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PROCEEDINGS

OK THE

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN,

FORTH!

SESSIONS 1856-1859,

(iNCLTJSITE.)

0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made thorn all : th«
earth is full of thy riches. — Psalm civ. 24.

YOL. II. (/^^|.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY,

BY M. H. GILL.

1860.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

SESSION 1856-1857.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, NOVEMBER 14, 1866.

RoBEET CiJj.wELL, M.R.I.A., in the Chair. ^

The Minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and con-
firmed,—

The Chairman stated that, before proceeding to ballot for the Officers
for the ensuing Session, it was necessary for the Society to decide on
the propriety of carrying out the suggestion of Council with regard to
the proposed alteration in the constitution of the Society. He would
call OD the Honorary Secretary to read the rule and proposed alteration.

Dr. J. R. Kinahan, Honorary Secretary, read the rule and proposed
alteration, as follows : —

Rules, section 1, clause 3. — "The Officers of the Society shall be
chosen from the ordinary members, and shall consist [of a President,
two Secretaries, and a Treasurer; and that these, with fifteen other ordi-
nary members, constitute a Council."]

For the latter part of this it was proposed to substitute : —

" That the Officers of the Society shall consist of a President (to
hold office for one year only), four Vice-Presidents, two Secretaries, and
a Treasurer; and that these, with thirteen other ordinary Members, shall
constitute a Council." The only alterations proposed were the nomi-
nation of four Vice-Presidents, and the reduction of the number of ordi-
nary members of Council.

Mr. G. Sanders wished to know whether it was not irregular to
entertain this motion without farther notice to the members ?

Ijr. Kinahan read the Rules relating to this point, from which it ap-
peared that due notice had been given by the Council of the proposed
alteration in the Rules.

After some further discussion, it was proposed by the Rev. J. A.
Galbraith, and seconded by J. Kift, Esq., and —

Resolved — That the words **to hold office for one year only" be
omitted from the proposed alteration.

The Chaii-man then put the question—** That the Society do now
proceed to ballot according to the list of Officers prepared by the
Council," which passed unanimously.

2 DUBLIN NATUEAL HI8T0KY SOCIETY.

The ballot for Officers was then opened, during which the Chairman
called on Dr. Kinahan (in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Andrews,
Honorary Secretary) for the

ANNUAL REPOET.

Gentlemen, — Your Council, in laying before you this, the seven-
teenth Annual Report, have to congratulate you on the steady progress
of your Society during the past year, as evidenced both by the accession
of new members, and the valuable communications read at the meet-
ings. During the past Session the folloAving papers were read, the ma-
jority of which appear in extenso in the published Journal of the Society,
now ready for distribution among the Members : —

In Zoology — " On Enterolithes," and " On Malignant Disease of the
Bones in the Ked Deer," Professor E.W. Smith ; '* On the Genus Skua,"
Dr.Farran; "On the Occurrence of the Common Bittern in the Co.Carlow,'*
and " On Lepidoptera injurious to Granaries," James Haughton, Jun.,
Esq. ; *' On the Occurrence of the Egyptian Goose" ( Chenalopex vulgaris) ;
"On Edgemoulting," and "On Albinos," R. J. Montgomery, Esq. ;
"Rare Birds obtained in the Co. Louth," Lord Clermont (communi-
cated); "On Change of Colour in Common Eowl," R. P. Williams, Esq. ;
" On Occurrence of Thecla hetulce and Gonypteryx Rhamni, in Kerry,"
William Andrews, Esq. ; " On Migration of Birds," Dr. Kinahan.

In Botany — " On Asplenium fallax of Lowe," and " On the Fungi
of the West Coast of Ireland" (two papers), W. Andrews, Esq. ; "On
the Natural Affinities of Botrychium and Ophioglossum," and " On
Botrychium lunaria and its Varieties," Dr. J. R. Kinahan ; "On Sa-
prolegniaferoxj and Disease caused thereby among Goldfish in Vivaria,"
Dr. Erazer.

In Mineralogy — " On the Analysis of Spodumene and Killinite,"
Rev. Professors Haughton and Galbraith.

The donations to your Library and Museum have been numerous.
Among those to the latter may be particularly noted fine Irish specimens
of the Egyptian goose, from Lord Clermont; and of the blackcap warbler,
brambHng, and common crossbill, from Edward Dombrain, Esq.

Many new members have been added to your Society during the
past year, and several of the former members have rejoined, whilst but
one member has retired.

At the ordinary meeting held in January, 1856, your Society, at the
recommendation of CouncU, determined to hold a number of extra
meetings, of a more popular character than the ordinary meetings,
to which ladies should be admissible. Accordingly, three were held,
and the following papers read : — On April 23rd, ' ' On the Ferns of Ireland,
their Distribution and Mode of Cultivation," William Andrews, Esq.;
on May 21st, "On the Crustacea podophthalma of Ireland, their Habits
and Metamorphoses," Dr. Kinahan; and on June 25th, "On theMollusca
of Ireland," Dr. Farran. These meetings were numerously attended.

DUBLIN NATUKAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 3

and were considered so satisfactory that your C!ouncil recommend the
repetition of the experiment during the ensuing Session, the time for
holding them to be fixed at the January meeting. Your Council have
also, in virtue of the power vested in them, to recommend that the con-
stitution of the Council be so far altered as to admit of the election of
four Vice-Presidents, in addition to the President, heretofore annually
chosen ; and have, accordingly, recommended the four gentlemen whose
names appear in the list for this office, by which arrangement they hope
to obviate the inconveniences which have occurred during former Ses-
sions, arising from the want of a fixed Chairman, especially at the po-
pular meetings.

It was proposed by the Rev. Professor Haughton, seconded by James
Haughton, Jun., Esq., and unanimously carried, that the Report now
read be adopted.

Mr. R. P. Williams next submitted the Treasurer's Report for the
past Session, from which it appeared there was a balance of 14«. 7d.
to be carried forward, and that £20 (subscriptions) was still due, and
that the reserve fund amounted to £58. Mr. "Williams further stated
that thirteen new members had joined during the past session, and three
former members had rejoined, whilst but one member had retired from
the Society. The balance to their credit would have been much larger
but that a new item appeared in the account of this year, viz., that for
publication of the Society's " Proceedings." This additional outlay, he
hoped, would be met by the accession of new members. He might men-
tion that four gentlemen were to be balloted for that night, and notice
of three others had been given for the next — an evidence that the ensu-
ing Session would be equally successfuL Another important matter was,
that the collection now contained so many rare specimens, that it was
considered advisable to insure it againt accidents, and the property had
accordingly been insured for £500, which would, no doubt, be deemed
satisfactory to the present, and encouraging to the future members.

The Report having been adopted, —

The Chairman declared the following members unanimously elected
as Officers of the Society for the Session of 1856-7 :

President — Professor William H. Harvey, M.D., M.R.I. A.

Vice-Presidents — His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin ; Lord Talbot
do Malahide, M.R.I.A. ; Sir Edward R. Borough, Bart., M.R.I.A. ;
C. P. Croker, M.D., M.R.I.A.

Council^ ohn Aldridge, M.D., M.R.I.A.; Robert S.Barklie; Henry
M. Barton ; F. W. Brady ; Robert Callwell, M.R.I.A. ; James R Dom-
>»rain ; Charles Farran, M.D. ; Samuel Gordon, M.D., M.R.I.A. ; Rev.
S. Haughton, F.T.C.D., M.R.I.A. ; Robert J. Montgomery ; George B.
Owens, M.D. ; Gilbert Sanders, M.R.I.A. ; Joseph Todhunter.

TYeasurer— Richard P. Williams, Esq., M.R.I.A.

Secretaries — William Andrews, M.R.I.A., and John R, Eiuahan,
M.B.

4 DUBLIN NATTBAL HI8T0KT SOCIETY.

The meeting was then made special, for the purpose of balloting for
members, and the following were declared duly elected: — Edwin
Birchall, Esq., Dublin ; J. Neligan, Esq., Tralee ; Kobcrt Roberts, Esq.,
Harcourt-terrace ; J. B. Doyle, Esq., Dublin.

The meeting then adjourned to the month of December.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1856.
His Grace the Akchbishop of Dublin, V. P., in the Chair. '
The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read and signed.

His Gbace the Aechbishop of Du:blin read a paper on —
the song of the bittchee-bibd.
It is not my intention to-night to enter into the natural history of the
entii'c family of butcher-birds, or shrikes (Laniadae). I merely wdsh to
bring under the notice of the members of the Society a few notes which
were made during the month of July last, at Cheltenham, with regard
to the song properly so-called of the lesser, or, more properly speaking,
the red-backed shrike, or butcher-bird (Zanius collurio) ; and, although
I know that it is a rule of this Society that the communications read
before it shall be confined to Irish natural history, yet, as a congener
of this bird (Zanhis excuhitor) has occurred already, on one occasion at
least, in Ireland, I hope I may be allowed to infringe on this rule a
Httle.

Although many authors mention the imitative faculties of the
butcher-birds, in respect to the cries of other birds, yet they all say that
this faculty is limited to the imitation of the cries and calls only. The
only naturalist who at all notices any other power of imitation is
Temminck, who, in his ** History of Birds," enters fully into the sub-
ject. It is rather strange so remarkable a habit should have escaped
notice.

The following were the notes which I made on the subject : — Last
July, when riding along one of the roads near Cheltenham, I was sur-
prised by hearing, as I thought, a blackcap ( Curruca atricapilla) singing
in a thicket, and, struck with the strangeness of the circumstance, at
that season, when all birds are supposed to be mute, I cautiously ap-
proached the bird to make sure of its species : much to my astonish-
ment I foimd that the musician was the lesser shrike (X. collurio). On
listening awhile, to my still greater astonishment, I heard this bird,
dropping the song of the blackcap, take up a most perfect imitation of
the song of the sedge-warbler {Curruca phrag mites) \ then, successively,
the songs of the thrush {Tardus musicus), skylark {Alauda arvensis),
and whitethroat ( Curruca cinerea), winding aU up with the call-note of
the partridge {Perdix cinerea).

Nor was this the only occasion on which I was able to note this
curious trait in the bird's habits. On many subsequent occasions I
witnessed similar concerts, in everj- case being able to identify the bird,

DTTBUN NATFEAL HISTOBT SOCIETY. O

thanks to its fearlessness, and thus verify my observation. The mere
fact of this bird's imitating the songs of its more favoured brothers of the
grove is a remarkable point in its history, as well as the singularity of
the season chosen for the display of this faculty — to wit, a time when
all other birds have ceased their song. This songster may well deserve
the name of English mocking-bird, and it appears strange that so in-
teresting a habit should have escaped the observation of our English
ornithologists, or else have been deemed too unimportant for notice.

After some discussion, De. Charles Faekan read a paper —

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE MARBLED SWIMMING-CRAB (PORTUNTJS* MARMO-
REUS), AT BIRTERBIE BAY, CONNEMARA.

In bringing this beautiful species, the marbled swimming-crab (iV-
tunu8 marmoreus), under the consideration of the Society, I was nearly
placing myself in a very unenviable position — ^namely, that of appro-
priating to myself the credit of adding the species to the Faima of Ireland
— this position resembling in every respect that of the jackdaw (as we
are told in ancient writing), who found himself, when the rightful
owners of the plumage with which he decked himself claimed their re-
spective properties, left naked and despised.

Most fortunately, a reference to the printed reports of the Proceedings
of the Society for the years 1844 and 1845 saved me from this galling
infliction, which would have been doubly painful to me, since it fell to
my lot to read a paper by the late Mr. William M'Calla, before the
Society, in January, 1 845. By reading that portion of the report which
refers to Mr. M'Calla's discoveries, the Society will be put in possession
of the fact that his was the undoubted credit of being the first to place
Portunus marmoreus on the list of Irish Crustacea.

The following is the extract : — " In the month of January, 1845, Dr.
Farran read a paper — Observations on the Productions of Roundstone
and Birterbie Bays, Connemai-a, chiefly the Crustacea, Sponges, and Zoo-
phytes, by Mr. W. M'Calla, being a continuation of Dr. Farran's paper
on the rare shells of that district. In that paper a well-arranged list
was given of Irish Brachyura, detailing twenty-seven species, and one
undetermined species and genus [^Thia polita']. By this list Mr. M'Calla
has added a species to the Fauna of Ireland — Portunus marmoreus — and
anothei^ not referable to any hitherto known genus of British Crustacea.
The additions to those already recorded make the Irish Brachyura to
amount to thirty-three species. Among the other sections of the Crus-
tacea he alluded to the occurrence of Nisoea bidentata, particularly in
the button-like front of Himanthalia lorea, and also to that of the very
interesting species, Nehalia herbstiif found under stones and lumps of turf
at the head of the bays." I have given the extract in full, so far as re-
lates to the two bays, as it gives some slight insight into Mr. M*Calla*s labo-
rious investigations, which he conducted with great skill and tact. I
now return to the discovery of Portunus marmoreus, the merit of which
discover}' has not been duly estimated. There is no difficulty in deter-

6 DUBLIN NATUKAJ. HISTOEY SOCIETY.

mining the species when brought under view, such as I now exhibit ;
but when it is stated that a strand- worn carapace, in which the beauteous
markings which characterize the species were almost obliterated — when
the species was not even suspected to exist, and when I am perfectly
satisfied that M*Calla never saw the crab, not a specimen being in any
Irish collection — under these circumstances, his detecting the species,
with such meagre materials to assist him, demonstrates his great dis-
criminating powers. The carapace is placed in the Museum of the Royal
Dublin Society, where it can be seen.

It may be held in remembrance that I read a paper before the Society
early in the session of 1854, giving an account of a dredging excursion
I made in that year to Roundstone and Birterbie Bays. I detailed the
reasons which induced me to take the course which led to the discovery
of the locality where the magnificent specimens of Pectunculus glycimeris
were obtained so abundantly. With those were associated Portunus
marmoreus, rivalling the Pectunculus in those exquisite markings which
so characterize that species, and excelling it by the graceful evolutions
and attitudes it assumed both in the water and on the deck of our ves-
sel. A more interesting object could not be witnessed. It was ob-
tained rather plentiftdly ; four or five specimens were captured in each
haul of the ^edge, and as I was highly favoured that year by fine
weather, these were rather frequent ; and I should say that I obtained
above one hundred in the course of the day. It is not necessary to al-
lude to the reason why I did not preserve some specimens ; probably I
was so occupied with the Pectunculi, and other rarities that came under
my notice, that I passed them over. I was aware of the great difficulty
in preserving the colours of the shell, so as to render them worthy of
a place in a museum, and this also tended to make me indifferent to
them.

On my return to town I mentioned to several naturalists the fact of
my having obtained this hitherto rare crustacean ; and, although I can-
not say that I was actually doubted by any, still there can be no hesita-
tion in saying that the production of some specimens would have
strengthened their faith exceedingly. I proceeded to Roundstone last
July, in order to obtain the Portunus, and to ascertain whence M'Alla
procured the carapace. Never was there a better exemplification or
fiilfilment of the old adage —

*' He who would not when he may,
When he would, he shall have nay."

The very first day I went out we were overtaken by a gale, indeed, the
men called it a hurricane, which compelled us to put into the first shelter
we could reach. The next day was a dead calm, and so on for a fort-
night alternate storm and calm. One day, for an hour or two, I was
fortunate in having a favourable breeze, when I reached the Pectunculus
ground. During that time I obtained three specimens, and it was sig-
nificantly observed by one of the men, that it required the boat to be
under good way to catch the crabs, as it was only then they were

DUBLIN NATUEAL HI8T0EY SOCIBTY. i

brought up in the dredge ; for when the speed waa slackened, we got
Pectunculus, but no crabs ; and this I suppose was the literal feet. The
depth of water was about twenty-two fathom, and the bottom a^hard
yellow sand.

When I asked the men whether M*Calla had ever dredged there, they
said he never had ; and when I inquired where he could have obtained
the carapace, they at once replied at Gurteen strand, about two miles
from the spot, that being the only spot where dibris was thrown up.
They also mentioned that the dredge he had was small, and would not
sink hero, as the current was so strong, and this I found to be the case.
It is in vain to go with the current or against it — in the first case the
net is reversed and goes before the dredge ; in the latter case the dredge
floats, and, should it reach the bottom, it hops, and never lies permanently
on the ground ; the current must be crossed, and this requires a good
vessel, a heavy dredge, and good men to work it, and these M'Calla never
had, owing to the rather heavy expenses attending them, so that,
from this account, it would appear that the animid lived and died
on this bank, and was carried by the current and thrown on Gur-
teen Strand, and there found in its mutilated state by M'Calla, who had
thence determined the species. I have now given an account of the
capture of the crab, and its locality. It appears to me that a current
is its domicile — it is hever found in the sluggish waters of either bays,
where Portunus corrugatua is found abundantly. It is a very active crab,
and it behoves it to be so, as the current which carries its prey runs at the
rate of seven or eight nules an hour. We have seen that it has activity
enough to avoid the dredge when the vessel was not under very rapid way.

I alluded to the difficulty of preserving the colours of the Crus-
tacea. I am happy to say that that is now removed, and henceforth
this class of animals will grace our museums in aU their varied and
beautiful colours. I am indebted to Colonel We^g for being in a posi-
tion to show the result of his scientific applications. Immediately on
getting those specimens, I packed them up in a small box, filling up
the remaining space with fresh chopped sea- weed {Fucus vesiculosus),
and forwarded them to him by mail. His success was far beyond my
most sanguine expectation. The specimens are in appearance this mo-
ment as fresh as when taken, nearly six months since.

Before I close, I may be permitted, in the words of Bell, to say — "that
the portion of the crab denominated the carapace is the outer shell or
the large enveloping buckler which covers the entire of the thorax ; and
even the abdomen itself is folded underneath it, so that the whole animal
is hidden by it. This remarkable buckler, covering as it does the whole
of the viscera, is found to be more or less divided distinctly into regions,
which are indicated by elevations separated from each other by grooves,
and to these regions have been given names derived from the different
organs which are immediately covered by them."

In the species Portunm marmoreu8 the abdomeain the male is five-
jointed ; in the female, seven-jointed.

8 DUBLIN NATXJEAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Mr. Andrews said that the thanks of the Society were due to Dr.
Farnm for his perseverance in following out the important discovery of
the late William M'Calla, and for the very heautiful series of Fortunus
martfioreus he had brought before the meeting. Mr. Andrews was not
at all surprised at Dr. Farran's meeting with that beautiful crustacean
in such abundance on the west coast ; it was only confirmatory of the
identity of many other marine animals of that coast with those of the
shores of Spain and the Mediterranean. But a very superficial research
had as yet been made among the Crustacea of the coasts of Ireland, es-
pecially those of the west coast, where by far the greater proportion of
species of British marine animals were doubtless to be met. This dearth
of information was chiefly owing to the few trials of the dredge in deep
water ; for the rarer animals might be taken there, and, even at the
depths of eighty fathom, some of the most delicate crustaceans would
be foimd.

In eighty-four fathoms, off -the Tiraght Bock, in fine gravelly
soundings, Pandalus annulicornis and Palcemon serratus had been taken ;
they were pai'ticularly abundant in the stomachs of the cod-fish ; species
of Hippolyte and of Mysis, Firimela denticulata and Hyas coa/rctatus^
were also taken. In Dingle Bay, in twenty-five fathoms, on the trawl-
ing ground, on fine sand, Corystes cassivelaunus and Maia squinado are
constantly taken up with the trawls. Mr. Andrews begged to present
to the Society some specimens of Portunus puher and Portunus holsatus,
taken in Dingle Bay. A specimen of the latter so closely approached
in distinctive characters P. ma/rmoreus as scarcely to be distinguishable
from it. Associations ought to be formed for exploring more effectively
the marine productions of the west coast, as off the bays of Galway,
Dingle, Ballinskelligs, and Kenmare, in soundings of from forty to sixty
fathoms, good dredging ground would be met on fine gravelly bottoms,
fine sand, and soft sand and mud. It was in eighty-one fathoms he
had taken the living specimens of Eunice tubicola.

Dr. Kinahan stated that the addition of this species to the Irish
list was not the least interesting among the many additions made by
the late M'Calla. It was most gratifying to have M'Calla's locality for
this interesting species placed thus conipletely above suspicion, and Dr.
Farran doubtless deserved a great deal of credit for his perseverance in
endeavouring, in spite of unfavourable circumstances which he had de-
tailed, to prove this point.

From a careful examination of Dr. Farran's beautiful series of spe-
cimens, he felt no hesitation in venturing to dissent altogether from
both Bell and Milne Edwardes as to the specific identity of P. mar-
moreus imd P, holsatus ; no one who examined these beautiful specimens
could for one moment imagine that the species were identical. The
distribution of the species was distinct too, for P. holsatus was much
more generally diffused and more northerly in its distribution than P.
marmoreus, which as yet had been only found in the southern parts of
Britain. *

DUBLIN NATU&AL HISTORY SOaETT. 9

After some further discussion, Db. J. R. Khtahan read a paper —

OK XANTHO KIYULOSA AND OXnER DECAP0D0U8 CBU8TACBA OCCUBRINO AT
VAX.ENTIA ISLAND, CO. XEBBY.

In recording this, the second notice of the occurrence of Xantho rivulosa
on the Irish shores, I metm to take the same opportunity to submit to
your Society such notes with regard to some of the more remarkable
Crustacea which occur at Valentia Island, as a hurried visit to that loca-
lity last summer, under unfavourable circumstances, aflforded me, com-
bining with them remarks on the distribution of the species around
Ireland generally, as far as the scanty materials at my command will
enable me to do. These, though imperfect, I am led to lay before
you, chiefly by the great lack of information on this subject which I
find pervades all our Natural Histories, even those very lately published.

It is a matter much to be deplored, that naturalists generally do not
oftener avail themselves of opportunities of compiling comparative tables
of the productions of the various districts they may examine ; but, in-
stead thereof, sinking the naturalist in the mere collector, rush rather
after a multitude of specimens or species than a limited number of gene-
ral facts. I do not wish to undervalue the collector's labours, but rather
to prompt every collector to become a naturalist also, and by carefully
noting the special peculiarities of each district which he examines, to
enable himself and others thereby to arrive not only at particular con-
clusions as regards that locality, but also at general ones as regards the
Fauna of the entire country, and its bearings on the Fauna of the whole
world. That the importance of this matter is not overrated must be
apparent to any one who takes the trouble to examine even the best
arranged books of modem days, with regard to the distribution of our
marine animals, and (with, perhaps, the exception of the Molluscs) the
deficiency of authentic information wiU be apparent on even a super-
ficial examination, this deficiency in a great measure arising firam
observers having sought and noted the rarest, or what they considered
the rarest species, only.

The principal data on which the following remarks as to distribu-
tion are founded are as follow : — For the north of Ireland generally, the
specimens in what is commonly known as the Ordnance Survey collec-
tion, or Down Survey collection, — a collection made by the officers of
the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, under the direction of Captain, now
Colonel Portlock, during the years 1839, &c., in the counties of Done-
gal, Antrim, Down, and Londonderry, and which is at present in the
Museum of Irish Industry. "Where this is referred to, the letters 0. C.
are placed after the locality.

For the east coast, my own experience of Dublin Bay, assisted, in a
very few instances, by the collections of Dr. Ball and other kind friends.

For the south, my own experience in Youghal and Ardmore, and
also J. V. Thompson's collection of Crustacea, now in the lloyal Dublin
Society's Museum; and also the Catalogue prepared by the Cork Cu-

10 DUBLIN NATURAL HI8T0ET SOCIETY.

vierian Society in 1849. These two latter are referred to as J. V. T.
and C. C. S. My o^^^l notes are, in every case, unmarked, the locality
being given without any initial.

For the west, in addition to my own notes made at Yalentia Island,
in 1856, and at Kilkee, Galway, &c., in 1852, I have also made use of
a catalogue, supplied me some years since through the kindness of Dr.
Farran, of the principal species captured by W. M'Calla in Birterbie
and Roundstone Bays, marked by the initials W. M'C.

Correcting and adding to all these various sources from Bell's Bri-
tish Crustacea, and William Thompson's Notes on the subject, as given
posthumously to the world in the fourth volume of the ''Natural History
of Ireland." This last has been noticed as W. T.

The list by no means purports to be a complete distributional one ;
a task so comprehensive must be left for the future; but is merely
intended to notice such species as either came directly under my own
observation while living, or of which specimens, concerning whose au-
thenticity there could be no doubt, were seen by me.

So much has lately, that is to say, within the last few years, been
said and printed concerning the superior capabilities of the west of Ire-
land as a field for research, that naturalists have been insensibly led to
look on it as the El Dorado of Irish Natural History, where " monster
nuggets," in the shape of new species, and rare animals and plants, are
tossed up by every tide and breeze ; the usual answer of the old hands
and authorities to the anxious inquirer seeking information regarding
the locale of some rare species *' Common in the west," helping to foster
this opinion, so that every naturalist could not but feel impatient for an
opportunity to examine into and revel amidst such treasures. Any one
who has felt the pleasure of breaking ground in a comparatively new
and seemingly rich field can quite appreciate the feelings with which
I gladly accepted an invitation to spend a few weeks at Valentia Island,
which, embayed as it is in an inlet of the Co. Kerry, ought to furnish
the carcinologist with every species which frequents the coast.

Among the many species marked as Irish, on the authority of the
occurrence of a single specimen, none, with, perhaps, the exception of
Polijhiu8 Henslowii, possess more interest than the subject of this notice,
Xantho rtvulosa, one of the types of a genus which, essentially subtro-
pical, reaches its northern limit on the British shores, itself an un-
doubted member of that Fauna whose scattered members, in characters
not to be mistaken, attest the probability, nay, almost the certainty, of
the truth of one of the most brilliant theories ever propounded, — that
of the lamented Edward Forbes, — surmising the union and inter-
mingling, at some period of the world's history, of the Fauna of the
west of Ireland and Mediterranean districts ; add to this the fact of its
having been detected hitherto in Ireland only at the extreme north, and
that, when then discovered, now fifteen years back, a second specimen
was sought in vain ; that during this long interval it has remained un-
detected, escaping the careful research of even "W. M'Calla (at least, it
neither appears among his lists, nor can I find specimens of it in the

DUBLIN NATUBAL HI8T0BT SOCIETT. 1 1

many collections supplied by him), and, therefore, evidently either very
rare or very local.

Taking these latter facts into consideration, it appeared to me, when
starting for Valentia Island, with the determination of seeking this spe-
cies, that it was rather a wild-goose chase, and the chances of success
but small ; and my experience at Valentia Island would lead me to be-
lieve that either the species is everywhere scarce, or else, what is just as
probable, that it, in its habits, differs much from those of Xanthoflo-
rida, and that its scarcity in collections depends on the blundering of
the collectors. Although I assiduously sought for it, but one specimen
rewarded my labours, — that now before you, — sufficient, however, to
prove the existence of the species on the coast, and to stimulate a fur-
ther search at some future time.

The general aspect of the shores of Valentia Island needs little de-
scription : every form of beach, slob, shingle, sand, and rocks, and rock
pools occur, and a rapid and strong current sets in round the island, so
that there is no lack of fitting localities for every kind of Crustacea. My
researches were confined to the littoral zones chiefly, and hence this
list includes but few of the Macroura and Anomoura.

LIST OF SPECIES.

Hyas araneuSy common, and a littoral species here. In Ireland it
has occurred all round the coast, as follows : — Carrickfergus (W. T.),
Dublin, Youghal, Valentia, Clew Bay (W. T.).

Ifi/as coarctattis, apparently rare. I saw but one specimen. This
may arise, however, from its being a frequenter of deeper water than
the last ; such, at least, I find to be its habits in Dublin. This species
has been selected by Dana as a type of his Caledonian group, and yet it
is recorded as occurring on the shores of La Manches. In Ireland it
has occurred at Giant's Causeway (0. C), Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork
(J. V. T.), Valentia Island, Galway Bay, 1857. In Dublin Bay it is much
commoner than the last, being less local, but preferring deeper water.

Mata squinado, common, and deep sea, or, at least, laminarian;
taken in the lobster-pots; undoubtedly a southern species. Forbes
makes it one of his South British types. Information with regard to
the limits of its distribution is much wanted. It is recorded from Wex-
ford (W. T.), Cork (J. V. T.), and the west coast, as far north as Round-
stone Bay (W. M'C).

Xantho floriday very common under stones between tide-marks. Two
distinctly marked varieties occur, the one having the wrists quite
smooth, the other with the wrists picked out into irregular, confluent,
slightly raised ridges. This is probably only a variety of the smooth-
wristed form, as intermediate forms are common. There is great
variety in colour among the specimens, some being colourless, similar
to the specimen recorded in Thompson from Lahinch, and which, through
the kindness of Dr. Robert Ball, I have had an opportunity of examin-
ing.

The species appears to be southern and western in its distribution.

12 DtJBLIN NATTTKAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

It has been recorded in the Dublin lists on the authority of Dr. Ball.
I find the observations of this gentleman with regard to our Dublin
species so correct,— in fact, in every instance but this having verified his
observations by specimens obtained by myself, — that, although a careful
search for this species in Dublin, on my own part, has been hitherto
unsuccessful, I yet feel great hesitation in contradicting the statement.
The fact of there being but a single specimen in his collection, so marked,
leaves room, however, for the surmise that there may have been some
mistake. In Ireland it has been recorded in Antrim (0. C), Dublin
Bay? (R. B.), vide ante, Hook Head (RB.), Cork? (C. C. S.), Valen-
tia Island, Tory Island ("W. T.) The specimen thus marked in J. V.
Thompson's collection is X tuherculata*

The fact of the species having occurred on the north-east coast does
not militate against its being regarded as southern. Several other seem-
ingly southern, or, more probably, western species, are found to occur
along the eastern coast of the north of Ireland. In England, as far as
I find it recorded, the distribution of this species is southern.

Xantho rivulosa. — Along with the last, a single specimen was found
under the stones near Renaune Point : it is a female, and half grown,
and exhibited the following distinctive characters, as contrasted with
Xantho florida, captured at the same place : — Front produced, directed
forwards, lamellar, leaded along its margin; pterygostomian regions
granulated (in X.florida, punctated) ; dentition of lateral edge. D. slightly
marked, yet distinct, E.N.T.S. ; (in X. florida D. nearly completely
obsolete) ; superior surface of carapace much flattened, posterior pairs of
legs hairy upon superior edges. The character of the double groove on
the movable finger is by no means a constant distinction, as it is found
in some young specimens of X. florida.

This is undoubtedly a southern species. The only Irish specimen
heretofore known, and which I am, through the kindness of G. V.
Du Noyer, Esq., enabled to figure from the original sketch made in 1839,
and which is itself here exhibited through the kindness of the authorities
of the Museum of Irish Industry, was obtained at Portrush, 1839 (O.C.),
Hook Head (R.B.),t Valentia Island, 1856, Galway (Prof. MelviUe).

* Xantho ttiberculata. — Among tlie collection of Crustacea purchased from J. V.
Thompson by the Eoyal College of Surgeons, Ireland, and by them presented to the
Royal Dublin Society, there is a mutilated specimen— marked in the Catalogue
No. 23, " I. Xantho Jloridus, imperfect" — which is either this or some closely allied
species. The absence of the hindlcgs prevent a positive opinion as to the species ;
but in the produced front and coarsely tuberculated hands, &c., it appears identical
with Bell's figure. I have noticed it here, as it appears to have escaped W. Thomp-
son's observation ; and it were exceedingly desirable if the occurrence of this south
British type on the Irish shores could be confirmed. It is singular that there is no
specimen of Xantho florida at all in the collection. I have been at pains to identify
tnis specimen as the actual specimen described in the Catalogue as above, and find
there cannot be any doubt as to its identity.

t X. rivulosa. — Since the above paper was read, Dr. Robert Ball kindly afforded
me an opportunity of examining the fine collection of Irish Xanthos in the Univer-
sity Museum, Trinity College, and among a number collected at Hook Head , county

DUBLIN NATUBiX HI8T0BT 80CIETT. IS

Caneer pagurus. — Here, as all round Ireland, occurs abundantly, and
appears to be universal — in fact, no district is without it.

Ca/rcinus manas. — Also abundant, varying much in colour, espe-
cially the young specimens which at Valentia Island are generally of
dark olives and grays I did not meet any of the light-coloured varietie§
which are common in the Dublin rock-pools. The amount of arcuation
of the front varies much in some of my specimens. This species appears
as widely distributed as the last.

Portunus puher. — Very abundant, littoral and laminarian. The
Valentia specimens are much more convex than Dublin coast specimens,
which are, many of them, nearly quite flat The young of this species,
as well as those of the next two, might be easily confounded with those
of Carcinus manas, the only difierence at first sight being a sparse pu-
bescence. The young specimens of this species are, many of them, most
beautiful in their colours : patches of rose-pink adorning the branchial
region, and a stripe of the same colour running down the median line.
The frontal teeth in young specimens appear as pearly granulations only.

Distribution. — Bangor, Co. Down (O.C.), Dublin, Youghal, Valentia,
Lahinch, Tory Island (W.T).

Portunus corrugatus. — Rare ; small specimens occur in pools left in
the sands and among Zostera marina at llinglass Point. It appears to
be generally distributed around Ireland, though there is no certain re-
cord of its having been found on the south coast. It is omitted in the
Cork Cuvierian Society's list. J. V. Thompson's specimens, marked
P. corrugatus, are uncorrectly named ; as it occurs in the Mediterranean
it may be a southern species, attaining its extreme limit in Dublin Bay,
but, more probably, further research will establish it around Ireland.
At present, the following comprises the districts in which it has been
found: — Lame (0. C), Dublin Bay (R.B.), and also my own collect-
ing, Valentia Island, and the west coast generally, to Birterbie Bay
(W.M'C).

Portunus arcuatus.* — Specimens occurred in the same locality as the
last ; this species is a most interesting example of representative form,
copying closely the outline of Portunus integrifrons of the Indian

of "Wexford, by Doran, some years since, I had the pleasure of detecting a small spe-
cimen of this species — thus confirming its southern range. Although this collection
includes some dozen specimens, which I carefully examined, I could not find another
example of this species. These specimens. Dr. Ball informed me at the time, had
never heen critically examined before.

• Portunus careinoidea (Mihi) — Along with the above species three specimens of
ft Portunus occurred, which, though neighbouring to P. corrugatus, seem to belong to
some other species. I have, therefore, ventured to describe it provisionally, under the
name of P. careinoidet (from its resemblance to Careitnu manas), aa follows : —

Carapace smooth, without raised ridges, regions marked out by rounded promi-
nences only, sparsely hirsute. Front three-lobed, middle lobe largest, edges of M$*
entire. Antero-lateral margin of carapace five-toothed. First pair of legs equal, surface
nearly smooth, hirsute; two flattened, triangular teeth at anterior superior angles
of wnst; hand with two well-marked oarinsD on the upper sides, the timer tmrmmatmf

14 DUBLIN NATUEAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

Ocean, and even the habitat, — which appears to be erroneously given in
Bell as deep water, — at least in Valentia Island, I find P. arcuatus tole-
rably abundant under weed-covered stones, between tide-marks, pre-
cisely as Portunus itUegrifrons occurred to me in Port Philip Bay,
Australia. The young specimens of this species are, probably, often
passed over as Carcinus rmenas, from which it is often difficult to sepa-
rate them. It is, most probably, a southern species, that is to say, one
of Forbes's Atlantic types.

In Ireland it has been recorded as occurring as follows : — Strangford
Lough (0. C), Portmamock, Co. Dublin (R. B.), Dublin Bay, 1852,
Cork (J.V.T.), Valentia Island, Killeries (W.T.).

P&rtunu8 depurator occurs, but not common. This species has
been erroneously supposed to be rare in Ireland, probably from its being
generally an inhabitant of tolerably deep water : it is neither rare nor
yet local, as the following list shows : —

Belfast (0. C), Portmarnock, Dublin, Bray, Youghal (E. B.), Va-
lentia, Dingle, (W. Andrews, Esq.), Roundstone (W. M'C), Galway.

Portunus holsatus did not occur to me ; specimens of it were shown
me, and specimens from Dingle Bay, collected by Wm. Andrews, Esq., are
before you. This species is undoubtedly more northerly in its tendency
than the preceding; in Dublin Bay (where it is far the commonest spe-
cies) a wrinkled variety, hardly to be distinguished from P. depurator,
occurs especially in Dalkey Sound; it frequents sandy bottoms more
than that species.

Distribution :— Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork (J. V. T.), Dingle
(W. A.), Roundstone (W. M'C), Galway, 1857.

Portunus pusillus occurs rare ; a generally diffused species ; but
seemingly rarest on the western shores. In Dublin Bay it occurs
commonly in the extreme laminarian zones, as at Dalkey Sound,
where, nearly in every haul of the dredge, specimens may be captured.

Co. Down (O.C), Dublin, Cork (J. V. T.), Valentia, Roundstone
(W. M'C), Killeries (W. T.)

The only other Portunus taken in Ireland (P. marmoreus) was, as
you have been already informed to-night, first captured by W. M'Calla,
in Roundstone Bay.* Into its history there is no necessity to go further,

in a very minute^ obtuse tubercle. Upper edges of second, third, and fourth pair of legs
very sparsely hirsute ; fourth joint broadly keeled above ; fifth and sixth acutely
keeled; sixth joint slender, styliform ; terminal joint of posterior pair of legs nar-
nowly lanceolate, with a raised central line, hairy on the edges.

The specimens obtained were all young. I hare, therefore, preferred inserting
the species in a note ; but it is probable it has been passed over as either P. arcuatus
or F. corrugatus. It might also be easily mistaken for young of G. mccnas. It occurred
in the rock-pools and also under stones on Ringlass Point.

* The following are M'Calla's own words recording this discovery : —

" PORTUNUS MARAIORKUS.

" A short time previous to leaving Connemara, I had the pleasiire of finding a
single individual of this species. This is the first instance of its occurrence as Irish.
Habitat : a sandy beach, at extreme low water ; locahty, Island of Innislacken." —
Saunders's News-Letter, Jan. 9, 1845.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETr. 15

as it has already formed the subject of an interestiiig paper from its re-
diBcoverer there, Dr. Farran. I will just state, that in Britain generaUy
it has been recorded as having been found at Edinburgh, by Dr. Howden,
there may be some mistake here, as P. hohatus does not occur in his
list at all, and it is also included in a list of Moray Firth Crustacea, but
P. hohatus is also omitted here, and all along the south coast of England;
it has not occurred as yet on the south coast of Ireand ; but I am sure,
if sought, it will be found there too. It is a Mediterranean species, and
very distinct from both P. holsatus and P. depurator, Galway, 1857.

Gonoplax angtdatus, — A single specimen was shown me, obtained on
the shore, near the quay, living, after a heavy gale. I sought it myself
in vain.

This species is a most puzzling one in its distribution, and un-
doubtedly local where it does occur. It has occurred on the coast of
Dublin, as specimens, in the possession of Dr. C. Farran and Dr. R. Ball,
prove.

Distribution :— Bangor, Co. Down (0. C), Dublin (R. B. and C. F.),
Cork (J. V. T. and R. B.), Valentia Island, Roundstone (Prof. Melville).

It is possibly a southern species, following that peculiar line of dis-
tribution to which I have already alluded; that is to say, south, west, and
north of Ireland, and, for a limited distance, down the north-east coast.
However, further research may prove it be an inhabitant of the entire
eastern coast It is a Mediterranean species.

Pagums strehlonyx. — General in its distribution round Ireland, occur-
ring north, south, east, and west.

Porcellana platychdes. — Exceedingly common under stones, the spe-
cimens varying much in colour.

Distribution : — Carrickfergus (W. T.), Portmamock, Co. Dublin,
Valentia Island, Kilkee, Tory Island (W. T.). A very local species on
the eastern coast, though just as large as the northern specimens.

Porcellana longicomis. — Common in the deep rock-pools, among
Corallina officinalis.

Distribution : — Strangford (0. C), Dublin, Ardmore, Youghal, Valen-
tia, Lahinch, &c. A very common and very generally distributed species.

Galathea squamifera. — Rare among the deep rock-pools of rather
large size ; one specimen only obtained ; it appears to be generally dis-
tributed around Ireland. About Dublin, though smaU specimens are
common in the lobster-pots and the dredge in the laminarian and
coralline zones, adult specimens are seldom captured. It has occurred
as follows : — Portrush (0. C), Dublin, Youghal (R. B.), Valentia Island,
Birterbie Bay (W. M'C).

Palinurua vulgaris. — In lobster-pots. This is essentially a western
species, but obeys the same law of distribution as Portunxts arcuatuSy
Xantho floriday &c. It has occurred at Magilligan (0. C), Youghal
(R. B.), Valentia, and west coast generally. I can find no record of
its having occurred on the eastern coast. Though fishermen have told
me of its occurrence in Dublin Bay, I never succeeded in getting speci-
mens of it.

t

16 DUBLIN NATITRAlL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Homarm vulgaris. — All around the coast. Calls for no particular
remark.

FaUemon serratus. — Common on the zostera- covered banks, very
largo in size. The distribution of this genus is rather confused. A
PaloBmon under this name has been recorded as follows: — Portrush
(0. C), DubUn?? (W.T.), Youghal (R.B.), Valentia Island, Dingle
("W. Andrews), South Isles of Arran (li. B.), Gal way.

The fact most worthy of notice suggested by this list is the occur-
rence of species, undoubtedly southern or western in their tendencies,
on the eastern coast. The most remarkable of these are Xantho Jlorida,
Portunus corrugatus^ P. arcuatus ; all common on the west, and
either rare or local on the east, at least in Dublin Bay, where I have
examined hundreds of localities similar to those in which these species
occur plentifully on the west, and have only found one or two speci-
mens. It would appear as though the tide of migration of these species
northwards sent off a small stream southwards round the north-east
coast of Ireland, which, probably, did not much extend beyond Dublin
Bay, as these western species are much more numerous to the north of
Howth than to the south of it They will, probably, south of this point,
if occurring at aU, be found to be inhabitants of the deeper zones, while,
as will be seen by reference to the lists above, on the western coast
they occur as littoral species.

In the above list I have purposely abstained from mentioning many
of the true western species, inhabitants mostly of the deeper water —
such as AcJiceiis cranchii, taken by Professor Melville, of Galway Col-
lege ; Pisa tetraodon, by M'Calla, at Roundstone ; 27iia poUta, by
M'Calla, at Roundstone ; and also in Gal way Bay by Professor Mel-
ville, who at the time was ignorant of its previous occurrence on the
British coasts, &c. ; because this is not by any means intended for a
perfect comparative list, but merely as a contribution to such a list. Had
I drawn on the experience of others, the number of species could have
been much augmented ; but, for the reasons stated above, it appeared
preferable to record my own observations only. In conclusion, I may
observe, that of the most important species mentioned, specimens have
been placed by myself and others in your Society's Museum, where they
may be seen.

Mr. James R. Dombrain wished to notice the occurrence of the rose
ouzel {Pastor roseus) at the Ball's-bridge Nursery, in the neighbourhood
of this city, in the month of July last. He had much pleasure in pre-
senting the specimen (which was the only one seen) to the collection of
the Society. It is a bird of very rare occurrence in this country.

Mr. W. Andrews, Hon. Secretary, read a communication from the
Bight Hon. John Wynne, of Hazlewood, county of Sligo, recording
the interesting discovery of the true maiden-hair {Adiantum Capillus-
Veneris), in the vaUey of Glencar, county of Leitrim. This fern (one of ex-
treme rarity in Ireland, records of its occurrence being hitherto confined
to Tralee, Isles of Arran, TJrrisbeg, and Co. Clare) was growing at a

DUBLIH NATXJILLL HMTOKT SOCIETT. 17

considerable height, with a south-west exposure, in veins of shale which
run through the limestone. It attained considerable luxuriance. This
is the most northern locality known for the plant in Ireland.

The meeting then adjourned to the month of January, 1857.

After the ballot, the following were declared duly elected as Ordi-
nary Members : — Arthur Mitchell, M. D. ; John Hamilton, Esq.

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 28, 1867.

Rev. Samuel Hauohton, F.T.C.D., M.R.I.A., in the Chair.

The Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. "W. Andrews took the opportunity to correct a mistake which
had crept into the report of a paper read by him at the meeting of the
Society in June last, on the occurrence of the brown hairstreak (Theela
hetuke) in Kerry. By some inadvertence he had been stated to have
only observed one specimen, whereas, on the contrary, this insect was
just as abundant in that locality as the brimstone butterfly ( Gonepteryx
rhamni). The hairstreak being considered a very rare insect in Ireland,
he thought it advisable to correct this error.

Mb. R. p. "Williams then read a paper —

ON the occtjhrence of colias edusa in the county op wateefoad.

I HAVE the pleasure of bringing before the notice of the Society, this
evening, specimens of one of the rarest of Irish butterflies, which I have
only seen recorded as such in the recent work of the Rev. F. 0. Morris,
on ** British Butterflies," wherein he states that, on the 9th of Septem-
ber, 1844, two were seen, and one captured, by Mr. Joseph Poole, of
Grovetown, near Wexford. A much earlier instance (the precise time
of which I cannot supply, but certainly as early as 1820), however, oc-
curred, when Mr. Tardy was forming his collection — afterwards increased
by numerous additions, and class^ed by the late Dr. Thomas Coulter,
Mr. Tardy having died ere he completed his task. This collection may
now be seen in the Museum of Trinity College. Enthusiastic, however,
as Mr. Tardy was, I believe he was not able to secure an Irish specimen,
although two or three English, and marked as such, are in the collection.
A co-labourer in the field, the late Mr. Cooper Haffield, was more
fortunate. He was, at least, blessed with a sight of the insect, though
not doomed to be fortunate in capturing it. He is reported to have
chased it for a distance of three miles, when it fairly baffled him by
taking out to sea between "Wicklow and Arklow Head. On return from
his excursion, Mr. Haffield was so excited by the chase, and by the
recollection of the insect vividly existing in his imagination, that, to
record the fact, he at once set to work, and made a fac-simile of the
butterfly he was not destined to capture. This he placed in his cabinet,
and it has been passed over many a time by inquisitive eyes without
detection, and duly acknowledged an Irish specimen. I had often heard
that story very amusingly told, but with some degree of scepticism, until

18 DITMJN NATXTEAL HI8T0RT SOCIETY.

I read the history of the butterfly, and learned that its haunts are the
sea-shore, and its flight so rapid as to render its capture a matter of
considerable difficulty. I think it a matter to be rcf^retted that the de-
rivation of names of genera is not generally explained in works of
natural history. Not finding Colias explained, I have been guessing at
its derivation, and as I find KoXcd signifies a dance, I presume the name
of the genus to be derived from that word, expressive of its mode of
flight Colias, I find also, was one of the names of Venus, from a pro-
montory in Attica of that name, whence, possibly, the genus may have
been named.

The specimens presented this evening were collected by one of our
members, Mr. Richard B. Ussher, a young gentleman from whose zeal
in the pursuit of natural history much good may be expected. He has
already presented a large number of insects (which I hold in trust for
the Society until proper cases shall be provided), besides other donations
to the Society. These specimens were obtained in the autumn of 1855,
and about the same time several other specimens were obtained by Mr.
Samuel W. Tyndall, at Glanmire, county of Cork. This insect, though
tolerably plentiful in England in some localities, is not to be counted
on as being sure to be found, so much so, that many have considered its
appearance triennial, quadriennial, and others septennial.

I shall proceed to read Mr. Ussher' s account of the capture of the
specimens presented by him. *' In the autumn of 1855 I was staying
at Ardmore, a place situated in the county of Waterford, between the
towns of Dungarvan and Youghal ; and being out walking one day round
the cliff's, or rather in the fields above the cliffs, I was catching painted
ladies ( C. cardui), red admirals ( V. ammiralis), and other butterflies, which
occurred there in great abundance, when I observed a yellow butterfly
which came flying up over the cliff ; it flew very fast, and constantly
alighted on the yellow flowers of the dandelion, which it closely re-
sembled in colour, so that it could not be easily distinguished amongst
them when it was not flying about As I had never seen such a creature
before, I pursued it, and easily captured it when it was feeding on a
flower, but I could not catch it on the wing, it was such a strong flier;
it proved to be a male of the species mentioned. After this I saw several
others in the same locality ; I suppose I saw twenty in that season al-
together, but I never saw more than two in the same day : they always
seemed to prefer dandelion or some other yellow flower. In the end of
October I saw a male one day amongst the heath and furze on the side
of a hill near Cappagh, about six miles from Dungarvan Bay, which is
the nearest sea-coast. I succeeded in catching five of them that year at
Ardmore — namely, three males and two females. I did not see any of
them in the same locality this summer, as this was an unusually bad
year for butterflies. I understand that others caught some near the same
place, and at the same time as I did. — R J. Ussheb."

Dr. Kinahan observed that it was most gratifying to find that the
country members of the Society were not altogether forgetful of its

pUBLUr VATVRAL HXSTOBT 80CIETT. 19

meetings, and hoped that this paper was only the forerunner of many
more, as interesting, from the same locality.

From his own experience of Ardmore, during 1852 and 1863, he had
little doubt that this insect, in common with many others rare else-
where, was to be met with during most years. When in that neigh-
bourhood, in 1852, in company with a friend, the result of some of whose
labours in natural history he himself had had the honour to record in the
*' Transactions" of the Society, but who was now, alas ! no more-
Edward Henry Sargint, Esq., he had met this butterfly in a narrow,
sandy field, at Whiting Bay, next the sea. Mr. Sargint, who had col-
lected the insect on the Continent, and was a keen lepidopterist, at once
pointed it out as a rarity. Three or four specimens were seen on that
occasion, but none were obtained, through want of a proper net.

On a subsequent occasion, Mr. Sargint captured several specimens,
which Dr. Kinalian afterwards saw. It was to be hoped Mr. Ussher
would follow up his investigations into the Lepidoptera, not merely of
Ardmore, but also of the lower valley of the filackwater, where many
rare things might be expected to occur.

Mr. Gilbert Sanders had met the insect in Devonshire. His first
acquaintance with it was in 1844, on the glacis of Plymouth citadel, and
had nearly eventuated in an introduction to a more unpleasant acquaint-
ance— viz., a bayonet ; as having, in the ardour of his pursuit, scaled
the ditch, he was arrested by the sentry for trespassing on forbidden
ground. This spot is facing the Sound, and, of course, near the sea.
He had, however, also met the insect in immense numbers at a great
distance inland — at Plymvale, at the foot of Dartmoor mountain, on
aquatic plants which fiinged the " aits" here. They were here in such
numbers that he was always sure of capturing them, and often saw a
hundred specimens in an hour's walk. The capture in Ireland is curious,
as occurring in a district in which the geological features resemble
those of the districts in which he had captured it in England. Perhaps
this arose from some peculiarity in the plants of the district.

Me. William Aitdbews, Honorary Secretary, read a conmiunication
from LoED Clekmont —

ON THE OCCUKRENCE OF THE "RARTen GREBE.

"It may be interesting to the Society to know that either a female
or young male of the eared grebe [Podiceps aurtttts) was shot on my
estate at Blackrock, Dundalk, on the coast, on the 13th last December
(1856) : according to Thompson and Yarrell, it is of rare occurrence in
any part of the British Isles. The bird is now in my possession."

Mr. Andrews said this was an interesting addition to many import
tant and valuable communications of the kind already made by Lord
Clermont to the Society. Mr. Andrews had also heard of the capture of
the eared grebe, twelve months since, at Fethard, county of Wexford.
This last notice had not been, however, confirmed.

20 DT7BLIN NATUKAL HI8T0EY SOCIETY.

Mr. James Haughton exhibited some curious webs woven by Tinea
granella (?) over a quantity of Indian com, and which, in the abundance
of the web, and its greater toughness of texture, differed from that
woven by similar, if not the same insect over heaps of wheat The web
exhibited was of two kinds — the one occurred as a comparatively un-
broken sheet, of considerable size, of the consistency and thickness of
Chinese paper, in colour varying from awhity-brown to nearly pure white,
and of extreme toughness, though in parts no thicker than the finest
gauze. These specimens, Mr. Haughton stated, were obtained from the
side walls of the loft, to which they adhered, depending in long sheets,
and giving the walls the appearance of having been papered with a whity-
brown tissue paper, with a glistening surface. The ceilings, and other
portions of the loft which had been plastered, were covered with a similar
web, similarly adherent.

The other specimens were of a dirtier colour, more broken in tex-
ture, and covered over with cocoons of the moth. The sheets were
mostly double, and were found spread like a cloth over the entire surface
of a small loft of corn. The surface of the web was covered by myriads
of the larvae, crossing and recrossing in every direction. These larvae,
in many instances, had attached themselves to the web, and there, spin-
ning their cocoons, entered into the pupa state, the surface-web forming
the under side of the cocoon.

The rapidity with which the com was covered was most remark-
ably seen whenever the heap was shifted or turned, a day or two
sufficing to allow of a large surface being covered. Mr. Haughton
thought it worth ascertaining (if possible) whether the nature of the
food of the larvae (Indian com) had anything to say to the peculiarities
of the web mentioned — ^viz., its great toughness and abundance.

The meeting then adjourned to the month of Febmary.

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 13, 1857.

Samtel Goedon-, M D., M. K. I. A., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous meeting having been read and signed, —

Mr. "W. Andrews, Honorary Secretary, read a communication from
Richard Griffith, Esq., LL. D., presenting to the Society a coloured copy
of his Geological Map of Ireland, and expressing his gratification at the
progress of the Society, and on the enlargement of its sphere of scientific
inquiry. Mr. Andrews said that it was very desirable that the Society
should possess a copy of this useful Map, and that he felt much pleasure in
moving a special vote of thanks to the donor for his exceedingly valu-
able present, which, having been duly seconded, was passed unanimously.

Mr. G. V. Du Noyer, in presenting to the Society, on the part of
Major O'Connor, of Tralee, specimens of a fungus (Polyporus), stated
that these specimens were found fourteen feet under a bog near Tralee,
and were, in the first instance, mistaken by the peasantry for fossilized
" horses' hoofs," which they closely imitated. They had still attached to
them portions of oak-bark, and were evidently at one period of their exist-

DX7BLIV NATXTBAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 31

ence attached to timber. He was not aware that any similar remains had
been noticed, but thought records of such things might be of importance
in helping to clear up some of the difficulties at present confusing the
history of the growth of bogs.

Dr. Kinahan noticed a new species of Crangon, which he had
lately discovered on the Dublin coast, and which he proposed to
call C Allmanni. The species is aUicd to Crangon vulgaris y the most
prominent distinction being that the superior surface of the terminal seg-
ments of the abdomen in C. Allmanni are sulcated. Full details would
be laid before the Society at the March meeting.

Db. Chaeles Fakean read a paper

ON AKEBA BULLATA.

It is more than probable that the question will be asked by some
of the members of this Society, why I should occupy its time in bringing
forward for discussion a mollusc so well known and so widely diflFused
as Akera hullata. In answer to this question I reply, that I hold it to
be one of the pleasing duties imposed on each member to contribute his
mite of information to the ftind now accumulating in the Transactions
of the Society, and which must ere long lead to a more accurate, if not
perfect, knowledge of the natural history of our own country. It is by
bringing forward a number of facts, and digesting and arranging them,
alone, we can hope to solve the anomalies which perplex the student in
his pursuit of this delightful science.

My last visit to Birterbie Bay has enabled me to bring before the
Society, in the case of Akera hullata^ a most extraordinary aberration
from its normal condition, accompanied by a solution, which I trust
will prove satisfactory, of the cause which produced it. At the December
monthly meeting I had the honour of reading a paper, in which I de-
tailed the discovery of the locality of the marbled swimming crab, Por-
tunus marmoreus. I mentioned that the state of the weather was most
unpropitious, although it was July. In fact, after making two or three
hauls of the dredge, in which I captured that beautiful crustacean, we
were compelled to leave that spot and seek for shelter in Birterbie Bay,
and, carried on the top of a mountain wave, we ran down the bay until
we opened on Roundstone, and, altering our course, we got imder shelter
of the highland of Innisnee, an island which, as I formerly explained
to the Society, divides Roundstone Bay from Birterbie Bay. Having
proceeded a considerable distance up this creek, we found water as still
as a mill-pond although a storm was raging above us, and as our speed
was slackened, I thought I might as well try the dredge, and accordingly
threw it overboard, and had it under weigh for two or three himdred
yards, when we found ourselves fixed between two ledges of rock, and
imbedded in a sludge of mud and decayed or decomposed Nullipore.

Having ascertained that no damage was done to the vessel, my first
care was to have the dredge brought on board, and my surprise was
great when fifteen egg-like substances, and fully as large, rolled on

22 DTTBLIN NATXJB1.L HISTORY SOCIETY.

the deck ; the resemblance to duck eggs, mottled with brown and purple
spots, as if incubated for some time, was most striking. At first sight
I took them for some undescribed species of Doris, but on keeping one
of them in my hand I found that it gradually elongated and exposed
the apex of the spire, but of such size that I entertained doubts as to
its identity -svith Akera. The measurement of the largest when first
taken was as follows, — three inches in length, and two and a half in
diameter, and the weight, when we reached Roundstone, one and a half
to two and a half ounces. When exposed for some short time they
gradually contracted their mantles, became more flattened, and thus
exposed their shell to some extent. In about an hour after their cap-
ture they began to throw out a considerable quantity of thick glairy
mucus, exhaling a smell resembling iodine mixed with violets ; after
this they diminished considerably in size, and still further laid bare
their shells, which I perceived were of gigantic size. When replaced
in the water they never recovered their full size, but completely covered
their shell with their mantle.

The men having extricated the vessel from her unpleasant position,
I prevailed on them to make several tacks, in hopes of securing more
specimens of this prize. This they did, but without success, having
kept close to, but outside, the rock, the water shoaling and the tide
receding, preventing us from keeping in our first course. Finding our
efforts vain, and the wind lulling, we took the opportunity, and returned
safely to Roundstone. Here I had fresh water supplied to the prisoners,
and safely locked them up for the night. On giving the matter further
consideration, I came to the conclusion that the Akera lived here in
shallow water, for I had not more than two fathoms of rope when I first
threw out the dredge. I reflected that whatever power the wind exer-
cised, blowing as it did from the land, assisted by the receding of the
tide, tended to drive the vessel from the shore ; consequently, when we
reached the rock, we were considerably outside the line where Akera hul-
lata lived, and that we had but touched on them in a slanting or trans-
verse direction, and yet, in that spot of contact had captured fifteen ;
and further, that tacking outside the rock, we were going into deeper
water, and, consequently, further removed from their locality ; and, as I
observed before, the space between the rock and the shore had shoaled,
80 that it was impossible for a vessel of our size to go over it.

Having this conviction in my mind, the next day I procured a boat
carrying a small lug-sail, and drawing less than eighteen inches of water,
and steering to the ground, I had the satisfaction to find that my calcu-
lation was correct ; for on dredging over the ground laid down in my
mind's eye, within the rock, and closer to the shore, the tide being full
in, I obtained as many of those magnificent specimens as I desired — ■
thus corroborating the conclusion I had drawn of their inhabiting shallow
water.

I shall now explain why I have been so particular in giving those
detailB as to locality and depth. It was in this creek — I might say this
very spot — where I obtained, in the year 1844, the rare Irish shell,

DTTBLIN NATUBAL KI8T0BT 80CIETT. 28

Bulla hi/datii, and where, in the year 1854, I sought in vain for it,
eponding hours on hours in search of it, hut failing ; I had some vain
hopes, when I threw out the dredge, I should again meet it ; hut the
result proved I was wrong. In addition to all this, Mr. Barlee, who had
investigated most critically Birterbie Bay, surprised at the size of some
specimens which I had forwarded to him, expressed his astonishment
how it had fallen to my lot to discover such a treasure, after his having
ransacked every nook and comer of the bay.

I now exhibit specimens from the collection of my friend, T. W.
"Warren, Esq., from the locality of Baldoyle, county of Dublin; of course
they represent the shell of its average size and appearance ; one speci-
men from my own collection, from the same locality, designated by
Mr. Barlee and the late Professor Forbes as a ** monster specimen;"
and specimens from Roxmdstone Bay, obtained exactly opposite the creek
in Birterbie Bay, and, in a right line, not more than a quarter of a mile
from it ; and also, the giants themselves. I exhibited to every natu-
ralist in Dublin, who wished to see them, those extraordinary shells.
Whether this discovery excited in their minds any interest, it is not for
me to determine ; but I can safely assert that it was received by my
friends elsewhere with something more than surprise.

I shall select from numerous communications the observations of
two of the most accomplished conchologists in England — Mr. William
Clark, of Bath, and Mr. Barlee, of Exmouth — to whom I had sent spe-
cimens, and those certainly not the very finest. Mr. Clark observes: —

"You have indeed favoured me with a most desirable addition to my
collection. Mr. Barlee mentions in a letter that you had met with some
Goliaths of the Bulla tribe ; but my imagination failed to represent spe^
cimens of such gigantic proportions. The animal of the Akera htdlata
is of so delicate a texture, that the character of the external and general
configuration escape correct observation from spirit specimens ; these
points can only be correctly observed by one who has the opportunity of
seeilig the animal contract and display itself immediately on its capture.
The presence or absence of a gizzard, and others of the internal points,
would admit of a closer examination. If again these creatures should
come into your hands, notes bearing on these points would form a bright
page in the annals of Natural History.'*

And in another communication Mr. Clark says he feels great plea-
sure in contemplating the colossal molluscan growth of some of the spe-
cies of the Irish seas, which he apprehends results fit)m the stimulus of
their being exposed without interruption to the pure Atlantic wave.

Mr. Barlee writes to me thus : —

" Your take of the Ak&ra bullata (which is fully three times as lai^ge
as I ever saw it), so near, I presume, from your account of the sjwt you
ran into for shelter, to the place where I took them the year before, is
remarkable — that is, remarkable that I did not fall in with some of those
monsters. I had two years' dredging all round that locality without
taking the species at all, although about five miles up the bay, in rather
shallow water. I once dredged several dozen of what I contodered very

24 DUBLIN NATUKAL HISTORY SOCIETT.

fine specimens, being larger than any I had taken from the many loca-
lities I had found them in. I suppose it would be in vain to account for
the magnitude of your specimens — that is to say, whether it is from age
or from some fine fattening ground they are in — because, the species
being generally difi'used over the bay, how is it, in the hundreds I have
taken, that mine are not one-third the size of yours ? In Roundstone
Bay I also found them abundant, but of the average size of my other
specimens. I find that every conchologist can boast of having some
species far superior to those in the best collections ; and you may rest
satisfied that no cabinet can show finer Pectunculm glycimeris, Akera
lullata, and Kellia suborhicularis, than your own. These three species I
now remember, and there may be others you have that may vie with
them."

You perceive Mr. Clark attributes the colossal growth of the molluscs
to the stimulus of their being exposed without interruption to the pure
Atlantic wave; Mr. Barlee, to age and the peculiar quality of the ground
on which the animals were placed. That none of these agencies are suffi-
cient to account for the monstrous growth of these specimens is shown
by the fact, that the animal, when exposed without interruption to the
Atlantic wave, never, at least so far as our investigation warrants us at
present in saying, attain such a size ; as is plainly seen in these spe-
cimens from Roundstone Bay, which is completely unprotected, or,
in other words, exposed to the open sea in that spot whence the speci-
mens were procured; and the inference drawn by Mr. Barlee, as to
the fattening quaUty of the ground, cannot be maintained, inasmuch as
the composition of the soil is identical in every creek in both bays, con-
sisting of decayed or decomposed nullipore ; and this4>eing a very light
substance, is wafted by the tide towards the shore, and forms the margin
of all the inlets, and it is on this Akera hullata is to be found.

I am sure both these gentlemen will agree with me, that there
is one essential condition, probably combined in a degree with each of
their suggestions, which should be present to account for this great growth,
and that is, perfect tranquillity, or freedom from disturbance ; and this
state is to be found in an eminent degree in the spot I obtained those spe-
cimens. You may recollect I mentioned that, on getting under the high
land of Innisnee, we passed from the agitated waters of the bay into water
as smooth as a mill-pond, although it was blowing a fearful gale overhead,
the wind veering from west to south-west. On carefully examining the
locality, I found it completely land-locked, sheltered on every side by
high land ; and it should be observed that the north and east winds,
which on the easterly side of our island produce such a rolling and
tumbling sea, on the west coast act in an opposite manner, stilling the
water, and not even producing a ruffle on the surface : so that, no matter
from what quarter the wind blows, here reigns perfect tranquillity, an
essential ingredient in producing great animal development. Another
physical fact is worth noticing — frost or snow, when they do occur,
seldom last longer than twenty-four hours, and they require to be severe
to continue so long ; and so very mild in general is the weather on this

OUBUN NATURAL HI8T0KY HOCIKTY. 26

island, that fodder is never given in winter to the cattle placed on it, a
perennial vegetation amply supplying their wants. I have endeavoured
to give an account of this interesting occurrence as briefly as possible.

I should mention that the following morning, on examining the spe-
cimens I had placed in the bucket, I found them all dead, some of them
being separated from their shells, and floating. My time was so pressing
that I could make no anatomical examination of the others I obtained.
Some of these I hurriedly put into spirits, but found to my regret, on
my return to town, that they were in a state of decomposition. How-
ever, I tnist at the beginning of our next session to lay, in accordance
with Mr. Clark's wishes, a full detail of their structure before the
Society, and conclude by stating that the measurement given by the
best authorities of those shells, is generally from three-fourths to an
inch in length, while those I have the pleasure of exhibiting to the
Society are trom two to two and a half, and, when recent, three inches
in length.

The paper was illustrated by a coloured tracing of the position and
bearings of Birterbie Bay, Connemara, and with numerous beautiful
specimens of large size of Akera hullata.

An animated discussion took place on Dr. Farran's paper, in the
course of which Dr. Farran stated that he had been unable to detect
any trace of a gizzard in his specimens.

Mr. E. Percival "Wright stated that ii Akera hullata had not a gizzard,
it could not be included among the Bullidae ; for he agreed with Mr.
Clark, that the presence of this organ was an essential character of the
family.

In specimens examined by him, taken near Donabate and at the
mouth of the Boyne, a gizzard was always found, and he had little doubt
but that future investigation would also detect it in the Roundstone ones.
Mr. Wright promised to take an early opportunity of presenting the So-
ciety with a detailed account of the anatomy of this species.

Dr. W. Frazer, who had dissected the animal under discussion,
could fully corroborate Mr. Wright's statement as to the presence of a
gizzard in the Malahide specimens. The species there occuiTed on
Zostera marina^ yet he coiild not find any traces of the ravages of the
animal on the growing plants ; it was a point of great interest as to
whether these animals were zoophagous or phytophagous.

Mr. Andrews obsei-ved that the magnificent specimens exhibited this
evening by Dr. Farran were still further proofs of what was yet to be
accomplished on the west coast of this country, and were worthy addi-
tions to the valuable records he had already made in the Society, of
Gastrochana pholadia, Fholas papi/racea, Pectunculus glycimeris, Bulla
hydatisy Teredo narvayica, and Fortunus marmoreus. A range of valuable
ground yet remained unexplored along the west coast from Blacksod
Bay to Kenmare River, especially in the deep-water soundings. Aksra
hullata was very generally distributed around the coasts, and was the
favourite food offish, especially of the turbot Many species of molluscs.

26 DUBLIN NATUKAL HI8T0BT 80CIETT.

taken in shoal water and sheltered estuaries, were found of larger size
than the same species taken elsewhere, and it might be supposed that
the very sheltered position of the small bay described by Dr. Farran,
and the soft nature of the ground, probably encouraged the larger growth
of these specimens.

Professor Haughton wished to protest against an idea which seemed
to prevail in reference to these western rarities, -viz., that they owed
their peculiarities of distribution, &c., to the influence of an exalted
temperature, due to the Gulf-stream. Experiments conducted by the
Meteorological Survey, under the Rev. Dr. Lloyd, had completely dis-
proved the existence of any such exalted temperature, the temperature
at Bunowen Harbour being found on experiment to be nearly the same
as that of Dublin Bay.

Rev. Professor Haughton made some remarks on Euomphalus and
Pleurotomaria, recording a new species of Euomphalus from Sheffield,
Queen's County, which he proposed to call E. reprice. This paper will
appear in full as a monograph of the Irish species of Euomphalus, in
the Society's '* Proceedings" in June.

The Chairman read a notice of the capture of the Death's-head Moth
(Acherontia Atropos) at Bandon, county of Cork, on the 6th of July, 1856,
communicated through the kindness of Joseph Ball Greene, Esq. This
specimen was captured in a loft, attention being drawn to it by its
cry, which was described as resembling that of a rat or weasel. The
species was stated to have occurred in the same neighbourhood on
a previous occasion. The specimen which was exhibited was a very
fine one.

After the ballot the following gentlemen were declared duly elected
as Ordinary Members : —

Richard Boyle, Esq. ; Vere Webb Macnally, Esq.

The meeting then adjourned till March.

EXTRA POPULAR MEETING, MARCH 2, 1857.
Ret. Professok Haughton, E. T. C. D., M. R. I. A., in the Chair.

Professor W. H. Harvey, President of the Society, gave an interesting
and lucid address on " The Starfishes of Ireland, and their Relations :"
entering into the connexions between their various groups, and illustrating
his remarks by diagrams and dried specimens from the Society's collec-
tions, and by living examples from Dalkey Sound of the genera Coma-
tula, Ophiocoma, Ophiura, Uraster, Cribclla, Solaster, Echinus, &c. In
the concluding part of his address he alluded to the relations between
British and foreign genera, illustrating his remarks by specimens ob-
tained by him in the Society, Fejee, and Australian Islands.

After a few remarks from the Chairman on the connexion between
the living groups and those met with among the fossil beds of the Old
Red Sandstone and elsewhere, the meeting separated.

DXTBUN NATUBAL HISTORY SOCIKTY. 27

FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 13, 1857.

Professor "W. H. Harvey, M.D., M.R.I.A., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous meeting having been read and signed, —

Mr. II. P. Williams exhibited a fine specimen of the Peregrine (Falco
peregrinus), killed in the county of Meath, and presented to the Society
by Henry Meredith, Esq., through George Annesley Pollock, Esq.

Dr. J. R. KiNAHAN read a paper —

ON A CRANGON NEW TO SCIENCE, WITH NOTICES OP o¥hER NONDESCRIPT
CRUSTACEA, AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CRUSTACEA
PODOPHTHALHIA op the EASTERN, OR DUBLIN MARINE, DISTRICT OF IRE-
LAND.

<'^:fr:

• s^

Before proceeding, according to my promise at our last meeting, to
describe this hitherto unnoficed Crangon, it will be necessary to review,
in a cursory way, the species of this genus already described.

The genus Crangon is now generally restricted to those macrourous
Crustacea in which the first pair of legs are subcheliform, that is to say,
terminating in a movable hooked claw, articulated to the external
angle of the extremity of the terminal joint of the leg, and folding down
on a permanent fixed spine, arising from the internal angle of the same
joint ; the second pair of legs slender, minute, and didactyle, i. e. ter-
minating in a regular-formed hand, with a movable finger ; the remain-
ing pairs of legs acuminate and monodactyle ; the external maxillipeds
subpediform ; the internal antenna) inserted on a line above the ex-
ternal, and the eyes free. Thus excluding certain species, which aro
now grouped under the following genera : — Argis {Kroyer). [Eyes con-
cealed beneath the carapace ; fourth and fifth pair of legs dilated, nata-
torial: (C. Lar.) {Oicen).'] Sabinea ( Ouen). [Second pair of legs very
short, not cheliform : C. septein carinatus {Sabine).'] Paracrangon {Dana),
[Second pair of legs obsolete : Paracrangon echinatu* {Dana).']

28 DUBLIN KATUBAL HISTOHT SOCIETY.

The species referred to this genus are as follow :-

Crangon bispinosus {Hailstone).
„ boreas (Fhipps).
,, loricatus (Eisso).
,, munitus {Dana),
,, nanus {Kroyer).

Crangon vulgaris (Fahr.).
„ fasciatus {RissoX
,, spinosus (Leach).
,, sculptus (Bell).
,, trispinosus {Hailstone).

Of which the first six are recorded as Irish, the first five having occurred
in the eastern or Dublin district ; to these must be added the species to
be now described — C. Allmanni (mihi).

Leach and Risso divided the species then known into three genera —
Crangon, Pontophilus, and ^geon ; of these the two latter have been,
by modem systematists, rejected as founded on insufficient characters,
and, therefore, not natural groups. There appear to be good grounds
for this opinion as regards jEgeon ; but it is probable that further study
of the homologies of those already known will lead to the re-establish-
ment of Leach's genus, Pontophilus.

This genus was founded for those species in which the second pair
of legs were much shorter than the first, the foot-jaws having their ter-
minal joints long and slender, and the carapace covered with spinous
lines. Of these characters the second is found to be inconstant; the first
liable to confusion; but the third will, I am led to believe, be found
constant, although in some species these spinous lines are reduced in
number, and even replaced either by single spines, as in C. trispinosus,
or rows of notches, as in C. bispinosus. This division includes C. spi-^
nosuSf C. loricatus, C. sculptus, C. nanus (?), C. trispinosus (each row of
spines reduced to a single spine, those of branchial regions obsolete),
C. bispinosus, C. munitus.

In Crangon proper, the second pair of legs equal to the first and
third ; the foot-jaws have their terminal joints somewhat shortened,
and we find one median spine on gastric region, and the lateral spines,
when present, inserted on the branchial region. Under this section are
arranged C. vulgo/ris, C. fasciatus, C. boreas (? ), and the new species,
C. Alhnanni. For the present it is, probably, best to unite these two
groups, as Bell and M. Edwards have done, into one group, under the
name of Crangon.

Ceangon Allmanite (mih).

C. Crangone vulga/ri affinis. Rostrum frontale brevie. Carapax
laevis, spinis tribus armatus, una brevissima regione gastrica mediana,
duae regionibus branchialibus insitae. Abdominis articulus sextus supra
canaliculatus, ultimus supra-sulcatus, dentibus binis utrinque armatus,
infra dentibus minutis praetextus. Pedum par primum subcheliforme,
brachium Iffive et inenne. Maribus spina stemale brevissima, faeminis
obsoleta. Colore albus-ceerulescens rufis et aureis punctis maculatus.

Habitat : **Zonam coraUinam Maris Hibemici juxta * Bray,' comitat:
^Wicklow.' Longit, uncies tres."

dublik natural hi8t0bt 80ciett. 39

Channel-tailed Shrimp.
Spec. Chah. — Carapace smooth, excepting a Binall spine on the me-
dian line of gastric region, and one on each branchial ; second pair of
legs as long as third; sixth segment of abdomen deeply channelled
above ; channel continued as shallow sulcus on terminal segment ; third
joint of anterior pair of legs perfectly smooth ; a minute spine between
insertion of second pair of legs in males ; in the female spine, obsolete.

o, tail ; A, middle plate of ditto ; c, anterior 1^ ; dj rostnuiL

This species is closely allied to Crangon vulgaru. The carapace is
large, rounded, depressed ; the rostral projection comparatively longer
and more acuminate ; the foot-jaws, antennae acute, and natatory plates
of the tail as in C. vulgaris ; the anterior pair of legs also similar, but
wanting the spine which adorns the arm of that species ; the spiny ar-
mature of the sternum differs strikingly. In G. Allmanni there is only
one very short spine between insertion of second pair of legs in the
male ; in females this is altogether wanting. In C. vulgcms I find two
spines present, one anterior and long, and the other posterior and
minute. Middle lamina of the tail is more blunted, and armed with
numerous teeth at the extremity, in addition to the four lateral teeth.

The colour is bluish gray, dotted over with brown, red, and gold ;
length of specimens, from 1 -5 to 3 inches.

The channelled abdomen distinguishes it from C. vulgaris, fasciatus,
and nanus. The absence of sculpture on the abdomen, and of spinous
lines on the carapace, and the presence of the median spine, separate it
from C. spinosus, scidptus, loricatus, nanus, munitus, and hispinosut,
irrespective of other distinctive characters of less importance, as being
more or less comparative. The external characters of the shrimps would
enable us to separate them easily into various artificial groups, according
to arrangement of the spines in carapace, smoothness of abdomen, shape
of rostrum, &c.

so

DUBLIN NATXTEAL HISTOBT SOCIBTT.

The following analysis gives the external characters of the various
species as far as known. The species in italics are not British.

[M. g. — median gastric region i L g. — lateral gastric ; br. « branchial.]

Rostrum.

Spines on Carapace.

Segments of
Abdomen.

Arm.

Crangon vulgaris {Fabr.) .

triangular,.

lm.g.,2br.,. .

smooth

spined.

„ AUmanni (Am.) .

triangular, .

1 m. g., 2 br. . . {

6th bicarinated, .)
7th channelled, ./
smooth, ....
smooth ? . . . .
sculptured bicari- \

nated,. . . ./
smooth, ....
obsoletely carina- 1

ted J

smooth.

„ fasciatu8(7?tM.) .
„ namis (,Kroyer) . .

„ boreas (Phipps) . .

„ bispinosus (HaiUt.)

„ trispinosus (Haibt.)

truncate, .

rounded, .
( obtusely
X triangular .

triangular .

truncate, .

1 m. g., . . . .

2 m. g., . . . .

}3m.g {

2 m. g., . , . .
lm.g.,21.g., .|

spined ?
smooth.

?
smooth,
smooth.

„ Bculptus (5cK) . .

( eraarginate
( truncate, .

}3m.g.,161,g.,6br.|

3rd— 5th sculptur- -j
ed; 6tli,7th bi- ^
carinated, . . }

smooth.

„ spinosus (Leacfi) .

I truncately
\ triangular,

}4ni.g.,8].g.,4br.|

3rd, 4th carinatedn
5th, 7th Chan- )■
nelled J

smooth.

„ loricatus (Hiss.)
„ munittis ,I)ana.) .

truncate, .
rounded, .

7?m.g.,141.g.,14br.,
2m.g., 2Lg., 2br.,

sculptured,
smooth, ....

smooth ?

