes, in which it has been placed.
With the Balistide, it is connected with Ostrasine in the character of
‘the plates of the cuticle, which, similar to the Ostracian or Trunk-fish,
are, Instead of scales, composed of plates joined together. The European |
File-fish* (Balistes capriscus), which has been taken off the coast of
Sussex, exhibits an arrangement covering the body of hard rhomboidal
imbedded plates. To Zetraodon and Diodon it is related by having no
true teeth, and to the Syngnathide, or Pipe-fish, by the versatile struc-
tural arrangement of the eyes. The Syngnathus, however, more pro-
perly belongs to the Lophobranchi.

Dr. Bellingham’ s excellent description of Orthagoriscus mola, in
a paper read at the meeting of the Society, in April, 1840, ‘and
publ’ shed in the “‘ Magazine of Natural History” of that year, clearly
sho'vs how very distinct are the characters he has described from
those I have given of the Oblongus. In the latter the form of the
pectoral fin, the hexagonal compartments or plates on the surface of
the body, and possessing a true caudal fin with rays, show such im-
portant deviations that I am inclined to consider the generic name,
Cephalus, as applied by Shaw and Swainson, to be more appropriate
than being continued with the genus Orthagoriscus. The Mola seems
much nearer allied to Pedalion of Guilding in the rough granulated sur-
face of the body, the short, rounded, pectoral fin, and more particularly
in the lobed sacral appendage, serving instead of the caudal fin. In
Pedalion the lobes are described as six in number; in Orthagoriscus
mola they are eight to nine. In this respect the figures given in the
several works on British fishes are very inaccurate.

Mr. Couch has remarked of the Mola taken on the Cornish ‘coast,.
that in calm weather it mounts to the surface, and lies, perhaps asleep,
floating with the tide, with its head and even its eyes above water ; but
that he has known it when attacked to make awkward efforts to escape,
bending and directing its motion in various ways. Dr. Neil states that
one brought to him made no efforts to escape, but suffered one of the
sailors to put his hands under it, and lift it into the boat, so stupid the
fish appeared. In the several statements it does not appear that the
fish made any attempts to descend.

Dr. Farran is of opinion that this action of floating on the surface
could not have been one of rest or enjoyment, but that the creature
must evidently have been in a dying state. Mr. Robert Ball has stated
that between the years 1818 and 1825 he saw five of these fish off the
coast of Youghal. There were three of themdead. Dvodon and Tetra-
odon (the Globe-fish) have the power of inflating an extensile mem-
brane sac, which adheres along the abdomen, and when thus distended,
they roll over, and float with the stomach uppermost. They can as
readily eject the air, render the membrane flaccid, and sink at pleasure.
In tropical seas, Dr. Roget mentions that fish have been captured by
having remained too long on the surface of the water, exposed to the

* Some taken in Galway, Dingle, and Brandon Bays.

60 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

burning rays of the sun. The fish finds itself retained against its will;
the air bladder, becoming overdistended by the heat, resists the efforts
of the animal to compress it. It thus continues floating until the cool
of the evening condenses the air in the bladder, and restores the power
of descending.

In Orthagoriscus, that possesses neither air bladder nor the power of
inflating the body, the small size of the pectoral fins, and the dorsal,
anal, and caudal fins, being merely organs of progression, it is natural
to infer that—like Pleuronectide, or Flat-fish, and the Lophide, or
Anglers—they have not the will nor the necessity to rise to the
surface, but more likely to remain near the bottom, where Crustacea,
Mollusca, and Corallines form their principal food. The Rays, which
have powerful pectoral fins, are enabled by their considerable action to
rise readily to the surface without the assistance of an air bladder. The
formation of the caudal fin or tail is of much importance in determining
the characteristic of the fish as to its swiftness or sluggishness of swim-
ming, Thus the rounded form of the mola, and the truncate character
of that of the oblongus, would prove them to be fish of slow movements.
However, we cannot form conclusive views upon the habits of these
ground-feeding fish ; the most we can arrive at must be suppositions
founded from observation on internal as well as external organization,
and deduction from analogical reasoning.

One remarkable character, Mr. Swainson states, ‘‘that in the class
of fishes, the shape of the pectoral and caudal fins are almost always
symmetrical—that is, that the caudal fins are forked in the same propor-
tion as the pectorals are pointed; nor does an instance at this moment
occur to us where the pectoral fin is pointed and the caudal rounded, or
the contrary.” Now it is very evident, in the instance of the oblongus,
there is a departure from the views advanced by Mr. Swainson. Again, in
the genus Pecilia, of South America, a similar character isseen. Pecilia
unimaculata, observed by Mr. Darwin in fresh-water ditches at Rio
Janeiro, and described in the zoology of the voyage of H. M.S. Beagle,
has the caudal rounded, while the pectorals are narrow and pointed.
Tetraodon angusticeps, inhabiting the Galapagos Archipelago, shows a
beautiful radiating bifurcating of the rays of the caudal fin, resembling
that of the oblongus.

Since this paper has been drawn up, Mr. Robert Ball, Director of
the Museum in the University, has kindly informed me that in the Mu-
seum there is a specimen of the oblongus, which he suspects to have
been sent there, with several rarities of birds and fish from Wexford, by
the Rev. Mr. Elgee, about the year 1790.

Dr. Scouler then commented upon the admirable state in which
Mr. Andrews had preserved the species of Sun-fish this evening
exhibited, and he congratulated the Society upon the higher grade
of views that Mr. Andrews had drawn of the characters and
analogies of that species, with the other, the M/ola—statements so
superior to the mere describer of external form, or to the collector
or noter of habitats. He did not agree with what Mr. Andrews

ANDREWS—ON ORTHAGORISCUS OBLONGUS. 61

had, although cautiously, put forward, that the air bladder was
of importance to the certain habits of fish. Eels, which were
ground-feeding fish, had an air bladder, and he recollected that there
were two species of the Scomberide, or mackerel tribe, that were so
perfect a resemblance of each other, as one drop of water to another,
yet one possessed an air bladder, while it was wanting in the other.
With regard to the sensitiveness of the lips or mouths of fishes—this
was peculiarly shown in the shark tribe. He considered that there was
a great distinction between the characteristics of the imperfectly deve-
loped teeth of the Mola and of the Oblongus. Inthe former their strong
formation evinced a capability of grinding and crashing the hardest
Mollusca, while in the Odlongus the structure seemed fitted only to feed
on the Annelides, Holothurie, and other soft-bodied creatures.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1870.
Witi1am Anprews, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair.

The minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, confirmed,
and signed,

The Chairman gave a short but most interesting paper on some rare
Crustacea, obtained by dredging in from forty to sixty fathoms off the
south-west coast of Ireland.

He exhibited a specimen of the long-legged swimming crab (Por-

tunus longipes), dredged in upwards of fifty fathoms off the entrance of
Dingle Bay. It is one of the Mediterranean species, and Mr. Andrews
was not aware of its occurrence having been before noticed on the coast
of Ireland. -The specimen exhibited was not full grown, but possessed
all the characteristics described by Bell and by Spence Bate. Its colour
was of a deeper brown when first captured. The carapace exhibited
the transverse ridge, terminating at each side by rather a long and
sharp tooth.
Beautiful specimens of Paguride were taken in fifty fathoms,
particularly Pagurus ulidianus and Paguris levis. The latter were
particularly fine, remarkable for their clear yellow colour, and having
a distinct red mark extending along the hand and bifurcating at the
fingers. A specimen laid before the Society had the ova fully de-
veloped; they had been found in that state early in August.

Mr. Andrews then gave an account of many other forms of the
marine invertebrata procured by him while dredging in deep water in
Dingle Bay, and off the Islands, amongst which he enumerated the
following, viz. :—

Stenorynchus tenuirostris,
Inachus dorsettensis,

Pisa tetraodon,

Gibbsii,

Hyas araneus,

Coarctatus,

62 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Maia squinado,
Eurynome aspera,
Pirimela denticulata,
Portunus hoisatus,
Gonoplax angulata,
Ebalia Pennantii,
— Cranchii,
Corystes Cassivelaunus,
Pagurus Bernhardus, of large size, aie a by shell.
Prideauscil,
Galathea Squamifera,
Strigosa,
Nesca,

Hippolyte varians,

Palemon servatus, in 60 to 80 fathoms, also met at that devil in

the stomach of the cod,
Pandalus Annulicornis, similarly met.
Gonoplax angulata was brought up with coarse sand in 40 fathoms,

and Galathea nexa was frequent in 15 to 20 fathoms, among coarse
shingle and nullipores.

Dr. Artaur Wywne Foor then read the following

«‘ Brrer Nores on Entomonoey.”’

On the 12th of April, 1870, I left town to spend a few days in the
neighbourhood of the town of Graig-na-managh, in the eastern part of
the county of Kilkenny; and with this date commenced my entomo-
logical season for the year. The record of my proceedings contains
nothing that is very novel—at least so far as I have been able to
identify my captures—and I only bring forward these observations
because, from their practical nature, they are such as may be of use
to those in pursuit of insects at a similar time of the year. Professor
Wilson has accurately discriminated (see Christopher in his “‘ Aviary,”
Cant. i.) between the two orders of naturalists—those self-formed
amongst the fields and forests on the one hand; on the other, the dry,
sapless students of books in a closet or a museum. It is only for the
former that these unscientific remarks can have any interest.

The afternoon of the 12th was so wet that nothing could be done
but remain in doors, and unpack the materzel of insect warfare, set up
land and water-nets, prepare laurel tins and spirit bottles. The 18th
was also a very unfavourable day, rain falling almost without inter-
mission, the wind S.W. In such weather dredging for water beetles
can be resorted to, if you do not mind having to change your clothes;
and a short examination of some of the back drains running parallel to
the Barrow, above the town of Graig, produced a considerable number
of the commoner Hydradephaga. I may notice that the advantage of a
piece of indiarubber cloth for kneeling on while examining the contents

FOOT—ON ENTOMOLOGY. 63

of the water-net is quite spoiled by heavy rain, which collects in pools
on it, and makes it just as uncomfortable to the knees as the wet ground
itself. The indiarubber cloth, so useful to coleopterists, may then be
dispensed with if working in actual rain. Vhe water-net used
was one made by myself out of stout sampler canvas, stitched on a
hoop, a foot in diameter, of stout galvanized iron wire; the net was
lashed to the end of two joints of a salmon rod. I took up various
species of newt—the great water newt (Zriton ecristatus), the smooth
newt (Lissotriton punctatus), and the palmated smooth newt (Lissotriton
palmatus). The newts were thrown back into the drains; the larger
species of the water beetles—species of Dytiscus, Acilius, and many of
Llybius, were put into a half-pound tobacco canister, partly filled with
crushed laurel leaves, but having at the bottom three or four broken
slabs of cyanide of potassium loosely wrapped in blotting paper, which
retains the moisture of the cyanide as it liquefies, and helps efficiently to
make the confined atmosphere of the canister very deadly; but, notwith-
standing, the raps of the beetles as they spring about can be heard for
some time against the top and sides of their tin prison. The smaller
water-beetles and smaller water-bugs were put into a wide-mouthed
bottle of convenient size, nearly filled with methylated spirits of wine.
This answers for killing and carrying safely all the smaller beetles.
They are easily set at any time when taken out of the spirit, and do
not run the risk of being mutilated by their stronger fellows, as they
would in the tin canister. The only drawback that I know of is that
the legs of insects thus preserved may prove more brittle than
usual when set. I noticed that the aquatic coleoptera always
died much more slowly in the spirit-bottle than the terrestrial beetles;
perhaps from their being so much better accustomed to a liquid medium
the shock of immersion was not so overpowering, and their respiration
is less suddenly and less violently interfered with. The spirit-bottle
will answer well for killing and keeping spiders, small ichneumons,
and some flies—in fact those Hymenoptera and Diptera which have no
considerable amount of pubescence. If there is much hairiness on any
insect immersed in spirit, no amount of dressing will subsequently
restore the natural lie of the down, and they can always be recognized
as a drowned insect. Many Coleoptera, especially species of Philonthus,
and many of the Chrysomelide and Coceinellide expand their wings
when immersed in the spirit bottle. When this occurrence is objection-
able, as many think it spoils the appearance of the insects, the wings
can be easily pulled off by a smart jerk with a broad forceps when
setting, and the elytra being put back in their places the absence of
the membranous wings is not discoverable.