The first specimens of this species were obtained by me, Dec. 7, 1 856.
from the fishermen's boats, along with the following other Crus-
tacea:— C. vulgaris (?), C. sculptus, Hippolyte varians, II. Thompsoni,
H. Cranchii(i), Pagurus Hynd^nanni, P. Cuanensis,£urynome aspera, and
many zoophytes, inhabitants of the coralline zone. On a subsequent
occasion, in Februaiy, I dredged the species in 30 fathoms of water,
along with the following Echinodermes : — Ophiocoma neglecta, rosula,
helli8,granulata; Urasterglacialis, in great abundance; U. violacea, ruhens,
mre ; Echinocyamus pusiUus, Cucumaria Hyndmanni. The specimen of
C. AUmanni then obtained was in ova.

In characterizing this interesting new species, I have united to it
the name of one of our Irish naturalists, whose labours in every branch
of Irish zoology may be appreciated from the frequent occurrence of his
name in the late William Thompson's ** Notes on Irish Natural His-
tory," and by the monographs published by himself in the Annals and
Transactions of many learned societies, — Professor George J. Allman,
now of Edinburgh, late Professor of Botany in our own University, and
the discoverer of Polyhius Henslowii on Irish shores.

Along with the species recorded above were specimens in abundance
of a Pagurus apparently specifically distinct from, though much resem-
bling the immature specimens oiP.Bernhardus, but differing in being in
spawn much earlier in the year, and in its locality. This supposed spe-
cies occurs all over Dublin Bay, in 20-40 fathoms of water, but is most
common at Bray, where it is constantly brought ashore in the whelk-
pots. It almost always is found inhabiting the shells of either Natica
nitida or Turitella communis.

I hope before the close of your session to submit to your Society a

DUBLIN NATUKAL UI8T0BY 80CIKTT. 31

monograph of the Irish species of this geniis, at present in preparation,
and, therefore, will not now notice it further than as follows : —

Paoueus Eblanensis {niihi) (? Bernhabdus).

Resemhling young of P. BernharduH. Hands more regularly globular,
very granular; a raised denticulate line marking exterior edge; terminal
extremities of posterior pairs of legs scarcely twisted ; colour, reddish-
white ; legs prettily banded with reddish pink.

Among the Crustacea obtained at Dalkey Sound, I find specimens
of a very remarkable form of Porcellana, exhibiting peculiarities hitherto
undescribed, and which appear specific, the same form having occurred
to me at Rush. It seems as well to notice it ; and I propose, should
it prove distinct, to call it Par cellana priochelea (mihi) (-jr^ttft ;^i)Aii).

Sehbate-clawed Poecelain Cbab.

Allied to P. longicomis. The anterior pairs of legs nearly equal ;
both hands furrowed, scabrous ; exterior edges finely but distinctly ser-
rated denticulate in arm, with ternal margin produced ; broken up into
lobes ; front produced, finely denticulate, indistinctly four-lobed ; sides
of carapace armed with a number of teeth (?).

Colour : Pale-red, with blotches and patches of white.

Habitat : Rush ; Dalkey Sound.

I have great doubt whether this is not merely a young form of
P. longicarnis.

In conclusion, I have to lay before your Society a list of species ob-
tained on the Dublin coasts, additional to those noted by me in a paper
on the ** Crustacea of Valentia Island" (p. 62), as in that paper it only
contains those noted by myself, with a single exception. Several more
species have occurred. The references used are the same as in my pre-
vious paper, and I have omitted the species there noticed.

LIST OF species.

W. T., Thompson's Irish Fauna; J. V. T., J. V. Thompson's Collec-
tion; C. C. S., Catalogue of Cork Fauna; 0. C, Ordnance Survey Col-
lection ; W. M'C, collected by Wm. M'Calla, The localities iminitialled
are on my own authority.

SUnorrhynchus phaldngium. — Common laminarian to coralline zones;
sometimes thrown ashore ; specimens dredged in deep water agree with
the details of a form described by Wm. Thompson as a form of St. U-
nuirostria.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cove (J.V. T.), Dingle (W. Andrews, Esq.),
Galway, Killeries (W.T.).

Inachus dorynchus, — Not uncommon ; Malahide, Dalkey, same range
as last.

Belfast (0. C), Dublin, Galway, Roundstone (W. M'C).

Inachus JDoraettensis. — Rarer than /. dorynckw.

Belfast (W.T.), Dublin Bajr, Cove (CCS. ), Roundstone (W.M*C),
Killeries (W.T.).

32 DUBLIN NATUKAL HISTOKY SOCIETY.

Eurynome aspera. — Rare ; Bray, 25 fathoms.

Belfast (W.T.), Malaliide (Dr. Lloyd), Cove (C.C. S.), Dingle ("W.
Andrews), lloundstone (W. M'C).

Pilumnua hirtellus. — Rare ; occasionally washed ashore. A fine
specimen thus obtained on North Bull by V. W. Macnally, Esq., 1856 ;
South Bull, 1857. Dalkey, rock-pools.

Carnlough, Antrim (0. C), Dublin Bay, Youghal (W.T.), Court-
macsherry (Professor G. J. Allman), Lahinch (W. T.), Roundstone (W.
M*C.).

Portumnus variegatus. — Merrion strand, common after easterly gales.

Portrush (W. T.), Dublin Bay (omitted in southern lists). Round-
stone (W. M'C), Killala Bay (W. T.).

Pinnotheres pisum. — Common in Mytili and Modioli from deep
water.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cove (J. V. T.), Galway (Prof. MelviUe).

Atelecyclus heterodon. — Rare. Merrion, under stones, 1854, young
specimens.

Co. Donegal (0. C), Poi-tmamock (R. B.), Dublin, Dingle (Wm.
Andrews, Esq.).

Corystes Cassivelaunus. — Sandy beaches after gales ; common.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork (C. C. S.), Dingle Bay, 25 fathoms (W.
Andrews, Esq.), Roundstone (W. M'C).

The remainder of the species to be noted appear to have been ne-
glected. Information regarding their distribution is much wanted.

Pagurus Bernha/rdus, ybx. Ehlanensis (mihi); (? species). — Dalkey,
15-30 fathoms; Bray, 25 fathoms.

P, Prideauxii (?). — "What appears to be this species occurs, though
rarely, along with P. Bernhardus, in whelk-pots at Dalkey and Bray;
also drift- weed, Merrion strand, in shells of Buccinum undatum, Fusua
propinquus and islandicus, Trochus magus ^ &c.

Strangford Lough (W. T.), Dublin Bay.

P. Cuanensis. — Dalkey Sound, 10-15 fathoms, rare; Bray, 15-30
fathoms, much more common. Shells in which it occurs coated with
Halichondria suherea ?

Portaferry (W. T.), Cork, as P. erinaeeus* (J.V. T.), Dublin, Galway
(Prof. Melville).

P. Hyndmanni. — Dalkey Sound, common ; Bray, ditto ; Merrion
strand, very rare (W. V. Macnally, Esq.). Occurs generally in clean
shells of Trochus tumidus and Montagui and Nassa incrassata. In spawn
in February.

Portaferry (W. T.), Dublin Bay.

P. Thompsoni. — Same localities as last ; much rarer. In spawn in
March.

Belfast (W. T.), DubHn.

* The specimen thus marked is in the collection of the Royal Dublin Society
It is too much damaged to judge of its idenfity. W. Thompson pronounced it
identical with the species described by him as above.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 88

Oalaihea atrigosa — Dalkey, whelk-pots ; rare.

Belfast (0. C), Dublin Bay, Cork (J. V. T.), Giant's Causeway
(W.T.).

G, nexa, — Merrion strand, 1854 ; a single specimen, Bray.

Antrim (W. T.), Dublin (Robert Ball) ; a most puzzling species.

Porcellana lonpeomis, var. priocheles (mihi) (? species). — Dalkey
Sound; Hush.

Neph/rop8 Norvegicus, — Dublin Bay.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin Bay, Galway, Roundstone (W. M'C).

Crangon vulgaris. — In pools ; small in size. Merrion strand, Mala-
hide. Bray. In spawn in February.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Youghal (W. T.), Galway, 1857.

C. 8culptu8. — 25 fathoms, Bray, rare.

Dublin, South Isle of Arran (Prof. Melville).

C. trisptnosva. — Of this species, hitherto unnoticed as Irish, there are
specimens among a number of minute Crustacea, obtained by Dr. Ball
and Prof. E. Forbes, off the Skerries, in 5 fathoms of water, in 1845.

O. Allmanni {mihi). — ^Bray, 25 fathoms. Spawns in February.

Hippolyte varians. — Dalkey Sound, Bray, Merrion strand, in drift-
weed, rare.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork (C. C. S.), west coast, 84 fathoms (W.
Andrews, Esq.), Clew Bay (W. T.).

H. Cranchii. — With last, than which it appears more common; some
specimens have the apex of the rostrum simple (? species).

Dublin, Cork (C. C. S. and J. V. T.), Galway (Pro£ Melville).

H. Thompsoni. — Same localities as last ; rare.

North-west coast (W. T.), Dublin.

Pandalus annulicornis. — Very common in rock-pools, and every depth
to 30 fathoms.

Co. Down (W. T.), Dublin, Ardmore, Tiraght Rock, west coast,
84 fathoms (W. Andrews, Esq.), Galway, 1857, Killeries (W. T.). ^

Palcemon va/riam. — Apparently rare, but probably only unnoticed.
Merrion strand, in sand-pools.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin.

Mysia chatnaleon. — Merrion strand, on drift-weed, rare. Malahide,
5 fathoms ; Dalkey.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork (J. Y. T.), West Coast (W. T.).

M. vulgaria. — Merrion strand, pools, abundant

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Cork (J. V. T.), Lahinch (W. T.).

From this list it appears that the Crustacea are fully as well repre-
sented on the eastern as on the western shores. Want of sufficiently de-
tailed observations prevent any more particular conclusions being drawn;
but, though I have omitted one or two species, such as Ebalia Pennantii
and Cranchii f Crangon faaciatua, Palcemon Leachii, &c., of which Dublin
specimens are extant, the list is a fair average one of the district, and
exhibits the remarkable absence of the South British and Southern types,
and a great predominance of Celtic and European, just as might be ex-

34 DUBLIN VATUBAL H18T0EY SOCIETY.

pected from the position of Dublin, half-way between Ardglass Head and
Camsore Point, between which two points the true eastern marine district
of Ireland lies, the great southern province prevailing below the latter
point. The new Crangon most probably belongs to either the Celtic or
British types, as otherwise the absence from British lists of this con-
spicuous species is not very creditable to the observative powers of our
collectors.

Numerous examples of the several species described illustrated
these remarks.

Rev. Professor Haughton corroborated from observation Dr. Kinahan's
surmise with regard to Camsore Point. The shells to the south are very
distinct in their types, from those occurring even a very short distance
north of this point.

Dr. William Frazek next submitted the following, as the result of
his investigations regarding the Fungi presented at the former meeting
by G. V. Du Noyer, Esq., from Major O'Connor, and which he had been
requested to examine and report on.

EEMAEKS UPON SPECIMENS OF FUNGI, OBTAINED ADHEEING TO OIJ) TREES
UNDER A BOG NEAE TBALEE.

These specimens of fangi were, I understand, obtained adhering to oak
timber which lay upon gravelly clay, and was covered by about thirteen
feet of bog.

They are evidently specimens of " Polypori," a class of fungi cha-
racterized by the presence of innumerable '* subrotund pores separated
by their dissepiments, and having the hymenium concrete with the sub-
stance of the pileus;" and I have also no difficulty in referring them to the
second subdivision of this class, namely, those furnished with minute,
subrotund (not angular), pores. That they were "stemless and perennial,'*
their numerous layers of growth, the results of successive seasons of
development, amply demonstrated. Thus, out of forty-five species of
Polyporus described in the Flora Britannica, I am restricted to about
thirteen, to which only do these specimens present any analogy, and of
these I have little difficulty in deciding that they most closely resemble
P. igniariLs, or the hard Amadou, of which I exhibit a specimen which
had been growing for some years past on an old decaying plum tree, and
although at first sight it appears to be very different in external form
from the specimens from Tralee, I am pretty certain, at least, as to their
close relationship. The difference between them in form is easily explained
by the mode of attachment and development in both cases. The recent
ones adhering to a great trunk, and creeping along its side in successive
waves of growth; and the older ones closely resembling in shape a
" horse-hoof," to which Mr. Berkely compares them, and which was
probably due to their more erect growth on a fallen log of timber. The
detection of undoubted remains of fungi in a semi-focsilized state is, I
believe, extremely rare, and I am disposed to think that the fact is, as
has been stated by Lindley, not to be so much attributed to their positive

DTTBLDf NATUEAl HI8T0EY SOCIETY. Z6

infrequency in ages past, as to their peculiar structure, which, being
altogether cellular, easily undergoes decay, their mushroom growth
being followed by as rapid a decline, and their tissues in but few in-
stances leaving the smallest trace behind by which they can be detected.
It is, however, very diiferent in the case of the higher Cryptogamia,
which, having well -formed vascular structures, as woody fibre and scala-
riform vessels, are easily recognised by their fossil remains, minute frag-
ments of the latter tissue especially affording sufficient evidence of their
previous existence.

In the instance before us we have, from a fortunate combination of
circumstances, specimens of fungi preserved in all their integrity
through many ages — indeed, so perfectly, that they are almost as avail-
able for microscopic examination as if they grew but yesterday. The
circumstances which appear to have conduced to this end were — first,
their extremely hard texture, so unlike the majority of fungi, and which
rivals that of many kinds of wood ; their slow growth, and long per-
sistent vitality, years being passed in their development ; and, lastly,
their having been buried in Irish bog, which is well known to have such
remarkable powers of preserving objects of vegetable origin.

Microscopical sections of the fungi were exhibited.

After the ballot, the Chairman declared "W. J. Sargint, Esq., duly
elected an Ordinary Member.

The meeting then adjourned till the month of April.

DONATIONS TO MUSETJM.
DECEMBEB 12. 1856.

James K. Dombrain, Esq. — Pastor roseua, shot at Ball's Bridge.

JAiniARY 23, 1857.

William Andrews, Esq. — 'Fuligula marxla, breeding plumage, Co.
Kerry ; Pirimela denticulata, Ebcdia Cranchii, Ebalia Bryerii^ Atelecyclus
heterodon, Maia squinado^ Portunus arcuatus^ P. puher, P. depurator^
P. hohatus, from Dingle ; and some molluscs and birds* eggs.

Charles Farran, M.D. — Portunus marmoreus (male and female),
Koimdstone.

llichard Ussher, Esq. — Colias jEdusa (male and female), from Aid-
more, Co. Waterford.

rEBEUABY 18, 1867.

Major O'Connor, Tralee, per G. V. Du Noyer, Esq. — Specimens of
Polyporus semi-fosilized.

Vere Webb Macnally, Esq. — Portunus hoisatus (wrinkled variety),
Dalkey Sound.

John Bobert Kinahan, M.B. — Vespertilio pipistrellus, Dublin;
Xantho rivulosa, Xanthoflorida (variety), Yalentia Island; Inarhus do-
rynchuSf Portunus pustilus, Pinnoth&ren pisum^ Pagurus strehUmyXy

36 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Pagurus Cuanensis, P. Hyndmanni, P. Thompsonii, Crangon vulgaris,
C. sculptus, C. Allmanni (new species), Hippolyte varians, H. Cranchii,
If, Thompsoni, Mysis chumceleon, from the Dublin coasts.

Mrs. I. Townsend, Rossbcgh, per Dr. Kinahan. — Psammohia vesper-
Una, from Lough Ine, Co. Cork.

H. Meredith, Esq., per G. A. Pollock, Esq. — Falco peregrinus, Co.
Meath.

TO THE LIBRARY.

" Natural History Review," for July and October, 1856. Erom the
Editors.

" Transactions of the Natural History and Philosophical Society of
Liverpool." Vol. X. From the Society.

" On the Prevention of the Smoke Nuisance." A Prize Essay. By
C. W. Williams, Esq. From the Author.

" Geological Map of Ireland, geologically coloured, according to the
latest observations." From Richard Griffith, Esq., LL. D.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1857,

Professor W. H. Harvey, M.D., M.R.I. A., F.L.S., President,
in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read and signed, —

The President rose, and made the following remarks —

"We had been summoned to meet to-night, a week in advance of our
usual time, in consequence of the second Friday of the month falling on
Good Friday ; but instead of proceeding with the essays of the evening
it becomes my unexpected and painful duty — in compliance with the
unanimous wish of your Council — to move that this meeting adjourn to
Friday, the 1 7th instant. The cause need scarcely be stated, so general
throughout Dublin has been the shock felt at the sudden decease of Dr.
Robert Ball, Director of the University Museum, and President of a So-
ciety kindred to our own. Of my private feelings on this occasion I
will not speak. Every one knows how intimately we have been con-
nected together for a very long time. Our friendship commenced two and
thirty years ago, when I was a schoolboy, and closes, leaving me a gray-
haired man ; and throughout the whole of that period we have had nei-
ther quarrel, nor jealousy, nor severance of feeling any kind. I always
found him the same — full of zoological information, most ready to
impart it, and taking special pleasure in seeing other students of nature
entering the field which he had so well trodden. I well remember how
proud I was, as a boy, to find myself on tenns of intimacy with a grown
man who was so fully informed on the subjects which were mysteries
to me. My favourite pursuit at that time was the Mollusca (I had not
then commenced Botany), and during a summer spent at Youghal I pro-
fited largely from Dr. liall's experience of the localities, and intimate
knowledge of the habits of the animalB we were seeking for.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOBT 80CIETT. S7

It is not in Dublin that I need speak of Dr. Ball's subsequent ca-
reer. There is no scientific body in this city with which he was not
more or less connected or identified ; and the high position to which he
had just been named, as President to Section D in the coming Meeting
of the British Association, shows the esteem in which he was held by
those best competent to form an estimate of his character. It is said you
may know a man's character by his friends. Who were Robert Ball's
most intimate friends in his own particular branch of study? Forbes,
Thompson, Yarrell, Owen, Bell, Johnston, Allman, Patterson — names
well known to you all, and some of them of world-wide celebrity ; and
I might add to these almost every zoologist of note in this country, and
England, and many of the brightest ornaments of zoological science in
the continents of Europe and America. How the blank which has been
left by his death can be filled up, I know not. He has fallen in the very
prime of his age, and in the full career of his usefulness, and there is
no one equally qualified as he was to fill the many duties to which his
time was devoted. As Secretary of the Royal Zoological Society in par-
ticular, his loss will be keenly felt, for it is not too much to say that it was
by his exertions mainly — I may almost say wholly — that the Zoological
Society was kept alive during the long period of national distress, and
to him, in a great measure, is to be attributed its present prosperous
condition. It was his favourite care — for he saw in it a great popular
instructor — an engine for diffusing a knowledge of animals, their forms
and habits, among the masses of the people. That it has largely an-
swered this purpose, so far as the very limited funds at its disposal have
allowed, will readily be granted; and those who have sat long on its Coun-
cil will agree with me that without Dr. Ball's constant and unremitting
oversight, that end could not have been attained. His ingenuity was
great ; he was constantly devising ingenious contrivances for insuring
either the comfort or the better exhibition of the animals under his care;
and in the aeration and general management of the fish-tanks — ^the
latest attraction of the Gardeil — he made many improvements.

But it would be endless to speak of the many ways in which he
made his talents useful on every subject that engaged his attention —
whether it were devising tanks, dredges, and nets for the zoologist ;
fern-cases for the botanist ; rapid diagram paintings for the lecturer; or
in arrangements for facilitating the dispatch of the official business in
which he was so much engaged. I would rather dwell for a moment on
that feature of his character which attracted and fixed the friendship of
so many distinguished men, I mean his perfect openness and truthM-
ness, and the pleasure he took in imparting to any sincere inquirer
whatever information was in his power on subjects connected with his
favourite science.

He has not published much, but he has communicated much valua-
ble and original information to others, by whom it has been made pub-
lic. It is only necessary to turn to the works of Yarrell on Birds and
Fishes, of Bell on Quadrupeds and Crustacea, of Forbes on the Starfishes
andMollusca,not to speak of Thompson's *' Natural History oflreland," to

38 DUBLIN NATTJKAL HI8T0EY SOCIETY.

see that Robert Ball's researclies in British Zoology very largely enriched
those works with materials. Besides work in the field, he had read much
on his favourite science. His zoological library was large, and he was
well acquainted with the contents of his books, which were equally at the
service of his friends and fellow-students as were the resources of his
own mind. In a word, he lived for others more than for himself. Had he
been as studious of fame as he was anxious to diffuse knowledge, his
name might have been more widely known to those who were personally
strangers to him ; but he could not have been more beloved or more
worthy of our love. I speak not of the esteem in which he was held
by the public ; the unsolicited cortege that followed his remains to the
grave renders such eulogy needless.

It was moved by "W". Andrews, Esq., seconded by Dr. Ejnahait,
and unanimously resolved —

*' That this Meeting fully concurring in these statements, the Presi-
sident be requested to allow the Address just read to be inserted on the
Minutes, and published in the Transactions of the Society."

The question of adjournment having been put, was carried unani-
mously, and the Meeting adjourned to the 17th of April.

ADJOURNED MEETING, APRIL 17, 1857.

Peofessoe "W. H. Haevet, M.D., M.R.I. A., F.L.S., President,
in the Chair.

The Minutes having been read and signed, —

De. "William Feazee read the following —

OK a disease in hyacinth EOOTS, CAirSED BY CEYPTOGAMIC GEOWTHS.

Few subjects are more difficult to follow satisfactorily than the de-
velopment of the minuter forms of cryptogamic plants, and few, therefore,
are enveloped in greater obscurity ; unlike the sea- weed or the fern,
which, from their gracefulness and beauty, at once attract our attention,
the subject of my present remarks are by many considered to be pecu-
liarly repulsive, and are associated in the mind with ideas of disease
and decay ; and although I must in fairness claim for some of them as
full a share of beauty in external form as has, perhaps, been granted to
any class of plants, still I cannot deny their frequent connexion with
putrescent changes.

The exact nature of this connexion has been made the subject of
many inquiries. Some have altogether denied that there was any real
sequence between the development of these fungi and the disintegration
of the organized tissues upon which they are found, considering their
presence merely accidental, or at best of secondary importance, perhaps
even useful in consuming the decaying particles ; whilst others have at-
tributed the changes which ensue in the rotting mass exclusively to
their agency.

DUBLIN NATUBAL HIBTOBT SOCIETY. 89

Much of the writings on this subject can be of little or no yalue, be-
ing mere theoretic ideas, without sufficient facts to warrant their recep-
tion ; still, after laying these aside, we hare a number of positive
observations to aid us in determining the truth of those extreme opi-
nions, and, as in many other matters, it appears to lie midway between
both. To the microscope we owe much of what has already been
accomplished in the investigation of these interesting growths and the
study of their development, and amongst other remarkable advances in
our knowledge we have ascertained by its agency that those lower forms
of vegetable life, unlike the higher plants, may have, instead of a single
kind of fructification, two, three, four, or even five different modes of
reproduction ; and also that, in place of a uniform manner of develop-
ing their sti-ucture, they may assume various states under different con-
ditions, so unlike each other that nothing but the most ample evidence
would enable us to connect them.

To illustrate my meaning I would merely mention the common and
worthless blue mould, Penidllium glaucum, which is considered by our
best observers to constitute in another form the well-known yeast plant,
or barm, Torula cerevisia^ so important in the process of fermentation
and in making bread ; and in still another state it develops into the
thick-matted masses of the so-named vinegar plant, which has attracted
so much attention in the last few years.

To prepare for the statements I am about briefly making as to a very
common mould producing a diseased state of the hyacinth roots, I may
remind you that the silkworm dies of a similar disease (the muscardine,
and from a similar cause) a botrytis spreading its mycelium throughout
its body, and when it reaches the surface, then alone developing its per-
fect fruit, by which time, however, the caterpillar is either dead or its
tissues wasted by its parasitic enemy, and its vitality almost gone. The
following, too, is the opinion of the Rev. Mr. Berkeley, who holds, per-
haps, the foremost rank amongst British authorities on these pests of
vegetation, as to the cause of our disastrous potato rot, in his recently
published work on Cryptogamic Botany: — "ITn willing as the scientific
world has been to allow the agency of fimgi in the potato murrain, as
regards that, as well as the grape mildew, there are few dissentient voices
now amongst those who understand the subject. The mycelium flou-
rishes in the large intercellular spaces of the leaves, but penetrates also
into stem and tubers, and at length makes its way either to the external
surface or some free cavity, where it finctifies. In a damp warm day
the progress of the disease may be watched with ease, and the parasite
{Botrytis infestam) may be seen spreading rapidly in a circle, convert-
ing all in its way into a mass of decay." He admits, however, that
other fungi contribute to the same end.

I shall now very briefly detail my own observations. I had last

J rear some remarkably fine hyacinths growing ; they had formed their
eaves well and were commencing to bloom, when, after a time, I no-
ticed that the expansion of the flowers had been completely checked ;

40 DUBLIN NATUHAL HI8T0ET SOCIETY.

they dried up, and, becoming withered, my hopes of having flowers were
thus ended. On examining the roots of the plants, I found them
to be diseased ; they had a very offensive odour, had assumed a pale-
brown colour, and those which were farthest advanced in decay con-
tained numerous bubbles of fetid gas, which I may state was not sul-
phuretted hydrogen. The decay appeared to me usually to commence
from below, and to spread upwards in the roots, the epidermis still re-
maining firm after the interior was decayed. The microscope showed that
the cells of the plant were separated from each other by lines of small
dark dots which formed continuous chains ; when these dots first ap-
peared, the cells were healthy-looking, then became darker coloured,
their contents broken up, and finally the cells themselves seemed to be-
come isolated and detached, and to soften down.

Placed in fluid and carefully watched, I saw a small tuft of vegetation
gradually arise from the side of some of the root, and after a few days
its fibres crept beyond the fiuid and developed into an Aspergillus (pro-
bably A. candidus). I may state that, on examining them, I found
moulds developed on the hyacinth bulbs ; I believe it is very common
for them to be injured from this cause, the mould acting as a canker,
and the part requiring removal with a knife. I had purposed repeat-
ing my investigations this spring, but was unable to do so from other
occupations. I would, in conclusion, merely remind you that this plant,
or its close relative {A. glaucus), is the mould the presence of which
is so highly prized in cheese that it is, I believe, often inoculated with
it to produce an article fit for the epicure.

A series of microscopic drawings illustrated these remarks.

The President remarked that many other fungi, during the progress
of their development, take on most dissimilar forms. Old botanists,
hence, have often referred to distinct genera forms which have now
been proved to be specifically identical. One genus, for instance, Sclero-
tium, of which some twenty or thirty species have been described, is
found to be really made up of the young states of the genera Agaricus
and Pezziza, so that Sclerotium is now nearly blotted out from our lists.
Among the drawings exhibited to-night we see that a plant which we
would be led to call Lcptomitus, when traced to its full development,
turns out to be Aspergillus. When in North America he was shown a
number of so-called species of this false genus, at that time placed
among the sea-weeds, which had developed themselves among the sul-
phate of copper solutions used in the electrotyping processes of the United
States Survey. The plant had caused much annoyance and damage
to the service, decomposing the solution, and throwing down the cop-
per to such an extent as to render it nearly impossible to carry on the
various processes required. He hoped Dr. Frazer would follow up this
subject; the Irish fungi were nearly unknown, and a fine field was
open for any one who would pursue the subject of the metamorphoses
of these interesting plants.

DUBLIN NATXTRAL HI8T0BY SOCIETY. 4l

< Tho following communication was next read by De. Kikahaw, Hon.

Secretary : —

CAECINOLOOICAL NOTES: BEING A LIST OF THE CBTTSTACEA PODOPHTHALMIA
OF GALWAY MARINE DI8TEICTS, CHIEFLY MADE DUEINO THE 8T7MMEE OP
IMO. BY A. G. MELVILLE, M.D., M.B.I.A., PROFESSOR OF NATITRAL HISTORY,
QUEEN*8 COLLEGE, GALWAY, ETC

The district in which the subjoined species were captured extends
from Loop Head to Slyne Head ; including the bays of Galway, Round-
stone, and Birterbie, and the channels and seas adjacent to the isles of
r Arran ; many of the species from this latter locality were dredged from
a depth of sixty fathoms. To the species of but local occurrence the name
of the precise locality is appended ; with but very few exceptions, the
specimens were obtained in 1850, and specimens of most of the species
are to be seen in the Museum of the Queen's College, Galway.

LIST OF species.

Stenorrhynchm phalangium. — ^Very common.

Acheua Cranchii. — A single specimen was obtained at Antrim,
1850 ; the only previous record of it as Irish was a specimen formerly
in the collection of J. V. Thompson, but for some years past lost.

Inachus Doraettensis. — Common.

Inachus dorynchus. — Common.

Pirn tetraodon. — Roundstone.

Hyas aranem. — Very common, littoral

IIya8 coarctatus. — Common, a deep-sea species, occurs from ten fSa-
thoms downwards.

Maia squinado. — Very common, deep sea.

Eurynome aspera. — Common in suitable localities.

Xantho Jlorida. — Verj^ common ; the unicoloured variety just as com-
mon as that with black-tipped cfaws.

Xantho rivulosa. — Rare, two specimens only have occurred among
dozens of X Jlorida, Galway Bay.

Cancer pagurus. — Common, but does not attain anything like the
same dimensions here as on the eastern coasts, and is also much inferior
as an article of food.

Pilumnus hirtelltis. — Common.

»Pirimela denticulata. — Rare. Roundstone.
Carcinus manas. — Common.

Portumnus varieyatus. — Carapaces of this species occur, rarely, in
Galway Bay ; — I have not succeeded in finding the animal itself.
Portunus puher. — Common.
P. corrugatus. — Common.
P. arcuatm. — Very common.
P. depurator. — Very common.
P. marmorem. — Roundstone, 1850.
P. pusillus, — Common.
Pinnotheres pisum. — Very common in Mytili and Cardium eduU.

42 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Gonoplax angulatus. — Rare. Roundstonc, 1850.

Ehalia Pennantii. — Common.

E. Bryerii. — Common.

E, Cranckii. — Common.

Atelecyclm heterodon. — Common.

Corystes Casstvelaunus. — Common.

Thiapolita. — Gal way Bay, by digging; of this interesting species
I have obtained specimens each year since my first discovery of it here
in 1850; three were obtained in March last (1857), two of which are
at present alive with me. It is exceedingly local.

Pagurus Bernhardus. — Very common.

P. Cuanensis. — Common.

P. Ulidianus. — Common.

P. Uyndmanni. — Common.

P. l(Bvu. — Common.

P. Forhesii. — Rare. This species was obtained in 60 fathoms water
off the south isle of Arran, its fu-st record on the Irish shores.

Porcellana platycheles. — Yery common.

P. longicornis. — ^^''erj'- common.

Galathea squamifera. — Rare.

G. strigosa — Rare.

Munida Rondeletii. — Galway, rare.

PaUnurus vulga/ris. — My experience of the occurrence of this species
would lead me to believe it rare here.

Astacus Jluviatilis. — Rivers, common.

Homarm vulga/ris. — Very common.

Nephrops Norvegicus. — Rare.

Crangon vulgaris. — Common, local.

C. fasciatus. — Isle of Arran, rare.

C. spinosus. — Isle of Arran, rare.

C. sculptus. — Isle of Arran, rare.

C. bispinosus. — Arran. This species, now first added to the Irish
list, and of extreme rarity in Britain, was established by Hailstone on
the authority of a single specimen ; several specimens occurred to me,
and there can be no doubt of its specific distinction from C. trispinosus,

Alpheus ruber. — Isle of Arran, 60 fathoms. This species is now
first added to the Irish list ; the specimen is partictilarly interesting as
having been obtained in dredging. British specimens heretofore recorded
were all obtained from the stomachs of fishes.

Nika edulis. — Roundstone, rare.

Athanas nitescens. — Ballyvaughan, county of Clare. Under stones
between tide-marks ; common, but local.

Hippolyte varians. — Rare.

JI. Cranchii. — Common.

JI. Mitchelli. — Rare ; its first record as Irish ; this specimen was
obtained by me in 1850, and then laid aside as nondescript; it has
since been described from Weymouth under the above name by "W.
Thompson.

DUBLIN KATUHAL UI8T0BT SOCIKTY. 43

Palamon serrattts, — Very common.
P. squilla. — Very common.
P. Leachii. — Common in autumn.
Mysia vulga/ris. — Common.

Besides these, numerous specimens of the genera Alauna, Bodotria,
and Cuma have been met with. These genera, or at least Bodotria, arc
synonymous with Scorpionura of J. Vaughan Thompson, as may be seen
by examination of the specimens under that name in his collection in
the B^yal Dublin Society's Museum.

Peofessoe Kin a HAN next submitted the following —

NOTES ON THE FOEEGOINO PAPER, WITH A SUPPLEMENT TO HIS LIST OP
DUBLIN CEUSTACEA.

The interesting paper just read contains several species not included in
either of the papers on this subject which I have had the honour to
submit to your Society during the present session. In order that our
Transactions for this year may contain all that is known of the distribu-
tion of this family of Crustacea in Ireland, I have supplied the distri-
bution of these species, taking the opportunity of ad^g, at the same
time, a supplement of those eastern species (some of them of extreme
interest, and one oi H. puaiolay not previously here recorded), which
have occurred to me since.

Although such a large number of Cnistacea (sixty-three out of
eighty-seven species) are recorded in this paper, yet, during a day's
dredging in Galway Bay on the 27th of March last, when in company
with Professor Melville, among twenty-two species which rewarded our
labours, three occurred which had not been previously met with there
by him, viz., Portuntcs hoUatus, and Pandalus annultcorms, and a young
specimen of Portunus marmorem, a species hitherto unrecorded save in
Birterbie Bay.

DISTEIBUTION OF SPECIES NOT INCLUDED IN DUBLIN LISTS.

References as in former paper — A. G. M., Professor Melville.
AcJuem Cranchii. — The only Irish specimen on record, formerly in
J. V. Thompson's collection, was lost previous to the transfer of that col-
lection to the Royal Dublin Society.

Pisa tetraodon. — First discovered by "W. M'Calla.
** I am the only person who as yet has found this species in Ireland;
,it8 habitat is within two miles of Roundstone, in a pool at about half
ide-mark. As particular situations are distinguished by alg® growing
the pools, it may, therefore, be well to state the plants in that under
)nBideration : — Gelidium comeum, Poli/s./ruticosa, and Cy8tos,ericoides,
Iwing to changes in the pools, I have not lately obtained this species ;
have not found it in lobster-pots, and rarely under stones." — Saund^s*
Jewt'LetteTy January 9, 1845.

44 DTTBLIN NATUEAL HI8T0EY SOCIETY.

Xantho rivulosa, — I find I was in error in stating this crab had not
occurred to M'Calla. At least, a card has lately turned up in the Koyal
Dublin Society's collection, labelled ** Xantho florida, Roundstone,"
which was most probably part of the collection purchased from M'Calla;
on this, undistinguished by any mark from numerous specimens of X.
fiorida, is a line male specimt^n of X rivulosa, which must have escaped
M'Calla's notice. It would then appear to be generally distributed
along the south and western coast.

HookHead (E.B.)— Valentia Island, Galway Bay (A. G.M.), Eound-
BtoncBay (W. M'C), Portrush (0. C.)

Portunm marmoreus. — Galway, Roundstone (W. M'C.)

Ehalia Bryerii. — ^Belfast (0. C), Galway (A. G. M.), Roundstone
(W.M'C.)

Ebalia Cranchii. — Belfast (0. C), Portmamock, Co. DubHn, q. v.
(R. Ball), Roundstone Bay (W.T.)

Thia polita.

I had the pleasure of seeing this crab dug out of its sandy home,
Professor Melville having kindly accompanied me to the station where,
in 1850, he first met the species, — a fine female specimen, that now
before your Society, was the only one met with. It bore the journey to
Dublin in a small tin box packed in wet sand remarkably well, and has
since been kept in a small vivarium.*

This crab has given rise to some discussion as to whom the priority
of its discovery in Ireland is due. Having been lately looking over the
back Transactions of this and other Societies, I find myself in a position
to clear up much of the mystery of this " knotty" point. I hope, there-
fore, it will not be considered to be trifling with the time of the Society
if I lay before them the results of these investigations.

Thia polita was first detected by that indefatigable collector, "W.
M'Calla, in Roundstone, in 1845 ; he failed in identifying it, as the fol-
lowing extract from a paper read by Dr. Charles Tarran before your
Society, January, 1845, proves : —

** This winter I have added two species, Portunus marmorem, I have
not been able to determine the genus of the other: one thing is certain,
it is new to Britain, if not to science. The undetermined species was
found in shallow water, at extreme low water-mark ; I obtained five
specimens. Having paid considerable attention to the Crustacea, I had
no hesitation in writing to Dr. Scouler that I had been so fortunate
as to have added a new genus to this department." — Saunders^ News-
letter, January 9, 1845. ( Vide also Report of Dublin Natural History
Society for 1844-45, p. 17.)

The species was subsequently identified, and published by Pro-
fessor Scouler, in a paper laid before this Society in January, 1846,
as the following shows : — ** Dr. Scouler then brought forward the dis-

• StiU alivo and healthy, although now three months in confinement — June 28,
1857.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 45

covory of, and addition to, the British Crustacea of Thia polita. This
remarkable and beautiful little crab was found near Roundstone, Conne-
mara, by Mr. M'Calla, where it burrows in sand ; only one species of the
genus is described as European, and this discovery is an important ad-
dition to the Crustacea of Britain. A very fine female specimen was
exhibited from the Museum of the Society ; a smaller one, a male, is in
the collection of the Dublin Society." — Saunders^ Newsletter, January 9,
1846. Vide also Eighth Report of Dublin Natural History Society,
page 8.

M'Calla himself also brought the discovery before one of the Evening
Meetings of the Royal Dublin Society, held 28th of February, 1846.
( Vide Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society, vol. Ixxxiii., Appendix xv.,
p. cxiii. ; and vol. Ixxxii., Appendix v., p. xlv.) This last paper purports
to have been read on the 10th of January, 1846, but must have been
corrected subsequent to this date. Professor Scouler, furthermore, pre-
sented specimens to the British Museum, as appears by reference to their
Catalogue published in 1847.

By some mischance or other, however, it escaped the notice of English
naturalists, and when in 1850 Professor Melville, ignorant of its previous
occurrence on our shores, met with the species in Galway, he, having
first identified it from the description given by Milne Edwards, for-
warded specimens to Professor Bell, by whom it was published as an
addition to the British Fauna in the Supplement to his British Stalk-
eyed Crustacea. Professor Melville himself was one of the first to point
out the apparent injustice done to M'Calla.

The species, from my experience of it in confinement, is sluggish,
but a determined animal feeder, destroying even large bivalves. Actiniae
and Palaemons, some 2 inches long; it is also apparently a night-feeder.
Galway Bay, Roundstone (W. M'C.)

Munida HondeletH.—BoMast ( W. T. ), Youghal (R. B. ), Cove (J. V. T.),
Galway (A. G. M.), Roundstone<?) (C. F.)

Crangon spinosus. — Cove (J. V. T.), Galway (A. G. M.)

Nika edult's.— Cove (J. V. T.), Roundstone (A. G. M.)

Athanas mtescens, — Lahinch (W, T.), Ballyvaughan (A. G. M.),
Roundstone (W. M'C.)

Supplemental Dublin Species, pp. 80-87.

Pirimela denticulata. — Dalkey Sound, dredged a single female spe-
cimen. May, 1857, loaded with ova. After it had been kept in a tMik
for three weeks, the ova changed their colour from a bright salmon-red
to a dirty brown : this change examination with the microscope showed
to be dependent on the development of the zoes in the ova, their black
eyes showing plainly through the integuments. I was unable at the
time to examine them further ; and the following day, to my great re-
gret, I foimd that the ova were all shed, and the tank filled wiUi zoes.

These were extremely active, tumbling about in all directions, swim-
ming by alternately rolling up and imclosing their jointed bodies, and
throwing complete summersaults; when they rested, it was on their

46 DUBLIN NATT7EAL HISTOEY SOCIEir.

backs, the body supported on the dorsal spine. I do not know whether
this is the normal position for them or not. The abdominal false feet
were kept in perpetual motion.

In figure (Plate IX., Figs. 4, 5) they appear identical with zoes
bred by J. V. Thompson from Cane, pagurua (Zoological Researches,
Plate VIII., Fig. 1), as might have been expected from the close rela-
tionship of the genera ; indeed, I am inclined to think that the zoes of
the Brachyura, at least, will be found to be nearly undistinguishable,
the apparent difference in the figures published arising from the difficulty
of making perfect microscopic observations, arising from the transpa-
rency of the various parts. If we compare the figures here given with
Thompson's figure of zoea of Pinnotheres pisum (Ent. Mag., vol. iii.,
p. 85 ; BeU's British Crustaceae, p. 125), we will at once perceive their
sti'ong similarity. Although I examined twenty or thirty specimens of
this zoe, I only succeeded twice in getting the lateral spines in full view :
they are represented rather too long in my figures.

The spiny curvature was as follows : — Arising out of the centre of
the carapace a long, curved horn ; between the eyes a curved rostrum ;
on each branchial region a short scimitar- shaped horn; and lastly, a very
short, slender, hollow horn, arising from the posterior edge of the cara-
pace at its junction with the abdomen. Three fine hairs, also, are found
arranged in a line along the median line of the carapace posteriorly.

The abdomen consists of five segments. The first, or that nearest
the cephalo-thorax, with a protuberance about half-way down, and fur-
nished with a hair (represented as a spine by the artist) at its inferior
external angle; this joint is somewhat quadrilateral. The second,
third, and fourth decrease gradually in size, and the terminal joint ends
in a semilunar tail (Fig. 6, back view, magnified 350 diameters) fur-
nished with six tubular spines, each distinctly articulated to a jointed
peduncle ; the edges of these spines are finely serrately ciliate, and the
internal pairs furnished internally each with three hollow spines com-
municating with the cavity of the primary spine ; a short spine is also
found at the origin of each semilunar arm ; a plate of veiy peculiar
form arises from the articulation of the fourth and fifth joint posteriorly,
and projects below the termination of the tail ; in other particulars my
specimens agree with J. Y. Thompson's descriptions.

The circulation, as seen under a power of 350 diameters, is ex-
tremely curious : a closed (?) pulsatile vessel running down the back,
with dilatations at each articulation ; in this a regular flux and reflux of
fluid might be seen, accompanied by dilatations and contractions of the
dilated portions. Besides this, a regular circulation, whose course was
not easy to make out, was to be seen passing along the sides and through
the horns, and even into the three little hollow spines with which the
caudal primaiy spines were furnished.

Antrim (\V. T.), DubHn, Dmgle (W. Andrews), Lahinch (W. T.),
Galway (A. G. M.), Roundstone (W. M'C.)

Ehalia Pennant ii. — Bray, May, 1857, Scallop bed. The late Robert
Ball, LL. D., showed mo. a specimen from Dalkcy.

DUBLIN NATUBAL HISTOBT 80CTETT. 47

Belfast (0. C), Dublin, Cork (C. C. S., J. V. T.), Galway (A. G. M.),
Roundstono IW. M'C.)

Pagurtis lavis. — What I take to be this species has oecurred to me
both in Dalkey and also at Bray ; it differs from P. Ilyndmanni chiefly
in the comparative length of chelce.

Portaferry (W. T.), DubUn (?), Galway (A. G. M.)

Galathea nexa. — A small species, which I take to be this, occurs
pretty plentifully in Dalkey Sound and Bray, in 12-30 fathoms; it
spawns in March, April, and May.

As contrasted with Galathea squamiferay the following points call
for notice : —

Rostrum short, furnished with four flattened, hollowed teeth on
each side ; the hindmost pair situated on the orbit. (In Gal. squa-
miferay five spines, the hindmost two as G. nexa). Anterior pair of legs
narrowed, elongate, covered with a few tubercles, terminating, for the
most part, in a single spine ; some, however, pass into denticulate squa-
ma) : these tubercles are arranged on the hands in nearly parallel longi-
tudinal lineSy contrasting with the densely squamiferous anterior limbs
of G. squamifera. The hands are narrow and elongate^ the fingers nearly
parallel^ finely denticulate, scarcely hairy, terminating in a fine nail ;
they are slightly spinous on the exterior. External foot-jaws, second
joint equalling third. The description of G. nexa, in Bell, is so suc-
cinct that I am not quite sure whether this may not be a nondescript
species.

Antrim (W. T.), Dublin (?)

Falinurm vulgaris. — Although rare, there can be no doubt this spe-
cies has occurred in Dalkey Sound, and of large size.

Astacus fiuviafilis. — Once, at least, in Bray River ; common in
streams about Maynooth, and also formerly taken in the Liffey. I have
seen specimens from the following counties : — Longford, Cavan, Tippe-
rary, Kildare, Dublin, Kilkenny; Meath. It is probably to be found
nearly all through Ireland.

Crangon fasciatus Of this rare species I met with specimens at

Sandycove, in the sandy pools, in a zostera bank at extreme low water.
Spawns in May. Every one of my specimens shows the broad black
band most distinctly.

Dublin^ Bray (R. B.), Galway (A. G. M.)

Uippolyte va/rians. — This species occurs in great numbers in the
sand-pools among the zostera banks at Sandycove, near Kingstown;
spawns in May. The specimens vary remarkably and beautifully in
colour : pink, red, saimon, emerald-green, cobalt-blue, gray, chocolate-
brown, opal white, are among the prevailing tints ; the ova of a choco-
late brown.

It is remarkably sensitive of handling ; in no case could I succeed
in keeping it for over forty-eight hours in a tank, although specimens
of Crangon fasciatus and My sis chameleon, from the same locality, lived
with me for days. A volume might be written on the forms of the beak

48 DUBLIN NATUEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

of this species. I have figured (Plate X.) the best-marked varieties,
which occurred in the following proportions : —

Plate X, Fig. 1. — «, Normal type; rostrum nearly straight; apex
bidentate, directed upwards, upper tooth shortest; below two teeth,
the anterior much posterior to the upper tooth of apex ; proportional
frequency of occurrence, 63 per cent.

Fig. 2. — J, Rostrum straight ; apex tridentate, teeth directed for-
wards, upper and lower teeth nearly equal in length ; below, one tooth
only ; proportional frequency, 25 per cent

Fig. 3. — Cy Rostrum strongly curved upwards, scimitar-shaped;
apex tridentate, upper tooth slightly longer than lower ; below, a single
tooth ; proportion, 8 per cent. N. B. The whole animal is much slen-
derer than the normal type : query, a species ?

Fig. 4. — d, Rostrum straight ; apex broadly truncated, directed for-
wards, quadridentate, apical teeth very minute ; below, two teeth ; pro-
portion, 2 per cent.

Fig. 6. — e, Rostrum straight; apex acuminate, simple, directed
upwards ; rostrum with two teeth below. One specimen out of 300
examined.

Fig. 5.—/, Rostrum straight; apex bifid; rostrum with three teeth
below, viz., one beneath apex and two closely approximated in the
broadest portion of the rostrum. One specimen.

All these specimens, in addition, have the basal superior tooth (cha-
racteristic of the species). Another curious form had the the rostrum
very much curved upwards, apex simple, and teeth below absent. These
all were from the same pools, in company with the next species, My sis
chameleon, Carcinus mcenas, Cancer pagurus, and that strange edrioph-
thalmous Crustacea, Apseudes talpa^ its first record, I believe, on the
Irish coasts.

For distribution, see Paper read in April.

H. Cranchii (Plate X., Figs. 7 and 8). — In the same pools with last,
but rarer ; in spawn in May ; spawn of a chocolate-brown colour ; va-
rieties with three and four teeth on the rostrum occur.

II. pusiola {Kroyer) (Plate IX., Fig. 2, a, h, c; and Plate X.,
Figs. 9, 10). — I first met this species, in 1854, in Dalkey Sound, when
I laid it aside as a variety of iT. Cranchii. The constancy of its charac-
ters have since caused me to alter this opinion, and, not finding it de-
scribed in any of the English or French authorities, I was led to de-
scribe it as new, under the name of H. Andrewsii. Since then, however,
a paper of Kroyer' s on the Hippolytes of the North, published in the
*' Royal Danish Society's Transactions," has come into my hands, in
which I find a species described as H. pusiola, which I must look on
as identical with that under consideration : I, therefore, feel compelled
to adopt Kroyer' s name, for the present, or until better informed on the
subject.

The species is known to the English naturalists, by whom it is looked
on as — ^that zoological conveniency — a "• mere variety" oill. Cranchii;

DTTBLI17 NATX7IUL HI8T0BT SOaSTT. 49

but the characters which mark it out are so constant and trenchant,
that I feel no hesitation in asserting its claims to specific distinction, and
most probably it will be found to be one of our best-marked northern
types, as I have not seen any specimens of it in southern or western
collections, and the only notice I find of it in English works is by Dr.
Howden, Scotland.

HiPPOLYTE PUSiOLA {Kroyef).

Rostrum short, curved upwards; apex acuminate^ 3-4 dentate above ;
below unarmed; a strong tooth arising from carapace immediately over
eye ; median plate of tail 4 pairs of spines ; wrist of second pair of legs
4-jointed.

The whole animal is much larger and more truncate than H. Cranchii;
the rostrum narrower; apex slightly curved upwards, simple; the
rostrum armed with 3-4 curved teeth above ; external antenna as long
as the entire body ; the antennal scale rounded at its inner superior ex-
tremity ; the lateral tooth terminal and its peduncle strongly toothed
externally; internal antennae hairy, the inferior external angle of the
articulation prolonged into a curved scimitar-shaped lobe, the superior
angle prolonged into a tooth; second and third articulations also toothed ;
anterior feet slightly shorter than antennal scale, stout.

Second pair of feet, — wrists made up of four articulations, the total
number in the whole limb being eleven, including the hand ; the first,
second, and third very short and somewhat triangular; the fourth,
fifth, and sixth long, slender, and equal among themselves ; seventh,
slightly shorter, cylindrical, slender, a few scattered hairs over its ex-
ternal surface ; eighth and ninth very shorty scarcely conjoined equalling
seventh, equal and globular; tenth, equalling seventh. A strong tooth over
each eye at base of rostrum, and a small tooth over origin of antennae.

Colour, rose-pink or green, though there is much variety in this ;
one specimen (a female), taken in May, was coloured as follows : —
Carapace, a transparent clear pink, with which the emerald-green
masses of Extruded ova contrasted most vividly, tail and segments of legs
being banded with white and rose colour. Another specimen was even
more vividly coloured : — Carapace clear cobalt-blue, through which the
emerald-green masses of ova shone, the remainder of the body a clear
pink ; the legs prettily banded with a darker red.

It has only occurred to me in comparatively deeper water, as at Bray
and in Dalkey, where it is frequent in the lobster and crab pots. Of its
distribution nothing is known : it has been recorded in Scotland by Dr.
Howden, from Frith of Forth and Orkney.

The characters of the rostrum and carapace; second pair of legs,
median plate of tail ; size ; and difference of locality separate it markedly
from //. Cranchii {videVloiQ X., Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, and Plate IX., Figs.
2a, 2b).

Palanion squilla. — Extremely common in rock-pools, especially
among Enteromarpha intestinalis. In ova in May, April, and June. Of
one remarkable form of this species (?) I have figured the beak (Plate X.,
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14); it is invariably much smaller than the normal

60 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

type, and frequents pools which are less frequently visited by the tides.
In colour and other characteristics I find such a close accordance, I must
look on the characters drawn from the beak as not of specific importance,
the only other difference being in the comparative weakness of the di-
dactyle hands. The following are the varieties in the number of teeth
of the rostrum met with: — Apex bidcntate, above 7-10, below 2-4;
apex simple, above 7-9, below 2-3 ; the commonest form being 7 or 8
above, apex bidentated, and 3 below.

Belfast (W. T.), Dublin, Galway; doubtless confounded with P,
serratus in lists.

P. Leachii. — I have seen no authentic Dublin specimens of this spe-
cies; all those shown me either preceding species, or P. varians. I have
collected specimens in Galway, and Professor Melville showed me nu-
merous specimens collected there by him. The specimen thus named in
J. V. Thompson's collection is not this species, but the variety (?) of P.
ttquiUa, described above.
Dublin (?), Galway.

Mysis chameleon. — Much commoner than I formerly stated; very
abundant in sand-pools ; in ova in March, April, and May. The ova
are easily hatched, and the young are similar to the parent when ex-
truded.

Before concluding, it may be interesting to compare the relative dis-
tribution of the genera and species in the east and west, when we arrive
at the following results, excluding from our comparison those strange
forms, Bodotria, Alauna, &c.

Brachyura.

Common to both districts, 23

Unrecorded in east, made up as follows : — Achaeus,
Pisa, Maia, Xantho (3?), Portunus (2), Ebalia (?),
Thia. Those genera peculiarly typical italicized, . 10

Unrecorded in west, 0

Brachyuri, — 33
Anomoura.

Common to both, 11

Unrecorded in east, viz., Pagurus (1), Miinida (?), . 2
Unrecorded in west, viz., Pagurus (1), Galathea (1), 2

Anomoura, — 15
Macroura.

Common to both, 11

Unrecorded in east, viz., Crangon (2), Alphaus,

Ntka, Athanas, Palsemon (1), Hippolyte (1), . . 7
Unrecorded in west, viz., Hippolyte (1 ), Crangon (2),

Palsemon, 4

Macroura, — 22

Stomapoda, common to both, 2

Omitted in above list, 8

— 10

Total Crustacea podophthalmia, . - 80

DTTBLIN NATURAL HI8T0BT 80CIETT. 51

The Irish species unnoticed in these lists are —

Inachus leptocheirm.

Belfast (0. C), CUfden (W. T.)

Xantho tuber culata, Polyhim Hemlowiiy Pinnotheres pinna. — Ob-
tained once in the south.

Gebia deltv/raf Callianassa subterraneaf Calocaris Mae Andrea. — Ob-
tained once in the north.

Pasiphaa sivado. — A single specimen in Dublin Bay.

Careful research will, doubtless, disturb these conclusions slightly ;
and I am sure that many unrecorded species, especially among the
Anomoura and Macroura, yet remain to reward the labourer in these
prolific fields of watery research.

In conclusion, with regard to the provisional species recorded in my
last paper, as I suspected, Porcellana priocheles appears to be one of the
young states of P. longic&rnis ; Pagurm Eblanemis I strongly suspect
is the true P. Ulidianus of W. Thompson ; and Portunus carcinoides
(Plato IX., Fig. 3, a, b, c) is a good species ; it comes very close, how-
ever, to Otto's P. infr actus, which is included by Bell among the syno-
nyms of P. longipesy Risso, from which the trilobed front and lengtii of
legs would separate my specimen.

I would also correct an error in my description of C. Allmanni
(pp. 81, 82), in describing the arm of that species as smooth in many spe-
cimens : it is distinctly spined.

After the conclusion of Dr. Kinahan's paper, the Chairman declared
Alexander Henry Haliday, Esq., F.L. S., M.R.I.A., duly elected an
Ordinary Member.

The meeting was then adjourned till May.

FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1867.
Charles P. Croker, M. D.,'M. B, I. A., V. P., in the Chair.
The Minutes having been read and confirmed, —
Mr. W. Andrews read the following —

notes on the ornithology of the county of KERRY.

It has always been my opinion, that the zoology of the western por-
tions of this country, embracing the whole range fcom north to south,
had yet to be developed, and that it may be said that scarcely two-
thirds of the species have as yet been recorded. Our knowledge of the
marine zoology of the western coasts is still very imperfect, especially
as regards the deep-water species. Thus, it were an interesting in-
quiry to trace the peculiarity of habits of those species which, though
common on our shores, and animals of the most delicate and fragile
texture, are yet found of frequent occurrence in deep-water soundings.
My chief business this evening is with reference to notes on the
birds of this country that are considered ** occasional or very rare viai-

52 DUBLIN NATTJEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

tants." These expressions frequently appear in works on British orni-
thology, and I am satisfied must be considered as owing to the want of
proper information, arising from a lack of observation throughout each
season of the year, and especially from ignorance of the characteristics
and habits of birds in the immature states.

There are several of the gentry whose tastes lead them to make col-
lections of the birds of their immediate neighbourhood, and others who
occasionally note occurrences that appear singular or strange to them ;
but still there is a general dearth of knowledge of seasonal records
throughout the country. The collections of my friend, R. Chute, Esq.,
of Chute Hall, near Tralee, testify, by the great amount of interesting
objects he has obtained, what individual zeal can accomplislf. The sub-
alpine districts of Kerry, with their numerous lakes, estuaries, extensive
marshes, and wooded glens, stiU afford ample fields for observation;
and we shall yet learn, through well-directed and continued observa-
tions, that the records of — " must only be considered of extremely rare
occurrence," should be, ''by no means uncommon,"

Thus, the immature Iceland Gull (Larus Islandicus), I am sure, is,
at certain seasons, frequent on the west coast. It has been shot near
Tralee, and the immature bird has been seen in numbers.

In the Transactions of this Society are recorded the immense flocks
of the Greater Shearwater [Fujinus major) seen in Dingle I3ay, and also
notes of the Bridled and Brunnich's Guillemots ( Uria lacrijmans and
Brunnichii), having been observed breeding on the Tiraght Bock. The
former bird, with the eggs, have been obtained at the entrance of the
Shannon, by Henry Burton, Esq., of Carrigaholt Castle. The King Eider
Duck {Somaferia spectahilis), and several rare species of Tringa, have
also been captured in Kerry.

The Martinique Gallinule {Gallinula Martinico), which was cap-
tured in the living state in a drain at Clehane, Brandon, county of
Kerry, was at first by Mr. W. Thompson supposed to be, and described
as, the Sicilian Gallinule {Forphyrio hyacinthinus\ from the supposed
impossibility of a bird of the United States of America being met with
in Ireland. An examination of its characters satisfied me it must be
the Martinique GaUinule, and I wrote so to Mr. W. Thompson, who
afterwards admitted that my views were correct.

The Dusky Petrel {Puffinus ohscurus)^ a bird of Australia, was also
obtained alive off Yalentia Island, and was exhibited in this Society in
1854.

The Bohemian Waxwing (^Bomlycilla garrula) has several times
been noticed in Kerry. A very beautiful specimen is in the Museum of
the Society, taken near Miltown, county of Kerrj'^, and presented through
the kindness of one of the Members, Joseph Anderson, Esq.

You have already had recorded the Membranaceous Duck {Mala-
corynchua memhranaceu8\ which was shot in Castlemaine Bay, where
six were observed together, and supposed by the sportsman to have been
teaL It has been remarked, that this bird ** could not have occurred in

5 ^

DUBLIN NATVKAL HI8T0B7 80CXBTT. 63

Kerry except as one escaped from confinement/' I believe in no Bri-
tish collection has this species existed but in that of the late Earl of
Derby, and I have been informed that none were lost trom. that collec-
tion. It might just as well be imagined that the Great Spotted Cuckoo
(Cuculus fflandarius) and the Belted Kingfisher (Alcedo alcyon) were
escapes from confinement.

The two very fine specimens of the Crane {Oru« einerea) which are
in our Museum, were shot the same season in this county, one of them
near Ballinskelligs Bay, county of Kerry, out of a flock of five. It was sent
to me by my esteemed friend, the late Maurice O'ConneU, Esq., of Derry-
nane Abbey, supposing it to be the Great American Heron (Ardea He-
rodias), which, with the exception of its great size, is similar to the
Common Heron of Europe. The former bird averages 4 ft. 7 in. in
height, and weighs 7 lbs., while the latter but 3 ft. 3 in., and weighing
4 lbs. Ardea Herodim frequents the gloomy solitudes of the tallest
cedar swamps of New Jersey ; the Common Heron {A. einerea) is not an
inhabitant of the United States. The extreme length of the crane ob-
tained in Kerry was 4 ft. 7 in., and its weight was 12 lbs. Mr. O'Con-
nell was led to suppose the bird American from numerous incidents he
had noticed : he was an admirable shot and sportsman, and a great
admirer of the ^vritings of '' glorious old White of Selbome," as he
termed him.

Thus in one of his numerous communications he remarks with regard
to the woodcocks : —

** My observations lead me to suppose that we have two immigra-
tions— one from the northern parts of Europe, the other from America.
I have shot what certainly appeared to be two varieties, if not distinct
species : one much smaller than the ordinary woodcock, more of a rufous
colour, and destitute of the varied markings which distinguish the
latter. I have met male and female of both kinds, and have shot both
kinds late in the season when paired, each Avith a mate of its own de-
scription. A friend who was with me in the winter of 1840 (Captain
Broderick, 84th Regt.), and who had just returned from Canada, where
he had shot many dozen braces of woodcocks, was at first incredulous as
the fact of the immigration from America. On going out with me it
happened that the first couple of birds we flushed were of the smaller
kind. We met them at some hundred yards* distance fix)m each other,
and at an interval of a quarter of an hour on an open mountain, where we
had a full opportunity of observing them. He appeiut)d surprised on
seeing the first ; but when the second rose he turned to me and said,
* You are right — these are exactly the American birds, wherever they
came from.' Unfortunately we did not get shots at either of these birds,
and killed but one of the kind after, as the day became bad ; but he ad-
mittt^d, on examining that closely, that it was, as he called it, * a Yankee
bird.' "

The American woodcock dififers much in size from that of Europe,
the male bird scarcely averaging six oimces, and the female eight ounces;
while the European birds exceed twelve ounces. The lower parts and

54 DUBLIN NATUIL\L HISTORY SOCIETY.

breast of the European woodcock arc marked with large spots and zig-
zag transverse lines and bars of black on a pale dull yellow and gray-
ground. These marks are altogether absent in the American bird, whose
colour on the breast is bright ferruginous ; the back and scapulars are of
a lighter colour, and not so deeply mai'ked. The small specimen which
is now exhibited was obtained from ;N"ova Scotia.

One of the Mr. O'Connells, of Grena, near Killamey, informed me
that some years since he had seen nailed on a door by one of the game-
keepers a jay, identical with the American blue jay {Garrulm cris-
tatus).

In the month of June, 1855, when for a few days at Killamey, I met
on the grounds of the Lakeview Hotel a man with a young bird of the
spotted eagle {Aquila ncevia). I was anxious to obtain it, but he said
that he had promised it for sale to a gentleman whose return he was
waiting from boating on the lake ; his price was £1. On the following
morning he called to leave the bird with me ; but both at the Hotel and
at Mr. Boylan's (Lord Kenmare's steward), in whose charge he wished
to leave it, it was refused, as I was absent. I could obtain no trace of
the bird, as the man had to return to his home westward in the Eeeks,
in which part of the country, in a mountain towards Cahirciveen, he had
taken the bird from the nest. Its much smaller size, and the peculiar
spotted markings which characterize the young state and bird of the first
year left no doubt on my mind as to the species.

The Mergansers have been noticed to remain in Kerry throughout
the year ; and the Scaup Duck {Anas marila), with the eggs and the
young, has been taken in an inland lake.

The bird which I now present to the Society, the Homed or Sclavo-
nian Grebe (Podiceps cornutus, P. ohscurm, in the young state), and
which, in Thompson's Birds of Ireland, is quoted — ''can be positively
announced only as an occasional visitant," was lately obtained at the
mouth of one of the streams near Lough Caragh, county of Kerry, where,
no doubt, others will be met.

Through Europe this has the widest range of all the Grebes ; but it has
been considered as extremely rare in the British Isles. The markings
are very perfect in this specimen; but the dark friU and the bright
chestnut- coloured feathers or horns, which characterize the species, are
not shown except in the breeding season. It is distinguished by its
bright chestnut rufous- coloured neck, and by the rufous-coloured marks
passing from the base of the bill to and through the eye to the occiput.
This at once distinguishes it from the rare species, the Eared Grebe, P. au-
ritm, which has not the rufous-coloured neck ; the markings of the bill
are also characteristic, the bill of P. cornutus being black, tipped with
yellow, and the lower mandible marked with yeUow, the belly silvery,
and of a soft, silky texture.

Mr. J. B. Doyle remarked on the extreme interest of these observa-
tions. He thought it evident that, if we had more certain records of
this kind, many birds at present marked in our list as rare stragglers

I

VUBLTK VASURAL HI8T0BY SOCIETY. 55

would bo found to bo more frequent visitors, especially in the west
There were many gentlemen resident in that part of Ireland who pos-
sessed interesting collections of birds captured in that district Ho
might mention one. In the collection of Edward Burton Eyre, of Clif-
den, the following rare birds, all captured about the Burren, were to be
seen : — The Glossy Ibis {Ibis falcinellus), Bohemian Wax wing {B. gar-
rula)y Siskin (Carduelis spinus), Sabine's Snipe {G. Sabmi). He had
himself had the good fortune to have seen alive the specimen of the
Martinique Gallinule to which Mr. Andrews referred, and there could
be no doubt as to the circumstances connected with its capture. It was
found alive, but exhausted, in Brandon, in a creek, but died not long
after its capture.

The Rev. Professor Haughton brought forward a motion by which
a new class of Members, to be called Associates, should be formed {vide
end of Transactions). Undergraduates of the University to be especi-
ally eligible for this class of Membership. The Associates to have pri-
vileges of Members, to bo resident in or about Dublin, and to be elected
by a vote of the Society, on the previous recommendation of CounciL
The subscription for this class to be limited to 58. a year, to cover ex-
penses.

This was seconded by Dr. G. B. Owens, and, after having been fully
discussed, was passed unanimously.

By a resolution of the Society it was also determined that Corre-
sponding Members, paying 5«. annually in advance to the Treasurer,
should be entitled to the Monthly Report of the Societ)''s meetings, and
a copy of the Society's Proceedings.

After due ballot, Edward Hamilton, M. D., 8, Stephen's-green, was
declared duly elected an Ordinary Member.

The meeting then adjourned till June.

FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1857.

Pkofessoe W. H. Hakvet, M.D., M.R.LA., F.L.S., President,
in the Chaif.

The Minutes having been read and signed, —

Pbofessor Kinahan read some notes —

ON A REMARKABLE VARIETY OF TRICHOMANES RADICAKS (kILLARNEY FERN).

The form of this beautiful and well-known fern, which I lay before your
Society to-night, was first brought under my notice by Mr. John Bain,
the Curator of the University Botanic Gardens, and is peculiarly inter-
esting, as afibrding an example, among the ** Muscoid" ferns, of that
form of monstrosity which is met with rather commonly in some genera
of our native ferns, and for which I proposed the name of Laciuiatum
in a paper read before your Society in 1853. The departure from the
nornuil form consists, as there stated, in a depauperation of the mem-
branous portions of the frond, the more vascular poiiions remaining

56 DUBLIN NATUKA.L HI8T0KY SOCIETr.

unaltered, and the frord being in consequence generally cither scalloped
at its edges, or reduced to a linear condition. The fructification is gene-
rally absent in this form.

The causes or conditions which give rise to it are extremely obscura
In Scolopendrium it is generally most prevalent in plants from a dry
station, but in Trichomanes I find it prevails in plants from the veiy
"wettest localities ; for, since my attention was called to the form, I found,
on examining a case of ferns, put up four years ago, that plants from
a station of this kind, which I had then laid aside as young plants, have
preserved their characters unchanged up to the present, nor do they
show any appearance of fructification, though plants in the same case
and from the same localities are loaded with fruit. These characters
are permanent.

The plants exhibited were obtained by Professor Harvey some years
back at Kilhu'ney, and have preserved their characters unchanged ever
since. I may add, before concluding, that a careful examination of this
fern, in its Killarney stations, has led me to conclude that the plants
there are, so to speak, drawn up, and that the fact of the diff'erence be-
tween them and those from Waterford and Glouin Caragh, as regards
fiTictification and form of frond, are altogether dependent on a law which
prevails among the ferns, that when the membranous portion of a frond
is developed more than normally, it is so at the expense of the fructifi-
cation. I may also add, that an examination of the Valentia Island
station of this fern has convinced me that the plant has been introduced
there.

The Chaieman read a communication —

ON LONICERA XYL0STET7M, AN ADDITION TO THE IMSH PLOEA.

That well-known garden plant, which has been recorded as yet in
only a few stations in England, Lonicera xylosteum, was found in 1852,
in an undoubtedly wild state, at a great distance from cultivation, on the
Kippard Mountain, in a copse near the Cabhole, about six miles from
MountmeUick, by Mr. John Jessop, who forwarded this notice of its
discovery.

Professor Kinahan read the following letter from Mr. G. V.
Dtj Noyer, M. R. I. A., Associate Member : —

ON A REMARKABLE FORM OF ECHINUS LIVIDTJS.

''Dingle, Tralee, May 21, 1857.
" My dear Kinahan, — The rough outline on the opposite page may
give you some idea of an Echinus I found the other day on the rocks
among seaweed, at the Coastguard station, Minard. I have taken pos-
session of it, and intend giving it to the Natural History Society. As
well as my memory serves me, I have not before remarked an Echinus
of this particular shape ; many of the creatures are four or five inches
across, and proportionally high.

" Yours sincerely,

** George V. Du Noyee,"

DUBLIN NATTTKAL HISTORY 80CIETT. 57

The Bpecimen referred to was exhibited ; its most remarkable cha-
racters were : the base, pentangular in. outline j the summit, instead of
being flattened, as in all the typical forms of Hchinus lividus, is produced
to a point, so that its height nearly equals its transverse diameter.
The arrangement of the pores and tubercles of the amhulacral plates are
identical with that in specimens of E. lividus from Valentia Island, but
the ovarian plates and nucUus differ from those of Echinus lividuSf and
are, on the other hand, identical with the form of these parts in -fiV^Amw
aphcera ; in fact, in many of its characters this specimen is intermediate
between these two species.

The specimen sent up unfortunately wants the spines, so that it is
doubtful whether it may not be a species distinct from either JS. Uvidus
or £, sphcera. An Echintu Iwidtia, pentangular in form, is recorded in
Forbes's ** British Starfishes," page 168, but no details are given, and
the pentangular E. sphcera is well known.

Professor Kinahan also exhibited a very fine living specimen of the
spiny crossfish, UraHer glacialia (Link.), from Dalkey Sound, which had
been sent to him by D. J. Corrigan, M. D., M. K. L A. This specimen
was remarkable for its colour, the species is common in Dublin Bay, in
from 10-30 fathoms ; its occurrence there was first recorded from a spe-
cimen presented to this Society by Dr. Corrigan in 1863. There is a
very remarkable variety (?) of Uraster rubenSf which occurs abundantly
when dredging on the Kish Bank, which may be mistaken for this spe-
cies, and which suggests the question whether two species have not been
confoimded under the name of Uraster glacialis in our lists. The cha-
racters of the papillae around the spines at once marks out the true
U. glacialis; in the variety spoken of the spines are perfectly naked,
whilst in U, glacialia they are surrounded by a fleshy mass, crowded at
its summit with numerous small spinules.

The Chairman, under the new rules, declared the following duly
elected :^—

Joseph Rees Greene, Associate Member.

"William Kennedy, Limerick, Corresponding Member.

W. Lecky, Yalentia, Corresponding Member.

The Session was then declared closed, and the Society adjourned till
November.

58 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

ADDENDUM TO SUPPLEMENTAL DUBLIN LIST OF CEUSTACEA (SEE MEETING,
APRIL 17, 1857). BY JOHN R. KINAHAN, M. B.

The Galathea referred to in the above list as Q. nexa proves to be an un-
named species ; it is therefore figured, and a further description of the
species is appended ; also a description of the new Iphimcdia figured in
the same plate, from a drawing ftimished me by C. Spence Bate, Esq.,
P. L. S., who has kindly described the species, though too late for in-
sertion in its proper place.

Galathea Andrewsh {mihi). Plate XVI., Fig. 8, a, h, c, d.

G, rostro brevi, 3-5 dentibus utrinque omatis. Pedibus anticis
rotundatis elongatis, angustis sparse tuberculatis, tuberculis spinos
saepissime terminantibus. Chelis digitis paraUelis, elongatis angustis ricto
minute denticulate, apice adunco ; maxillepedibus extends articulo se-
cundo tertium sequante.

Habitat: '* Sinum Maris Hibemicae, 'Dublin Bay,' dictum."

This species combines the characters of the genera Munida and Ga-
lathea to a great extent : it manifestly belongs, however, to the latter
genus. I have named it after William Andrews, M. R. I. A., whose re-
searches into our native zoology and botany have so often been laid be-
fore this Society.

The characters of the narrowed, elongated hands, their comparative
freedom from spines, the small size of the species, and the character of
the beak, separate it from aU described species. For further particulars
concerning it, see Supplemental List : it is extremely common.

ON A NEW AMPHIPOD. BY SPENCE BATE, F. L. S.
PLATE XVI.

Iphimedia {RathTce, n. a. xx.). I. Eblan^ (mihi).

Head produced into a rostrum ; antennae unfurnished with secon-
dary appendage, subequal ; the last segment of the pereion and each of
the three anterior segments of the pleon armed, lateral to the dorsal
ridge, with two parallel rows of teeth.

The three anterior segments of tlie pleon each a/rmed with a well de-
veloped tooth in the median dorsal line.

[/. capite rostrato. Antennis simplicibus subaequalibus. Corporis
segmentis 8-11, duabus dentium paraUelium seriebus, lateraliter arma-
tis, 9-11, forte dente medio dorsi, omatis.]

This species differs from /. ohesa, on which Rathke founded the
genus, in several very important points. The rostrum is more incurved ;
the infero-posterior edge of each segment is more pointedly produced ;
but that which most strongly strikes the notice is the elevation of a
well-developed tooth on the centre of the dorsal surface of each of the

DUBLIN NATT7BJLL HI8T0BT 80CIETT. 69

three anterior segments of the pleon ; whilst on the next succeeding
there is a prominence as if a tooth had been arrested in the course of
development.

On each side of the dorsal centre there exists a tooth, formed by the
projection of the posterior margin, of each of the three segments that
canics a central tooth, as also the last segment of the pereiarif on which
a central tooth does not exist.

Lower down on each of the three anterior segments of the pleon a
second row of similar teeth exists on the posterior margin, and the two
posterior of these same have each the infero-postcrior point produced
into a tooth ; those upon the third segment are all curved upwards.

The anterior pair of Gnathapoda (Fig. 5) are simple ; the dactylos
in this species is either rudimentary or fused with the preceding joint ;
the extremity of the leg is tipped with six strong hairs, curved and re-
versely ciliated (Fig. 5a).

The second pair (Fig. 6), as also the mandibles (Fig. 3), and other
appendages of the mouth, offer no great difference from the same organs
in /. ohesa.

Tclson (Fig. 7) single, notched at the apex. I have named it after
the place of its discovery.

This crustacean was taken by Professor Kinahan from the gill cavi-
ties of Rhizostoma Cuvieri in Dublin Bay.

There is undoubtedly much to be learned of the habits of animals
that are taken from deep water by the aid of the dredge ; yet from what
we do know I am inclined to think that the position in which Iphime-
dia Ehlance was taken must have been one of accident rather than its
natural habitat. I have never taken Iscea Montagui except on the back
of a crab {Maia squinado) ; and the Isopod Astacella longiccyrne infests
the spines of Uchtntts sphcera. But these are not parasitic in their ha-
bits, such as /. Ehlance we must suppose to be, if its natural abode is
within the walls of the gill cavities.

EXPLANATION OF FIGIJEE8. PLATE XVI.

Fig. 1, lateral view ; Fig. 2, dorsal ; Fig. 3, mandible ; Fig. 4, max-
[illiped; Figs. 5 and 5a, first gnathopod; Fig. 6, second gnathopod.
~^g. 7, telson.*

DONATIONS TO MUSEUM, MAY L 1857.

Vere Webb Macnally, Esq. — One hundred specimens of native Le-
pidoptera. Nephrops Norvegicus, Dublin Bay.

William Andrews, Esq., M. K. I. A. — Podiceps c&mutus, Lough Ca-
ragh, county of Kerry ; eggs of Sula hasaatM and Ardea cinerea, county

* Eight specimens of thia species were found by me swimming merrily In the gill
cavities of a Khizostoma, which had been driven ashore, after a high gale, at Merrion,
county of Dublin, in the autumn of 1854. The specimens have been unfortunately mis-
laid, except that figured above, which is now imperfect.— J. R. K.

60 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

of Kerry ; and breast-bone of OrU8 cinerea, shot in county of Kerry, and
presented to this Society some time since by the late M. O'Connell,
Esq., M. P.

JUNE 12, 1867.

George Victor Du I^oyer, Esq., M. R. I. A. — Eohinm lividus (a va-
riety), Minard, county of Kerry.

Richard J.Ussher, Esq., Cappoquin. — Eggs oi Fregilus graculuSy Otus
vulgaris, and Coturnix dactylisonans, county of Watcrford.

W. M'Dougall, Esq. — A black egg of the black East India duck.

John Robert Kinahan, M. B. — Fortunus ca/rcinoides (new species),
Valentia; Pagurus JEhlaniensis (new species [?]); Porcellana longicor-
nisy P. platycheles, Galathea Andrewsii (new species) ; Homarua vuU
garis, Crangon fasciatus, Hippohjte pusiola, Pandalus annulicorniSf
Palmmon squilla, P. varians, My sis vulgar is ^ Dublin; Palcemon serra-
tuSf Palmnon Leachiiy Galway.

TO THE LIBRARY,

** Reminiscences of Ice Travels," by Captain M'Clintock, R.K., &c.;
from Rev. Professor Haughton. ''Canadian Journal of Industry,"
Nos. I. to VIII. ; from the Canadian Institute, Toronto. " Transactions
of Geological Society of Dublin," complete; from the Society. "Journal
of the Royal Dublin Society," Kos. I. to VI. ; from the Society.

DUBLIIV NATITKAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 61

RECOSD OF THE OCCTTBREKCE OF THE BEBOTLT AFD OBEBKLAKD BULLHSAD
ON THE JKISH COAST. BY WILLIAM ANDREWS, M. B. I. A., HONOBABT
SECllETAHY.

1. Beegylt, oe Nobway Haddock (SebasUt Norvegieut).

The first record of this addition to the ichthyology of Ireland was made
by Mr. Andrews, Honorary Secretary, at a meeting of the Society held
on the 4th of May, 1849. Two fine specimens of the fish were taken in
the month of March last, on the long lines set for ling, in deep water,
off the Wild Bank, Dingle Bay, and brought in by canoe-men in the
employment of the Royal Irish Fisheries Company.