In the course of the day Crdaria psitticarva (the red-green carpet)
was found in an orchard, dodging about among the apple trunksin a
drizzling rain; it threw itself down on the ground when escape seemed
hopeless, and gave up without any show of resistance. As the impreg-
nated female of this moth hybernates, and the apple isafavorite food-plant
of its larva, it is likely that the insect was engaged in laying. Dromius

64 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

quadrimaculatus was taken among the chinks of bark, where they sub-
sist upon other subcortical insects and several species of Coccznnella, 14-
guttata, 14-punctata, and variabilis. The lady-birds, were no |doubt,
awaiting the visits of Aphides to the ‘apple-blossoms just about open-
ing; however, I did not see any aphides, though I on several occasions
looked for them on the fresh young leaves and opening blossoms of the
apple trees. On the 14th I saw the first white butterfly of the season,
Pieris napi (the green-veined white;) Anthocharis cardamines (the
orange-tip) was seen the same day. Many early spring bees of the
genus Andrena were rolling themselves in the flower-heads of hawk-
need. These bees are best killed by dropping a little chloroform through
a hole in the lid of a small pill-box in which they have been enclosed
one at atime. In a minute or two the bee can be pinned and put in
the collecting box, where it will remain quiet, or at most only moving
its legs slowly. Hymenoptera are not so easily killed with chloroform as
the Diptera are. Itistroublesome, unless collecting bees alone, to pill-
box each separately, and carry them home to be killed there by the
fumes of sulphur under a bell glass. On the 15th, in the sandy copse-
wood of Coolreany, the green tiger beetles (Czcindella campestris) were
flying about in the hot sunshine in the forenoon and middle of the day,
lighting often, and running quickly along the road tracks through the
wood. Sphecodes ephippia, a small bee of the family Andremde, was
found insame locality. Jelée proscarabeus (the oil-beetle) was met with
in abundance, mostly females, slowly dragging their bloated bluish-black
bodies after them. Orange-tips, green-veined whites, and one or two
of the azure-blues (Polyommatus argiolus) were seen in the afternoon.
Great numbers of the peacock butterfly (Vanessa Lo) were met along
the skirts of oak-woods, hybernated specimens ; now and then a small
tortoiseshell ( Vanessa urtica), but none of the admiral (V. Atalanta) ;
the hybernated specimens of the latter are seldom seen till May is well
advanced. This evening I tried if anything was to be got by sugaring,
but was most unsuccessful, as I had anticipated, from the wind having
been in the east all day, and the evening being clear and cold, almost
frosty. On the 16th, the orange-tips, (Anthocaris cardamines) were
coming out very freely and quite fresh; the speckled wood butter-fiy
(Lasiommata Atgerta) was seen for first time this season. I took a
number of fine specimens of the long-legged Hydrometra najas, inaccu-
rately called water spiders, in the brook in Borris Demense. Several
pairs were i covtu—the smaller males retained their amatory clasp of
the females even in death. On the 17th (Haster Sunday), I noticed
great numbers of Aphthona pseudacorz, most of them 7m copuld, on the
young yellow irides by the edge of the Barrow, hopping about like fleas
if disturbed; also, took Chlienius vestitus from under a stone by the
edge of a stream. This evening, at 9 p.m., asthe wind, which had been
S.E. through the day, had fallen, and as the night was dark, I set the
American moth trap, more as an experiment to see how the lamp would
work than in the hopes of catching anything. This moth trap has been
described by H. G. Knaggs, M.D., in the 2nd vol. of the ‘“‘ Etomologist’s

FOOT—ON ENTOMOLOGY. 65

Monthly Magazine,” p. 199. I have used it on many occasions since
this paper was read, and have never been rewarded by any captures
worth speaking of. I had one of the large size sold by T. Cooke, for
£2; as at present constructed it seems to me to have many defects.
On the 18th, I took a fine series of Polyommatus argiolus (the azure
blue), among the holly bushes in the woods of Mr. Kavanagh and Col.
Tighe, on both sides of the Barrow, below St. Mullins. All the speci-
mens were males. These are the earliest of the blues, appearing in for-
ward seasons about the end of April, but more generally in May. Its
occurrence on the 15th and 18th of April is unusually early. In the
‘“* Ent. Month. Mag.’ for May, 1870, Mr. Nash, writing from Gloucester,
records the appearance of P. argiolus on the 4th of April last year
(1869); the earliest date at which he saw it was the 24th of April.
The same day I took a fine specimen of Bom5ylius major sipping on the
wing, like the humming bird moth, from the blossoms of Caltha palus-
tris; also many oil-beetles, most of them IZ. proscarabeus. Two of these
I pulled up out of holes in a hard pathway, down into which they were
going head foremost. 20th. Dragged ponds and stagnant drains, getting
many of Wepa-cinerea (the water scorpion), several species of Corixida,
and many Hydradephaga. Sugaring this evening was very unprofitable,
producing one very much worn specimen of Scopelosoma satellitia (the
satellite moth), some Helops striata, and several specimens of weevils
(Alophus trigutattus, Otiorrhynchuspicipes, Strophulus coryli). On the
21st swallows appeared in great numbers for first time this year; got
Anchomenus albipes in great plenty, under stones in damp sandy ground,
beside the edge of the river; also the pretty vermilion weevil, Apion
miniatum, among the roots of grass. The 22nd being wet and stormy,
I spent some time searching cow dung in a sheltered paddock, and got
many species of Brachelytra, especially of Philonthus, Hister, and
Spheridium. The cuckoo was heard this day for the first time this
season. In the evening I tried sugaring again, with the same success
as on the former occasion, getting only Helops striatus, and the same
kinds of weevils as before; even the earwigs, ants, and woodlice were
rather scarce at the sugared trees. The willow catkins were tried, kut
nothing moved near them, the night being clear, cold, and starry, no
wind, but had been in E. ‘all day. ‘In the daytime, the sun being hot,
the willow blossoms were much frequented by Volucella bomb ylans,
many Syrplide, and the large hybernated females of Bombusterrestris,
lapidarius, and muscorum, busy collecting materials for the use of their
summer progeny. On the 23rd, while reading in a boat moored in the
rushes by the water’s edge, I took many pairs of Prasocuris phellandrit
and marginella off the leaves of Caltha palustris ; the males were all
shorter and smaller than the females. A pair of Silpha rugosa, taken
from underneath a dead lamb on the mountain side, was all I got the
next day, before my return to town. The season was very backward
in vegetation, and very late as concerned insects. The coldness of the
nights made collection from the willow blossoms or by sugar almost a
useless labour. The leaves were hardly visible on the hedges, so bush-

VOL. VI. K

66 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

beating, unlessfor young caterpillars (very useless toa town entomologist),
was out of the question. However, the enchantment of out-of-door
entomology does not always consist in the number of rare things ob-
tained, but is very much due to the recreation of an invigorating pur-
suit, and to the pleasant associations with which the observations of
insect life are often connected.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1870.
Witiiam Anprews, Ksa., V. P., in the Chair.

The minutes of the last meeting having been read, compared, and
signed,

The Secretary read the annual report for the past session, which was .
adopted unanimously. The Treasurer read the annual balance sheet of
the Society for the past year, and reported a balance to the credit of the
Society of £75 8s. 3d. In consequence of the voting list not having
been sent down in time from the printers, the annual election of office-
bearers could not be proceeded with.

It was proposed by Mr. R. P. Williams, and seconded by Dr.
Macalister, that a meeting of the former Council should be held on that
day fortnight, in Mr. Williams’ house, No. 38, Dame-street.

The meeting was then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1870.
Rev. Proressor Haveutron, M.D., in the Chair.

Mr. R. P. Williams and Mr. T. Kift were nominated as Auditors of
the accounts for the past year.

The Chairman having declared the meeting to be an emergency meet-
ing, at which all by-laws were suspended, Mr. R. P. Williams proposed,
and Mr. Barton seconded, the election of Mr. William Andrews and Mr.
R. J. Montgomery as Secretaries to the Society for the coming year,

Lord Clermont was proposed as President of the Society by Mr. R.
P. Williams, and seconded by Mr. Kift, and unanimously elected.

The following Vice-Presidents were duly proposed and seconded, and
unanimously elected :—

Robert Callwell, Esq., M.R.I. A.; R. P. Williams, Esq., M.R.I. A.;
W. Archer, Esq.; E. Perceval Wright, M.D.

The following gentlemen were elected to form a Council :—

Robert Ball, M.A.; Henry Barton, Esq. ; Alexander Carte, M.D.;
George Dixon, Esq.; Arthur Wynne Foot, M. D.; Rev. Dr. Haughton ;
Archibald Jacob, M. D. ; Thomas Kift, Esq. ; John J. Lalor, Esq. ;
Alexander Macalister, M. D.; Robert M‘Donnell, M.D.; ; David Moore,
Ph. D., M.R.I. A.; Ramsay H. Traquair, M.D.

KINAHAN—ON FERNS. 67

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1871.
Rey. Prorsessor Haveuton, M. D., in the Chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, compared, and
signed, donations announced, and thanks voted,

G. H. Kinahan, Esq., read the following communication :—

On FERNS OBSERVED IN [ArR, oR WEST CONNAUGHT, AND ALSO IN SoOUTH-
West Mayo.

Polypodium phegopteris.—Abundant in Glan, on a sloping tract of
ground south of Maum Bay, or the N. W. arm of Lough Corrib; in
county Mayo, found in the Coom, 8. W. of Dromin Chapel, and said to
be found at Toormakeady, west of Lough Mask.

Polystichum aculeatum, with varieties lobatum, and lonchitidoides.—
Found in favourable situations in the vicinity of Lough Corrib, growing
more especially in the metamorphic limestone; also at Glengowlagh,
west of Oughterard.

Lastrea montana.—On the north and north-east slope of some of the
hills south of Maum Bay, and at Lenane, Killery Bay.

Asplenium viride—On limestone, above 1,000 feet high, on Lis-
soughter, and in Glenlosh ; on serpentine and steatite on Bengower,
one of the Twelve Pins; and on steatitic-dolomite, above 1000 feet S.W.
of Dromin Chapel, county Mayo. .

Asplenium adiantum ngrum.—A beautiful bushy variety found on
serpentine, S.W. of Glendalough Hotel ; the variety acutum not uncom-
mon.

Ceterach officinarum.—In places abundant on the carboniferous lime-
stone, but only locally found; on other limestone and calcareous rocks
rare.

Adiantum capillus venerts—Found on the hill N.N.E. of Sheffey,
county Mayo. This locality is five miles away from the nearest salt
water (east end of Killery harbour), and is the most northern station
yet known in Ireland. Only a few small stools could be found. The
lobes of the pinnules are very deeply serrated.

Cystopteris fragilis—Found in two places on limestone, about 900
feet high, in Glan, N.W. of Oughterard.

Botrychium lunarva.—Found on some of the drift hills near Lough
Corrib, and near the sea shore six miles 8.W. of Louisburgh, county
Mayo.
‘Cea, vulgatum.—Growing freely in a few stations on the
coast of Galway Bay, in places where the soil was formed of shell sand;
also in a few scattered localities, limy soil.

Lastrea dilatata.—Common, more especially the small mountain
variety, aspedium dumetorum.

Athyrium Filiz-femina.—Not uncommon ; a short bushy variety,

68 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

somewhat like Polypodium alpestre in appearance; abundant in some
localities.

Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense.—Not uncommon on the silicious
rocks; very abundant south of Killery harbour.

HT. unilaterale, rarer than Tunbridgense, grows in similar situa-
tions. 4

These are only a few of the plants selected from Mr. Kinahan’s
paper, upon which the Chairman and Mr. Andrews made remarks as to
its extreme interest, bearing upon the geological characteristics where
the plants were distributed, and where they were extremely local.

The variety of Adiantum capillus veneris is a beautiful plant. A
more northern locality than that described by Mr. Kinahan of the Ad-
antum capilius veneris was found by the late Right Hon. John Wynne,
in Leitrim, on the borders of Sligo.

Mr. Witiram Anprews, M.R.I.A., then read a paper:—

Notes ON THE IcHTHYOLOGY OF THE SoutH-WEsT Coast
oF [RELAND.

Iris always of interest to bring fo notice any new facts, either in
zoology or botany, of a county or district, but more especially so when
any discovery can be recorded which presents new features of animal
or vegetable life, the existence of which had not been previously known.

The chief remark conveyed in this Paper is with reference to the
capture, in January last, on the south-west coast, of several specimens
of a fish of extremely rare occurrence—the Trichiurus lepturus.

When first it was met with by Dr. Busteed, cast ashore after a gale
of wind, he conceived it to be a species of the scabbard fish, Lepidopus,
the terminal portion of the tail or filament having been torn of. Its
formidable jaws, and the pectoral fins pointing upwards, led him to that
conclusion.

The specimen was washed on the beach near Hilville, Brandon Bay,
county of Kerry ; but, subsequently, several other fine specimens, with
the caudal portion complete, were found on the shores of different parts
of the same bay, and at Fahamore, near the Magharees,

The ZLepidopus, as also the Zrichiurus, belong to the tcenioids, or
riband-fish. The former is remarkable, with an elongated muzzle,
mouth cleft, possessing strong trenchant teeth, lower jaw more elon-
gated than the upper. Leprdopus of the Kuropean seas is a remarkably
large and handsome fish, and, being a deep-water species, it is seldom
taken on our shores, though I have no doubt its existence would be
found not unfrequent. It isa fish possessing a large swimming bladder,
is of great swiftness of action, and the scales, though delicate, are of
the most silvery brightness: hence its specific name, argyreus.

The Zrichiurus, or hair-tail, has seldom been reported as seen on the
British coasts, yet its occurrence I suspect to be by no means rare. Its
generic name is significant of its character, hair-tail, from the termina-

ANDREWS—ON ICHTHYOLOGY. 69

tion, instead of a caudal fin, being a long hair-like or compressed fila-
ment. The only known one on our shores is the species Lepturus,
which frequents the Atlantic. It is common on the coasts of Porto
Rico, and also on those of Cuba; but it is not so frequent on the
American coasts as in the Torrid Zone. One nearly resembling the
American species is 7. hawmela, an Asiatic species from the coasts of
Malabar.

The three species in the British Museum that have been described
by Dr. Gray, in ‘‘ Zoological Miscellany,” are designated 7’ armatus, 7.
muticus, and 7. intermedius, chiefly distinguished by the forms of the
head, operculum, and jaws. They are figured in Griffith’s Supple-
mentary Addition to Cuvier’s Animal Kingdom. Before the numbers
-that a few months since were cast ashore on the Cornish coast, and
others on the coast of Devonshire, and also the specimen obtained by
Dr. Adams, 22nd Regiment, at Kinsale, they had been rarely met, and,
indeed, in a scientific point of view, not accurately described ; only two,
according to Yarrell, having, after gales of wind, been thrown ashore
on the British coasts, and those greatly mutilated, insomuch that from
their size the true distinctions of the species were not correctly, or with
doubt, determined. In the species figured by Yarrell and by Hamil-
ton; in Naturalist’s Library, the pectoral fin is shown as pointing
downwards; whereas the true position in 7. Lepturus is pointing up-
wards, which is the case in all the species, as shown in Z. haumela and
T. savala.

The Zrichiurt are destitute of ventral fins, having near the anal
very minute spines, no visible scales. Until those specimens which
were found cast ashore during the past winter on the British and Irish
coasts, its claims to British ichthyology were very slender. Besides the
Lepidopus, we have other singular allied fish inhabiting deep water,
and but seldom, excepting through gales of wind, seen on our shores—
such as the Gymnetrus and the red-band fish, Cepola rubescens. The
latter has, among the larger fuci, been washed ashore on the coast of
Waterford. There can be no doubt that Zrichiurus, and others that
haunt deep soundings, are by no means uncommon off our coasts; for it
is only when severe gales set in or the coast that those novelties of the
deep are noticed. Indeed, I may say that want of scientific knowledge
of the several genera and of species have too often been consequent of
such occurrences not being made known to us; and were it not from
the observations of such men as Doctors Adams and Busteed, the pre-
sence of those at Kinsale and at Brandon Bay would never have been
revealed.

From what could be gleaned, a more than usual abundance of sprats
was cast ashore at Kinsale during the month of December last, and
among them, apparently in the action of chase, the Trichiurus. Those
obtained by Dr. Busteed were about the same time, at distances from
each other, stranded in Brandon Bay, county of Kerry, probably en-
gaged in similar pursuits; and I should not be surprised that with the
sprats anchovies would have been found.

70 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

In Zrichiurus the dorsal fin commences at the nape of the neck,
extending the entire length of the dorsal ridge, the rays being of deeper
length near the termination. It is similar in form to Lepidopus. It
has no ventral or caudal fins, the latter being a compressed filament,
with a series of minute spines on the under edge. The stomach is
elongated and thick, intestines straight, coeca numerous, and the nata-
tory bladder long and simple. In the form of the jaws, large teeth,
operculum, and pectoral fins, it more nearly resembles 7. armatus, and
especially in the position of the lateral line, which commences at the
upper edge of the operculum, and, descending with a curve, runs in a
line along more than the lower third of the body. In the other species
the line is more central, not forming a curve from the operculum, but
continuing nearly midway along the body. Five specimens were ob-
tained—four were sent to me. The largest measured, from snout to
termination of the caudal filament, 33 inches ; the depth of body 32
inches; the dorsal fin had 135 rays, the pectoral 11 rays; the swim-
ming bladder was long and tubular.

A fine specimen was thrown ashore on the southern side of Tralee
Bay, about two miles south-east of Castlegregory. Thus it is remark-
able the extent of distance they were cast ashore, no doubt proving
the numbers that must exist in deep water off that part of the coast.

In like manner the black fish (Centrolopus pompilus) was supposed
to be extremely rare, the only known occurrence on the Irish coasts
were two specimens recorded as captured in Dingle Harbour. Last
summer, during a cruise off that coast, hundreds were seen playing
over a piece of floating wreck. ‘The same may be said of the stone-
basse, Polyprion cernium, of which, under the same circumstances at
sea, numbers have been met. I may here mention the occurrence of a
beautiful specimen of the Zunny, Thynnus vulgaris, caught in Brandon
Bay, October, 1869. The measurements sent to me by Lord Ventry
were—length, four feet three inches; girth, three feet two inches;
length of head, one foot one inch; spread of tail, one foot one inch.
From the tail forward, on the upper part, it had nine finlets; below,
eight finlets. In the several species of bonito, the spurious fins, or
finlets, are only eight above.

From the foregoing observations I feel confident that we have not
yet gleaned the extent of interest that exists in the marine zoology of
our shores, or of the deep water off our coasts. But few local residents
have knowledge of such subjects, and, having no means of reference to
works of information, many valuable specimens are lost to science;
and, though the fishermen are sufficiently intelligent to distinguish ob-
jects that are but occasionally met, or that have not before been known
to them, yet they are generally found indifferent to the retaining the
capture of any fish, or of marine objects, but those that in their estima-
tion are of marketable value.

After some observations from the Chairman and members, the
Honorary Secretary stated that parts forming the volume for 1868-69
of the Transactions of the Society, with index, and containing ten

FOOT—ON IRISH DIPTERA. Te

plates, were ready for delivery to members whose subscriptions were
not in arrear,

The meeting was then adjourned to the first Wednesday in April.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 1871.

R. P. Wittiams, Esa., V. P., in the Chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read, confirmed,
and signed,

The following paper was read :—
Notes on IntsuH Diprera. By Dr. AntuurR Wynne Foot.

Dunne the past year I commenced to add insects of the Dipterous order
to my collection, and found the observation of these insects a source of
much profit and recreation. I have not been able to do much more
than obtain most of the commoner Diptera which usually fall to the lot
of a first year’s man, but with these ordinary insects I have also taken a
few which are not so common. I find that thirty-nine genera and
sixty-five species will include my captures. In apology for not having
done more in this large order, I am bound to say that my time has been
by no means wholly devoted to the two-winged insects, as I took of Hy-
menoptera thirty-two genera, including sixty-four species, besides many
macro and micro Lepidoptera, and a few Neuroptera.

It seems to me that the study of the Diptera offers many attractions
for these reasons—their numbers and variety are immense; they are
freely and widely distributed; they are among the earliest and latest of
our insects in their appearance; they are, in Ireland at least, but imper-
fectly known; they are easily killed, being very susceptible to chloro-
form; they are not difficult to set (at least as compared with Hy-
menoptera); and they relax with facility. Almost all, I may say, that is
known of the Irish Diptera is the result of the labours of the late Mr.
Haliday. I gladly availed myself of the kind offer of Mr. Verrall, of
London, to name the flies I took, and I may be allowed to make a few
remarks on some of these. I do not intend to read the list of genera
and species.

Eristalis rupium is rare. Caught in all eight species of this genus.
There are thirteen given by Walker, in ‘‘ Diptera Britannica.”

Chilosea cestracea, smaller and brighter than English specimens;
while English specimens are smaller and brighter than Continental ones.

Syrphus pyrastrt, a dipteron generally distributed; Mr. Verrall
observed he had hardly ever seen a specimen so dark as mine, I also
have dark varieties of Hristalis intricarvus.