Several specimens have since been taken in the same bay, and in the
summer of 1850 two were taken, in eighty-one fathoms, off the Blasket
Islands, coast of Kerry, on long lines set for cod, one of which Mr. An-
drews had for some hours alive in a tub of sea- water.

The Sebastes is an exceedingly active fish, and apparently of pug-
nacious habits. In the recent state its colour is very vivid, of a beautifnl
Vermillion, the shades dark on the back, assuming a b'ghter tinge on the
sides, and passing into a silvery white on the belly. The pectoral fins
are large, of a bright red colour, as is also the caudal fin, the fins ter-
minating in filaments. The eyes were very brilliant, particularly large
and prominent. It is nearly connected with the Serrani in the ovate
body, obtuse head, large eyes, and formation of the jaw, — the jaws,
head, and body being covered with rough scales.

The Bergylt is a northern fish, and inhabits deep water, and is known
as the Norway Haddock and Norwegian Carp. In the Feroe Islands it
is very frequently taken, in deep water, when fishing for cod, where it
it is termed Kongafisshur and the Red Perch {Perca Norvegica). It is
also called in Feroese Ratf-fisshur, from its red colour. The Sebastes,
although known to the Shetland fishermen, is a fish of rare occurrence
in British ichthyology, and but few authentic specimens are recorded as
British.

2. Greenland Bullhead (Coitus Gromlandieus).

"Was taken in Dingle Harbour, county of Kerry, in the month of
February, 1850, when drawing a seine for sand smelts. Its beautiful
and vivid colouring attracted the attention of Mr. B. Hilliard, Agent to
the Royal Irish Fisheries Company, who, presuming it to be of rare
occurrence, at once forwarded it to Mr. Andrews, the Manager of the
Company.

The Coitus Gromlandieus is admirably described in Richardson's
"Zoology of British America," known as the Greenland Bullhead, —
the Kaniock and Kanininock of the Greenlanders. The colours of the
specimen here figured were extremely beautiful, — the shades of the head
Vandyke brown, the deeper umber beautifully glazed over with a pinkish
or violet tinge, the dorsal and above the lateral line more or less shaded,

62 DUBLIN VkTURAL HI8T0BY SOCIETY.

and spotted towards the tail, and leaving a line of numerous papillaj or
tubercles (altogether absent in C. scorpius) below the lateral line ; large
and irregularly formed white spots mark the sides, shaded around with
deep carmine and a rich chocolate-brown, the tinge towards the belly-
passing into rich orange ; the belly is also marked along the line to the
tail with a row of roundish white spots ; pectoral fins beautifully shaded
and barred, spotted with white, the terminal portion and margins of a
rich orange, resembling and emulating in beauty the rich colouring of the
Tiger moth ; irides of a deep golden yellow, tinged and marked with
orange. The posterior portions of the rays of the pectoral and ventral
fins are rough, with ciliated or minute spinous processes, which seem
to be characteristic, and are not present in C. scorpius or C, bulalis, the
rays in those species being smooth on both sides.

This beautiful fish was recorded in the " Proceedings" of the Society
on the 1st of March, 1850, and was the only authentic record of its in-
troduction into the Fauna of Great Britain.

The figures are drawn from life, on stone, by R. P. Williams, M.R.I. A.

RULES.

OBJECTS AND CONSTITUTION OP THE SOCIETY.

1. That this Society be called "The Natural Histort Society of Dobuh," aud
have for its sole object the elucidation of the Natural History of Ireland.

2. The Society shall consist of Ordinary, Corresponding, Associate, and Honorary
Members.

3. That the Officers of the Society shall consist of a President, four Vice-Presidents,
two Secretaries, and a Treasurer ; and that these, with thirteen other ordinary Members,
shall constitute a CounciL

4. The Officers, and other members of Council for each year, shall be elected at the
Annual General Meeting ; and should a vacancy occur by death, resignation, or other-
wise, the Council may fill it, if considered desirable.

6. That the number of Members be unlimited.

6. That it shall be deemed sufficient service of any notice concerning the business of
the Society to put it into the Post-office, directed to the residence of each Member, as
registeretl on the books of the Society.

ADMISSION OF MEMBEKS.

7. That the form for the election of Members of the Society shall be as follows: —
Notice having been given to the Secretaries, they shall cause the names of the proposer
and seconder, with the name and residence of the person proposed, to be posted in a con-
spicuous place where the Society meets, for a fortnight at least before the election. That
each Moniber pay an admission fee of £1.

8. Tliat the election shall take place (provided fifteen Members be present) at tii^
ordinary meeting each month, by ballot ; and that one black bean to seven white shall
exclude.

9. That the Annual Subscription be £l, payable in advance on the Ist of November
in each year.

10. That before any gentleman be balloted for as Member of the Society, the Tre«-
surer shall certify that the subscription of juch person has been lodged with him.

11. That no gentleman proposed as Member be allowed the privilege of voting or
attending the meeting as a Member on the night of ballot.

12. The Secretary shall furnish to each Member, on his election, notice thereof.

13. That at the succeeding meeting (if resident in Dublin) he be introduced by the
Secretary to the Chairman, who shall declare before the meeting that he has been duly
elected a Member of the Society. He shall in the first instance sign a book declaring his
compliance with the Kegulations of the Society.

14. That Donors of the approved value of £20 in specimens of Natural History,
Books, &c, to the Society, or on payment of £10 to the Treasurer, shall become Members
for life.

15. That all Admission Fees and Life-compositions be invested in an approved secu-
rity ; and that the interest only of such investment be applicable to the expenses of the
Society.

16. Associate Members shall be resident in Dublin, and eligible for election at the or-
dinary meetings by vote of the Society, on the previous recommendation of Council.
Undergraduates of the University, being ipso facto eligible for proposal as candidates,
they shall pay a subscription of 5s. annually, and be entitled to attend the meetings of
the Society and to the Volume of ordinary Transactions for the current year.

17. Honorary and Corresponding Members may be elected by a vote of the Society
at any of its ordinary meetings, on the previous recommendation of Council ; and that for
the future no person residing in Dublin, or within ten miles of it, can be elected as Hono-

64 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOBT SOCIETY.

rary or Corresponding Member of the Society. Corresponding Members resident in
Dublin two months in one Session, and attending the meetings, shall pay as Associates
for that year.

18. Corresponding Members, on the payment of 5s. each yeaj in advance, shall be
entitled to receive the Monthly Keport of tiie Meetings, and to the Volume of Transac-
actions at the end of each year.

19. Any Annual Member who shall not pay his subscription within three calendar
months after it becomes due, or within such further time as the Council may allow, shall
cease to be a Member, and his name erased from the printed list of Members.

OPFICEES.

PRESIDENT.

20. That in the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents, the Presidency go through
the Council in rotation, alphabetically, on each evening of the meeting.

SECRETARIES.

21. It shall be the duty of the Secretaries, —

1st. To attend the meetings of the Society and Council, and to enter the Mi-
nutes of the proceedings at each meeting in a book kept for that purpose.

2nd. At each meeting to read aloud the Minutes of the preceding meeting,

3rd. At the ordinary meetings to announce the presents and donations to the
Society since the last meeting, and to read aloud such papers or letters as the
Council shall «lirect.

4th. To conduct the correspondence of the Society.

5th. To prepare a report of the proceedings and state of the affairs of the
Society during each year, to be read aloud at the Annual General Meeting.

TREASURER.

22. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer, —

1st. To collect and receive for the Society all donations and subscriptions, and
enter them in a book.

2nd. To furnish an account to the Society at the Annual General Meeting of
the receipts and expenditure of the preceding year.

3rd. To report the state of the accounts of the Society when called for by the
Council.

4th. No money shall be paid by the Treasurer, except upon a written order
of Council, signed by the Chairman and one of the Secretaries.

COUNCIL.

23. That three Members at least of the Council shall go out at each annual election ;
that those Members who have attended the least number of times shall go out first, but
shall be eligible to be re-elected.

24. That the Council shall meet from time to time, as it shall deem expedient for
the interests of the Society.

25. Five Members, including the Chairman, shall be a quonxm. The chair at Council
shall be taken as at ordinary meetings.

26. It shall be the duty of the Council to superintend all the affairs of the Society.

27. The Council may authorize the lending of any books, &c., to any members under
such regulations and conditions as it may think expedient; and may exchange or dispose
of duplicate specimens belonging to the Society.

OEDINAKY MEETINGS.

28. That the Society shall meet on the evening of the first Friday in each month,
from November to June inclusive, at the hour of 8 o'clock, the chair to be taken at a

DUBLIN NATVBAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 65

r|uarter past 8 precisely ; and that it shall be in the power of the Council to call a Ge-
neral Meeting of the Society at any time it may be expedient to do so.

29. That the order of business for each night of proceeding be as follows : —

1st. The Secretary shall read aloud the Minutes of the preceding meeting, and
the Chairman shall sign them.

2nd. The presents and donations to the Society shall be announced and exhi-
bited.

3rd. Papers for the night shall be announced and read.

4tli. That the reading of no paper occupy more than half an hour, except by
the consent of the meeting.

5th. That the Members present shall then be invited by the President to deliver
tlieir opinions on the papers -which have been read, and on the specimens which
may have been exhibited at the meeting.

Gth. That the private business of the Society, which is to be discussed at the
ordinary meetings, shall be transacted after the communications of the evening
have b»en read, and that all strangers and visitors be requested to withdraw.

30. All questions shall be decided by a majority. When the numbers are equal, the
Chairman shall have a casting voice.

31. Each Member shall have the privilege of introducing one visitor to the ordinary
meetings, provided he writes the name of the visitor in a book to be kept for that purpose.

32. Any Members wishing to propose or alter a Regulation of the Society shall give
notice at one of the ordinary meetings, and it shall be discussed and decided at the next
ordinary meeting of the Society ; and the Secretary shall cause a copy of such notice to be
posted in a conspicuous part of the meeting-room of the Society, a fortnight at least before
the next meeting.

33. That the Secretaries give notice in the summonses to Members for the ordinary
meetings of any important questions to be discussed at that meeting.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

34. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in November in each year, for the pur-
p<ise of electing Officers and Council for the ensuing year, and hearing the Annual lieport
of the proceedings and affairs of the Society.

35. The chair shall be taken at a quarter past eight precisely.

36. A list shall be prepared by the Council containing the names of such persons as
they recommend to be elected for the ensuing year.

37. A Member wishing to remove any person from the list may strike out his name,
and write in its place the name of the pcrspu he wishes to be elected in his stead.

38. A balloting-box shall be placed on the table, and, at the expiration of one hour,
the Chairman shall announce the result of the ballot.

39. That in the ballot a majority of the votes shall decide.

40. During the progress of the ballot the Annual Report shall be read by one of the
Secretaries.

41. The Chairman shall then put the question shall the Report be adopted.

PAPEKS.

42. All Papers read at the meeting, unless previously otherwise stipulated, are to be
considered the property of the Society.

43. That due notice shall be given, through the Secretaries, of all Papers intended to
1)0 read at the ordinary meetings of the Society, in order that they may be submitted to
the Council for their approval.

44. No Paper shall be read at the meetings of the Society unless the Secretary shall
have apprized the author of these Regulations, in case he shall not be a Member of th«
Society.

45. That each person reading a Paper to the Society shall furnish to the Secretaries,
nt tiio meeting, an abstract of his Paper for insertion on the Minutes, and for publication.

Address, **Tbe Seoetaries, Natural History Society, 912, Great Brunswick-street,

I>ul.lin"

LIST OF MEMBERS,

CORRECTED TO OCTOBER 31, 1867.

Errors to be communicated, by letter, to the Hon. Secretaries, 212, Great Brunswick-street.

J Have contributed to " Proceedings."
II Corresponding Members entitled to "Proceedings," under By-law 18.

HONOEAEY.
Elected.

1854. 1. Alder, Joshua, F. L. S., Newcastle-on-Tyne.
1854. 2. Bell, Thomas, F. R. S., President of Linnean Society, London.
1846. 3. Berkeley, Rev. Miles, F. L. S., Kingscliffe, Wandesforde.
1838. 4. Crampton, Sir Philip, F. R. S., M. R. I. A., Merrion-square.

1853. 5. Gray, John Edward, LL.D., F. R. S, British Museum, London.
1846. 6. Hincks, Rev. Thomas Dix, D.D., Belfast.

1854. 7. Hooker, Sir Wm. J., K. H., Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
1841. 8. Jones, Thomas Rymer, F. R. S., London.

1841. 9. Lindley, John, F. R. S., F. L. S., «&c., London.

1854. ' 10. Newman, Edward, F. L. S., Queen's Road, Peckham, London,

1854. 11. O'Kelly, M. J., Rochest own House.

1841. 12. Royle, Forbes, King's College, London.

1854. 13. Sabine, Colonel, F. R. S., &c., London.

1854. 14. Westwood, Jo., F. L. S., Oxford.

Elected or I^IPE MEMBERS,

rejoined.

1838. l.JAndrews, William, M. R. I. A., Leinster-street.

1840. 2. Borough, Sir E. R., Bart., M. R. I. A., 18, Leinster-street.

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

1838. 4. Hill, Lord George A., Ballygarr, Co. Donegal.
1848. 5. Hone, Nathaniel, 1, Fitzwiiliam-square, East.
1843. 6. King, J. W., Dame-street.

1853. 7. Maxwell, R. P., Groomsfort.

1848. 8.jMontgomery, Robert John, Hume-street.

1840. 9. Pollock, George A., Oatlands, Navan.

1840. 10. Raye, Henry R., Dunany Port, Castlehellingham.

1847. 11. Renny, H., R. E., M. R. I. A.

1850. 12. Smith, George, Baggot- street.

1839. 13. Townsend, R. W.

1838. 14. Williams, R. P., M. R. T. A., 22, Dame-street.

1856. 16. Whitty, John Irwine, LL. D., C. E., 20, Upper FitzwiUiam-streel.

DTJBLIW NATT7BAL HI8T0KT 80CIBTT. 67

ANIHTAL HEMBEB8.

i.ieded.

i »39. 1. JAldridge, John, M. D., M. R. I. A., SaekvilU-ttrett.

1 H38. 24Allman, George J., M. D., M. R. I. A., Edinburgh.

1W40. 8. Anderson, Joseph, Bank of Ireland.

1852. 4. Barklie, Robert S., 106, Lower Gardiner-street.
1840. 6. Barrington, Croker, 6, Fitzwilliam- square, North.
1 848. 6. Barrington, John, 202, Great Britain-street.
1846. T.jBergin, Thomas J., 49, Westland-row.

1861. 8. Brady, Francis W., 22, Leeson-street.

1854. 9. Barton, Henry M., 6, Foster-place.

1855. 10. .Barton, John K., M. B., L. R. C. S. I., 87, Kildare-street.
1855. 11. Birchall, Edwin, 21, Eden-quay.

1857. 12. Bovle, Richard, Upper Merrion-street.

1840. IS.JCailwell, Robert, M. R. I. A., 25, Herhert-plaee.

1889. 14. Croker, Charles P., M. D., M. R. I. A., 7, Merrion-square, West.

1854. IS-JClermont, Lord, Savensdale Parky Flurrybridge.

1854. 16. Carte, Alexander, M. B., M. R. I. A., Museum, EoyalDublin Society.

1853. 17. Clarendon, Thomas, Oreat Brunswick-street.
1838. IS.lDombrain, James R., 86, Zeeson^street.

1889. 19.jDublin, His Grace the Archbishop of, Palace, Stephen' s-green.

1854. 20. DomvUle, Wm. Compton, Thomhill, Bray.

1855. 21. Domville, Sir Charles Compton, BarL, 89, Loicer Gardiner-street.

1855. 22. Darley, Joseph Farran, 14, Upper Leeson-street.

1856. 23.tDoyle, John B., Sandymount.

1847. 24.tFfennell, William J., Spire-vieto, Rathgar.

1855. 25.jFrazer, William, M. D., Stephen* s-green.

1857. 26. Gyles, A. M'Gwire, Sander' s-court, Kyle, Enniseorthy.

1843. 27. Gordon, Samuel, M. D., M. R. I. A., Hume-street.

1844. 28. Griffith, Richard, LL. D., M. R. L A., F. G. S. L., &c., 2, Fitzwilliam-plaee.
1855. 294Galbraith, Rev. J. A., F. T. C. D., M. R. I. A., 8, Trinity College.

1857. 30. Holiday, A. H., M. R. I. A., F. L. S., Sarcourt-atreet.

1849. Sl.JHart, John, M. D.

1844. 82.f Harvey, Professor Wm. Henry, M. D., M. R. L A., F. L. a, 40, College.

1889. 83. Hutton, Thomas, Summer-hill.

1854. 34.tHaughton, James, 28, City-quay.

1855. 35.tHaughton, Rev. Professor, F. T. C. D., M. R. I. A., 40, College.
1855. 86. Homer, H. C, Bachelor' s-waUe,

1855. 87. Halpin, George, Ballast Office.
1857. 88. Hamilton, John, Nelson-street.

1857. 39. Hamilton, Edward, M. D., 8, Stephen' s-green.

1868. 40. Jeffers, P. D., Pembroke-road.

1861. 41 |Kinahan, Professor John Robert, M. B., M. R. I. A., Sea-vieie Terrace,
Donnyhrook.

1856. 42. Kift, Thomas, 68, Eccles-street.

1865. 48 Lees, Cathcart, M. D., 17, Lower FUzwiUiam-street.
1864. 44. Martin, J. E., North-wcdl.

1856. 45. Mathews, Edward, 81, Lower Gardiner- street.

1866. 46. Millar, James E., Leinster- street.

1857. 47. Mitchell, Arthur, M. D., Stephen' s-green.

1864. 48. M'Dougall, William, Drumleek, Howth.

1867. 49. M'Nally, Vere Webb, Old MouiUpleasant, Ranelagh.

1851. 60. Nicholson, N. A., Balrath, Kells.

1840. 61. Nugent, Daniel, Denmark-street.

1856. 62. Nalty, John, M. D., Clare-street.

1857. 68. Neligan, John Chute, Tralee.

1841. 64. 0*Hara, Major, C. K., Annaghmore, CoUooney.

1852. 66. Oweaa, 6. B., M. D., KUdare-street.

1865. 66. O'Reilly, J. W., Westmoreland-street.

68 DUBLIN NATTTRAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Elected.

1856. 57. O'Meara, Rev. E., 57, Great Brunsioick-atreet.

1847. 58. Porter, George H., M. D., Kildare-atreat.
1856. 69. Roberts, Robert, Harcourt-terrace.

1848. 60. Stopford, James E., Upper Merrion- street.

1854. 61.]:Sanders, Gilbert, M. R. I. A., Foster-place.

1855. 62.]:SmiUi, Professor R. W., M. D., M. R. I. A., Eccles-street.

1856. 63. Stokes, Professor, William, M. D., M. R. I. A, Merrion- square.
1856. 64. Symes, Glascott, Dame-street.

1856. 65. Stephens, H. C, Adelaide-road.

1857. 66. Sargent, H. Johnstone, St/nnot- place.
1852. 67. Sutton, Frederick, Harcourt-street.

1840. 68. Todhunter, Joseph, College-green.

1854. 69. Talbot de Malahide, Lord, Castle, Malahide.

1856. 70. Wilson, Thomas, Jan., Upper Temple-street.

1852. 71.tWynne, Right Hon. John, M. P., M. R. I. A., Hazlewood, Sligo.

1854. 72.]:Wright, E. Percival, A. B., M. R. I. A., Museum, Trinity College.

1855. 73, West, Archdeacon, Wilton-square.

1856. 74. Wilde, W. R., M. D., M. R. I. A., Merrion-square.
1855. 75. Yeates, George, M. R. I. A., Grafton- street.

ASSOCJIATE MEMBERS.

1848. 1. J Bain, John, College Botanic Gardens.

1855. 2. Byron, Ryland, Dublin.

1857. 3. Green, Joseph Reay, 5, College.

1848. 4.JO'Mahony, Rev. Thaddeus, 24, College.

1855. 6. Sutherland, Daniel.

COERESPGN-DING MEMBERS.

1841. 1. +||DuNoyer, George V., M. R. I. A., G. S. I., 51, Stephen' s-green.

1856. 2. Emerson, Rev. J. M., Ballylinan, Athy.

1857. 3. Foot, Frederick, G. S. I.

1857. 4. IIKinahan, George Henry, C. E., T. CD., G. S. I., 51, Stephen's-green.

1857. 6. IIKennedy, William, Rathkeale.

1841. 6. Hassall, A. H., F. L. S., London.

1844. 7. Hincks, Rev. Thomas, Warrington.

1857. 8. Lecky, W., Fa/en^m /i/and.

185^. 9. Lowe, Edward J., F.R. A. S., iVo«%/mw.

1840. 10. Neligan, Dr., Patrick-street, Cork.

1857. 11. O'KeUy, Joseph, A. B., C. E., T. C. D., G. S. I., 51, Stephen's green.

1857. 12. Wynne, A. B., G. S. I., 61, Stephen's-green.

1847. 13. Wilson, Robert, Lieutenant, R. N., Cape Clear Island.

A REVIEW

OFTHB

GENERA OF TERRESTRIAL ISOPODA

(ONISCOIDEA):

DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL THE KNOWN BEITI8H SPECIES
ANB GENERA.

JOHN ROBERT KINAHAN, M.B. T.C.D., M.R.I.A.,

PROFESSOR OF ZOOIX>GY, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART ;

HON. SEC. DUBLIN NAT. HIST. SOCIETY ;

ETC. ETC.

Wyi\ <|mir Hatw.

BMd before Section 2), British Association, August 26, 1867.

PRIVATELY PRINTED FOB THE AUTHOR, AND PRESENTED TO THE MKIfBRlH OF THB
NATURAL HISTORY 800IBTY OT DUBLIN.

DUBLIN:

PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS,

BY M. H. GILL.

1857.

[Reprinted from the Natural History Review, Vol. IV. for 1867.]

A REVIEW,

Having been during the past summer engaged in researches among the
Irish Isopoda, I am induced to lay before your Association the results
to which I have been led by an examination of the above genera, —
the rather, as from authors this interesting family has received but little
attention, and in consequence but little is known with certainty con-
cerning the habits, species, and distribution of the group. This is the
more remarkable, as of the fourteen species now to be noticed, all, with
the exception of two, are of extremely common occurrence, and their
gtudy, owing to their size, comparatively easy. In proof of this state-
ment I may mention that all except two (one a marine species) have
occurred to me in a garden not sixty yards square, and nearly all in
abundance.

It would appear to have been the fashion with carcinologists (pro-
bably on accoimt of the terrestrial habits of most of the genera), to nearly
ignore their existence, and hence the mistakes with which the authori-
ties abound. This renders a brief sketch of the bibliography of the group
necessary.

Historical Bibliography.

Although a host of writers have from the earliest days of science
noticed these animals, yet the true nature of their generic, specific,
and familiar relations have been so totally misunderstood, and the cha-
racters drawn on for diagnosis are of so little real value, that we may
pass over the labours of the majority of authors, and come at once to the
works published within the last twenty years, the rather as this part of
the subject has been so ably treated of by Professor A. LerebouUet in the
*' Transactions of the Strasbourg Society,*' just now to be referred to.

Passing, therefore, over the writings of Linnseus, (Jeoffroy, Fabri-
cius, De Geer, Cuvier, Leach, Dumeril, Latreille, Risso, Savigny, and
a host of others, whoso characters, drawn from colour chiefly, render

( 4 )

their descriptions worse than useless, we will come to Brandt, who ap-
pears to have caught at the true distinctive characters of form, and may
be said to have laid the first foundation of a perfectly natural system, in
his ** Conspectus Monographiae Crustaceorum Oniscodorum," published
in Moscow in 1833 ; and although in some instances he has stopped short
in his analysis, and has even mistaken the true import of some of the
characters, yet it must be a matter of regret that this naturalist has
not yet fulfilled his promise by giving to the world a full history of the
group.

Milne-Edwards, who comes next in order of time, has scarcely in
this sustained his weU-deserved reputation in other groups, as this part
of his work is replete with errors of a serious nature, and the descrip-
tions, many of them copied verbatim from the earlier writers, and mere
accounts of colours, are useless. Witness the description of Fhiloscia
muscorum, a genus which he can scarcely have examined, or he would
not have proposed that it should be reunited to Oniscus, a genus from
which, as we shall see, it differs widely.

In the fourth volume of the '' Memoirs of the Natural History Society
of Strasbourg," published in 1853, appears a paper from the pen of Pro-
fessor A. LerebouUet, M. D., Director of the Museum at Strasbourg,
entitled, '* Sur les Crustaces de la Famille des Cloportides qui habitent
les Environs de Strasbourg," of which it is impossible to speak in too
high terms, whether we regard the minuteness of details, or the author's
patient investigations into the labours of others, and although in one or
two points he has evidently fallen into error, yet, as a whole, this little
work must be long looked on as a standard on the subject.

I must here also notice an excellent, but scarce little work, which
has but recently come into my hands, and for the perusal of which I
have to thank the kindness of A. H. Haliday, Esq., entitled, **Prodro-
mus Synopseos Crustaceorum Prussicorum," published at Konigsburg,
1834, from the pen of E. G. Zaddach, Ph. D., which contains much
useful matter; among other things, M. Edward's error concerning Phi-
loscia is noticed.

Dana in his splendid work on the Crustacea, has proposed in some
respects a new arrangement of the group, but has, as I think, mistaken
in some cases the bearings of the characters, as will be shown further
on.

Valuable notices of separate genera and species have appeared as
detached papers in some of the journals, chiefly German (as, for instance,
the description of the curious genus, Titanethes alhus of Schiodte (Pkce-
rusa alba, Koch), in Schiodte' s interesting account of the subterranean
Fauna of Carniola), which have thrown much light on the true affinities
of these animals, and render a revision of our classification necessary.

It will be necessary to glance at the systems of classifications adopted
by the several authors mentioned ; but first I must notice a most elabo-
rate, as far as illustrations go at least, work by Henrich Schseffer, intended
as a supplement to Koch's ** Fauna Germanica." In this work we have
spurious species multiplied to a most inconvenient extent, and his ge-

( 5 )

nera are most of them too large : thus, under Ligia he includes Phihseia
mmcarum (figured as Ligia melanocephala, a more natural alliance, by the
way, than M. Edwards, of Oniscus). Itea includes Itea proper and
Platyarthus (Br.)f and probably a third form. He has changed Brandt's
name, Ligidium, for Zia, and his Armadillo into Pentheus, whilst Arma-
dillium {Br.) figures here as Armadillo, Latr. The other genera described
by him are Phterusa, Oniscus, and Porcellio, the two latter including
as species many which can scarcely be looked on as even varieties.

On Classification.

Brandt, taking as familiar characters the number of joints in the termi-
nal appendages of the antennae and the number of pairs of caudal append-
ages (L e. the last pair of false feet), has divided the genera known to
him into two sections, viz., Ligiea (Ligia and Ligidium) and Oniscinea,
subdivided according to the length, form, and insertion of the exterior
caudal appendages, into (1) Porcellionea (Trichoniscus, Platyarthus,
Porcellio, Philoscia) ; and (2) Armadillinea (ArmadiUidium, Cubaris,
Armadillo, and Diploexochus).

Although these generic groups are natural enough, he appears to
have mistaken the true nature of the caudal appendages, which in all
the genera belonging to this group consists truly of two pairs, as we
hope to show when we come to treat more in detail of them, although
in all the groups except Ligiea their true nature is somewhat obscured
by the truncation of the margin of the peduncle. In Ligidium, included
by him among the Ligiea, but which, as will be seen, we propose to
place in a separate division, the appendages are really two pairs.

His lesser divisions and species are many of them faulty, being
governed nearly entirely by considerations of number and colour, charac-
ters of a very minor importance in classification, though oftentimes con-
venient when conjoined with the more permanent characters, of form,
position, and structure. Some of his genera probably must fall, at least
in their present shape, their descriptions being so imperfect as to render
them unrecognisable, owing to his imperfect means of observation : thus,
Trichoniscus may possibly turn out to be Itea, Zia, or some of their allied
genera, more fully described by later writers.

Milne-Edwards has for the most part copied Brandt, but has pro-
posed new primary divisions, in the naming of which he has been sin-
gularly infelicitous. He has drawn his familiar characters from the
comparative length or brevity of the last false feet, as compared with
the terminal segment of the abdomen, and thus makes two primary
groups, Cloportidea maritiniea (Ligia and Ligidium) : and Clop&rtides
Urrestres, subdivided, according to the form and length of the last pairs
of false feet and their appendages, intoPorcellioniens ^Oniscus, Philoscia,
Deto, Porcellio, Trichoniscus, Platyarthus), Armadilliens (ArmadiUi-
dium, Armadillo (includes Cubaris), Diploexochus), and Tylosiens
(Tylus).

The names of his primary divisions show us the danger of naming
groups from habits. Ligidium, although included among the Maritime

( 6 )

woodlice, is as truly a terrestrial species, and found at as great a dis-
tance from sea, as Porcellio itself. Most of his descriptions of genera
are avowedly mere transcripts from previous authors, even those which
one would suppose ought to have come under his own notice, being in-
digenous, as in the case of Philoscia, which he allies to Oniscus, whereas
in truth it is much more closely allied to Ligia in all its characters. His
specific descriptions are almost aU mere details of colour, without one
truly distinctive character.

Dana has much extended the group, uniting, however, to the genera
already mentioned others, whose claim to the alliance appears but slight,
viz., the Limnoriffi and AscUidee, on account of the characters of the
posterior pair of abdominal appendages. He has thus made one large
group, Oniscoidea, and in his definitions has largely entered into cha-
racters which may be generic.

He divides the Oniscoidea into three groups, according to the mode
of articulation of the body ; the number of articulations of the abdomen ;
the size of the last abdominal segment ; the length of the caudal appen-
dages (i. e. the last false feet) ; the absence or presence of a palp to the
mandibles; and the number of articulations and size of the internal
antennae. (Of these, the characters of the number of articulations in
the abdomen and internal antennae, the size of last abdominal segment,
presence of a palp to the mandibles, have reference solely to his last family
(Asellidae), a group which had been probably better omitted.) 1. Ar-
madillidae, according to arrangement of caudal appendages, divided into
Tylinae (Tylus), and Armadillinae (Armadillo, Sphaerillo, Armadillidium,
Diploexochus). 2. Oniscidae, according to number and form of articu-
lations of maxilliped, form of articulation of fifth joint of external an-
tennae, and form of peduncle and styles of caudal appendages, divided
into Oniscinae, Oniscus (including as sub-genera Trichoniscus, Porcellio,
Oniscus). Philoscia; Platyarthus; Deto. Scyphacinae (Scyphax, Stylo-
niscus). Liginae (Ligia, Ligidium). 3. Asellidae, including Limnorinae
(Limnoria). Asellinae (Jaera, Jaeridina, Asellus, Janira, Henopomus,
Munna). As I believe these last do not really belong to this group, I
omit their characters.

Although this classification contains some new characters, many
genera are omitted, which naturally belong to the group, and many of
the characters are too artificial to be taken into account. The innova-
tion of considering Porcellio, Oniscus, and Trichoniscus as sub-genera
is highly objectionable (indeed it will be well when the term sub-genus
is banished altogether from our nomenclature), as these divisions do not
depend, as he seems to assert, on the mere number of joints in the ter-
minal filament of the antennae, but, as I hope to prove, on a number of
other characters sufl&cient to constitute them, as real genera as Ligia
and Ligidum. Mere number plays too great a part in his system also to
allow of natural groupings. His classification, however, is valuable as
restoring to their proper place the Armadillidae, which, on account of
their resemblance to certain Myriapodae, have been hitherto, as it seems,
unjustly degraded to the bottom of the list of Cloportides.

( ^ )

From a revision of these various systems, it appears, that putting
out of sight such arbitrary characters as mere colour and number, divi-
sional characters of most importance are : the comparative development
of the external antennsB or rather of its filament ; the mode of inser-
tion and development of the last pair of abdominal feet, and perhaps
we may add the form of the maxilliped ; this last, however, is a cha-
racter so difficult of application that it were, perhaps, as well to leave it
out. Two very important sets of characters have been omitted or
overlooked, which must be taken into account in any classification
which seeks to form natural groups ; these are, — the characters drawn
from the form of the head; and from the epimeraUy as they are generally
called. These characters, being permanent in their structure, presenting
differences easily caught at, and running also in parallel arrangement
throughout the groups, I would propose as the basis of the classification,
which, till a better shall arise, I would suggest as that which appears
most natural and most in accordance with homological affinities.

The characters, then, which must be considered in detail are : —

1st. The amount of development of the so-called ''epimerals" ox coxa
of the posted or cephalo- thoracic and abdominal appendages.

2nd. The form of the head as regards the absence or presence of what
are called the frontal or median, and lateral lobes.

3rd. The relative structure and development of the antennae, and
especially of the terminal filament, or, as we will call it, ** the tige'^ of the
external or superior antennse.

4th. The structure and position of the last pair of abdominal false
feet, their relations to each other and the last abdominal ring.

Before entering on these, the following nomenclature of parts must
be stated : — Head : all the parts anterior to and including the first ring,
or, in other words, the homologue of the carapace of the Brachyura. The
term cephalo-thoracic refers to the portion of the body included between
this point and the posterior border of the eighth ring, counting the head
the first : this homologizes, we believe, with the pereion of Spence
Bate ; while the remaining six rings are referred to as the abdomen, ho-
mologizing with the abdomen of the Brachyura, and the pleon and tel-
son of Spence Bate. The appendages attached to the last abdominal
ring are cited as the last pair of abdominal feet, for such is evidently
their nature ; the so-called epimerals stand as coxa, and the filament of
the antennae as tige,

I. — Amount of Development of the ^^ EpimeraU.^^
The ** epimerals" first claim our attention. For the determination
of the true homological relations of these we are indebted to the re-
searches of C. Spence Bate, F.L. S., among the Amphipoda, who, in the
first Part of his Report on the British Edriophthalmia, published in the
Report of the British Association for 1855, has proved most conclusively
that these so-called epimerals are truly and homologically the first joint,
or, as he calls them, the coxae of the ambulatory and swimming organs ;
and although, in the case of the posterior pairs of appendages in the

( 8 )

Isopods under consideration, their true nature, when present, is often-
times obscured, yet, by a little care in the examination, it may be at
once seen, though somewhat disguised.

Their presence in the cephalo-thoracic rings seems to be constant in
all the genera I have examined, or of which detailed accounts are ex-
tant ; though sometimes, as in Ligidium, the suture which divides them
from the edge of the true epimerals is so faintly marked as not to be ap-
preciable ; hence I suspect that Lereboullet laboured under an error in
supposing them absent in Ligidium Persooni, for an examination of his
own figures of the articulation of the ambulatory legs shows that they
must be pre ent, from the position of the articulation of the first joint,
which arisess from beneath a ledge which evidently is the coxae of the
limb : it is hazardous to speak positively on this point without an exa-
mination of specimens, but in Armadillium, Ligia, Philoscia, Philougria,
Porcellio, and Oniscus, I find them well marked, and they are figured
or recorded in Itea, Titanethes, Tylus, and several other genera. In
the abdominal segments there may be some question of their presence,
but what are usually called the posterior angles of the rings a very lit-
tle examination shows really to be these coxae. This is remarkably
well seen in Ligia, and, judging from Dana's figures in Tylus above
all, where they appear to be regularly articulated to the rings in the
eight, i. e. the first abdominal segment. Dana appears to have over-
looked this character altogether ; there is some great confusion in his
figures : many of the species certainly are not belonging to the genera
to which he has referred them, — I may instance Oniscus nigrescens, 0,
maculatuSy and 0. puhescens, which are most certainly not Oniscus, but
most probably Philoscia judging from the figures of the false feet.

An additional e-vidence of the true nature of these posterior angles is
afforded by the mode of articulation of the posterior false feet, which is,
in some of the genera, by means of a regular ball and socket joint.

Regarding their development in the abdominal segment (i. e. the
pleon and telson of Spence Bate), we find the following types: —

1 . Coxae present in both cephalo-thoracic and abdominal segments,
and of nearly equal proportional development. This includes Ligia,
Tylus.

2. Coxae present in first five abdominal rings only, two types.

{a) Narrow, so that abdomen is much narrower than last cephalo-
thoracic ring. The coxae of first and second abdominal segments con-
cealed beneath last cephalo-thoracic segments. The third ring of the

abdomen much wider than the second ; this reaches its limits in

Titanethes. This type includes Ligidium, Titanethes, Philoscia, and
perhaps Dana's new genus, Scyphax.

{h) Coxae present as before, but extremely narrow, and not concealed
beneath cephalo-thoracic rings. This includes Itea (?), Philougria, and
probably Trichoniscus, and Deto.

3. Coxae present in third, fourth, and fifth segments. In the first
and second segments the coxae, if developed, are so linear as not to be
recognisable. This includes Porcellio, Oniscus, and probably Platyar-

( 9 )

thus. Scyphax also, judging from the figures, belongs to here ; it may,
however, form a distinct type, as the coxob of the second appears to be
developed. The animal figured by Dana as the young of this genus can
scarcely be so, unless it be an exception to all the rules which regulate
the form of the young in this family. He has himself proposed to call
it Actajcia.

4. Coxfls present in second, third, fourth, and fifth rings, the sixth
reduced to its minimum : Armadillo, Sphajrillo.

11.— The Form of the Head.

"We shall next examine the arrangement of the various parts of the
cephalic segment, or, as I have called it, the head ; these are of minor
importance, but still assist much in classification. It will be necessary
to examine the native genera in detail.

Ligia, Plate XX., Figs. 7 to 10.

When the head is looked down on from the front, we remark an-
teriorly just beneath but not attaining to the frontal line of the head,
a broad plate extending over the entire forehead, and divided transversely
by a raised ridge ; its superior margin also marked by a raised ridge.
This superior ridge passes off on each side beneath the eyes, forming at
least a third of the inferior border of the orbit. The extemtd angle of
the orbit, however, is formed, not by this, but by the cephalic ring con-
tinued forwards from behind, and terminating as a rounded knob just
above the external antenna? ; these arise in the angle between the in-
ferior border of the frontal plate and the projecting lobes. The inferior
border of the frontal plate is formed of two curves, convex upwards, one
over the origin of each external antennae ; the angle of their jimction is
truncate, separated by a short transverse suture from a small, narrow,
somewhat quadrilateral plate, which bears the internal antennae, and is
probably the remains of the second or internal antennary ring, the frontal
plate itself representing the external antennary or third ring of the
tjrpical crustacean; beneath this is a broad, well-marked plate, the
epistome.

Philoscia. Plate XX., Figs. 1 to 6.

The inferior border of the frontal ring is nearly straight across, the
transverse suture well marked, nearly on a level with the superior mar-
gin of the external antenna), its superior margin curved, raised, and
passing slightly beyond the frontal line of the cephalic segment, shutting
out the orbit from the insertion of the external antenn®, and a deep sul-
cus separating it from the external angle of the orbit, the third ring
being thus transverse and narrow. The second ring is nearly as deep as
the third, and well marked ; the epistomal plate narrow, and formed of
two triangles placed apex to apex. The orbits are open below and be-
hind.

( 10 )

Philougria. Plate XXI., Figs. 1 to 4.

Nearly a similary arrangement prevails, but the lateral ridges around
the insertion of the external antennae are somewhat more strongly
marked.

Om'sctis, Plate XXI., Figs. 5 to 7.

The external angles of the superior mai'gin of the third ring are pro-
duced into a broad lobe, which covers over the origin of the external
antennae, it is then continued across, projecting slightly over the frontal
line of the cephalic segment; the transverse suture is well marked.
The second ring very narrow, almost obsolete. The lateral lobes are con-
tinued backwards, and are separated by a suture from the external in-
ferior border of the cephalic segment, which completes the orbits.

PorcelUo. Plate XIX., Figs. 1 to 10.
External angles of third antennary segment still more developed,
the superior margin raised into a lobe which projects above the frontal
line of the cephalic segment, and gives the head a trilobed appearance.
This lobe, though sometimes badly marked, PorcelUo pruinosus {Br.),
P. frontalis {Lereh., -not Udw,), for example, is present in all the species
I have had an opportunity of examining.

Armadillium. Plate XXI., Fig. 3.

The eyes are supported on the cephalic segment alone, the margin
of this is raised, foiming an angular projection in the middle of the
forehead, passing back from whence, as before stated, it forms the orbital
margin, to the entire exclusion of the third segment, the lateral lobes
here being remarkably small, and derived entirely from the cephalic
segment.

The superior margin of the third ring commences beneath the lateral
lobes of the cephalic segment, a suture marking its origin, and the margin
of cephalic border concealing it, thence it gradually emerges, passing in-
wards, and rises above the frontal border as a prominent arched plate,
which projects over the frontal line, and is visible from behind.

Its surface presents the following markings, beginning below : — In
the centre, arising from the transversal suture which divides the second
and third segments, two divergent ridges passing out on each side, termi-
nate at the extremities of the arched superior margin ; external to each
of these is a deep sulcus ; bounding the outer edge of this sulcus a curved
raised ridge surrounds the insertion of each external antennae, and termi-
nates as a large lobe on the outer side of the head ; these are the lobes
which are described by authors as the lateral lobes in the Armadillinae,
and which differ from the lateral lobes of the Oniscinae in the place of
their origin being from the inferior, not superior, margin of third ring.

The second ring is well marked, transversal, and prolonged on each
side into a trigonal point beneath the external antennae, the lobes bear-
ing the internal antennae on their summits. When at rest the external

( 11 )

antennae lie buried within this sulcus, curled over between the lateral
lobes of the third and fourth, or cephalic, segments.

We have then the following rings represented : the first antennary
(i. 0. second normal ring) ; the second antennary (third normal). As to
the first (or ophthalmic) ring, it scarcely seems to exist ; what I haTo
called the lobes of the superior ridge may represent it, but I think
rather they are the epimerals of the third ring.

Of these parts the most important to be attended to are: the median
lobe, formed, as we see in Porcellio, by the superior margin of the third
or external antennary ring : and the lateral lobes, formed in Oniscus and
Porcellio by the superior margin of the same ring, and in ArmadUlium
by the inferior margin ; for while undoubtedly generic in their charac-
ters, they also assist us materially, in conjunction with other characters,
in the formation of families.

On analysis, then, we get the following types of cephalic characters
in the groups : —

1. Head furnished with lateral lobes arising from inferior margin of
third ring ; median lobe arched, prominent, forming a triangular plate
vertical to frontal line. Genera — Armadillium, Armadillo, Spherillo (?),
Cubaris, Scyphax (?).

2. (a) Head furnished with lateral lobes arising from superior mar-
gin of third ring; median lobe prominent, in the same plane as the
frontal line — Porcellio.

(b) Head furnished with lateral lobes, arising from the superior
margin of the third ring, which is emarginate(?) in the centre — Oniscus.

3. The superior margin of third ring nearly straight, neither lateral
nor median lobes, terminating externally at the external angle of orbits
— Philoscia, Philougria, Itca(?).

Itea is described as having small lateral lobes.

4. The superior margin as in No. 3, but not rising above inferior bor-
der of orbits — Ligia, Ligidium (?).

There may be, and probably are, two other types at least, viz., that
of Scyphax, and Titanethes, but I have only seen figures of these, the
latter is described as having large lateral, but no median lobes.

These naturally lead us to consider the characters of the antennae ;
and here we are dealing with organs whose importance has been to a
certain extent recognised, though apparently neither has their full nor true
bearing on classification been hitherto considered. The number of joints
without any reference to the more important character of form, has been
too much relied on, and hence some most incongruous groupings, as of
Philoscia and Oniscus, have been made ; but of this more anon : first,
to consider their general structure : —

III. The Characters of the Antenna.

First, of the Internal antenna, — These are merely rudimentary
through the entire group, generally consisting of but three short articu-
lations (Porcellio has four), and seldom passing beyond the front. They

( 12 )

are inserted internal to, and at the base of, the external antennae ; they
afford but little assistance in classification, for although they have
been made use of to distinguish genera, in the higher divisions they
are useless as diagnostic characters. We pass then to the next
or —

External antenna. — These are invariably simple, being made up of
a peduncle, which is pretty constant in its characters, and a filament or
tige, which varies much, and therefore affords good classificatoiy cha-
racters. The peduncle invariably, as far as we know, consists of five
joints: in some, as Ligia, a sixth appears to exist, but a little examina-
tion will show this to be a part of the third ring. The only joint which
affords any useful character is the second, which, in some genera, as
Armadillium, Porcellio, and Oniscus, is narrow at its articulation with
the first ring, and then suddenly swells out into a broad expanse, con-
tracting again slightly towards its articulation with the third joint;
while in others, as Philoscia, Ligia, Philougria, Itea, and Ligidium,
the second joint is globular : another argument for the separation of
Philoscia and Oniscus. The carvings and sulcationson the joints of the
peduncle, however, occasionally afford useful specific characters.

From the extremity of the peduncle arises the filament, and of this,
trusting to form alone, the seven following types have been described.
This organ has attracted much attention ; but unfortunately, as I said
before, too much attention has been paid to mere number, and too little
to form.

Regarding form only, we find the filament constructed on three
types:—

1st. The articulations are short, globular, cupped at their upper ex-
tremities, which are fringed with hairs, and receive the inferior portion of
the articulation next succeeding. These filaments are all, as far as I
can learn, multi-articulate. Examples — Ligia, Ligidium, Titanethes,
Stjdoniscus.

2nd. The articulations elongated, somewhat flattened, and gene-
rally covered with hair, few in number, gradually tapering, but not
subulate, the terminal one terminating in a narrow articulated hair.
Examples — Oniscus, Porcellio, Philoscia (?), Armadillium, Armadillo,
Spherillo, Tylus, Scyphax, Platyarthus (?), Deto (?).

The characters of the second articulation of the peduncle, as hinted
above, divide these into two groups.

3rd. The articulations few in number, the whole filament gradu-
ally tapering, subulate, and perfectly naked, terminating in a tapering
filament. Examples — Philougria, Itea, Trichoniscus (?).

In all these genera the number of joints in the antennae has been
used as a generic character by Brandt, &c., except Ligia, Ligidium, and
Platyarthus ; but in grouping the genera no regard has been, as far as I
know, paid to the far more important character — that of the form of
the tige.

Dana states that number of articulations of the tige is of no value as
a character, and instances as a proof it the genus Scyphax, in which he

( 13 )

states that in the young the tige has its apex with the rings half marked.
From the character of the figure it is apparent the drawing was made
firom a dead specimen, probably a dried one, in which, owing to the
contraction of the tissues, circular cracks had taken place, a fact which
any microscopist who examines the antennae of many of the Cloportides
under the glass must be fully aware of. The specimen also which he
figures as the yoimg of Scyphax, judging from its tail appendage, can
scarcely belong to that genus at all ; at least, though I have carefully
examined the young of all our native genera, most of them recently
hatched, yet I never met an instance in which the tail appendages dif-
fered much from that of the full-grown animal : but we will speak of
this anon in our enumeration of genera.

There is one objection which has been started to using the characters
of the tige as generic, which must be noticed, i. e. that in the young the
number of joints are less than in the adult This statement is only
partially true. For instance, in most of the genera in which the antennae
are multi -articulate, the antennse of the young and adult differ much;
but in those of the second and third types, given above, in some species
there is no difference at all, the articulations being all present, though
the terminal ones are much shorter than normal. This is the case, for
instance, in very young P.pruinosus and P. scaler j even when the coxae
of the seventh cephalo-thoracic segments and the legs of the same pair
are absent : and even where it holds good there can be no mistake, for
other characters, such, for instance, as that noted above, the absence
of the seventh coxae, at once marks the animal as immature ; hence I
think Dana is wrong in making sub-genera of Trichoniscus, Porcellio,
and Oniscus, merely because the number of joints in their antennae have
been too much dwelt on.

IV. — Form and relations of the last abdominal ring and its appendages.
Although the characters of these latter have been long employed in
diagnosis, yet it would appear that their true homological value has
neither been appreciated nor imderstood : for, although in aU the genera
of this group their presence has been recognised under the names of
*^ abdominal false feet j*^ ^^ caudal appendages," and ^^ appendages of the
last segment^" yet, as far as I am aware, the ti*ue relations subsisting be-
tween them and the so-called *' thoracic" feet have been either over-
looked or only hinted at.

Their structure in all the genera is pretty much the same : a broad
basal joint, articulated somewhere at the termination of the last abdo-
minal ring, and furnished (except, perhaps, in Tjlos, which I have
never seen) with a pair of dissimilar appendages, the external generally
broad, the internal pointed and linear, and inserted above the external ;
or, to speak more correctly, an appendage of two or more articulated
joints, the basal joint furnished at its inner side with an accessory ap-
[penda^; that is, a foot, in which the second (the first being the poste-
rior angle of the ring), third, and fourth, &c., articulations are present,
the second, or ischium, being furnished with an appendage.

( H )

That this is the true nature of the organ appears from the follow-
ing:—

1st. The mode and point of articulation of the peduncle (basis) with
the last abdominal segment.

2nd. The mode of articulation of the so-called external appendage
(ischium) and peduncle (basis).

3rd. The difference in form and relation between the internal (ac-
cessory filament) and external (ischium) appendages.

1st. The mode of articulation of the peduncle.

By reference to the observations on the so-called '* epimerals and
posterior angles of the abdominal rings," it will be seen that, taking into
consideration the ultimate segment only, two principal types exist, viz.,
those in which ** epimerals" or coxa) exist, as Ligia, and those in which
these organs are absent, as Oniscus, Porcellio, and, perhaps, Philoscia,
&c.

Now, if we examine these, we will find that the point of articula-
tion between what we have called the peduncle, and the last abdominal
segment, is different in these two types.

In the first (Ligia, for instance), it takes place at the posterior mar-
gin of the ring, in a notch fonned between what I have considered as
the coxoe and the posterior margin of the ring, by the whole superior
border of the peduncle, which is broad and flat, the exterior angle of
which forms a regular ball-and-socket joint, which is received into a
regular notch in the posterior angle of the ring, exactly similar to the
notch on the under side of the *' epimeraV of the cephalo-thoracic ring.

In the other (Oniscus, to wit), the inferior portion of the peduncle is
narrowed, so that it appears to be articulated by the exterior angle only,
the interior border being produced into a lobe, and attached to the ex-
treme exterior edge of the last ring, or rather to a process of this ring,
visible only below, and which may be looked on as the coxa reduced to
a minimum and fixed to the ring ; the form of articulation is the same
as in Ligia.

This view of relations receives further confirmation on examination
of the last abdominal ring in Philoscia and kindred forms, where the
articulation is completed externally by a small triangular lobe, differing
from the angle in Ligia only in size ; indeed, it is a question whether
I am strictly correct in describing Philoscia as wanting the **coxa"
in the sixth abdominal ring, and not as having the coxao fused to the
ring.

The mode of articulation dependent on the development of coxae in
the last ring causes the peduncle to be more or less uncovered by the
preceding coxte, and has given rise to the erroneous description of
Brandt, already referred to, viz., ** Ligia) — Caudal appendages, one pair"
(Conspect, page 9); Oniscinae — " Caudal appendages, two pairs" (ib., page
12); the absence, or rather complete fusion, of the coxa with the last
ring causing the peduncle in Oniscus, &c., to be completely covered by the
coxae of the fifth rings, led Brandt to overlook its existence altogetlier,
and to mistake the terminal appendages for separate organs.

( 15 )

2nd. The mode of articulation of the Bo-called external appendage

(ischium), and the peduncle (basis).

This is always at the extremity of the peduncle, and generally on a
plane inferior to that of the so-called internal appendage, the peduncle
being hollowed out into a regular joint for its reception, and the exter-
nal border of the peduncle terminating inferiorly in a tooth outside the
articulation ; the internal, on the other hand, arising from a lateral pro-
cess, more or less distinctly marked, and generally on a plane much
superior to the articulation of the external appendage. This is evident,
even in such forms as Ligia, where the apex of the peduncle being trun-
cated, the appendages arise from nearly the same point, the lateral pro-
cess being slightly larger than the real apex, or as Ligidium, in which the
lateral process is still further elongated, so that the ischium appears
to arise above the internal appendage.

From this extreme we trace the lateral process till we arrive at such
forms as Oniscus, where, without careful examination, we might doubt
its existence at all, and where, to a superficial examination, the internal
appendage appears to have no connexion with the peduncle at all, but
rather to spring directly from the last ring : but more of this genus anon,

3. The difference in form and relations between the external
(ischium) and internal (accessory filament) appendages.

Besides the difference between these two, displayed in the fact of the
one (ischium) being articulated to the extremity j the other (accessory
filament) to the lateral process of the peduncle, the differences of the two
are remarkable.

The external (ischium) is generally more or less compressed, often
abrupt at its termination, and generally ending in a tuft of hairs.

The internal (accessory filament), on the other hand, is rounded,
spine-like, generally made up of more than one articulation, and termi-
nates in a hollow hair, or rather becomes filamentous, pressenting in
short, all the characters of a true accessory appendage ; it is from this
character I have named it the accessory filament.

Having established these relations, next for a detailed description of
the entire organs, i. e. first, the peduncle or basis ; second, ischium ;
third, accessory filament.

1 . The Peduncle ar BaMs. — This is attached to last abdominal ring,
and is either somewhat (quadrilateral, without distinct lateral process,
its inner margin dilated into a lobe (Ligia).

Or else somewhat triangular ; its intenial margin produced into a
rounded process, which bears the accessory filament (Philoscia, Oniscus).

The lateral process (obsolete in Tylos) is either distinct, produced
beyond, and arising from inner angle of the apex of the peduncle (Ligi-
dium), arising from near the base of the peduncle (Oniscus, Porcellio);
or else indistinct, and almost on the same level as the apex (Ligia); be-
tween these, every gradtition of development exists. The peduncle may,
in fine, be described in general terms as a flattened articulation, gene-
rdly furnished internally with an accessory appendage, bearing the
ischium on its summit, and more or less coyered by the last abdominal
ring, from whence it arises.

( 16 )

2. The Ischium or External Appendage. — This articiilatcs to the apex
of the basis or peduncle, and is either —

Rounded, its base dilated and flattened, hairy and scabrous; its
apex abrupt and tufted with hairs (Ligia, Philoscia, Scyphax, Ligi-
dium(?), Tylos(?), Sphajrillo).

Rounded, somewhat subulate, its base slightly dilated and com-
pressed, smooth (Philougria, Itea (?), Titanethes (?), Styloniscus (?).

Flattened, acuminate, dilated, hairy, scabrous (Oniscus, Porcellio,
Scyphax (?)).

Flattened, dilated, squared, apex truncate or rounded, broader
below than above, hairy (Armadillium, Actecia (?), Armadillo).

Accessory filament or internal appendage, either —

Tapering, rounded, terminating in a jointed filamentous hair (Li-
gia, Philoscia, Philougria), or —

Flattened, apex truncate, wider than base, club-shaped, fringed
with hairs (Armadillium) ; or —

Obsolete (Tylos).

The published details of foreign genera are so inaccurate that I must
confine myself mainly to our native species in my description of types,
merely glancing at one or two of the former, of which sufficient details
have been published. Those which have no British representatives are
marked with an asterisk.

1. ^Peduncle operculiform, triangular, broader above than below, ar-
ticulated beneath last abdominal ring. Lateral process obsolete ; ischium
short, subulate (?), articulated to apex of peduncle. Accessory appen-
dage, none (Tylos).

2. Peduncle irregularly quadrilateral, much broader than long, outer
side produced, articulated by lower margin beneath exterior angle of
posterior border of the last ring ; entire peduncle almost covered by the
ring. Accessory lobe triangular, springing from base of peduncle,
scarcely half length of peduncle. Ischium irregularly quadrilateral,
base much narrower than apex, which is transverse; inner side pro-
duced at apex, borders hairy. Accessory appendage nearly twice length
of ischium ; base rounded, narrow ; apex flattened, club-shaped, hairy
and scabrous (Armadillium, Armadillo (?). To this neighbours, probably,
Sphaerillo and Diploexochus). Plate XXI., Figs. 12, 13.

3. Peduncle triangular, much longer than broad, articulating border
notched at outer angle, outer margin produced into lobe at base, apical
angle well marked, apex half breadth of base, articulated to exterior
angle of last ring beneath. Accessory lobe distinct, quadiilateral, about
third length of peduncle, arising from articulating margin, completely
covered by last abdominal ring. Ischium compressed, acuminate, tri-
gonal, lobed on inner side, hairy. Accessory appendage curved, tri-
gonal at apex, lobed at base, terminating in filament, two-thirds con-
cealed beneath terminal ring, two-thirds length of ischium (Porcellio,
Oniscus (which has accessory lobe nearly obsolete), Platyarthus, pro-
bably). Plate XX., Fig. 11.

. 4. P«rfww^/<9 quadrilateral, transverse, twice as broad as long, superior
rticulating border produced into an angle, articulated to lateral border

( n )

of last abdominal ring. Aceenwy lobe distinct, nearly attaining apex
of peduncle, unconcealed by last ring. Ischium — base flattened, apex
acuminate, bi- articulate, hairy, and spinod along edges. Accessory
appendage falciform, hairy, apex blunt, three-fourths of length of
ischium (Philoscia).

5. Peduncle somewhat triangular, as long as broad, superior border
terminating internally in an angle, articulated in a notch of the posterior
linear border of the last ring, which passes back below coxa of fifth
ring. Exterior margin produced into a triangular lobe. Accessory
lobe triangular, distinct, nearly attaining apex of peduncle, uncon-
cealed. Ischium subulate, somewhat trigonal at base, terminating in
a long filament, smooth. Accessory appendage curved, needle-shaped,
smooth, nearly equal in length to ischium (Philougria, Itea (?), and
probably also Trichoniscus).

6. Peduncle quinquangular, oblong, superior border narrow, articu-
lated in a distinct notch at the posterior margin of ring ; apex truncate;
exterior angle acute ; lateral lobe obsolete. Ischium elongated, trigo-
nal, rough, hairy. Accessory appendage rounded, subulate, slightly
larger than ischium, terminating in a filament (Ligia).

Besides these there are several intermediate forms, as Ligidium, in
which the accessory lobe far exceeds apex of the peduncle — Actaecia
(Dana), in which the external angle of apex is produced into a lobe, so
that the ischium appears to be lateral ; but sufficient has been said
on the subject.

The whole of these appendages are capable of reproduction, and it
is common to find Ligia with them in a rudimentary state. They
preserve their comparative characters, even in the young state of the
animals, the only difference being, that the accessory lobe is somewhat
more strongly marked, and afford the most valuable of all the characters
which I have mentioned, for fixity of a type.
The order of value of these characters is : —
Generic. 1st. Appendages of, and last ring of abdomen.

2nd. Arrangement and form of external antennae.
3rd. Proportional development of coxa) of abdominal rings.
4th. Development of antenna! rings.
Familiar. 1st. Appendages of last ring of abdomen.
2nd. Proportional development of coxae.
3rd. Arrangement and form of external antennae.
The characters of the internal antennae and of the parts of the mas-
ticatory apparatus are chiefly of familiar import : they are so difficult to
i^eetablish that I have omitted them in this rough sketch, which is put
rard merely as an attempt at a more natural arrangement of these
^iMnera than those published. It will be found that I have also omitted
81 mention of the internal anatomy for the present

ICany of the foreign genera are so scantily described, that it would
be foolish to attempt anything like generalities here, and this whole
paper, as I said before, is merely provisional, the rather as I hope
before long to examine into, not merely genera, but species, as at pre-
sent far too many false ones incumber our systems.

c

( 18 )

Provmonal Arrangement of Familiefi.
The genera described are British.

Family.— TYLID^.
Genus 1. — Tylos {Latreille).

Family.— ARMADILLID^.

Genus 1. — ^Armadillo {Brandt),
Genus 2. — Ctjbaius {Brandt).
Genus 3. — Sph^eillo {Dana).

G^nus 4. — Aemadillium {Brandt).

Body semi-globose ; head rounded, median lobe minute, arcuated, as
a triangular shield. External antennae : second joint of peduncle lobed.
Tige three-jointed, hairy, rounded. Coxae of first and sixth abdominal
rings obsolete. False feet of last pair : peduncle flattened, lamellar,
truncate. Ischium flattened, truncate; external angle produced. Ac-
cessory lobes arising from base. Accessory filament flattened, club-
shaped, concealed.

Genus 5. — Diploexochtjs {Brandt).

Genus 6. — (?) Act^cia {Dana).

(Which probably should stand as a representative of a separate
family.)

Family.— PORCELLIONID^.

Genus 1. — Oniscus {Latreille).

Body flattened. Head transverse, lateral lobes well developed from
superior margin of third ring, Avhich is emarginate in the median line,
not attaining to front, passing out beneath the orbits. Internal antennae
inconspicuous. External antennae : peduncle, second joint lobed at
base. Tige three -jointed, articulations rounded, cupped. Coxae of
first, second, and sixth abdominal rings obsolete ; third to fifth, broad,
curved. Abdominal false feet articulated beneath external angle of last
ring. Peduncle triangular, lamellar. Accessory lobe obsolete. Ischium
compressed, trigonal, lamellose, along with three-fourths of peduncle un-
concealed. Accessory appendage curved, trigone- subulate, almost con-
cealed, arising from basal angle of peduncle, which is truncate.

Genus 2. — Poecellio {Latreille).

Body flattened or semi-globose {armadilloides). Head transverse :
lateral and median lobes well marked, arising from superior margin of
third ring, which surpasses frontal line, and is not continuous beneath
orbits. Internal antennae inconspicuous. External antennae : second

( 19 )

joint broadly lobed internally. Tige two-jointed ; articTiIations semi-
flattened, hairy. Coxae of first, second, and sixth abdominal rings obso-
lete. Abdominal false feet of last pair articulated beneath basal angles
of last ring. Peduncle triangtilar, lamellar, three-fourths uncovered.
Accessory lobe well-marked, arising from base of peduncle, covered by
last ring. Ischium compressed, trigonal, lamellose, acuminate, unco-
vered. Accessory filaments curved, trigonal, terminating in a filament
nearly completely covered by last abdominal ring.

Genus 3. — (?) Piattaethtjs {Brandt).
Genus 4. — (?) Deto ( Guerin).

Family.— LIGID^.
Genus 1. — Ligia {Brandt).

Body flattened. Head transverse. Internal antennae inconspicu-
ous. External antennae : second joint, peduncle without lobe. Tige
multi-articulate ; segments globose, cupped, hairy. Coxae of abdominal
rings : first and second small ; third to sixth, well developed. Abdominal
false feet articulated in notch at end of last ring, unconcealed. Pedun-
cle quadrilateral. Accessory lobe inconspicuous from truncate apex.
Ischium somewhat trigonal, scabrous. Accessory appendage as long as
ischium, terminating in a filamentous hair.

Family.— PHILOSCID^.

Genus 1. — Ligiditjm {Brandt).
Genus 2 (?). — Styxonisctjs {Bana).
Genus 3 (?). — Titanethes {Schiodte).

Genus 4. — Philoscia {Latreille).

Body flattened. Head rounded. Antennal ring arcuate, attaining
to, but not surpassing, frontal line. Internal antennae inconspicuous.
External antennae, second articulation, rounded without lobe. Tige,
three-jointed articulations rounded, hairy, terminating in a filament.
Coxae of sixth abdominal ring obsolete, first to fifth narrow, linear.
Abdominal false feet, last pair : peduncle quadrilateral, transverse, ar-
ticulated to exterior margin of last ring, uncovered. Accessory lobe
distinct, attaining apex of peduncle. Ischiimi : base flattened, acumi-
nate, almost trigonal, bi-articulate, hairy ; accessory filament falciform,
hairy, apex blunt.

This genus has been misdescribed by all authors except Zadach, who
gives a very fair description of it in his monograph, already quoted.

6.— (?) ScYPHAX {Bana).
(Scyphax and Philoscia may form the type of a separate family.)

( 20 )

Family.— ITEAD^.

Genus 1. — (?) TRiCHONiscrs (Bra?idt).
Genus 2. — (?) Itea {Koch, in part).

Gfenus 3. — (?) I'HlLOUQiiiA (mihi).

Body flattened. Head round ; no median or lateral lobes. Internal
antennae inconspicuous, three-jointed. External antennae : second joint
round, not lobed. Tige subulate, five-jointed ; smooth. Coxae of first
abdominal ring small and inconspicuous ; second to fifth, narrow, linear,
well marked ; sixth, nearly obsolete. Abdominal false feet : last pair
completely uncovered. Peduncle somewhat triangular, articulated in
notch at posterior margin of last joint. Ischium trigonal, subulate,
smooth, terminating in a filament. Accessory lobe well marked, spring-
ing from side of, and nearly attaining, extremity of apex of peduncle.
Accessory filament long, subulate, filamentous, smooth.

This genus is very closely allied to Itea, which is described by
Zadach as having the exterior margin of the peduncle of the abdominal
false feet free; lateral processes of the front present, beneath the supe-
rior frontal margin, above the base of the antennae ; the internal an-
tennae one- jointed. Characters, if correctly given, sufficient to constitute
the above a genus.

Some, perhaps, will be inclined to substitute the term genus for
family in the above Table, making sub-genera of most of the genera.
Against this custom, too prevalent now-a-days, I must enter my protest :
every distinct set of forms possessing one or two important parallel cha-
racters in common, should rather constitute a genus, than by, as is too
often done, grouping a number of these in one genus, necessitate the
formation of sub-groups, which are always most puzzling to the student,
and of no use unless to the system atist addicted to mere numher of fami-
lies in some preconceived order of numeral arrangement.

List of British Specie^ of Oniacoidea.

Family.— ARMADILLIDuE.

Genus. — Armadillium {Brandt).

(Armadillidium of Brandt shortened in conformity to modem usage.)

Armadillium vulgare {Latr. sp.)

Synonyms: Oniscus armadillo {Linn.), 0. cinereus {Zenk.), Arma-
dillo vulaa/ris {Latr.), A.variegatus {ib.), Armadillidium Zenckeri {Br.),
Armadillo opacm, variegatm^ Willii {Sehmffer).

( 21 )

Body smooth, elliptical ; median plate arched above, scarcely eiir-
passing frontal line. Terminal ring ot' abdomen narrow (coxa) obsolete),
triangular : apex truncate. False feet of last pair : basis nearly com-
pletely concealed, bilobed ; internal lobe much shorter than external ;
a raised transverse ridge on inferior face. Ischium flattened, somewhat
triangular, wider below than above. Secondary appendage trigonal,
broader below than above, compressed, hairy at the end. Second joint
of extc^mal antenna) lobed.

Colour : dark steel-gray, almost black ; steel-gray blotched with
patches and spots of whitish-yellow and red browns.

Habit : rolls itself into a ball.

Habitat : dry places under stones, decaying timber, and amidst
herbage.

Biitribniion : Ireland generally. England^— London, £ent.

Family.— 0NISCIDJ2.

Genus. — Oniscus {Linn.).

1. — Oniscus 7nuranu8 (Cuvier).

Synonyms : 0. asellus (Zinnwus, and Auct.).

Body oval, shining, covered with smooth granules ; lateral lobes of
head large, inclined backwards; frontal line somewhat emarginate ; ter-
minal ring of abdomen elongate, triangular, convex above ; coxae ter-
minating as acute angle ; coxae of fifth concealing origin of accessory
appendage. Accessory appendage nearly equalling ischium in length.
Second joint of external antennae lobed internally.

Colour: general ground light-gray or bluish, with blotches and
patches of yellow, generally lineally aiTanged; a salmon-coloured variety
with dark patches occasionally met near sea.

Habits : semi-rolls, and feigns death.

Habitat : under decayed vegetable and animal matter, as well in
the dryest as wettest localities. Common near sea.

Localities : Ireland — east coast generally. England — Kent, London,
&c. Appears to be common everywhere, but the species have not been
distinguished.

2. — Oniseus fo88or {II. Schueffer, D. C*rus., Cah. 22, n. 22).

Synonyms : Oniscus mmcorum {Lerehoullety p. 29). I cannot speak
of the other synonyms given by the author, as he has confounded it with
Philoscia muscorum. P. tteniola {Koch)^ given by him as a synonym,
is figured as a true Porcellio by Schoeffer. The figure of O.fMwr is very
characteristic.

Body oval, covered with numerous rough granulations, which give
it a powdered appearance; head convex; lateral lobes moderate, rounded;
frontal line produced into a triangular lobe which belongs to head, not
to antennal ring ; terminal ring and other characters as 0, muranmy
than which the whole animal is much smaller.

( 22 )

Colour similar to 0. murarius, but paler.

Habits : semi-rolls, and feigns death ; much more active than 0. mu-
rarim.

Habitat : dryish places, as under stones, dry leaves.

Localities : Ireland — Dublin (Wexford, E. Percival Wright, Esq.).
England — Epping Forest, Kent. Very common among the chalk-pits
at Chisselhurst ; now first recorded as British. (Three specimens ia
British Museum Collection undistinguished from 0. murarius.)

Genus. — Porcellio {Latreille),
1. — P. Bcaher {Latreille).

Synonyms : Oniscus asellus {Linn), 0. granulatus {Lam.). Por-
cellio duhius, affinis et mult. al. (H. Schceff.), P. Brandtii {M.-Ed/wards).

Body elongate, oval, rugous. Lateral processes very salient ; ex-
ternal angle rounded; median process triangular ; terminal ring ending
in a triangular point, acuminate, deeply sulcate in the median line.

Colour : uniform grayish-black, yeUow blotches on dark ground ; a
nearly uniform salmon-coloured variety also met with ; there may be
two species confounded.

Habit: runs with agility; semi-rolls itself ; attacks living caterpillars.

Habitat : moist places, everywhere there is decaying matter ; among
sea- weed on sea- shore along with Ligia, &c. The paler varieties are
found in the dryer localities.

Distribution : apparently everywhere, and very common ; carries the
young all through the summer.

2. — P. dilatatus {Brandt).

Synonyms : P. scaler {Auct. and M.-Edw.).

Body very broad, depressed, rough, and granular; lateral frontal
processes very prominent, rounded at apex, and hollowed; median
lobe obtusely triangular, moderate ; last ring rounded at apex, plane
above. Ischium very flat and broad. Much larger than P. scaher.

Colour : a uniform slate-gray.

Habit : crawls very slowly, semi-rolls; extremely brittle in its
structure, a touch causing the limbs to fall off.

Habitat : amongst decaying grass and straw, extremely rare.

Localities : Ireland — Dublin. Now first added to British lists.

3. — P. pictus {Auct.).

Synonyms : P. conspersus (?), P. serialis, P. crassicornis {H. Schceffer).

Body as P. scaher , slightly elongated ; lateral lobes very salient,
curved outwards ; median lobe curvilinear, small ; body granulous, last
ring triangular, acute at apex, superior surface sulcatcd.

Colour similar to P. scaher, but patches more regularly arranged ;
may be easily mistaken for Oniscus fossor at first glance, but is more
shining.

( 23 )

Habit : runs with great agility, does not roll.

Habitat : very local ; dry places, as old ruins, under dry leaves.

Localities : Ireland — Dublin (local), Belfast (A. H. Hdliday, Esq.)
England — Chisselhurst, Kent, among chalk-pits ; now first added to
British lists.

4. — P. I(2vt8 (Lam.),

Body very convex, polished ; lateral frontal lobes slightly salient,
small, rounded; median lobe triangular, very short; last ring, apex
rounded, deeply sulcate above. The largest of our species.

Colour : lead-gray, occasionally blotched with yellow on sides.

Habits: semi-rolls, sluggish.

Habitat : common everywhere in moist places, especially in stables
and litter, among grass at bottom of walls.

Localities: Ireland — Dublin. England — Kent (one specimen in
British Museum Collection, from neighbourhood of London).

5. — P, prutno8U8 (Brandt, Conspect. 19.)

Synonyms: Porcellio frontalis (Zerehoullet), preoccupied by Ed-
wards. P. maculicomis (?) (//. Schceffer).

Body sub-ovate, oblong, slightly rugged, downy. Lateral lobes
small, roimded. Median lobe rounded, minute, almost linear ; last ring
triangular, acute at apex ; surface plane. Feet very long. Abdomen
much narrower than cephalo-thoracic rings.

Colour : uniform mouse-colour, marbled under the lens with white.

Habit : runs with great agility, concealing itself rapidly from the
light ; preferring moderately humid, warm situations ; one of the com-
monest of our species. It buries itself to a considerable depth in clay.

Locality : Ireland — Dublin ; everywhere. England — Kent, Chis-
selhurst, very common. (Three specimens (unnamed) in British Museum
Collection, from neighbourhood of London, belong, I believe, to this
species. They are stuck on cards, rendering examination impossible.)
Now first added to British lists.

6. — P. armadilloides {Zerehoullet).

SynonjTUs : 0. eonvexus {Begeer), 0. saxatilis (Hartmann).

Body elongated, elliptical ; segments very convex, smooth. Lateral
lobes minute, truncated in front. Median lobe very short, angular,
acute. Last ring of abdomen acute, plane, or slightly convex above.

Colour : iron-gray, with clear borders to segments ; a band of white
blotches along either side of the median line. Never having seen it
alive, cannot speak of its habits. Rolls itself into a perfect balL

Added to British lists on authority of six specimens in British Mu-
seum Collection (unnamed), which A. White, Esq., informs me were
captured near London (Highgate) (?) by Mr. Walker.

( 24 )

7. — P. cingmdua (». «.) (mihi). Plate XIX., Fig. 1.

Body elongate, ovate, smooth, or slightly scabrous. Lateral lobes
minute, rounded, directed downwards. Median lobe nearly obsolete,
arcuate. Terminal ring broadly triangular ; apex acute, plane above ;
a raised continuous line along upper margin of each ring. "Whole ani-
mal shining, smooth, or covered with minute shining granulations only.
Closely alUcd to P. pruinosus, from which it differs chiefly in the
smooth, shining body, and the coxse of cephalo- thoracic rings having
their posterior angles rounded off.

Colour : bright red and yellow blotches on a dark steel-gray ground.

Habits : runs with extreme rapidity ; inhabits dry stations exclu-
sively, as under leaves ; never rolls itself into a ball.

Localities : Dublin, very rare.

The characters given above are constant, easily distinguishing it
from P. pruinosus, which, when young, resemble the parents. I can find
no description in authors approaching this species, and am, therefore,
compelled to give it a name. I find it both in company with P. prui-
nosus, and also alone.

Family.— LIGID^.

Genus. — Ligia.

1. — Ligia oceanica {Lin. sp.)

Synonyms : Oniscus oceanicus {Linn.), P. a^uatieus {Baxter), Cymo-
thoa oceanica {Fabric), Ligia oceanica {ib.).

Body flattened, oval. Head transverse, covered with smooth gra-
nulations. External antennae shorter than body. Tige multi-articulate,
sub-glabrous. Terminal ring of abdomen : posterior border regularly
arcuated in the middle. Coxas as acute angles. Abdominal false feet :
peduncle oblong, slightly shorter than last abdominal ring. Ischium
and accessory appendage twice the length of peduncle.

Colour : yellowish-brown, the j- oung prettily diced with white.

Habits : runs with agility, or rolls up extremities of body, and feigns
death ; very common among vegetable debris, along tide-marks, and on
rocks ; seldom takes water ; may be seen running over sand in full sun-
shine.

Common around Ireland.

Family.— PHILOSCIAD^.

Genus. — Philoscia {LatreiUe).

I. — Philoscia muscorum {LatreiUe). Plate XX., Fig. 1.

Synonyms : Ligia melanocephala {JI. Scha^ffer), Oniscus sylvestris (?)
{Fabric), Oniscus muscorum (?) {Cuv.). I have not been able to
verify the reference queried. Philoscia muscorum {Zaddacic, Syn. Cnist.
Prussic, p. 14).

( 25 )

Body flattened, elliptical, perfectly smooth and glistening. Head
transversely elliptical, arched in front ; neither lateral nor me£an lobes.
Internal antennae three-jointed. External antennae : second joint of
peduncle not swollen at base. Tige three-jointed; articulations rounded,
tumid, the last terminating in a hair, a long spine at apex of fourth
and fifth articulations, all the articulations both of peduncle and tige
densely hairy. Coxa) of abdominal rings somewhat linear; abdomen
abruptly narrower than seventh cephalothoracic ring. Last ring
broadly triangular ; apex acute. Abdominal false feet, last pair, attached
to exterior margin of ultimate ring, uncovered. Peduncle somewhat
quadrilateraL Ischium trigonal, spinous along edges, fine hairs be-
tween spines, with a slender filament at its apex. Accessory appendage
not quite half length of ischium rounded, hairy. Accessory lobe tri-
angular, distinct, nearly attaining apex of peduncle.

Colour fulvous, with dark black patches, a dark stripe generally
along median line. A pale salmon-coloured variety was brought me by
E. Percival "Wright, Esq., jfrom Wexford, which I have found since rather
common on Bray Head, county of Wicklow, and occasionally about
Donnybrook, county of Dublin.

Habitat : dry places among leaves, also among sand hills, along sea-
shore, under stones ; common near sea.

Habits : runs rapidly, feigns death, but does not roll into a balL

Localities : Ireland — Dublin, extremely common ; "Wicklow, Meath,
(Wexford and Cork, E. Percival Wright, Esq.), Belfast (A. H. Haliday,
Esq.) England — Middlesex, Essex, Kent, common.

A species which has been much misunderstood, although an ex-
tremely common species.

Family.— ITEAD-S:.

Genus. — Philougria (<(>t\os v^poi) (mthi).

1. — Philougria celer (mihi). Plate XXIL, Fig. 1.