Syrphus grossularia, rare, and, Mr. Verrall thinks, not hitherto re-
corded from Ireland. I took it 15th July, 1870, in Woodstock Glen,

72 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Co. Wicklow. Mr. Verrall took it at Rannoch, in Scotland, last year

1870).
ae flavipes and S. bipuncta are both rather rare; the latter is
a local insect. On looking over the Diptera I sent him, Mr. Verrall
says heis bound to conclude that Irish Diptera are more brightly coloured
than English ones; that he suspected this before, but is now satisfied. It
is known that Irish Lepidoptera are usually more darkly coloured than
and that in several species melanism is more fully observed in Irish
than in English species.

Lucilia sp. regina (?) ‘This was new to Mr. Verrall, and he asked me
to get him some if I found the species abundant this year. ‘The species
had been very abundant on the inside of the windows of the dissecting
room, Medical School, Trinity College, Dublin, in the latter half of the
month of May, and I would not have caught them, from a belief that
they were the common L. Cesar, but that I wished to get my hand
into practice for the coming summer by setting some of them. A
Lucilia, of which I took a pair near Malahide, has not been yet made
out. Mr. Verrall queries it as a variety of L. Cesar.

The Zabanus bovinus is the largest of the genus, and is popularly
called the gadfly or gad bee ; but it isnot the true gadfly, nor of the same
genus. The gadflies, whether the gad or goad of the horse, ox, sheep,
goat, or deer, belong to genus Cistrus, and their flight is silent ; while
that of the tabanus is accompanied by a loud hum. Several of these
specimens were caught by standing still, when I heard the loud hum
which announced a tabanus to be wheeling round me in gradually nar-
rowing circles, about to ight on some part of my coat. The heavy in-
sect is easily taken if allowed to settle. The Cistrus bovis lays its eggs in
hides of oxen, and I have here apiece of hide of a deer from India, in
which the larvee or caterpillar of a species of Gistrus has become esta-
blished, making what, in the case of (Hstrus bovis, are known as warbles
in cattle of this country. I also have the larval form of the Gdstrus
gequi known as bots, which live in the stomach of the horse.

The Bombilii, or beeflies, are noticeable for the very elegant and
fine fur which covers their bodies, for their long probosces with which
they sip honey on the wing, and for the shrill singing hum they make
in flight. Some of them are abroad early in spring. B. major I took
early in April, sucking from Caltha palustris.

Volucella bombylans has a very strong resemblance to an humble bee,
and so have females of Eristalis intricarius, and both may be found
mixed with various species of Bombus at the sallow blossoms in early
spring, when the resemblance between them is to many very striking.
This Volucella (bombylans), in its larval state, is parasitic upon the
humble bees, so that the fly seems to turn its strong likeness to a very
useful account.

The remainder of the flies are of the commoner sort, with which every
collector must commence, andI do not think that they will suggest
any remarks which would justify my trespassing longer on the time of
the Society.

VOL. VI.

FOOT—ON IRISH DIPTERA. 13

Anthomyia sp. ?
Asilus eestivus,
Aricia lardaria.
Bombylius major.

i canescens.
Calliphora erythrocephala.
5 vomitoria.

Chilosia cestracea.
Chrysogaster ccemeteriorum.
Chrysomyia formosa.
Chrysotoxum bicinctum.
Conops quadrifasciata.

», vitellinus.
Cyrtoneura stabulans.
Echinomyia grossa.

Elgiva albiseta.
Empis livida.

,, tessellata.
Eristalis arbustorum.

+ forticola.

7) ambricanius.

» nhemorum.

», pratorum.

> > rupium.

» sepulchralis.

a ap UeTIAX.
Hemotopota pluvialis.
Helophilus lineatus.

, trivittatus.
Leptis scolopacea,
Lucilia Cesar.

», Sp? Cesar var?

»» cornicina.

» regina?
Mellanostoma mellina.
Mesembrina meridiana.
Myopa buccata.

», ferruginea.
Nemotalus uliginosus.
Platycheirus manicatus.
peltatus.

MS scutatus.
Pyrellia serena.
Pyropheena rosarum.
Rhingia campestris.
Sarcophaga carnaria.
Sargus bipunctatus.

», flavipes.

L

7

74 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Scatophaga stercorarea.
Sericomyia borealis.
Syritta pipiens.
Syrphus balteatus.

re erossularie.
% pyrastri.
os ribesii.

- vitripennis.
Tabanus bovinus.
Tachina fera

Pmagtuicbis.

» ‘spt
Tetanocera elata.
Thereva sp.?
Volucella bombylans.

90 pellucens.
Xylota Sylvarum.

Mr. Witi1am Anprews, M. R.I. A., then read a paper entitled :—

Notes on HyMENOPHYLLA, ESPECIALLY WITH REFERENCE TO NEW ZEALAND
SPECIES.

Tue paper that I propose to submit this evening is more with refe-
rence to plants that I have principally received from New Zealand, and
to those that I have cultivated, than to any extensive notes of a tribe
or genera of ferns that present the greatest variety both of novelty and
beauty—the Hymenophyllacee.

Whether we view their distribution in tropical and sub- -tropical
climes, in the depths of the primeval forests of the Columbian Andes,
the dense moist forests of the Amazon, or on the more elevated ranges
of the Peruvian mountains, as well as in the tropical ocean islands of
the Eastern and Western hemispheres, especially those of volcanic
origin, we can rarely meet but among those beautiful tribes, ferns of
such extreme delicacy of texture, of minuteness of growth, and others
assuming a size equal to their beautiful congeners, Zrichomanes, than
the Hymenophylla exhibit.

One of those beautiful localities so frequent in New Zealand, situated
in the Wellington district, at some distance from Port Nicholson, having
the Rimutaki mountains to the west, and the Manugaraki mountains to
the east, lies the lovely valley of Wairarapa. From the heights
branching through the deep dells, like silver threads may be seen the
Ruamahunga river, while occasionally bursts of foam and mist mark the
falls and cascades that interrupt the rapid course of the streams. It is
along their shelving banks that the tree-ferns may be seen rearing their
lofty heads. Cyathea medullaris, the great tree-fern, rising to a height
of forty to fifty feet, the korau, or edible mamaku of the natives;
Cyathea dealbata, the native name ponga or silver fern; these, with

ANDREWS—ON HYMENOPHYLLA. 75.

Cyathea Cunninghami, and the nikau, or cabbage palm, Areca sapida,
which grow in the dense forests that bound that valley, all attain a
magnificent and lofty height.

From a glowing representation of a friend who visited that valley
and kindly sent me seeds and many specimens of living plants,
nothing, he expresses, can surpass the extreme beauty and richness
of foliage and tint that on all sides surround you. The lofty totara,*
the rimut and the maz,{ the parasite rata, king of the New Zealand
trees (Metrostderos robusta), and intermingled in interminable masses,
are growing with surprising vigour and beauty. Solanum aviculare,
fuchsia excorticata, many beautiful shrubs of the Pitlosporee and of the
Myriacee, especially Wyrtus bullata, and Ralphit, which seem laced
together by the supple-jack (Rhipogonum scandens), kareao of the
natives. ‘There may be met the fragrant flowers of Veronica speciosa,
the growth always indicating rich alluvial soil; the Karaka (Coryno-
carpus levigata), a noble laurel-leaved tree, and the ti-tree with its
nodule of bright green leaves, present such varied features that he.
could have gazed for hours were he not driven by the incessant and
unbearable attacks of myriads of the tipulide to retreat to more airy
and open grounds.

It is there that the ferns of which the moist and mild climate of
New Zealand is so productive abound. Numerous are the genera, but
I shall confine myself to the subject of the paper, Hymenophyllum,
slightly referring to some allied forms. My daughter, who had also
visited that valley, corroborates the foregoing description, and mentions
the luxuriance with which the ferns grow in the oppressively moist
and close atmosphere of the numerous gorges and dells of the valley.
Trichomanes and Hymenophylium cover the rocks and shaded recesses in
vast carpets of deep and of brilliant or lively green, and especially

‘around the huge trunks of the Rata and the Karaka, from which many
beautifully suspended, and hang in graceful masses from those trees,
and from the trunks of the tree ferns.

Locality has much effect in the characteristics of those ferns, for
in the more shaded recesses are to be met the beautiful fronds of
Leptopteris superba, the old frondsrecumbent and spreading; exhibiting
a rich deep green, of velvety appearance, while the young fronds rise
erect in the centre like a crest of feathers. JL. pellucida has a pleasing
and delicate appearance—transparent, like Hymenophyllum; and glisten-
ing with moisture where it grows, affected by the spray of the rushing
streamlet near it. The Leptopteris hymenophyllovdes, heru-heru of the
natives, covers with luxuriant growth spots not so sheltered, and is of
more strong and rigid form, as the specimens which I exhibit plucked in
that beautiful valley show. From the examination of L. pellucida which

* Podocarpus tatara.
t Dacrydium cupressinum. ~
{ Podocarpus spicata.

76 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

I have growing these species appear to pass so much into one another
that difference of locality may alone have given characteristics of
separation. Although differing in appearance and habit of growth,
yet each species preserves its membranaceous character, the forked
veins of the pinne, and the disposition of the sori. Not so with the
Hymenophylla, for these present the greatest variation of form of frond,
pinnules, venation, and involucres, which completely characterise dis-
tinct species.

I will now enumerate a few of the species of Hymenophylla that I
have in cultivation, or in my herbarium. The Hymenophylla that
T have received from New Zealand, and of which several are growing,
are known by the Maories as muka-muk. Those natives are, however,
so indolent that no remuneration would induce them to collect, other-
wise I should have had a splendid series brought home to me.

Hymenophylium dilatatum, the largest and most beautiful of the
genus, growing on rocks, and pendulously from the trunks of trees.

LH, demissum, very abundant.

LH, flexuosum, a very pretty fern, with the stipes winged and ne
margins undulated and crisped.

Hf, asabrum, pendulous from the trees in the dense forests near
Wellington.

HT, minimum.—I obtained specimens of this extremely minute fern
from Colonel Dwyer, who commanded a division of the 14th Regiment,
in New Zealand. It is considered scarce, found growing on the roots
of trees. I had some specimens sent me by my friend, Mr. Haines,
from Wairarapa Valley, growing on the stem of a tree-fern. It lived
for some time in my fernery. On the same portion of the tree-fern a
very pretty Hymenophyllum is growing. My friend Dr. Alexander,
R. N., sent measpecimen of this fern, collected on the sides of a
mountain gully, between Chusan and Hong Kong, with Polypodium
lingua.

HH. rarum, another beautiful little species common on the stems of
fern-trees, not unlike H. Tunbridgense.

Hf. crispatum, trunks of tree-ferns, New Zealand.

H. Tunbridgense, distributed throughout the island, and in no way
differing from British specimens; Hymenophyllum cupressiforme ; Jee
unilaterale. Of these three forms of ferns from New Zealand the.
greatest confusion prevails. It has often much surprised me that British
botanists are so persistent in making HZ. unilaterale the true represen-
tative of H. Wilsont ; for I venture to assert that few have ever
possessed truly-authenticated specimens of H. wnilaterale, of Wildenow.
and of Bory St. Vincent, and none to have seen living specimens. H.
unilaterale seems altogether to be confined to the Island of Bourbon,
where alone it was met and described by Bory St. Vincent. I hope,
should some specimens succeed that I have growing of the New Zealand
Unilaterale fruit, to be able to enter more fully into the subject. Of
the variety B. cupressiforme which I exhibit, the fronds are most
peculiar, and are such as are described as a variety of H. Tunbridgense

ANDREWS—ON HYMENOPHYLLA. 19

in Hooker’s New Zealand Flora; but the involucres are even and
entire, similar to H. Wilsond, as the specimen shows. Of H. unilaterale
of New Zealand, of which the specimen before you has been named and
described in New Zealand, the spreading frond more nearly approaches
HI. Tunbridgense; but the fruit, with even and entire involucres, are
similar to those of H. Wilsont, with the exception that the lips of the
inyolucre are broader and not ovate.

I have been favoured with a specimen of the true ZH. unilaterale
from Reunion, obtained by Dr. Meller, and named by Bory St. Vincent.
It unfortunately has no involucres, yet the character of the pinnules
of the frond are distinct both from H. Tunbridgense and H. Wilsont. I
expect a better specimen. In the meantime I will give the account of
one who has taken much interest in the study of ferns, especially those
of the Mauritius, from which place the communication is sent. I
should mention that Reunion is the name given by the French to the
Isle of Bourbon in 1793, and resumed again in 1848. The extract,
which is very clear and pleasingly written, is from a letter sent to a
lady in this city, who is much interested in the subject :—‘‘ Hymeno-
phyllum unilaterale does not grow in Mauritius, but in the neighbour-
ing island of Bourbon (Reunion), and none has been found there since
1835, so that there was some difficulty in procuring aspecimen. This,
however, has been managed with the aid of Dr. Meller, the director of
the Botanic Gardens here, who was in Reunion when your letter ar-
rived, and who succeeded in getting me an authentic specimen, named
by Bory St. Vincent himself, which I now send to you, together with
a few of our Mauritius Hymenophyllee aud Zrichomanes, as they may
interest you or your friends. Sir Henry (Barkly)* and myself, in
concert with Dr. Meller, carefully examined 4. unilaterale, and we
eame to the conclusion that it decidedly differs from the description
given of H. Walsont by Hooker in his species Fvleeum, vol. 1., page 95,
inasmuch as its margin is perfectly smooth, except just at the apex of
the segments; while the latter is described as having the margin
‘toothed or spinuloso serrate.’ The air cells, too, which Dr. Meller
examined with a microscope, are sufficiently distinct from those of ZH.
Wilsont in Seemann’s Journal of Botany, vol. 1, page 294. It also
appears to differ widely from the description given of H. Tunbridgense,
to which Sir William Hooker referred a specimen of H. unzlaterale,
sent by Wildenow (vzde species Hilicum). We have not yet found Z.
Tunbridgense in Mauritius, and can only judge from some specimens
from Ireland, and from a figure given in ‘ Beddome’s Ferns of Southern
India.’ There can be little doubt, therefore, that H. Wilson? is a dis-
dinct species—though whether the same honour can be given to H.
unilaterale, or whether it is only a peculiar form of some of the Bour-
bon varieties, remains to be proved. Sir Henry and Dr. Meller both

* Sir Henry Barkly, K.C. B., at that time Governor and Commander-in-Chief at
Mauritius, now Governor and Commander-in-Chief at the Cape of Good Hope.

78 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

incline, I think, to the latter opinion, as several of the Hymenophyllee
from Reunion have a decided tendency to a unilateral character, and I
enclose one specimen of H. Boryanum found by Dr. Meller growing
with a mass of that fern and from the same root, which, you will see, is
scarcely distinguishable from H. wnilaterale. I wish very much I
could show you my fernery, which is beginning to be a very good one,
and we have also a fine collection of orchids from Madagascar, some of
which are quite new and very beautiful.”

In corroboration of such a statement so decided and valuable, I
some years since, being much interested with regard to the doubts that
existed of the distinctive characters of those two species— Wilsoni and
Unilaterale—had the opportunity of communicating direct with Bory
St. Vincent at Paris, a short time before his death. His reply—‘ There
absolutely remains to me but one specimen. Wildenow, Ventanal,
and the old Jacquine of the neighbourhood (Bourbon), who were then
my correspondents of those countries, have not yet found it, no more
than three or four other rare species which I have equally exhausted,
and which possess but the type of my herbal.”

Trichomanes longisetum I discovered in the thick forests of the Island
of Bourbon.

Wildenow’s description of 1. unilaterale is from the communication
made to him by Bory St. Vincent:—‘‘ Habitat in insule Borboniee
montibus mille orgyas supra mare elevatis, ad rupes humidas.’’—Bory
in Litt.

The above-quoted letter states that attention has been given by Dr.
Meller to the character of air cells; and in the examination of those of
HT. unilaterale he finds them to be sufficiently distinct from those of H.
Wilson, as figured in Seeman’s Journal. George Gulliver, F.R.S.,
Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the Royal College of Surgeons,
in his Paper on the “ Leaf Cells of the British Hymenophyllhe,” ob-
serves a great distinction between those of 1. Zunbridgense and H. Wil-
sont, the former being round, or nearly so, and the latter oval, with an
average long diameter, and he forms the diagnostics of the two species
by terms ‘‘spherenchyma and ovenchyma.” Mr. F. Clowes, of Win-
dermere, who has made several communications to me on the subject,
states that the fronds of H. Zunbridgense die annually, while those of
H. Wilsont grow on from year to year. This I can confirm by obser-
vations on their growth in my own fernery. In the extract I have
given it is further stated that Z. Boryanum is scarcely distinguishable
from HI. unilaterale. The venation of this little fern is similar to that
of Tunbridgense, but differs in the hairy underneath part of the frond,
and with the branched hairs at the margins.* These involucres are
orbicular, ciliated, and sunk in the frond.

I have had much correspondence with my friend Mr. Wilson re-
garding the interest of the species that he has described, and from my

* These branched hairs, or forked ciliz, are frequent on those ferns of the tropics.

ANDREWS—ON HYMENOPHYLLA. 79

extensive examinations of those ferns in all seasons and localities in this
country, I am more than ever confirmed in the truly distinctive charac-
ters of HT. Wilsoni, and that no British nor foreign botanists had ever
before described it. This leads me to observe on the subject of discovery.
Dr. Graves, it would appear, first found and noticed A. Wilsoni, but did
not even guess that there were two species of that fern existing in
Britain. Therefore to Mr. Wilson, who distinguished and described the
plant, is eminently and justly due the discovery. It might just as well
be said that any collecting botanist who sent to Dr. Moore, Director of
the Royal Dublin Society’s Botanic Gardens, and on whom the crypto-
gamic mantle of the late Dr. Taylor, of Kenmare, has fallen, a mass of
lichens or of mosses unnamed, and among which Dr. Moore found and
described new species, that the collector was the discoverer, not the
describer; I should certainly say that Dr. Moore would be the dis-
coverer.

The cultivation of Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes seems to be but
little understood even by our most eminent nurserymen ; I mean to
exhibit them growing naturally, as in the recesses of their native glens.
I have seen those cultivated at Veitch’s magnificent nursery at Chelsea,
and they certainly exhibited healthy characters of growth, but they
were crowded and cramped under huge bell glasses, through which the
outlines of the fronds were but dimly seen, and only a momentary glance
was permitted on the removal of the glass. I saw there beautiful plants
of that splendid fern, Zrichomanes anceps, from Brazil, similarly growing.
In my own fernery, which is built in a shaded recess, those beautiful
ferns have ample field of growth, rambling over, with their spreading
and creeping rhizoma, the portions of rock and blocks of trees arranged
for their protection. :

Major-General Warre, C. B.,a distinguished officer, who commanded
the 57th Regiment in Taranaki, New Zealand, and now in command of
the Infantry Brigade at the Curragh, observed that it was like peeping
into one of the recesses of the rocky and wooded glens of that country.
Captain Clarke, his aide-de-camp, a good practical botanist, well under-
stands the ferns of New Zealand, and has made a good collection.

Few seem to attend to the best plans for the collecting and trans-
mission home of the plants of that beautiful tribe. The Wardian cases
are not so well suited, and moisture will blacken the fronds, and in
most cases totally destroy the vitality of the rhizoma. When on the
eve of leaving the country, boxes should be provided of suitable size, |
which may be lined with zine or tin. Collect masses of Hymenophyllum
in the fresh state, but with no moisture on them ; puta layer at the
bottom of the box ; then spread either Zrichomanes or Hymenophyllum, or
other ferns that may be collected in the same state of freshness, but not
damp, and over them another layer of Hymenophyllum, or mass of mosses
or Lycopodiums ; and thus pack tightly till the box is filled, which may
be secured air-tight, and placed in the coolest part of the ship’s hold.
The plants will thus keep fresh for many months.

In concluding, I cannot too highly praise those gentlemen whose

80 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

tastes and means lead them to introduce to cultivation such a beautiful
tribe of plants. What can be more beautiful than the ferneries of
Mr. Bewley, of Rockville, Blackrock, and of Dr. Hudson, of Low-
ville, Merrion? They are of the greatest interest, not only for the
extreme beauty of the arrangement of the houses, but for the rarity and
novelty of many of the ferns introduced to cultivation, which few would
otherwise have the opportunity of knowing and of examining. Those
gentlemen always kindly permit those interested to see them, and much
information can be gleaned from their intelligent gardeners.

During the reading of the paper some beautiful drawings taken on
the spot in New Zealand were shown. The Rata, Karaka, Tree-ferns,
&c., were conspicuous. There were also exhibited to the members
a beautiful series of Hymenophylla and Leptopteris.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1871.

E. Percrevat Wricat, M. D., V.P., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, compared,
and signed, the following donations to the Library were laid before the
Meeting: :—Parts I., II., and III. for the year 1870 of the ‘‘ Proceed-
ings’ of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London,
‘‘ Canadian Journal of Science for May,” ‘Journal of the Ney ral His-
torical and Archeological Association of Ireland,” vol. i., Fourth
Series; ‘‘ Journal of the Linnean Society,” vol. xi., No. 56; * Atti
della Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali Milano, ” Parts 1 and 2,
vol, xiil. ; ‘‘ Proceedings Natural History,”’ Hermannstadt.

The thanks of the Society having been voted,

Dr. A. W. Foor made the following communication and exhibition
of

Some Native Hymenoptera.

Tae few Hymenoptera which I had an opportunity of collecting in
a short holiday in the country last summer are laid before the meeting.
The collection includes thirty-one genera and sixty-three species.

This great order of insects is divided into two sections by the cha-
racter of the ovipositor. In one section—Terebrantia—it takes the
shape of a saw, auger, or other boring instrument; and to this section
belong the Sawflies, Woodborers, Gallflies, and Ichneumons. In the
other section—Aculeata (from aculeus, a sting or prickle)—the oviposi-
tor has a needle-like character, and in the females and neuters, being
connected with a reservoir of poison, can be used as a weapon of
defence. This section comprises the Ants, Sandwasps, Wasps, and
Bees.