Body semi- flattened, elliptical, perfectly smooth and shining. Head
oval, twice as broad as long ; neither lateral nor median lobes extant ;
antennal plate attaining to frontal line. Eyes small, oval, situated at
posterior angle of head. Internal antennae small, inconspicuous, three
?two ?) jointed. External antennae moderate in length, generally curved,
folded in form of (sj ). Peduncle five-jointed, attached to detached
segment (epimeral ?) of ring, hence apparently six-jointed. First arti-
culation very short, transverse; second, obtusely triangular, longer
than first ; third, globular equal to second ; fourth, elongated, slender,
sides parallel, equal to second and third conjoined, its exterior superior
angle truncate, inner angle ending in a long hollow spine ; fifth, slen-
derest, and slightly longer than fourth, sides nearly parallel, internal
margin produced into four angular eminences, each of which bears a
short spine, external angle terminating in a filament, external border
hairy. Tige five-jointed, filamentous ; articulations cylindrical, gradually

( 26 )

tapering; first, short; second, third, and fourth, equal; fifth equal-
ling second, third and fourth conjoined; terminating in a filament;
perfectly free from hairs or spines. Coxgb of cephalothoracic segments
well marked. Segments of cephalothorax : first, much broader than
head, second and third gradually broader ; third and fourth equal ;
fifth, sixth, an^ seventh gradually decreasing in breadth; seventh
as broad as first. Posterior margin of first three rings convex down-
wards; fourth and fifth, median portion convex downwards, coxae
concave upwards ; sixth and seventh rings concave downwards,
their coxae quadrilateral, strongly angular, suture well marked;
coxae of the seventh extending half-way down fourth abdominal
ring ; raised transverse border along margin of each ring ; a bor-
der of small spines along lateral edges of coxae (visible under J inch
power). Abdominal segments: first, semilunar, very linear, coxae nearly
obsolete, covered by those of seventh cephalothoracic segment : second,
linear, coxae rounded, uncovered by seventh cephalothoracic ring; third,
fourth, and fifth, each equal in breadth to first and second conjoined;
coxae well marked and curved, inferior border of entire segment con-
vex medianly and deeply concave externally, so as to form a projecting
angle, gradually decreasing in breadth from third downwards ; terminal
ring deeply concave over insertion of last false feet, the segment being
here linear, coxae nearly obsolete, medianly produced, truncately trian-
gular, apex deeply emarginate ; total length of ring about twice that of
fifth ; the rings gradually increase in length from one to six. Abdo-
minal false feet: last pair uncovered, articulated in excavated posterior
margin of last ring. Peduncle, and ischium, and accessory filament, as
in genus, q. v.

Colour : uniform red brown, without spots or marbling, though va-
rieties may occur.

Habits : runs with agility, as conveyed in the name ; buries itself
deep in the ground, and generally congregates in numbers ; very impa-
tient of dryness, soon dying on exposure to air.

Habitat : very moist places, amongst all kinds of decaying matter ;
also amongst moist dead leaves, amongst wet ashes, in moss, at roots
of trees : extremely common. I cannot account for this species remain-
ing so long undetected in Britain.

Localities: Ireland — Dublin, very common (Wexford, Cork, and
Kerry, E. Percival Wright, Esq.).

England — Epping Forest, near London, Kent, Chisselhurst, where
it seems as common as in Ireland.

Now first added to British list.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.

PLATE XIX.

Fig. 1 , Porcellio cingendtia. Fig. 2, Head and first cephalo-thoracic
ring of do. Fig. 3, Head and first cephalo-thoracic ring of P. pruinosus.
Fig. 4, Fifth and sixth abdominal rings of P. cingendus. Fig. 5, Fifth
and sixth abdominal rings of P. pruinosm. Fig. 6, Back view of head
of P. cingendtis. Fig. 7, Back view of head oi P. pruinosus. Fig. 8,
Abdominal false feet of P. cingendm. a, Peduncle, h, Accessory lobe.
Cy Ischium. /, Accessory filament Fig. 9, Tige of external antenna of
P. citigendus. Fig. 10, Front view of head, and side view of orbit of
Oimcus murarius. a. Line of front by Lateral lobes, c. External
antenna), d. Transverse suture. Fig. 11, Peduncle of external an-
tenna) of 0. murarius. Fig. 12, Abdominal false feet of 0. murariwi.
(References as in Fig. 8.)

PLATE XX.

Fig. 1, Philoscia muscorurrif much enlarged. The antennse dispro-
portionately large. Fig. 2, Abdominal false feet, last pair ( S )• «,
Peduncle, h, Accessory lobe, e, Ischium. /, Accessory appendage.
Fig. 3, Fifth and sixth abdominal rings. «, Abdominal false feet
Fig. 4, Back view of head. Fig. 5, Front view of head, a, External
antenna), b, Internal antennae, c, Superior margin, third segment
Fig. 6, Internal antennae. Fig. 7, Ztgia oceanica, false feet Refer-
ences as in Philoscia muscorum. Fig. 8, Ultimate abdominal ring.
a, False feet. Fig, 9, Side view of orbit Fig. 10, Front view of head.
^, External antennae, r, Superior margin of third ring, d, Internal
antennae. Fig. 11, Back view of head of Oniscus murarius. e, Frontal
line of head. Cj lateral lobes. 3 c, back of head.

PLATE XXI.

Fig. 1, External antennae of Porcellio pruinoius (immature), o,
Tige. Fig. 2, External antenna) of P. scaher (immature). Fig. 8,
Antennae of Armadillium vul^are. (a) Internal (b) External, b,
Tige. Fig. 4, Peduncle and tige of external antennaa of Philo9cia mut-
corum. Fig. 5, External antennae of Oniscm fottor. Fig. 3a, Tige of

E

( 28 )

0. murarius (immature). Fig. 6, Abdominal false feet of 0. fossor.
Fig. 7, Terminal rings of 0./o««or. Fig. 8, Terminal rings of Portf«Z//o
scaher. The numer^ is omitted. Fig. 9, False feet oi Armadillium
vulgare. Figs. 11 and 12, Last abdominal rings. Back and fi-ont-view of
head of ArmadUlium vulgm-e. Fig. 14, External and internal an-
tennae of Ligidium Persooni (after Lerebouliet).

PLATE XXIL

Fig. 1, Philougria celer (w. «.), much magnified. Fig. 2, Last pair
abdominal false feet, front and back view of ditto, a, Peduncle, h,
Accessory lobe, c, Ischium. /, Accessory appendage. Fig. 3, Termi-
nal abdominal rings. Fig. 4, Tige of external antennae. Fig. 5, Ab-
dominal false feet of Tylos, after Dana. Fig. 6, Abdominal false feet
of Actaecia, after Dana. Fig. 7, Abdominal false feet of Scyphax,
after Dana. Fig. 8, Abdominal false feet of Sphoerillo, after Dana.
Fig. 9. Abdominal false feet of Ligidium Persooni (after Lerebouliet).

j^r//ys MT7j:fr

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October 1857

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October 1857

^ M

'■;

DUBLIN VkTVnXL UI8T0XT SOCnSTT. ^8

ON THX 0ENT7S EUOMPUALUS, AND ITS RELATIONS TO PLEUBOTOMARIA AND
THE HALIOTID^. WITH TWO PLATES. BY REV. PROFESSOR HAUOHTON.

( Vide page 26.)

The Palaeozoic genus Euomphalus is one that has given much trouble to
palaeontologists, in consequence of their hesitation to give the same names
to genera of the secondary and Palaeozoic periods, and also in conse-
quence of serious variations in the different fossils that have been called
by this name. Thus, it would be very difficult to state in what essen-
tial particulars the Euomphalus of Sowcrby differs from the Straparolus
of Montfort, and both from the common Solarium of Lamarck. M.
D'Orbigny characterizes Solarium by its quadrangular or rounded
month, the umbilic mostly crenulated on the rim; and Straparolus
by its round or square spines, not crenulated on the rim of the umbilic.
M. Pictet justly observes that this crenulation of the rim of the umbilic
is not a constant character in Solarium, being, in fact, almost peculiar
to the Tertiary species ; while in the Cretaceous epoch there are only
two or three species with the rim of the umbilic crenulated. I may add
to this, that the well-known Evsmphalm pugilis has the crenulation of
the umbilical mai'gin as fully developed as any fossil or recent So-
larium.

Mr. Phillips founds the genus Euomphalus on the character that in the
old shells the upper portion of the shell is partitioned off by the animal,
which was provided with the means of depositing a septum of shell oc-
casionally, after the manner of the chambered Cephalopoda. There
was no communication, however, kept up between the chambers and the
body of the animal, as in the Cephalopoda. This character, however, is
far from being well established as a general characteristic of the Euom-
phalus, having been only established in some of the species, as JE,
pentangulatusy E, acutus, and E.pugilis. M. de Koninck maintains that
all the species of Euomphalus have the external lip slit, like Pleuroto-
maria, — a circumstance which, if true, would undoubtedly require us to
remove them from the family of the Trochidae into that of the Halio-
tidae. The chai-acter noticed by M. De Koninck is found in some of our
Irish Carboniferous species, and is beautifully exhibited in a specimen,
E. regina (Haughton) found by me at Sheffield, Queen's County. This
specimen would be referred at once to E. acutttSy were it not for the
accidental preservation of a portion of the shell and of its original co-
louring and markings, which show that it had a deep slit in the exterior
lip, and a sinus band, not distinguishable from that of many species of
Pleurotomaria.

While the Euomphalus thus approaches Pleurotomaria in some of
its forms, it connects itself with Hadiotis in the remarkable species ge-
nerally assigned at present to Cirrus (not Sowerby). There are three
species of this kind known in the Palaeozoic period : — C eristatua of Ire-
land, (7. Goldfussi of the Eifel, and C. armatm of Belgium. These fossils
have the form of Euomphalus, and are provided i^ith a series of aper-

L

64 DUBLDT NATXJEAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

tures on the upper surface of the spines, prolonged into tubes, similar in
some instances to those of the Haliotidao, and of these tubes the anterior
remain open, while the posterior tubes are gradually closed up. We
thus see that while Euomphalus, in its ordinary forms, belongs to the
group of low-spined Trochidae, yet that it keeps up the most intimate
relations with Pleurotomaria and Haliotis ; so far as mere form is con-
cerned, Euomphalus cannot be separated from Cirrus; and yet the
structure and habits of the animals inhabiting the two kinds of shells
must have been very diiferent, as the breathing apparatus indicated by
the short tubes of Cirrus was of a totally different character, from that
of Euomphalus.

If we were to judge by mere form, there would be the greatest dif-
ficulty in separating Cyprina from Yenus ; and yet even a palgeontolo-
gist could tell that they differed, by the impression of the mantle on the
shell.

But, although I admit that slight differences, where they indicate
physiological structure, are and ought to be of importance, I may be
allowed to doubt if they are as important to the geologist as to the zoo-
logist. It must not be forgotten that, although Geology throws much
light on some branches of Natural History, in filling up lacunae in our
knowledge, yet that our knowledge of the habits and structure of any
fossil, however perfect, is at best extremely small, compared with our
acquaintance with living forms. It is not, therefore, necessary to be
so precise in pur subdi\dsions of fossil as of recent genera, and no greater
injury can be done to the science of Geology than has been, by the use-
less multiplication of worthless names, founded on distinctions which are
necessarily trifling, because our knowledge of the true structure of the
fossil is exceedingly imperfect.

In the present case (Euomphalus or Solarium), speaking simply as
a geologist, it appears to me that all useful purposes will be served by
retaining the same generic name for all the varieties, and dividing the
genus into three subdivisions, as follows : —

EUOMPHALrS.

Type A. — Flat-spu-ed ; provided with breathing tubes like the Halio-
tidae. Type species : —

1. Euomphalus cristatus.

2. Euomphalus Goldfussi.

Type B. — Raised spire ; provided with a deep slit in the exterior
lip, and a sinus band on the shell. Type species : —

1. Euomphalus Eeginae (Haughton).

Type C. — Ordinary flat spired, smooth forms of Euomphalus. Type
species : —

1 . Euomphalus pentangulatus.

2. Euomphalus pugilis.

DUBLIN NATU&AL HISTOHT 80CIETT. 65

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES III. AND IV.
PLATE III.

Fig. 1. Underside ofunique specimen of ^wow/?Aa/w«m«^a^t« (Phillips),
preserved in the Museum of Trinity College ; locality not cer-
tain, but believed to be Strokestown, county of lioscommon. The
figure shows the tubular character of the crests, which are closed
below ; their upper surface is not known.

Fig. 2. Natural cast of same, taken from the upper surface of the lime-
stone slab. The original, exclusive of the spines, is eight inches
(nearly) in diameter.

PLATE IV.

Fig. 1 . A specimen oi Euomphalus acutus (Sowerby) ; somewhat distorted
by cleavage, probably from Little Island, county of Cork : this
specimen belongs to the Museum of the Royal Dublin Society.
It is remarkable for the semicircular sinuosity observable on the
lines of growth in passing the keel of each whorl, which must
have corresponded with a notch in the outer lip. There is, how-
ever, no sinus, as observable on Fig. 2.

Fig. 2. EiMtnphalus Regince {xmhi), found in the lower limestone at Shef-
field, Queen's County. Specimen unique, in Museum of Trinity
College.

E, Regin(B. — Testa conica ; spine angulo 70° ; anfractibus
6-8, transversim eleganter striatis, sinu lato carinatis, supra
tabulatis ; apertura subquadrata scissura, alta supeme denotata.
Breadth to Height = 150 : 100.
This shell resembles in its general character E. acutus, but
differs from it in two particulars ; first, in having a better marked
keel, which is formed by the flat upper surface of the whorl mak-
ing a well-marked angle of 105° with the side ; secondly, by the
Pleurotomaria-like sinus band, which bevils oS the angle of the
keel; this sinus is Ij lines broad. The striflB on the surface of
the shell form a reversed angle, well marked, as is shown in the
figure.

Figs. 3 & 4. Under and upper surface of two specimens of Ewmphalut
pugilis (Sowerby), showing the ornamental knobs, 20 to the
whorl, characteristic of this species, which seems to be identical
with Euomphalus turberculatus (De Koninck). This fossil is
rare, although locally abundant in some parts of the lower lime-
stone of the county of Kilduic.

( 67 )
-SESSION 1867-1858.

FKIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 18, 1867.

Peofkssob W. H. Hartey, M.D., M.R.I.A., F.L.8., Prbsidmt,
in the Chair.

The previous Minutes having been confirmed, the Secretary read the
following —

REPOET OP COUNCIL.

In submitting the nineteenth Annual Report, your Council has again to
congratulate the Society on its past progress, and on the position which
it now holds. During the Session seven new Members were added to tho
Society, and one former Member rejoined, making a total increase of
Ordinary Members of eight. On the other hand, the loss of Members
has been four — Halliday Bruce, Esq., by death ; and three. Professor
Allman, Dr. Farran, and R. J. Usher, Esq., by resignation. One As-
sociate and six Corresponding Members have also been elected through
the year, giving a total gain of eleven Members to the Society.

The additions to the Museum have been both numerous and valuable,
as will be seen by reference to the list of them in the Journal, and in the
Report of the Museum Committee, about to be presented to you this
evening. Your Council cannot but regret, however, that this most im-
portant department is not as yet in as perfect a condition as could be
desired, owing to the heavy yearly charges under which the Society
labours ; but it is to be hoped, ere the close of the next year, that
some at least of the departments at present incomplete and unarranged
will be fully displayed for the inspection of the Members. One impor-
tant group — the Crustacea — heretofore only partially represented, has
been during the year arranged, and, owing to the donations of Members,
now contains more than three-fourths of the Irish Decapods, including
nearly all of the rarer species, and several unique specimens. These
are now so displayed as to be easy of access for reference and identifica-
tion.

Two years since, your Council entered into arrangements by which
the papers read before the meetings should be published in a collected
form, in order to preserve in full the new facts elicited during each Ses-
sion, and thus place the Society in a position to exchange its Transac-
tions with home and foreign Societies. The good effect of this arrange-
ment was so apparent, that when, at the commencement of the past
Session, through the unavoidable expenses attendant on the occupation
of these rooms, a difficulty arose in canying out the pecuniar}* portion
of the agreement, yoiu* Council felt justified in appealing to the Mem-

I

68 DUBLIN NATTTRAL HISTOKY SOCIETY.

bers to form a publication fund, to which appeal many of the Members
liberally responded, and youi' Council is now eaabled to present to each
Member not in arrear the volume of Transactions before you.

E, P. Williams, Esq., having liberally placed at the disposal of the
Coimcil a number of plates of Sebastes Norvegicua and Cottus Oroenlan-
dicusy drawn on stone by him from specimens exhibited in this Society,
they have appended them to the Journal for this year, with a short ac-
count of the record of these rare fishes bj'' William Andrews, Esq., your
Honorary Secretary, who first detected their occurrence on the coast of
Ireland. A long and detailed paper on the British Oniscoidea was read
before the British Association at their late Meeting in this city, 250 co-
pics of which the author liberally placed at the disposal of the Council
for presentation to the Members, which it accepted and appended as a
Supplement to the Journal : the Journal thus contains eleven plates and
woodcuts of rare or new Irish animals.

Dr. Kinahan has kindly undertaken to receive the subscriptions of
Members who may be anxious to subscribe to tho fund for publication,
and is empowered to dispose of copies of the Journal to Members or
others requiring additional copies, at the charge of Is. 6^^. each to Mem-
bers, or 2s. Qid. each to non-Members ; these funds to be applied to the
publication fund for next year.

Two important alterations were made in the Eulcs during the past
Session, — one, passed at the Annual Meeting in November, having for
its object the appointment of Vice-Presidents ; the other, passed at the
May Meeting, for the establishment of a new class of Members, called
Associates, who, by the payment of the subscription of five shillings a
year, enjoy all the privileges of Members, except the right of voting,
thereby enabling every young naturalist who desires it to join the So-
ciety at a trifling expense. Your Council also suggested that Corre-
sponding Members, on the payment of five shillings per annum, should
be entitled to the Monthly Reports of the Meetings, and to the volumes
of Transactions of the year, which also received the assent of the Meet-
ing. These latter alterations were made too late in the Session to allow
of your Council reporting on their utility or otherwise, but they feel
persuaded that they must result in the more general spread of the work
for which this Society was originally instituted, viz., the illustration and
elucidation of the Natural History of Ireland.

During the past month your Council have entered into a satisfactory
arrangement with the Dublin Chemical Society, who have agreed to hold
their Monthly and other Meetings in your Society's rooms ; all inter-
ference with the working of this Society, however, being guarded
against.

One other subject demands notice, viz., the popular Meetings. Of
these, one only was held during the past Session. This arose from a
difficulty of procuring papers, chiefly dependent on the fact of most of
your working Members being engaged in preparing for the reception of
the British Association. The Meeting held was well attended, and your

DUBLIN NATUEAL H18T0ET 80CIETT. 69

Council would recommend a further carrying out of these Meetings in
the ensuing Session.

So many years have now elapsed since this Society was founded, that
your Council deem it necessary to review in brief the many important
additions made to Irish Natural History through papers read before this
Society.

In 1838, to meet a deficiency long felt in this country, the Nattral
HiSTOEV Society of Dublin was founded, *' having for its sole object
the elucidation of the Natui-al History of Ireland, which it proposed to
effect by forming a standard collection of species, and by holding Even-
ing Meetings, at which original communications relating to the natural
liistory products of the island might be read and freely discussed."
That same year the nucleus of your present valuable Museum was formed,
and increased so rapidly by donations (the value of a Museum, at that
time the only one of its kind in the city in which duly authenticated
specimens could be made available for comparison, being fully apparent
to all), that your Society was soon compelled to remove their collection
to apartments much more extensive than had been at first anticipated.

Whilst in the full career of its usefulness, the famine years caused in
this, as in all societies solely supported by private subscription, such a
falling oft' in its income, as compelled the Council in prudence to give up
the rooms then held, and for some years the collections were not availa-
ble for public inspection. The Monthly Meetings still continued to be
held regularly, and many new facts were brought forward and valuable
donations still poured in, so that when, on the return of prosperity to the
country, your Society once more was in a position to exhibit its collec-
tion, it was found to be much increased in specimens of the rarer species,
many of them then and still unique. Your Council, however, found
itself still imable, through paucity of funds, to render the whole of the
collections available, and therefore directed its attention, in the first in-
stance, to those portions of the collection which, being of a compara-
tively perishable nature, required more immediate attention, hoping,
as has indeed been the case, year by year to be enabled gradually to de-
velop the other resources of the collection, and thus render it a com-
plete key to the identification of the rarer Irish species.

Another matter also caused a drain on the funds, the great and
steadily increasing value of the papers read before the Meetings press-
ing on the Council the necessity, in justice to the Society and the
authors of communications, of providing some permanent and available
form of Transactions, in which the claim to priority of discovery
should be preserved, and published in a form suitable for general
diffusion, and thus form by degrees Annals of the Natural History of
the country. The Council, therefore, resolved to devote a portion of the
funds of the Society to chronicling the discoveries brought fon^-ard at
the Meetings, and has been enabled, through means of an advantageous
agreement with the " Natural Histoiy ReWew and Quarterly Jounial
of Science," to publish in full authorized Reports of the Proceedings,
which not merely enjoy the full advantages of the circulation of that

70 DUBLIN NATUHAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

Journal in Great Britain, Ireland, the Continent, and America, but also
at the end of each year enables your Council to present each Member with
a full record of the progress made — advantages the importance of which
must be apparent to all. These latter arrangements, which have now, as
you are aware, been in existence for the last three years, entail on the
Society, in conjunction with the rent and other necessary expenses of
the Meeting-rooms, an expenditure of above seventy pounds, leaving
but a very trifling sum to meet any extra expenses which may arise, and
incapacitating the Council from expending on your Museum the sums
necessary for its further development.

Your Council has, however, every confidence that it has but to call
the attention of the Members, and Naturalists in general, to the impor-
tance of a still further increase to its means of usefulness, to obtain, by
accession of new Members, &c., such support as wiU enable it to carry
out the good work in which the Society has been for the past eighteen
years employed, particularly as, there being no paid officers in this So-
ciety, the whole of its income is devoted to one object, viz., the illus-
tration of the Natural History of Ireland, and affording every Irish
naturalist a medium by means of which Irish discovery can be registered
on Irish ground — a field of labour just as necessary now as when this
Society was started, as no other Society or Museum in this country is
devoted exclusively to Irish Natural History; and the numerous disco-
veries made through means of this Society prove, if proof were neces-
sary, the full value of such local labour.

That during the several years of its existence, this Society's
labours have not been without their fruit, the following brief sum-
mary of a few of the notices of species read before your Meetings
since your foundation abundantly prove, and the list might be much
increased : —

In Zoology. — Vertebrata, forty-two species.

New to Ireland: — Mammals, two : — Vespertilio Naterreri, 1845;
Vespertilio mystacinus, 1853.

Birds, six: — Morula Whitei, 1842; Sterna leucoptera, 1844;
Puffinus obscurus, 1853; Larus minutus, 1 840 ; Tringa rufescens,
1844 ; Malocorhynchus membranaceus, 1853.

Reptiles, one: — Caretta caouana, 1849.

Fishes, six: — Orthagoriscus mola, 1839; Orthagoriscus oblongus,
1845; Cottus Groenlandicus, 1850; Sebastes Norvegicus, 1850; Poly-
prion cernium, 1855; Tetraodon Pennantii, 1852.

Of the Mollusca, twenty- three : —

New to Ireland, eleven: — Geomalacus maculosus, 1842; Amphi-
peplea glutinosa, 1844; Pholadidea papyracea, 1850; Pholas striata,
1845; Limneus glaber, 1845; Spirula Peronii, 1845; Bulla hydatis,
1845 ; Teredo Norvagica.

Polyzoa, three new species of Plumatella.

Of Articulata, twenty-one.

New to Ireland: —

Insects: — ^Discomyza incurva, 1854; Hydrelia Banksiana, 1854.

SFBLIH VliTVnXL HI8T0ET SOCIETT.

71

Cruatacea: — Portunus marmoreuB, 1845 ; Thiapolita, 1845 ; Portu-
nuB carcinoides, 1856 ; Galatbca Andxcwsii, 1857; Crangon AUmanni,

Gtdallxoa Andrewsii.

Ciwaf^on AUmanni.

M

72

LITBLIN NATUBAX HISTORY SOCIETY.

1857; Crangon trispinosus, 1857; Hippolyte pusiola, 1857; Hippolyte
Mitchellii, 1857; Alpheus ruber, 1857; Iphimedia Eblanse, 1857;
Apseudes talpa, 1857.

Hippolyte pusiola.
a, anterior pairs of legs ; c c, rostrum ; e, telson.

Ipliiznedia Eblaxiss.

Fig. 1, lateral view ; Fig. 2, dorsal ; Fig. 3, mandible ; Fig. 4, maxilliped ; Figs. 5 and
5a, first gnathopod ; Fig. 6, second gnathopod ; Fig. 7, telson.

DFBLIM NATUBAL HISTORY SOCIETT. 73

Vennes: — Eunice tubicola, 1855.

Of Radiata, &c., seven ; all new to Ireland.

In Botany. — Erica ciliaris, Potentilla floribunda, Arabia Crantziana,
Lonicera xylosteum, Saxifraga Andrcwsii, Spiraea filipendula, Simethis
bicolor, Allium Babingtonii, Equisetum elongatum, Lophodium spino-
sum, Morchella esculenta, Polyporus betulinus, Nitella hyalina, Chara
delicatula, Riccia natans, Kiccia fluitans, Berkeleyana fragilis, Chordaria
divaricata, Enteromorpha Hopkirkii, Tetraspora cylindrica, Staurocarpua
cterulescens, &c.

So that the positive number of additional species given to the world
through this medium far exceeds 100.

These results cannot but be looked on as bearing your Council out
in stating that the Natiteal History Society of Dublin has indeed
fulfilled the expectations of its founders, and it confidently appeals to
the volume now placed in the Members' hands as a proof that there
has been no falling off in interest during the past year.

The Council, therefore, feels justified in making a strong appeal to
the lovers of the science in this country, to come forward and grant
such increased support as will enable the Society to carry out still fur-
ther the object for which it was formed, by placing it in a position
to illustrate papers recording new or rare species, and also to reprint
such of the papers read in fonner years as deserve a more permanent
and accessible record than the pages of a daily newspaper, especially
as, by a law passed last session, eveiy class of Members can obtain the
yearly Annals of the Society.

The Museum of your Society at present contains, of Vertebrate
Mammals, 18 species, 20 specimens (only partially displayed), two
unique. Birds, 128 species (245 specimens), many of them rare, and
several unique as Irish (nearly aU exhibited). Reptiles, two species,
one unique. Batrachia, 3 species (six specimens). Fishes, only about
20 species (40 specimens), 7 of these, however, of extreme rarity. The
difficulty of preserving this group except as spirit preparations acts as a
bar to a full representation of the group. A large and varied collection
of birds' eggs is in the course of arrangement in this division.

Of Mollusca, a large collection is in possession of the Society, bat
not as yet arranged.

A nucleus of a collection of Insects has been formed during the past
year.

In Crustacea the Society possesses nearly a perfect collection of
Decapods: 58 species (109 specimens), which have been arranged during
the past year, and there are many specimens of the other groups in course
of arrangement.

The Radiata are represented by 24 species of star-fishes (42 spe-
cimens), partially arranged.

Zoophytes, a large collection, but unfortunately in a bad condition,
and as yet not fully arranged.

The Mineralogical collection includes some fine specimens of rare

74 DUBLIN NATUKAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

minerals, which have been during the past year fully displayed in the
cases, and named according to the latest views.

It will be thus seen that those parts of the collection which are still
deficient include chiefly objects which, requiring to be preserved as
wet preparations, entail a necessary yearly outlay, which your Council
does not at present deem advisable the Society should undertake. The
rarer species will be almost all found in the collection, and when the
funds permit a larger outlay of money, the Museimi can be easily made
almost perfect.

On the motion of the Chairman, the Eeport was imanimously
adopted.

The Treasurer next submitted his Eeport, which showed that the
total receipts to the credit of the account current was £64 10«. Id.j
against which the expenditure has been £70 2«. 11^., lea\'ing a balance
of £5 lis. 4.d. due to the Treasurer. He also reported that there were
£79 to the credit of the reserve fund, which was an increase of £21
since the previous session, and that subscriptions to the amount of
£28 were due by members.

This Eeport having been adopted, the ballot for officers next closed,
and the Chairman declared the following duly elected for the Session
1857-58:—

PRESIDENT.— William H. Harvey, M. D., F. L. S., M. E. I. A.

Vice-Presidents. — His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, Lord Tal-
bot de Malahide, M.E.I. A., Sir Edward E. Borough, Bart., M.E.I. A.,
C. P. Croker, M.D., M.E.LA.

CoTTNciL. — John Aldridge, M. D., M. E. I. A., Henry M. Barton, F.
W. Brady, Eobert Call well, M. E. I. A., James E. Dombrain, A. H.
Haliday, M.E.LA., F.L.S., Samuel Gordon, M. D., M.E. LA., Eev.
S. Haughton, F.T.C.D., M.E.LA., Eobert J. Montgomery, George B.
Owens, M. D., Gilbert Sanders, M. E. I. A., Joseph Todhunter, E. Per-
cival Wright, M. B., M. E. L A.

Treasures. — Eichard P. Williams, M. E. I. A.

Secretaries. — Wm. Andrews, M. E. I. A., John E. Kinahan, M. D.,
M.E.LA.

The Meeting having been made special for election of Members, after
due ballot Willian Archer, Esq., 50, Tipper Sackville-street, was de-
clared duly elected as an Ordinary Member of the Society.

The Meeting then adjourned to the 4th of December.

DUBLnr NATXJHAL UlSTOltY SOCIETY. 75

FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 4, 1857.

Egbert Callwell, Esq., M. R. I. A., in the Chair.

The Minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and con-
firmed,—

Mr. Richard P. Williams, on behalf of G. A. Pollock, Esq., of Oai-
lands, announced the donation to the Society of a nearly perfect ske-
leton of the gigantic Elk {MegacerosUihemicus), found at Dunshaughlin,
county of Meath ; presented by Richard Bamewall, Esq.

It was proposed by Mr. R. P. Williams, seconded by the Rev. Eu-
gene O'Meara, and carried by acclamation —

" That in consideration of this very valuable donation, R. Bamewall,
Esq., be constituted a Life Member of the Society."

Peofessor J. Reay Greene, Queen's College, Cork, read —

OBSERVATIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF ACTINOIDA, WITH A LIST OF IRISH
SPECIES RECORDED.

TniSE remarks on the distribution of the Actinoida (Helianthoida)
are made with a view of drawing the attention of the members to the
great numerical discrepancy which at present exists between the Iriuh
and British lists of these Zoophytes. Upwards of sixty species have
already been found on the shores of Great Britain ; whereas, the number
which has hitherto been obtained on the Irish coast amounts to no more
than twenty-two. Several of the more remarkable "non- adherent'*
genera, such as Peachia, Edwardsia, Arachnitis, are totally unrepresented
in Ireland, though the geogi'aphical position of that country cannot be
considered as in any way the cause of this deficiency, which seems due
rather to the want of attention of Irish naturalists to this branch of
Zoology than to any real scarcity of the animals in question. A correct
list of the Irish Actinoida is very desirable, those hitherto published
having been either incomplete, inaccurate, or both.

In voL iv. of the late W. Thompson's " Natural History of Ireland,"
the number of species given is only eighteen, and the notes of the dif-
ferent localities in which these have been observed are rather scanty,
and by no means indicative of the relative distribution of the various
species around the coast. We must remember, however, that the well-
^own accuracy of Mr. Thompson forbade him to publish the name of
any locality of the existence of which any doubt could be entertained.
It should be mentioned, that the name Actinia gemmacea in Mr. Thomp-
son's list is meant to designate, not the Zoophyte now so called {BunotUs
gemmacea of Mr. Gosse), but rather the common Bunodet craticomity
of which it is a weU-known synonym. Nine species of Actinoida are
found on the Dublin coast, the neighbourhood of Howth furnishing
the greater number of them. Sagartia tiduaia has been taken more
than once in this locality, and the individuals of S. dianthm here ob-

76 DUBLIN NATTJBAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

tained exceed, both in size and delicacy of tint, the finest English speci-
mens. It is on the western shores of our island that we are to expect
the greater number of discoveries. Most of Mr. Gosse's novelties have
been taken on the south-western coast of England, and it is highly
probable that an equally diligent series of investigations, carried on
round the corresponding districts of Ireland, will be attended with
equally successful results.

Sagartia venustUy S. parasitica, and S. rosea, the first of these
being one of the rarest and most beautiful of the Devonshire species,
have been obtained by Mr. E. Percival "Wright, in the autumn of
the present year (1857), on the shores of Ban try Bay, during a very
limited search which he made on this part of the coast ; and we may
readily assume that very many new forms yet await our investigations
in this and similar localities. It should be borne in mind that ten years
ago the number of British species amounted to but one-half only of
what it does at present ; and it is not too much to expect that the re-
sult of a few years' careful investigation on our more prolific western
shores will lead to the discovery of many rare and unexpected species.
The subjoined list may be of some use as a basis for future observa-
tions.

Irish Actinoida,

Anthea cereus, common round the coast.
Adamsia palliata, Belfast, Waterford.
Corynactis viridis, Crookhaven, Co. Cork.

,, Allmanni, Belfast Bay.
Sagartia viduata (anguicoma), Clare, Dublin, and Down coasts.
Sagartia troglodytes, Porti-ush.

„ rosea, Bantry Bay (E. P. W).

„ venusta, Bantry Bay (E. P. W.)

,, parasitica, Bantry Bay (E. P. W.)

,, hellis, East coast.

,, dianthus, all round the coast.
Bunodes crassicornis, all round the coast.
Actinia mesemhryanthemum, all round the coast.

„ margaritifera, Belfast, Donegal.

„ coccinea. West coast (DubUn Bay ?)
llyanthus Scoticus, Balbriggan.
Lucerna/ria fascicular is, Donaghadee.

„ auricula, Camlough, Co. Antrim.

,, campanulata. West coast, Portrush, Bray (?).
Zoanthus Couchii, Strangford Lough.
Turhinolia milletiana, Galway Bay.
Cyathina Smithii, Cork, Waterford, Dublin.

Mr. J. Reay Greene at the same time exhibited living specimens of
most of the Dublin species.

DTTBLIW NATUBAL HISTORY 80CIETT. 77

Fbofessor J. R. KiNAHAN next exhibited specimens illustrative of —

BEMARXS ON THE ZOE OF EIJRYNOME ASPERA, AND THE HABITS OP THE
ANIMAL IN CONFINEMENT.

The passage of the majority of the higher Crustacea through the zoe state
is now a recognised fact in Zoolog}', and fresh species are turning up
almost daily as zoes. That which is exhibited to-night is an example
of this, as the zoe of any of the Lambridaa, as far as I know, has never
been described.

The specimens from whence the ova were obtained were captured
during one of the minor excursions of the British Association, in a dredg-
ing party, formed through the kindness and liberality of that well-known
and indefatigable naturalist, Robert M 'Andrew, Esq., consisting of Pro-
fessors Allman, Archer, Redfem, Rev. P. Carpenter, of Warrington,
Robert M* Andrew, Esq., and son. Dr. Edwards, ifr. Hyndman, and my-
self. The scene of our labours was the Kish Bank, where, in addition
to many other Crustacea, five specimens of ^. aspera were obtained, two
of them loaded with spawn.

These I placed in a small salt-water tank, changing the water occa-
sionally. They were first placed in the tank on the 1st of September;
the ova then being of a bright salmon colour. On the 7th I found that
the ova in one of them had become much darker, being a dirty drab
colour under the microscope, but little change could be detected in the
appearance of their contents. On the 10th the ova were a much darker
drab, and the black eyes of the zoes plainly distinguishable to the naked
eye. The parent had all this time most assiduously kept up a perpetual
current around and through the ova, seemingly by means of the pedi-
palps, at the same time keeping the mass in constant vibration by rhyth-
mical up-and-do^vn motions of the abdominal false feet, to which the
ova were attached. She also sought the sunny side of the tank more
than her wont now is. On the evening of the 12th the zoes could be
distinguished coiled up in the ova, fully formed, and the motions for
aeration were very vigorously carried on ; and on examining the tank
on the morning of the 13th I found it completely filled with many thou-
sands of zoes, which kept together in one continuous swarm at the side
nearest the light. These gradually increased in size, and also altered
in their form, seeming so active and healthy that I was in hopes I
might have been able to trace their complete changes; but unfortunately
the second specimen of E. aspera died on the evening of the 1 7th, poi-
soning the tank, so that on the morning of the 20th I found my poor
zoes dead, putting a stop to experiments as far as they were con-
cerned.

The parent crab, however, still continues in health and vigour, al-
though the water has not been changed till to-day for the last six weeks,
and does not now consist of more than two pints in a circular tank, six
inches in diameter, and although two green crabs, C. manaSf during the
time died from the poisonous eflfccts of impure water. Its habits are inte-
resting ; it is but a sedentary animal ; it seeks the light occasionally^
generally, however, keeping to the shadiest part of the tank. At night it

78 DUBLIN NATURAL HI8T0ET SOCIETY.

is most active, running over the sides and bottom of the tank after the
lights are extinguished, the noise it makes being considerable as it
rattles over the glass. Its mode of feeding is sometimes most amusing.
On its back, completely concealing it, is a large mass of sponge, which
of course the crab carries about with it everywhere ; it, however, causes
these strange passengers to pay toll occasionally, as frequently I have
seen the E. aspera stretching its long anterior limbs backwards over its
carapace, and, deliberately tearing off a portion of the sponge, coolly
proceed to tuck it in between its jaws ; sometimes holding the piece of
sponge in one of the chelae, it daintily tears off small pieces from the
mass, which it then quietly devours. I detected it once feasting on a
little varying Hippolyte, 11. varians, which was in the same tank ; but
generally speaking, its food must consist of the Entomostraca and other
minute animals, &c., which abound in the water, and possibly also the
Ulva. It is a most sluggish animal, slow and deliberate in its move-
ments, and during the day remains with its back to the light in a lair
it has formed under a projecting piece of Ulva lactuca, its long and
beautifully carved arms kept semiflexed at some distance from each side of
its body ; and the whole animal perfectly motionless, except an occasional
vibration of the foot-jaws, looking like some monster in his den. The
species is not uncommon in moderately deep water on the banks around
the coast, and I would recommend it as a good species to those who keep
tanks, as it is generally tenacious of life, and bears travelling well, living
for a long time, even in a small quantity of water.

My tanks, in which I have succeeded in keeping many of the rarer
Crustacea, are so convenient, and their arrangement so simple, that I am
tempted to describe them. They consist of a number of what are ordi-
narily called propagating glasses (the dealers caU them pro' -glasses), six
inches in diameter, and nine inches high ; the only thing placed in them
besides the water is the Ulva lactuca, selecting a broad piece unattached
to stones, as I find that stones harbour dirt ; the seaweed must be a
large piece, as one of its chief intentions is to afford cover and shelter
to the animals from the light. It requires to be occasionally renewed,
as the animals feed on it. I seldom introduce MoUusca of any kind, as
I find them troublesome by djdng at unexpected times, and thus poi-
soning the tank, and I have never seen any occasion for their services
in keeping my tanks either clean or healthy.

In this same tank I have had at various times, under the above
conditions, the following rare Crustacea ; —

Thta polita for four months.

Perimela denticulata, two months, hatched zoes, and was itself
killed and partially devoured by Thia.

Hippolyte Cranchii, one month.

H. pmiola, one month.

Crangon fasciatm, three weeks ; all killed by Thia.

The varying prawTi (P. varians), two months.

SquiU prawn (P. squilla), two months.

Common shrimp ( C. vulgaris), three weeks.

Hippolyte varians, three months.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 79

Most of them died merely through neglect in changing the water,
which I generally do not oltener than once a month. The tank is kept
in a shady place, and uncovered, and the animals are but seldom fed,
and then as often on small snails or woodlice as anything else. The
sea water for change is kept in a large bottle, with a narrow neck and
transparent sides, closely corked, and sometimes, when used, has been
three months or upwards in the bo.ttle ; so that the keeping of marine
animals of the crustacean group is not such a difficult task as is com-
monly supposed.

The zoes differ from those of Cancer pagurus in having no lateral or
frontal spines on the carapace ; in having no spines at the inner angle
of each joint of the abdomen below. The carapace is also very large;
the abdomen is divided into six rings ; the thoracic limbs are three (?),
the most anterior hardly to be distinguished in form from the ex-
ternal foot-jaw of many of the PorcellamdaD.

A discussion arose regarding the practicability of growing AlgSB in
vivaria without a point of attachment. Professor Kinahan stated that
Ulva lactuca and JSnteromorpha intestinalia both do well thus, but that
he had found the latter Algse, even when attached, a bad tank plant,
as it is very apt to become yellow. He could not speak of any
other species, as he found them to answer so well that there was no ne-
cessity for change ; the brown weeds he had found were nearly certain
destruction to many of the Crustacea.

Dr. J. K. KiNAHABT read a paper —

ON THE OCCOIRENCE OF A NEW lEISH -ESOP PRAWN (PANDALUS), IN DUBLIN

BAY.

But one species of the genus Pandalus of Leach has been hitherto recorded
in Irelani Last July (1857), I met a specimen which appears to be
entitled to specific distinction : it occurred to me in a small sandpool in
the zostera bank at Sandycove; Kingstown. The shape of the beak ia
remarkably dissimilar from that organ in P. annulicomis, being much

k

80 DUBLIN NATT7EAL HISTOBT SOCIETT.

shorter in proportion to the length of the animal, rounded instead of
compressed at the sides, wanting the membranous dilatation on tlie under
edge outside the eye, and hence, much 8hallo^yer, and differently
armed. It differs from the only other described form, P. no/rwhal, in
having the superior anterior half of the rostrum free from spines or teeth.
A third species has been recorded, but only a figure of it published by
C. Spence Bate, F.L. S., in the ''Natural History of Swansea," published
in the ** Reports of the Swansea Literary Society," under the name of
P. Jeffreysii. I was at first inclined to consider my specimen this species,
but an examination of specimens kindly furnished me by its describer,
C. Spence Bates, led me to doubt the correctness of my first belief; that
gentleman also appears to doubt it. I deem it better, then, to describe
mine, provisionally only, under that name, at the same time suggesting
the name P. Leptorhynchus, should mine prove distinct.

P. Jeffreysii (Spence Bate), according to a communication of his to
me, is tolerably common in Scotland. The original specimens were taken
in Oxwich Bay, Swansea; they were two in number, but imperfect at the
time figured. They were described at the British Association Meeting
at Edinburgh, but only the name published. Mr. Spence Bate has also
taken it at Plymouth, and has received it from the Rev. Mr. Gordon, of
Moray Frith, as a new species. Some of the specimens from thence have
only seven teeth above and two below, instead of eight above and two
beneath, which is the usual number.

The specimen now described approaches closely Sippolyte panda-
liformis, and affords another proof of the close affinity of the genera Pan-
dalus and Hippolyte.

P. LEPTORnrxcHUS {mihi). Patjdalus Jeffreysh (?) {Spence Bate.)

P. P, annulicorni affine rostro tenui subrecto vix carapacem dimidio
Buperante undecim spinulis supra annate; infra quadri denticulate; apice
bifido.

Colore : rubro.

Habitat : in zonam laminariam, " Sandycove," prope *' Dublin."

c
c, rostrum, much enlarged ; d, internal antenna, much enlarged.

Narrow-leaked JEsop Prawn.

Closely allied to P. annulicornis. Beak narrow, slightly turned up
at end ; scarcely exceeding half length of carapace ; anterior half desti-

DUBLIN MATUHAL IU8T0BY 80CIKTT. 81

tute of teeth above, except a minute one near apex. Eleven Bpines ar-
ticulated to the rostrum above ; four distinct teeth beneath ; interspaces
between spines and teeth, with a few hairs ; a well developed tooth at
base of orbit, and a small one below ; internal antenn© lobed at base.

Colour : clear uniform red.

Habitat : sandpools in Zostera bank, laminarian zone, Dublin Bay.

The spinules on the superior margin of the rostrum are articulated
to it, as in P. annuh'e&mis. Five of them are large and hooked, and si-
tuated on the carapace, the fifth being at the edge of ocular notch ;
there is then a moderately wide interspace : the remaining six spinules
being crowded together, and rapidly diminishing in size. The inferior
teeth very minute, and situated near the apex of rostrum; there is no
dilatation in the rostrum anterior to the ocular notch below, and a nearly
total absence of the setae which so thickly adorn the interspaces of both
teeth and spinules in F. annulicomis. In habits, the animal resembled
H. variam, in company with which it was taken.

The beak in typical specimens of P. Jeffrey di is straight.

The Meeting then adjourned to the 8th of January.

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1858.

Pkofessor W. H. Haevev, M.D., M.R.I. A., F.L.S., President,
in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read and con-
firmed—

' Mr. R. P. "Williams apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr.
Andrews, o>ving to which Lord Clermont's communication, relative to
the Mute Swan, was postponed. He had to present, on behalf of Lord
Clermont, a specimen of the mute swan ( C ol(yr\ captured under cir-
cumstances which left little doubt of its being a truly wild specimen
{vide ** Proceedings" for February, 1858, posted).

A special vote of thanks was passed to Lord Clermont for his dona-
tion.

Mr J. B. Doyle submitted to the Society a communication he had re-
ceived from his Mend, Robert Evatt, Esq., Mount Louise, an observant
naturalist, in reference to the habits of the mute swan, whether it was
known that the male bird assisted and relieved the female bird on tho
nest during the season of hatching ? He had observed the male swan
preparing the nest, and sitting on it, previous to the eggs being laid by
the female; but, although he had for some time been watching, he never
could detect the male swan in the act of incubation, until one evening,
rowing over to the ishmd, he found him actually on the nest, the female
not being in sight — the bird was sitting, at the time, on six eggs. Al-
though he had been endeavouiing for twenty years to breed swans, he had

^ DUBLIN NATTJEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

never succeeded until lately — the eggs never maturing — until he con-
structed a kind of hut with poles and fir branches over the nest, and with
this protection he succeeded in rearing young birds. Thunder or very
stormy weather was apt to destroy the young birds in the eggs unless
shelter was formed over the nest. Mr. Doyle wished for information on
these points from the experience of any of the members.

Mr. Robert John Montgomery observed that the habits of the mute
swan had long been familiar to him, and that he had constantly seen the
male bird on the nest hatching. He was surprised to hear that any
difficulty had been experienced in hatching the eggs. He always found
them extremely prolific, and managed with very little care.

Mr. R. P. Williams confirmed the fact of the male swan generally
assisting the female in her duties.

Rev. E. O'Meara exhibited some most interesting specimens of or-
ganic remains from the Cambrian rocks of Bray Head, consisting of dia-
tomaceous frustules and spicules resembling those of sponges. The
specimen of rock operated on was given him by Dr. Carte, and seemed
to consist of a mass of Oldhamia, regularly matted together. He ex-
perienced much difficulty in operating on it, owing to the great quantity
of amorphous silica present, which it was impossible thoroughly to
remove. Every slide of the deposit he examined contained specimens of
diatoms as well as the spicules.

Professor Kinahan thought it might be interesting to the Meeting to
know the exact locality of the specimen acted on. It was from the mass
of green beds described by him in the Journal of the Geological Society
of Dublin some time since, and were composed, as the Rev. Mr. O'Meara
had stated, of a matted mass of Old. radiata, which had evidently been
floated into some quiet nook of the Cambrian sea, and settled do\vn there,
the zoophytes bearing on their stems diatomaceous forms exactly as we
find their allies, the sertularian zoophytes of our own seas, loaded with
living forms of Diatomacere. Mr. O'Meara's discovery was one of great
importance, as everything which tended to throw light on the nature
of these ancient deposits was of great value to the geologist, and it being
found that at the present day diatoms of different and often distant
localities are identical, we may be, perhaps, able, by an examination of
similar deposits in Wales, to obtain another link in the chain of evidence
as to their identity or not with Irish Cambrians.

Mb. Robeet John Montgomeey read the following —

ON PECIILIAEITIES IN THE HABITS OF THE STABLING (STUENUS VULGAEIS).

Many members present have, I dare say, witnessed the very remarkable
gathering of starlings {Sturnm vulgaris), for the purpose of roosting,
during the winter months, in the Gardens of the Royal Zoological So-
ciety in the Phoenix Park, and to which the late Dr. Ball first directed
attention, through the means of the public press, in March, 1845, esti-
mating their numbers at from 150,000 to 200,000.

SUBUN WATDTBIL HI8T0RT 80CIJSTT. 83

Although tho great starling roost which I had the gratification of
visiting in the county of Donegal, in the commencement of this winter,
was far, far inferior, in point of numbers, to that in the Phoenix Park,
yet I thought it of sufficient interest to make a note of at the time,
and that note I now have the pleasure of submitting to the Society.

I went to Lough Fern, a beautifully situated sheet of water, of about
three miles in length, on tho 19th of November last, with a friend, an
ardent lover of ornithology, the Rev. Robert Harvey. Our principal
object in going was, to ascertain how many species of Anatidao frequented
the lake. At the western end of tho lough there are immense beds of
reeds {Arundo phraff mitts), standing many feet in height out of the water.
Near to the inner edge of these I took my position to have a shot at the
evening flight of ducks.

Shortly before dusk we remarked small parties of starlings begin to
arrive. These circled about over the reeds, every few moments receiv-
ing considerable accessions to their numbers. Presently, larger bodies
made their appearance, and, joining their comrades, formed one immense
flock. This flock then split into two companies, one circling over the
reeds on the northern side, and the other, apparently endeavouring to
rival their friends in the beauty of their aerial evolutions, on the south-
em side; sometimes rising to a considerable height, and forming the
most beautiful figures against the clear evening sky ; then again making
a downward rush, until the sough of their wings resembled the roar of a
mountain torrent, they would disappear amongst the reeds ; for a mo-
ment all would be still — no sound to be heard but the mournful sigh of
the wind through the tall reeds, the whistle of the \Wdgeon {Anas pent-
lope) far out on the lough, or the call of the partridge in the adjoining
fields; when suddenly a strange guttural chatter would strike upon
the ear, overcoming every other sound. This would continue a few
moments only, and then, with a noise like a tempest, would the mighty
flock arise once more.

These evolutions continued until it was pretty dark, when the im-
mense multitude finally settled among the reeds. The estimate I made
of their numbers, at the time, was 18,000 or 20,000; but since then
I have come to the conclusion that they fiu* exceeded that amount.

In reply to inquiries I have since made, I find that they have re-
sorted there for a great many years ; that they have latterly, especially
this winter, greatly increased ; they commence coming there for the piu*-
pose of roosting about November, and disappear by degrees in spring.
I observed in several parts of the countr}', though many miles from
Lough Fern, parties of starlings, towards evening, all flying in the di-
rection of the lough, and my friend, Mr. Harvey, tells me he has ob-
served them in the morning fljing apparently from it.

"VVTiat surprises me is the fact of their continuing to frequent the same
place for so many years, as I have, in every other instance which has come
under my oi\ti observation, foimd the starlings very capricious with regard
to their roosting-place. I have known several instances in Donegal and
other counties of their frequenting a place for some years, and then to-

84 DUBLIN NATURAL HrSTOKY SOCIETY.

tally deserting.it, apparently without cause. Thompson mentions some
similar cases. I remember in the county of Louth, during the intense
frost in the winter of 1 855, 1 obser^^d on several occasions immense flocks
of starlings towards evening, all flying in the same direction ; they
amounted to many thousands, and were e\4dently a migration into that
part of the country. I watched them with very great interest, and
found that during the severe frost they nightly congregated in a place
called Ballydonnell, where they roosted among evergreens and small
trees. Why they selected that place I am at a loss to know ; it is only
half a mile from the extensive old woods and plantation of Beaulieu,
which they actually passed. I never saw them in great numbers there
before that winter, nor have I seen them since.

Mr. J. B. Doyle observed that two instances illustrative of peculiarities
in the habits of the starling had come under his notice. When in Wick-
low some years since, shooting, in the latter end of August, between
Wicklow and Seapark, in a cover adjacent to the sea, his attention was
attracted by an unusual noise and chattering, which, on emerging on the
strand, he found to proceed from an enormous multitude of starlings con-
gregated in the trees, evidently having just arrived in migration ; it ap-
peared, however, that this was an unusually early migration of these
birds. The other instance had reference to the fact that the starlings do
not confine themselves to the one kind of roosting ground. At Duni'an,
county of Wicklow, they roost in old ruins. In 1839, after the great
storm, at Mr. Templeton's, Waterton Demesne, he saw numbers of them
dead and wounded among the trees, killed by the clashing of the boughs
against one another. On inquiry he found that the beech trees there
were their usual roosting-place.

The Chairman then declared the following duly elected : —
Ordinary Members: — Joseph lleay Greene, Professor, Queen's

College, Cork; George Dixon, Esq., Dublin; William Hodges, Esq.,

Kathgar.

Corresponding Member: — The Rev. Robert Harvey, Leek Glebe,

Letterkenny.

The Society then adjourned till the 5th of Eebruary.

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 5, 1858.

Pkofessor W. H. Haevey, M.D., M.R.I. A., E.L. S., Pjresident,
in the Chair.

Mr. William Andrews, Honorary Secretary, read the follow-
ing—

NOTES ON THE CAPTURE OF A MUTE SWAN (CYGNUS OLOR) IN DUNDALK PAY.
BY LORD CLERMONT.

The mute swan, which I have the pleasure of presenting to the Dublin
Natural History Society, is interesting from having been taken under

DUBUN NATUBAL HI8T0BT SOCIETT. 85

circumstances which favour the supposition that these birds occasionally
visit our shores in a truly wild state. It was shot on the 27th of Fe-
bruary, 1857, in Dundalk Bay, about a mile from the land, out of a flock
of six, by a tishemian in my emplo}Tncnt, who observed the swans flying
over the sea, and alighting on it. He then put off in a boat, and suc-
ceeded in getting within shot of the flock. AH the birds had, he said,
some bro^vn plumage.

The fact of these birds being strong on the wing, and coming in
from seaward, does not look like birds reared on a lake or river. There
have been flocks seen in Belfast and Strangford Loughs each winter now
for three successive years, several individuals of which have been ap-
proached and shot like common wild swans ; and as several instances of
the occurrence of the mute swan wild in France and Belgium are given
by De Selys Longchamps, and Degland, Yarrell, too, admitting that
they occur wild in nearly every country of Europe, — I see no difficulty
in concluding that this species, like the two others, is at times impelled
by the severity of a northern winter to seek a milder climate on the more
temperate shores of the British islands. Nothing is more probable at
all events ; and although their wandering habits when half tame justify
suspicion and inquiry into the particulars of each case, there does not
seem to be any reason, when these favour the wild theory, why it should
not be accepted where there is so little difficulty in doing so. How-
ever, not being a very experienced ornithologist, I submit my views sub-
ject to correction.

Mr. Andrews said that this specimen, so kindly presented to the So-
ciety, could not, under the circumstances given by Lord Clermont, be other-
wise received than as truly wild, — no records of the capture of the mute
swan ( Cygnus ohr), in the British islands admittedly wild, have been
given, but there was not any possibility of considering this as anything
but a visitor in a wild state. It appeared to be a bird of the first
year; and although from its large proportions it might bear some
aflinity to the Polish swan, yet there were sufficient characteristics to
separate it from Cygnm immutabilisy and to identify it as a yearling of
Color.

Rev. Professor Haughton exhibited some specimens of plant stems,
found in the micaceous yellow sandstone beds of Herrj'lock, county of
Wexford, on the east shore of "Waterford Harbour. (Figures and descrip-
tions of these will be given postea.)

The President observed that the stem of the grass tree of New Hol-
land (X hastilis) exhibited just such a section as that described, the
cross lines being formed by the bases of the old leaves, and the mid-axis
by the stem of the plant. He had also seen specimens of parasitic
plants, such as ivy, which might explain the other specimens exhibited,
in which the twining plant had become imbedded in the bark of its
support.

8G DUBLIN NATTTBAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

Dr. J. R. KiKAHAN next read a paper, as follows : —

ON THE SUBAQUEOirS HABITS OF THE WATEE OUZEL (CINCLUS AQUATICUS).

DuEiNO the years 1849 and 1850, having nearly daily occasion to fre-
quent that part of the river Dodder which passes through the romantic
mountain glens of Glenismaul and Castlekelly, the great abundance of the
water ouzel, or, as the peasantry there call it, kingfisher, induced me to
study its habits somewhat particularly. The results of this investigation
were brought by me before the Dublin Philosophical Society at its open-
ing meeting in the latter year. That communication never having been
printed, I purpose to lay before this Society to-night the more important
conclusions to which I was then led, the accuracy of which a frequent
study of the bird in the counties of Wicklow, "Waterford, Galway,
Tipperary, Clare, and Tyrone, have but confirmed me in, and which
also, as far as I can learn, have never been fully recorded by any of our
authorities.

The general habits of the water ouzel have been so well and so often
described that they need not detain us ; but although it is now some years
since M. Herbert announced the fact that this bird is possessed of the power
of walking under water on the bottom of streams ; and although the truth
of this observation has been strengthened by the evidence of such men as
St. John, Dilwyn, Rennie, William Thompson, and M'Gillivraj^, yet
still there are found many (especially among the closet naturalists) who
prefer to ignore the fact altogether, or else assert that this bird's habits
in this respect are identical with those of other divers.

My observations, made repeatedly during many months, and having
for their object the elucidation of this very point, enable me to corrobo-
rate M. Herbert's account m eveiy particular, except that the bird car-
ries down a supply of air to the bottom enclosed within its wings, in
which he most certainly is in error, led away by a fancied analogy be-
tween the bird and diving beetles, as I have repeatedly seen them rise to
the surface to obtain air, which they do exactly like a grebe, merely rais-
ing the tip of the bill out of the water.

The bird has several modes of diving. When seeking food it generally
goes down, like most divers, head foremost in an oblique direction, or
else walks deliberately in from the shallow edge of the pool, the head
bent down, and the knees (tarsal articulation) crouched. When seek-
ing refuge, however, it sometimes sinks like a stone, exactly as the great
northern diver ( C. glacialis) has been observed to do — that is, gradually,
the top of head the last part submerged, without any apparent exertion,
sometimes in the midst of its most rapid flight dropping down suddenly
into the water like a plummet. Its course is indifferently with or across
the stream, rarely against it.

It often remains under water totally submerged for fifty seconds and
upwards, and during that time wall proceed from ten to twenty yards.
When it comes out, the water may be seen i-unning rapidly off its plumage.

DUBLIN 1TATURAL HI8T0BT SOCIBTT. 87

It swims with great rapidity, and appears to rejoice in the water as its
true element, hardly ever alighting directly on a rock, but even after
its longest flight splashing slap into the water, at the base of the stone
selected as a resting-place, and then scrambling to the summit of this.
In its motion in the water it more closely resembles the jackass penguin
of Cape Horn {Apt. chrysocoma) than any other aquatic bird I have had
an opportunity of studying. Like that bird (especially in the breeding
season), the ouzels may be seen at times leaping right out of the water in
their gambols.

That the bird actually does possess the power of motion under water,
the following notes on a wounded bird, made on the spot, abundantly
prove : —

*' l^ov. 29, 1850. — Bohemabreena. "Wounded a water ouzel which,
as I observed them all to do, immediately made for shore. On my going
to seize him, he darted into the water, running slap in ; waded in after
him ; under water he looks quite glossy, but does not seem increased in
bulk, the glossiness probably arising from the oiled state of the plumage,
or else from its peciQiar texture. When I first got up with the bird he
was perfectly stationary at the bottom, not using any exertion to remain
there (this remark applies to two other birds wounded later in the day,
which also took to the water). The bird next got under a big stone,
and when I poked him out on one side he ran to the other — after the lapse
of a minute or so he put his head out of the water to breathe, always
keeping the stone between him and me, and when I tried to catch
him he would dodge under the water again, and come up on the other
side.

*' Finding that I was still chasing him, he took to the stream, and went
under water faster than I could follow him ; he seemed to move now al-
together by means of his feet, his wings hanging down behind his tail,
though his motions were so quick it was difficult to be positive as to the
latter part of this observation. At times he swam in mid- water, using
his wings, crossing the current several times, and seeming but little in-
commoded by it.

"All at once he turned over on his back — still possessing the power of
continuing under water — struggling to regain hw original position, he
spun round and round ; it appeared as though the wounded wing had
suddenly failed him, and thus prevented his preserving a due equilibrium
in the water. At length he came to the top, when he immediately righted
and swam as at other times ; every time I tried to lay hold on him he again
ducked and dived down to the bottom, at first all right, and then the
tumbling began again. When captured at length, I found him merely
winged."

I was enabled to confirm these observations several times that day, as
I obtained seven specimens, five of which necessitated a watery chase
before I succeeded in catching them, and one got clear offl I ought to
explain such seeming needless cruelty in shooting so many of these
harmless birds, but the f^pecimens were required for a series of dissections
at that time in hands.

88 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

From these observations it would appear that both feet and wings
are used in progression, the latter in mid-stream (when the bird almost
looked as it' it were flying), the wings doubtless being also of essential
use in preserving a proper balance in the water, probably acting like the
pectoral fins of the fish. The bird's progression along the bottom was
certainly by means of its feet alone.

Like many water animals, the sensation in this bird appears blunted ;
at least, two of those I winged and afterwards captured sat coolly look-
ing at me, as though uninjured, without leaving their position, perking
and jerking their tails, and "checking" at me as unconcernedly as possible,
so tiiat, had I not had some confidence in my aim, I should certainly
have taken a second shot at them. The stomachs of all those I examined
contained only insect remains.

This bird is extremely common in our mountain glens. I have
counted as many as ten broods in Saggart Slade, and, although called
an unsocial bird, it is to be always found in pairs. These certainly keep
apart, but many pairs will be met in favourable localities in a very
limited ai'ea. They keep nearly altogether to the glens. I saw the bird
but once below E-athfamham Bridge in the Dodder. This was at Dartry,
at the circular weir. Surely, the fearlessness and curious maimer of tMs
bird, the harmlessness of its habits, the adaptive power displayed — ^in the
elongated valve-like opening of the nostrils, the absence of gape-bristles,
the partial webs to its feet, the dense peculiar nature of the plumage, and
the general dissimilarity' between it and the other thrushes, form a groud
of characters which, taken in combination with the wild and romantic
nature of the scenes it mostly loves to frequent, ought to render this bird
as great a favourite with the field student as it generally is with the
fisher, plying his lonely task amidst its secluded haunts, and hailing as
an old acquaintance the tidy little white-breasted water-blackbird, as it
sits jerking and posturing on a rock amidst the boiling waters, swim-
ming on the eddying current, diving beneath the depths, chattering to
its mate, or enlivening the mountain glen with a simple but plaintive
strain to the fitting and appropriate accompaniment of the ceaseless
babble of the sparkling waters of the gushing mountain rill.

The Honorary Secretary read a communication as follows : —

DESCRIPTION OF A STARLIXG ROOST AT RATHKEALE, COUNTY OF LIMERICK.
BY G. HENRY XINAHAN, C.E. T. C. D., CORRESPONDING MEMBER, G.S.I.

The following brief account of a starling roost at Rathkeale may be of
some interest to the Society, as a pendant to Mr. E. J. Montgomery's
paper, read at your last meeting.

To the north-east of Rathkeale village, county of Limerick, there are
two lakes, the larger of which is called *' Doohyle Lough ;" at the east
side of this there is a marsh running E.N.E., and W.N.W. Last winter,
my work lying that way, I had occasion to pass it frequently.

DUBLIV NATVBAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 89

Coming home late one evening afUT dark, I waa surprised, whilst
walking along the road to the north of the lough, to hear a tremendous
chattering, which would sometimes suddenly cease, and one heard a long
continuous whirr, like that of a strong rushing wind. It was then too
dark to see anything, and although I knew they must be birds, yet their
kind I could not say. I could hear the whirr, caused by the flocks
getting up, nearly the whole way into Rathkeale (over a mile). The
next day, on returning the same way, the noise of the preceding night
was fully explained by my seeing innumerable starlings congregated
about the lake.

Some evenings afterwards I went on purpose to watch the birds ; I
arrived at the spot about half an hour before sunset, and immediately
afterwards the stares began to arrive in flocks of three and four hun-
dred. The first flock flew round the lake, and then lit in a field to
the south ; a few minutes more, and another flock arrived, which, after
flying round the lake, joined the first comers ; these immediately rose,
and fdl took a circuit round the fields, and then alighted again.

Flocks now came in thickly from all sides, the same performance
being gone through at each arrival, until the flocks began to come so
fast that they had no time to remain on the ground at all. The main
flock then adjourned to the lake ; arriving there, it took two or three
circuits of the lake, and then alighted among the reeds ; the arrivals
now were not so numerous as they had been, but many flocks still came
in, and each arrival was the signal for a general move and promenade
as before. This procedure was kept up till about half an hour after
dark, and then ceased, so that T presumed all had arrived in that time
(two and half hours). When I left, a constant chattering and gossip
was going on among the reeds.

I could form no accurate estimate of the numbers that were there,
but the reeds on the north of the lake are about a quarter of a mile long,
and two hundred yards wide, and every reed seemed to have a half a
dozen on it. I could always tell, ever afterwards, when it was getting
late by seeing the starlings going Doohylewards.

With regard to the breeding-place of starlings — in the Court-house
square, Rathkeale, at the rere of one of the dwellings, there is an old
pigeon-house, in which a lot of starlings build ; and tiie owner of the
house says that they remain there summer and winter. I saw them
there in the spring, I suppose over forty of them, just as tame as pigeons
about the yard and house.

[Since my last communication I find that the stares have left Doo-
hyle, chiefly, I think, on account of the shooting parties (nearly every
evening there after dusk) this winter. When I found Doohyle was
deserted, my curiosity was aroused to discover their present abiding
place. I, therefore, watched the flights every evening, and found that
they were in a direction to the west of Newcastle. Knowing the
country well thereabouts, I thought it might be in one of the planted
glens in Coal-measure Hill, no lakes being in that quarter ; and on com-

90 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

ing home that way the other evening, I found, as I had expected, the
stares assembling in a young fir plantation, in a deep ravine due west
of Newcastle, and about one mile to the north of Bamagh Hill. On the
road from Newcastle to Abbeyfeale I have observed the birds going to
their roost ; from Abbeyfeale, ten miles to the west ; from Shanagolden,
eight miles to the north; and from Eathkeale, eleven miles to the
east. The flights occur about sundown. — G. H. K., Rathkeale, Feb. 24,
1858.]

Dr. Kinahan thought the communication just read most interesting.
It would be advisable if observations were to be made in all the diifer-
yit parts of the country which these birds frequented, as to whether, as
na& been stated by Mr. R. J. Montgomery in his paper on the last even-
ing, starlings returned to the same roosting-place each year. There
were many points of interest connected with the habits of partial mi-
grants— that is, such birds which, as the wild duck, snipe, starling,
&c., were resident in small numbers in this country throughout the
year, but received a great accession to their numbers in the winter
months ; and perhaps not the least interesting would be to ascertain
whether they, like the gregarious summer visitants, return to their old
localities or not.

Mr. Grubb exhibited a microscope of his own construction, which
combined a steady stage, the power of placing the tube in either a ver-
tical or horizontal position, and of applying every kind of illumination
seriatim, without taking the eye off the object. He entered fully into
the history of the improvements introduced in illuminators as regarded
illumination, and the azimuth as regards the object, explaining the
nature of Shadbolt's illuminator, as modified by Mr. F. Bergin, the
objections to the method, and his own improvement of a mirror revolv-
ing on an arc.

Mr. Grubb explained and exhibited to the Meeting a series of beau-
tiful manipulations illustrative of the improvements in the microscope
he had made.

After the ballot, the Chairman declared Henry P. Heney, Esq., duly
elected Ordinary Member.

ThefMeeting adjourned to the first Friday in March.

FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1868.

R. Callwell, Esq., M. R. I. A., in the Chair.
The previous Minutes having been read and confirmed, —

Professor Haughton exhibited specimens of Lepidomelane from the
county of Donegal.

DUBLIK NATUBAL HI8T0BT 80CIETT. 91

Pbofessob KnrAHAN, MyD., read the following: —
U -^

ON THE DISTEIBUnON OP FEBNS IN IRELAND, WITH A LIST OP SOME OP THE
MOEE BEMABKABLE LOCALITIES IN WHICH THEY OCCUB.

DuBiNo the^ many years which have elapsed since the puhlication of
Mackay's **riora Hibemica," the ferns have received so much attention
in the British Isles, and as a natural consequence the Ustof them has been
so much increased by the discovery of unrecorded species, and the iden-
tification and discrimination of others, as to render the list of them given
in that valuable book necessarily imperfect, and of comparatively little
use to the student Having been engaged, since 1848, myself, in their
study, and had opportunities of collecting in almost every quarter
of the island ; and also having had, through the kindness of friends
in England, opportunities of examining in a living state, authenticated
specimens of all the disputed or critical species, I propose to print a list of
the more important localities in which the several species have occurred.

To enumerate all the localities in which common ferns occur would
swell the list to an inconvenient size. To such species as are of general
occurrence, and equally abundant in suitable stations, the simple remark,
** general," is appended; fuller details being given in the case of such
species, as by their markedly special distribution, or peculiarity of growth
in certain localities, seem to be of geologic value ; the word * geologic'
here, and generally throughout this paper, being used, not in the con-
fined sense of the class or character of rock or soil, on which the plants
are found, but rather in the more extended and general sense — of distri-
bution from a geologic centre of creation.

The districts examined by me are —

For the North, the counties of Tyrone, Fermanagh, Monaghan, and
Armagh.

For the "West and South-west, Gralway, King's County, Clare,
"Westmeath, Queen's County, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Limerick, Kerry,
Cork, and Waterford.

For the East and South-east, Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Car-
low, "Wicklow, Wexford, and Cavan.

There are no sufficiently marked features in the central counties to
call^for a'separate division. I have not had an opportunity of examin-
ing the Far North, my researches not having been pursued further north
than Tyrone. Wexford, in the South-east, I have never examined, but
some years since a friend of mine, since dead, Thomas Barry, Esq., for-
warded me a large collection of fresh fronds from this neighbourhood,
which enabled me to learn that its Fern Flora much resembles that of
the counties immediately adjoining. The stations examined by myself
in the following list are either marked with my initials, or left un-
marked. Those supplied fronj other sources are between inverted com-
mas, the letters q. y. being added in cases in which I have seen the ac-
tual specimens.

92 DUBLIN NATXniAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Ophioglossum vulgatum [Lin.). Adder's Tongue.

Tipperary : Annagh Inch, along Little Brosna and Pallas Rivers.
Kerry : Beginnish Island, Lough Kay, Valentia, J. R. K Meath,
G. A. Pollock, Esq. Dublin : Dodder Yalley, Kilnasantan, J. R. K.
" Wexford ; Rathcormack," Thomas Barry, Esq., q. v.

Appears to be generally distributed in all parts of the island, having
been recorded from near Belfast by Templeton ; its small size, and ca-
pricious mode of growth, one year abundant, the next not to be found,
probably accounts for its absence from so many of the local lists. It does
not grow near so luxuriantly here as in England.

Botrychium lunar ia {Linn, sp.). Moon wort.

»' Tipperary : Clonmel," E. H. Sargint, Esq., q. v. " Louth," G. A.
Pollock, Esq. '' Kerry : Valentia Island," Miss Helen Blackburne. Dub-
lin : Kilmashogue Hill. Here also grows a singular deltoid form {vide
" 'Nat. Hist. Review," vol. iii., "Proceedings I^at. Hist. Society") : Kil-
nasantan and Cruagh HiUs, J. R. K. Wicklow : Scalp, J. Bain, q. v.

The short period of this plant's appearance above ground, and the
localities it frequents — open elevated pastures and heaths — doubtless
contribute to render it rare in our lists. It has been obtained in the
county Antrim, and grows as luxuriantly here as in England.

Osmunda regalis {Linn.). Royal Eem.

Galway. King^s County : All Saints bog, rare. Clare : Lough-a-
torrig, local. Kerry, common. "Waterford : Portlaw, Ardmore. Wick-
low: Devil's Glen, rare, J. R. K.

From the above, it wiU be seen to be generally distributed, though
often local. It is most luxuriant in the west and south, especially near
the sea, where a stunted form of it grows down often within the high
tides line. In Dublin it is extremely rare. The only station I ever
heard of, that given by Mackay, appears to be now extinct. I have
often searched there unsuccessfully for it.

Blechnum spicant {Linn. sp.). Northern Hard Fern.

Common and general, growing alike in mountain range, and ele-
vated lowlands, and bog ; it flourishes even amidst the sea spray in
some localities. I have met it in every locality I have been in. A crisped
subform of it is worthy of notice.

Pteris aquilina {Linn.). Common Brakes.
Common and general, but most aflccting lowlands or sheltered glens.

Polypodium vulgare {Linn.), « Common Polypody.

Common everywhere from lowland glade to the summit of our wild-
est hiUs. I have met it 1800 feet above the sea level, in the wild gorges

i

DUBLIN NATURAL UI8T0RY SOCIETY. 93

of tho county of Wicklow and county of Limerick, luxuriantly growing.
The plant on the exposed ridges small and stunted, but wherever there
is the smallest shelter, its growth is most luxuriant and beautifiiL

Gymnoearpium phegopteri* {Linn, sp). Beech Fern.

Kerry : Killamey, Tore mountain, very abundant "Wicklow : Wa-
terfall, very scarce, J.KK.

This fern has been recorded from Down and the north, generally ; it
is by no means so abundant here as in England.

Oystopteris fragilis {Linn, sp.). Bladder Fern.

Galway : Gort, J. R. K. Clare : Burren, J. R. K

Though recorded from "Wicklow and Dublin, careful research in this
latter locality, and in many parts of Wicklow, has been unrewarded
on my part I have never met it except in the west and north-west,
where it is tolerably abundant

Polystichum aculeatum {Linn. sp. ?), Broad Prickly Shield Fern.

Tyrone : near Aughnacloy, not rare. Monaghan : ditto. Galway :
very common. Clare : Feakle, rare. Tipperary : near Birr, very rare.
Kerry : rare, locaL Dublin : very local and rare. Kildare : very abun-
dant, LevitstowiL Carlow: ditto. Queen's County, Maryborough,
J.R.K.

I have been particular in noting the localities of this and the follow-
ing species, as they are often confounded. It is an extremely local spe-
cies, commonest in the south-west ; it, as far as I can learn, fitjquents
lowlands chiefly. In Dublin it is one of our rarest species. It would
appear to be a plant of most peculiar growth, which, perhaps, accounts
for its very disjointed distribution over the country. The form met near
Feakle differs so much in character from the ordinary plant, that I have
some hesitation in positively considering them identical, being much
stunted and narrower in its form, and retaining this character in cul-
tivation. It grows as luxuriantly in Galway as anywhere in Cheshire.

Polystichum angulare {Wildenow sp.). Angular Shield Fom.

Tyrone : Omagh, extremely rare. Aughnacloy : rare. Galway :
abundant. Dublin : extremely abundant, J. R. K. Kerry : very abun-
dant Tipperary : Annagh Inch, local, scarce, J. R. K.

This species, unlike the last, is generally diffused and most abundant
commonly; the county of Tyrone, at its northern extremity, is an excep-
tion. I could only find one plant near Omagh and at Aughnacloy; though
the plant occurs, it is far, very far, from common or abundant ; in fact,
it appears to me to be less abundant in the north than in the east, where
it is one of the most characteristic ferns. In west or south I have not
thought it necessary to multiply localities.

94 DUBLIN NATUEAL HISTORY SOCIEXr.

Lastrea montana {Vogler sp.). Mountain Fern.

Tyrone: Gortin Gap, sparingly, 1857. Galway. Clare : Feakle, very
abundant. Kerry: Killarney, scarce. Waterford: Clonmel, scarce.
Dublin : Dodder Valley, local. Wicklow : Lough Breagh and Glenda-
lough, J. R K.

This fern is very local, but, for the most part, abundant where it
occurs. It cannot, however, be called the common fern of any of the
districts recorded except Clare ; it is the inhabitant in that country of
wild mountain sides, near Lough Graney. The deciduous growth of its
fronds has, doubtless, caused it to be often overlooked. It appears to be
commonest in the west.

Lophodium Fosnesecti {Lowe sp.). Bree's Pern.

Tyrone: Omagh, common. Monaghan: common. Galway: very
common. Clare : abundant, but local. Tipperary : rare. Kerry : very
common. Kilkenny : Piltown, common. "Waterford : Curraghmore,
very common. Dublin : extremely rare. "Wicklow : Glendalough, very
abundant; Sugarloaf, rare, J. R. K.

This well-marked species, as will be seen from the above list, is one
of the most commonly diJQPiised ferns in Ireland, being in fact a most
characteristic plant of the west and south. On the other hand, in Dublin,
and the counties more immediately adjacent thereto on the north-east,
it is extremely rare. I know of but two localities in which it occurs in
Dublin — Howth, and Glasavullawn, in the Dodder Valley.

Lophodium muUiflorum {Roth sp.). Roth's Fern.

Generally diffused and abundant. It is one of the characteristic ferns
of the east and north-east, especially in the bogs, replacing Bree's fern
of the west.

Lophodium spinosum (Both sp.). "Withering's Fern.

*' Monaghan: Dartrey,,Rev. Mr. Lovatt Darbey ; auct., I^ewman*s
British Ferns." Tipperary : bog drains, Annagh Inch, near Birr. Wa-
terford : Curraghmore, Portlaw, 1858, J. R. K. I believe I also got this
species near Cahirciveen, county of Kerry, 1856, J. R. K.

This species is certainly not common in Ireland, In the stations at
Tipperary and Waterford it grows luxuriantly, but confined to a few
stations.

Bryopteris affinis {Fischer sp.). Fischer's Fern.

General, and generally diffused, and always distinct from the next.
It grows most luxuriantly, and in a greater state of development at Be-
ragh, county of Tyrone, than in any other locality in which I have met
with it.

DUBUV VATUBAL HI8T0RT SOCIETY. 96

Dryopteris Borreri {Newm.). Borrer's Fern.

General, and generally diffused ; affects more exposed stations and
higher altitudes than the last

These two species are among the more characteristic of the eastern
species.

Athyrium filix famina {Linn. »p.). Lady Fern.

General, and generally diffused.

After a long and careful study of this, one of the loveliest of our
native ferns, I cannot make out more than the one species of this fern
in Ireland, of which forms at times occur which are identical, apparently,
with convexumi tncisum, and molle of the Floras. Whether the original
types of these divisions were specifically distinct or not, I do not pretend
to judge, but in Ireland we have but one species. I should except a small
form (?) of this species, which I obtained some years ago at Ardmore,
county of Waterford, growing on the sea cliffs, but which I have not
had sufficient means of examining, to enable me to judge of its claims
to specific distinction.