The Terebrant Hymenoptera are divided into two sub-sections—
the Phytophaga (plant-eaters), comprising the Sawflies and Wood-
borers; and the Entomophaga (insect-eaters), including the Ichneu-

FOOT—ON SOME NATIVE HYMENOPTERA. 81

mons, the gall-making insects, and the Chrysidide (ruby-tails).
Among the Terebrant Hymenoptera exhibited there is a variety of the
female of Tenthredo ambigua, taken at rest on the blossom of a Scotch
thistle ; several very fresh specimens of Tenthredo viridis, of both
sexes, found running over the leaves of young and rank plants of
Urtica dioica; and a female of Dolerus coracinus found kicking on its
back in the sand near Malahide.

The tibie of the fore-legs of the Sawflies have two spurs, by which
character either sex of the Sawflies can be distinguished from the
Woodborers without the trouble of dissection.

There are a few of the Entomophagous sub-section of the Terebrant
Hymenoptera in the boxes in the specimens of the Gn. Chrysis, known
as ruby-tails or fireflies. These insects, when taken hold of, make an
aggressive use of their ovipositor, which, though it cannot be considered
as a sting, more than the prickle of a furze bush can, because there is
no poison bag attached, may yet pierce and hurt the soft skins of
children: hence these beautiful insects are generally treated with great
respect when found on the panes of the windows in a nursery in the
hottest days of July. These insects are parasitic, depositing their eggs
in the cells of sandwasps and wild bees. When attacked they roll
themselves up by turning the abdomen underneath the thorax in an
extreme degree of emprosthotonos, and, being sting-proof, the only way
the owner of the invaded nest can injure them is by cutting off their
wings, which mutilation, however, does not prevent them from accom-
plishing their object of depositing their eggs in a ready-made nest.

The Ichneumonidee form a very large family of the Terebrant
Hymenoptera, containing about 120 genera, and more than 1100
species. There are in this box only eight genera and twenty-three
species. Ichneumons are easily recognised by their pinched waists.
The long and slender abdomen is set on to the body of the insect by a
small point, or by a fine stalk at the extreme end of the thorax, between
the hind legs. The ovipositor, which is a needle-like organ, consisting
of a horny sheath, guarded by a pair of valves, and enclosing two
slender serrated bristles, is in some specimens short, and concealed
within the abdomen; in others visible, and occasionally. of great
length, considerably exceeding that of the body. The Ichneumons
and the Gallflies are comprised in a division of Terebrant Hymenop-
tera called Spiculifera, or dart-bearers, from the elongated character of
the ovipositor. The use of the Ichneumon family in nature appears to
be to check the destruction of vegetation by the larvee of other insects.

Of the large cuckoo bees there are two males and two females of
Apathus rupestris, parasitic on Bombus lapidarius, and a female of
Apathus, campestris, parasitic on Bombus subterraneus. The resem-
blance between these parasitic bees and their hosts is very close, and
there appears to be great harmony between the idle and the working
bees. There are but two sexes in Apathus.

Of Bombus there are here six species. Eighteen are given in Mr.
Smith’s Catalogue of British Hymenoptera. The derivation of the

VOL. VI. M

82 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

term humble-bee appears to be from a corruption of the word humming
bee, which appropriately describes the sonorous flight of these large
bees. ‘

There are some specimens here of the solitary bees, as distinguished
from the social and parasitic bees, amongst which are two species of
‘Sphoecodes, one of the family of short-tongued bees, small black and
red shining insects; three species of the genus Halictus; and three of
‘the genus Andreena. Next in order are seen three species of the
‘wasp-like parasitic or cuckoo-bee Nomada, another species of the five
genera of cuckoo-bees; then two specimens of one of the leaf-cutter
bees, Megachile centuncularis. This species is considered to be the
most widely distributed bee in the whole family of Apide. Then come
‘some specimens of the sand-burrowing and wood-boring wasps, dis-
tinguished from the true wasps by their fore wings, which are not
folded; Crabro cephalotes, which burrows in decaying wood, and pro-
‘Visions its nest with Diptera; Pemphredon lugubris, another fossorial
‘wood wasp; Mellinus arvensis, one of the most common of the sand
wasps; and Pompilus exaltatus, another equally abundant species of
sand wasp. Of the social wasps there are in the box four of the seven —
Trish species—Norvegica and Sylvestris (tree wasps), Vulgaris and
Rufa (ground wasps). One of the two genera of solitary wasps is re-
presented by Odynerus trimarginatus. Two queens and four workers
of the Alpine, Ligurian, or bright-banded honey bee are placed beside
a queen and some workers of the common brown honey bee, for com-
parison.

The number of species collected by me is very small; but the time
at my disposal was by no means exclusively devoted to Hymenoptera,
or probably this most extensive order of insects would have been more
fully represented here this evening.

List oF HyMENoPTERA CoLLECTED.
Terebrantia.

Cimbex femorata.
Trichosoma lucorum.
Lophyrus pini.
Athalia rose.
Allantus arcuatus.
Tenthredo ambigua.

af viridis.
Dolerus coracinus.
Chrysis ignita.
Ichneumon flavoniger.
palliatorius.
fasciatorius.
terminatorius.
extensorius.
‘5 umbraculosus.

FOOT—ON SOME NATIVE HYMENOPTERA. 83

Ichneumon hzemorrhoidalis.

9 sarcitorius.

os nigricornis.

. fumigator.

s hilaris.

Be proteus.

on fusorius.
torvus.

99

Glypta resinane.

Pimpla instigator.

Exetastes levigator. :
», fornicator.

Paniscus inquinatus.

Ophion luteus.

Anomalon xanthopus.
. ruficorne.

Lampronota sulphurifera.

Aculeata.

Apathus rupestris.

», campestris.
Bombus senilis.

», lapidarius.

», lucorum.

», terrestris.

», subterraneus.

»» muscorum.
Sphecodes gibbus.

%, ephippiz.
Halictus rufescens.

», rubicundus.

, », abdominalis.
Andreena albicrus.

,, trimmerana.

» nigrosenea.
Nomada ochrostoma.

»» succincta.

», alternata.
Coelioxys simplex.
Megachile centuncularis.
Crabro cephalotes.
Pemphredon lugubris.
Mellinus arvensis.
Pompilius exaltatus.
Vespa norvegica.

» sylvestris.
» vulgaris.
Peace

84 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

Odynerus trimarginatus.
Apis mellifica.

», (var. Liguria).

», Mmellifica.

», (var. domestica).

Mr. Wa. Anprews then made the following communication :—
On some IrisH SAXIFRAGES.

Or the Robertsonian saxifrages which constitute the gewm and
umbrosa forms, the most remarkable varieties occur, and which had
been separated by British botanists into gewm, elegans, dentata, hirsuta,
umbrosa, punctata, and serrata. These, however, all resolve into two
specles—umbrosa and geum. The forms of the leaves of the varieties
are extremely beautiful. Some are of large size, much elongated and
deeply serrated, coriaceous, and of a dark green; others almost orbi-
cular, with fine serrations, and again deeply serrated.

It has been stated that those of the Pyrenees are peculiarly distinct,
and that the forms found in Ireland are by no means identical or pos-
sessing the same characteristics—that the truly blunt crenate variety
does not exist in Ireland. I should say that all the forms of the Ro-
bertsonia saxifrages found in Ireland, in the south-west parts, at certain
elevations, are identical with those of similar ranges of elevation in the
Pyrenees, and that the species which I now submit are similar in form
with those found on the Western Pyrenees and on the mountain ranges
of Portugal.

The singular fact of the peculiarly distinct varieties of form of the
saxifrages may arise from their proximity to each other. In testing
experiments with the seeds of umbrosa, I have found that the greater
number of the seedling plants assumed the geum form. All the
varieties retained their character permanently when cultivated from
offsets.

In the second edition of the British Flora, by Sir William Hooker,
the subject of the saxifrages, although fully given, is cautiously dilated
on, especially with reference to the hypnoid family; and the obser-
vations of subsequent years have verified the views that were certainly
then formed—that the opinion of botanists were very variable as to
what is and what is not a species. The common form of Saxifraga
umbrosa of the western parts of Ireland varies from the true umbrosa
of the Pyrenees, the former having the leaves obovate, with sharp
cartilaginous notches, the latter with the leaves obovate, retuse, and
cartilaginously crenated (Lapeyrouse, Figures de la Flore des Pyrenées,
'T'ab. 22).* All the forms of geum found in Ireland are identical with ©
those of the western parts of Spain and Portugal.

* The provincial name of umbrosa has been erroneously given in botanical works,
terming it St. Patrick’s Cabbage, the true appellation being Cabaiste maidhre, Fox’s
Cabbage, madadh ruadh meaning the Red dog.

ANDREWS—ON SOME IRISH SAXIFRAGES. 85

Among the forms which I now exhibit is a very fine species of gewm,
found in the Great Blasket Island, coast of Kerry, at the extreme
western point of that island, exposed to the western gales and sprays
of the Atlantic. The drawing of the plant was taken of a specimen
in full flower by my lamented friend, the late George V. Du Noyer,
whose talents as a practical geologist, and as an artist of celebrity in
pourtraying most accurately and vividly all objects of natural history,
have made his loss to us great. This beautiful saxifrage is remarkable
in haying a series of glands of a rich rose colour, surrounding the base
of the ovary, which give a remarkable appearance to its inflorescence.
It seems a singular approach to Parnassiz and Crassulasic, and still
more so by the seedlings maintaining the character of the original plant,
producing the metamorphic glands of the parent. Mr. A. G. More has
noticed at the entrance of Dingle harbour the remarkably large and
strong growth of forms of geum exposed to the sprays of the sea.

Another form I wish to submit, in order that botanists in their
excursions in this country may recognise it by its form of leaves. It
has already been described by the late Dr. Harvey, and although so
remarkable from other forms of umbrosa in the foliage, yet in that
variable family no specific separation would be formed on such charac-
ters. It is in the floral organs that the distinction is maintainable, and
which are so remarkable that it would puzzle botanists to assert with
certainty what hybridisation could have produced such characteristics
of the ovary, which cause its affinity to plants whose periods of flower-
ing and perfecting their seeds are at an early and late periods of the
season. This, as Mr. C. Watson expresses, in his last edition of the
‘*Cybele Britannica,’ is a botanical puzzle, and one that renders it
very difficult to withdraw from its botanical distinction.

I may refer to some remarkable specimens of Savifraga stellaris
obtained on moist rocks in one of those wild mountain retreats near
Loc Coomeathcun, county of Kerry. It appears very distinct from the
more hirsute and more compact forms met on the Connor Cliffs, opposite
the Brandon range. The flowering stems are of far more elongated
growth, and, what is remarkable, many produce in the axils of the
bracts foliaceous buds.

These characteristics ally it with S. /eucanthemcfolia of the Pyrenees,
and decidedly to S. foliolosa of Robert Brown, described in Torrey and
Gray’s American Flora. On referring to notices already given of these
forms of saxifrages, I was not surprised to find, in the eleventh volume
of the ‘‘ Annals of Natural History,” an article by John Ball, Esq., a
well-known European botanist, that he had gathered in the Otzal in
the Tyrol the plant described as S. leucanthemifolia (Lap) by Reichen-
bach and other German botanists, and he was quite of the opinion of
Bertoline that it is only a state of S. stellaris. Mr. Ball gives its
characteristics, showing how nearly or identical it is with some of the
forms of S. stellarvs. He mentions a variety of S. stedlaris found by
him in Curslieve, in Mayo, which is much more different from the
ordinary form. It is larger, hairy, and somewhat viscose, the panicle

86 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

widely spreading, the bracts foliaceous. He considers this to be the
same as S. elusii, variety A. of De Candolle’s prodromus. Similar
forms have been found by me in Kerry. The late Professor Kinahan
mentioned to me that he had noticed in Mayo the singular form
S. Andrewste.

These notes are merely intended as reference to the plants exhibited,
not to any definite descriptions of their botanical characteristics.

After some observations of the Chairman, who remarked that in
looking over the collections of native saxifrages of the late Dr. Harvey,
Professor of Botany to the University, he had observed how variable
were the forms of that order of plants, many presenting singular
characteristics, yet having no decided specific distinctions, the private
business of the society was then discussed.

Notice had been given at the general meeting held on the 5th of
April last, ‘‘That it would be submitted to the members the necessity
of the removal of the museum collections of the society from Mr.
Williams’s rooms, Dame-street, and to adopt means for their further
disposal.”

The following resolutions were proposed and seconded :—

‘That the following gentlemen be nominated to form a committee
for the purpose of reporting the best means for the disposal of the
museum collections—viz., Professor Haughton, F.R.S.; R. P. Williams,
Esq.; Dr. A. W. Foot, Robert J. Montgomery, Esq.; and Arthur
Andrews, Esq.”

‘“‘That Mr. Montgomery be appointed to act as secretary to the
committee.”’ : noe

‘‘That the library of the society be deposited in charge of the
treasurer, Mr. Arthur Andrews.” .

Passed unanimously.

The warm thanks of the society were unanimously given to the
president and members of the council of the Royal Irish Academy,
for granting such comfortable arrangements for the meetings of the
members.

The session being terminated, the society was adjourned to the first
Wednesday in November.

en

APPENDIX.

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VOL. VI.

ll APPENDIX.

Nona
LIST OF MEMBERS.

Corrections of Errors or Omissions will be thankfully received by the Secretaries.

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Elected.

1863. 1. Agassiz, D. L., F.R.8., F. L.8S., Cambridge, U.S.

1858. 2. Bate, Charles Spence, F. R.S., F. L. 8., 8, Mulgrave-place, Plymouth.
1854. 3. Bell, Thomas, F.R.S., F.L.8., F.G.S., Sedborne, Hants.

1845. 4. Berkeley, Rev. Miles Joseph, M. a, BLS. , King’s Cliff, Wandesford.
1863. 5. Carus, J. Victor, M. D., &e., Leipzig.

1860. 6. de Brébisson, Alphonse, Falaise, France.

1853. 7. Gray, Jonn Edward, Ph. D., F.R.S., F.L.8., F.G.8., British Museum. |
1863. 8. Gray, Asa, M. D., Cambridge, U.S.

1846. 9. Hincks, Rev. Dr., , Belfast.

1863. 10. “Huxley, a, M:. D., F.R.S., F.L:8., F.G.8., &e, 26, Abdbey-place,

St. John’s Wood; and 28, Jermyn-street, London.

1863, 11. Hyrtl, Joseph, M. D., Professor of Anatomy, University of Vienna.

1841. 12. Jones, Thomas Ry mer, F.R.S., 18, Sé. Leonard’ s- terrace, Bloomfield-road,
London.

1863. 13. Leidy, Joseph, M. D., Philadelphia.

1863. 14. M‘Coy, Frederick, F.G.S., University of Melbourne.

1851. 15. Munroe, Colonel W., F. L.S., 39th Regiment.

1854. 16. Newman, Edward, F. L.8., 9, Devonshire-street, Bishopsgate, London.

1863. 17. Owen, Richard, D.C. L., LL. D., F.R.S., F.L.8., F. G.S., &e., British
Museum, London.

1859. 18. Patterson, Robert, F.R.8., M.R.I.A., Belfast.

1841. 19. Boyle, Forbes, King’s College, London.

1854. 20. Sabine, Major-General Edward, R.A., D.C. L., LL. D., F. R. S., F.L.S

; 13, Ashley-place, Victoria- street, Westminster:

1854. 21. Westwood, Joseph Obadiah, A. M., F. L.S.

LIFE MEMBERS.

1838. 1. Andrews, William, M.R.I.A.,F.R.G.S.1., 4, Nassau-street ; and ‘‘The
Hill,” Monkstown.

1857. 2. Archer, William, St. Brendans, Grosvenor-road, West.

1863. 3. Ball, Robert, 47, Wellington-place.

1857. 4. Barnewall, Richard.

1849. 5. Borough, Sir Edward, Bart., 4, Nassau-street ; 61, Fitzwilliam-square, N.

and Glenavena, Howth.

1860. 6. Corbett, J. H., Professor of Anatomy, Queéen’s College, Cork.

1858. 7. Crowe, Edward, Brighton-terrace, Bray.

1855. 8. Haughton, Rev. Samuel, M.D., F. T.C.D.,F.R.S., M. RL I. A.,
V.P.R.G.S.1., 51, Wellington-road.

1845. 9. Hemphill, Robert, 3, Great Clarence-street.

1838. 10. Hill, Lord George, M.R.1.A., Gweedore, Dunfanaghy.

1848. 11. Hone, Nathaniel, M.R.1I.A., St. Douwlough’s.

1854. 12. Maxwell, Robert Perceval, Groomsport, Bangor, Co. Down.

1848. 13. Montgomery, Robert John, 50, Grosvenor-square, Rathmines.

1863. 14. M‘Clintock, Sir Leopold, R.N., LL. D.

1840. 15. Pollock, George A., Oatlands, Navan.

1863. 16. Powerscourt, Viscount, Powerscourt, Enniskerry.

Elected.
1840.
1847.
1850.
1863..
1839.
1856.
1838.

1863.
1867.
1863.
1861.
1863.

1843.
1867.
1854.
1863.

1860.
1863.
1851.
1863.
1865.
1863.

1865.
1864.
1864.

1863.
1864.

1867.
1860.
1865.
1854.
1856.
1863.
1856.
1862.
1865.
1866.
1344.

1854.
1856.
1867.
1863.
1364.
1861.
1855.
1863.
1868.
1858.

APPENDIX. lll

Raye, Henry R., Greencastle, Buncrana.

. Renny, Henry Lawes, R.E., M.R.I. A-

. Smith, George, 71, Lower Baggot-street.

. Smyly, Ph. C., M.D., F.R.C.S.1., 4, Merrion-square, North.

. Townsend, R. W.

. Whitty, John Irvine, LL. D., D.C. L., 94, Lower Baggot-street.

. Williams, Richard. Palmer, M.R.I.A., F.R.G.S.1., 38, Dame-street.

ANNUAL MEMBERS.

. Andrews, Arthur, 4, New Brighton, Monkstown.

. Andrews, George, Williamstown Castle.

. Andrews, Henry, Hastings, Ovoca-avenue, Blackrock.

. Armstrong, Andrew, Claddagh-terrace, Bray.

. Barker, John, M. D., F.R.C.S.1.,M.R.1.A.,F.R.G.S.1., 83, Waterloo-

road.

. Barrington, Sir John, Glenvar, Merrion-avenue, Blackrock.
. Barrington, R. M., Fassaroe, Bray.

Barton, Henry Malkin, 5, Foster-place.

. Bennett, E.H., M. D., F. R.C.S8. 1, F.R. G.S8. 1, 26, Lower Fitzwilliam-

street.

. Bewley, Thomas, Rockville, Newtownpark-avenue, Blackrock.

. Bradshaw, G. B., F. R.G.S. I.

. Brady, Francis William, Q. C., 22, Upper Leeson-street.

. Brady, Thomas F., Percy-place.

. Brooke, Sir Victor A., Bart., Colebrook, Brookeborough.

. Brownrigg, William Bookey, A. B., Ex. Sci. Sch., T. C. D., F.R.G.S.1.,

Moorhill, Brannoxtown.

. Byron, Ryland, 2, Mizwilliam-place.
, Cane, Richard, 60, Dawson-street.
. Carte, Alexander, M.D., F.R.C.S.1., FP. L.S., M. R.1. A., FR. G. S.1.,

Royal Dublin Society, Kildare-street.

. Carte, William, L. R.C.S. 1., Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.
. Clermont, Right Hon. Thomas, Baron, M.R.I. A., Ravensdale Park,

Newry.

. Cruise, Francis R., M..D., 3, Merrion-square, East.

. Dawson, George, Peacock Lodge, Balbriggan.

. Dickson, Rev. Benjamin, D. D., F. T. C. D., M. R.T. A., 1, Kildare-place.
. Domvile, William Compton, J. P., D.L., Thornhill, Bray.

. Doyle, John B., F. R.G. 8S. 1., Ballycastle, Co. Antrim.

. Edgeworth, R. L., M. B., Kildare-street Ciub.

. Frazer, William, L. K.Q. C. P., L.R.C.S.1., 20, Harcourt-street.

. Foot, Arthur Wynne, M. D., 21, Lower Pembroke-street.

. Garnett, William Stawell, Williamstown, Kells. .

. Grainger, Rev. John, University Clud.

. Griffith, Sir Richard, Bart., LL.D., M.R. 1. A., F.G.S., F.R.G.S. 1,

2, Fitzwilliam-place, South.

. Haughton, James, Chelsea Lodge, Duncannon, Co. Wesxford.
. Hodges, William, Bank of Ireland.

. Hodgson, E. M., St. Kevin’s, Ruthmines.

. Hudson, Alfred, M. D., 2, Merrion-square, North.

. Jacob, A. H., M.D., F. R.C.8.1., 23, Ely-pilace.

. Johnston, Maziere, 7, Synnott-place.

. Kitt, Thomas, Proby Park, Dulkey.

. Kinahan, Edward H., 11, Merrion-square, North. -
. Knox, Major L. E., 53, Ftzwilliam-square.

. Lalor, John Joseph, 2, Longford-terrace, Salthill.

lv

Elected.
1863.

1863.
1859.
1859.
1867.
1862.
1862.
1863.

1864.
1868.
1863.
18658.

1863.
1859.

1853.
1863.

1863.
1840.
1860.
1848.
1859.
1866.
1858.

1858.
1867.
1856.
1855.

1866.
1856.

1863.
1856.
1840.
1868.

1866.
1865.
1864.
1855.

1863.
1866.
1866.
1862.
1865.
1854.

42.

43.
44,
45.
46.
47.
48.

49.

50.
51.

52.
53.

54,
55.

56.
o7.

58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.

65.
66.
67.
68.

69.
70.

71.
aa
73.
74.

75.

76.

ofthe

78.

Th)
80.
$1.
82.
83.

$4.

APPENDIX.

Law, Robert, M. D., Hon. F. K. Q. C. P., M. R. I. A., 25, Upper Merrion-
street.

Lee, Rev. William, D. D., Archdeacon of Dublin, 24, Merrion-sq., South.

Mathews, Edward, 62, Middle Abbey-street.

Maziere, William, 1, Gardiner’s-place.

Minchin, Humphry, M. D., 56, Lower Dominiek-street,

Montgomery, Thomas Alexander, Howth.

Montgomery, Alexander John, Howth.

Moore, David, Ph. D., F.L.8., M. R.1.A., Director Royal Dublin So-
ctety’s Botanie Garden, Glasnevin.

Moore, Robert H., F. R. C..8. L., 28, Upper Merrion-street.