Asplenium lanceolatum (JETudson),

Cork : Kinsale, Mrs. J. Beete Jukes, 1856, q. v.

The only Irish specimen I have ever seen was that noted above. I
have recently seen the plant growing luxuriantly in Cornwall, near
Polperro.

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum {Linn.). Maiden-hair Spleenwort.

GeneraL

A commonly diffused, though local plant, occurs on rocks and earth-
banks as its natural habitat ; I have met it everywhere. In the north
and east it is generally more local than in the south.

Asplenium acutum {B<yry MSS.). Killamey Spleenwort.

Kerry : Tore Mountain and other places near Killamey, not uncom-
mon, J. R. K., 1856.

No one who has seen this plant growing wild, or authentic specimens
under cultivation, would for one moment entertain the idea of this and
Asplenium adiantum-nigrum being the same species ; their habits are dis-
tinct, and constantly distinct, so much so that I have known persona
who were not botanists readily point out the difference between the
two species. The confusion relative to the two has, I conceive, arisen
from the fact of a form of A, adiantum-nigrum existing abundantly in
various parts of the country; amongst others atMucruss, Killamey, which
is extremely difficult to distinguish from the printed description of this
plant, but scarcely to be confounded with the plant itself. I have no
doubt the specimens examined by Professor G. J. Allman, and among
which he found intermediate forms, fall Under thia category. The tme

p

96 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

plant was found by me abundantly, 1856, growing in clefts in the rock,
and in dry stations generally ; the plants generally single.

Asplenium marinum (Linn.). Sea-side Spleenwort.

General along sea-coast. Valentia Island, inland, at an elevation of
500 feet above sea, J. R. K., 1856.

As common in the east as the west, in favourable localities. I never
went anywhere that I did not find it on the cliffs.

Asplenium trichomanes {Idnn.). Maiden-hair Spleenwort.
General.

A local species, generally diffused ; it is naturally a denizen of the
clefts of bare rocks.

Amesium ruta mura/ria (Linn. sp.). Wall Rue.

General.

Universally distributed, though, from the peculiarity of its growth,
local ; it attains its highest development on rocks, and also on shady
walls, in some cases covering these to the total exclusion of every other
kind of vegetation.

Scolopendriwn vulgare {Linn. sp.). Hart's Tongue.

General.

This species occurs all over the island, but most irregularly; in
some stations in immense profusion ; in others, seemingly as favourable
to its growth, one or two stunted plants alone will occur. It is a cha-
racteristic eastern species, as in the coimty of Dublin.

Grammitis ceterach {Linn. sp.). Scaly Hart's Tongue.

Tyrone : near Cappagh. Gal way : Gort, Burren. Clare : Tullagh.
Kilkenny: road to Carrick. Tipperary : Lorrha, rare; Nenagh, common.
Limerick. Kerry : near Valentia, rare. Waterford : Ardmore, on clay-
slate, local. Dublin: Belgard to Saggart, abundant; Whitechurch,
rare, (very local). Wicklow: Glendalough, Enniskerry. Queen's
County, J. K K.

A local fern, much more abundant in the west than in the east ; it
is very characteristic of the former districts.

Trichomanes radicans {Swartz). Killamey Pern.
"Limerick: Cumailte Mountains, on authority of specimens in
Glasnevin Gardens." Kerry : Valentia Island (this locality first noted
by Miss H. Blackburn e), apparently introduced; Killamey, Tore moun-
tain, very abundant, 1856, J. R. K. Waterford: '* Glouin Caragh,"
W. Andrews, Esq., q. v.; Valley of Blackwater, 1852, J. RK., very
abundant " Cork :" vide *' Newman's British Ferns." '* Wicklow :"
^1805, auctore, ''Mackay's Flora Hibernica."

I have been particular in noting the localities of this fern, as its

DXTBUN VATTHUL HI8T0ET 80CIBTT. 97

history and distribution are matters of great interest. A careful exa-
mination of the three localities noted above, viz., Waterford, Killamey,
and Valentia, have convinced me that the form called " AndrewsiC*
after its discoverer, to whom also is due the identification of this plant
with radicans of Swartz, is the normal form of the plant ; the form
which occurs at Killamey, and by which the plant is best known, having
been drawn up by moisture, by which the parenchymatous portions of
the plants are developed at the expense of the fructification. The plants
at Waterford fruit freely, and are scarcely distinguishable from An-
drewsiif but under cultivation many of them pass into the ordinary
Killamey form.

Hymenophyllum Tunhridgmse, Tunbridge Filmy Fern.

Clare : Monounta, Feakle, abundant on bare cliff, 500 feet high,
J. R. K Tipperary : Morgan's Glen, E. H. Sargint, Esq., mixed with
next, q. v. Kerry : Valentia Island, rocks over Glenleavey woods, cliffs
near slate quarries, sparingly; Killamey, abundant. Waterford:
Glandine, sparingly ; Portlaw ; Curraghmore wood, abundant and fine,
J.RK.

This species has been confounded with the next ; thus the stations
given by authors at Glencree and the Waterfall, county of Wicklow, refer
to next. I have never seen authentic specimens of this species except
from the south and west

Hymenophyllum unilaterale ( Wild). Wilson's Filmy Fern.

Tyrone : Gortin Gap, abundant among rocks, 1857, J. R. K. " Tip-
perary : Morgan's Glen, E. H. Sargint, Esq.," q. v. Kerry : Valentia
Island, near slate quarries, common. Killamey : very common, J. R. K.
*' Dublin: Kelly's Glen, W. Andrews, Esq." Wicklow: Waterfall,
very abundant. Glencree : Greater Sugarloaf, scarce, J. R. K.

This species is most commonly diffused in the east and north, but
grows more luxuriantly at Killamey than anywhere else that I have
seen it.

The following Irish species have been recorded, and authentic spe-
cimens of them have been shown to me, but I have never been fortunate
enough to meet them myself : —

Adiantum capillm- Veneris {Linn.). Maidenhair.

** Leitrim : Glencar," Right Hon. J. Wynne, vide '* Natural History
Review," page 69, vol. iv. Kerry: "Tralee, W. Andrews, Esq.,^'
q.v. "Galway: Urrisbeg," W. M*CaUa. "Clare: Ballyvaughan."

Polystichum lonchitit {Linn.). Holly Fern.
" Sligo : Benbulben," q. v, " Kerry : Brandon."
Hemestheum Tkelypteris {Linn, »p.).
"Kerry: Killamey, Mncmss Demesne." Professor R. W. Smith,
M. D., showed me an extensive living series of this plant from this,
Mackay's original station, in 1856. " Mayo and Antrim."

k

d& DUBLIN NATTJBAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Aspleniiim viride {Hudson «/?.)•

*' Kerry: Tore Mountain, Killamey," 1856, q. v.
The following have been also recorded, but specimens gathered in
Ireland have not come under my notice, with one exception : —

Cryptogramma crispa {Linn, sp,). Recorded from Down, Antrim,
and Louth.

Gymnocarpium Bryopteria {Linn, sp.). Recorded from Antrim, Mr.
D. Moore.

Lophodium rigidum {Hoff). Recorded from Louth by the Rev. Mr.
Darby {q. v.) : query, introduced plants?

The following species, natives of Great Britain, have not yet been
recorded in Ireland, and, with the exception of the species queried (?),
are not likely ever to be : —

Gymnocarpium Rohertianum, Woodsia Ilvensis, Woodsia Alpina,
Cystopteris Bickieana, Cystopteris myrrJiidifolium {?), Lophodium calli-
pteris (admitted into Dr. Mackay's list, as he himself has informed me,
by an error), Bryopteris ahhreviata {?) { I believe I met this at Omagh,
but cannot yet speak positively), Pseudathyrium Alpestre, Pseudathy-
rium flexile, Amesium Germanicum {?), Am, septentrionale ; and Lopho-
dium uliginosum (pointed out to me living in the woods near Chissel-
hurst, Kent, by G. B. WoUaston, Esq.).

I have carefully abstained from admitting into this list any form of
whose specific existence I am not convinced, such as Asplenium ancepa
{Lowe), first recorded from Killai-ney (where I have myself found it),
by "W. Andrews, Esq., and by him shown to be only a state of A. tri-
chomanea; Lophodium nanum, extremely common on our mountains, but
apparently only a state of Lophodium multiflorum, &c.

The nature of the soil or rock on which the plants grow is but of
little moment ; careful notes of the distribution and growth of the ferns
in distinct geological districts would lead to the conclusion that the only
influence thus exercised relates more to the amount of shelter, moisture,
and depth of soil mechanically dependent on geological formation than
to the chemical constituents of the rocks. Numerically speaking, the
species of ferns found on the bare granite ranges of the county of Dublin
are equal to those of the more favoured and sheltered limestone districts
of the Burren, and this becomes more stiiking when we except those
plants of Lusitanian origin which occur in the latttT county. Yet in
the Fern Flora of the several districts there are features sufficiently
marked to be of importance in the investigation of the sources whence
the plants came, certain species of ferns in the several districts being
more abundant, and growing in greater luxuriance, than the remaining
species in that district, or than they themselves are found in other dis-
tricts.

Thus, excluding such generally diffused species as Pteris aquilina and
Asplenium marinum, the characteristic ferns are as follows, in the several
districts : —

DUBLIN NATURAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 99

Dublin: f or iheZowland* — Polyttiehumangularet Seolopendriwn vul-
gare, Dryopteris affinis, Asplenium trichomanei. For the Highlands and
Bogs — Lophodium multijhrum, Athgrium fltx famina, Drgopt&ris Bor-
reri, Dryopteris qffims, Lomarta sptcantf Asplenium adiantum-nigrum,

Kildare: Lowlands — Polystichum aculeatum, Polystichum angulare,
Seolopendrtum vulgar e^ Lophodium multiflorumj Dryopteris affinisy Athy-
rium Jilix famina.

Tyrone : Highlands — Athyrium filix faminay Lophodium Fcmeseeii,

Lophodium multijlorum^ Hymenophyllum unilaterale. Lowlands Poly'

itichum aculeatum, Dryopteris Borreri, Dryopteris affinis.

Clare and Galway : Lowlands — Polystichum aculeatum, Polystichum
angularCf Polypodium vulgar e, Athyrium filix fccmina, Amesium rata
muraria, Grammitis ceterach, Lophodium Foenesecii, Asplenium adian-
tum-nigrum. Highlands and Bogs — Lomaria spicant, Lastrea montana,
Loph. multiflora, Asplenium trichomanes, Cystopteris fragilis, Osmunda
regalis, Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense, Polypodium vulgare.

Kerry : Lowlands — Polypodium vulgare, Polystichum angulare, Loph,
Foenesecii, Dryopteris affinis, Dryopteris Borreri. Highlands and Bogs —
Osmunda regalis, Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense, Hym. unilaterale, Tricho-
manes radicans, Hemestheum phegopteris, Polystichum angulare, Asple-
nium acutum,

Waterford and Cork : Lowlands — Scolopendrium vulgare, Polystichum
angulare, Grammitis ceterach^ Asplenium adiantum nigrum, Polypodium
vulgare, Lophodium multiflorum. Highlands and Bogs — Lophodium Fee-
nesecii, Dryopteris affinis, Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense, Osmunda regalis.

Besides these, in the following districts ferns of local distribution
occur, but not abundantly enough to impress a general character on the
Flora :—

In Kerry : Asplenium acutum and viride, and Adiantum capillus- Ve-
neris. Cork : Asplenium lanceolatum, Trichomanes radicans, Waterford :
Trichomanes radicans, Lophodium spinosum. Tipperary : Lophodium
spinosum. Wicklow : Trichomanes radicans, Hemestheum phegopteris.

Of the Irish species, all, except Asplenium acutum, have occurred in
England, but many grow more abundantly and luxuriantly in Ireland ;
while, as has been dready shown, many of the British species are un-
known in Ireland. Thes^ latter, we are justified in surmising, are either
Germanic or Boreal types, as many of them on the coasts of Wales and
Scotland are found flourishing in stations identical with some on this
side of the channel, the narrow strait which severs the two islands
alone dividing them, and the missing species so hardy in their habits, as,
once introduced into this country, to have been able to stand the ordeal
of our mildest winters and severest springs.

I would be inclined to look on such ferns as Cryptogramma crispa, At-
plenium viride, and Cystopteris fragilis, as northern species, owing to their
occurring rarely, or comparatively so, in this country as compiutKl with
England and Scotland ; the first having probably been introduced into
this island from England shortly previous to the severance of the coun-
tries, and having since then, owing to the change of climate, barely

100 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

languished out an existence, — this supposition heing strengthened by
the fact, that the Irish localities recorded for it are adjacent to, or at
least in the same districts as those in which Polystichum Lo^ichitisj an
undoubted boreal species, is found (the late Professor Smith, in his de-
scription of the Flora of the Alps, vide ''Natural History Keview,'*
page 48, vol. iv., mentions his having remarked these ferns growing
abundantly in juxtaposition at a considerable elevation).

Of the place of origin of Trichomanes radicans and Asplenium acutum
there can be little doubt, Lusitanian is stamped on every fact con-
nected with their distribution.

This view of the origin of TVichomanes radicans enables us to re-
concile the seeming contradiction of its present and past distribution in
the British Isles ; for, looking at L. Fcenesecii as a member of the same
Flora, that this is so is evident, since the district in which it is at
present most characteristic and abundant also furnishes such confessedly
Lusitanian types as Erica ciliaris, E, Sihaldis, E. Mediterranea, Asple-
nium acutum J A. lanceolatum, Simethis bicolor, Pinguicula grandiflaray
&c., among plants; and among animals, Bufo calamita, Helix pisana^
Anthrocera minos {?), Geomalacus maculosus, Echinus lividus, Cossonus
Tarda, Thia polita, «&c., — forms sufficiently characteristic to mark the
district as possessing a great Lusitanian colony, many of the species not
occurring elsewhere in Ireland and in England, only in the southern
counties.

Giving due weight to the difference of habit of growth, — Tricho-
manes requiring three to four years for the full development of its
fructification, and Loph. Fcenesecii perfecting its spores in the course of
a season; bearing in mind the different physical conditions under which
these two species are capable of existing, — an examination of their pre-
sent distribution furnishes at once the clue as to how Trichomanes could
have ever occurred atBellbank (Yorkshire), and Powerscourt ( Wicklow).
The following general laws of distribution explain the whole diffi-
culty : —

I. A species having spread from its centre, that disturbing causes in-
compatible with its existence may arise at any point in the track
of that distribution ; the range of its existence may cease at this
point, and the continuity of the distribution be destroyed, giving
rise to a colony or colonies.

II. That this interruption of continuity may proceed even to the total
destruction of the capital centre, the colony or colonies remaining
in vigour, or at least existing subsequent to the destruction of the
capital.

III. That the disturbing causes having been removed, and the range
of existence being thus restored, the species may spread from this
colonial centre or centres as from the capital, or even re-colonize
the capital.

Let us examine in this point of view the recorded range of Trich.
radicans and Loph. Fcenesecii. Trichomanes flourishes in a district extend-
ing from about 51° SC N. to 52° 40' N. (Bantry being the most southern

OUBinr NATUBAL HISTOBT 80C1£TT. 101

recorded stution, and Cumailte Mountains, county of Limerick, its. most
northern), and as far east as about 7° 50' W., the Blackwatcr valley re-
presenting the latter; the plant growing in greatest perfection, that
18, fruiting most regularly and perfectly at Iveragh, and in the valley
of the Blackwatcr; the extreme humidity of tlie Killamey district,
whilst encoui-aging the ordinary growth of the plant, interfering with its
fruiting.

Outside this well-marked district are two outlying stations, both, at
the time of their discovery, sickly, and now extinct, or at least one of
them : one, Wicklow, situated in about 52° 10' N. and 6® 20' W. ; the
other, Bellbank, near Bingley, Yorkshire, about 53° 30' N. and 1° 55' W.

In all these districts Lophod. Fomesecii is found luxuriant, but local
in the latter two.

Suppose these two plants to have made their entry into Ireland
somewhere in that district YfYiiohAsplenium lanceolatum, A.acutum, Adi-
antum capillus Veneris mark out as the head-quarters of the Lusitanian
Flora, and to have spread under favourable circumstances as far north as
Yorkshire ; that then, the two countries severed, the physical conditions
of district were so altered as to destroy the balance necessary to the
former's existence in the interv^cning districts. This favoured spot at
Bingley, where Eichardson gathered, one hundred and fifty years ago,
the celebrated specimen which has so puzzled botanists, remained as the
last haunt of Trichomanes radicam ; whilst its hardier compatriot escaped
the general destruction of Lusitanian forms so well as to supply us with
abundant stations even much further north than this. Similarly the
Wicklow station may be but an offset from that in the county of Water-
ford, and may be even anterior to it, the chain of continuity being
broken by some causes which caused the disappearance, plant by plant
and station by station, of Trichomanea, so that the sickly plant discovered
by Dr. Whitley Stokes and Miss Fitton, in 1805, at Powerscourt
Waterfall, at last alone remained to point out the old colonization of the
district with the species.

Some explanation of the set of terms already freely used is ne-
cessary, viz., " balance necessary to the plant's existence." By this is
meant those degrees of intensity of physical agencies, especially light,
heat, and moisture, compatible with the existence of any species, or, as
we might otherwise express it, the physical range of its existence. The
following series of laws express this more generally : —

1. Every species requires light, heat, moisture, &c., for the due per-

formance of its functions, and the quantity of these thus neces-
sary may vary within certain fixed limits.

2. That this limited standard may be still further either increased

or diminished within certain further limits, without destruction
of the life of the species, though usually at the expense of or
deterioration of some of the functions.

3. That the (1) standard of growth and (2) range of existence varies

in species springing from the same centre.

102

DUBLIN NATX7BAL HI8T0EY SOCIETY.

Suppose two plants, species A and B, having the following range of
existence and standard of growth, —

Range of Existence.

Standard of Growth.

A.

B.

A.

B.

Light, . . .

50"- 10°

90"- 20"

40"- 20°

70"- 30°

Heat, . . .

120-30

120-10

100 - 70

100 - 80

Moisture, . .

200 - 70

170-10

150 - 80

110-20

Now it is manifest these two species, though capable of existing in
the same district, are not uniformly so, but that one can exist in a dis-
trict where the other must perish.

For instance, in a country whose average climate was represented by
the following range, L, 80° - 10 ; H, 80° - 25 ; and M, 90° - 10 ; A would
perish, except from a few favoured spots, and a slight further diminu-
tion of the standard would destroy it altogether ; while B would suffer
but slight inconvenience, but would be probably found least frequent in
the very station most favourable to A. Substitute for A and B in the
above, Trichomanes radicans and LopJiodium Fcenesecii, and the reason
of the persistence of the latter in districts in which the former has become
extinct is e\ddent, particularly if we remember the peculiar conditions,
as regards light and moisture, requisite for the well-being of Trichomanes,
and the perfect carelessness of Loph. Foenesecii as regards these. It but
needs the supposition of the destruction of the woods of a district by an
elevation of the temperature, or any other cause; the light would at
once mount up to a standard incompatible with the well-being of Tricho-
manes, which would then necessarily perish from every place, except a
few limited localities, where sufficient shelter might be afforded it by
rocky crannies, such as the Powerscourt station might afford, and here
the species wonld languish out a feeble existence, while Loph. Foenesecii,
heedless of the increased light, would still flourish on.

One of the animal types, already mentioned, affords such strong cor-
roboration of this theory that I cannot resist quoting it. Helix pisana,
a Mollusc of South Europe, was found by Mr. W. Andrews at Iveragh,
Kerry. Next it occurs in a lengthened strip along the coast of Dublin,
Meath, and Louth, even as far south as Rush. Next it occurs at Tenby,
about half a degree to the south of its Kerry station ; and lastly, it is
recorded from Cornwall, that favoured spot, where still flourish many
confessedly Lusitanian forms. Let any one take the trouble of exa-
mining on the map the connexion between these localities, and compare
with them the distribution already laid down for Trichomanes and Lo-
phodium Foenesecii, and he will perceive that the connexion between the
two districts is too strongly marked to be merely accidental, but rather

DI7BLIM NATtTBAL HI8T0BT SOCIBTT. 103

such as bears mo out in stating that the great Lusitanian life-tide onoe
extended much farther north than it at present does.

It would be easy, by means of these same laws, to demonstrate the
causes of the local occurrence of many of the ferns in Ireland, but
this paper has already extended to such a length that I must content
myself with the following arrangement of centres to which the species
appear to have belonged.

Lusitanian : Asplenium acutum, Asplenium laneeolatuniy Adiantum
capillus- Veneris, Lophodium Famesecn, Lophodium {?) spinomm, HytM-
nophyllum Tunhridgense, Grammitts eeterach. Sub-Lusitanian : AnpUnium
trichotnanes, Asplenium adiantum nigrum, Amesium ruta muraria.

Germanic : Ophiogloasum vulgatum, Botrychium lunaria, Blechnum
spicant, Pteris aquilina, Polypodium vulgare, Polystichum angulare, Lo'
pkodium (?) muUiJlorum, Athyrium filix fcemina, Asplenium marinum,
Scolopendrium vulgare.

Northern: Gymnoearpium Phegopteris, Cystopteris fragilisy Polysti-
chum Lonchitis, Cryptogramma crispa, Polystichum {?) aculeatum, Zastrea
montana, Hemestheum (?) thelypteris, Gymnoearpium Dryopteris, Asple-
nium viride, Dryopteris affinis, Dryopteris Borreri.

The above ^stribution will, perhaps, surprise many, CBpecially the
reference to the Germanic type (i. e. Germano-Indian continental tjrpe)
of all our most generally diffused types ; but finding these ferns equally
distributed in Great Britain and Ireland, I am inclined to thiilk they
must have spread over the two countries at the time when the Germanic
Fauna were introduced through England into this country : by sub-Lusi-
tanian I mean types which, undoubtedly coming from the same centre,
were introduced into this country before the restricted Lusitanian species
made their appearance.

Professor Kinahan exhibited some very fine varieties of Polypodium
vulgare, Asplenium trichomanes, and Dryopteris affinis, sent to him by
H. A. Mandeville, Esq., of Anner House, Clonmel, by whom they had
been obtained near Carrick-on-Suir. The first-named exhibited a great
number of secondary axes sprung from the main axis, and was a fine
example of the irregularity of outline sometimes assumed by Acrogens.
Dr. Kinahan had never seen such fine specimens. The other two, though
extremely interesting, were more common, and had occurred frequently
to Dr. Kinahan.

Mr. J. Bain exhibited a fine example of a curious variety of Athff'
rium filix fcemina, from the county of Wicklow. It was characterized
by the stunted growth of the pinnae, and total abortion of the stalks of
the pinnules, which gave it an appearance resembling somewhat that of
A. trichomanes.

Dr. W. Frazer exhibited a curious pendant cup-shaped nest of Vetpa
f attached to a twig. It was taken at the Dargle, county of Wick-
low ; but unfortimately the maker was not captured, which rendered it
impossible to identify the species.

104 DITBLIN NATURAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

The following were declared duly elected : —

Ordinary Members: — R. J. Daniell, M. B.; Baggot- street ; John
Lawler, Esq., Longford- terrace.

Corresponding Member : — Rev. H. H. Jones, Adare, county of Li-
merick.

Associate Member: — W. H. Bailey, Esq., Geological Survey of
Ireland.

The Meeting then adjourned.

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 9, 1858.
Charles P. Croker, M.D., M.R.I.A., Vice-President, in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read and con-
firmed—

Mr. R. P. Williams exhibited a black-and-white variety of the field
mouse {Mus sylvaticus), which had been presented to the Society by C.
J. "Walmeslie, Esq., whose attention was first called to the specimen in
question by the fact of its being possessed of the power of producing a
chirping noise. Instances of these so-called '' singing mice" had already
been noticed on several occasions, the so-called song being, probably,
dependent on disease in the animal. Varieties of this species as to colour
were rare in the wild state.

The Rev. Professor Haughton communicated the occurrence of Lepi-
domelane in the county of Carlow ; specimens having been forwarded
to him from Ballyellen, by Charles P. Cotton, Esq.

Me. "William Andrews, Honorary Secretary, read the follow-
ing—

notes on the fishes of the western coasts, and record of the occur-
rence OF THE boar-fish (cAPROS APER) IN THE IRISH SEAS.

As other objects of interest new to the marine zoology of Ireland are
to be brought forward this evening, I shall be as concise as possible
in selecting from the many notes which I have made regarding the deep-
water animals of the west coast, especially the fishes.

The existence on the west coast of Ireland of botanical and zoolo-
gical types similar to those of the shores of Cornwall and Devon, and of
Spain, Portugal, and the Mediterranean, has often afforded subject-
matter for the meetings of this Society. It has been supposed that
currents setting from the southward, and here mingling, have raised the
temperature of the water, and carried to these shores the denizens of
those around the Tagus and Mediterranean. It is known to nautical
men that a stream more or less perceptible, and termed Rennel's Current,
has had the effect of carrying ships out of their course to the northward,
when seeking to make the Cape from the "Western Ocean ; but it has

DUBLIN KATUIUL HISTOBT SOCIEIT. 105

nevm* been Batisfactorily proved that the temperature of this coast is doe
to any current, nor are we justified in attributing to it the occurrence of
the interesting plants and animals which have £rom. time to time occurred
here.

A comparison of the geographical position of these coasts with the
shores of Cornwall leads us to expect similar species of plants and ani-
mals, while the mild and moist atmosphere caused by the prevalence of
the westerly winds maintains a temperature which permits the growth
throughout our western hills of plants peculiar to the sub-alpine districts
of Spain and Portugal. The beautiful sea-pea (Z. maritimum) is of far
more luxuriant habits and robust growth at its only Irish habitat, Kos-
begh, at the south-eastern extremity of Dingle Bay, than in the pebbly
beaches of Lincolnshire and Suffolk, and in Shetland; and, according to
the late Dr. Graham, of Edinburgh, is identical with the plant of the
south of Europe. Many of the Lichens and Algoe of these shores are
identical with those of the south-west of England and of the Mediter-
ranean.

"With regard to the fishes, many species found in Cornwall and the
Mediterranean have been also met with on our south-western coasts, the
announcers of their occurrence in too many cases recording them as
" visitors." In all branches of the fisheries which I have b^n able to
investigate, I have ever found facts condemnatory of the erroneous idea
of the migration of fishes ; and wherever the captures already alluded
to have been made, there was the established region of the fishes* exis-
tence. In the distribution of marine animals locality may often affect
a species as regards its abundance, greater development in size, or per-
fection in type ; but wherever we have met with individual instances of
the occurrence of rare species, we may rest assured that the locality is,
to a certain extent, either greater or less favourable to their existence.
Our observations must be, indeed, limited, such slender opportunities are
and have been afforded to us of examining and exploring the haunts of
the deep-water marine fishes ; and we can venture to put forward but
imperfect views at present with regard, to the investigation into the
nature, habits, and extent of existence of such animals.

In the collections made from time to time in trawling and other in-
vestigations of the coasts, I have often proved how essentially important
it is to note accurately the localities and habits of the various fish and
other marine animals, — peculiar soundings affecting the habits, charac-
ter, and quality of many species of fish. In colour and character of
species many of the Triglae, or Gurnard family, obtained in Dingle and
Ballinskellig Bays, are identical with, or approach more nearly to the
same species from the Mediterranean than to specimens from the northern
seas. It is many years since I called attention to the occurrence here
of the supposed species Tiigla Blochiiy and of a species in character
identical with Triglapini {Block).

Although we have some representatives on this coast of fish of the
northern regions, such as Cottua OroenlandicuSt Sebiute* Norv4gicu9^
Morrhtia minutay andJiamc&ps tri/urcatuty all supposed at present to be of

106 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETr.

great rarity ; yet the principal species are those occurring also on the
south-west coast of England and in the Mediterranean. Among these
may be mentioned —

Lemon Sole, Solea pegusa {Yarrell).
Variegated Sole, MonocMrus variegatus.
Solenette, M. Unguatulus.
Rock Sole (unrecorded species).
Scaldfish, Rhombus arnoglossm.
Mackerel Midge, Motella glauca.
Two-spotted Goby, Gobius bipunctatus.
Little ditto, G. minutus.
Speckled ditto, G. reticulatus.
Red Mullet, MuUus surmulettus.
All taken, in deep water, in Dingle Bay, and off Ventry Harbour.

Black Bream, Cantharus griseus.

Spanish Mackerel, Scomber colias. A specimen of this, weigh-
ing 3 lbs., having been taken in a herring-net, was sent to me.
Stone basse, Polyprion cernium.
Comber Wrasse, Labrus comber.
Red ditto, Z. trimaculatus.
Small-eyed ditto, Crenilahrus microstoma.
Rainbow Wrasse, Julis Mediterranea.

I have the pleasure to-night of bringing forward another addition to
the Ichthyology of Ireland, — a fish peculiarly Mediterranean, — the boar-
fish, Capros aper of Lacep. and Risso, Zeus aper of Linnaeus, Perca pu-
silla {Brunnich). This little fish, so remarkable for its beauty and rarity,
was taken in a trawl ojff Ventry Harbour, in soundings of fine soft sand,
and was secured for me through the vigilance of one of the most expe-
rienced and intelligent of the Dingle fishermen, Mr. Eugene Moriarty.

Whenever anything remarkable has been obtained, and in the ground
of the most valuable marketable fish, the soundings, &c., are duly recorded.
Thus, off Ventry the bearings are : — Old Man, opening in the Sound of
the Blaskets, bearing N. W. ; the Eastern White House at Ventry, a
sail's-breadth open of the west point, bearing N. E. by K. ; the eastern
point of the Bay open of Minard Point, bearing E. by S. 27 fathoms,
fine sand. Standing in: — Ventry houses, opening of the west point;
Minard, touching Bull Head; Mount Eagle, on the western point oif
Ventry, bearing N. K. W. 20 fathoms, fine soft sand ; closer in, Crow
Rock, in with the tower of Bing-Bong Head, bearing E. half N. ; Minard
Point shut in.

These were the grounds of many of the fish that I have submitted
to your notice, and the locality of the capture of the present.

On reference to the several books of British ichthyology, there appear
only to be two records of the capture of the Capros aper on the coasts of
England, — one taken in Mount's Bay, coast of Cornwall, in October,
1 825 ; the other obtained in the Bridgewater fish-market, in April,

OUBUN NiLTUBAL aiSTOBT SOaSTT. 107

1 833, — and this is the first reoArd of its capture on the Irish coasts.
In its recent state it presents a beautiful appearance. The pecu-
liarity of its projecting snout, its oval and compressed body, shaded
on the back with a rich brownish carmine, of a brighter and more red-
dish colour on the sides, and silvery toward* the abdomen ; the body
hispid, covered with minute and rough scales, beautifully ciliated on the
margin; the mouth with very minute teeth, and very protractile, similar
to the Doree ; eyes very large, pupil a dark plum colour, the irides a
rich pink ; the first dorsal very strong and spinous, as also the ventrals ;
the membranous and emarginate rays of the dorsal of a yellowish tinge;
pro-operculum finely serrated. About six and a quarter inches in length
from the snout to the extremity of the caudal fin, and the body in depth
three inches ; the dorsal-fin rays are continuous, the first having very
strong spines.

It is allied to the Zcinsc, or Dories, and is evidently a ground-feeding
fish, and a deep-water species. Like the Doree, its mouth is protractile,
and capable of much expansion, favouring the capture of soft and minute
animals that may float in its way ; for, like the Equulea, a noted little
fish of the Indian Ocean, it can suddenly form a tube-like projection of
its mouth. Its eyes, which are brilliant, are very large for the size of
the fish, and are such as seem peculiar to fishes feeding at considerable
depths, and which are seen in the genera Platysomus and Blepharis, of
the same sub-family.

Peofessor J. Reay Greene then brought forward the following —

ADDITIONS TO THE IRISH FA UNA.

The first of these was an apparently new species of Brittle-Star, allied to
the Ophiocoma neglecta of Forbes, from which species it differed in the
shape and convexity of its disk, which presented, moreover, a cleft and
emarginate appearance opposite the insertion of each of the rays ; in
the pair of heart-shaped plates, situated within the margin of the disk,
by which the rays were subtended; in the shape of the upper ray plates,
which were of a somewhat transversely ovate form ; in the number of
spines (three or four on each side), with which the lateral ray plates
were provided ; and lastly, in the relative proportion Q • 4) between
diameter of the disk and the length of the rays. For this Brittle-Star he
would suggest the name of Amphiura Leachii.

The second addition which he wished to record was a species of
sea-anemone, the Bunodea gemmacea of Gosse, hitherto unknown on the
Irish coast, though extremely abundant on the shores of Devonshire and
other parts of England. On the outside of Cork Harbour it seemed to be
equally common.

Another species of Bunodes, which he supposed to be new, had like-
wise occurred to him, as also a peculiar form of Lucemaria {vide ** Pro-
ceedings of the Dublin University Zoological and Botanical Association,'*
March 19, 1858).

108 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Ho had also met with that very remarkable and beautiful stalked
Polyzoon, the Pedicellina Belgica of Van Beneden. Of this he had
examined two living specimens, both growing upon fronds of Laminaria.
On the same fronds were several cells of Oemellaria loriculata, a common
English Polyzoon, of which, strangely enough, no Irish habitat has yet
been recorded. The figure of Johnston, drawn probably from a dead
specimen, represents the cells as too much flattened.

All the above were taken between tide-marks on the sea-shore near
Trabulgan, county of Cork, opposite the residence of Lord Fermoy.
Here, too, he had also captured a single young specimen of the compa-
ratively rare Uraster hispida.

Dr. E. Percival "Wright called the attention of the Meeting to the
Polyzoa noticed. It showed the necessity which existed for thoroughly
examining this group in Ireland.

Professor Kinahan, M. D., exhibited a fine specimen of Foh/-
porus gigantea, measuring nearly two feet in thickness; the layers
of which it was composed covered an extent of surface of nearly two
feet by nine inches. It was attached to a stem of whitethorn ( Cratcegus
oxyacantha), and had been found in the breast of a ditch near Portlaw,
county of Waterford. He was indebted for the specimen to Miss H.
Shaw, of Springfield, Portlaw. The specimen illustrated the irregular
mode of the plant's growth, and its perennial nature, in a remarkable
manner. Dr. Kinahan alluded to the great abundance and luxuriance
of fungi, mosses, and lichens, in and about Curraghmore, county of Wa-
terford, where he had also found Lopliodium spinosum growing in some
abundance.

The Meeting adjourned to the month of May.

FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1858.

Professor W. H. Harvey, M.D., M.R.I. A., F.L.S., President,
in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting were read and confirmed.
Dr. Kinahan read the following recommendation of the Council : —

**That Robert John Montgomery, Esq., be appointed as Honorary
Director of the Museum, the Director to be ex-officio on the Coimcil."

Moved by Dr. Kinahan, seconded by J. I. Whitty, LL. D., and
unanimously resolved, — That this recommendation of the Council be
adopted by the Society.

Rev. Eugene O'Meara read the following paper —

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ANTHOZOIDS IN PLEUROSIGMA SPENCERII.

On Friday evening, April 30, I was engaged in the examination
of a gathering I had made two days previous from a running stream.

DUBLIN NATURAL III8T0BY SOCIBTTT. 109

On looking into the microscope I was much struck with the peculiar
appearance of one of the forms that first presented itself in the field, — a
Pleurosigma Spencerii. The usual colour of the endrochrome in this
species is pale brown, but in the present instance it was a beauti^l
green. A number of granules of a bluish -green colour were distributed
through the cell. In a few minutes I observed that the greater portion
of the granules, at least two- thirds, moved with a sudden jerk to the
lower part of the cell. Some of the granules passed out of the valve,
and immediately after an Anthozoid issued from the cell. Shortly after
another made its appearance, and another, until six or eight had been
extruded.

All these organisms proceeded in the same manner from the valve,
and exhibited themselves in the same spot, within what appeared, under
a quarter-inch objective, with No. 2 eye-piece, about V»th of an inch
from the extremity of the valve. In form the Anthozoids, if at rest,
would have presented very much the appearance of a spike of thistle-
down. The head was of a pale green colour, and round it the tail was
lashed from side to side with great activity.

On the same occasion several forms were observed, presenting similar
appearances, with Anthozoids moving rapidly about in their immediate
neighbourhood. Among these were two or three of the species named
CymatopUura solea ; but in no case except the one just alluded to did
I observe them issuing from the valve.

On the evening following that in which the preceding observation
was made, I examined a drop from the same gathering, when a great
change was noticed to have taken place in the appearance of such ^ato-
maceous forms as occurred, compared with that which they presented the
evening before. But few granules were seen. The endochrome also
had changed its colour 6*om green to olive, and, instead of being diffused
through tiie cell, was in many instances collected in a narrow band along
each side of the cell, or at the opposite ends of it. In some cases these
bands had broken up into isolated portions, and in others the valve was
as free from endochrome as if it had been treated with acid.

The President dwelt on the value of the observation, which was, he
believed, perfectly new, and he had no doubt, as such, would be con-
troverted, or at least probably received with doubt There was, there-
fore, the more necessity for repeating the observation, and, if possible,
confirming it. He thought it most probable that these bodies were
Zoospores, and not Anthozoids ; though this would not in the least de-
tract from the value of the observation. Perhaps Mr. William Archer,
who had devoted so much time to the study of the Desmidi® and other
simple vegetable forms, would favour them with his views on the
subject

Mr. Archer said that he felt inclined to look on these bodies as Zoo-
spores, as suggested by Professor Harvey, otherwise we must suppose
that two forms of the same mode of reproduction (that by dissimilar
cells) existed among these plants. The observation was, nevertheless,
a most valuable one.

110 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Professor Kinahan, M. D., read a paper —

ON THE GENERA PHILOSCIA (lATREILLE); ITEA (kOCH) ; PHILOUGRIA (kINA-

HAN) ; COMPRISING DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW BRITISH SPECIES.

(with a PLATE.)

In an " Analysis of the British Oniscoidea" read before Section D of the
British Association, at their recent Meeting in this city, and afterwards
published in your Transactions, reasons were given for re-establishing
the genus Philoscia {Latreille), which M. Edwards, Dana, and others,
are inclined to incorporate with the genus Oniscus. As first de-
scribed, the genus included but one species, the Oniscus muscorum
(ScopoU), Oniscus sylvestris {Fabn'cius). To-night I have to announce
another species of the genus, which confirms me in the propriety of the
establishment of this genus, as it agrees with Phil, muscorum in all those
characters which led to the generic separation of that species from
Oniscus.

The genus Philoscia, though established by Latreille, appears to have
been unknown to all the German authors who have written on the group,
with the exception of Zaddach, who gives a very fair description of it.
H, Schaeffer states: — *' Philoscia: Up to this, but one figured species
is known, namely, 0. muscorum (Scopoli). Whether the species 0. syl-
vestris here referred to is properly cited here may be questioned ; to me
the genus and species is unknown." Milne Edwards contents himself
with copying Leach's description of the species ; wliile LerebouUet
evidently has never seen the typical species, as he describes a well-
marked species of Oniscus for it. This is singular, as the animal is one
of the commonest of the group in Ireland and England, and, Zaddach
states, also common in some parts of Germany.

The genus Philoscia and its relations were so fully discussed in my
former paper, that it is unnecessary here to do more than briefly describe
the species and genus.

Family.— PHILOSCID^. ^

Genus 1. — Philoscia {Latreille).

Telson (cingulum ultimum) coxis perparvulis. Pleopoda (pedes spurii)
posteriora nuda, ad telson marginem exteriorem articulata, basis quadri-
lateralis ; Ischium trigonum, satis appendiculatum, nudum, lobus acces-
sorius triangularis. Antennae intemae 3-articulatae. Antenn. extern,
basis rotundatus, non lobatus ; filamentum 3-ai*ticulatum. Abdominis
cingulum coxae parvae. Carapacis frons nee mediane nee lateraliter
lobatus.

1. —Philoscia muscorum {Latreille).

Corpore laeve, nitido, splendido. Fronte paululum medio arcuato.
Telson late-triangulari, apice acuminate, lateribus rectis. Pleopodis
posterioribus; Ischio, falciformi; Appendice ischii dimidio longitudinera
vix superante.

Sub musco lapidibusque ubique abundantissime, etiam ad littus ma-
rinum.

DUBLIN VATUBAL HISTOET 80CIETT. Ill

2. — Philoicia Couchiif n. s, •
Corpore laeve, splendido. Fronte recto. Telsbn lineare-triangulari ;
apice obtuse-truncato, setis validis armato ; lateribus paululum excava-
tis. Pleopodis postcrioribus ; Ischio falciformi-subulato. Appcndice
vix J ischii longitudinem aequante.

Sub lapidibus algisque marcescentibus ad maris marginem ad " Tal-
land Cove," juxta Polperro, Cornwall, Angliam haec species a me re-
perta fuit. Viro clarissimo Jonathan Couch, F. L. S., qui de animalibuB
murinis regionis Comubicnsis cognoscendis optime meruit, dicatam esse
velim.

PHILOSCIA.

Body flattened ; no lateral or median lobes to carapace ; internal
antennae three-jointed. Peduncle of external antenna rounded, unlobt^d.
Tige three-jointed. Posterior pleopods (last pair of false feet) attached
to exterior margin of telson, uncovered. Peduncle (basis) quadrilateral.
Ischium trigonal, and, as well as accessory appendage, imcovered.

Species 1. — Philoscia muscorum {Latreille),

Body smooth and shining; head transversely elliptical, arched in £ront;
no true lateral or median lobes ; internal antennae inconspicuous ; ex-
ternal antennae densely hairy ; abdomen much narrower than cephalo-
thorax; telson (last ring) broadly triangular; apex acute; posterior
pleopods (abJbminal false feet) ; Ischium trigonal, spinous along edges.
Accessory appendages more than half length of ischium, and nearly at-
taining to its summit.

Colour : fulvous, with dark black patches and white blotches. A
pale salmon-coloured variety is not uncommon. Habitat : dry places,
under leaves, stones, moss ; also near sea-shore very common.

. Habits : runs rapidly ; seeks sunshine ; does not roll into a ball ;
feigns death.

Localities : Dublin, "Wicklow, Meath, Wexford, Cork, Waterford,
Tyrone, and probably all over Ireland. England — Middlesex, Essex,
Kent, Plymouth, Devonshire not so common, Cornwall, Polperro, &c.

Species 2. — Philoscta Couchii (Mthi) n. *. Plate XXIII., Fig. 4.

Body smooth, elliptical ; head somewhat rounded, nearly straight
across front ; beneath orbits a small lobe, arising from superior margin
of antennal ring. Internal antennae inconspicuous ; external antcnnaD
hairy ; tige long and narrow. Abdomen narrower than cephalo- thorax.
Telson (last ring) narrow, linearly triangular ; apex rounded, and fringed
with stiff bristles ; sides excavate. Posterior pleopods (last pair abdo-
minal feet) ; ischium elongate, fidciform, subulate. Accessory appendage
scarcely one-fourth the length of ischium ; in other lespeota tts FkiUncut
muscorum.

Colour : lead gray, uniform to the naked eye.

Habitat: under stones, and amid dccajring seaweed at high-water
mark; local.

B

112 DUBLIN NATTTEAL HI8T0EY SOCIETY.

Habits : runs with great agility ; does not roll.

Locality: TaUand Cove, Corawall, 1858.

I have named it after Jonathan Couch, M. D., F. L. S., the well-
known illustrator of Cornish zoology.

The only species I can at all find described which comes near my
Philoscia Couchii are two figured in Dana's great work as Onisci : one,
0. nigrescens, from New Zealand ; the other, 0. pubescens, from South
America. Dana evidently was unacquainted with the genus (as I have
before shown) as distinct from Oniscus.

In the new species the frontal border of carapace is carried well
forward, and passes down to the antennae, the superior antennal ring
having its margin produced into a minute lobe beneath the orbit. This
species fully proves the judiciousness of the separation of Philoscia from
Oniscus.

In the same paper I also proposed the foundation of a new genus,
Philougria, for the reception of a small Oniscoid, which is extremely
common, but which, undescribed in this country, was also apparently
undescribed on the Continent; at the time I stated my suspicions that the
genus Itea of Koch had been misdescribed ; but, owing to want of
proper figures, I did not feel justified in identifying my specimens, to
which I gave the name of Philougria celer, with the Itea riparia of
Koch, for I found the genus described by Koch as having only one joint
in the tige of the antennae, and even Zaddach, who has noted and
corrected this error, and has given an admirably accurate description of
two species, used such terms as these: — ''Antennae interiores magis
etiam diminuta quam in Philoscia ex uno modo articulo constare vi-
dentur :" a description which any one who examines the description of
Philougria rosea of this present paper will find to be most incorrect ;
the antennae in that species projecting so far beyond the front as to be
visible to the unassisted eye from above.

During the past summer I was fortunate enough to meet with two
other species of the same genus, which are identical with two out of the
four species already describe^ as Itea by Koch and Zaddach ; and by
help of these it appears to me that we are justified in assuming that both
Zaddach and Koch erred in regard to the characters of the internal an-
tennae. The genus Itea being, then, inaccurately described, and further-
more the name having been long ago appropriated to a well-known
genus of plants by Linnaeus, I would suggest that the generic name
suggested by me last year should still stand, and the name Itea be al-
together erased from the carcinological lists ; the only species of it which
does not come into the present genus being the Itea crassicornis of Koch,
which is seemingly a Platyarthus of Brandt. The examination of the two
additional species obliges me to modify some of the minor characters of
the genus, as published in my analysis, and the abolition of the generic
term Itea necessitates the substitution of Philougridae for Iteadae as the
name of the family. This, as it now stands, includes Trichoniscus {Brandt)^
should this genus prove distinct.

DUBLIN NATXTEAL HI8T0BT 80CIETT. 1 13

Family.— PHILOUGRID^.

Genus 1. — T&ichoniscus {Brandt).

Genus 2. — Philouoria (Kinahan).
Itea {Koch) (in part).

Telson coxcb pcrparvulaB. Pleopoda posteriora nuda, in sinu mar-
ginis exterioris telson articulata ; basis triangularis ; ischium appendi-
culatum, trigone-subulatum ; lobus accessorius satis magnus. Anten.
extern. 3 articulat®. Antenn. extern, pedunculum non lobatum; filamen-
tum subulatum, 5 articulatum Iteve, filo abeuns. Cingulum abdominis
coxa), primi parvse, 2di, 3tii, 4ti, 5tique lineares. Carapacis fix)n8 nee
mediant nee lateraliter lobatus. Antennarum superiarum cingulum infra
oculos lobo abeuns. {Ph. riparia, Ph. rosea, Ph. vivida.)

1. — Philougria riparia {Koch, sp.) Plate XXIII., Fig. 1.

Corpore leevi, splendido, eUiptico. Antenn. intern, parvulis incon-
spicuis. Antennis extemis ut gernis: Telson supra pleopod. posterior,
maxime excavato, truncato-triangulari, apice emarginato.

Sub musco, frondibus, lapitlibusque ubique in locis madidis totam
per Hibemiam et Angliam, ha)c species, dispersa esse, videtur, rarius in
Comitatibus meridionalibus.

Longitude, -15 unc.

2. — Philovgria vivida {Koch, sp.).

Corpore laevi, splendido, oiali. Telson truncat^-triangulato ; apice
psene recto, superne profunde sulcato, non emarginato.

Colore : fusco subtilissime albide-maculato.

Sub musco, lapidibusque in coUibus ad "Portlaw, Com. Waterford,'*
Hibemiam, non rare inveniam.

Longitude, -25 unc.

3. — Philougria rosea {Kochy sp.).

Corpore scabro, tuberculato. Oculis minutis. Antennis intemis,
conspicuis, ante frontem extendentibus. Abdominis cingulis, Imo, 2do,
3tioque, granulatis ; 4to, 5toque Isevibus. Telson lateribus excaratis,
apice truncate, recto ; ceteris ut Phil, riparia.

Colore miniaceo-rubro, albido suffuse, aut albo. Longitude, '15 unc.

In horto, cellariisque, ad Plymouth, Com. Devon, Angliam, amicus
meus Car. Spence Bate, F. L. S., hanc speciem observavit, ubi etiam non
rarius egomet inveni.

Philougria {Kinahan), Itea {Koch, in part).

Body flattened; no lateral or median lobes to the front; internal
antennae three-jointed ; external antenna), second articulation rounded,
unlobed ; tige subulate, five-jointed, smooth ; posterior pleopods com-
pletely uncovered, articulated in a notch at posterior margin of telson.
Peduncle (basis) triangular, appendiculate ; Ischium trigonal, smooth,

114 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

generally terminating in a set of filaments. Accessory appendage well
marked.

\.—PMlougria rtparta {Koch, sp.). Plate XXIII., Pig. 1.

Synonyms : Itea riparia {Koch), Itea Icevis {?) {Zaddach), Philougria
eeler {Kinahan, olim).

Body smooth and shining, elliptical ; head oval ; antennal plate at-
taining to frontal line, its external angles produced as small lobes be-
neath the orbits ; internal antennae small and inconspicuous ; external
antennse of moderate length, carried folded at an angle. Telson deeply
excavate over insertion of posterior pleopods, medianly produced, trun-
cately triangular, deeply emarginate.

Length, -15 inch.

Colour: uniform claret-brown; under the lens, most exquisitely
marbled with white.

Habits : runs with great agility ; buries itself deep in the earth ;
very impatient of drought ; feigns death, but does not even semi-roU.
I have found it with ova and young in the months of Pebruary to l^o-
vember.

Habitat : very moist places, among decaying vegetable matter, at
roots of trees ; under moss everywhere.

Localities: Dublin (Wexford, Cork, Kerry, E. P. W.), Tyrone;
"Waterford; Portlaw, rather rare; Kilkenny; Wicklow; Queen's County.
England: — London; Kent; Plymouth, not so common; Polperro, Corn-
wall, not uncommon.

The young (?) specimens have the head slightly scabrous. A number
of fine hairs (\'isible under an inch glass) are scattered over the rings.

The elliptical outline of the entire animal, its smaller size, the cha-
racters of the telson and of the skin (Plate XXIII., Pig. 1 /), which
here is without pits, distinguish it from Ph. vivida, with which it might
be confounded.

2. — Philougria vivida {Koch, sp.).

Syn. — Itea vivida {Koch), Itea nana {Koch {?), Junior). Plate XXIIL,

Pig. 2.

Body smooth, shining, ovaL Telson truncately triangular ; the apex
nearly straight, deeply furrowed above, but not emarginate. Posterior
pleopods and ischium trigone- subulate.

Colour : Claret-brown ; under the lens, marbled with white.

Length: -25 inch.

Habits: runs with great agility ; does not bury itself; less impatient
of moisture than Ph. riparia.

Habitat : under stones and amidst moss on the high groimds.

Locality : hiUs and high ground, about Portlaw, county of Waterford,
where I met this species in great abundance in March, 1858, even in
the midst of snow.

OITBLnr KATUmX mSTORT BOCXETT. 115

The superior size and the robust rotundity of this species distin-
guish it at a glance from Phil, riparia. Other characteristics are afforded
by the form of the telson, which is only seemingly emarginate at the
tip ; and by the integument, which in this species is covered with a series
of small pits (Plate XXIII., Fig. 2/). The habits and favourite loca-
lities of the two are very distinct.

Koch founded the species on specimens brought from Vienna by M.
Jenisson ; the exact locality unknown. Ilea nana, which appears to differ
only in colour, was from the same collection.

Philougeia eosea {Koch). Plate XXIII., Fig. 8.
Synonym : — Itea rosea {Koch).

Body, except posterior abdominal rings, tuberculated ; eyes very
small, black, and conspicuous ; internal antennaB very conspicuous, ex-
tending beyond front ; lateral angles of antennal ring strongly marked
beneath orbits ; telson plane above, apex rounded, with four (?) strong
bristles; external antennae hairy; cephalo-thoracic rings and head
coarsely granulated, the granules each bearing a bristle; abdominal
rings, first to third granulated ; fourth, fifth, and telson smooth.

Colour : clear minium-rose, with white dots, and a white stripe down
the median line, or a dead white with a dark median line.

Length '15 inch.

Habits much the same as the rest of the group ; seems to be more
humid in its haunts ; does not roll; feigns death ; and is not quite as active
as either of the other species.

Habitat : in damp places, in gardens and courts, and in dark cellars
(the pure white variety).

Localities : the first specimen of this species I saw was taken at Ply-
mouth by my friend C. Spence Bate, F. L. S., in his cellar. On a further
search there and in his court-yard I found the species abundantly. I
never met it elsewhere.

For the drawings of this and the other species I am indebted to my
friend Charles Spence Bate, F. L. S.

Koch states that the species is not common in Germany. Itea Mengii,
of Zaddach, which at one time I was inclined to look on as this species,
I am now rather inclined to identify with specimens which I have ob-
tained in Donnybrook, and which, though differing from Ph. riparia in
the following points — head scabrous; cephalo-thoracic rings covered with
rough granulations, abdomen nearly same width as cephalo-thorax ; tel-
son not emarginate ; colour, white, with dark slripes — I still hesitate to
separate from that species of which I suspect they are the young state.

The only terms used in this Paper, additional to those in the Analysis,
are — telson (last abdominal ring), and posterior pleopoda (last pair of ap-
pendages), both of which I have adopted from Spence Bute's Report on
the British Amphipoda, at the same time wishing to guard myself from
being supposed to have adopted the idea that there arc three primary
divisions of the crustacean body, viz., kephalon (head), pereion (thorax).

116 DUBLIN NATUaAL HISTOKY SOCIETY.

pleon (abdomen). I cannot satisfy myself that in the type Crustacea of
twenty-one rings we have more than two primary divisions, viz., four-
teen anterior rings (cephalo- thorax), seven posterior rings (abdomen). In
some genera and groups we find (as Amphipoda) the first of these split
up secondarily into two parts, and here it doubtless is convenient to name
each of the parts. Used in this subordinate sense, the terms head, cepha-
lon (or what I conceive means the same thing), carapace (as correctly
used), and pereion, or thorax, may be used. Abdomen and pleon are
confessedly identical — the only objection to the former term being, that
it has been used to express an organ among the Yertebrata, an objection
which, perhaps, after all does not signify much. The appendages of the
segments, however, much need distinctive names, and there can be no
objection to those suggested in the Report alluded to. Telson, in the same
manner, appears to be an organ which is constant in its relations, and a
most important one, specifically speaking, among the Isopoda.

I would suggest the following alterations in the sequence of the
families of Oniscoidea as given in the Analysis : —

Tylidse, ActaecidaB, PorceUionidae, Oniscidae, Philoscidae (Philoscia,
Scyphax), Philougridae, Titanethidae (Titanethes, Styloniscus,Ligidium),
Ligidae.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIII.

Fig. 1. Philougria ripa/ria magnified : — \h, posterior pleopod; 1/, mi-
croscopic appearance of integument

rig. 2. Phil, vivida : — 2 d, posterior pleopod ; 2 c, inferior view of an-
tennae ; 1 e and 2 e, internal antenna ; 2/, integument.

Fig. 3. FMl. rosea : — 3 b, telson and posterior pleopod ; 3 c, inferior view
of head; 3/, integument.

Fig. 4. Philoscia Couchii : — 4 h, telson and posterior pleopod ; 4 d, pos-
terior pleopod.

The President declared the following gentlemen duly elected : —

HoNOEAKY Member. — Charles Spence Bate, F. L. S., Plymouth.
CoKKESPONDiNG Member. — Jamcs Martin, M. D., Portlaw.
Ordinary Members. — John M'llwaine, Esq., Dublin; M. Weld
O'Connor, Esq., Dublin; Robert Samuel Reeves, Esq., Dublin.

The Meeting then adjourned to the month of June.

FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 4, 1858.
Charles P. Croker, M. D., M. R. I. A., Vice-President, in the Chair.
The previous Minutes having been read and signed, —

DUBLIN 5ATUEAL HIBTOBT BOCreXT. 117

Mr. J. B. Doyle read the following paper —

on some pecrlia.ritie8 of habit in the doddeb plant (cuscuta
epithymum).

It is well known to botanists that there is a curioxis group of plants
known by the name of Parasites, which derive the whole or the greater
portion of their nutriment from other plants. Some of these, as the
misletoe, have leaves of their own, and others, as the Dodder, have none,
but only naked fileiments, studded in the season with small tufts of
flowers of a delicate pinkish-white. It is believed by some that there is
a corresponding difference in their mode of feeding, the former having
leaves of its own, feeding upon the ascending or unelaborated ; the latter
upon the descending or perfected sap.

Having spent some weeks, last summer, in South Devon, I paid a
visit to Dartmoor Forest, and spent some very pleasant hours botanizing
over the Moor.

In the course of my ramble my attention was arrested by the strange
appearance of the gorsc or furze, which at a little distance appeared to
have a delicate pinkish hue pervading its green and prickly branches.
Upon close examination I found that this was occasioned by the inter-
mingling of a vast number of naked filaments or tendrils, studded with
most elegant little waxy flowers, of a delicate French white colour.

A botanical friend explained that this curious plant was the Ctueuta
epithymum, or Dodder plant.

To those who, for the first time, recognise a plant or specimen which
they had previously known only from description, I need not describe
the pleasure with which I examined this curious, very beautifiil, but
very mischievous little plant.

But my attention was soon arrested by a curious and, I believe, a
very interesting discovery. Upon one of the specimens I observed two
blossoms of the moor heath {E. cinered) in vigorous health, growing upon
a filament of the Dodder.

Upon closely examining the immediate locality, I found a stool of
heath within less than a yard of the farze bush, from, which I took the
specimen now on the table.

There could be no doubt that the blossoms in question had been ex-
cised fix)m the heath by the tendrils of the Dodder, and so completely
were they incorporated that they did not miss their removal from the
parent bush, but appeared to be nourished by the juices of the intrusivo
plant, and thus presented the novel feature of being a parasite in turn
upon the true parasite which had borne them off.

The most curious part of the circumstance was that the Dodder,
having excised the two pretty heath flowers, went forward on its rambles,
throwing its lasso round a spray of the furze bush, striking into it frtish
rootlets to support itself on its devious way, carrying intact its precious
burden through the thorny maze.

118 DUBLIN NATTJUAL HISTOBT SOCIETY.

I submit the fact for the consideration of the Society, leaving it for
them to determine the interesting question as to whether the heath
flowers were in reality nourished and bloomed by the juices of the Dodder,
or only kept alive by the moisture of its succulent tendrils.

I trust I may be excused for bringing this circumstance under the
notice of the Society. If the ** Rape of the Lock" was a sufficient theme
for Pope, surely a naturalist may be excused for noticing the abduction
of this pretty little flower by one of the wild denizens of Dartmoor, espe-
cially as the robber is the more worthy of consideration, from the care
he took of his beautiful protege.

Pkofessor Kinahan, M.D., read a paper —

ON THE GENUS SCORPIONURA (j. V. THOMPSON, MSS.).

In the fourth volume of the "Natural History of Ireland," by W.
Thompson, are recorded, by name only, three species of decapodous Crus-
tacea, under the names of Scorpionura vulgaris, Scorp. maxima, and Scorp.
longicornis. No description of this genus having been ever published, it
is a matter of some moment to identify the species thus named, and which
now exist in the collection of the Hoyal Dublin Society. I, therefore,
gladly avail myself of the kind permission of our Honorary Member,
Charles Spence Bate, T. L. S., to lay before you to-night the results to
which he has arrived on examination of these specimens, and at the same
time beg to record a locality for one of the species in the neighbourhood
of Dublin. I prefer this course to myself drawing up any description of
the species, as Mr. Spence Bate has already so thoroughly studied the
family (the Diastylidae), to which these species are referable, as to render
it presumptuous on my part to oifer any remarks on the structure of
the animals.

My object in this communication is confined to proving, through the
identification of these specimens, that the genus thus named by the late
J. V. Thompson must be erased from our lists, the species composing it
falling under the following genera: — Diastylis {Say), Cyrianassa {Sp.
Bate), and a new genus for which Mr. Spence Bate suggests the name
of Vaunthompsonia. At one time Mr. Spence Bate thought of retaining
the name Scorpionura for this last genus ; but that name being already
pre -occupied, he has thought it better to call the genus after the disco-
verer of the Irish species.

It is extremely interesting to find among this collection-^-probably
among the great haul made on the 28th April, 1823 — several specimens
of females with ova, showing that their observer was aware of these being
adult forms, and adding another to the species recorded by Spence Bate
as bearing this strong proof of these being mature, and not, as has been
stated by some of our best authorities, the zoes of some of the Macroura.
I have extracted Mr. Bate's communication and figures in extenso from the
*' Journal of the Royal Dublin Society," before whose evening meeting of
the 28th May it was read.

DUBLIN NAirmAL niSTORT SOOIETT.

119

D1A8TTU8 Rathkii (JTr. sp.). Scohpiontra vtjxoaris (/. F. Th. MSB,)
Alaxtna bostrata ( Goodsir). Cuma RAinKn (Kroyer).

Dublin : near Skerries, by the late Robert Ball, LL. D. (rtifc Thomp-
son's "Natural History," vol. iv., p. 392); Newcastle, Co. Down (W.
Thompson ) . I have not verified this last South of Ireland (J. V. Thomp-
son).

" VArNTHOMPsoNiA {Spence Bate),

* * Carapax angulos laterales ante oculos convenientes. Antenna) supc-
riores nulloo. Fereit segmenta quinque posteriora carapace nuda. FUo-
poda pare ultimo excepto, absunt. Telson perparvulum.

" The lateral angles of the carapax meeting before the eyes ; upper
antennsB wanting ; five posterior segments of the pereion (thorax) not
covered by the carapax ; all the pleopoda, the last pair excepted, absent;
telson rudimentary.

VATTNTHOMPSOirrA CRIST ATA {8p. BoU),

ScoRPioNURA VULGARIS {J. V, Tkompson).

a, antenna ; 3, posterior pleopod.

" Carapacis rcgione dorsali medio cristato, denticulate.
** The anterior portion of the central dorsal region of the carapace with
a ridge of minute teeth ; lower antenna), four joints, the last a fila-
mentary appendage ; posterior pleopoda, with their rami unequally two-
jointed, as long as the peduncle, and armed with stout spines arranged
chiefly along the inner margin; telson triangular, squamiierous, ciliated.

" Length 25 inch.

** The figure and description are firom a female carrying ova ; there
are several specimens in the oollectioD, two of them wi^ ova.

** This species approximates nearer to Cuma Ei¥Hiri9%%{Krcytr) than

8

120 DUBLIN N A TiniAL HISTORY SOCTETT.

to any other I am acquainted with. It probably forms with it, as sug-
gested in my memoir on the British Diastylidae ('Annals, Nat. Hist./
1856), a genus distinct from Cuma, and which may be readily distin-
guished by the character oi the Jive segments of the ^emow being per-
fectly developed posterior to the carapace, whereas in Cuma there are
hut four thus developed.

"Although I have not had an opportunity of dissecting a typical
species of the genus Cuma, I do not hesitate to group the present species,
and probably C. JEdwardsn, as distinct from Cuma, since Goodsir asserts
that both antennse are present in those Cumse which he examined, the
upper in a rudimentary state, a character which I cannot find in V. oris-
tata ; this, taken with the altered condition of the pereion, justifies the
presumption of a generic distinction.

'' In selecting a name, I have fixed on that of the discoverer, being
one which is familiar to every carcinologist, and to which honour is due
for valuable discoveries in this department of zoology. More than one
of the name having been eminent as a naturalist, a license has been
taken, — the Christian name has been incorporated with the surname,
and both spelled according to sound : the word is thus both shortened
and rendered more easy for pronunciation by foreigners.

Cyeianassa longicoenis {J. F. Thompson, MSS. sp.).

" Pleopodis, paribus prime et sexto exceptis, nuUis. Ceteris ut Cpr,
gracilis.

"No pleopoda developed on the second, third, foxirth, and fifth seg-
ments ; the other characters as C. gracilis.

" All the appendages of the pleon are suppressed, except the first and
sixth pairs ; telson squamiform and rudimentary.

"Length, -15 inch.

DUBLIN NATUKAL UI8T0BT SOCIFTT. 121

''In the higher forms of Crustacea the pleopoda in the male are often
altered in form, and sometimes even wanting, except when they are
subservient to the sexual character. It may be, therefore, that the dif-
ference between the present species and C. gracilis is one of sex only.

" A single specimen in the Royal Dublin Society's collection is the
only one I have seen.

" The specimen is shorter and more robust than C. gracilis; the seg-
ments are brought closer together ; the dorsal line of the kephalon and
pereion is more arched; the antepenultimate joints of the lower antennae
do not extend beyond the anterior margin of the carapace. I have,
therefore, thought it advisable for the present to retam Thompson's
name, rather than absorb the species into that previously described.
Having seen but a single specimen of each, I have not had the advan-
tage of dissection to compare their separate details." — On a new Genus
and new Species of Diastylidce, hy C. Spence Bate^ F. L. 8. : Journal of
the Royal Dublin Society, vol. ii., p. 101.

Other members of the group have occurred on the coast of Galway to
Professor Melville, which I hope may be also brought at some future
period before your Society.

Mr. Stephen M. Yeates exhibited a beautiful modification of the gas
microscope, showing its applicability to illustration of microscopic pre-
parations, as, owing to modifications in the structure of the instruments,
it is possible, at a very slight expense, to exhibit to an audience objects
which require high magnifying powers. Specimens of Arachnodiscus,
and dissections of many insects, were distinctly shown. Photographs
taken from objects by means of the instrument were also exhibited.

The Chairman declared Mr. William Laughrin, of Polperro, duly
elected a Corresponding Member^

The Society then adjourned to November, 1858.

Note on Fandalus Jeffrey sii {Spence Bate), andPandalus Leptorhyn-
eus (Kinahan). — A critical examination of Pandalus Jejreysiiy through
the kindness of its discoverer, has proved to me that the species of .£8op
prawn found by me at Sandycove, and recorded in the December Meet-
ing of the Natural History Society {vide ante), is distinct. The name
P. leptorhynchus must, therefore, as suggested provisionally, be applied
to the new species, P. Jeffreysii not yet being recorded as Irish. — J. R.
KiNAHAN, M. D., June 8, 1858.

Note on Pagurus Ehlanensis, pp. 31, 32, 51.— On examination of the
typical specimens of Pagurus Ulidianus (Thompson), preeeryed in the
Belfast Museum, it appears that my surmise (p. 51 ) as to the identity of
P. Ulidianus and P. Ehlatxensis is well founded : the former name must,
therefore, fall. Extunination of liWng specimens, dredged by me in
Bangor Bay, county of Down, confirms this. The true range of the
species, then, is —

P. Ulidianus, Belfast Bay, Portaferry (W. T.); Dublin Bay (J. R. K.);
Galway (A. G. M.).->r. R. K., August, 1858.

122 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETT.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE LOWER CARBONIFEROUS BEDS OF
IRELAND. Br THE REV. SAMUEL HAUGHTON, F. T. CD., AND PROFESSOR
OF GEOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN.

Plate VXII. represents, on a scale one-half that of nature, a fine speci-
men of Knorria (named Sagenaria Veltheimii (Sternberg), and Knorria
imhricata (Giippert), by the German palaeontologists). It is a cast of the
woody axis of this genus, and exhibits well the dichotomous arrangement
of its branches, and the imbricated, spirally- arranged leaf- scars character-
ristic of the Lepidodendra, to which it is evidently allied.

Locality : Hayntren, Saxony.

Geol. horizon : Base of the Lower Carboniferous.

I have introduced this for the purpose of contrasting it with the fol-
lowing : —

Plate IX., Figs. 1 and 2. — Side view and cross section of imperfectly
preserved stem of plant, showing central coaly axis and longitudinal
striations on external surface ; natural size. I cannot refer this plant
satisfactorily to any known form. It is a cast of the woody axis of some
form of Lycopodiaceous or Endogenous plant ; but the central tube pre-
sents a structure different from that of any recent forms.

Locality : Harry lock Bay, county of Wexford.

Geol. horizon : Yellow sandstone, 380 feet below the lowest bed of
Carboniferous Limestone.

Plate IX., Fig. 3. — Natural size ; stem of smaller branch of same
plant as last, showing bases of leaves at lower portion of external sur-
face. The peculiarity of this specimen consists in the spiral tube, filled
with coaly matter or peroxide of iron, which twines round the stem, as
shown in the figure. Professor Phillips, of Oxford, has suggested to me
that it may (possibly) be the stem of some kind of twining fern, which
has compressed the stem so closely as to penetrate below the external
surface. The bases of the spinous leaves are well shown in the figure.

Locality : Harrylock Bay, county of Wexford.

Geol. horizon : Same as last.

PI^TF. L\.

nis. "A \

HU 6. »0/i

JR,adMt,ifi&7.

J

NAT. HIST. REVIEW.

PLATE IX.

July 1857.

( 123 )
SESSION 1858-1859.

FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 8, 1868.

PfiOFEssoE W. H. Hartey, M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., M. R.I. A.,

Peesident, in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, were coib-
firmed and signed. The Secretary then read the following —

REPOKT OP COUNCIL.

Twenty years have now elapsed since the foundation of this Society,
and your Council, in returning into your hands the trust confided to it
last November, has much gratification in being able to announce to yon
that the Session now concluded has proved no exception in success to
the three or four immediately preceding it.

In addition to the advantages secured to this Society by the posses-
sion of conmiodious meeting- rooms and museum, your members now
receive at the commencement of each Session a copy of the more impor-
tant Proceedings of your meetings, during the previous Session, in a con-
nected and convenient form — those Proceedings, as corrected by your
Secretaries, having previously appeared quarterly, and enjoyed the be-
nefit of the circulation of the ''Quarterly Journal of Science" among
most of the scientific institutes of the United Kingdom and the Conti-
nent, along with the proceedings of the other scientific institutions of
the metropolis, thereby rendering the discoveries, &c., brought before
your Society, known to the scientific world at large.

The losses of members during the past year have been, of Ordinary
Members, two: J. P. Darley, Esq., and V. W. M'NaUy, Esq., by resig-
nation, the latter od his departure from Ireland ; and of Honorary Mem-
bers by death. Sir P. Crampton, Bart., M. D., elected in 1 838. Eleven Or-
dinary, one Associate, and four Corresponding Members have been elected
during the Session, so that the total gain to the Society has been four-
teen. Charles Spence Bate, F. L. S., of Plymouth, who has contributed
two papers to your Transactions, has been elected an Honorary Member.
Your Society thus now consists of fourteen Honorary, ninety-seven Or-
dinary, and thirty-four Associate and Corresponding Members.

The donations during the year included several rare and type speci-
mens. An Irish specimen of the mute swan ( Cygnus olor) presented by
Lord Clermont, and a nearly perfect skeleton of the gigantic elk (Me-
gacero8 ffihemicus), presented by Bichard Bamewall, Esq., especially
call for notice.

The steady progress of your Society for some Sessions past has at
length enabled your Council to pay oflf the old debt of £58, due to your

T

124 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOKY SOCIETY.

Treasurers since 1845, as well as outstanding liabilities incurred during
the famine years. This has compelled it to diminish the reserve fund
by the former amount, and has caused an apparent deficit on the So-
ciety's side of the Treasurer's account for the year ; this latter, however,
is more than covered by the arrears of subscriptions due, and the Council
hopes that through the exertions of the present members such an acces-
sion will be made to the list of the members as will enable the Council
soon to announce as large a balance in the reserve fund as in the former
years.

The yearly necessary expenses of your Society, as stated in former
reports, at present leave but a small balance to pay for printhig, &c., the
Proceedings ; and your Council fears that, unless an increase take place
to the present income, the present advantageous arrangement, as re-
gards this most useful adjunct to your meetings, must be abandoned.
The back Proceedings for the years 1849 to 1855 also, as yet, remain
unprinted, save in the columns of *' Saunders's Kews- Letter ;" and your
Council finds among these many communications which it would be
highly desirable to reprint, and thus preserve for reference. This could
be done uniformly with the first part of your Proceedings, at a cost of
not more than £15 or £20, — an expenditure which, however desirable,
the present state of the funds will not justify.

The term of office for which your President, Professor "W. H. Harvey,
M. D., has been elected, having expired, your Council feels that it could
not select a more fitting successor to the office than the gentleman who
has now, for so many years, filled the post of Secretary, William An-
drews, Esq., and have, therefore, much pleasure in recommending him
to the members for election, feeling confident that in so doing it will
meet with the approbation of the Society, for affording this Meeting an
opportunity of marking its sense of the services rendered to the Society
during a long series of years, in common with many other of the old
members ; and also for consulting the Society's best interest, by placing
in the responsible post of President of the I^atural History Society of
Dublin one whose name in England and on the Continent, as well as in
this country, has been for many years identified with original research
in Irish Natural History.

Among the list of your Vice-Presidents appears the name of one, to
whom, in this, your twenty- first year, your Council deems that it would
be failing in its duty did it not afford the members an opportunity of ac-
knowledging the kindness, which, in spite of multifarious public duties,
was displayed towards, and took an active part in, the proceedings of
the Society, acting as your President for upwards of eleven years, and
at all times exhibiting an interest in the weU-being and welfare of the
Society. The Council, therefore, feeling that the time has at length come
for the Society to mark its deep sense of gratitude towards his Grace the
Lord Archbishop of Dublin, for the anxiety displayed by him for the
promotion of natural science in Dublin, proposes that we place his name
permanently on our rolls as Patron of the Society, feeling that in this
recommendation it is but expressing the feelings of the Society at large

DUBLIN NATUBAL HI8T0ET SOCIETY. 125

as to the value of the services rendered by his Grace. A resolution to
this effect has been accordingly prepared, to be submitted to the Meeting.

Your Council also feels that it cannot separate without recording its
thanks to the gentleman vrho, during the past two Sessions, has honoured
us by presiding at our meetings, well knowing that this must have been
done at a great sacrifice of leisure hours, at all times a great personal in-
convenience, but more especially so to a scientific man so occupied by
public duties as our respected President.

Mr. Andrews's recommendation for President having caused a vacancy
in the SecTctaryship, your Council recommend the election of Mr. "William
Archer to that post. Your Treasurer's accounts will afford more par-
ticular information as regards the present prospects of the Society in a
pecuniary point of view.

In conclusion, your Coimcil have to announce that from the notices
of papers already submitted, it has every reason to believe that the Ses-
sion now commencing will yield in interest to none past ; and hope that,
by the exertions of the Members, the incoming Council will be able to
report at our next Stated Meeting as great an increase of Members as
that which has been shown by our books at the conclusion of your last
four Sessions.

Mr. William Andrews moved, Mr. Robert CaUwell seconded ; passed
by acclamation, nem, con. : —

" That his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Dublin be elected as per-
petual Patron of the Society."

The President moved the adoption of the Report, which passed.

The Treasurer submitted his Report, showing that during the past
year the receipts amounted to £83 ; to Reserve Fund, £10; disburse-
ments, £95 15«. lid. — lea\ing a balance in favour of Treasurer of £12
15«. lid. Reserve Fund, £61. Subscriptions were due, as arrears,
which more than covered the deficit ; and amongst the items disbursed,
£16 were for old debts of the Society.

The ballot for Officers having closed, Professor Harvey declared the
following duly elected : —

Patkon. — His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin.

President. — William Andrews, M.R.I. A., &c.

Vice-Presidents.— William H. Harvey, M. D., M. R. I. A., F. R. S.,
F. L. S., &c. ; Sir Edward R. Borough, Bart, M. R. I. A. ; C. P. Croker,
M. D., M. K I. A. ; Rev. Samuel Haughton, F. T. C. D., M. R. L A.,
F. R, S.

Council.— John Aldridge, M. D., M.ILI.A.; F.W.Brady; Robert
Callwell,M.R.I.A.; James R. Dombrain ; Rev.J. A.Galbraith,F.T.C.D.,
M.R.I.A.; S. Gordon, M. D., M.R.I.A.; A.H. HaUday, M.R.I.A.,
F. L. S. ; William Hodges ; Rev. Eugene O'Meara ; G. B. Owens, M. D. ;
Gilbert Sanders, M. R. I. A. ; E. Perceval Wright, M. B., M. R. I. A.

126 niTBUN NATUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Teeasttreb. — Richard P. Williams, M. R. I. A.
Director op Museum. — Robert J. Montgomery.
Secretaries. — John R. Kinahan, M. D., M. R. I. A., F. L. S. ; "William
Archer.

Professor Harvey then left the chair, which was taken by —

WiLUAV Andrews, Esq., M. R. I. A., President.

Professor Harvey briefly returned thanks to the Society for the posi-
tion in which they had placed him during the past two Sessions, and
congratulated the Meeting on the choice just made in electing, as his
successor, a member whose exertions for the Society, through many
years, were too well known to the Society to need any comment on his
part.

The President then made the following observations : —

Gentlemen, — In returning thanks to the Society for the very flattering
and high position in which it has placed me, I cannot but feel diffident
in accepting such a post, more especially as successor to one so distin-
guished for his high mental qualifications, and his untiring zeal in fol-
lowing out those branches of science that he has so successfully advanced.
I cannot but feel gratified, however, at being chosen, and especially at
the reason suggested for my election — that the Presidentship of this
Society should be looked on as a post of honour, to be conferred on those
members who have distinguished themselves in the cause of science, and
in the desire to promote the interests of the Society.

1 have now nearly completed eighteen years as one of your Secreta-
ries ; and I cannot but feel deeply grateful for the unvaried confidence,
kindness, and support that have at all times been given to me hj the
members, and for the kind and zealous co-operation of those gentlemen
who have been associated with me in office. It is needless for me to
dwell upon the vicissitudes and difficulties that the Society has passed
through during the period ; but a uniform line of integrity in carrying
out and promoting the objects for which the Society was established has
enabled it to continue, without cessation or interruption, its annual Ses-
sions, and now to present among its list of officers the names of many
gentlemen maintaining the highest positions in science.

So suddenly, I may say, has this honour been made known to me, that
it does not permit my giving details of the objects which influence our
meetings. Indeed, it would have been an unnecessary taslc, for they
have been oft repeated. I may merely remark, that although the work-
ings of this Society are chiefly confined to the elucidation of such objects
in this country as relate to the Natural Sciences; and- notwithstanding
all that has been hitherto accomplished independently of the recorded
transactions of this Society, — we have still much to explore and to correct
in the knowledge of our Natural History, which must give ample scope
and reward to the zealous studies of the young aspirant. I cannot avoid
mentioning a singular fact, that may stimulate us to put prominently

DUBUN VATITBAL lUSTOBY SOOUTT. 127

forward records of the Natural History of Ireland. Works have recently
appeared, through London publishers, on the Zoology and Botany of the
British Islands, and purporting to embrace that of Ireland ; but, strange
to say, the references with regard to this country are meagre in the
extreme— objects of interest omitted, and erroneous views perpetuated.
There is every prospect, however, of those difficulties being removed ;
and the want of information recently displayed by a small periodical,
with regard to records of Irish Natural History, being amply cleared,
and the merit of the Irish naturalist maintained, through the means of
the enlarged sphere of publication furnished us by the extensive circula-
tion of the " Quarterly Journal of Science" — a Journal that has rapidly
and justly assumed a high scientific position.

It was proposed by C. P. Croker, M. D., V. P., seconded by Rev.
Professor Huughton, V. P., and resolved unanimously : —

** That the thanks of the Society are due, and are hereby given, to
our late President, Professor "W. H. Harvey, M. D., for his kindness in
presiding over our meetings for the two sessions past."

It was proposed by James R. Dombrain, Esq., seconded by C. P.
Croker, M. D., and passed unanimously : —

** That a special vote of thanks is due to our Treasurer, R. P. Wil-
liams, Esq., for his unceasing exertions as Treasurer to this Society^
since its foundation."

The Meeting having been made special for election of Members, the
following were duly elected : —

Ordinary Members: — C. Crowe, Esq., Dublin; Edward Hutton,
M.D., Dublin.

Associate Members : — Robert Ball, Esq., Trinity College ; George
Porte, Esq., Dublin ; Horatio Yeates, Esq., Dublin.

Corresponding Member: — Sandford Palmer, Esq., Ballinlough,
Roscrea.
The Meeting then adjourned to the 3rd of December.

FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 3, 1858.
William Ai?deews, Esq., M. R. I. A., Pkesident, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes having been read, were confirmed.

The President, on behalf of R. J. TJssher, Esq., Cappagh, Cappoquin,
presented a specimen of the black-cap warbler {Currtica atricaptlla),
shot at Cappagh, December 13, 1858. Mr. Ussher states that this bird
is extremely rare here. Also from the same donor, the green sandpiper
{Totanm ochropus)^ shot at Flower-hill, near Lismore, on the Blackwater,
13th August, 1856. This bird is likewise extremely uncommon.

Mr. James Haughton, Jun., Moorefield, Roebuck, presented a col-
lection of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, including a specimen of ITydrelia
BanksiaiMf captured at Roebuck.

Thanks were voted for these donations.

128 DXTBLIN NATUEAL HISTORY SOCIETT.

PfiOFEssoR KiNAHAN, M. D., F. L. S., read —

NOTES ON DEEDGING IN BELFAST BAY, WITH A LIST OF SPECIES.

In a communication entitled " On Xantho rivulosa and other Deca-
podous Crustacea, occurring at Yalentia Island, county of Kerry" {vide
"Proceedings Dublin Natural History Society," vol. ii., pp. 16 and 33 ; and
ante, vol. iv., "Proceedings of Society," pp. 69 and 86), laid before your
Society in 1856, I remarked on the fact that of the peculiar species
found on the west coast, several were not met with on the Dublin
shores, yet are common in the northern portions of the eastern coasts
of Ireland ; and, founded on this, I suggested that it appeared probable
that a portion of this stream of western and southern species would seem
to have, as it were, overlapped the northern portion of the island, and
to have died out before reaching the Dublin, or, as I called it, the pro-
per eastern district. An examination of Belfast and Carrickfergus Bays
during the past summer, whilst affording me several previously unnoticed
Crustacea, has furnished me with additional proofs of this.

I allude to this theory the more particularly, because I learn that re-
cently doubt has been expressed as to a similar distribution among the
shells ; and facts adduced by Messrs. HjTidman, Patterson, Waller, and
Dickie, attempted to be explained away by supposing either that the
southern and western types, quoted by those gentlemen, owed their pre-
sence here and in the list to pleistocene deposits, ocean currents, or pos-
sibly, as was also suggested, to some " Irish blunder." Now, as regards
this latter, it ought to be sufficient that all the critical species had been
identified by Alder, Gwyn Jeffreys, and other men of note on the other
side of the Channel ; and one of the species in dispute, Odostomia con-
spicua, was named by its first discoverer in England, Mr. Alder; and if
the objectors, instead of so readily prejudging the matter, had taken the
trouble to cross the Channel, even a few days spent at Galway and Bel-
fast would soon have satisfied them that as regards the common typical
shells of the two ports, several in the latter places were much commoner
and more typical there than further south-east, being in fact either
South British or Lusitanian.

Tapes aurea, for instance, common in the west, not uncommon in
Belfast, is unknown, as far as I can learn, in Dublin. Mactra subtrun-
cata^ rare in Dublin, common in the west, is also extremely common in
Belfast. Trochus magus, a common littoral species in the west, un-
known as such, as far as I can learn, in Dublin, is by no means rare as
a littoral species in Carrickfergus. But it would consume too much
time were I to notice all the species which illustrate this point ; and
there is not the slightest cause for wonder that such shells as Chemniizia
scalar is, Ovula patula, Adeorhis suhcarinata, and Hissoa striatula, have
occun-ed to the Belfast Dredging Committee.

The distribution of the Crustacea affords data confirmatory of this ;
and Dr. E. Percival "Wright, in a recent paper of his on Irish Actinia,
has noticed the same point ; and there appears to be little doubt that
when the other sections of zoology shall have been accurately studied, the

DUBLIN NATUBAL HISTORY SOCIEXr. 129

same rule will be found to exist among them. My researches in Belfast
and Carrickfergus Loughs included, amongst others, dredging excur-
sions to Ballyholme Bay, Bangor, and Groomsport, in company with
Professors Wyville Thompson and Redfem, and Mr. Edward Waller ;
and to the Gobbins and Blackhead, with the Rev. G. Payne and Profes-
sor Andrews. Here, in addition to other species, I met the following,
previously unrecorded in the Belfast list, as published: — Crangon
fasctatus, C. Allmanm, C, aculptiis, C. spinosua, and a new species,
which I mean to describe more fully at some subsequent meeting, and
which I have called Crangon Pattersonii; Hippolyte Cranchii, IT, pust-
ola, and Oahthea Andrewsii. This latter occurred here in great nxim-
bers.

I should mention that on an examination of the specimens in the
Belfast Museum, afforded me by the kindness of Messrs. R. Patterson
and Hyndman, I found specimens of Crangon Allmannii and Crangon
fasciatus, but marked in Mr. W. Thompson's handwriting as C. vulga-
ris— some of those obtained as far back as 1 838.

Mr. Robert Patterson kindly accompanied me to Cultra and Craw-
fordsbum, where I found two amphipods, which have been first noticed
by me as Irish — viz., Gammarua palmatus, which I found two years
ago in Dublin, and Orchestia Deshayesiij which I had previously found
at Carrickfergus. This latter is generally believed to be identical with
the Egyptian species described by Savigny.

Floating on the sea, in the cavities of AcalephsB, Hyperia galha was
met' in immense numbers; and a LestrigonuSf which appears to be
L. Fahricii of Edwards, and which I suppose is the species which,
owing to its bad state of preservation, W. Thompson failed to identify.

I append a list of the principal species obtained, marking those de-
capods which do not occur in Dublin ; and among the amphipods the
species which are recorded there ; our information regarding this group
is, however, at present so scanty that it were dangerous to dwell too
much on this group. I have also inserted here the species of both those
and the isopods which I have met in Dublin, not Belfast, as some of
them are unrecorded.

List of Species of Crustacea obtained in Belfast Lough.

{1^. B. — The decapods of Belfast having been already enumerated by
mo in full in former papers, from William Thompson's list, and the
specimens in the Ordnance Survey collection, I here note only such as
require further notice.]

Thua marked (*) not foand in Dublin.

Crustacea Decapoda.

Inaehus dorynchus, — Occurred not uncommonly in Ballyholme Bay and

off Bangor ; no other species occurred to us.
Eurynome aspera, — Ballyholme Bay and off Whitehead ; docs not

appear to be rare.

180 DXITBLIN NATURAL HISTOaT SOCIEir.

Portunm puher. — Bangor.

Portunm carrugatus. — Bangor and Ballyholme Bays.

Portunus arcuatm. — Bangor.

Portufius d^purator. — Ballyholme, Whitehead.

Portunus pusillm. — Groomsport and Whitehead.

Portunus holsatm. — A single specimen off Wliitehead.

Bernhardus strehlonyx. — Common everj^where.

*Benihardus Prideauxii. — I did not meet this species. Mr. J. C. Hynd-
man showed me several typical specimens of it ; in my Dublin lists
the range given is incoiTect ; one specimen only occurred to me
there, and that imperfect.

Bernhardus Cuanensis. — Ballyholme and Whitehead.

Bernlmrdus Ulidianus. — This is the species which, on my discovery of
it in Dublin Bay, I called Eblanensis; the examination ofW. Thomp-
son's original specimen enables me to correct this error. It is eX"
trcmely common everywhere.

Bernlmrdus Hyndmanni. — Ballyholme, Bangor, Whitehead, and the
Gobbins.

^Bernhardus IcBvis. — ^ot uncommon. Off Whitehead and Bangor.

Bernhardus Thompsoni. — Whitehead, Bangor, and the Gobbins ; com-
moner than in Dublin.

Galathea Andrewsii Extremely common ; this is also very common

on the south-west coast, where Dr. E. Perceval Wright and Professor
J. Reay Greene inform me it occurs as a littoral species. Professor
Thomas Bell showed me specimens of the same species from deep
water off Madeira ; and M. Lucas, Paris, showed me a bottleful of
specimens of the same species, captured off the coast of Algiers.

Munida Rondeletii. — Occurs not uncommonly in deep water, as Mr. Gi
C. Hyndman informs me.

Crangon vulgaris. — Appears as common here as in Dublin.

Crangon fasciatus. — One specimen, very beautifully coloured, occurred
near the shore in Ballyholme Bay ; several specimens occurred in a
black sand off the Gobbins ; these latter were in spawn. This spe-
cies does not occur in the published Belfast list. In the Belfast
Museum, however, there are several specimens included under C.
vulgaris J and bearing the following localities in William Thompson's
hand:— "Portaferry, July, 1838, W. T. ; Belfast Bay, 1839, E.
Getty ; and Donaghadee, Dr. Drummond."

* Crangon spinosus. — Two specimens, same locality as last; does not oc-

cur in Belfast list.

* Crangon Pattersonii (n. «.). — Two specimens at the Gobbins. This spe-

cies differs from last in the smoothness of the first to fourth rings of
the abdomen ; the fifth ring has a triangular central elevation at its
inferior border ; the sixth is plane above ; the telson sulcate ; the ros-
trum rounded and slightly concave above. I hope to describe it more
fully shortly.

The specimens taken were in spawn. I can find no species,
either recorded or in the collections in London or Paris, which agi-ees

DXTBim MATUSAL HISTOBT SOCIETY. 131

with it. The trivial name is intended to commemorate the President
of the Belfast Natural History Society, Robert Patterson.

Crangon sculpttM. — Two specimens at the Gobbins. Kot hitherto re-
corded, save by Professor Melville at Isle Arran, and by me at Bray,
where it is far from uncommon.

Crangon Allmanni, — Of this species, named by me in 1856, 1 met seve-
ral specimens at the Gobbins, on the 20th August, 1858. Subse-
quently to this, in the Belfast Museum Collection, I detected two
specimens put up as C. vulgariSf and marked in W. Thompson's
hand " Fortwilliam, Belfast."

Hippolyte varians, — Common.

Jlippolyte Cranchii. — Bangor and Whitehead: a single specimen of each.

Hippolyte pmiola. — Bangor ; Whitehead ; the Gobbins : far from uncom-
mon. Not in Belfast Catalogue.

Hippolyte Thompsonii, — Common in all the localities. The specimen in
the Belfast Collection is marked ** Stranglbrd Lough."

*?My8i8 Griffithsii. — What I take to be this species is in the collection
of the Belfast Museum on a card marked as Mysis vulgaris, and from
the neighbourhood of Belfast. Its occuiTence in Ireland is unnoted
in our fists. For this and other notes on the Belfast collection I am
indebted to the kindness ofG. C. Hyndman, who accompanied me
in my examination of the stores of the Collection, and supplied much
information as to the identification of particular specimens.

Crustacea Amphipoda.
In this list, in addition to my own observations, I avail myself of a

list of William Thompson's collection, kindly furnished to me by C.

Spence Bate, Esq. This is acknowledged by the reference W. T., S. B.

Those species which have occurred in Dublin are also noted : the rer

marks on the species are my own.

Talitrus locttsta, — Common at Groomsport, Crawfordsbum, and Carrick-
fergus. "Newcastle, Down" (W. T., S.B.). Dublin.

Orchestia littorea. — Common. Carrickfergus ; Groomsport ; Crawfords-
bum ; and Lame ; " Strangford Lough" (W. T., S. B.). Dublin.

0. lavis. — Bare. Carrickfergus ; Lame ; not nearly as common as in
Dublin.

0. Deshayesii (Savigny). — ^This species, new to Ireland, occurs not un-
commonly, but very locally, near Carrickfergus. It is less active than
either of the others. I met it cdso at Crawfordsbum. In England,
Spence Bate informs me, it is rare as a southern species. I com-
pared my specimens with that in the British Museum, and they are
identical. Whether they are identical with the Egyptian species, is
still open to doubt, as the type specimen has, I have been informed,
been lost.

MontaguamonoeuloidM. — Bangor; Belfast Bay (W. T., S. B).

Lysianassa Costa. — Bangor, one specimen; Belfast Bay (W. T., S. B.).
Bray, Eish Bank.

Lysianassa longicornis, — Portaferry (W. T., S. B.).

V

132 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOBY SOCIETY.

Anonyx minutus. — Cod's stomach, Belfast ("W. T., S. B.).

Ampelisca typicm. — Belfast Bay ("W. T., S. B.). Extremely common
on the north scallop bed, Kish Bank, Dublin.

Ampelisca Belliaiius. — Newcastle ; Down (W. T., S. B.).

Westwoodea cacula.—(W. T., S. B.) ? Belfast.

Iphimedia ohesa. — By no means rare ; Belfast Bay ("W. T., S. B.). Dub-
lin, Bray, common.

Dexamine spinosa. — Extremely common both in dredge and rock-pools ;
in the former particularly you generally meet ten of this Amphipod
for one of any other. This species occurs in the Thompson list, but
it were wasting space to detail localities. Dublin, Kish, and Sandy-
cove, very abundant.

Dexamine hispinosa. — Bangor, county Down (W. T., S. B.). I have
never met this species in Dublin, though I have looked carefully for
it.

Gamma/rm locusta. — Common here, as everywhere. Dublin.

Gammarus fluviatilis. — Eresh-water streams near Carrickfergus. Very
common in Dublin. Careful comparison of specimens taken by me
in "Waterford, Clare, Dublin, Tyrone, &c., has resulted in the con-
clusion that but one species of fresh- water Gammarus occurs in Ire-
land. The record of Gammarus pulex — i. e. a species with the
posterior angles of the abdominal rings produced as teeth — has
arisen, I believe, from W. Thompson having used this term as ap-
plied to G. fluviatilis of Eoesel in his early correspondence. The
true Gammarus pulex has not, I believe, been found in Ireland.

Gammarus gracilis. — Bangor, county Down (W. T., S.B.).

Gammarus marinus. — Carrickfergus, under the Castle; ''l^ewcastle,
Down" (W. T., S. B.).

Gammarus palmatus, — This species, new to the Irish lists, occurred to
me in numbers at the bathing-place between Cultra and the railway
station. It occurs under stones covered with ente;romorpha and ulvse,
in a spot where a number of small sand-pools break a muddy sand-
beach. I had previously met the species in 1856, near Merrion,
county Dublin, in a similar locality. Spence Bate informs me it is
extremely rare in England, and certainly Montague's species.

Gammarus Othonis. — Bangor; Belfast Bay (W. T., S. B.).

Gammarus longimanus. — Carrickfergus. Rare, under the Castle.

Amphitoe ruhricata. — Bangor (W. T., S. B.).

Amphitoe littorina Newcastle; Bangor, county Down fW. T., S. B.).

Howth, coxmty Dublin, extremely common.

Corophium longicorne. — Clay, near ship-yard, Carrickfergus. Occurs in
hundreds on the muddy shores of the tidal portions of the Dodder,
county Dublin.

Hyperia Galha. — In thousands in Acalephse, floating through the Bay;
in many instances as many as thirty or forty specimens could be ob-
tained from a single Acaleph ; many of the specimens taken had ova
attached to them.

DUBLIN WATXTKiJ. HI8T0KY SOCIETY. 183

Zettrigonut Fahrieii (?). — ^This occurred with the last, but in fewer num-
bers. It is singular that in the supplement to Pany^s " Voyage,'*
this is figured as having occurred also along with the last. Can there
be any intimate connexion, such as sexual, between them ? I find
some trifling differences between my specimens and L. Fahricii
(Milne-Edwards), but await my friend Spence Bate's judgment on
the point, I strongly suspect that Gosse has mistaken this animal for
Metoicus medusarumj the distinction between the genera being such
as to easily cause a mistake. This is doubtless the species "W.
Thompson failed to identify, owing to the bad condition of his
specimens.

The two following species, found by me in Dublin Bay, have not
hitherto occurred at Belfast : —

Iphimedia Ehlana Found in Hhizostoma Cuvieriy Dublin Bay.

Chelura terebrans. — Extremely common in submerged timber at Kings-
town and Howth.

Crustacea Isopoda.
I here note only the species actually obtained and identified ; several

yet await the latter process; this list is, therefore, an approximation

only.

Arcturm longicornis. — Two specimens, dredged off Gobbins. Korth
Bull, DubHn. *

Idotea pelagica. — Common in all suitable localities here, as also in
Dublin.

Idotea tricuspidata. — A more markedly deep-water species than the last ;
Whitehead; Ballyholme Bay. Dublin Bay, Dalkey Sound, very
common.

Idotea emarginata. — Specimens in Belfast Museum. Very rare in Dub-
lin, but has been taken in Dublin Bay. Coast of Wexford, Dr. E.
Perceval Wright.

Limnoria terebrans. — In the piles, ship-yard, Carrickfergus, extremely
abundant. Eingstown Harbour, and How th and Malahide, very nu-
merous. In Dublin this species is always associated with Chelura
terebrans. I searched carefully for this lafter at Carrickfergus, in
company with Professor Wyville Thompson, but unsuccessfiilly.
Professor Thompson informed me that he had never succeeded in
finding Chelura in Belfast, although he had looked carefully for it.
W. Thompson, in his '' Fauna," makes the same remark.

Asellua aquaticus. — A small stream, near Carrickfergus. Dublin.

Jaera albifrons Carrickfergus. Dublin (?).

Spharama $erratum. — River Lagan, Belfast. Biver Dodder, Dublin.

Spharama rugicauda. — Blackhead.

Nescea bidentata. — Carrickfergus. Loughshinny; Dublin. Cork, on
authority of Professor J. Reay Greene. Roundstone, W. M'Calla,
q.v.

134 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOClEXr.

PorcelUo scaber. — Common everywhere. Dublin.

Porcellio pictus. — Carrickfergus ; Blackhead; Crawfordsbum. Dublin.

PorcelUo Icevts. — Rare ; Carrickfergus. Dublin.

Oniscus murarius. — Common everywhere. Dublin.

Oniscus fossor. — Common everywhere. Dublin.

Philoscia muscorum. — Carrickfergus; Crawfordsbum. Dublin.

Philougi^'a riparia Carrickfergus ; "Whitehead ; Crawfordsbum. Dub-
lin.

Ligia oceanica. — More local than in Dublin ; rare about Carrickfergus ;
extremely common at Crawfordsbum.

Armadillium vulgare. — Common everywhere. Dublin.

The following species has not as yet been met in Belfast : —

Apseudes ialpa. — Sandycove, county of Dublin, in sand-pools, 1857.

The strange admixture of northern and southern forms exhibited by
these lists is too strongly marked to require more than a passing notice.
I hope to return to the subject at some future meeting.

The President remarked on the importance of the critical study of
species in various localities. He had no doubt, from his own hurried
researches in the west, that many species yet remained unnoticed. As
he saw that the Society to-night was honoured by the presence of Mr.
Edward Waller, he hoped that that gentleman would favour the Meet-
ing with his view on the subject-matter of the communication just read,
as he believed Mr. Waller had been engaged in researches in the same
district.

Mr. Edward Waller said that as the President had called on him,
he would state that during the researches of the Belfast Committee, in
which he had been associated with Mr. Robert Patterson, Mr. HjTidman,
Professor Dickie, and others, the results obtained were confirmatory of
the remarks made in the paper just read.

Of the shell Odostomia conspicua, previous to the Belfast specimens,
but one perfect specimen had been found ; the Belfast specimens were
submitted to Mr. Alder, the gentleman who first named this species, and
all the shells included in the list, on his authority, had been submitted
to Mr, Alder and Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys for their opinion, and there couJd
be no doubt that both South British and Lusitanian forms occuiTed here.

There was another set of shells on which he would make a few re-
marks. During the past year ten species had occurred to them dead,
which they had not succeeded in obtaining living, although the dredg-
ing researches had been carried on nearly half way across the Channel,
and in both shallow water and up to the depth of 110 fathoms. These
species were northern species, and, owing to the difficulty of account-
ing for the non- occurrence of the living animals, perhaps it was safer
to look on them as Pleistocene, though he must say that the shells were
just as fresh as the specimens of species still living. Large Pleistocene
deposits occur in the neighbourhood, but he should mention that none
of these disputed species were as yet recorded as found in them. All

DUBLIN NATU&AL HI8T0BT 80CIXTT. 1S5

who have read Professor Haughton's paper on the Tides know that
rapid currents prevail here, and from this it results that the bottom of
the sea in the gieat depths is generally rocky. It may be that the Pleis-
tocene beds fonnerly liere have been torn up, and have formed the banks on
which these shellti are found. The mixture of northern and southern
Bpecies here was very curious. He might mention the fact, that Tapes
aurea, which had occuired not uncommonly to Dr. Kinahan at Carrick-
fergus, was extremely rare on the opposite, or Dovra coast. Mactra
tuhti'unoata there was extremely common, and two other species, which
were rare at Caiiickfergus — M. stultorvm and M. solida.

Mr. Gilbert Sanders mentioned his having found, some years ago,
one or two specimens of the 'Topes mirea at Portmamock. The shells
were certainly not living, but appeared fresh. Pleistocene beds of tiem
occurred in that neiglibourliood.

Dr. E. Perceval Wright confirmed the peculiar distribution in the
northern districts among the Actinise, some of which extended from
Youghal, round the west coast, as far as Belfast, but were not found in
the intervening eastern district.

Rev. Professor Haughton observed, that as Mr. "Waller had alluded
to the subject of cuiTents, he would wish to make a few remarks. Two
strong currents— a northern and a southern — meet in the Irish Channel.
The strength of the northern cuiTcnt is such that it must offer an
insurmountable bar to the passage of southern species northwards ; but
at the same time the very strength of the current would lead one to
expect just such a sea bottom as had been described by Mr. "Waller — a
rocky bottom, from which all the soft deposits were torn away, except,
perhaps, in a few hollows. The chalk shells found in the drifts about
Dublin and other places on the east confirm this idea, these being
more abundant near the edge of the sea. He saw no reason why the
tom-up drift might not be carried even down as far as the Isle of Man.

De. E. Peeceval "Weight read the following —

NOTES ON THE lEISH NTJDIBEANCHIATA.

While engaged for the last few years in investigating the Tunicata of
Ireland, I have from time to time recorded in my note-book the several
species of NudibranchiateMollusca that have occurred to me; and in order
to call the attention of Irish naturalists to this branch of zoology, I
would append a list of all that are known to me up to the present moment
as frequenting our coasts. In the late W. Thompson's ** Report on the
Invertebrate Fauna of Ireland," there were, deducting sjTionjnns, twenty-
eight species recorded. The number in the list appended is thirty-eight,
which is about one-fourth the number of the known British species;
but I have very little doubt that the slightest attention paid to this at-
tractive group would very considerably enlarge it. In a late excursion
with my friend. Professor J. Reay Greene, around the south and south-
west coasts of Ireland, several most interesting forms were discovered:
among them I would most particularly mention E0U4 Farrani. This

136 DUBLIN NAIXraiL HISTOBT SOCIETT.

pretty Eolis — called after Dr. Farran, the well-known naturalist of this
city — and of which but a single specimen had occurred to its discoverer
(Mr. Alder), at Malahide, had been found, all along the south coast, in
tolerable plenty ; at Parkmore Head, near the entrance to the lovely Bay
of Ventry, a spot abounding with interest to the zoologist, and classic
ground to the antiquarian; and, not very far from the ruins of the ancient
city of Faghan, I found numbers of this Eolis browsing on large meadows
of the well-known Hydrozoon, Tuhularia indivisa.

At Castlehaven, in Cork Harbour, Professor J". Reay Greene disco-
vered a specimen of Boris flammea. This is one of the most brilliantly
coloured of the genus. It was first, I think, discovered by Professor E.
Forbes in the JEgean Sea, then it was found on the south coast of
England, and is now, for the first time (if I except the ''Report on the
Marine Fauna of the South and West of Ireland," presented at the Leeds
Meeting of the British Association) recorded as Irish.

The two Hermaeas described in Alder and Hancock occurred very fre-
quently on the west coast, — Hermcea lijida, {requentrngGriffithsia setacea,
and JT". dendritica, Codium tomentosum, the leathery fronds of which
latter seem often quite covered with the little slug.

It will be recollected that I by no means wish this list to be supposed
to represent the state of our Fauna, feeling quite certain that many more
species wait only to be recorded ; and as I have been unable to get con-
tributions to the list from any local collectors, I doubt not but that they
may have discovered other species, though I am not aware that they have
recorded them.

For the advantage of any of our young members who may be induced
to study these creatures, I may, in conclusion, add, that Great Britain
produces few better collecting grounds than Malahide Bay, and that
Alder and Hancock's beautiful monograph will give them every requi-
site assistance.

List of Irish Species of Nudihranchiata known to me.
Elysia viridis, Cork (G. J. A.).
Eolis picta.

„ Glottensis.

„ Brummondii, Belfast ("W. T.).

„ eoronata.

,, alhtty Malahide (A. & H.).

„ tricolor, Belfast (W. T.).

„ Fa/rrani.

„ cornea (W. T.).

,, papillosa.
Proctonotus mucroniferus, Malahide (A. & H.).
Hermcea bifida, Belfast (G. C. H.), Cork and Kerry.

,, dendritica, Cork and Kerry.
Alderia modesta, Cork.
Tritonia pleheia, Cork (E. F.).

„ Homier gi, Dublin, a dark var., taken by Dr. Kinahan.

DUBUN NATURAL HI8T0BT SOCIETY. 137

Dendronotus arharescena, Dublin-

Doto fragilis, Clew Bay ( W. T.), Cork and Keny.

„ caronata, Cork and Kerry, Belfast (G. C. H.).
Doris tnconsptcua, Dublin Bay.

,, pilosa.

„ repanday Roundstone (E. F.).

„ tuber culata^ very common in Dublin, and of great size.

„ aspera.

,, hilamellata.

„ muricata, Belfast (W. T.).

,, Ulidiana,

,, flammeay Castlehaven, Cork (J. R. G.).

,, coccinea,

,, Johnstoni.
Goniodoru nodosa, North, West, Dublin (W. T.), Cork (G. J. A.).
Triopa clavigera, Labinch, county of Clare (W. T.).
.^irus punctilucens, Cork (G. J. A.).

Polycera quadrilineata, Belfast (W. T.), Roundstone (E. F.), Dublin Bay.
„ Lessonii, Dublin (A. & H.).
,, ocellata, Dublin (A. &H.).
Idalia aspersa, Bray (Dr. Ball).
Ancula mstatay Dublin Bay (A. & H.).

The Honorary Secretary read the following communication, which he
stated he had been requested to lay before the Society : —

ON A NEWLY DISCOVERED MOTH IN IRELAND (nOTODONTA BICOLORA).
BY ADAM WHITE, F. L. S.

Mr. Peter Boxtchard, of Sutton, Surrey, a collector of insects, of great
ability, went, in the summer of 1858, to Ireland to collect moths and
beetles. He was engaged on the Ist of July, 1858, hunting for his prey
on Colonel Herbert's estate, about five miles from the town of KiUamey,
not far from the far-famed Mucruss Abbey. When beating the birch, a
curious white moth, entirely new to him, fell to the ground. This he
picked up, and, in a state of delight that can only be guessed at by one
who is not a collector, Mr. Bouchard killed it, and set it out.

The body and wings of the moth are covered with a lovely white ;
brown and orange spots mark the upper wings ; these two reddish-yellow
marks are lined and edged here and there with black, and set off the white
of the insect most charmingly. Five black dots mark the upper wing,
and the little patch of hair and scales, so characteristic of moths called
Prominents, outstand firom the middle of the same wing. Mr. Bouchard
worked the locality for more than a week, but without further success.
On writing to London, he found that the species was Notodonta hicolora.
Continental specimens of it exist in the British Museum ; but up to this
it has been unrepresented in the British collection. Mr. Bouchanl parted
with his specimen to Mr. Waring, of London.

138 DTJBUN NATUJEIA-L HISTORY SOCIETY.

According to M. Godard, Notodonta bicolora is not rare about Valen-
ciennes. Ernest ( * * Papillon's D'Eiirope," voL iv., p. 60, Fhalana hicolor,
Plate cxxvi., Fig. 70) tells us that in his day this moth was discovered
for the first time in 1769, in the Forest of Frankfort-on-the-Maine. Al-
though it appears generally every year, yet it is only seen in small
quantities ; and in 1783, two years before the publication of his fourth
volume, he could only get a caterpillar, which he has figured against a
birch-leaf.

In confirmation of the truth of Bouchard's statement, that it falls
very readily from the branch on which it rests, he adds : — ''EUe se trouve
sur les Boiileaux {Betida alia) d'ou on la fait tomber tres ais^ment pour
peu qu'on eu secou les branches."

On this tree the moth deposits her eggs, which are hatched about the
end of June or beginning of July, and it feeds on the birch. The cater-
pillar is a deep green, with tufts of hair proceeding from a white tubercle,
which on the under side of the belly is slightly yellowish. Capieux,
in the twelfth volume of " IsTaturforcher," published in Halle, 1778,
figures the moth.

Dr.Beaumann, in Steinbach, caught a female moth, which laid eggs.
The caterpillars were long-haired. He, not knowing their natural food,
tried salad, but they refused to eat, and died. M. Bouchard proceeds
next year to Ireland to look for the larva. Irish naturalists will wel-
come this noble addition to the zoology of their very rich island. It is
but another proof that he who would seek for novelty in large objects
has only to go to unvisited places in the proper season. It is a great
pity that there are not premiums, in books, awarded for discoveries in
zoology, as there used to be for new plants. Many among living zoolo-
gists amply deserve such rewards; whilst collectors like Bouchard, Fox-
croft, and Turner, who live by their labours in the field, might receive
in lieu of it pecuniary reward.

Mr. BirchaU exhibited Continental specimens of the moth in question,
and stated that it would be most desirable to have the occurrence of this
species confirmed.

He had taken this opportunity to bring in and exhibit to the Meet-
ing specimens of a moth which was lost to British lists formearly twenty
years, with the exception of a specimen, taken in the county of Dublin,
by a member of this Society, James Haughton, Esq., and which had been
exhibited here. He had, however, found Hyd/relia Banksiana tolerably
common this year in Killamey.

The following were declared duly elected : —
Ordinary Member : — John Goode, Esq., Dublin.
Honorary Member : — John Cocks, M. D., Plymouth.
Corresponding Member : — Henry Lawson, Esq., Cork.
Associate Member : — A. F. Gordon, Esq.

The Society adjourned to the 7th January, 1859.

DUBLIN NATURAL HI8T0BT SOOHTT. 139

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1859.

His Grace the Archbishop op Dublin in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been read, were signed
by the Chairman.

The Rev. Samuel Hauohton, F.R. S., F. T. C. D., and Professor of
Geology in the University of Dublin, read the following paper —

ON SOME POSSIL FTRAMrDELLID^ PROM THE CARBONIPEROUS LIMESTONE OP
CORE AND CLONMEL.

The following fossils were placed at my disposal by Mr. Joseph "Wright,
of Cork, and as some of them are new forms, and others excellent speci-
mens of rare fossils, they appeared worthy of being exhibited before this
Society.

The genus Loxoncma was formed by Professor Phillips as a provi-
sional genus for the reception of many of the Palaeozoic shells, previously
named Melania, Turritella, &c. ; and the genus Macrocheilus was sug-
gested by the same geologist as a convenient substitute for the Buccinum
of the older writers. Both these genera are properly placed by "Wood-
ward among the PyramidellidaB. There is considerable difficulty in as-
certaining the precise conchological affinities of the fossil shells of the
older rocks, owing to the circumstance that the mouths of the shells are
generally broken off or concealed by stone. It is, therefore, in many
cases impossible to pronounce absolutely on the identity of a fossil with
a recent genus; and the most that can be done under these circum-
stances is to give it the name of the genus to which it appears most
closely allied, attaching at the same time a specific name, suggestive
either of the locality in which it was found, or of some other genus to
which it is also allied.

" Loxonema (Phillips, Pal. Foss., Cornwall, p. 98). — Spiral, turricu-
lated, whorls convex, their upper edges cidpressed against the next
above, without spiral band, mouth oblong, attenuated above, effused
below, with a sigmoidal edge to the right lip ; no umbilicus, surface
covered by longitudinal threads or ridges, generally arched."

This genus now includes many Palaeozoic shells, formerly called
Melania, Turritella, Scalaria, Rissoa, and Terebra.

I. *^ Loxonema sulculosa (Melania 8ulculo8a),(F}nL, GeoL, Yorksh.,
PI. xvl, Fig. 1, a)."

Some fine specimens of this species were found by Mr. Wright at the
Windmill Quarry, near Cork. (PI. xi.. Figs. 1 and 1.)

II. ** Loxonema rugifera (Melania rugifera^ Phillips, GeoL, Yorksh.,
PI. xvi.. Fig. 26)."

This beautiful species was found, for the first time in Ireland, by Mr.
Wright, at the Windmill Quarry, near Cork. (PI. xi.. Figs. 2 and 2.)

140 DUBLIN NATUEAL HI8T0ET SOCIETT.

III. ** Loxonema constricta (Z. pulcherrima, M'Coy, Carb. Foss.,
PL vii., Fig. 7). Loxonema sinuosa (Phil., Pal. Foss., Cornwall,
PI. xxxviii., Fig. 182)."

From the neighbourhood of Clonmel. It is not an unfrequent fossil
in the Carboniferous Limestone of Ireland.

IV. *' Machrocheilus acutus (Sow.). — WindmiU Quarry, near Cork.
(PL xi., Figs. 3 and 3)."

These specimens would be referred by some to M. curvilineus, but the
truth is, that the species of this genus are very arbitrary ; and it appears
better for the present to consider them to belong to the well-known
form M. acutusy to which they are evidently closely allied.

V. " Cerithioides telescopium (new). — Generic characters : same as
those of Cerithium, with the exception of the mouth, which is unknown.
Sp. character: Elongated, conical, whorls numerous (12), slightly con-
vex, smooth, with a faint subcentral band ; base of shell provided with
five or six well-marked longitudinal concentric grooves, extending from
the columella nearly to the outer border."

From the "Windmill Quarry, near Cork. (PL x.. Figs. 2, 3, 4.)

VI. ^^Cerithioides (ji. sp.). Carrigtuohill, near Cork. This is a spe-
cies distinct from the former, but not sufficiently well marked in the
specimens I have seen to admit of description. It has a narrow band on
the bottom of each whorl. It differs little from some specimens of Tur-
ritella suturalis ; and I am of opinion that the few carboniferous species
of Turritella which are still left in that genus should be removed into
another, as they are wanting in some of the characteristics of the true
Turritellidae."

The provisional genus Cerithioides might be made to receive them,
as they are certainly not either Loxonema or Macrocheilus. The qua-
drangular shape of their mouth is a character of no value in a Palaeozoic
fossil, liable to the distortion produced by pressure. I have seen the
undoubted Turritella suturalis of the Carboniferous Limestone of Cork,
with the Melania- shaped mouth of Lonomena, produced by pressure,
which had, at the same time, squeezed the cross- section of the shell into
an ellipse,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES.

Plate X.

Fig. 1. Cerithium telescopium (recent), for comparison with the fossil
shells.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 (new). Cerithioides telescopium {Haughton). Figs. 2 and
3 show the faint subcentral band ; and Fig. 4 shows the con-
centric basal grooves.

Plate XI.
Figs. 1 and 1. Loxonema sulculosa {Phillips).
Figs. 2 and 2. Loxonema rugifera {Phillips). (New to Ireland.)
Figs. 3 and 3. Macrocheilus acutus (jax.) {Phillips).
Fig. 4. A new pateUiform fossil, allied to Acmwa, found in the Wind-
mill Quarry, near Cork.

DXTBLIN NATUBAL HI8T0BT 80CI£TT. 141

Pbofessor KiNAHAir, M. D., F. L. S., read a Paper —

ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE IRISH ECHINODERMATA.

On several former occasions I have had the honour of laying before your
meetings, papers on the Irish distribution of several groups of our
animals. My remarks to-night are intended to be introductory to a
series of those on our Echinodermata ; and although, from the compa-
ratively small degree of attention these animals have hitherto excited,
they must be necessarily imperfect, yet, as a contribution to a subject
of daily growing importance, viz., a correct knowledge of the actual
number of species of restricted geographical distribution, they will be,
I trust, considered worthy of taking up some little space in our Proceed-
ings.

In these, as in the other lists I have already had the honour to sub-
mit, I have taken, as the basis of my observations, notes made by
myself in my researches since the year 1850, at the same time availing
myself of the labours of others in those districts which I have had but
imperfect opportunities of examining, except in the cases of critical
species, and then only have I quoted those authors whose identification
may be depended on as to accuracy.

I feel the more called on to bring these lists before this, rather than
any of our Dublin Societies, because your meetings have been already
selected by others, on many occasions, as the medium for the publica-
tion of important contributions to the history of the group ; although it
must be deeply regretted that the most valuable of these communications
are at present, and many only imperfectly, to be found in the columns
of *' Saunders' News-Letter, " in the reports of the respective meetings
at which they were read. The intended publication, during the present
year, of the back Proceedings, in a compact form, will, however, I hope,
in a great measure remedy this evil, and, therefore, ftirther allusion to
the topic here is needless.

As this communication is only intended to be introductory to future
and detailed papers on the subject, I shall to-night confine myself to a
few generalities on the subject of the distribution, reserving even many
of these till the concluding paper ; and to a general summary of the
work done in Ireland, and unrecorded in our present standard of infor-
mation on the subject, Forbes' "British Star-fishes," adopting the ge-
neral arrangement of that work, and, for the present, also its nomen-
clature.

Before entering fully on these, it is but right to notice the more
important of the papers communicated to this Society relative to the
Echinoderms subsequent to 1841, the year of imprint of the "British
Star-fishes."

These are — the many communications of that indefatigable and labo-
rious observer, Charles Farran, M. D. Of these, the most notable are as
foUows : — On Thy one Andrewsii, a new Holothuriad : discovered by him
on the coast of Waterford in January, 1851 (ride " Saunders* News-letter,"
February 15, 1852). On JSchiurus vulgaris^ April 15, 1857, from Clonea,
county of Waterford, and several valuable notes on other occasions.

142 DUBLIN NATtJEAL HI8T0KY SOCIETT.

The papers of the late "William M'Calla on the star -fishes of the west
coast, and of Belfast Bay; and Professor J. Beay Greene's paper onAm-
phmra Zeachu, a new species of Ophinridea discovered at Cork.

The following list shows in detail the species added to the Irish lists
since the publication of Forbes; but probably one or two of the species
are of questionable value.

Ophiura Zeachu (Greene). Cork, 1858. Professor J. Beay Greene.
Brissus lyrifer {Forbes). South-west coast. Mr. B. M 'Andrew.
Cucumaria niger {Couch). West coast. Mr. W. Todhunter.
Cucumaria inhcerens {Mull). Balbriggan, county of Dublin, 1843.

Mrs. W. J. Todhunter.
Thy one Andrewsii {Farran). Clonea, county of Waterford, Dr. C.

Parran.
Thyone raphanus {Kor. 8f Dub.). Bantry Bay. Mr. B. M'Andrew.
Chirodota digitata {Mont.). Carrickfergus. Mr. W. Thompson.
Syrinx Harveii {Forbes). Strangford Lough. Mr, G. C. Hyndman.
Syrinx tenuicinctus {M'Coy). West coast. Professor M'Coy.

,, Forhesii {M^Coy). Boundstone. Professor M'Coy.
Echiurus vulgaris {Savign.). Clonea. Dr. C. Parran.

All of these, except the first and Thyone Andrewsii, are recorded in
Thompson's Pauna of Ireland. A specimen of Echinus presented to this
Society by Mr. G. Y. Du JS^oyer, and noticed in the Proceedings for
1856, almost seems to point to a species as yet undistinguished from
Echinus lividus.

The great addition made to our knowledge among this group is to
be judged rather by the positive knowledge gained as to the actual range
of the several species, than by the mere number of species added to our
lists ; and the general conclusion thence anived at, that most of the spe-
cies recorded as of limited distribution are really distributed all round
the island.

In the Irish seas the Echinodermata probably afford us fewer ex-
amples of types of geographic importance than any other group, — one
exception is Echinus lividus , whose range at present stands thus : —
Lough Ine, county of Cork, on the authority of fine specimens sent thence
by Mrs. Thomas Townsend, as its furthest south-eastern point, to Tory
Island, county of Donegal, on authority of Mr. G. C. Hyndman. There
are not probably a dozen other species of restricted distribution. The
following, however, will probably be found to be so : — Crihella rosea.,
Goniaster Templetoni, Luidia fragillissima, Asterina gibbosa, Echinus
Flemingii, Brissus lyrifer, Cucumaria niger, Cucumaria fusiformis, and
possibly also Ophiocoma brachiata, Solaster endeca, Palmipes membrana-
ceus, Psolus phuntapus, and Cucuma/ria pentactes. Of these, Asterina
gibbosa is given by William Thompson on his own authority, as having
occurred off the Dublin coast. I have often searched for it carefully,
and dredged over grounds similar to those in which it has occurred to
me off Plymouth, but unsuccessfully on the Dublin coast ; whilst on the

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOBT SOCIETT. 143

western and southern coasts I have found it abundant wherever it did
occur. I, therefore, suspect there is some error in the record, but, never
having had an opportunity of examining the actual locality recorded —
Lambay Island — I hesitate in the case of so well marked a species to
assert positively that Thompson must be wrong. Solaster endeca is re-
corded by Dr. Ball as from Dublin Bay. In my dredging researches,
which have not been few, I have never met it, and suspect an error here
also. In the case of Palmipea memhranaceus, also recorded as a Dublin
species, on the authority of Mr. J. W. Warren, and stated to have been
dredged ahout seven miles off the Dublin coast, recollecting that in
Dundrum Bay the species swarms, it may be that his informant, in
speaking of the specimen, used the notoriously loose computations
common among fishermen. I have never met any one else who has seen
a Dublin specimen. So little is known about the Holothuriadeae and
SynaptfiB, that possibly at present it is better to omit dwelling on them
too rigidly in this comparative examination.

The other species have occurred to myself on both sides of the island.
I will notice a few of the more remarkable, premising that on the eastern
coast the species occur in deep water, whilst on the western the same
species are generally littoral.

Comatula rosacea^ Dublin Bay, Valentia Island, Belfast. Ophiocoma
neglecta, Dublin Bay, Ardmore, Valentia. Ophiocoma granulatay Dub-
lin, Valentia, Belfast. Ur aster glacialiSf Dublin, very common, 12-30
fathoms, Kilkee, very common, littoral; Belfast, 15 fathoms. Uraster
hispida, DubUn Bay, Cork, Professor Greene ; county of Down, "William
Thompson. Astertas auranciaca, Malahide, 1858; Ardmore, 1851 ; Va-
lentia. "When the subject has been fully worked up, I have little doubt
that many other species will be added to this list, particularly among the
soft-bodied Echinoderms.

"With regard to the British species absent from the Irish lists they
will be nearly all found to belong to the northern, being generally re-
stricted in Great Britain to the northern islands; it is not probable,
therefore, that many of them will ever be found as natives of Ireland.
On the other hand, almost all the southern British types have occurred
on the west and northern coasts of Ireland.

Dr. E. Perceval Wright was pleased to hear that a carefully prepared
list of the Echinodermata inhabiting the Irish seas was now about to
make its appearance. During the summer of the preceding year, he
had, in conjunction with his friend, Professor J. Reay Greene, paid
much attention to the distribution of these animals around the south
and south-west coasts of Ireland. The results of these and other obser-
vations had already been laid before the British Association {vide "Pro-
ceedings,'* August, 1859), at their late meeting at Leeds. In the course
of the ensuing season they hoped, if possible, to follow up and extend these
inquiries. Dr. Kinahan had referred to the Spoonworm, which he seemed
to regard as a member of the class Echinodermata, the animal in question
belonging to the group usually denominated Sipunculoidea. In this

144' DUBLIN If ATXTRAL HI8T0ET SOOIETT.

view of the affinities of the last-mentioned order, he (Dr. Wright) was
not disposed to concur, since he saw no reason to dissent from the views
of De Quatrefages and others, who proposed to remove these animals
from the Echinoderms, properly so called. He did not consider it ne-
cessary to occupy the time of the meeting with detailing the various facts
brought to light by Professor J. Reay Greene and himself, during their
recent toar round the coast, since a summary of these would, ere long,
be published in the Reports of the British Association; but he would
wish to record the occurrence of the Purple Sea Urchin {Echinus livtdus),
in the Cape Clear district, which must now be considered as a well-
established southern habitat for this remarkable species.

Dr. Kinahan was perfectly aware that the opinions adverted to were
held by several leading zoologists, but he by no means considered the
arguments brought forward on the subject as conclusive or satisfactory,
and should, therefore, include both the Holothuridea and Sipunculoidea
in the proposed lists, the rather as so little authentic had been published
on the matter, owing to the difficulty of procuring information, and the
general consequent apathy of naturalists concerning the group.

Professor J. Reay Greene briefly commented on the question referred
to by his friend, Dr. Wright, a question of high anatomical and physiolo-
gical import. It amounted, in short, to this — Is the water vascular
apparatus which theGephyrea possess strictly identical with the ambu-
lacral system of the true Echinodermata ? For his own part, he could
not but coincide with the opinion of De Quatrefages and Huxley on the
subject. With regard to the Holothuriadeae, he thought it advisable
that they should be altogether omitted in the list to which Professor
Kinahan had alluded, since he (Professor Greene) was of opinion that
the genera and species of Holothuridese inhabiting the British seas had
not yet been determined with sufficient accuracy. He would not detain
those present with the views which he entertained as to the true mode
of subdividing the remaining orders belonging to the same extensive
division. These he hoped, eventually, to bring forward in a matured
form. In reference to the distribution of these animals, he would
observe that, with the exception of the north-west district, there was no
part of the Irish coast which had not been carefully examined by either
himself or Dr. Wright.

The President declared the following duly elected as ordinary Mem-
bers : —

Dominick John Corrigan, M. D., M.R.I. A., Dublin; P. L. Pea-
cocke, Esq., Dublin.

The meeting then adjourned till the first Friday in February.

DUBLIIf WITUKAL HI8T0BT 80CTETT. 146

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 4, 1869.

William Andeews, M. R. I. A., President, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes were read and signed.

The President exhibited specimens of the sepiostaire oi Sepia vulgaritf
from the west coast of Ireland, and made some general remarks on the
peculiarity of the Fauna of the district, enumerating the various species
which had been met there, and were either unknown or rare on the rest
of the Irish coast.

Professor J. R. Kinahan, F. L. S., read a communication —

ON THE TEACINGS FOEMED ON EECENT EOCK SUEFACES BT PATELLA
VULGAEI8 AND OTHEE MOLLUSCS.

Some time since, my friend, Mr. "W. H. Baily, showed me specimens
of markings of a peculiar character which had been sent to him as pos-
sibly fossil, but which he had proved to be merely surface-marking, and
hence necessarily recent. The peculiar appearance presented by them
rendered it a matter of interest to identify them. These were as fol-
lows : — a number of narrow, linearly rectangular, light-coloured spaces,
apparently raised on a dark red ground, and arranged so as to form a
series of radiating lines in one direction, or, when considered only in the
transverse direction, exhibiting a series of nearly concentric curves, so
that, taken as a whole, they presented a plumose appearance, closely re-
sembling the impression of one of the plumose polypifera or polyzoa.

It was suggested by some that such was indeed their origin, and
that the spaces represented the points on which the cells of Lepralia, or
some allied polyzoon, had been developed, and from which they had sub-
sequently disappeared. This conjecture, although an ingenious one,
was unsatisfactory to me, for the following reasons : — First, there is
no native polyzoon known which would accurately agree with these
marks ; next, the total absence of any trace of coenoecium in the speci-
mens, for it seemed highly improbable that, in a surface comprising se-
veral square yards, aU trace of the animal, if any had ever existed there,
shoiild have disappeared ; next, the cells of the coenoecium, being conti-
nuous one with the other, ought to leave markings also accurately con-
tinuous in one sheet, whereas the rectangular spaces were all, or nearly
all, absolutely distinct, and the surface of the stone between them ge-
nerally intact ; and lastly, on subjecting the specimen to a simple test,
which I have found invaluable in enabling me to distinguish between
mere surface-markings and obscure fossil traces, viz., the placing the
stone gently and without agitation in a basin containing a couple of
inches of clear water, and, after allowing it time to remain for a short
time soaking, Tiewing it through the water under a strong sun-light, I
found that the markings totally changed their characters, and presented
appearances which were incompatible with their supposed polyzoon
origin. Under the action of the water, the markings were seen to be

146 DITBLIW NATTTEA^L H18T0EY SOCIETY.

excavations distinct one from the other, with sharp-cut edges, and evi-
dently but recently formed by cutting, and not due to the mere growing
up of any organism to the edges of a system of cells. These excava-
tions were cut out of a brown substance, which swelled up on the appli-
cation of the water, and under a high power of the microscope resolved
itself into filaments of oscillatoria or some allied alga.

The same objections, especially the fii'st quoted, applied to another
opinion, and one which at first sight seemed not improbable, viz., that
the markings might be sun-pictures on the slate rocks of zoophytes, or
algaa.

Mr. Du Noyer suggested the idea that they were in some way con-
nected with the tracings formed by molluscs in the act of feeding. To
this opinion there appeared only one objection, viz., the plumose cha-
racters oi* the markings exhibited ; the ordinary track of a molluscan
tongue being either perpendicular to the transverse plane of the animal's
body, or else a long winding track ; sometimes, it is true, a series of
curves, but these curves disjointed from one another, and in no degree
plumose.

Some tracings of Patella vulgaris, which I obtained at Lough
Shinny, have, however, explained the whole matter. In these we see
the ordinary perpendicular markings gradually passing into a zigzag
line, and then into a series of connected but separate curves, which
gradually approximate one to the other, till at length at the extremity
of the animal's feeding ground they overlap and form a series of plu-
mose tracings precisely similar to the markings on the specimens of slate
rock communicated to me by Mr. W. H. Baily.

I have been induced to bring this before your Society on account of
the great mischief which, it appears to me, the general apathy of zoolo-
gists on such subjects has caused in the rational study of zoology, such
things as tracks being generally considered too insignificant to engage
the attention of the student, whilst in truth many palseontological
puzzles might have much light thrown on them if zoologists did their
duty in living ichnology. I have been so much impressed by this, that
for some time past I have been making a series of observations on this
point, and have arrived at some very curious results ; and although se-
veral of these have been anticipated within the past few months by the
interesting observations of Mr. Albany Handcock in the '' Annals of
Natural History," yet there remains still a great deal to be done in this
field, especially as regards the tracks of the star-fishes, the tubicolous
and wandering worms, and the bivalve molluscs, all of which, I find,
make most peculiar and interesting traces.

It is indeed a just cause of reproach to naturalists studying living
forms, that, when appealed to by the palaeontologist as to the probable
origin of animal traces met fossilized, in ninety-nine cases out of a hun-
dred no definite information can be given, because, fotsooth, animal
traces are too trivial a subject to devote time to ; although these traces,
if properly studied, afi'ord much and valuable information as to animals'
habits, and the conditions under which the animals lived and died.

DTTBUS VkTUULL HISTOET 80CIETT. 147

There is another reason for a study of these traces. Often, as in
this case, they assume pseudomorphic forms, and the zoologist is called
on to pronounce as to whether the appearances are fossilized organisms
or mere tracks. Now, in many doubtful cases, if the naturalist, instead
of merely stating that the fossils submitted to him were not organisms,
could state positively what traces they probably were, the value of his
evidence would be much increased.

I cannot conclude, therefore, without expressing a hope that the
time is not far distant when ichnology will just as naturally take its
place as a branch of study as osteology or any other of the particular
branches of the general science of zoology ; for, although the evidence
deduced from this source can never be as generally particular and posi-
tive as that furnished by some of the other branches — the study of
structure, for instance — yet, if thoroughly and properly studied, it will
be found that rules of identification do prevail, even among seemingly
irregular tracks, of so unerring a nature, that the observer can from
them deduce many of the characters of the nature of the surfaces, &c.,
on which they were formed, the influences to which these surfaces were
subjected, and the nature and habits of the animals to whose labours the
tracks are due — subjects now of paramount importance, owing to the
growing conviction of the truth of the axiom, that fossil animal forms
were formed on the same general types as living ones, lived under simi-
lar conditions, and possessed the same or similar habits.

Since writing the above, I find that Purpura lapillus and Littorina
rudts, &c., make tracks which are nearly undistinguishable from those
of Patella vulgaris.

Specimens of the tracings alluded to accompanied the paper.

After due ballot the following were declared duly elected : —
Benjamin G. M*Dowel, M. D., M. R. I. A., Professor of Anatomy,
Trinity College, as Ordinary Member.

Robert Gage, Esq., Rathlin Island, as Corresponding Member.

FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 4, 1859.

"W1LLIA.M Andeews, M.R.I. a., President, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes having been read, were signed.

The President read a paper on the habits of the British species of
Hymenophyllum. (For this paper see end of April Meeting.)

The HoNORABY Seceetaet read, in the author's absence, the follow-
ing paper —

ON THE REMARKABLE DESTRUCTION CAUSED AMONG BIRDS IN KERRY BY THE
WINTER OP 1854-55. BY GEORGE HENRY KINAHAN, O. S. I., CORRESPONDING
MEMBER, DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

During the year 1855 I was stationed on the west coast of Cork and
Kerry, at which time the following notes of the effects of the severe

r

148 DFBLTN NATTTRAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

frost of that year, as seen in the destruction of many of our birds, were
made ; and as they may be of interest to some of your Members, I ven-
ture to lay them before your Society. This frost began the second
week in January, and continued for four weeks. It was succeeded by
a heavy fall of snow, accompanied by frost. This lasted up to about
March 10th. After the frost and snow had disappeared, the dead bodies
of the following birds might be met, in greater or lesser numbers, lying
scattered about : —

"Water ouzel (C. aquaticus) : in numbers.

Song thrush (Jf. mitsica) ; blackbird {M. vulga/ris) ; redwing (Jf.
iliaca) ; fieldfare (Jf. pilaris) : in great numbers.

Hedge-sparrow {A. modularis) ; robin {K ruhecula) ; stonechat
{S. rulicola) : in numbers.

Tits {Pari) ; either two or three species ; I forgot to note the parti-
cular species : in numbers.

Titlark {A, pratensis); skylark (A. arvensis); common bunting or
bush lark {U. miliaria) ; yellowhammer (U. citrinella) ; black-headed
bunting {JE. schceniclus) ; chaffinch {F. coelehs) ; common sparrow {Pas-
ser domesticus), rare in district ; greenfinch {C. chloris) ; goldfinch
( G. elegans) ; common linnet {L. cannahina) ; lesser redpole {L. minor) ;
mountain linnet {L. flavirostris) ; starling ( S. vulgaris) : in great num-
bers.

Chough {F. graculus) ; raven {C. comix) ; Royston crow (C corax) ;
jackdaw {G. monedula) ; rook (C frugilegus) ; magpie (P. melanolewa) :
a few only.

Red grouse {T. scoticus) ; partridge {P. cinerea) : in numbers.

Golden plover {G. pluvialis) : a few.

Sandlark {Tringa variabilis) : a few.

Lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus) ; in great numbers.

Curlew {N. arquata) : a few.

Whimbrel {N. phceopus) : a few.

Godwit {Limosa rufa) ? I am not quite sure of the species ; both
may have occurred : a few.

Snipe {S. gallinago) ; jack-snipe {S. gallinula) : nearly extermi-
nated.

"Wnd duck {A. hoschas) : a few.

"Widgeon {M. penelope) : a few.

Gulls {Lari) ; either three or four species : a few.

I have omitted in the above list one or two species which I met
dead, but which I had not means of identifying. Some of these had
seldom or ever been seen in the neighbourhood before.

After the frost had lasted three weeks, the birds could be knocked
down with a stick, they had become so tame and listless. Small boys
and women might be seen hawking snipe about at a penny a dozen, but
as the birds were mere feathers and bone, they were not worth even that.
In the street of Castletown Berehaven I myself have seen them caught.
In Cahirciveen the starlings came down the chimneys at night, and

DUBLIN WA.TURAL HI8T0BT 80CIETT. 149

could be caught by the dozen in the morning. Lapwing suffered more
than the other plover. All the crows escaped the general destruction in
a groat measure, and were usually in good condition, as they feasted
sumptuously on the dead and dying small birds. Curlew and duck ma-
naged to live very well, as their feeding-places between high and low
water-mark were never frozen, but many seem to have been killed by
the frost at night in their roosting-places.

"Woodcocks, strange to say, did not seem to suffer by the cold, though
thousands perished by the hand of man. They were very numerous,
and in first-rate condition, but were easily shot and destroyed, coming
into places where a " cock," in the recollection of the oldest inhabitant,
had never before been seen. In the town of Cahirciveen a boy used to
kill three or four of them every day. He lived in the house next to the
hotel; in his garden there was a stream; into this he used to put a freshly
cut furze-bush ; under this the cock used to pitch, which he generally
managed to knock down with a stick. I may also mention that hares
perished in great numbers by the cold and the natives.

The following year (1856) game of every kind, especially snipe,
were extremely scarce (of the latter scarcely any, except the gray or
home-bred birds, being to be seen) ; also all kinds of small birds, black-
birds, thrushes ; migratory thrushes were scarcely to be seen at alL
The gulls and curlews (of the sea birds) seemed to be nearly as plentiful
as in former years. The only cock that I met with that year were the
small variety, or "Yankees," and they did not appear in the neigh-
bourhood of Cahirciveen till February. Even this year (1859) the
game have not recovered the destruction of that year, every sportsman
complaining of the scarcity; though in the county of Clare I have re-
marked more cock (the large variety) than I have seen since the year of
the frost.

Mr. Robert J. Montgomery stated that from observations made by
him that year in the county of Louth, he could fully bear out the fact
of the extraordinary destruction which had occurred among birds.
Many species had not recovered from it yet. All the species recorded
in Mr. Kinahan's list had also been found dead in Louth. The most
abundant were redwings, fieldfares, skylarks, golden plover, and green
plover. Wild swans, owing to the severity of the season, were more
numerous that year than he ever recollected them. The various species
of Anatidffi, &c., were also very numerous, as several species were found
on the Boyne which he had never met there previously. He had that
winter shot there no less than seventeen species, a very large proportion
for so restricted a locality. The following was the list : — mallard,
gadwaU, pintail, shoveller, widgeon, teal, tufted duck, golden eye,
pochard, scaup, shield-duck, common scoter, velvet scoter, goosander,
merganser, smew, and the long-tailed duck.

Mr. Robert Warren stated that on the north-west coast at Killala
the destruction had been very great among jujuatic birds. The com-
mon curlew was the commonest found dead. He remarked also that
the mallard suffered much more than the widgeon or other ducks.

150 DUBLEff NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Rev. Professor Haughton, P.T.C.D., laid before the Society a va-
luable communication from Mr. Joseph Wright of Cork. It was a list
of carboniferous fossils, the great majority of which had been obtained
near that city ; a few, however, were from Clonmel and Castleconnell,
in the counties of Tipperary and Clare, and one species was from Kil-
dare. This list was only the first of a series which Mr. Wright had
promised to favour the Society with, and was peculiarly useful, as the
localities and species were accurately and minutely given. Some of the
species recorded were of extreme interest, and had been already brought
under the notice of the Society at their January meeting, as either new
to our Irish lists or altogether new to science. He might call attention
to the most remarkable : Orthoceras {Actinoceras) giganteum ; Mr.
Wright's specimen is a remarkably fine one ; Loxonema rugifera, and
Lox. sulculosa; see remarks on these species in January last; Flaty-
schisma cirroides ; and Acroculia canaliculata.

LIST OF CAEBONITEEOUS FOSSILS FOUNT) IN THE COUNTY OP COEK, ETC., BY

JOSEPH WEIGHT.

Cephalopoda tetralranchiata^

Nautilus dorsalis. Little Island, Cork.
Discites, planotergatus, Windmill Quarry, Little Island.
„ sulcatus, do. do.

„ compressus (Ellipsolites compressus, of Low) Little Island.
,, mutabilis. Windmill Quarry.
Temnocheilus biangulatus, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; Middleton, Co. Cork.
„ multicarinatus, Blackrock ; Windmill Quarry, Co. Cork ;

Clonmel.
„ globatus, Blackrock, Windmill Quarry; Middleton, Co.

Cork; Clonmel.
Orthoceras cinctum, Blackrock, Little Island, Windmill Quarry.
„ cylindraceum, Windmill Quarry.
„ striatum, Little Island.
Actinoceras giganteum. Little Island, Clonmel.

I got two specimens of this species from the little island; diameter
of aperture nearly nine inches.
Poterioceras fusiforme (Gomphoceras Sby.), Middleton, Clonmel.
Cyrtoceras dentaloideum, WindmiU Quarry.
Campyloceras unguis, do.

Goniatites Listeri, Blackrock.
„ funatus, Middleton.

„ obtusus. Little Island, Blackrock, Middleton, Clonmel.
„ distans. Windmill Quarry.
„ laterale, WindmiU, Little Island, Clonmel.

Gasteropoda Prosohranchiata.

Naticopsis elliptica. Windmill Quarry.

„ plicistria, Clonmel, Middleton, Blackrock, Little Island.
„ Phillipsii, Little Island, Clonmel.
„ Bpirata, Windmill Quarry.

DrBLIN iriTUKAL HI8T0BT S0CI2TT. 151

Loxonema constricta, Windmill, ClonmeL
„ Hennahiana, Windmill Quarry.
„ impendens, Little Island, ClonmeL
„ rugifera. Windmill Quarry.
„ Bulcatula, do.

,, Bulculosa, do.

Turritella suturalis, Clonmel.
Macrocheilus acutus. Windmill Quarry.
„ curvilineus, do.

„ imbricatus, do.

,, rectilineus, Little Island.

,, brevis, Windmill Quarry.

Turbo tiara (?), Windmill Quarry-.
Euomphalus acutus, do.

„ neglectus, do.

„ pugilis, do.

„ calyx, Little Island, Clonmel.

„ catillus, Middleton.

„ pentangulatus, CarrigtuohiU, Clonmel, CastleconnelL

„ rotundatus, Clonmel.

„ serpens, Little Island, Blackrock.

Platychiflma cirrhoides. Windmill.
„ zonites, do.

„ helicoides, do. ClonmeL

Pleurotomaria altavittata, WindmiU.
„ conica, do.

„ decussata, do.

„ naticoides, do.

„ multicarinata, do.

„ tomatilis, Windmill, Castlepark.

Murchisonia quadricarinata. Windmill.
Acroculia canaliculata, ClonmeL

„ triloba. Little Island, CarrigtuohiU, ClonmeL
„ tubifer. Little Island.
„ vetusta. Windmill Quarry, Blackrock.
Patella mucronata, Little Island.
„ sinuosa, Windmill Quarry.

Gasteropoda, Nucleobranchiaia,
Porcellia puzosi. Windmill Quarry.
Bellerophon apertus, Little Island.

„ tangentialis. Windmill Quarry.

„ hiulcus, Clonmel.
Ecculiomphalus serpula, Kildare.

After duo ballot, the following gentleman was declared duly elected
as Ordinary Member : —

Mathew Darcy, Esq., Raheny, Co. Dublin.

The Meeting then adjourned to the month of ApriL

153 DUBLIN NATXTBAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 1859.
"William Andrews, Esq., M. E. I. A., President, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes having been confirmed, were signed.

The Honorary Secretary presented, on behalf of Mr. F. J". Foot,
Geological Survey of Ireland, Corresponding Member, a specimen of the
lesser horse-shoe bat ( Rhinolophvs hipposideros), captured at Ennis,
county of Clare. No published record of this species as Irish is to be
found in the authorities.

Eev. Professor Galbraith, F. T. C. D., moved, Professor Kinahan
seconded, and it was resolved unanimously : —

" That the special thanks of the Society be given to Mr. Frederick
J. Foot for his valuable donation to the Society's Museum."

In the absence of the author, the Honorary Secretary read the
following —

description of balliallia cave, ennis, with account of the discovery
there of the lesser horse-shoe bat. by frederick j. foot, g.s.i.

My friend. Dr. Kinahan, having told me that about six years ago
he had been informed of the existence of a cave in the neighbourhood
of Ennis, county of Clare, which was a favourite resort of bats, requesting
me, in my examination of that district, to be on the look-out for it, — ^I
met with a cave in Balliallia demesne, at a distance of about two miles
and a half north of the town of Ennis, which I think must be that
alluded to.

This cave penetrates nearly twenty yards in a westerly direction,
through strata of limestone, which dip to the east at an angle of five or
ten degrees. The entrance is through a hole in the ground four feet
square, on the slope of a hill facing the east. I have enclosed a
rough plan and section to show the form and dimensions of the interior,
which is divided into three compartments. Descending a few feet, we
reach the doorway, which is four feet wide by three feet six inches in
height ; its sides built of dry masonry, and a large flag of limestone for
the Lintel. Passing through it, we stand, or rather stoop, in the first
compartment, which is eight feet long, five high, averages five feet in
width, and contracts at its further end to an aperture two feet wide, by
which the second compartment is entered.

We now take leave of the daylight, and, lighting a candle, per-
ceive that we are in a chamber twenty-two feet in length, ten in width,
and nine feet in height. Evidences of human occupation of the cave
are also seen here, as there is a bench of rough stonework, two feet high,
at each side, probably erected by distillers of illicit whiskey, as report
says that formerly this cave was one of their places of resort. The
ceiling presents a varied appearance, being in some places rough with
projecting points, which form nooks and crannies ; while in others the
flat under-surfaoe of the beds of rock appear fretted with incipient

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIXTT. 153

stalactites. I call them incipient, as they do not attain to any length,
but form a kind of bead- work arranged in polygons. From this, through
an opening one foot six inches wide, we creep into the third com-
partment. It may be described as a rugged cell, twenty-four feet in
length, varying fh)m two to four in width, and averaging four in
height.

The cave is quite destitute of vegetable life. Its sole inhabitants
seem to be the lesser horseshoe bat {Rhtnolophus htpposideros), the apple
sphinx moth, and a large blackish spider. Of both of these, some
dozens occurred. I shall confine my further remarks to what I ob-
served respecting the bats.

The favourite haunts of these are dry vertical nooks in the rock,
from the top of which they hang suspended by their claws, head down-
wards, and completely enveloped in their wings ; so much so that not
even their ears are visible. They sometimes, but not often, suspend
themselves from the flat under surface of the rock. Two are rarely seen
near each other, and never more than one in the same nook. In select-
ing a position to hang themselves, they appear to be regardless of its
distance from the ground, as they may be seen at different heights. On
the candle being held near them, they wince slightly from the light,
changing their vertical position into a curve. They are easily captured,
making no resistance beyond a faint squeak or clicking noise.

I met only the one species ; and it is a singular fact that in three
visits I made to the cave, all I saw were males. On my first visit I saw
four in the innermost, and two in the middle compartment ; they were
all in nooks. It should be remembered that the inner compartment
was tolerably dry that day. On my second visit, about a week after-
wards, this compartment was deserted, whereas I captured five in the
middle one. The inner cave at this visit was dripping with water,
there having been a good deal of rain in the interval, which soaked
through the joints of the rock. The third time I went I remarked one
bat in the first compartment, near the entrance, in broad daylight. In
the middle chamber there were two, not in crevices, but suspended from
a flat surface near the ground. In the innermost there were three.
This day the cave was rather wet. From what I had hitherto observed,
I consider it remarkable finding one near the entrance, and in daylight.
They appear generally to like total darkness, but a dry retreat is evi-
dently their chief desideratum, so that they prefer daylight to damp
darkness.

There are several caves in the neighbourhood of Quinn (about five
miles east of Ennis), which I have examined, in hopes of finding other
species. Any of these caves which had small mouths were rudely
stopped up with loose* stones and brambles, to prevent the foxes earth-
ing in them (this being a hunting country). There was plenty of room,
however, for the bats to enter if they chose. I removed the stoppages
from two of them, and explored the interior ; but although they were
dry and dark, and very promising, I could not discover any bats.

In a cave near the village of Quinn, which only extends a short
distance under ground, and can be all examined without a candle, I

164 DUBLIN NATUEAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

found one (a male) of the species above described. On my first visit I
captured four bats, which all died before I was able to forward them to
Dublin. I could not get them to eat anything. At a subsequent visit
I took five specimens, which I forwarded to Dr. Kinahan. I kept them
for some days under a wire meat-cover on the ground, and on one occa-
sion, when I carelessly lifted the cover, a bat which chanced to be on
the ground raised himself without difficulty, and flew rapidly from the
ground. He flew quickly and strongly, much like a swallow, and,
though the room was small, he knocked against neither ceiling nor wall,
although he dodged with the greatest address every effort I made to re-
take him. I have been told of another much larger bat in this neigh-
bourhood, but have not seen specimens. Since the above was written,
I procured in separate caves two other specimens (one a female), in the
neighbourhood of Quinn. One of these caves was stopped. From all
I can find out, there is every reason to believe that the lesser horse- shoe
is the bat of this part of the country.

Professor Kinahan, T. L. S., read the following paper : —

MAMMALOGIA HIBEENICA ! PAET I. — STJB-CLASS, LISSENCEPHALA; OEDEE, CHEI-

EOPTEEA, INSECTIVOEID^ ; OE, A GENEEAL EEVIEW OF THE HISTOEY

A^^D DISTEIBUTION OF BATS IN lEELAND J WITH EEMAEKS ON ME. FOOT's
DISCOVEET IN CLAEE OF THE LESSEE HOESE-SHOE BAT, A SPECIES
HITHEETO UNEECOEDED IN lEELAND.

Me. Foot's paper on the discovery of the lesser horse- shoe bat atBally-
allia and elsewhere, in the county of Clare, is so complete as regards
the habits of the animals, that I will incorporate my remarks on that
highly interesting communication in a general review of the whole or-
der to which it belongs ; being the first of a series of papers which I
have long contemplated bringing before your Society, illustrative of
Irish Mammalology.

In these I have drawn almost entirely on matter which has come under
myown observation, and in every case have had the opportunity of examin-
ing critically the specimens quoted, and of comparing them with authentic
specimens;, and also, in all doubtful cases, have, through the kindness of
the President of the Linnean Society, backed my own opinion by his, as
to the identity of my specimens and the species recorded in the ''British
Quadrupeds," first edition, the full value of which latter will be at once
appreciated by any one who attempted to study this group some eight
or ten years since, when, out of all the public Museums in Dublin, I
could only find three authentically named British species, viz., V. Nat-
tereri, Sc. pipistrellus, and Plecotus auritua ; so that, when I procured
V. mystacinus for the first time, I found it utterly impossible to make
sure of the species positively until after a reference to London. Now,
however, the case is different, as authentically named specimens of at
least eight of the British species arc available to the student in our
National Museum and elsewhere.

DUBLIlf NATURAL HJST0B7 SOCIETY. 155

I cannot refrain from noticing the happy opportunity which Mr.
Foot has enjoyed aa regards his discovery, nor the c*qually happy use
which he has made of it, pursuing his investigations in the true spirit
of a naturalist, carefully noting every circumsttmce likely to throw hght
on the habits of the bats, and cautiously investigating, again and again,
the accuracy of each observation, and at the same time carrying on these
researches in a humane manner, avoiding that indiscriminate destruc-
tion of life which is too often, and justly, cast up as a slur and blot on
the study of natural history and its investigators.

Bats, of all the mammtds inhabiting our islands, afford to naturalists
the fewest opportunities of examination, so that of most species the
mere capture is an event; and few of those who have the good fortune
to do this enjoy a chance of studying their habits, or, if they have the
chance, have the courage to face the dirt and danger of imderground
research in the indefatigable manner the author of the paper referred to
has done.

I know of no branch of mammalology in a more unsatisfactory state
than the distribution of our bats. As a general rule, every bat seen
flying about is put down as the common bat, and transferred to the na-
turalist's note-book as the pipistrelle. This is evidently a great error.
In certain parts of Clare, as we have learned to-night, the lesser horse-
shoe bat must be a common species. In parts of Boldare, I showed,
some years ago, that Daubenton*8 bat was the commonest species ; and
it is most probable that, when research has been made and duly
carried out, it will be found that other species are equally as common
as the pipistrelle. Taking the average number of bats which have
come imdcr my own notice, I do not find it commoner than the long-
eared bat ; and none but a very practised eye could distinguish these
two species on the wing, and, in the case of others, even the most prac-
tised eye must fail I have, therefore, under these circumstances, re-
jected every notice which was not confirmed by actual examination of
the specimens ; as my object is to furnish authentic records concerning
species, of whose specific characters there can be no doubt, in every case
referring to some well-known standard authority, so that, should it af-
terwards appear that tlie names attached to the species by British au-
thors are wrong, the observations may be easily referred to the proper
species, and thus remain intact, as far as comparison between type
species is concerned. The authority for nomenclature, &c., used in this
paper has, with one exception, been Professor Bell's work on "British
Quadrupeds," but the characters in every case are drawn from actual
specimens. I preface my remarks on the several species with a few
observations on the general history of the progress of their discovery in
Ireland, and of the genus llhinolophus in particular.

Until within a comparatively recent period two species only of
Cheiroptera (the pipistrelle and the long-eared bat) were believed to
inhabit Ireland ; to which, in 1838, Daubenton's bat was added by the
Ordnance Survey collectors, a single specimen having been taken in
Londonderry. As this was identified by the Rev. Mr. Jenyns, there

166 DTJBLIN NATUBA.L HISTOEY SOCIETr.

can be no doubt of the correctness of the record, although the specimen
itself has been since lost.

In a paper read by our present President, William Andrews, Esq.,
in December, 1842, the following passage occiirs, which I quote from
" Saunders' News-Letter." The paper is entitled, " The capabilities
and advantages that Ireland offers to the Naturalist." Mr. Andrews,
speaking of the Cheiroptera, states : — ** Of the several genera, thirteen
species have been noticed in England, while but three are as yet re-
corded in Ireland, and but little is known' of their habits. One, of
large size and strong flight, has been observed in the neighbourhood of
Dingle. It is possibly the Noctule, the largest of British species, ex-
cept V. myotis {niurinus). The long- eared bat and the pipistrelle are
frequent. Doctor Scouler has in his possession a bat apparently unde-
scribed. It was captured near Dublin by Francis Whitla, Esq. It is
smaller in size than Plecotus auritus, of a reddish colour, and is re-
markable in having a single long hair depending from the sternum." —
(*' Saunders' News-Letter," December, 1842.) I regret I have been
unable to trace the last of these specimens. It was in Mr. Whitla's
possession up to a short time before his death. Of the other species
mentioned I have more to say anon.

In 1845 Mr. G. Mangan captured a specimen of batterer's bat at the
Scalp, counties of Wicklow and Dublin. Professor M'Coy read a paper
on its occurrence, February 12, 1845, giving full details of the speci-
men which at present exists in our Museum. From the report of this
paper the following is quoted : —

*' My friend, Mr. J. Hone, has recently mentioned to me the occur-
rence of a bat to a friend of his in Westmeath, which, fr*om the accurate
description of the curious leaf-like skin to the nose, must have belonged
to the genus Ehinolophus, or the horse-shoe bats — a genus not as yet
recorded in Ireland. From the size mentioned, it was most probably
the greater horse-shoe ; but as the specimen was gone to decay before
its value was known, the matter must remain unsettled."

Mr. J. Hone said the bat had been described to him as having a
large-pointed appendage on its nose, which, with its great size, were so
remarkable that they were noticed at once by those who had seen it in
his friend's office, where it was fastened up till it fell to pieces. — (** Saun-
ders' News-letter," Februaiy 12, 1845.)

In 1852, I myself procured a specimen of the whiskered bat, V.
mystacinus, at Feakle, county of Clare, which I presented to the Society,
in whose Proceedings, owing to a misapprehension of my remarks at
the time, it was positively recorded as V. Bauhentonii, although my
statement was that I thought it more nearly approached V. mystacimia
then unknown as Irish.

In 1853, I was fortunate enough, in company with and through
the information of Frederick Haughton, Esq., to capture a number of
specimens of V. Dauhentonii, from a large colony of these animals at
Tankardstown Bridge, county of KUdai-e. At the time, through lack of

DFBLIV NATXTBAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 167

information, and not giving sufficient weight to the characters of the
intcrforaoral bands, I mistook the species for V. Nattereri, and as such
recorded it in our Proceedings, and in the " Zoologist." This error was
cleared up, some few months subsequently, by a visit to the British Mu-
seum, and also by a communication from Professor Bell, to whom I had
forwarded specimens a short time subsequent to my discovery.