Moore, W. Montgomery, Howth.

Morgan, John, M. D., F. R.C. 8. L., 23, Stephen’s-green, North.

Macalister, Alexander, L. K.Q.C. P., L. R. 0.8. 1., Professor of Zoology,
Trinity College.

M‘Donnell, Robert, M. D., F.R. C.8.1., F. R.S., M. R. 1. A., 14, Lower
Pembroke-street.

M‘Dowel, Benjamin G., M.D., C.M., F.R.C.S.1., Professor of Anatomy,
Trinity College.

M‘Dougall, William, M.R. I. A., Drumlish House, Carriekbrack, Howth.

Napier, Right Hon. Sir Joseph, Bart., M.R.1.A., 4, Merrion-square,
South.

Nolan, Edward, 1, Palmerston Villas, Upper Rathmines.

Nugent, Daniel, 7, Denmark-street.

O’Brien, Octavius, F.R.G.S.1., 23, Kildare-street.

O’Mahony, Rev. Thaddeus, Trinity College.

Peacock, Peter Leslie, Merrion-square.

Perrin, Richard, 97, Upper Mount-street.

Porte, George, M.R.1I.A., F.R.G.8.1., Lansdowne Lodge, Beggarsbush-
road,

Reeves, Robert, 22, Merrion-square.

de Ricci, Herman R., M. D., Upper Merrion-street.

Roberts, Robert, Bank of Ireland.

Smith, Robert William, M.D., F.R.C.S.1.,M.R.1.A., F.R.G.S8.L, 63,
Eccles-street.

Smith, Walter, M.B., 121, Lower Baggot-street.

Stephens, Henry Colclough, 8, Pembroke-place ; and Greenwood, Shan-
Rill. '

Stokes, William, Jun., M. D.,C. M., L. R. C.S. I., 3, Clare-street.

Sutherland, Alexander, 60, Upper Sackville-street.

Todhunter, Joseph, 3, College-green.

Traquair, Professor R. H., M.D., Royal College of Science, Stephen’s-
green.

Tyner, G. St.G., M.D., Asylum, Downpatrick.

Ventry, Lord.

Waller, George A., 5, Brighton Vale, Monkstown.

West, Very Rev. John, D.D., M.R.1.A., Dean of St. Patrick’s, 6, Wilton-
place.

Whiteside, Right Hon. J., Chief Justice Queen’s Bench, 2, Mountjoy-square.

Williams, William, Bachelor’s-walk.

Wilson, G. Orr, A.M., Dunardagh, Blackrock.

Wilson, Thomas, 79, Waterloo-road.

Woodworth, Joseph H., 37, Dame-street.

Wright, E. Perceval, M.D., F.R.C.S.1., F.L. & Z.S., M,R.1.A., Pro-
fessor of Zoology Dublin University, 5, Trinity College.

Elected.

1865.
1869.

1865.
1863.

1863.
1863.

1861.
1863.
1865.
1868.
1863.
1863.
1863.
1851.
1855.
1863.
1863.
1863.
1865.
1863.
1860.
1857.

1363.
1863.

1856.
1859.
1864.
1863.
1863.
1863.
1863.
1864.
1858.
1841.
1865.
1863,
1863.
1863.
1863.

1863.
1863.
1863.

1863.

1863.
1857.
1857.
1863.
1863.

APPENDIX. y

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

1. Gloyne, C., 5, Haddington.terrace.
2. Glennon, John, Wichlow-streee.

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

. Alexander, Surgeon, R. N., Queenstown. -
. Allman, George J.. M. D., F.R.C.S.1., F.R.S., M.R. 1. A., Regius

Professor of Natural History, University of Edinburgh.

. Allman, R. L., Bundon, Co. Cork.
. Babington, Charles Cardale, M. A., F. R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., Pro-

fessor of Botany, St. John’s College, Cambridge.

. Blackett, Edward R., M. D., Southwold, enghed, Sussex.

: Bowerbank, J. Scott, Sate De B.RS:, BL. S., F.G.S., St. Leonard’s.
. Brady, G. E,, F.R.O.S. E., OSibane|

. Brocas, F. Y., 4, Mill. street, Hanover-square, London.

. Browne, Captain Thomas, F. L. S., Manchester.

. Bryce, James, Jun., F. G.S., Glasgow.

. Burkitt, Robert J., M. D., 5, Lady-lane, Waterford.

. Carroll, Isaac, Cork.

. Chandlee, Thomas, Cora.

. Clarke, Rev. Benjamin, A. M., Tuam, Galway.

. Crozier, Captain, R. E., Gibraltar.

. Dale, J. C., F. L.8., Granville, Wootton, Sherborne, Dorset.

. Delap, Rev. A., Milford.

. Dickie, George, M. D., F. L. S., Professor of Botany, Aberdeen.

. Divers, Edward, M. D.

. Dixon, Rev. Robert Vickers, D. D., Ex-F, T.C. D., Clougherney Rectory,

Dungannon.

. Douglas, J. W., 6, Kingswood Terrace, Lea, Kent.
. Enniskillen, Right Hon. the Earl of, F. R.S., M. R. I. A., Florence Court,

Enniskillen.

. Emerson, Rev. J. M., Ballilinan, Athy.

. Gage, R. Connolly, Rathlin Island, Ballycastle.

. Gahan, Alfred, C. E., Donegal.

. Garner, Robert, F. L. 8., Stoke-upon- Trent.

. Gordon, Rev. George, The Manse, Birnie, Elgin, N. B.

. Gosse, Philip Henry, F. R.S., Sandhurst, Torquay.

. Greene, Rev. Joseph, Cubbley Rectory, Doveridge, Derbyshire.
. Harte, William, C. E., F.R. G. S.1., Buncrana.

. Harvey, Rev. Robert, Leck Glebe, Letterkenny.

. Hassall, A. H., M. B., London.

. Haughton, Captain, R. A., St. Helena.

. Higgins, Rev. H., Liverpool.

. Hodges, J. F., Professor of Agriculture, Belfast.

. Hogan, Rev. A. R., M. A., Shaftsbury, Dorsetshire.

. Hooker, J. Dalton, M.D., C.B., F.R.S., F.L.8., F.G.8., Royal Bo-

tanic Gardens, Kew.

. Humphreys, John, Cork.

. Ingham, Captain, J. C., Athlone.

. Janson, E. W., London.

. Jardine, Sir W., F.R.S., F. L.S., Jardine Hail, Dumfriesshire.
. Jeffreys, J. Gwynn, F. R.S., London.

. Kennedy, William, Rathkeale.

. Kinahan, George Henry, Geological Survey, Galway.

. King, W., Professor of Geology, Queen’s College, Galway.

. Knox, Rev. Thomas, A. M., Lurgan.

V1

Elected.

1863.
1863.
1858.
1863.
1857.
1858.
1852.
18638.

1863.

1863.
1858.
1861.
1863.
1863.

1865.
1860.

1860.

1857.

1863.

1863.
1858.
1863.
1863.
1863.
1860.
1863.
1863.
1863.
1863.

1851.
1861.
1863.
1359.
1845.
1863.

1857.

APPENDIX.

. Lankester, Edwin, M. D., LL. D., F.R.S., F. L. 8., Hampstead, London.
. Lane, P. W., M. D., M. R. C.S. E., Newtownlimavady. :
. Lawson, Henry, M. D., London.
. Lea, John Walter, The Grange, Shepperton-green, Chertsey, Surrey.
. Leckey, W., Valentia Island.
. Loughran, William, A. L. 8., Polperro.
. Lowe, Edward J., F. R. A. 8., F.L.S., F.G.8., Nottingham.
. M‘Andrew, Robert, F. R.S., F. L.8., Lslesworth.
. M‘Gee, William, M. D., Donegall-square, Belfast.
. Mac Ilwaine, Rev. W., D. D., Hampton, Belfast.
. Martin, J., Portlaw.
. Mayne, Rev. Charles, A. M., Killaloe.
. Meade, R. H., Bradford, Yorkshire.
. Melville, Alexander, M. D., Professor of Natural History, Queen’s College,
Galway.

. Murray, J. 8., Milford. ° ,
. Newton, Alfred, M. A., F. R.S., Professor of Natural History, Cambridge.
. O’Brien, George, M. D., Ennis.
. O'Kelly, Joseph, C. E., Geological Survey.
. Ogilby, William, F.R.8., Lisclean, Dunamanagh.
. O'Meara, Rev. Eugene, A. M., Newcastle-Lyons Reetory, Hazelhatch.
. Palmer, Sandford, Ballinlough, Roscrea.
. Phillips, John, M. A., LL. D., F. R.S., Professor of Geology, Oxford.
. Redfern, P., M. D., Professor of Anatomy, Queen’s College, Belfast.
. Robinson, Rev. G. T., Avmagh.
. Roland, J, M. D., Bangor.
. Sclater, Philip Lutley, M. A., F. R.8,, Hanover-square, London.
. Smith, Frederick, British Museum, London.

Stainton, H. T., F. R.S8., F. G.S., Lewisham, Kent.

Thomson, Wyville, LL. D., Professor of Natural History, Qucen’s Col-

lege, Belfast. ;

. Townsend, Ven. Hamilton, Collooney.

. Vize, Rev. John E., Bath.

78. Waller, Edward, Lissenderry, Aughnacloy.

. Warren, Robert, Jun., Moyview, Ballina.

. Wilson, Lieut., R. N.

. Wollaston, Thomas Vernon, A. M., F. L.S., Hereford-street, Park-lane,
London.
. Wynne, A..B., Geological Survey.

[Corrections of Errors, or Omissions, will be thankfully received by the Secretaries,

addressed, Royau Ir1tsq ACADEMY Hovusr, DAWwsoN-sTREET, Dus. |

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1. Report from Council, presented 3rd? November, 1808,
2

By Dr. Av eximepal Bigekiome a ES AN eee ie are
5. On Goitre in Animals. BysA.. W..:Moosr, MM. 19:417) p. aa me 3 :
6, Ichthyological Notes. By Wiri1am ANDREWS, M.R.1. KG te :

On the Breeding of some Birds from the Southern’ Hemisphere in
Dublin ZoologicalGardens. By A.W. Foor, M-D., °..

8. Notes on Animal Luminosity. By A. W. Foor, M.D., ae

9. ‘ Orthagoriscus oltre (the One Sun-fish).” By He \NDREW
MBL A, . sexcapaie Ge, @ ae ane eee

iS ae ES ee
a]

tes | 10. On some rare Crugiaen! obtained by dredging off South- west :
Ireland. By Wi11am Anprews, M. R. 1. A. a ue Re gy

11, Notes.on Entomology: By Ac. Foor, M. Br ah,

12. On Ferns observed in Iar, or West. og’ te cand also 1 in South- -wes
Mayo. By G. H. KINAHAN, Esq. Nt: MORCR EY, En

13. Notes on the Re dig of Fh Sg west. Coast of Ireland. By

14. Notes on Irish pie ‘By A. W. Foon M. Dy ae 4
15. Notes on Hymenophylla, especially with reference t f
Species. By Wittram Anprews, M. R. I. Ags oc, age
16. On some Native Hymenoptera. By A. W. Foo
17. On some Irish Saxifrages. By Witiiam ANDREWS, VE.

;