I quote Professor Bell's letter, lest any doubt should at any future
time arise as to the identity of V. mystacinus, which at present remains
unique, and is in a very bad condition.

" The Weeks, Selhorne, May 1, 1853.

** My dear Sir, — I return the bats, for the loan of which I am much
obliged, and am really sorry to have kept them so long from you. I
have examined them with great care, and am satisfied in my own mind
that the three (Kildare specimens) are V. Daubentoniij and the single
one (Clare specimen) V. mystacimcs. The former cannot be mistaken
for V. Nattereri, as the latter has only eight lines in the interfemoral.
I have taken it in this place amongst the rafters of a house which I pulled
down. V. Nattereri is also of a lighter colour.

" Believe me, dear Sir, yours truly,

" Thomas Bell."

The lesser horse- shoe bat, Rh. hippostderos (Gmelin) is this evening
for the first time recorded in Ireland, so that at the present time six
Irish species are positively known, exactly double those known in 1838 ;
and it must be a subject of congratulation to your Society that all the
additions have first been made public through the medium of your
meetings, and that specimens of all the species are in your collection-

The pigmy bat has also occurred near Dublin, but this is generally
now looked on as the young of the pipistrelle.

As far back as 1845, as has been already seen. Professor M*Coy
recorded the occurrence of a Rhinolophus in Ireland. I should also
mention that, last Christmas, Professor William King, of Queen's Col-
lege, Galway, mentioned incidentally to me that he had captured a
horse-shoe bat in Galway the previous June. After I had identified
Mr. Foot's specimens, I wrote to Professor King, asking him whether
my memory served me right as to his conversation with me. In his
reply he mentioned that he had promised to make his dis(jpvery the
subject of a communication elsewhere.* I therefore notice it here,
though unpublished, to secure to him priority of discovery should his
specimen prove the same species as Mr. Foot's, now recorded. No other
record of the genus in Ireland, as far as I can learn, has ever been
published.

* Thia he has sinoe done. Vide ** Proceedings of the Dablin University Zoologic.nl
and Botanical Association" for June, 1859.

158 DTTBIIN NATIJEAL HISTOBT SOCIETY.

The species has been satisfactorily identified, as I forwarded to Pro-
fessor Bell some of the specimens of the horse-shoe bat, taken by Mr.
Foot ; the following is his reply : —

" New Broad-street^ Londony March 23, 1859.
'* My dear Sir, — I did not get your pretty little bat until this
morning. It is clearly Rh. hipposideros. You mention in your note
the existence of the transverse lines on the cars, but this is quite a differ-
ent character from the rugae which exist in Rh. ferrum-equinum, and
which appear as if the ears had been folded or plaited, and then flat-
tened again. There is no doubt of the essential distinction of the
species.

" Faithfully yours,

'' Thomas Bell."

With regard to the latter part of it, I may remark, that the rugae
alluded to have totally disappeared in the dry specimens of Rh. hip-
posideros.

The Clare specimens were also, through the kindness of the Di-
rector of our National Museum, Dr. Alexander Carte, carefully com •
pared by me with a fine specimen of the greater horse-shoe bat brought
from the Crimea by Assistant- Surgeon Carte, late 4th Dragoons, and by
him presented to the Museum. By means of this examination, I was
enabled to draw up the comparison of the two species given below.
The specimens were also carefully compared with the figures in the
"Fauna Italica" of Bonaparte, Bell's *' British Quadrupeds," &c., so
that no doubt could remain as to their identity with the Rh. hippo-
sideros of English authorities.

Synopsis of Irish Species.
[The descriptions drawn from actual specimens. The dimensions are in inches and tenths.]

LISSENCEPHALA— CHEIROPTERA— INSECTIYORID^.

Family — RniNOLPniN^ (JSl Gray).

Nose disk expanded into a leaf behind ; nostrils separated by a pit
or process ; tragus absent.

Genus — Rhinolophus.

Lesser Horse-shoe Bat, Rh. hipposideros, {Gm.), Rh. hihastatuSf
{Geoffr., Desmaresty &c.)

Dentition : in. | ; can. f ; molars, J:f ; tot. -j-J.

Nasal membrane double. Posterior, lanceolate, without basal
lateral expansion, densely hairy. Anterior dilated, sinuated at its
margin, covering entire nose. Ears distinctly notched externally at
base, and slightly notched at apex ; obsoletely plicate, plications dis-
appearing when dry. Fur, very long, soft, and silky ; back, grayish
brown ; roots of hair white, under parts light grapsh, almost white,
slightly darker at sides.

OIJBLnr VkTOBAL HI8T0BT 80CIETT. 159

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Length of head and body, 2-125

„ head, 0625

„ tail, 0-8

„ ears, 0*75

Spread of wings, 9-0

Additional Measurements. — Humerus, 0*6 inch; cubitus, 1*5 inch;
poUex, 0*3; second finger, 1*0; third finger, 2*2; fourth finger, 1*8
fifth finger, 1*6; leg, to end of claws, 1*5; breadth of ear beneath,
0*345 ; spur or hallux, 0*5.

The only female I examined was slightly larger than the males.

The interfemoral ends at the ankle, leaving the whole foot free ; it
is slightly hairy on its upper half, and somewhat quadrilateral ; inter-
femoral bands very numerous (18-20). Feet slender, the claws mode-
rately long, covered with long white hairs ; whiskers weak and scat-
tered

Habitat : Dark, dry caves.

Localities: Ballyallia caves, Ennis, county of Clare; caves near
Quinn, county of Clare, where the species was discovered by F. J. Foot,
E8(i., March, 1859 ; Gal way, a single specimen, identified by Professor
William King, Queen's College, Gaiway, by whom it was captured in
a drawing-room, June, 1858.

The specimens sent me by Mr. Foot lived for some time in confine-
ment ; they seemed in a semi-torpid state, were gentle in their manners ;
those which ate with me took both insects and raw meat, and lapped
milk ; they were all, with one exception, males ; their habits may be
gathered from Mr. Foot's communication ; their cry is feebler than that
of the pipistrelle. I append extracts from Mr. Foot's correspondence,
bearing on their habits : —

''March 10, 1859.

** Mt dear Kinahan, — I found out the cave near this, about which
you asked me when I was in town ; I got four bats in it ; it is very
curious to see how they hang suspended by their two legs from the
ceiling of the cave. There were plenty of them, but I only brought
home four, and put them in a cage, out of which I find one has efiected
his escape. — March 15th. I was at the cave again to-day, and got five
bats ; they have the horse-shoe-shaped thing on their nose, but not that

in their ears March 16th. The bats, five in number (apparently alive

and well), leave this morning. If they arrive alive, the best cage to
keep them in is a meat-cover made of wire gauze ; in a common cage
they hurt themselves trying to squeeze out between the bars, but they
cannot do this in the cover, and besides, the gauze does for them to hang
by. Those I first had I put into a wire cage, the wires about half an
inch apart, and two of them actually got fiirough and escaped. The
two which remained died hanging to ttie cross wires, the ends of their

160 DUBLIN NATTJEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

wings clutching the upright wires, and stiffened in this graceful atti-
tude. The bats can see well, even in the daylight ; one of my five got
loose in a room yesterday where there was plenty of light ; hard work
enough I had to catch him ; every time I flapped my handkerchief, or
put out my hand, he would turn and avoid me like a hare. They select
the dry little nooks in the cave, and, when hanging, they ai'e completely
enveloped in their wings. On holding a candle near them, they would
wiiy?e from the strong light. — March 20th. They do not congregate in
large numbers. I could only find five the last day I was in the cave.
You do not see more than one in each nook or crevice. I saw one fel-
low hanging from the bare ceiling, but they 4)refer crevices. They were
all within reach of my hand. — March 22nd. Yesterday, I was in two
or three caves near Quinn ; they are not good ones, not dark enough
for bats ; any caves in that neighbourhood, with small mouths, are
stopped up with loose stones and brambles. I opened one and went in,
but no bats. In one cave, with a large open mouth, I got one bat ; he
was hanging in an exposed (but dry) place, and quite visible by day-
light. I took him down, but finding him the same, i. e., horse- shoe
lesser, I hung him up again. It is evident these bats like their retreat
to be dry and daiji (pitch dark if possible), but dryness is the chief
point ; they prefer dry daylight to damp darkness. I think it likely
that the Great Horse-shoe may frequent this part of the country. A very
intelligent countryman near Quiim told me, of his own accord, that
there were two sorts of bats there, one a little fellow with a thing on
his nose ; the other much larger than it. — March 23rd. I was at the
original cave yesterday ; it is a positive fact that all the bats are males ;
there were six in the cave yesterday; I took them all down, examined
them, and finding they were the same species, and males, hung them up
again. — March 27th. I send this evening a box containing two bats
which I got yesterday in two separate caves near Quinn. I think one
is a female; it is larger than the others. One of the caves had been
stopped, but I opened it.

"Yours, &c.

*'F. J. Foot."
There are several curious facts deducible from these observations.
The choice of a dry, light retreat, in preference to a dark, damp one, is,
as has been noted by Mr. Foot, a curious circumstance, bats being ge-
nerally supposed to be dwellers only '' in caves where no daylight en-
ters," at least when hybemating ; although it is well known that some
species hawk in the broad glare of the noonday sun, especially in win-
ter, a fact of which I could quote numerous instances from my note-
book, were such wanted. The hybernation of the males apart would
also appear to be a settled question. All the specimens sent to me were
males, except one, that alluded to in the communication of March 27th.
Is this habit* of the congregation of a single sex peculiar to the hyber-

* Since the above was in the printer's hands, I visited these caves myself, and find
that in the summer the bats desert them, as I could not find any. A person in the neigh-

DUBLIK NATTBAL HISTOBI SOaETT. 161

nating season, or does it occur at all seasons? Bell states it occurs
among the female Pipistrelles. The absence of other species in these
caves is also worth noting.

Mr. Foot's observations on the bat's power of rising from a plane
surface corroborates Bell's remarks, that this power is probably common
to all bats. Bell records it of V. Nattereri, the Pipistrelle, and Pleco-
tu8 auritus ; and I can vouch for it myself in F. DaubentonUf and this
species. The habits of this bat seemed otherwise, to me, sluggish, but
probably the specimens were half torpid when they reached me.

The figures of the species given in the ** Fauna Italica" leave little
to be desired as far as the species is concerned; but it is a pity the de-
tails of the nose-leaf are not more clearly given, as this affords one of
the best characters for distinguishing this species from the Greater Horse-
shoe. The following is a comparative statement of the differences be-
tween my Clare specimens, and a Crimean specimen of the Great Horse-
shoe bat captured on a sentry's bayonet at Balaklava. The most strik-
ing difference is size, the Greater Horse-shoe being nearly double the
size of the Lesser. The spread of wing of each is as follows : — Greater
Horse-shoe, 13 to 14 inches; Lesser Horse- shoe, 8 to 9 inches. The
colour of the greater horse-shoe is a yellowish-red on the back, nearly
white beneath. The lesser horse-shoe is a blackish gray — almost black
above, nearly pure white beneath. The ears of the greater horse- shoe
have but a very slight emargination at the top and base, while in the
lesser horse-shoe these are both strongly marked, and the lobe at the
base of the ears is much larger in proportion ; both possess the trans-
verse lines on the ear, but in the greafer horse- shoe these extend over a
greater extent of the ear inwards. They also remain distinct in this
species when dried, while in Ith. hippostderos they generally disappear,
and are hence absent in museum specimens. The leaf on the nose dif-
fers in the two species. In the greater horse-shoe the posterior leaf is
dilated at its extremity, so that the lower extremity is heart-shaped,
and the little circular pits which are situated here are very promi-
nent. In the lesser horse-shoe the base of the posterior lobe is scarcely, if
at all, dilated, so that the the appendage is lanceolate, and the circular
pits are scarcely to be found without some search, and are never so pro-
minent as in the other species. On the other hand, the anterior basal
portion of the leaf is proportionally more dilated in the lesser horse-shoe,
covering nearly the entire of the nose. The eyes are extremely small,
And so deeply sunk in the fur as not to be visible without much research.
Irish specimens have been deposited in the National Museum, Kildare-
street (male and female), Natural History Society, Brunswick-street,
and the Belfast Natural History Society's Museum.

It is seemingly the common bat of that part of Clare where it occurs.

From its British and continental distribution it would appear to be
a southern type.

bourhood told me that the hats are only found there in the winter : so that it appears this
species in the summer forsakes its winter quarters. — J. R. K., Avgutt 12, 1859.

162 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Family — Vespeetilionida.

Nose simple ; ears with an internal appendage ; tail long, enclosed
in the interfcmoral membrane.

Genm — Flecottis.
Ears elongate, united at base ; ears and tragus broad; nasal groove
simple, lunate.

Long-eared bat {Plecotus auritus).

Dentition : |, f , ^^ ; total, |^.

Ears, twice length of head ; tail, longer than forearm.

DIMENSIONS.

Length of head and body, 1 -9

„ head, 0-76

,, tail, 1*5

„ ears, 1*4

„ tragus, 0-6

„ forearm, . 1 "45

„ humerus, 0-75

Spread of wings, 9*0

Length of femur, 0*8 nearly.

„ tibia, 0-625

„ thumb or poUex, 0*3

,, second finger, 1*3

„ third finger, 2-37

„ fourth finger, 1*9

„ fifth finger, 1-9

Ears ovate, entire on outer margin which is strongly plicate, notched
internally at base which is distinctly lobed ; tragus falciform at base,
beneath notched.

Fur moderately long, silky, soft, rufous above, the centre darkest ;
bases of hairs bluish gray ; under parts pale-yellowish gray, lightest on
flanks; interfcmoral very sparsely hairy; glandular lines distinctly
marked, numerous (11-12).

This description is taken from a specimen procured at Aughnacloy,
county of Tyrone, by Edward WaUer, Esq., and now in my possession.

The interfcmoral bands vary in number and in correspondence on
each side of the tail, being eleven on one side and twelve on the other.
The length of the tail and forearm nearly correspond ; but those of third
finger exceed those of forearm and arm, taken together, by above 0*2
inch ; the colour of the fur also answers to the descriptions of Plecotus
auritus, and not to the descriptions oiPlec. brevimanus, if this latter be
a distinct species.

BeU's figures of the species are highly characteristic.

Habitat : The following interesting account of these bats is taken
from Professor M'Coy's paper, already quoted : — " The first time I saw

DUBLUr VATU&AL HIOTOBT SOOIBTT. 163

this epooies alivo, I was stopping at the Vale of Ovoca, connty of Wick-
low, when the chufch of Castlemacadam was undergoing some repairs,
when one of the men came running in to me with one he had just cap-
tured, and which, from the oddity of its appearance, waving its long ears
about in every direction like ram's horns, he was afraid to hold securely; so
that I had scarcely got sight of it when he let it go, and away it fluttered.
I, however, went at once with the man to the place, and, having ascended
to the loft which intervenes between the ceiling of the church and the
rafters, I beheld the most extraordinary spectacle, — hundreds of those
little creatures clung in festoons to the rafters, hanging by their hindlegs,
with their heads downwards, not only to the rafters, but to each other,
in pendant clusters, as huge as a man's hat. Being quite unprepared
for finding such a multitude of specimens, I fear avarice for a moment
mastered our better feelings, for we filled two or three milkpails with
them:'— Saunders' News-LeUer, Feb. 12, 1845.

In 1839, a specimen was taken out of a hole in the centre of a stone
wall, in my presence, at Cloverhill, county of Dublin.

Localities : Dublin, in many localities ; according to my own ex-
perience, common; Kildare, Frederick Haughton, Esq., specimen in
Royal Dublin Society; Aughnacloy, Tyrone, Edward Waller, Esq.,
q. V. ; Kerry, W. Andrews, Esq. ; Youghal, Robert Ball, Esq., LL. D. ;
North of Ireland, William Thompson.

It would appear, therefore, to be as universally distributed in Ireland
as in England.

Genus — Vespertilio.

Head round ; forehead convex ; face elongated ; tragus generally
pointed.

Dentition : false molars f .

Whiskered bat, VesperttUo mystacinus {Leisler) ; V. humeralia {Tem-
mincJc).

Dentition: fj, H ; .total, iS-

Upper lip furnished with a moustache of fine hairs ; general colour
of back blackish; tragus more than half length of ear, lanceolate pointed;
intcrfemoral covered beneath by numerous white ciliated bands, fringed
with hair.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Length of head and body, 20

Head, 075

TaU, 1-58

Ears, 0-40

Tragus, 02

Forearm, 1-3

Spread of wings, 80

The above measurement of the wings is taken in a straight line
across the back ; following the curvature of the wings, they measure
10-5 inches nearly. The breadth of the ear is 0 3 inch.

2a

164 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOKT SOCIETY.

Ears somewhat oval, deeply notched on outer side, a fold beneath the
notch, and also on inner side. The ears are bare for half their length,
the remainder covered with a dark .down. Tragus more than half
length of ear, lanceolate, inner side straight, outer lobed at base.
Fur of back reddish at the tips, the bases of the hairs black, which gives
a general dark appearance to the part. Interfemoral membrane dark,
almost black, covered with light hair ; hairy lines numerous (16). Belly
whitish, almost white. Tail long. Interfemoral membrane and wings
continued up to bases of toes. A distinct moustache of soft velvety
black fur, mixed with long bristles on each side, on upper lip.

Locality: Feakle, county of Clare, 1852. One specimen only ob-
tained, which, as far as I know, is unique. It is in the collection of the
Dublin Natural History Society.

The above description is drawn up from the only Irish specimen
knoMTi, which was obtained by me in August, 1852, under rather pecu-
liar circumstances, being brought to me by a domestic cat I was in the
habit of taking much notice of, the cat at the time drawing my attention
to her peculiarly acceptable offering by the peculiar churring noise used
by those animals in calling their kittens. At the time, although the
specimen was preserved, I mistook it for the common bat, and it was
not till some months afterwards, when I wanted the specimen to fill a
gap in the Society's Museum, that, on identifying the specimen, I per-
ceived its value.

It was recorded by me at the June meeting of the Society, 1853, as
follows : — '' Mr. Kinahan also begged to present a bat obtained at
Feakle, county of Clare. He referred it in much doubt to V. Baubentonii
(although it approached very closely to a species as yet unrecorded as
Irish, F. mystacinus), which species had been once at least captured
here." At this time I had not seen a specimen of V. mystacinus, and
perhaps acted too cautiously in referring it to a species which was a
recognised inhabitant of the island, in preference to one previously un-
known. At a meeting of the Society, held December 4, 1853, I again
recorded my doubt as to its being V. Daubentonii, and, comparing it with
the specimens of that bat obtained at Kildare, which I then confounded
with batterer's bat, I noticed the points which are really characteristic
of the two species. I have already quoted Professor Bell's letter on the
subject of this specimen.

I can give no account of its habits or habitats further than the fact
that there are but few buildings in the locality where it occurred, and
the trees in the neighbourhood are all young, and not covered with
ivy; the hills around are covered with rocks, many of which have
clefts and crannies of considerable size pervading them.

The species is extremely liable to be confounded with V. Dauhentonu;
but the lesser size, the darker colour of the back, membranes, and ears,
the lighter colour of tlie belly, the coarser texture of the fur, the
greater extent of the moustache, and the form of the tragus, enable us
to distinguish between them. From V. dasycnemus ( V. emarginatus) of
the British Quadrupeds, it appears to be distinguished by the deep
emargination of the ear in that species.

DtTBLIlf NATUBAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 165

Daubenton's bat ; Fespert, Dauhentonii (Leisl.)

Dentition : J, f , ^ ; total, ig.

Upper lip with a slight moustache; general colour, grayish red,
without any tinge of black ; tragus scarcely half length of ear, curved
on inner margin, pointed, lanceolate ; interfemoral covered beneath by
ill-definod numerous hairy lines, fringed with a margin of stiffish
hairs.

DIMENSIONS.

Male. Female.

Inches. Inches.

Length of head and body, ... 20 ... 2075

head, 0-6 .. . 06

tail, 1-35 . . . 1-25

„ ears, 0*6 . . . 06

„ tragus, 0-25 . . . 025

,, forearm, 1*5

Spread of wings, 987 . . . 10-37

Additional Measurements. — Humerus, 1 inch nearly ; cubitus,
15 inch; poUex, 0*25 inch; second linger, TO inch; third linger,
2-4 inches; fourth finger, 2-0 inches; fifth finger, 2*0 inches; leg, to
end of claw, 1-25 inch; breadth of ears beneath, 0-30 inch.

The females all exceeded the males in the spread of the wings, and
were lighter-coloured beneath. These measurements are the average of
those of twelve specimens.

Tragus narrow, lanceolate, same colour as ear, lobed at base exter-
nally, internal margin curved; ears lobud at base externally, and
slightly notched about half-way down, upper-half naked, base clothed
with a fine, close fur; back, head, shoulders, and face, dark- reddish gray,
base of hairs, bluish gray ; along angles of the jaws, reddish gray; belly,
grayish white, roots of hair, nearly black, lightest along the median
line ; around the arms, white ; interfemoral membrane, light, dusky ;
glandular bands, numerous (varying from eight to fourteen in those
specimens which I examined), covered with scattered hairs, and fringed
with a margin of stilfish hairs ; claws robust and clumsy-looking, the
most so of any of our Irish bats, ciliated with strong, white hairs ; tail
exserted nearly 0-1 inch; whiskers, long and stiff ; moustache, soft,
black, and velvety-looking, distinctly marked ; a deep sulcus between
nostrils ; follicles well marked and prominent.

Habitat : holes in walls.

Locality : County of Londonderiy, Ordnance Survey Collection ;
since lost ; Tankardstown Bridge, county of Kildare, 1 853, &c.

In 1853, Frederick Haugh ton, Esq., Levitstown, county of Kildare,
invited me to go down to that county to examine a locality in which he
had himself, some time previously, counted thirty-five bats coming out
of a little hole in the buttress of a bridge. On the 22nd of June I availed
myself of the invitation, and, before going down to the bridge, he gave
me two specimens which ho had shot the previous evening on the River
Barrow, at the time remarking to me that they were lighter in colour

I

1 66 DTTBLTN NATURAL HISTORY 80CTETY.

than the bats he was accustomed to see there; they proved to be
V. Daubentonii. The bridge in which they resided has a set of small
holes in the masonry of the abutment, situated about four feet above
the ordinary level of the Barrow, but liable to be submerged by very
high floods. The stones around the edges of the holes are polished by
the constant running in and out of the bats. On poking a switch into
the hole, the bats set up a loud clicking and chirping. In the evening,
by means of a gauze butterfly net, held near the mouth of the hole, we
procured several specimens of this bat, and one pipistrelle.

The bats began scrambling and fighting among themselves audibly
in the hole at about 8-30 p.m., they did not begin to fly till an hour
later; between 930 and 10*30 we counted forty-one bats coming out of
the hole, but, in spite of the number abroad, the noise inside seemed
just as great as ever. The following evening we counted twenty-nine
coming out of the hole ; the weather was harsh and cloudy, and grow-
ing gradually more and more tempestuous, the bats began to retire to
their den about 10 o'clock.

The following day was wet and stormy ; only one bat came out,
and at 10 o'clock all was quiet. The 27th was a wet day; it cleared
in the evening; seventeen bats only came out ; they had grown now very
wary, and would not come out unless all was quiet outside. V. Dau-
bentonii was easily distinguished on the wing from the pipistrelle, and
also when coming out of the hole, as the former flew straight out, while
the latter crept to the edge of the wall, and let himself drop from thence.
The flight of Daubenton's bat is not so rapid as that of the pipistrelle,
nor can he make as quick turns in his flight, hence Daubenton's bat is
easier caught ; when struck into the water, this species also floundered
about, incapable of rising ; the other just touched it, and was off. The
fetid smell of the pipistrelle also was appreciable enough, and its ciy is
much shriller than that of Daubentonii.

Daubenton's bat in confinement was gentle, submitting to be handled,
merely gaping with its mouth, and uttering a soft chirp ; it fed on flies
and raw meat readily ; when the fly was out of the bat's sight it took
no notice of it, even although crawling over its nose. In a room, this
bat struck himself repeatedly against the ceiling, &c., endeavouring to
escape, and I also captured several by holding the net steadily before
the hole. In climbing, the exserted portion of the tail is used as an
additional foot.

The total numbers of bats observed during my trip, and their pro-
portions, as nearly as I could judge, were as follows : —

June 23. V. Daubentonii, 27— Y. Pipistrellus, 14 —Total, 41

„ 24. „ 20 „ 9 „ 29

,, 25. ,, 1 ,, 0 ,, 1

,. 27. „ 11 ,. 6 ., 17

Total, .... 59 Total, . . 29 Total, 88

So that here V. Daubentonii is commoner than the so-called common

DFBlDf NATUBAL HISTOBT 80CIETT. 167

bat Tho flpecies may be confounded with both V. Nattereri and V.
mystacinu8, agreeing with both in the fiinge to the interfemoral, although
this character has been pointed out as distinctive ; it differs from both,
however, in the arrangement of the lines on this membrane ; in the
reddish- gray bat, these are few in number, and very strongly marked ;
in the whiskered bat they are numerous and distinctly marked, whilst
in Daubenton's bat they are numerous, but confused, running into one
another.

The colour of the for separates it from F. mystacinusj being de-
cidedly of a reddish-brown tinge on the back in Daubenton's bat, and
in the other dark, almost black ; Natterer's bat is much lighter than
V. Daubentanit. It has been seen that it agrees with the whiskered
bat in bearing a moustache, but this in the whiskered bat is much more
prominent cmd better marked. From its great abundance in Kildare,
from whence my friend, F. Haughton, Esq. , has since forwarded speci-
mens, I think it likely it has been often overlooked elsewhere in Ire-
land.

Specimens are in the National Museum, and in the Natural History
Society's Collection.

Reddish-gray bat ; V. Nattereri,

Dentition : f, f , H 5 total, J§.

Ears about the length of head, sinuate on outer margin; tragus
straight, very narrow, pointed, two-thirds length of ear ; fur rcddish-
gruy above, whitish beneath ; interfemoral with only eight (?) ciliated
lines.

DIMENSIONS.

Inches.

Length, 20.

Spread of wings, 11-0

Locality : Scalp, a rugged, rocky mountain pass between the
counties of Dublin andWicklow. George Mangan, Esq., 1845.

Professor M'Coy gives the following description of the above, tho
only as yet recorded Irish specimen : —

" Spur or heel unusually long, extending nearly half-way between
the hind-foot and extremity of the tail ; edge of interfemoral from ex-
tremity of spur to the tail, crenulated and frmged with short, stiff hairs;
oblique glandular bands of the interfemoral membrane do not exceed
eighty head small ; ears nearly equalling head in length, ovate ; ^vidth
two-thirds length, obtusely notched in outer margin ; tragus, two-thirda
length of ear, narrow, pointed ; fur long, very soft, dull white beneath,
with the base of ihe hair nearly black ; above, reddish brown, with a
tinge of gray ; wings dark brown, -with a tinge of gray." — Saunders^
Newsletter y February 12, 1845.

The above 8i)eciraen was until lately in the collection of the Natu-
ral History Society, Dublin. Professor M'Coy gives the locality of its
capture incorrectly as EnniskciTy, county of Wicklow.

168 DUBLIN NATUEAL niSTORT SOCIETY.

Oenu8 — Scotopkilus.

Head oblong ; forehead flat, swollen at the sides ; winers somewhat
thick.

Pipistrelle ; Scotophilua pipiatrellus.

Dentition: |, f, |^J; total, ||.

Ears two-thirds length of head, notched on outer margin ; tragus
rounded at apex, sides parallel, nearly half length of ear ; fur dark-red-
dish brown above, slightly paler beneath.

DIMENSIONS.

Kildare Specimen. Dublin Specimen.

Inches. Inches.
Length of head and body, ... 1*75 1*6

„ head, 0-6 0-55 >

„ tail, 1-35 1-0

„ ear, 0-4 0-3

,, tragus, 0-18 0-13

,, forearm, 1*25 1*2

Spread of wings, 8*5 7*5

Tragus narrow, nearly parallel- sided, rounded at apex, same colour
as ear ; ears notched externally, ovato- triangular, naked ; fur reddish-
brown above, the roots of the hairs bluish-black, belly grayish, the
roots of the hairs black, pale along the flanks ; iutcrfemoral triangular
covered with hair near the body ; interfemoral bands few in number,
6-8, confused ; a deep sulcus between nostrils ; the sebaceous follicles
well marked, and fetid.

Habitat : holes in walls, nooks under rafters, &c.

Localities : Dublin, where it is by no means rare ; Kildai*e, Levits-
town ; Kerry, William Andrews, Esq. ; Down, William Thompson ;
probably distributed all over Ireland. The Dublin specimen (a female,
of which the measurements are given above) was captured clinging to a
wall on a public road near Dundi'um in the middle of the day ; it is a
female, and not full grown.

Habits : this bat flies earlier in the season than any other. I have
already noted some of the manners of the Kildare specimen when speak-
ing of Daubenton's bat. In addition, I may add that in confinement it
is very impatient, running up and down the sides of the net when cap-
tured, and squeaking and biting in impotent rage. It also was a great
adept at dodging the net ; not merely running up the sides of it, and es-
caping before I could bag it, but also turning in the net, and flying back
again before it reached the end. In the cage it was perpetually in mo-
tion, biting like a little fury, and squeaking and traversing it in every
direction. It fed freely enough.

Bats generally presumed to be this species are veiy often seen hawk-
ing-by daylight in the winter. This Avinter (1858-59), which was a
remarkably mild one, nearly every day I saw one at noon, during Goto-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOHY SOCIETY. 169

ber, November, December, and January, fl5'ing about the bridges on the
Dodder, near Donnybrook ; but, not having procured the specimen, I
cannot quote the species in certainty. I have also seen them, in the same
mouths, in the streets of Dublin ; so that it would appear that the periods
of hybernation are irregular. I have never seen Uiem in the depths of
the night ; about 1 1 o'clock is the latest.

Dr. R. Ball showed me a specimen, captured near Dublin, which an-
swered perfectly to the description and figure of the pigmy bat of Leach,
but it appeared to me only a young pipistrelle.

It thus appears that of the bats in Ireland we possess only six species
to seventeen British (including PI. brevimanua, V, das^cnemtis, and V.
^dilisj and excluding V. pygmceua and V. ema/rginatu%) ; of these, Sc.
piputrellua is probably a northern species ; V. Dauhentonii and Plecotus
auritus are southern Germanic; and V. mystacinus, V. Niatter&ri, and
Ithinolophus hippoaideros are probably Lusitanian, though not restricted
Lusitanian. With respect to the species wanting in Ireland, there is no
reason why the Greater Horse-shoe bat should not occur, at least looking
to its European distribution. The Noctule may also possibly be found,
and more probably the Serotine. All the other species, judging from
their distribution in England, and rarity there, appear to have been in-
troduced into that country after the separation of the islands, and there-
fore ought not to be expected to occur. There is so much confusion,
however, regarding the synonyms of the Bats, that it is extremely hard
to judge.

By reference to Mr. Andrews' remarks, before quoted, it will be seen
that we have evidence of the existence of at least two species in this
country which are not included in the above lists. One of these — that
captured near Dublin — it is impossible now to speak about. The other,
a large bat seen at Dingle, he thinks may possibly be the Noctule. It
appears to me to be more likely to have been the Greater Horse-shoe.
The dimensions of the Noctule and Rh. ferrum-equinum are so nearly
alike, that on the wing they would be undistinguishable ; indeed, the
same remarks apply to the Serotine and Mouse-coloured bat ( V. muri-
mis) as well ; and Professor M'Coy's notice of the genus Rhinolophus
would rather refer to the Greater than to the Lesser Horse- shoe. At the
same time, the record of even a seemingly vague and unsatisfactory note
of the occurrence of any bat is of importance ; for, as the history of the
discovery of Ph. hipposideros and V. Dauhentonii has shown us, such
notes often lead the way to discovery.

The following analysis of the British species of bats, drawn up by me
some years since, affords a key to the discrimination of the species which
may be useful to inquirers.

The non-Irish species are inserted in italics.

Cheieopteka.

Ears without an internal appendage (tragus) ; skinny appendage

on the nose. Rhinoloplius II.
Ears fiuTiished with a tragus ^ no appendage on nose. III.

■{

1 70 DITBLIN NATXTEAL HI8T0ET SOCIETY.

^ Posterior leaf of nasal appendage heart-shaped below; ears
scarcely emarginate at apex and base. Rh ferrum-equi-
II. -( num.

Posterior loaf lanceolate ; ears distinctly emarginate externally
at base and apex. Rh. hipposideros.

yyy r Ears united at base. lY.
^^^' \ Ears free at base. VI.

Ears small, rounded, scarcely longer than head. Barlast. com-
IV. -^ munis.

Ears large, elongated, more than half as long again as head. V.

'■{

C Ears tw

'. < ritus.

l^ Ears shi

Ears twice length of head; tail longer than forearm. P. au-
shorter than head ; tail equal to forearm. P. hrevimanus.

{Head oblong; forehead flat; eyes small, hid in fur. Tragus
rounded at tip. Scotophilus. VII.
Head round; forehead convex ; eyes exposed; dentition, false
molars, f ; total, ^g. Vespertilio. XI.

VII.

False molars, f ; total teeth, \^. So. serotinus.

4 . 16 VTTT

i Wings densely hairy beneath forearm. Sc, Leisleri.
" j ,, smooth beneath forearm. IX.

,^ i Expanse of wing exceeding 12 inches. Sc. noctula.
\ „ less than 12 inches. X.

^ ( Belly much lighter than back. S. discolor.
* i ,, nearly same colour as back. S. pipistrellus.

XI.

Bands on interfemoral few in number (8). V. Kattereri.
„ numerous, exceeding 8. XII.

YjT ( Expanse of wing exceeding 12 inches. V. murinus.
^^^' I „ less than 12 inches. XIII.

^^y-j. i Face furred ; moustache on upper lip. XIV.
Alii, j Y^cQ naked ; no moustache. XV.

i General colour of fur blackish ; moustache well marked. V.
mystacinus.
General colour of fur reddish. V. Daubentonii.

Y-tr ( Ears deeply notched externally. V. dasycnemus.
' ,, rounded externally. V. Bechsteinii.

DUBLIK VATUBAL HI8T0BT 80CIBTT. 171

[William Andrews, M. R. I. A., President, read the following paper
on Friday, March 4 (vide p. 374) —

ON THE DISTINCTIVE HABITS OP BBITISH HTMENOPHTLLITM.

In the examination of any subject of interest in the Natural Sciences,
whether in relation to Botany or Zoology, we are ever guided by those
characteristics that determine with some degree of accuracy generic and
specific differences : hence anatomical structure and physiological deduc-
tions are, through their minute investigation, the surest means of arriv-
ing at definite and truthful results. In the former science the application
of the rules of morphology may restrain the extent to which laws can
assign limits of variation to a given species. I have been led to offer
a few remarks this evening, from a perusal of the "Handbook of the
Flowering Plants and Ferns of the British Isles," by George Bentham,
Esq., F. L. S., recently published, in which he has reduced the plants
indicated as British in the late works of Hooker and Amott's "British
Flora," and in Babington's "Manual," by the suppression of presumed
erroneously introduced species, by the number of 286 in the former work,
and 423 in the latter. I have ever advocated in this Society that the
young naturalist had, in the advanced state of science, greater opportu-
nities, and that more merit would result from an investigation of a revi-
sion and correction of our zoological and botanical nomenclatures than
in new discoveries or additions to our Fauna and Flora. Although it is
extremely difficult to form opinions as to the limitation of species, yet I
fully concur in the views of those who consider that species have been
multiplied far beyond their due limits. Still, extremes in either sense are
questionable, for even the non-existence of distinct species has been
asserted. I am aware that from distribution, locality, or peculiar cir-
cumstances of habitat of plants, much variation and depaiinre from the
normal or typical form may be seen, and those characters maintained
even under cultivation, and continued through seedlings ; yet such can-
not constitute specific differences, when no essential departure can be
shown from the principles of fructification which marked the original
form.

My observations on Mr. Bentham* s work (a gentleman whose high
scientific position and botanical zeal deserve our admiration and respect)
are solely with reference to the plants of this countrj'^, wherein omissions
and alterations of the hitherto recorded lists of the flowering plants and
ferns of Ireland occur. My present remarks wiU be confined to the
genus Hymenophyllum, a family the most beautiful and minute of our
native Ferns, when seen in all their luxuriance of growth in the primeval
woods, or on the rocks of the Alpine districts of the wild and moist
atmosphere which characterizes the south-western parts of this country,
their beautiful and singularly delicate fronds extensively spread like a
velvet carpet of the most rich and verdant hue. Of this genus we have two
well recorded and described species, Hymenophyllum Ihnbridyense and JZ
Wihoni ; but the latter, in Mr. Bentham's recently published " Hand-

2b

172 DUBLIN NATXJKA.L HI8T0ET SOCIETY.

book," has been discarded, but with what utility is to be seen. It is
needless to refer to the works of the older botanists — as Ray's '' Synop-
sis," Withering's ** Arrangement," Hudson's '* Flora Anglica," Bolton's
" Filices Botanicse," and others — for much confusion appears with regard
to the species Tunbridgense and its localities, its habits and peculiarities
appearing to have been but indifferently known, especially when we
find that delicate species quoted by Hay and by Withering as growing
amongst pebbles at Cockbush, on the coast of Sussex ; and when we still
further refer to that excellent work, '' Species Filicum," of Sir WiUiam
Hooker, — we find such numerous affinities and synonyms given as the
views of different botanists, at pages 95 and 147, and following, com-
pletely perplexing the species Tunbridgense, Wilsoni, and Unilaterale.
On such grounds I presume that Mr. Bentham considered the propriety
of excluding the two latter, and retaining but one British species, Tun-
bridgense.

There is no tribe of plants to which I have devoted more patient
investigation and practical research amid the alpine and subalpine dis-
tricts, and the wooded glens and ravines of the western and south-
western parts of this country, than to those of the genera Trichomanes
and Hymenophyllum. As my remarks are with reference to the latter
genus, it is proper that the distinctive characters should be given, and
to submit to you, in the recent state, masses of each species. Tt is not
necessary to go into detail, when the excellent descriptions, which are
well defined, can be readily referred to in Hooker and Arnott's ''British
Flora," p. 592; Hooker's ''Species Filicum," vol. i., p. 95; Wilson's
"Observations" in Hooker's "Journal of Botany," vol. i., p. 317, and
again in " Supplement to English Botany," T. 2686. I may, however,
mention that the characters of ^. Tunbridgense, as distinguished from
H. Wilsoni, are the broader, almost lanceolate, and more delicate struc-
ture of frond, which is of larger size, pinnae are pinnatifid, with nu-
merous segments, distichous, or pointing in opposite directions, and flat;
the involucres, both in the early stage and in the ripened state of the
capsules, broadly ovate, or, more properly, sub-rotundate, • invariably
toothed or spinous, and swollen only at the base; colour, pale glossy
green. In H. Wilsoni the pinna3 scarcely pinnatified, and with fewer
segments than in H. Tunhridgense, the pinnaB unilateral and with the
rachis curved in a direction contrary to that of the fructification ; in-
volucres numerous, truly ovate, each valve remarkably convex, gibbous
or inflated throughout, touching only by their edges, which are entire,
and destitute of the toothed or spinous character of the valves which dis-
tinguish U. Tunbridgense, a plant of smaller size than Tunbridgense,
more rigid, of a strongly reticulated nature, and of a darker or lurid
green.

It is, however, in the distribution of these plants in this country that
we find a wide separation. The H. Tunbridgense is decidedly a sub-
alpine plant, affecting and assuming a luxuriance of growth only in the
moist and sheltered glens and ravines of the south-western parts of this

DUBLIlf KATURAL HI8T0ET 80CIBTT. 1 73

country, especially amid the screen of aged woods, where perpetual shade
and moist and even temperature favour its full development. There it
may be found extensively mantling the broad surfaces of vertical rocks
and of banks, and its drooping and overlapping or imbricated fronds,
spreading in masses, display a most lively and delicate green. In such
localities II. JFilsoni cannot be traced. It is also more rarely met on the
trunks of trees than H. JFihoni, and its habit more sheltered fix)m undue
moisture. In the south-western parts of Ireland, in the glens around
Killamey, more especially in those of Cromaglouin, and in those of
Glouin Caragh, westward of the Reeks, it is met with in all its beauty.
In my botanical excursions in the county of Wicklow with the late Mr.
Nuttall, I have not met with H. Ikinbrtdgense, although H. Wilsoni is most
frequent ; neither have I seen it in Connemara or in Sligo, where, very
likely, glens have been explored. In all those localities I have never found
a departure from the described habit of growth, nor alteration of the cha-
racteristics given, neither any intermingling nor approach of the two spe-
cies in the localities which most favour the growth of each. The habits of
II. Wilsoni are very different, affecting much more elevated and exposed
positions, and greater exposure to atmospheric influence and rain, as well
as arid and exposed rocks. In the recesses of the rocks of our highest
mountains, particularly their northern and eastern aspects, the M. Wil-
soni exhibits- the same characters as found in the more exposed glens,
where it coats rocks and trunks of trees with its peculiar crisped, curved,
and rather erect habit of growth. On the summits of Brandon, Benis-
geach, Cahirconree, and Mounteagle, in Kerry, and even on the cliffs of
the Great Blasket Island, this species is met in rich abundance ; but in
those localities no approximation can be traced in it to Tunbridgense.
Wilsoni is much distributed in the western parts of Ireland, as also in
the northern and eastern counties.

It is clear that in this country H. Tunbridgense delights in localities
where shade and a mild and even temperature encourage its growth. In
warmer countries and tropical cKmates high altitudes are more conducive
to the healthy existence of Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes. Bory de
St. Vincent, to whom I shall have particularly to i*efer, mentions in his
notes on Algerine Botany the delightful temperature of the province of
La Calle, where a perpetual spring exists, for the centigrade thermometer
has never stood below 1 1 degrees, nor risen above 30 degrees in the shade.
The forests of La Calle abound in beautiful ferns, and where he men-
tions the great height of Osmunda regalis, and the gigantic leaves of the
ivy. It is singular that he states the male fern, Aspidium filix-maSf does
not occur in Africa ; nor, according to " Low's Memoirs" of the plants
of Madeira, does the genuine Aspidium filix-mas exist there. HoU, on
the Plants of Madeira, alludes only to one species of Hymenophyllum —
Tunbridgensey growing at an elevation between 2000 and 3000 feet In
the Floras of France the species Tunbridgense is recorded, and is men-
tioned as growing on the trunks of trees at Cherbourg.

I shall now come to a more important point, — the opinion generally

1 74 DUBLIN NATTJRAl HISTOET SOCIETY.

entertained by botanists, that Hymenophjllum Wilsoni of British botany
is none other than the H. unilaterale of Willdenow's *' Species Planta-
rum," p. 521. We are aware how very nearly some of the exotic Tricho-
manes and Hymenophyllums approach in form and habit of growth ; yet
the character and position of the involucra in many species are very dif-
ferent What may be the true characteristics of the involucra of JE. uni-
laterale, we are in some measure left to conjecture. Ko descriptive terms
can clearly determine the doubts entertained of a species. Accurate
drawings of the recent plant, or authenticated specimens, should only be
advanced as confirmatory of the decision of disputed views. Again, there
are difficulties of deciding species of exotic ferns, when reference is to an
ill-preserved Herbarium, and where accurate notes do not exist of pecu-
liarity of locality and of habit. According to Hooker's '' Species Filicum,"
If. imilaterale of Willdenow, from a specimen from Martins, proved to be
the species Tunbridgense, and H. unilaterale of Willdenow, according to
description, was JT. Wilsoni, but not according to a specimen from Martins.
Some years since, being much interested in the affinities ofTrichomanes
of this country with the forms of Trichomanes alatum and T. radicans of
Jamaica, I had many communications with that amiable and liberal pro-
moter of science, Sir William Jackson Hooker, Director of the lloyal
Gardens, Kew. I had also favourable opportunities of communicating
with the celebrated Bory de St. Yincent, from the desire of knowing the
characters, and obtaining specimens of Trichomanes longisetum and of
Ilymenophyllum unilaterale, discovered by him in the Isle of Bourbon.
I give an extract from his reply, dated Paris, 14th of February, 1845 : —
"The plants which interest you were discovered by me in the thick
forests of the Island of Bourbon, and these were communicated at the
time to Willdenow, to Ventenal, and to the old Jacquine of the neigh-
bourhood, who were then my correspondents of those countries. They
have not yet found them, no more than three or four other rare species."
There, therefore, does not really exist in any of the herbaria in Britain
an authentic specimen of the Hymenophyllum unilaterale of Willdenow.
Under these circumstances, and with reference to the habits of the two
species of this country, I would venture to suggest that the species
Wilsoni be retained in the list of our Irish ferns as a slight tribute to
the merit of so zealous an observer, and so distinguished a cryptogamic
botanist, as William Wilson, Esq., of Warrington, who, in August, 1829,
first drew attention to the distinction, in the neighbourhood of Killamey,
of the two species of Hymenophyllum.]

William Andeews, M. R. I. A., President, read the following
paper : —

FUETHETl EEMAEKS ON HYMENOPHYLLUM.

I wouxD not again have trespassed on the Meeting, but I was desi-
rous of giving some explanation with regard to the habitats of the
species of Hymenophyllum, which my last statement, perhaps, did not

DrBLIir WATUBAL HISTOBT 80CIETT. 175

sufficiently convey ; and at the same time I feel called on to make some
comments on the presumed discussion on that statement which appeared
in " Saunders' News-Letter" of the 16th of last month, and which was
not published through the authorized channel of the Society, nor did it
convey the points strictly in accordance with the verbal expressions and
views given at the meeting. In alluding to the localities of the species
H. Tunhridgense and Wihoni, I merely at the time gave the characters
of the extreme habitats of each, showing that the former required a more
shaded and even temperature for its perfect growth and development than
Wilsoni, and that in the alpine and exposed positions favourable to the
growth of Wilsoni the species Tunbridgense was not observed; that on the
confines of such habitats both Wilsoni and Tunbridgense may be found in
the same immediate localities together, and each presenting its peculiar
form of frond and distinctness of involucre. Mr. Wilson has observed to me
" that the two species are usually found apart, and that H. Ihnhridgeme
is confined to lower regions than the other species, as must be obvious
enough to those who have taken any pains to study them in a wild and
growing state." Dr. E. Perceval Wright, F. L. S., made the first remarks
in this important discussion, to the effect that he perfectly understood
from Mr. Andrews's statement that it went to prove the identity of the two
forms, and that the question of species was one not to be settled by as-
sertion; that the habits of plants growing in sheltered glens and of those
exposed to the influence of the Atlantic in our western islands, in such
a limited Flora as that of Ireland, could not, from their altered character
of growth, be construed into distinct species ; travel alone could give
sufficient experience to decide such questions of diiFerence of habit which
growth and climate presented ; that the distribution of those ferns was
world-wide, and a form common in Norway could not be considered as
a southern type. He further remarked that if, as Mr. Andrews stated,
difference of habitat could never alter the ii-uctification of ferns, and
that, therefore, in Dr. Wright's opinion, this constancy of fructification,
if proven, would at once establish species, and set the question of species
for ever at rest. Dr. Wright did not object to local varieties being dis-
tinguished by names, as it was of some importance to know of their ex-
istence, proving, as they did, how climatal influence seemed to alter
forms. Professor Harvey is reported to have stated that he agreed in
considering the two forms as one species ; but that botanists having only
a knowledge of British botany would at once be led astray in the matter;
that fructification was not a constant character in ferns. Sir William
Hooker, owing to a great difference on this point, had placed a fern —
Ceratopteris, from the tropics — in a separate family from Parkeria from
Demerara ; but since intermediate forms had been found, which united
those two so different- looking varieties not only into the same genus, but
into the same species. Even in the common Hart's-tongue, fructification
assumed different positions. These were the leading points that were
put forward as the views of Dr. Wright and of Professor Harvey in the
unauthorized statement, and, as I have remarked on their incorrectness,

1 76 DUBLIN NATTTBA-L HISTOBY BOCIETT.

are certainly not given in the manner as expressed by Professor Harvey.
Upon these points I shall make observations as concise as possible, leav-
ing Professor Kinahan to explain more properly his own statements.

I cannot imagine in what manner Dr. Wright was led to suppose that
the characters of aspect and habit, as well as of the peculiarities and forms
of the involucres described by me, went to prove identity. In the in-
troductory part of my former statement, I, in a very guarded manner,
explained the difficulties of demonstrating specific differences, and in
general terms mentioned the principles of fructification as of important
bearing in distinguishing the characteristics that would mark the ori-
ginal or normal form. It was unnecessary to go into detail of those
definitions with regard to venation, the direction of the venules, the form
and position of the sori, and the character of the indusium, or its non-
existence, for they are known to botanists ; but it never could be ima-
gined that such alone constitute specific diff'erences; for the general
aspects and habits of species may be very different when the venation
and the character of the sori are the same. In the present instance the
specific distinctions are supported by the aspects and habits of the plants,
which locality does not alter ; and in the difierent character of the in-
volucres— characters which, as shown in continental works, and in those
on exotic ferns, prevail thi'ough all the genera. I do not infer that
correct deductions can be established in all such cases ; yet where good
apparent distinctions can be shown, it would be better to allow the pri-
vilege of their retaining their local names, to which Dr. Wright does
not object.

Limited as the Flora of Ireland may be, yet the botanist well
grounded in the practical science of that field may be as competent to
understand the merits of a good exotic herbarium as many who employ
themselves in describing plants which they have never seen in the grow-
ing or in the recent state. I mentioned Aspidium spinulosum, which
assumes, according to locality, such a variety of aspects, from its growth
in the deep, sheltered glens to the highest mountains, to which were ap-
plied the specific terms Foeniscecii, Dilatatum, Recurvum, Dumetorum,
&c., yet the characters of fructification were unaltered, and in its stunted
state on the mountain top bore copious fructifications. Dr. Wright, how-
ever, would imply that the distinction of the form of the involucres in
Wilsoni from that of Tunbridgense was altered by the change from a
shaded to an exposed position. In the world-wide distribution of those
plants it does not appear that the form described by Willdenow, under the
name of Tunbridgense, as extending to Norway and Northem Europe, was
other than the not then described form Wilsoni. There is no record by
Willdenow of the existence oi Hyinenophyllum unilaterale in Europe, and
the form now described by continental botanists under that name is pro-
bably none other but Wilsoni. Professor Harvey stated that he agreed
with Professor Kinahan and Mr. Andrews that those plants in this country
were perfectly distinct ; yet that, on the Continent, they were found to
run 80 much into each other, that he was of Mr. Bentham's opinion, that

DUBLnr NATUKAL HI8T0BT SOCIETT. 177

they were but the one species. I do not immediately understand the
meaning of the point, that Ceratoptcris from the tropics was placed in
a separate family from Parkeria from Demerara ; but that intermediate
forms had been since found, which united those two different-looking
varieties into not only the same genus, but into the same species. Tho
great division of importance of ferns into groups is characterized by tho
Sporangia being destitute of, or furnished with, an elastic ring, thus
forming three sections — the exannulate, the transverse annulate group,
and the group with a vertical ring.

From what I could glean from Professor Harvey's statement, he made it
appear that the large globose sporangia of Ceratoptcris had a broad trans-
verse ring ; in Parkeria it was nearly obsolete, or exannulate, which led
Sir William Hooker, from two specimens of one species, to form separate
genera ; but recent specimens, and those subsequently cultivated, proved
that they both possessed an elastic, not a transverse, but a vertical ring,
thus placing them in the one proper group. It was no error of judgment
of Sir William Hooker, but misconception from the examination of im-
perfect specimens, especially in a fern like Ceratoptcris, which presents
two forms of frond. The marshes of Java afford this fern in abundance.
The perplexity arose in the describing of plants which have not been
gathered in their developed or perfect state, and in the difficulty of col-
lectors in tropical countries preserving their herbaria, often saturated by
rain, attacked by insects, or injured by accidents which cannot be guarded
against: often have subscribers, in opening their packages, been hor-
rified at finding their choicest specimens unfit for examination. The
indefatigable George Gardner, when in the interior of Brazil, in the pro-
vince of Goyaz, laments the sad misfortune to his dried plants. On
crossing the Rio de Peize his horse stumbled, and the packages of the
entire of his labour for weeks in a district hitherto imexplored by bo-
tanists, were immersed, and completely saturated. Even Mr. Bentham
admits these difficulties. The action of water on aquatic plants in de-
stroying their characters is not uncommon. In foreign herbaria, in the
cover of Myriophyllum, are often found specimens of Ranunculus, Ca-
bomba, Ceratophyllum, LimnophUa, Dysophylla, Ajiacharis, &c. The Zm-
nophila gratioloidea has already been described among Caryophylleae and
among Primulaceae.

Again, I do not understand the observations, " that in the common
Hart's-tongue, fructification assumed different positions." The charac-
teristics of the genus are, that the sori are parallel in two rows, very
numerous, arranged in a longitudinal linear fissure on the frond, assum-
ing different lengths, and the indusium attached along both sides. Any
alteration of such characters must constitute a different genus. The cha-
racter and position of the sori establish generic distinction; the habit of
the plant in the same genus determines specific difference. In Teeniopsis
and Vittaria, which have been separated into different genera, the habits
of the plants of each scarcely indicate any distinction; yet in Vittaria the
margin of the frond is slit longitudinally, forming two narrow laminae,

178 DUBLIN NATimAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

with the sporangia, arising from the base or axis of the the slit or groove,
pointing upwards, distinguishing the genus from Tseniopsis, which is
characterized by the sporangia being produced in a similar groove,
but which is situated on the disk within the margin of the frond. I do
not, therefore, consider that the reference to Ceratoptcris, or to the common
Hart's-tongue, has any analogy bearing upon the point of discussion.
In a conversation with the distinguished Robert Brown on the character
of the Trichomanes of Glouin Caragh, in Kerry (a man of whom Sir
Robert Peel observed, ** his retiring modesty and unpretending merit
were the index of a great and talented mind"), that first of botanists as-
sured me that it was the type of the European form, and that it established
its identity with Trichomanes radicans of Jamaica. It was the clime,
from its western position, and influenced by the broad Atlantic, that gave
such luxuriance of growth and such copiousness of fructification; and he
smilingly observed, '* I do not know how I fell into the error of naming
itBrevisetum." The Glouin Caragh plant was the normal European state
of that fern. Sir William Hooker, in writing to me on the same subject,
expresses — " It is an honour to your country to have a West Indian
plant growing there, and tells volumes in favour of the mildness of the
climate."

The same may be applied to the two species of Hymenophyllum of
Kerry : they are the types of the European forms of that genus, and are
specifically distinct in aspect and habit. I consider those of the Continent
to be but mere sub-forms, apparently running into each other ; but I
should like botanists to prove that they can show the distinct foi-ms and
characters of the involucres of Tunbridgense and of Wilsoni existing
together on the same frond. Mr. Wilson observes to me that his Welsh
specimens of H. Wilsoni are pigmies compared with those obtained from
Killarney. The Adiantum capillus- Veneris of the Aran Isles, and of
Burren, in Clare, is identical with the forms of Madeira and of the Ca-
nary Isles, which were tenned Adiantum Africanum by Robert Brown, in
his Appendix to ''Tuckey's Voyage." These forms are monstrous when
compared with the stunted growth of those of Cornwall and of the south
of Europe, and even of those which have been noticed in wells and in
moist caves in the neighbourhoods of Rome and Naples (the specimens
exhibited from Cremleigh Point, in Clare, and from Aran, were eigh-
teen inches in length). The Hymenophyllum Boryanum, discovered by
Bory St. Vincent in Bourbon, of which I submit beautiful specimens, is
very similar in outline and reticulation of pinnae to Tunbridgense ; but
it difiers materially in aspect in the hairy underneath part of the
frond, and in the branched hairs at the margins (which seem very cha-
racteristic of exotic species) ; the involucres are suborbicular, ciliated,
and sunk in the frond. It is closely allied to H. ciliatum of Brazil, but
specifically separated by the different character of the involucres. Again,
referring to Willdenow (p. 519) what distinction can be shown between
H. hirtellutn and JL ciliatum, but merely in the more ovate form of the
frond and in the differently shaped involucres ? Hymenophyllum unihria-

DUBLIN NATUEAL HISTORT SOCIETY. 1 79

turn is closely similar to Hymenophyllum flexuomm of New Zealand, but
differs in the margin of the indusium being fimbriate. Other cases could
be adduced whore the distinctions shown in botanical works are not
more strongly marked than those that separate Wilsoni from Tunbrid-
gense. In submitting to the meeting the beautiful specimens of Adi-
antum asarifolium from Bourbon, it must necessarily be seen how slight,
in accordance with the present views, are its specific differences if om
the Adiantum reniforme of Madeira. The venations in both plants are
the same, the character and position of the son precisely similar, the
Bourbon plant only differing in presenting a more robust habit of growth,
and in the character of the deep sinus in the frond. The Bourbon plant
may be considered the type, the Madeira and those of the Canary Isles,
the sub- type, of the one species. Yet in the peculiar features of each
plant, which are constant throughout, there are fully sufficient grounds
in the aspect, habit, and locality of the Bourbon plant to justify specific
distinction. I am, however, in correspondence with friends, both in
Bourbon and New Zealand, who will probably send me this plant, and
those of Trichomanes £ind Hymenophyllum, packed in a manner which
I have found very successful in keeping them in a living and fresh state
for many mouths without injury.

I had no intention in my former statement, nor in this, to dispute the
views of Mr. Bentham, as I am perfectly aware of the difficulties that
still beset the classification of ferns. However, in his inroads on British
Botany he has raised a host of labour which years cannot accomplish, and
which all his experience of Continental herborization will not be equal to.
I am far from disagreeing, however, in thejudicious reduction of the too
numerously recorded species, but the enlarged views which shrivel
specific distinctions into nonentity will involve no useful end, and will
certainly render the study less intelligible and less pleasing. I do not
pretend, neither do I venture, nor do I desire, to contend with the great
botanists of the day ; but, having been well-grounded by the admirable
practical botanical demonstrations of my esteemed friend, Dr. Mackay,
the father of Irish Botany of that period, and with the recollection of
the field labours and of the pleasing botanical companionships of those
days, I hope I may, without presumption, venture an opinion.

Pkofessob KiNAHAN stated that on the last eyening, when the subject
was before the Society, the length of the discussion which then took place
had deterred him from making as full a statement as he would have wished
of his views, though he could hardly call them his, as they were those held
by more than eight-tenths of the field practical botanists both in the
British Isles and on the Continent — in fact, he might say all over the
world. The remarks he had made had been so misquoted, or misunder-
stood, that he felt it due both to himself and to the author of the paper
on the Hymenophyllum to enter more fully into some of the arguments
then brought forward. It had been stated, or at least hinted, that the
advocates of the specific difference of these forms had only assertion to

2c

1 80 DUBLIN NATITRAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

suppoi-t their side of the question. This Dr. Kinahan had most unequi-
vocally denied, and he was much surprised at such a statement, where
the specimens then exhibited showed the distinctions of the species so
plainly. He would even venture to retort the statement, as, if unsup-
ported assertion is an argument relied on by either side, it is certainly by
those who advocate the union of the species, as he hoped to show.

Another fallacious statement brought forward was, that if Irish bo-
tanists had an opportunity of examining a wider field, they would be
likely to change their views. This certainly is mere assertion, for
any one who takes the trouble of examining the list of localities given
in the " Species Filicum" will see that independent botanists, who have
travelled, have, in different and remote parts of the world, all distin-
guished these two forms as species, so that, supposing them to be mere
varieties, the same modifying causes which exist in Ireland exist in
nearly every locality in which the ferns, or either of them, have been
found. Furthermore, in two localities in Ireland, and, doubtless,
there are many others, the two forms grow absolutely together — the
plants of each, though intermingled, being perfectly distinct. It might
be well to state that in a letter, received only this morning from Mr.
F. J. Foot, he states that, as far as Killarney is concerned, the two
species are met together, and in that station Dr. Kinahan might re-
mark that the finest specimens he had ever seen of both species occur.
Professor Harvey had borne testimony to the accuracy of the statements
as regarded these genera in Ireland and their seeming distinctness ; and
this testimony Dr. Kinahan looked on as peculiarly valuable, as Pro-
fessor Harvey is a staunch supporter of the unity of the species. If
these two are mere varieties of one another, how is it that both flourish,
and so abundantly, in the one locality ? and how is it that the circum-
stances favourable to one do not cause the transmutation of the other?

The great argument rested on by the unity of the species advocates
is the existence of intermediate forms ; but what is meant by the term
*' intermediate form?" Have perfect specimens ever been exhibited which
would cause hesitation for a moment ? • Are any specimens known pos-
sessing both forms of involucre on the same plant ? or possessing invo-
lucres of a mixed character ? Till such are produced, or till it can be
proved that by any kind or amount of culture one can be converted into
the other, the argument of intermediate forms is inadmissible. True in-
termediate forms run into each other under cultivation. Dr. Kinahan
had examined these plants in innumerable stations in Ireland, and fre-
quently under cultivation, and must say he had never seen or heard of a
case. If by "intermediate form" is meant a specimen or plant in which
the figure and direction of the frond, or, as it is commonly called, the
habit, of the one species, is simulated by another, the character of the
involucre remaining constant, the union of the species, on that ground
only, must fail ; for all the essential characters are not identical. Is there
such a thing known as any two species widely differing in their cha-
racters, between which gradational species do not occur ? And are we

OUBLIU NATUIUL HI8T0BT SOCIETT. 181

justified on this account alone in uniting the two, and thus converting
species into genera ? Dr. Kinahan had spent much time and labour
some years since in investigating changes of form to which the frond in
ferns is liable, and the result of these investigations showed him that,
although in some cases these abnormal forms might be perpetuated under
cultivation for several generations, that this was alone attributable to
constant watching and culture, as there is always a tendency to revert
to the original form, and the plants almost invariably revert to it when
deprived of the advantages of their artificial training. Arguments drawn
from such examples must, therefore, be excluded when we come to plants
in a state of nature ; for among these latter, when modifications of cha-
racter, owing to peculiarity of habitat, occur, we find that, in the first
place, the varieties are local, not as in the case of the species now under
consideration, where the two forms are wide-spread, and frequenting
often the same districts; and next, when natural varieties are placed under
the same culture as plants of a normal type, they almost always return
to it. It is further to be remarked, that when either of the species under
consideration are found growing in extreme abnormal situations, the only
changes which take place (exclusive of extinction) are in the frond, the
involucres remaining the same. Hymenophyllum Tunhridgense growing
on the bare face of a grit rock, facing the north-east, at some hundreds
of feet of elevation, unsheltered either by trees or overhanging rocks, as
on Monounta Hill, near Feakle, county of Clare, though stunted in its
growth, preserves all its other characteristics equally with plants grow-
ing in the most favourable situations in Killamey; andSiTFihom, in its
Killamey and Tipperary situations, sheltered from the wind and sun,
becomes merely taller and more luxuriant, differing in no other respect,
save that of fruiting more sparingly, from plants carpeting the wind and
spray swept rocks of Valentia Island,

Much had been said about the advantages of travel in enabling us to
form a correct judgment as to the unity or not of species ; but, on the
one hand, have all who contend for unity of those species possessed this
advantage? — and had any of them brought home specimens of the much-
quoted intermediate forms ? — and, on the other hand, had the supposed
advantages derived from travel been enjoyed only by those who argue
in favour of the union ? Had none of its opponents ever been equally
favoured, either in this respect or in the advantages to be derived from
examination of herbaria and living foreign species ? For his own part,
it appeared to him that Linneus's great axiom, " I own no master but
observation," was entirely overlooked, and in its place what logicians
call the "argumentum ad hominem" substituted.

For himself, until better arguments were brought forward, he must
decline following blindly at the beck of any master in matters in which
every observer of common diligence can judge for himself; and, there-
fore, preferred ranging himself among those whose observation of the
pUmt in the field, and examination of it under culture, led them to be-
lieve in the distinctness of the species. It had been stated that because

182 DUBLIN NATUKA.L HISTORY SOCIETT.

the plant is said to have occurre(f in Norway, therefore it could not be
a southern form. Surely the gentleman who made that remark had
forgotten the southern shells found in that country, and in the seas much
farther north, and which are, nevertheless, considered as southern types
by some of our greatest and most philosophic naturalists.

He next would allude to some of the arguments brought forward
by Professor Harvey ; and Dr. Kinahan felt much difficulty, because it
might be thought to be presumption in him to venture to express an
opinion contrary to an authority deservedly of so high a reputation ; but
it appeared to him that one of the arguments brought forward in reply to
Mr. Andrews was really of no weight in this case. The case of Parkeria
quoted merely showed that even such a great botanist as Sir "W. J.
Hooker may attach too great value to a single trivial character. Every
one who has studied the ferns living must know, that of all the charac-
ters selected as specific and generic, the least valuable and most uncer-
tain are those derived from the form, presence, and position of the trans-
verso ring. Indeed, he almost questioned the utility of the characters at
all. The example quoted, besides, was an instance of what was already
stated, viz., the value of cultivation in showing the distinctness or iden-
tity of two plants.

The change in the position of the sori of Scolopendrium had been
quoted ; Professor Kinahan had himself, as the records of the Society
show, exhibited to the members specimens in which the sori were partly
on the dorsal, partly on the frontal aspect of the frond ; but even in these
the variations were more seeming than real, the relations between the
woody bundles of the plant and the sori remaining constant, even in the
most monstrous specimens. The argument drawn from the presence of
both ferns in almost every locality where one occurs has been already
shown to be an argument in favour of their distinctness. It is incon-
ceivable that the same modifying causes could exist in all the counties
in which these ferns are found. So that it appeared that, of the argu-
ments adduced to prove the inconstancy of the fructification, one only
exists, — a change in an organ of very minor importance. One statement
of Dr. Kinahan's on the former night had been totally misunderstood,
viz., the value of foreign travel. What he said was, *' that if, because
in the course of travel we find gradation al forms between what were
considered species, that therefore we are justified in uniting in one the
extreme species connected with that gradational form ; and the only
result we would attain from such travel woujd be the reduction of nearly
every known species to one, and that to include these forms our definitions
of species would finally come to be generic, and not specific." One other
argument, or rather statement, seemed scarcely to need notice, viz., that
if in these species fructification was the most striking and constant dia-
gnostic character, that therefore it was the only character, and also dia-
gnostic all through the forms. Just as well might we argue, that because
certain colours and markings are diagnostic of species in some birds, that
therefore colour must have equal value among all birds — a statement

DUBLIN KATUBAL HI8T0BY 80CIETT. 183

which a very little research would soon prove to be fallaciotw. Dr.
Kinahan must, therefore, still hold to the distinctness of these species,
believing that by species is meant a being possessed of a certain definite
arrangement of organs, — this characteristic arrangement not being pos-
sessed by any other form as an entirety, though some of the characters
may be possessed by other species.

The further discussion was by special resolution postponed till the
next meeting.

FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 6, 1869.

William Aisdeewb, M. R. I. A., President, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes having been read, were signed.

The PfiEsiDENT rose and said, that before the papers announced in the
summonses for the evening were read, a most imusual course of proceed-
ing in the Society was to take place — an adjournment from the previous
meeting, to discuss the subject of a paper given at that meeting. This
was in accordance with a special resolution passed at that meeting,
" That the discussion on Mr. Andrews's paper on Hymenophyllutn Tun-
hridgense be postponed until the next meeting." He would be glad,
therefore, to hear any remarks that were to be made, on the subject of
the resolution.

EEMAEK8 ON THE BRITISH HYMENOPHTLLUM. BY E. PEECEVAL WRIGHT, A.M.,
MB., P.L.8., LECTX7RER ON ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OP DUBLIN.

De. E. Perceval "Weight, F. L. S., read the following : —

It will be in the recollection of the Members that at the meeting of this
Society in March last we were favoured by the President with a paper on
the British species of Hymenophyllum, the chief aim of which was to prove
the distinctness of the two species, respectively designated S. Wilsoni
axidS, Tunhridgense, in opposition to the dictum of Mr. Bentham, who,
in his " Handbook of the British Flora," places the former as a variety
of the latter. The chief reasons urged for their distinctness were the
difference in the involucres and their varied habit of growth — reasons
supported admirably by the specimens exhibited, as well as by the ex-
perience of their author.

At the conclusion of the paper an interesting discussion ensued, in
the course of which remarks more or less important were made by Pro-
fessor Harvey, Dr. Kinahan, the President, and myself. It would ap-
pear that, without the authorization of either President or Secretaries,
a somewhat garbled outline of this conversation appeared in a Dublin
daily paper a few days after the authorized report of Mr. Andrews's
paper, which led to the discussion, was published. This unauthorized
report, in a most unaccountable manner, not only, it would seem, misap-
plied, but misquoted, the real remarks that had been made; and so, on the
veiynext night of meeting the President and our senior Secretary read,
each of them, full details of what they had said — these details being also

1 84 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

interspersed with a refutation of what Dr. Harvey and myself were so
unauthorizedly made to say.

In re-opening the discussion, it may be well, in the first place, to
glance at the statement made at the last meeting, an account of which
will be found in ''Saunders's News-Letter" of the 6th.of April, inserted
from manuscript furnished by the autHors ; and, in the second place, to
state the reasons which lead me to strongly acquiesce in the views of Mr.
Bentham.

The pleasure that botanists feel in making the catalogue of their
country's plants as extensive as possible, has (when injudiciously in-
dulged) some tendency to warp their judgment ; but truth being their
only object, it seems but right that, in addition to their own judgment
in the attainment thereof, they should avail themselves of the opinions
of other experienced observers, whose opportunity to arrive at a just con-
clusion may be greater than their own. One who would positively de-
cline to own any master but observation, let his powers of observation
be what they may, would Ibe little able to compete with the many
talented pupils of Linneus that live at the present day.

So far as our present knowledge of the two forms of Hymenophyllum,
as they occur in Ireland, goes, it is agreed, and never was for a single mo-
ment controverted, that they each fairly aspire to the rank of what is
popularly called a species. It was not imagined by me that ' ' the peculia-
rities and forms of the involucres, as described by the President, went to
prove their identity." Far from it. Who would expect to see a cauli-
flower turn into a cabbage ? — still less to see our Irish variety called
n. Wilsoni, as described by Mr. Andrews, turn into H. Tunhridgense ?
But what was stated by me was, that the extraordinary diversity of
locality mentioned would, in such instances, and only in such, account
for a very great difference in form and habit of growth, and that this
mere difference could not for a moment be taken as decisive evidence as
to their distinctness ; and it is to be wondered how the President could
state that *' locality does not alter the aspects and habits of the plants in
question," when, in specimens of his naming, examined in the Hookerian
Museum, the aspects and habits of the plants are altered very materially
by the localities they have come from ; besides, the point is acknowleded
by all botanists. As to the more important diversity in the shape of the
involucres, it was not implied that the change from shaded to an exposed
position had any affect in altering them, as Mr. Andrews seems to think.
It is, however, somewhat difficult, it must be confessed, tobe quite certain
what the President means to convey as regards the specific value of this
difference, for he at one time says "that the habit of the plant in the same
genus must determine specific difference ;" and at another time he seems
to attach the chief importance to the diversity in the involucre. But
assuming this latter to be, after all, the best ground of distinction, it is
the one to which your attention will in a few moments be directed.

The President asks what difference more striking than those between
11. Tunhridgense and II. WiUoni is there between H. hirtellum and //.
ciliatum ? My knowledge of exotic forms will not allow me to answer.

DITBLIN NATURAL HISTOBT 80CI15TY. 185

But is not the force of the argument completely lost when it is consi-
dered that, perhaps, if one had the same means of judging, the very same
opinion would be pronounced upon them, viz., that they were the one
and the same ? There would be no difficulty in settling the matter, if,
as the President asserted, the fructification of the ferns was a most
constant character, one neither affected by the difference of growth or
habitat, and one that would ever enable the botanist to arrive at a just
and certain appreciation of their species. "Would that this were the
case ! but every day's experience only proves the extreme fallacy of the
opinion.

I would here like most emphatically to deny that Mr. Bentham " has
raised a host of labour, which years cannot accomplish." On the con-
trary, he has saved us and all future British botanists from the dire
labour of ever tr}dng to know, and never knowing, an host of bad species,
and there is at last a chance of the blackberry of our young days being
still the blackberry of our maturer years. Sincerely is it to be trusted
that still further enlarged views will shrivel (to use the President's
words, slightly adapted) all false specific distinctions into nonentity,
knowing that they will then render the science more pleasing and much
more intelligible. Leaving Professor Harvey to defend the introduction
of Parkeria, we pass on to briefly answer a few further statements.

But the whole of this matter resolves itself into the query suggested
by Dr. Kinahan's concluding sentence, i. e., What is a species ? It would
be obviously unfair on such a critical subject to take an author's defini-
tion from the pages of any newspaper, especially when through some
typographical error it woidd equally be a definition of any monstrosity
* which possessed a certain definite arrangement of organs, which being'
hideously * characteristic,' it ' was not' desirable should be * possessed by
any other form as an entirety.' But if species do exist, the extreme
difficulty of defining them is almost enough to deter any one from criti-
cally attempting it. I must imagine, therefore, that you all have some
idea of what is popularly called a species, and that you are equally aware
that a species is liable to variations — these brought about either natu-
rally by some change of climate or position, or artificially. I may also
be allowed to state that it is almost proven that a variety, once estab-
lished, is incapable of returning to its original condition : it will either
die out or fonn a new variety. Of course monstrosities are altogether
excluded from this calculation in the vegetable as well as in the animal
kingdom. Thus the cauliflower (neither a monstrosity nor hybrid form)
will continue to ripen its seed, and perpetuate its variety for ever,
without in a single instance thinking of returning to the original Bras-
8tca oleracea, though it may possibly form new varieties of cauliflower;
and we must wait for a long time ere we procure the original species of
the dog, or any other domestic animal, by any of our present varieties
giving birth to it Thus much, in passing, to make use of anon in the
question of these two varieties, and as it occurred to me when noticing
the definition of species, which, of coui'se, had it been perfectly com-
plete, would have almost settled the question.

186 DUBUN NATTJRAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Dr. Kinahan states that independent travellers have distinguished
these two forms in all parts of the world. This is scarcely accurate. In-
dependent collectors and botanists have brought Hymenophylla from all
parts of the world, and their species have been decided upon at home,
with all the assistance of the practised observers in the field. I was
well aware, and indeed stated, that both forms of Hymenophyllum had
occurred to me growing side by side in the south of Ireland : so I can
confirm Dr. Kinahan' s remarks on this point, rather than contradict them.

From Dr. Kinahan's remarks, given in inverted commas, one might
gather that he goes as far as could be desired in the range to be given to
species ; for of course if, in travelling, we find gradational forms between
species, we are justified in uniting in one the extreme varieties, but there
is little trust to be placed in such a series of gradational forms, gradu-
ally running into one another ; nor is it necessary to prove that one can
be converted into another by culture ere believing their unity.

Dr. Kinahan very justly criticizes my statement that as^. Timhridgense
occurred in Norway it could not be called a southern form. This was, I
confess, a careless statement, and I feel only too willing to withdraw
it ; but would suggest that there is some impropriety in calling a cosmo-
politan species a southern form, as also that the occurrence in the nor-
thern seas of species found in the lists of a southern Tauna would not
necessarily imply that the Flora of the shores of that same ocean partook
at all of a southern type. Assertion in matters of this kind is worse
than useless, and, if my memory serves me, even the mistake above al-
luded to was not made, as Dr. Kinahan inclines to think, as a statement,
but rather thrown out as a suggestion.

Leaving the matter of the transverse ring to Dr. Harvey, it is now
time to lay before you the facts which lead me to adopt Mr. Bentham's
view of the union of these species, a view which will soon, I have no
doubt, be held, not in the doubting manner of some, but from conviction,
by at least eight- tenths of our practical botanists, both in the British Isles
and on the Continent To satisfy the President that the two species are
one, it has to be demonstrated that the aspect and habits of the plants are
altered by change of locality, and that the shape of the involucre varies.
To satisfy Dr. Kinahan, one must prove either that by any amount of
culture the one form can be converted into the other, or show a speci-
men having both forms of involucre on the same plant, or possessing in-
volucres of a mixed character ; or to prove that perfect specimens ever
did exist which caused a moment's hesitation as to which species they
belonged.

I have had opportunities of seeing the unrivalled collection of Sir
"W. J. Hooker at Kew, and of examining there specimens of Hymeno-
phyllum Tunhridgeme and H. Wilsoni from almost every quarter of the
globe, and the united testimony of my eyesight and that of Dr. Hooker,
may satisfy the President when I state that nothing could well exceed
the variation of the habit of the two forms from various localities. Ex-
amination also showed a great diversity in the serration or toothing of
the involucEcs. In regard to 'Dr. Kinahan's first query, I cannot pre-

DUBLIN NATUBAL HISTOEY SOCIETT. 187

tend to say whether the one variety could by any culture produce a form
like the other. If it did, from what I have previously stated, it would
be likely that wo have not yet got the original starting form. With
regard to the second query, as to whether specimens exist about which
there is any uncertainty as to wliich form to refer them to, it can be
answered that most indubitably forms do exist in the Kew Herbaria which
do perplex a Hooker and a Bentham. With regard to the last query,
my attention was called by Mr. Bentham to a mass of Hymenophyllum,
which exhibited a mixed fructification (partly resembling H. WiUoni
and partly H. Tufibridgeme on the same fronds). This specimen, we be-
lieve, convinced him on this subject, and we incline to think ought so
unequivocally to settle this question as to render further allusion thereto
needless. These answers contain the reasons that induce me to believe,
with the author of the " Handbook to the British Flora," that E. Wil-
soni is but an entire valved form of H. Tunhridgense. Surely the de-
velopment of spare parenchyma into the form of a few hairs or teeth is
not enough, in the face of such proof — to cause scientific men stiU to
make* them distinct, because they find it a pleasing task to add to the
botanical interest of their country by so readily supporting this view.

REMAEK8 ON THE BEITISH HYMENOPHYLLUM, ETC., BY W. H. HAKVEY, M. D.,
r. E. AND L. 8., PEOFEflSOB OF BOTANY, UNIVEESITY OF DUBLIN.

Professor Harvey made some remarks in support of Mr. Bentham's
views. He said : —

On the first evening of the Hjmienophyllum discussion I made some
few remarks which seem not to have been clearly understood by some of
the Members present, and have been incorrectly reported in an "unau-
thorized statement" which subsequently appeared in a morning news-
paper. I wish, therefore, to be permitted, on the present evening, to
place on record my former statement, and also to explain my reasons
for illustrating what I had to say by bringing forward the case of Cera-
topteris and Parkeria.

First, it will be in the recollection of the President that I com-
menced by saying that, so far as my own personal experience oiUymetio-
phyllum Tunhridgense and Wilsoni in Ireland went, I fully agreed with
the statements put forward by Mr. Andrews and Dr. Kinahan. I
acknowledged that in this country these two ferns were readily distin-
guishable by characters of frond and involucre, and that I had never met
■Nvith puzzlingly intermediate conditions of either ; therefore, that, were
I to limit myself to British specimens, I should probably admit the two
species contended for. In doing so, I should be guided by the evidence
before me ; but the opinion thus formed, being based on evidence, con-
siderable,— but far from complete or conclusive, — would be liable to mo-
dification as soon as any good evidence on the opposite side should bo
brought forward. In this, as in all other similar cases, I should adopt
a species provisionally, not conclusively ; and should be prepared to
abandon it or uphold it, as the evidence might warrant. Having stated

2d

1 88 DUBLIN NATTTRAL HISTOET SOCIETY.

BO much, I went on to say (and I quoted a passage ft'om Hooker's " Spe-
cies Filicum" in corroboration) that other observers, who had studied
these ferns in many widely separated countries and under various cli-
mates, had found the distinctions to be frequently less definitely marked
than they are with us ; that the involucre varied from being strongly
and equally toothed, to being irregularly toothed or sub-entire; in
short, that it put on characters intermediate between those attributed to
Tunbridgense on the one part, or to Wilsoni on the other. And I held
that if these statements be true, and they are supported by Dr. Joseph
Hooker and Mr. Bentham, they were evidence which in my mind
weakened the value of the previous evidence, and induced me, therefore,
to question the specific distinction of these ferns. They lead me to ex-
pect that when more extended and more exact observations are made,
even in this country, that intermediate forms of involucre will yet be
discovered. And I would particularly recommend those who take an
interest in this question to examine the involucres on a great number of
fronds of both varieties, selected from plants growing side by side, as
they often do, on the same rock, or mixed together, in the same patch —
to make careful drawings of all variations in the involucral teeth ; and,
above all, when the two occur in one patch, to ascertain that they do
not occur on one rhizome.

I then remarked on the fact stated in the ** Species Filicum," that
both these ferns are found almost side by side in a great many distant
countries, one frequenting moister and more shady, the other dry and
more exposed situations, and that wherever one is found the other may
be expected to occur ; and from this I drew a conclusion unfavourable
to their specific diversity — such a conclusion as that which would be
drawn by most botanists, who regard geographical distribution as deter-
mining the distinction of species, if two closely allied fonns present
themselves. But if one is found only in the eastern, the other only in
the western hemisphere, a botanist will be much more ready to accept
them for distinct species than if both are found occuning constantly
together, never far apart, not in one place only, but in fifty different and
widely separated localities. The fact of their 'hunting in couples,' to a
botanical mind, is suggestive of a closer relationship. I should have
supposed that a zoologist would have taken a similar view ; but Dr.
Kinahan considers this multiplied proximity and constant association
afford **an argument in favour of the distinctness of species," for "it
is inconceivable," he says, " that the same modifying causes which in-
fluence vegetation could exist in all countries where these ferns are
found." S'ow I believe that the great " modifjdng causes" which in-
fluence vegetation, namely, variations in heat, moisture, sunlight, and
exposure to atmospheric changes, do exist, and proportionably too, as
respects aspects, in all countries where plants grow. I also believe that
some, at least, of the differences indicated between the two Hymcno-
phyllums are just such as might be influenced by the ''modifying
causes" in question. The softer, more expanded leaves, and broader,
more succulent involucres, and the freer growth of H. Tunbridgense, in-

DtTBLIN NATX7EAL HISTORY 80CIETT. 189

dicate a plant of moist and sheltered places, while the rigid, contracted
foliage, the compact involucres, and stunted growth oiH. Wihoni indi-
cate a plant of exposed and dry rocks. Specimens, intermediate in
luxuriance, according to exposure, are, no doubt, common, the Tuu-
bridgense becoming stunted, and the Wilsoni luxuriant, without a cor-
respondent change in the character of involucre, which is regarded as
the " specific" character. Hence the advocates of species maintain that
j iixtaposition, under the same climatal conditions, without conformity,
is proof of specific distinctness. I cannot see how this can be main-
tained. If it were so, it might be argued that cauliflowers and cabbages
are distinct species because they may be grown side by side, and are
reproducible by seed from one generation to another ; and so, of fifty
other garden races which are to a great degree permanent, but which
are well known to have had a common origin. They all grow side by
side, unaffected by climate. ^ So also the cowslip and primrose, two
forms of Primula which differ from each other by far more obvious dis-
tinctions than the two Hymenophyllums, and which are equally con-
stant to their particular characteristics and habitats. The primrose
loves the shady or sheltered hedgebank or wood-side ; the cowslip delights
in open sunny meadows. They are found growing near each other, but
seldom intermixed, and the characters which separate them are floral
characters, and, therefore, technically of more importance than variation
in foliage would be considered ; and any botanist might appeal to his
experience of their unchangeable characters, and produce a case of pro-
babilities fully as strong as that adduced for the Hymenophyllums.
And yet, after having travelled with a triumphant case from Fair Head
to Cape Clear, we may find in the very last field at the point of Cape
Clear a primrose passing into a polyanthus. This would materially
shake his faith in one of his distinctive marks — the inflorescence ; and
if he also picked up an oxlip,he would find that the corolla was equally
variable. Hence he may be led to suspect that the primrose, oxlip, and
cowslip maybe only permanent races, not species; and the fact of their
occupying ftie same geographical area would not weaken his suspicions,
but, as I still venture to think, would materially strengthen them. And
we know that the progeny of both cowslips and primroses in cultivation
become polyanthuses ; and there is high authority for the further state-
ment that primrose, oxlip, and cowslip, have all been gro-vvn from the
seed of a single plant. Therefore, whether in our books we hold them
for species or not, in our inward convictions we regard them as perma-
nent races only, growing true to the sub-type in ninety-nine cases out
of a hundred, but sometimes breaking irregiilarly. Now, I would treat
the Hymenophyllums similarly ; as book species they are sufficiently
constant in their characters to have the honour of trivial names ; but,
viewed philosophically, the probabilities are in favour of their being,
like the primrose and cowslip, permanent varieties, rather than aborigi-
nal species.

I am well aware that, were all plants thus treated, the number of
book species would be enormously reduced. But, notwithstanding, I am

190 DUBLIN IT ATUBAL HJ9T0EY SOCIETY.

convinced that the reduction of species is a move in the right direction,
and tliat we shall become used to it, and shall like it in time. As lobsters
get used to being boiled, so species-makers will get used to being roasted.
That Beutham has done good service in his Handbook in abolishing Rubi,
Salices, and Hicracia, will, I think, be generally allowed, though the
originators of the repudiated names may feel aggrieved ; and if he have
occasionally over-strained his point, I can forgive him, in gratitude for
the good service he has done. But I have the more confidence in his
judgment, and the greater respect for his authority, because I know
him to be not merely a fair and truthful man, but a man of enlarged lo-
gical mind, of cautious discretion, and of acute observing powers, and
who has had ample experience of plants both in the open field as well as
in the closet.

I have stiU a few words to say in apology for my having brought
Ceratopteris and Parkeria on the stage, as Mr. Andrews had considered
my observations to have ''no bearing on the point in discussion." To
my mind they have a very definite bearing on an argument brought for-
ward in Mr. Andrews's first paper. In that paper, when speaking of
the specific distinctions between the Hymenophyllums, Mr. Andrews
stated that the character on which he particularly relied was that taken
from the involucre ; and I understood him to maintain that in ferns ge-
nerally, however variable the fronds might be, yet that characters de-
rived from the fructification were subject to no variation, and were,
therefore, certain characters. The inference he drew from this was,
that as the Hymenophyllums differed by such a character, therefore
they were distinct species — the point for which he was arguing. As I
understood him to assert the absolute invariability of the fructification
in ferns, I brought forward the case of Parkeria and Ceratopteris to show
that instances of variability of a grave character do exist in the fructifi-
cation of ferns. I stated that in Ceratopteris the elastic ring of the cap-
sule varied considerably in size and development, and was sometimes
quite obsolete ; and I maintained that this character was one of graver
moment than valuations in the marginal serratures of an involucre.

When combating the inference I wished to draw from my state-
ment. Dr. Kinahan, at the second meeting, when I was not present, is
reported to have expressed hin^self thus : — " Every one who has studied
the ferns living (for the mere closet study of dried specimens' is but of
compai'atively little value) must know that, of all the characters selected
as specific or genuine, the least valuable and most uncertain are those
derived from the form, presence, and position of the tranverse ring ;
indeed, I almost question the utility of these characters at all." This
statement, I own, completely takes me by surprise. It is information
as new to me as, I am convinced, it will be to most pteridologists. As
far as I know, the facts I stated of Ceratopteris are quite exceptional ;
such variations of the ring are verj^ unusual ; and I still think the cha-
racter of annulus entitled to be regarded, as it has been by Brown,
Hooker, and all modern systematic writers, as a primaiy character, dis-
tinguishing not merely genera and species, but sub- orders among the

OUBLni NATI7AAL HISTOBY SOCIETY. 191

ferns. It is by a character of the annulus that OsmundaceaB and Schiz83-
acc'tt) are distinguished from PolypodiacefiB, and, except by the annulus,
Todca does not materially differ from Gyranogramma. But, leaving the
annulus aside, instances in plenty may be adduced to show the variabi-
lity of all the other characters of the fructiiicatipn, viz., variations in the
position, insertion, and shape of the sorus, and the presence or absence,
form and insertion, of the involucre. In our common Harts- tongue the
sorus is often found on the upper surface of the frond, showing that it
varies in position. Such is the case occasionally in several other species,
and in a Ceylon fern {Polypodium anomalum, Hook.) the sori are almost
always foimd on the upper surface. This last-named species varies in
a still more remarkable manner, its son ha\'ing sometimes a peltate invo-
lucre, and being sometimes quite naked, so that it has been described
both as a Polystichum and a Polypodium. Similar instances of the in-
constancy of involucres, especially in the genera Polypodium, Polysti-
chum, and Lastnea, are not unfrequent among tropical ferns. "Lots of
instances," Sir "William Hooker writes to me," might be given where an
involucre is sometimes absent and sometimes present, in the same species
of fern, and this all recent pteridologists bear witness to. On the same
specimen I have seen laterally inserted and peltate involucres. " That
is, Sir William has seen a single frond which; technically, by its in-
volucre, was partly a Polystichum and partly a Lastrsea. And if invo-
lucres are found to vary in this wholesale way, can we be sure that they
do not vary in the tootliing and non-toothing of the margin ? Their
major characters do vary ; are their minor characters immutable ? But
there][is also a South African fern which is even yet more uncertain in
its fructification, being sometimes a Blechnum, with a solitary medial
sorus, and sometimes a Scolopendrium, with numerous divergent and
opposite sori along the lateral nerves; and sometimes it is neither
clearly one thing nor the other. Of this plant Sir William Hooker writes :
" Look at your compatriot, the Cape Blechnum pundulatum, and if you
have specimens from Dr. Atherstone, from Grahamstown, you may see
tlie long sori breaking up and shooting off at right angles on each side
the costa, working themselves along with the needful receptacular vein,
arranging themselves in pairs, facing each other, and so forming Sco-
lopendrium Krehsii. I can swear to this, and I only wonder others have
not suspected it long ago."

After a case of irregularity like this, I do not think I need multiply
instances to prove further that the characters of fructification, among
ferns, as well as those of frond, are subject to extraordinary variation ;
and if Dr. Kinahan sets aside the annulus because of its uncertainty,
I am entitled to set aside the sorus and involucre. But I am very far
from advocating any such sweeping conclusion. The only point I de-
sire to establish is this : seeing that in some ferns the annulus, sorus,
and involucre do vary by their major or generic characters in the same
species, it is not beyond the bounds of probability that they may also
vary in their minor or specific characters. Therefore, if truthfril and
shai-p- eyed, witnesses, such as Mr. Bentham and Dr. Joseph Hooker, tell
me that they have seen involucres on our Hymenophyllums, which are

192 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORT SOCIEXr.

intermediate in character between toothed and entire, I am disposed to
believe them, without doubting Mr. Andrews and Dr. Kinahan's evi-
dence, so far as it goes — the new evidence is not contradictory, but sup-
plementary.

Pbofessor Kinahan said, that the meeting must congratulate itself
on this discussion, since it had been the cause of the Society having been
favoured with a written statement of Professor Harvey's views on this
interesting question. He much regretted, however, that Professor Har-
vey had not been present at the last meeting, as he (Dr. Kinahan) found
that the drift and application of the arguments adduced by himself on that
occasion had been partially misunderstood by Professor Harvey, and the
time already spent this night would prevent his opening them up again.
To return to the argument brought forward to-night — the case of the
primrose and cowslip appeared to be one in point. He was quite aware
that primroses may turn into oxslips, even in a wild state, and might
remind Professor Harvey of a specimen presented to him by himself, and
which he had gathered in Professor Harvey's company, near Rush, last
summer. Any one can, by cultivation, prove the point for himself, as
in general two or three years' generous cultivation of the primrose is
sufficient to cause it ; but the cowslip he had been always led to doubt*
This case, therefore, fell under those in which what he had called their
cultivation test applied, and, therefore, was excluded. I^ow, with re-
gard to the cauliflower, which Dr. Wright denied was a monstrosity,
had Dr. Wright ever tried the experiment ? Dr. Kinahan had seen it
tried, and the result had been the production of a very had cabbage, no
doubt, but nevertheless a cabbage. There were difficulties in the way
of the experiment, for the cauliflower was a cabbage with a much weak-
ened constitution, and one severe season might totally destroy the form
to which cultivation had reduced it through three or four previous ones;
but, nevertheless, under favourable circumstances the experiment may
be carried out successfully ; so that the cauliflower, after all, is only a
domesticated plant, and, as such, excluded. With regard to the inter-
mediate specimen, so triumphantly brought forward, he must be excused
if he looked on it with great suspicion. It had been identified only by
parties having a theory to support ; and, without meaning or intending
any disrespect to them, or doubt of their botanical skill — the latter of
which would be preposterous — he must look on their reading of the spe-
cimen as a prejudiced judgment. The locality in which it had occurred
strengthened him in this opinion ; not in Great Britain, nor even Europe,
neither in Asia, Africa, nor America, but at the very Antipodes, in the
wilds of Australia it appeared that we must seek for the real proof of
the distinctness or unity of the forms. Dr. Kinahan strongly suspected
that, to use the words of one of the most philosophical biologists of the
present age, in this case an error had been committed, and similarity mis-
taken for identity, and two representative forms confounded.

• Kxperitncnts subsequent to the above remarks prove to me that it does occur. —
J. R. K.

DITBLIN NATUBAL HJ8T0BT SOCIETY. 193

Dr. E. Peeceval Wright remarked that Dr. Kinahan had said
nothing about the herbarium specimens exhibiting variations in the
toothing of the involucre.

Dr. Kinahan intended these to be included under his remarks con-
cerning the intermediate Australian specimen ; a personal examination
of them might lead him to very different conclusions as to their species
from Dr. Wright's.

The President rose, and said that he should offer but few remarks,
as he had given so fully his views upon the distinctive characters of the
two ferns in his papers at the previous meetings, and that recapitulation
was not again necessary. He should confine his observations to the
fern family. He was well aware that specimens oi Hymenophyllum Tun-
hridgense are in the Hookerian Herbarium from the Oregon Mountains and
from Tasmania, and described in the ** Species Filicum" as having the
involucres nearly entire, and scarcely distinguishable from those of H.
WiUoni; yet so little dependence can be placed on the examination of spe-
cimens collected at remote periods, and which are only seen in a dried and
shrivelled condition, that the authority of such specimens as to the pas-
sage into intermediate states can have but small pretensions in setting
aside the distinctive forms shown in all gradations of growth and of fruc-
tification by our British species. Botanists have had ample experience of
the difficulties of retaining in their collections the true state of the ori-
ginal and recent form of a plant where the essential characters of the
recent state are so fugacious as to be altogether lost in Herbaria. On
reference to specimens oiHymenophyllumTunhridgense, many years since
collected, and but imperfectly dried in bad paper, the fronds have so lost
their colour, and the involucres, from undue compression, and perhaps
the careless shifting* of papers, that they present but faint outlines of
their true habit and distinction. Thus contracted involucres and almost
obliterated serrations abound, or spinulose characteristics alter and de-
ceive the examination. In some cases the imperfect state or develop-
ment of the fertile venules may lead to many misconceptions of the
character of a genus, more especially when the true manner in which
the sporangia are produced cannot be detected. In the examination of
the plants of an herbarium, with reference to the inconstancy of fructi-
fication as a determinate characteristic, such views cannot as a general
principle be maintained, for the specimens in an herbarium, from im-
perfect development when collected, or from the process of drying, may
not present their determinate characteristics, as we see in the genus
Pleocnemia, which had been considered, ft^m the apparent absence of
a special indusium, to have been a Polypodium ; but the examination of
a perfect specimen had determined its character as belonging to Aspidieae.
The fugacious character of the indusium, and its disappearance in ad-
vanced age or mature state of the plant, have too frequently caused
plants to be described as belonging to Polypodieae, when they are really
true Aspidieo). Mr. J. Smith, of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, who
has given many highly scientific and valuable notes on the genera of
ferns, has, by a systematic examination of their states under cultivation,
as well as from careful comparisons of collections made in different parts

194 DTJBLIN NATURAL HI8T0EY SOCIETT.

of the globe, proved many errors existing among the named specimens
of collectors, as is strikingly shown in the genus Stenosemia. In Sir
William J. Hooker's herbarium, the most extensive in the world, there
still must exist many doubts as to true generic characters and specific
distinctions and affinities, from the want of examination of recent spe-
cimens. Then, upon what grounds are the distinctive characters of the
specific forms of Hymenophyllum Tunhridgense and H. Wihoni to be set
aside? Upon mere assertion, and upon the appearance presented by
some dried specimens fix)m Australia of //. Timhridgense, of having the
involucres nearly entire. Perfect and recent plants of both species of
this country have been exhibited to this meeting. Where are the spe-
cimens in contradiction, and which are to support the views of those
who maintain the unity of the species ? The two species are admitted
as perfectly distinct by the highest scientific as well as the most prac-
tical British botanists, and no departure can be shown from the cha-
racters hitherto described of those species in any locality in the British
Isles and in this country. Then, why introduce such confusion into
British Botany ? It is not upon the authority of even Continental or
European specimens, but upon those from xVustralia. When doubts
exist, the forms even in exotic herbaria should not be admitted until sa-
tisfactorily proved by examination in the recent state, and of aspect under
cultivation. In conclusion, I shall not mention the names of several
scientific botanists and experienced travellers who have communicated
with me in corroboration of my views. It is quite sufficient to give the
name of one whose high scientific position, whose valuable writings, and
w^hose extensive practical observations place his authority unquestion-
able,— Sir William Jackson Hooker, — whose letter I now lay before
you: —

" Royal Gardens, Kew, April 18, 1859.
'* My deae Me. Andeews, — Many thanks for your interesting com-
munication respecting the two Hymenophylla — lunhridgense and Wil-
8oni — and still more for the charming patches of the two plants, which
are very acceptacle to oui* Garden, — and which, I must honestly confess,
confirm my views, which I have, I believe, invariably expressed, that
our two plants are perfectly distinct. It is true the fronds are very si-
milar, but I find such characters in the involucres, and they afiford the
most tangible characters throughout the genus, that I cannot fancy the
one passing into the other — the texture of the involucres, the form of
the valves always firmer, thicker, and more gibbous (almost semi-glo-
bose) ; in JI. Wilsoni the direction of the involucre is difierent. In
H. Tunhridgense it lies in the same plane with the fronds; in JI. Wilsoni
it is less sessile, and diverges with a curvature /7-ow the frond (as well
represented in '* English Botany," Supplement Table, 2686 : compare with
H. Tunhridgense, "English Botany," 1. 162). Again, though li. Wilsoni
has the valves of the involucres of a firmer texture, when the y expand
in age they are more convex in form, the sides turning up morc, so that
the valves almost become semi-cylindrical. In H. Tunhridgense the tex-
ture of the valves is scarcely different from that of the frond, yet they
retain in age, and when expanded, morc of their original flattened or

DFBLIN NATURAL HISTOBT SOCIXTT. 195

slightly convex form. Now, when I sec such characters invariably ac-
companied in the one case with entire marg:in8, in the other with deeply
serrated or almost spinulose ones, I cannot do otherwise but look upon
them as distinct as any two ferns can well be. I certainly remember
the time, years and years ago, when I hesitated, till I found on one and
the same rock in Argyleshire copious specimens of the two in great
tufts, but each retaining its own characters, and exhibiting nothing in-
termediate. It is quite true I have expressed doubts and difficulties
with respect to exotic specimens referred to the two ; but then we have
not the advantage of consulting recent specimens, or even good speci-
mens of those. Most botanists consider them distinct (the Wilsoni)
from ours. I cannot give up our British original ones. Prest places
them in two distinct sections, from the different nature of the involucre ;
but that is carrying the distinction too far.

" Very faithfully yours,

" W. J. HOOKEB."

The Hon. Seceetary read the following —

NOTES ON FRESH-WATER M0LLIT8CA IN THE NEIGHBOXTRHOOD OF ENNI8, AND
THE RELATION BETWEEN THOSE NOW LIVING THERE IN THE LAKES, AND
THOSE FOSSILIZED IN THE MARL, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE ACCIDENTAL
PRESENCE OF A MARINE SPECIES. BY FREDERICK J. FOOT, G. 8. I., COR-
RESPONDING MEMBER.

About three miles to the north of Ennis, and less than a mile north-
east of Bally allia demesne, are situated several small loughs, abounding
in molluscs. These lakes communicate with one another by small
streams, and thus form a serpentine continuous chain. Formerly, after
heavy rains, the water used to rise to a considerable height, and flood
the neighbouring lands; but of late years the works of the Drainage
Commission have prevented this, and have also considerably reduced the
little loughs in size, so that a broad margin, three or four feet wide, of
what was formerly their bottom or bed, is now dry, and covered by num -
bers of dead shfells, the same as those seen living through the clear waters of
the lake. The most typical example of this phenomenon is seen at a small
pool called Licknaun Lough. Here myriads of shells are found sur-
rounding the scaly roots of the white and yellow water-lilies, which
spread themselves extensively over the dried-up surface and bed of the
lake. Specimens of these shells may be seen on the table. The follow-
ing is a list of them. I am indebted to my friend, Mr. "W. H. Bailey,
of the Geological Survey, for their identification : — Limnea stagnalxs^
L. peregery Bithynia tentaculatay Succinea putrts, Planarhis marginatuSy
Neritina fluviatiliay Vahata pisctnalis, Anodonta cygnea, Cyclas cornea.
The same species are also found by digging into this dried margin. A
marine species, the common periwinkle (Littorina littorea)^ may be also
gathered here in abundance. The presence of these, which at first some-
what puzzled me, as these lakes are more than a mile from the Fergus,
and that river is only tidal to Ennis Mill, a point more than three miles
from the lake, is, I find, accidental, and due to the habit of the inhabit-

2b

196 DUBLIN NATTJBAL HT8T0ET SOCIETY.

ants of the surrounding districts, who come to fish here on Sundays, and
regale themselves during their stay on periwinkles procured at the neigh-
bouring town. The bed of the lake is a muddy diluvium, full of all the
above-named species, the periwinkle excepted. The commonest are —
Z. pereger, abundant ; L. stagnalisy abundant ; Planorhis marginatus,
abundant ; Valvata piscinalis, local ; Bithynia tentaculata, abundant ;
Cyclas cornea f abundant ; Anodonta cygnea, scarce, apparently wanting
in base of bed. The others enumerated before seem scarce. This dilu-
vium is partly made up of stones and fragments of woody plants and
grasses, so much so as in places to give it a peaty appearance ; bones of
quadrupeds and birds also occur in this.

Beneath this deposit (the maximum thickness of which may be about
four feet) is a bed of marl, composed of shells identically the same as
those imbedded in the surface-soil, and yet living in the lake. The
species are not nearly so numerous. The following are the only ones I
could discover in the marl : — Z. pereger, which may be called the basis
of the marl, as not a cubic inch can be examined without finding this
shell, either whole or in fragments. Z. stagnalis and Bithynia tentaculata
range next in abundance ; then Valvata piscinalis, Planorhis marginatus,
and Cyclas cornea, both of which are locally abundant. There does not
appear to be a trace of any of the other above-mentioned species. The
marl is also full of vegetable remains, such as twigs and leaves of trees
and grasses. It is of a buff colour, and is highly calcareous, effervescing
freely with acids.

At Licknaun Lough the marl lies in denuded basins or troughs of
the limestone drift (sometimes resting immediately on the adjacent rock),
and a large boulder frequently interferes with the continuity of the de-
posit. The pockets in which the marl occurs are local. The accompa-
nying rough sections, which are only an approximation, not being drawn
to scale, will give an idea of how the marl lies, and of the present ap-
pearance of the lake. The greatest visible thickness of this bed is about
three feet, but it probably attains to much more than this. If the margin
of the lake should ever become submerged and converted into a geologic
strata, the marine species occurring there might lead to much confusion,
and the history of the cause of their occuiTcnce shows the danger of
theorizing on the mere presence of marine species inland without careful
inquiries as to the cause of their occurrence. To the east of Ennis, near
the town, the marl is covered by from four to six feet of bog, and further
east, in the neighbourhood of Quin, and south thereof, it occurs in several
places beneath either bog or alluvium. The shells found here are the same
as those in the marl at Licknaun Lough.

The ballot having been opened, the following gentlemen were de-
clared duly elected : —

Ordinary Member: — Henry Thomas Vickers, Esq., 81, Lower Leeson-
street.

Corresponding Member : — Robert Warren, Esq., BaUina.

The Meeting then adjourned to the 3rd of June.

DUBLIN NATUILLL HISTOBT SOCIKXT. 197

FRIDAY EVENINQ, JUNE 8, 1859.

William Andeews, M. R I. A., President, in the Chair.

The Minutes of the previous Meeting having been confirmed, were
signed.

The following were presented to the Society: — An egg of the Peregrine
falcon {F. peregrinus), and a Pine Marten {Martea Fotna), from Robert J.
Montgomery, Esq. The egg of the Peregrine is from an island on the
coast of Donegal, where the falcon is universally known by the name of
Tory Hawk. The Peregrine is daily becoming more rare, on account
of the murderous system of poisoning. The same applies to the Marten,
an animal which in the north is only ^own by the Irish name of * ' Madhia
crann" (tree dog).

Professor Ejnahan, F. L. S., read the following paper —

ON THE GENUS EANICEPS, AND THE OCCUREENCE OP THE TADPOLE-FISH
(b. TEIFUHCATUS) in DUBLIN BAY.

For the opportunity of being able to lay before your Society an account
of the occurrence of this rarely observed British fish, I am indebted to
the kindness of D. J. Corrigan, M. D., M. R. I. A., by whom the subject of
this communication was captured in Dalkey Sound, in a wire lobster-pot,
about three weeks ago, and in whose yivarium the specimen has lived
ever since, thus affording an opportunity of studying the habits of the
fish, a thing long desired by naturalists.

Two records only of this fish as Irish are published, viz., one by the
late William Thompson, of a specimen given him by Captain Fayrer, who
picked it up dead, floating, near Donaghadee, in 1837; the other by
our respected President, William Andrews, Esq., who procured a spe-
cimen in Dingle Harbour, in January, 1852, which had been captured
on a long line set for cod-fish ; so that we have now this fish recorded
on the east, north, and west of the island. This agrees with what is
known of its distribution in Great Britain, as it has been met with at
Berwick, Firth of Forth, Solway Firth, coast of Northumberland, Corn-
wall, and the west coast of Scotland. It is to be looked on as rather a
fish which comes rarely under notice than as either a rare or restricted
species.

The best figure and description of it published are those given by Dr.
Pamell in his Contributions to the Ichthyology of the Firth of Forth,
given in the second volume of the " Magazine of Zoology and Botany,"
page 344, the only errors in which are the rendering of the ventral fins,
which are represented rather obscurely, and the length of the posterior
dorsal, which in Dr. Corrigan's specimen approaches nearer to the tail
than is shown in the figure. The head also is scarcely depressed enough.
The figure in Yarrell's first edition, from the pencil of Mr. Couch, is
also characteristic. There appears to be some difficulty as to the exact

1 98 DUBLIN NATUBAL HI8T0EY SOCIETY.

position of the genus. At present it is placed among the Gadi, but pro-
bably Dr. Pamell's suggestion that it belongs to a separate family is
correct, as, although it possesses ajOBmiities to the Hake's dame (which fish
has also occurred off the Dublin coast), yet, at the same time, it is very
distinct from that genus. In many of its external characters it presents
analogies with the Fishing- frog ; but the nature of its fins will not allow it
to be placed even in the same subdivision as that fish. Its habits, as far as
I could observe them, are very curious. The ventral fins, which are far
in advance of the pectorals, are furnished with two long and somewhat
stiff rays, which project considerably : these are capable of motion in-
dependently of each other and the other rays of the fin, and by means
of them the animal progresses along the bottom of the tank in which it
is kept. The pectorals, which are large and rounded, possess great mo-
bility at the wrist-joint, the animal rotating them at times nearly com-
pletely round. The anterior dorsal fin, concerning which there is some
discrepancy in the descriptions, is correctly represented in Dr. Pamell's
plate. The barbule under the chiu appears to be under the control of
the will of the animal, as Dr. Corrigan informs me that at times it is
scarcely visible, at other times it is appreciable enough. The caudal fin
is damaged in the Dalkey specimen, but appears to have been rounded.
The fish is remarkably slimy to the touch, neither scales nor lateral
tubercles being appreciable either to touch or sight. The true nature
of the anterior dorsal fin is difficult to make out ; but I could not find
any trace of the groove said to exist for its reception. The head is re-
markably depressed, the eyes prominent on the top of the head, and of
a yellow colour; the general colour of the fish is a deep pui^lish black,
of a very peculiar shade. Since it has been in confinement it feeds gree-
dily on the insides of crabs, &c. It is, when it likes, a very active fish,
and, on account of its slippery coating, difficult of capture by the hand.
These observations are all drawn up from the living fish, and a fear of
injuring the specimen prevented my examining some points as closely
as I coidd wish. Its occurrence in Dalkey Sound is highly interesting.
I have before had occasion to call the attention of the Society to the
occurrence there of many deep-water species of Crustacea, and have little
doubt that, to an attentive observer, many other rare species wHl occur
within this strait.

The President considered the notice of the occurrence of the Tadpole-
fish one of great interest. The only specimen he had ever seen was
captured on a spilliard line in Dingle Bay, in thirty fathoms water. He
quite agreed with Professor Kinahan's remarks concerning the fish,
which was a deep-sea species, and a ground feeder. When received, the
Dingle specimen was a deep violet colour, which after death turned to
an intense black. This specimen might be seen at the Royal Dublin
Society House. The mode of feeding in this fish and the Fishing-frog
being the same, it was easy to account for the similarity in appearance
between the two. The Society ought to be much obliged to Dr. Corrigan
for the notice of this rare fish.

i

BUBLnr KATUBAL HI8T0BT SOCIICTT. 199

Mb. W. Abcheb read the following —

DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OP STAUBASTBFM.

In these days of cancelliiig from oiir lists, and their consolidation with
others, of numerous species, or reputed species, in the various walks of Na-
tural History, — and tills, no doubt, in many cases, with much reason, — it
may appear unjustifiable rashness and temerity on my part to come for-
ward for the purpose of describing the following two new forms to be added
to our lists of Desniidiac®. But in a more extended point of view, in
regard to what is a species and what is not, it seems to me that natu-
ralists are prone to err in one of two directions : they either restrict the
number of species in their lists within too narrow limits, or inordinately
increase their number by giving a name and specific rank to almost every
variation which they encounter. On the one hand, because, between
two hitherto recognised distinct, but allied species, there are occasionally
found forms, as it were intermediate, connecting them, it is assumed that
these two original forms must necessarily make but one species. On the
other hand, those naturalists might possibly be not wanting who would
feel inclined to consider not only the two original, but also one or seve-
ral of those intermediate forms, as themselves species. Both extremes,
as it seems to me, may be wrong. Might it not be expected to be the
case that the limits of variation of each of the two original species, so
nearly allied, might, so to speak, so touch each other at the margin, as
to seem to unite them together, and give rise to the assumption, always
plausible, but perhaps not always correct, that one of the original species
could (and does), by a series of transitions, pass into the other ? If any
one species become modified, is it not to be expected that the characters
of the most nearly allied form, and not those of one remote in aflfinity,
will be those which, to a greater or less degree, it will be likely to si-
mulate ? Under this hypothesis, the two original forms would still
justly be considered true and distinct species— in contradiction to the opi-
nion of the former class of naturalists — while the forms intermediate
would be but variations (perhaps but of a temporary or local nature), some
derived from one species, some perhaps from the other, and could by no
means be looked upon as true species — in opposition to the views of the
latter class of naturalists. I do not mean to intimate, when a hitherto
acknowledged species is rejected, that I imagine the step always to be
an erroneous one, for he who successfully demolishes the spurious claims
of a mere book-species does Science a good service ; but it seems to me
that what I have tried to express is a state of things, the possibility of
the existence of which, by those who are anxious to suppress species,
may sometimes be lost sight of or ignored.

There can be no doubt, however (and especially amongst microsco-
pic forms), that our lists ai-e more or less incumbered with the redun-
dant names of false species, which further research will doubtless even-
tually prove. Many forms which now pass under distinct names may
hereafter be found not worthy to take specific rank in our systems.
And here it is that the difficulty lies. In order to prove the identity of
two reputed species, over which there hangs a doubt, not only must the

200 DUBLIN NATUBAL HISTOBT SOCIETY.

happy opportunity be afforded of tracing the organism through its whole
course of life, but, on the part of the observer, the requisite leisure and
patient assiduity must not be wanting.

No doubt it is much easier to describe a new species than to demon-
state that two, or perhaps more, familiar forms are but different states
or phases of one and the same organism. Nevertheless, when a form
undescribed and quite distinct from any of its nearest allies in the same
genus, and distinguished by marks as decided and striking as those by
which species, which are universally acknowledged, are separated, pre-
sents itself occasionally, perhaps abundantly, and which may as likely be
met with by other observers, it seems to me right, nay essential, that it
should be distinguished by a name, and its diagnostic characteristics
carefully recorded.

I offer the foregoing remarks, which it may be proper to state were
written considerably before the Hymenophyllum discussion arose, as
apologetic for my venturing to bring forward the following description
of two species of Staurastrum ; and yet, perhaps, they are not strictly
applicable, for these new forms appear to me abundantly distinct from
every other species, and in no way to be mistaken for mere intermediate
or gradationai variations. To some, however, it may seem premature
to describe them without knowing the sporangial state. It will be re-
collected, however, that, of very many of the species, as described in
Ralfs' ^'British Desmidiae," the sporangium is not known, nor, when
known, can there usually he important distinctions dravni from it. I
trust the following may serve as a description of the new forms : —

TamUy.— DESMIDIACE^.

Genus. — Staueastrum (Meyen, Breh., Ralfs^ Sfc).

Staurastrum oxyacantha {sp. nov.).

Specific characters : Frond rough with minute granules ; segments
broa(Uy fusiform, with incurved processes ; end-view tri-radiate, each
side having, disposed at equal distances, a pair of depressed, slender,
subulate, acute spines.

Locality : Pools near " Sugar-loaf" Mountain, on the Eoundwood
road; rare.

General Description: Frond nearly as long as broad; segments rough
with minute granules, broadly fusiform, inner margin somewhat more
turgid than the outer, and forming at constriction a broadly triangular
notch, tapering at each side into a colourless process incurved or con-
verging with that of the opposite segment, having the granules thereon
arranged in transverse lines, and cleft at the extremity into three or four
minute subulate spines ; frond furnished at ends upon each side with a
pair of slender subulate, acute, depressed spines, which are apparent in
the front view. End-view tri-radiate, having projecting from each side
at equal intervals the parallel pair of spines unaccompanied by others ;
processes terminating each angle in this view, straight, elongate ; endo-
chrome restricted to the centre, tri-radiate.

Length of frond, 1-770 of an inch ; breadth, 1-580 to 1-636 ; breadth
of constriction, 1-2330.

DTTBLIW NATTTBAL HI8T0HT 80CTETT. 201

Plate I. Fig. 1, front view ; Fig. 2, end view.

This form appears to me very distinct from any described. The
presence of the conspicuous pair of acute spines projecting from each
margin at end-view distinguishes it from all but Staurastrum vestituniy
but in that species the spines, which are apparent only in the end-view,
are emarginate at the ends, and often accompanied by others of consi-
derable size ; and indeed, even the smaller are themselves often emar-
ginate ; moreover, in the front- view it differs by its converging process.
It is also considerably smaller than Staurastrum vestitum^ being not
more than half its width, which diameter in that species greatly exceeds
its length. The converging processes in front- view are somewhat like
those of 8. cyrtocerum ; but in that species there are no spines at the
ends of the fronds, and the processes in end-view are not so much pro-
longed, and are curved in place of straight. The presence of the mar-
ginal spines in end-view, and the incurved, not divergent or parallel
processes in the front- view, distinguish this from S. paradoxum, S, gra-
cile, and S. polymorphum.

Staurastrum nitidum (sp. nov.).

Specific characters : Frond rough at the ends, with a series of papilla-
like granules; segments broadly elliptic; end-view triangiilar ; sides con-
vex, with a sub-marginal series of papillae; angles not inflated, mucronate.

Locality : Pools near " Sugar-loaf;" rare.

General description : Fronds about as broad as long ; segments
broadly elliptic, inner margin somewhat more turgid than the outer,
sub-mamillate at each side, terminated by a mucro, andf on the outer
margin rough with a series of minute papillae, otherwise smooth ; con-
striction forming a broad notch, with an acute angle; end-view tri-
angular, sides convex, with an inwardly curved sub-marginal series of
papillae, their summits directed somewhat towards the angles ; angles not
inflated, the last papilla forming a terminal mucro; endochrome in both
views disposed in a radiate maimer ; gelatinous investment evident

Length of fi^nd, 1-540 to 1-535 ; breadth of frond, 1-540 ; breadth
at constriction, 1-1160 of an inch.

Plate I. Fig. 3, front view ; Fig. 4, end view.
This, although not a complex form, owing to its brilliant and beau-
tifully radiately- disposed endochrome (in front- view almost in fillets), is
an extremely pretty species. In end-view its non-inflated mucronate
angles and series of papillae distinguish it, I think, from every other
Staurastrum. In front- view it somewhat resembles S. asperum {Brih.)
a, but the minute spines on the outer margin, in that species, are usu-
ally emarginate or cleft at the ends, or dilated, and the segments are not
mucronate at each angle, nor is the endochrome radiately disposed. In
the form in question, the convex sides, mucronate angles in end-view,
and granules not scattered, distinguish it fix)m S. pundulatum. I do
not think I need contrast it with any other species, and I believe that
both the foregoing forms have only to be seen, when their perfect dis-
tinctness would be at once apparent.

202 DUBLIIT NATTJEAL HI8T0BT SOCTHTT.

Mr. W. Abcheb, Secretary, next read the following paper —

Ojr A NEW GENU8 AND SPECIES IN THE DESMIDIACKSi; WITH SOME REMARKS
ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF MICRA8TERIAS
AND EUASTRUM. BY THE REV. R. V. DIXON, A. M., EX-F. T. C. D., CLOGH-
ERNEY RECTORY, DUNGANNON.

I BEG leave to submit to the notice of your Society the following account
of a form of Desmid, which I have lately met with in this neighbour-
hood, and which I believe has not hitherto been described. The frond,
as represented in Plate I., Figs. 5-7, is simple, compressed, with a deep
and acute gaping constriction between its segments, which are three-
lobed, the line separating the extreme from the basal lobes being parallel
to the line of separation of the segments. It has no inflation on its surface,
but exhibits on its margin a few mucronate spines. This form appears
to me to be generically distinct from both Micrasterias and Euastrum :
from the former in the direction of the separation of its lobes, from the
latter in the absence of inflations. In these characteristics it agrees
with Micrasterias oscitans, and M. pinnatifida {Ralfs) as weU as'with the
form Holocystis oscitans (Hassall), described by Dr. Hassall, and referred
to by Mr. Ralfs ("British Desmidiae," pp. 69-77), and it is worth consi-
dering whether these forms should not be all grouped together in a new
genus. Before proceeding, however, to give the complete description
of this proposed genus and the three species which it would contain, I
beg leave to offer a few remarks on the different manner in which the
segments are divided in those Desmids which have lobed or divided
segments, and^which for this reason I take the liberty of calling Schizo-
merous Desmids.

The typical mode of division (as exemplified in Euastrum pinnatuniy
E. oUongum, &c.) appears to be into three portions or subdivisions:
the first, next the line of separation of the segments, extending across
the frond, and embracing the two basal lobes ; the second, including the
median lobes ; and the third, the extreme or end lobe. This last, or
third subdivision, is the most constant. The two former are frequently
represented by a mere sinuosity or shallow indentation where the third
is distinctly developed, but we never find the first subdivision distinct,
and the second and third imperfectly separated. The whole three, in-
deed, maybe merely marked by slight sinuosities, as in Euastrum cune-
atum, but if any one is separated, it is the third, and this, I may observe,
is the order of development of the subdivisions in the growing segment
of the typical Micrasterias. The new segment is first hemispherical ;
the third subdivision is then developed; and afterwards the first and
second are separated.

For the purposes of description these three subdivisions might be
denoted by the letters a, h, c, and their partial or complete development
marked as follows: — When the subdivisions are distinctly separated,
their symbols might be separated by commas, thus, a, h, c; when any
two or more are merely marked by a sinuosity, they might be repre-
sented thus, a^^h ; and if there is no trace of separation, thus, ab ; and
if, at the same time, the direction of the lines separating the subdivi-

DVBIIW NATTTHAl HISTORY 80CIETT. 208

sions were noted, the ftill description as regards the divisions of the seg-
ments would be given. Thus —

Eua»trwn cuneatum would be represented by oT^h^^o.
Euastrum pinnatum, „ „ «, J, <?, parallel.

Euaatrum ohlonguMy „ „ a^ h, Cy subradial.

Micrasterias denticulatay ,, <», i» Cj radial.

Euastrum pectinatuniy ,, ,, a^^J, c, parallel.

And our new form, „ „ ahj c, parallel.

The direction of the lines of separation of the subdivisions in the Schizo-
merous Desmids varies from parallelism to true radiation, and at the
same time the intervals between the subdivisions close, so that in
Micraaterias denticulata, rotata, and Jimhriata, the frond appears almost
entire with radial lines on its surface. I think regard ought to be had
to this characteristic in placing the genera and species of Euastrum and
Micrasterias between the filamentous forms on the one hand and the
Cosmaria on the other ; that the forms with parallel subdivisions should
come first ; the Euastra, so well marked by their peculiar inflations, a
few of which are parallel, but the majority subradial, next ; and the
Micrasterias last, terminating with the radial closed species, from which
the transition would be easy to the Cosmaria, among which traces of
radiation still appear fti the endochrome of C. JRalfsti, in the ridged sur-
face of C. undulatum, and the crenated margin of other species. The
whole group of Schizomerous Desmids then might be distributed among
three genera — the first containing Jf. oscitans, M. pinnatifida (Ralfs)^
Holocystia oscitans {Hassall) — if this be distinct from M. oscitamy which
appears doubtful — and our new form ; the next being Euastrum, and
the last Micrasterias. In conclusion, I beg to mention that I owe the
drawing which accompanies this paper to the kindness of Mr. Archer,
whom I consulted when I first met with the new form under discussion,
and to whom I forwarded the gathering in which it occurred for farther
examination ; and that the following detailed generic and specific de-
criptions have been drawn up by the same gentleman.

Family.— DESMTDIACE-^.
Tetrachasteijm {gen. nov.).*

Generic Characters : Frond simple, compressed, deeply divided
into two three-lobed segments ; the basal lobes projecting horizontally,
broadest within and attenuated outwards ; end-lobe expanded into two
lateral attenuated projections parallel in their direction with the basal

* From Ttrpaxa, in four parts, in reference to the fourfold division of the fronds,
which is most conspicuous in T. oscitans and T. pinnatijidumy and aorpovy a star. This
Utter term, in its usual sense of a radiate form, is not a descriptive one, as applied to our
new genus ; but I adopt it because it occurs in the names of the other two genera of the
same group, and I wish to mark their mutual affinity. Moreover, the term avrpov is
not more inapplicable, on this ground, to the fronds of the proposed genus than it is to
those of several species of Euastra, — E. euneatvmy &c., for instance. — R V. D.

2f

204 DTJBLIN NATTTEAL HiaiORT SOCIETY.

lobes ; ends straight, or convex, or having at the middle of the rounded
ends a very slight concavity.

General Generic Description: The fronds are simple, as long as
or longer than broad, compressed, without inflations, deeply divided
into two segments by a constriction, forming a broad acute-angled notch ;
each segment constiicted by a broad notch or sinuosity upon each side
into two subdivisions fonning three lobes, the basal lobes broadest within
and attenuated outwards, not radial, but extending horizontally and
parallel in their direction with those of the opposite segment ; the end-
lobe expanded laterally into two attenuated projections, which are hori-
zontally disposed and parallel in their direction with that of basal lobes,
so that the entire frond is of a pinnatifid character ; the ends of the
fronds convex, straight, or having at the middle a very slight concavity
or depression, not emarginate.

Tetrachastrum mucronatum (sp. nov.).

Specific Characters : Frond longer than broad ; ends rounded, hav-
ing a slight centrtd concavity ; end lobe having its lateral projections
terminated by a mucro; basal lobes broadly and bluntly triangular,
having at their margin at each side either one, two, or three minute
mucro-like spines ; empty frond punctate, the puncta scattered.

Symbol : al, c^ parallel {vide supra).

Locality : Bog near Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone.

Measurement : Length of frond, y^y ; greatest width, g^j ; width
of neck, 373-; diameter at constriction, ^^q ' gi'^^^^st depth, -^^ of an
inch.

Plate I. — Fig. 5, front view with endochrome ; Fig. 6, empty frond ;
Fig. 7, outline of side view ; Fig. 8, outline of transverse view.

General Description: The frond in this species is large, smooth,
entire, about one-fourth longer than broad ; in the front-view divided
into two segments by a deep constriction forming an acute-angled,
straight- sided notch, not linear, but broadest at the outside. The seg-
ments are constricted about two-thirds of the way from the base by a
rounded sinuosity, causing the basal lobes to be of a bluntly triangular
outline, straight on the lower, turgid or convex on the upper margin,
and furnished thereon with one, two, or three minute mucro-like spines,
one always at each basal angle. The basal lobes slope upwards to form
a broad neck, uniting the terminal lobe to the basal portion : supposing
the end to be absent , the frond would be orbicular. The lateral projec-
tions of the end-lobe have their extremities tipped by a mucro, and
somewhat proj ected downwards. Ends of the fronds convex with a gentle
central concavity. In the side-view the frond is smooth, about four
times longer than its greatest depth ; the central constriction is rather
deep ; the segments in this view ovate, turgid near the constriction,
somewhat tapered towards the ends, which are rounded. The transverse
view is broadly fusiform ; the endochrome rich green, with scattered
granules. The empty frond is punctate, the puncta scattered.

DUBLIH NATURAL HISTOBY SOCIETY. 205

By attention to the generic characters as given above, this species can
of course bo readily distinguished from every other Desmidian, MicraS'
terms oscitans (Ital/s) and M. pinnatifida {Ralfs) excepted. The pre-
sence of the marginal mucronate spines and of those terminating the
lateral projections of the end lobe, combined with the absence of the
incised extremities, as well as the frond being longer than broad, at once
distinguish this from both those species, which, as a matter of course, I
here include in this genus. It may be advisable here to transcribe from
"The British Desmidia)" (pages 76, 77) the specific characters of those
two species, the first under the name of —

Dftrachastrum oscitans = Mie. oscitans {Hfs.), Holocystis oscitana
{Hassall).

** Frond with convex ends [segments constricted], lobes [horizontal]
conical, bidentate."

The characters here placed between brackets become generic by
transferring this species to this new genus, but as it was included in
Micrasterias by Rolfs, they were necessarily introduced as specific dis-
tfinctions from the proper species of that genUs. From the remarks in
the preceding part of this paper on the new genus, it will, I hope, be
admitted that they are really generic. In order to distinguish this spe-
cies from Tetrachastrum mucronatum, they are not requisite, as the biden-
tate extremities to the lobes, with the absence of the mucros, and the
frond being nearly about as broad as long, readily do so.

The remaining species will be —

Tetrachastrum pinnattfidum = Ificrasterias pinnatifida {Haifa).

"Frond plane, its ends straight [segments deeply constricted],
lobes [horizontal] triangular, bidentate.

The same characters which distinguish the preceding species from
IHrachastrum mucronatum also separate this, which is moreover much
smaller. It appears to differ from the preceding by its much smaller size,
straight or slightly concave ends, more tapering lobes, and paler colour.

There can be no doubt, it is imagined, that the view taken above
is correct in defining this genus as three-lobed, that is, with two basal
lobes and a laterally expanded terminal lobe, and not four-lobed, that is,
counting the lateral projections of the end lobe as two, which would in-
volve the necessity of describing these forms as truncate, and without a
terminal lobe. The end lobe in these forms is equivalent to the same
poi-tion in Micrasterias rotata or M. Crux-Melitenaisy and differs by having
more extended lateral projections not divergent, but, as above described,
projecting horizontally and parallel in Erection with the attenuated
basal lobes.

The following synopsis of the Schizoraerous Desmidian genera, and
of the species of Tetrachastnim will, it is hoped, assist in conveying.

206

DUBLIN NATITRAL HISTOIIT SOCIETY.

in a succinct manner, the views put forward above, as well as the end
sought to be accomplished in the present paper by the institution of the
genus.

'Frond lenticular, as long as or longer than

broad; segments usually semi-orbicular,

five or rarely three-lobed (with three, or

rarely two subdivisions, «, I, c, or a^b, c) ;

lobes radiant, incised or dentate, rarely

only sinuate, widening outwards ; central

constriction usually linear. Micrasterias.

{Vide "Brit. Desmidiae," p. 68, etseq.)

Frond longer than broad ; segments more or

less conical, five or three-lobed, orsinuated

(with three or two subdivisions, either

a, h, c, or a'~"h, c, or ah, c, or rarely ah'^c),

J possessing variously disposed, circular, in-

Frond simple, compres-
sed, deeply constricted,
segments lobed or si-
nuate (Schizomerous);
lobes either incised,
sinuate, or entire.

flated prominences; ends emarginate, or
rarely with merely a concavity; central
constriction linear. JEuastrum.

( Vide ''Brit. Desmidiae," p. 78, et seq.)
Frond about as long as or longer than broad ;
segments three-lobed (with two subdivi-
visions al, c,), without inflated promi-
nences ; basal lobes horizontal, attenuated
outwards, end lobe expanded laterally, its
lateral projections parallel in direction with
the basal lobes ; ends straight or rounded,
entire; central constriction forming an
acute -angled spreading notch : —

Tetrachastrum,

Frond longer than broad ; segments constricted about two-thirds of the
way from the base ; lobes mucronate, their extremities not bidentate.

mucronatum.

Frond as broad as or slightly broader than long ; segments constricted
about half-way from the base ; lobes not mucronate, their extremities
bidentate.

Fron d with convex ends ; lobes conical ; colour rich green, oscitans.

Frond with straight ends, plane ; lobes triangular ; colour pale.

pinnatifidum.

Mr. Sanders having expressed the pleasure he had experienced in
listening to the foregoing paper, proposed a vote of thanks to the Rev.
E. V. Dixon for his interesting communication, which was seconded by
Mr. Archer, and passed unanimously.

DXTBLIN KATVBAL HI8T0BT 80CI1STT. 207

The following paper was directed to be printed in the "Proceedings,**
the lateness of the hour having prevented its perusal : —

NOTICE OF SOME CASES OF ABNORMAL GROWTH IN THE DESMIDIACEJS.
BY WILLIAM ARCHER.

It has occurred to me that the accompanying sketches, representing
an abnormal mode of growth in the Desmidiacea?, exhibiting, as they
do, an appearance so curious and unusual, might possess some interest
for the students of that family. I am aware that, in Mrs. Herbert
Thomas's interesting communication ('* Quarterly Journal of Microscopical
Science," vol. iii., Plate V., Figs. 17 and 18), that lady has figured a
very similar case in Cosmarium margaritifemm to that shown in my
drawing of Stattrastrum defectum; yet I have thought it might be worth
while to figure some examples of the phenomenon still farther carried
out in other genera, although it may be quite possible that even more
curious aberrations may have been met with by other observers.

^The first case of this mode of malformation to which I shall direct
attention is a monstrosity of & Yanctj of Mtcrasterias Jenneri — (Plate I.,
Fig. 9). Here the intervening growth, produced after the mode which
prevails in the Pesmidiaceaj, between the two older segments of the
original frond, and which, in the normal condition, ought to have formed
two new segments, forms a somewhat quadrate expansion, but has not
assimied any definite outline. "We find it within filled with endo-
chrome, similar to the parent segments, to about the dimensions of one
of which it has attained. It is about the simplest form of the irregu-
larity under consideration which I have to bring forward ; the interven-
ing new portion forming only an irregular, shapeless growth.

I here wish to draw attention in passing to the form itself (Fig. 9),
a fair idea of which in the normal state can be obtained by imagining
the irregular central growth as absent, and the two older segments in
apposition. It will be seen that this variety agrees with Micrasterias
Jenneri (Halfs) variety /3, in the superficial granules being somewhat
large, giving a somewhat dentate or roughish appearance to the margin,
but it differs from both varieties, a and y3, by its lateral lobes not being
bipartite, and of course wanting their emarginate subdivisions. Thus,
if Mr. Ralfs justly called this species, both a and y3, puzzling, the draw-
ing before us exhibits a form even more so. On account of the lobes
not being incised, as just pointed out, this form (of course I need
not repeat that I do not allude now to its abnormal irregularity)
becomes, I think, likely to be mistaken for an Euastrum, to which genus
it closely approaches through £. ohlongum. Nor is the resemblance
lessened by there occurring occasionally specimens with the incisions
between the segments, not linear, and, therefore, the lobes not closely
approximate, but spreading and sinuously lobed. However, the absence
of any inflations, when viewed laterally, as well as the want of a termi-
nal linear notch, though there is a slight concavity or depression at
the ends, whilst the lobes are cuneate and more radiant, exclude this
form from Euastrum. I would here, then, take the opportunity to
characterize this plant thus : —

208 - DUBLIN NATUBAL HIBTOKT SOCIETY.

Micrasterias Jenneri (Ralfa) var. 7.

Granules giving a rather rough appearance to the margin, lateral
lobes concave, not bipartite, without eraarginate subdivisions.

Locality : Bog, near Carrickmore, county of Tyrone. This very inte-
resting variety occurred in the gathering kindly forwarded to me by the
Hev. R. V. Dixon, and which also contained his new form, Tetrachastrum
mucronatum.

In the monstrosity of Staurastrum dejectum, as shown in the dra-^-
ing (Fig. 10), we have both the new segments well developed, and each
possessing in the front view its own proper laterally projecting spines;
but the interposed segments remain confluent throughout a portion of
their terminal margins, forming a bluntly triangular notch at the sides,
the whole making but one entire cavity, with the endochrome loosely
Scattered within. In the next case, that of Arthrodesmus incus (Fig. 11),
the resulting fusion of the new growth, which ought to have formed
two new segments, is even greater than in the preceding instance, so that
the monstrosity almost represents an individual of three segments, so to
speak. Here the interposed new growth has formed, projecting to each
side, but one angle, looking as if but one new segment only had been
formed, whereas, it must be due really to both segments and spines of
the recently- grown portion being confluent. Of this malformation of
A. inctts, I have on several occasions seen specimens.

In the next drawing, showing a remarkable monstrous growth of
JSuastrum didelta (Fig. 12), we have a case somewhat similar to the pre-
ceding, but presenting additional odd aberrations. The upper and
lower portions of the figure represent the side view of the older seg-
ments ; between them the new growth has been formed ; but here not
only does the direction of the axis of growth assume a course at right
angles to the older segments, but, what is curious, the plane of the new
growth is at right angles to that of the older. In other words, the new
growth, which has formed almost what might be called a new frond, not
only has its ends projecting at right angles to the ends of the original
one, but it also presents a front view, while the older segments show a
side one. The interposed new growth, projecting laterally, has formed
the usual linearly notched ends of the species, but one of them has as-
sumed a twist obliquely out of the straight direction. The irregulal*
space towards the centre of the specimen, as represented in the figure,
denotes a portion of the side of the boundary wall, which, upon its inner
surface, is there destitute of chlorophyll granules, aff'ording an opportu-
nity to look into the central cavity, which thereabouts is more or less
empty, but the entire specimen being otherwise, and to all extremities
filled with endochrome, in the ordinary manner, as in a normal indivi-
dual.

I exhibit a nearly similar case in Euastrum insigne (Fig. 1 3) ; but
the new growth has not assumed a different plane from the old, and it
is not so deformed in appearance. Of this monstrosity I have met with two
examples. The remaining case is represented by the two drawings which
show a state of Tetmemorus Brebtssonii (Figci. 14 & 15), somewhat similar
to the preceding condition of Euastrum didelta aJid E. insigne. In one

DlTBLni KATUKAl HlflTOBT 80CIETT. 208

the intervening growth has caused the old segments to become somewhat
twisted in regard to each other, and, as in the preceding instances in
Euastrum, it has assumed a direction at right angles to the axis of the
older segments. The last sketch (Fig. 15), which represents a second in-
stance met with by me of this phenomenon in the same species, shows
that the lateral extremity to the right is really what ought to have been
normally the new segment on a line with the lower older segment, and
that projecting to the left the same for the upper, by reason of the fresh
accession to the massof endochrome, with its central series of corpuscles,
being continued in an uninterrupted, curved manner from each of the
older segments into the new. But the new laterally projecting segments
do not in either instance form an equally armed cross, for what is want-
ing in their length as well as breadth, as compared with the old, goes
to make up a somewhat quadrate central inflation. Tetmemorus not
being a compressed form like Euastrum, there is not the same opportu-
nity for the change of plane of growth shown by the case in that genus
(Fig. 12), but that the new growth has assumed a slight twist, is shown
by the different relative positions of the terminal emarginations.

The first figure of an abnormal Tetmemorus (Fig. 14) shows another
state, though not bearing any connexion with the curious aberration of
the external form, and that is the disposition of the cell- contents. The
entire endochrome has become transformed into four green and four
brown bodies, the latter the smaller, and smooth in outline. This,
however, does not appear to have any dependence on the external ab-
normal condition, for I have frequently noticed the same transformation
of the cell-contents, especially in this species, in the ordinary normally
formed individual, as well as in many other species — for instance, in
Tetmemorus Icdvis, Micrasterias denttculata, Euasti-um didelta^ several
Closteria, and many others ; and often to the entire absorption of the
cell-contents to produce these spore-like bodies. In Tetmemorus Brehi^
sonii I have seen from one to a dozen or so of these bodies, more oft^i
four only, sometimes green, sometimes red, and sometimes alternately
red and green. I have not been able to see any further development of
those spore-like bodies. The abnormal specimen from which the figure
was taken I kept on a slide moistened for many weeks, but no alteration
took place in this or any other respect, save that the red bodies, from
being undefined, grew more and more smooth in outline. These are,
doubtless, similar productions to those figured in the ** British Desmi-
dia)," Plate IV., Fig./, as occurring in Desmidium Stcart&ii, There,
however, there is but one spore- like body formed in each joint. I have
myself met with this species in the state so admirably figured in Rolfs ;
and though I kept the specimens for some time living, no further altera-
tion took place beyond the decay of the old filament ; and the spore-
like bodies themselves subsequently perished. Bodies, which I suppose
are of a similar nature, as is well known, are occasionally met with in
species of Spirogyra, and which, as here, not being the result of conju-
gation, are formed by either a portion or the whole of the green contents
of a single joint being absorbed in their production, and are spherical

210 DITBLIN NATTRAL HISTOEY SOCIETY.

and spinous. My friend, Mr. Edward Crowe, lately showed me speci-
mens of Zygnema, in which the entire cell-contents of many joints of the
filaments had become consolidated into a globose or somewhat pear-shaped
and smooth spore-like body, which, by expansion in one direction
towards one side, eventually burst through the boundary- wall, emerg-
ing into the surrounding water by the rupture thus effected. Mr. Crowe
informs me that he was not able to trace their ultimate destiny, as they
indeed perished before undergoing any further development. It is pro-
bable that these bodies, both in the Desmidians to which I have above
alluded, as well as the similar productions in the above-mentioned Zyg-
nemacse, in each case formed without conjugation, are Gonidia, by which
the organisms may be severally propagated. It may not be out of place
to mention here that I have several times noticed in Closterium lunula
the entire cell-contents transformed into a dense longitudinal series of
flask-shaped bodies, with their narrow necks projecting to the outer
wall, j)recisely similar to those figured by Carter (''Annals of JS'atural
History," 2nd series, vol. xvii., p. 114, Plate IX., Fig. 9), as occurring
in Spirogyra, also by Henfrey (''Quart. Journ. Mic. Sci.," vol. vii., p. 27,
PI. III., Fig. 12), as occurring in his Chlorosphcera Oliveri, equivalent,
I think, to Eremosphoera viridis (de Bary) ; and I imagine also the same
as the unicellular alga mentioned by Hofmeister in his paper " On the
Reproduction of the Desmidiae and Diatomeae," translated in " Annals of
Natural History" (vol. i., 3rd series, p. 1, January, 1858). In my spe-
cimens of Closterium lunula alluded to, the longitudinal mass of these
flask-shaped bodies more than once has suggested to me the hanks of
onions as seen hanging up in the market. I have never seen them,
however, to produce what Professor Henfrey considered the spermato-
zoids in his Chlorosphaera, which plant, as I have before elsewhere stated
("Natural History Eeview," vol. v., p. 258), though then without know-
ing that De Bary and Henfrey had named it, is of common occurrence in
our district. Another curious growth in the interior of Closterium lunula
I would just notice. I refer to the production, within the otherwise
empty frond, of a slender jointed filament, contorted and twisted in
every direction, and occasionally inosculating ; the joints without any
apparent contents, save a very few green granules, scattered at conside-
rable intervals. This I should imagine a parasitic growth, possibly at
the expense of the original cell contents, though it is questionable how
the germ could find an entrance into the apparently uninjured ceU. Such
I also thought the flask-shaped bodies above mentioned, until I met with
Professor Henfrey' s remarks on the phenomenon in Chlorosphaera, nor
does it quite appear that his conjecture is altogether proven.

Before attempting, in a measure, to account for the above described
curious external aberrations from the normal form, it will, I think, be
well briefly to draw attention to the mode of division in this family of
Desmidiaceae. So far as I can make out, there can be little doubt that
in these plants the first step in the process of division is the formation
of a septum at the central space or isthmus, whereupon the segments
become gradually removed more distant from each other by the growth

DXTBLIlf NATURAL HI8T0RT 80CTETT. 211

of a new cell- wall being interposed between them, eventually fonning
two new segments. At first the new growth is simple in outline, and
pale in colour, but afterwards assumes the characteristic, more or less
complex form and degree of tint of the species, and becomes filled with
endochrome, exactly similar to the older segments ; in the free species
separation taking place, each older segment bearing with it a new one,
to replace that from which it has been separated by the above-mentioned
process of growth. According to Hofineister {loc. ctL), '* the new
halves are at first lined only by the protruded portions of the pellicle of
the contents belonging to the older half cells," and '4t is the margin of
the half shells which constitute the rings evident in many species, e. g.,
Closterium, Docidium," &c. I believe that the portion of each new
segment first formed to be the end-lobe, beneath which, at each side, are
then gradually evolved the lateral lobes. Nor can it be that certain spe-
cimens in Micrasterias and Euastrum, occasionally met with, are more
than an apparent exception to this, in which the end-lobe is not only
seemingly absent, but in which, in its place, a more or less deep sinus
exists. For I should think the phenomenon referred to is due to the
arrest of growth of the end-lobe, and which, not keeping pace with the
expansion of the lateral lobes, is left behind, thus producing the sinus.

I would here like to remark, parenthetically, that I do not find
that Hofineister, in his paper alluded to, makes any reference to
the circumstance of there being, occasionally at least, cast off, imme-
diately after division, from each of the new segments a loose trans-
parent coat, sometimes looking almost like two empty segments, with
their ends towards each other, or back to back. What I refer to is well
shown by Mrs. Herbert Thomas {loc. cit., Plate V., Figs. 13 and 21) in
the object of her study, Cosmartum margaritiferum and C. Thwaitesii.
I have seen similar in other species, especially smooth ones, such as Cos-
marium Ralfsiiy Cosmarium undulatum, &c. It does not appear to me
evident what this pellicle-like production may be. It seems to me to
be possibly only, as it were, the matrix of gelatine formed during the
act of division and fresh growth, which may have become denser and
firmer, and from which the fronds then emerging and leaving it behind,
give rise to a membranous appearance with the doubly cup-shaped
outline ; or it may possibly be a secretion deposited superficially during
growth, even more comparable than the usual gelatinous investment to
what in the higher plants is called ** cuticle," and which in them is oc-
casionally separable by peculiar treatment. In the growing Desmidians
referred to, this investing pellicle-like production, however, does not
extend beyond the new segments, ceasing at the sutures. It is some-
times particularly remarkable in Docidium (in D, clavatum I have no-
ticed it), because it forms two lengthened tubes (each, indeed, as long as
one of the new segments, and closely applied thereto), in apposition at the
closed ends and open at the opposite, from out of which the fix)nd8 are
to emerge, and indistinguishable till the process has commenced. This
may be witnessed under the microscope during its accomplishment,
when it is seen that near the open ends the cast-off tube is of a slightly

2o

212 DUBLIN NATURAL HI8T0ET SOCIETY.

undulated outline; in fact, a cast from the new segments. In this
species the segments appear to me to possess one or two slight basal
inflations, though described as with only one in " British Desmidiae." I
believe it, however, to be quite distinct from D. Ehrenlergii. — Whether
a hyaline pellicle-like investment, sometimes met with, entirely sur-
rounding certain single individuals, and apparently like a loose tunic,
is anything analogous to the above-mentioned production, I cannot pre-
tend to say ; but I have occasionally seen such in some species, — for
example, Euastrum didelta. This involving cyst does not follow the
boundary of the form, but is of a rounded or oval outline, and generally,
when I have noticed it, the contained frond seemed to have lost vitality,
the endochrome being brownish. What I allude to is not to be mistaken
for the gelatinous investment surrounding the frond in so many Desmi-
dian species, being altogether different from anything of the sort seen
in fresh specimens. Possibly, like the former, it may be due to its con-
solidation— here producing, by a process of superficial condensation, as
it were, a kind of skin, from beneath which the intervening gelatinous
substance has been absorbed. I hazard such a conjecture the more, be-
cause something very like this seems actually to occur in some species
of Gloeocapsa, or allied forms, in which the concentric gelatinous layers
seem to harden into so many frangible investments.

In the foregoing very brief account of the mode of ceU-di vision
which occurs in this family, it will be noticed that I look upon the
formation of a septam at the isthmus as the preliminary or initial step
in the process. Now it appears to me that the accompanying figures
represent individuals, which, having taken on them the vegetative
growth, or effort to repeat themselves by transverse division, through
some inexplicable cause have omitted the formation of a septum. This
not having taken place simultaneously with the vegetative activity being
aroused, which, being in full energy, proceeded to the development of
new growth, which, according to the law which prevails in this family,
took place, as usual, between the older segments, in consequence, there-
fore, the resulting formation in each case consisted of but one cavity,
and fresh endochrome being formed, they each became entirely fiUed.
Nor do I think some instances lately under observation, and to which I
will just allude, are a contradiction to this. Specimens of Penium
cylindrus, to all appearance perfectly healthy, and manifestly under-
going growth, lately occurred to me ; of these, a few individuals pre-
sented themselves, in which various stages of the new growth, produced
in the usual manner in this species on a line with the older segments,
had been accomplished, in some cases the fronds having attained to
double the ordinary length — but in none of the instances referred to
was any appearance of a septum evident. That the fronds had added
to their length by recent new growth was proved by its usual colourless
cell- wall, as compared vn\h. the red-tinted older segments. That there
was no septum was proved by the granular particles partaking of a cir-
culatory motion at and past the central point ; and indeed, when present,
it is readily seen as a transverse line. No further alteration took place

DUBLIN NATimAL DISTOEY SOCIETT. 213

in these specimens kept for some time on a slide. Notwithstanding
their not very unusual appearance, for the absence of the central septum
was not very striking, and might not be noticed at first sight, unless
closely looked into, as well as there being no external aberration in form,
it appears to me that the specimens of Penium cylindrus alluded to were
so many illustrations of the same abnormal mode of growth, extreme
cases of which I have tried to depict in the drawings. For I cannot
easily understand, without the original separation of the primordial
utricle with the contents, and the formation round it at the ends of new
cell- wall, how an articulation could exist to allow of the ultimate sepa-
ration into two fronds of the old segments with the portion that should
appertain to each of the newly grown structure.

What causes the change in the direction of the axis of growth in
the specimens represented by some of the figures, does not appear to me
so readily to be accounted for. In each case I should suppose the plant
would cease to grow, and the abnormal individual perish, unless, indeed,
each or any might be supposed to possess the power of afterwards fonn-
ing a septum at the suture connecting the newly- grown portion with
the older segments, a second new growth becoming then interposed, and
the central misshapen structure thus becoming eliminated.

Mr. Horatio Yeates sent for exhibition to the Society a new micro-
scope-stand of his construction, and in his absence it was kindly brought
forward and shown to the meeting by the Rev. Eugene O'Meara, who
drew attention to the modifications adopted, and explained their pur-
pose. This is an exceedingly simple and ingenious little instrument,
supplied with a rotatory stage, and combining its advantages with that
of obviating any necessity for centering. The compound body is firmly
attached by an oblique arm to the mai'gin of the rotatory stage, and,
revolving adong with it, the optical axis of the instrument thus alwaj-s
remains in the same relative position in regard to the object. The mir-
ror is attached to a radius bar fixed at the back of the stage, thus afibrd-
ing any degree of obliquity of light, and permitting its use above the
stage for opaque objects. The stage does not possess vertical or trans-
verse movements, but these, if required, could readily be added ; and,
doubtless, amongst the recommendations possessed by this instrument,
tliere might be counted the greater cheapness with which it could be
produced, as compared with much larger microscopes, of higher preten-
sions, involving costly contrivances for accomplishing the foregoing ends.

Mr. Sanders said he had been much pleased by an inspection of
Mr. Yeates' new stand, which, not only from its simplicity, but from its
apparent adaptation to the purposes in view, seemed calculated to become
very valuable to the microscopist. It had always been a desideratum in
several departments of research, to be able to cause the object to revolve
so as to expose each side of it successively to the light; but which, owing to
the inevitable imperfection of even the best workmanship, was difficult
to accomplish without involving much trouble and loss of time in ad-
justing the centering of the body of the instrument in regard to the ob-

214 DTTBLIN NATURAL HISTOBT SOCIETY.

ject. The plan employed in that shown to-night by Mr. Yeates seemed
to obviate this altogether ; and, even should there be a slight defect in
the concentricity of the rotatoiy movement of the stage, the compound
body revolving along with it, would, as it were, follow the error (even
supposing it to exist), thus fulfilling the end in view more successfully,
and without the inconvenience of any contrivance for centering.

A vote of thanks was then passed to Mr. Yeates for his kindness in
bringing forward his microscope before the Society.

A ballot then took place, when the following gentlemen were declared
duly elected as Ordinary Members : — Professor Cameron, M. D., and
"William "White, Esq., Rathmines ; and as Corresponding Member, the
Rev. Robert Vickers Dixon, A. M., Ex-F.T.C.D., Cloghemey Rectory,
Dungannon.

The President, in offering a few brief words before adjourning, took
occasion to thank the Society at large for the support tendered, and the
courtesy extended towards him since he occupied the chair, as well as
for the readiness evinced, when necessary, to uphold the dignity of the
Society, while he congratulated them upon so successful a session as re-
gards the importance and interest of the papers read before them at the
General Meetings. He then adjourned the Society to the first Friday
in November.

Z APR. 1901

INDEX TO VOL. 11.

Actinoida, Professor J. R. Greene's Obser-
vations on the distribution of, with a List

of Irish species recorded, 75.
Address of President on the death of Robert

Ball, LL. D., 86.
Adiantum Capillus- Veneris, Right Hon.

J. Wynne's Record of the Occurrence of

in the county of Leitrim, 16.
Mdop Prawn (Pandalus), Professor J. R.

Kinahan on a new Irish, 79.
Akera bullata, Dr. Charies Farran on, 21.
Amphipod, T. Spence Bate, F. L. S., on a

new Irish, 58.
Andrews, William, M. R. I. A., on the Oc-
currence of Thecla Betulas, 17.-
Notes on the Ornithology of Co.

Kerry, 5).
record of the occurrence of the Ber-

gylt and Greenland Bull Head on the

Irish coast, 61.
Notes on the Fishes of the western

coasts, and record of the occurrence of

the Boar Fish (Capros aper) in the Iri.sh

seas, 104.
on the distinctive habits of Hymen-

ophyllum, 171.

further remarks on, 174, 193.

Annual Report of Council, 1856-7, 1 ;

1857-8, 67; 1858-9,123.
Anthozoids in Pleurosigma Spencerii, Rev.

E. O'Meara on the occurrence of, 108.
Archbishop of Dublin, his Grace the, on the

song of ti.e Butcher Bird, 4.
Archer, William, description of two new

species of Staurastrum (Meyen), 199.
■■ notice of some cases of abnormal

growth in the Desmidiace«, 207.
Associate members, 65.

Bate, T. Spence, F. L. S., on a new Irish
Ampbi()od, 58.

Bats in Ireland, Professor J. R. Einahan'a
general review of the history of, 154.

Bergylt, or Norway Haddock, William An-
drews on the, 61.

Birds, G. H.-Kinahan, G. S. I., Cor. Mem.,
on the remarkable destruction caused by
the winter of 1854-5 amongst, 147.

Boar Fish (Capros aper) in the Irish seas,
W. Andrews on the occurrence of, 104.

Butcher Bird, his Grace the Archbishop of
Dublin on the song of, 4.

Capros aper. Vi'ie Boar Fish.

Carboniferous fossils obtained near Coric,
Joseph Wright's list of, 150.

Carcinological Notes, Professor A. G. Mel-
ville's list of Crustacea podophthalmia
of Gal way marine district, 41.

Cinclus aquaticus. Vide Water Ouzel.

Clermont, Lord, on the occurrence of the
Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus) near
Dundalk, 19-

Notes on the capture of a Mute Swan

(Cygnus olor) in Dundalk Bay, 84.

Colias edusa in the county of Waterford,
R. P. Williams on the occurrence of, 17.

Cottus Greenlandicus on the Irish coast,
W. Andrews on the occurrence of, 61.

Crangon, Profe^isor J. R Kinahan on a new
species of (C. Allmanni), 27.

Crustacea, Decapodous, occurring at Va-
lentia, Professor J. U. Kinahan on, 9.

Professor Kinahan's Notes of Non-
descript ; and observations of Podoph-
thalmia of the eastern or Dublin district
of Ireland, 27.

11

INDEX.

Crustacea, Professor A. G. Melville's list of
Crustacea podophthalmia of Galway ma-
rine district, 41.

- Professor Kinahan's Notes on Profes-
sor Melville's " Carcinological Notes,"
with supplement to his list of Dublin
Crustacea, 43.

on the distribution of species of, 43.

supplemental list of Dublin species,

45.
addendum to the supplemental list of

the Dublin, 58.
T. Spence Bate, F. L. S., on a new

Amphipod, 68.
— — remarks on the Zoe of Eurynome as-

pera, and the habits of the animal in

confinement, 77.
on the genera Philoscia (Latreille) ;

Itea (Koch) ; Philougria (Kin.) ; with

description of new British species, 110.

on the genus Scorpionura (J. V.

Thompson), 118.

notes on dredging in Belfast Bay,

128.

review of Terrestrial Isopoda — Ap-
pendix.

Cuscuta. Fide Dodder.

Cygnus olor. Vide Mute Swan.

Desmidiacese, Rev. R. V. Dixon, Ex-
F. T. C. D., on a new genus and species
of, and on the arrangement of the ge-
nera and species of Micrasterias and
Euastrum in the, 202. •

William Archer's notice of some

cases of abnormal growth in the, 207.

Diatomacese. Vide Anthozoids.

Dixon, Rev. Robert V., Ex-F. T. C. D., on

a new genus and species in the Desmidi-

aceae, with remarks on the arrangement

of the genera and species of Micrasterias

and Euastrum, 202.
Dodder Plant (Cuscuta epithymum), J. B.

Doyle on the, 117.
Dombrain, J. R., on the occurrence of the

Rose Ouzel (Pastor roseus) near Dublin,

16.
Doyle, J. B., on some peculiarities of the

Dodder Plant (Cuscuta epithymum),

117.
Dredging in Belfast Bay, Prof. Kinahan's

notes on, with list of species, 128.
Dublin, his Grace the Archbishop of, on

the song of the Butcher Bird, 4.
Du Noyer, G. V., on a remarkable form of

Echinus (E.lividus?), 57.

Echinodermata, Professor J. R. Kinahan on
the distribution of the Irish, 141.

Echinus (E. lividus?), G. V. Du Noyer on
a remarkable form of, 57.

Election of members, 4, 17, 26, 35, 51, 65,
57, 74, 84, 90. 104, 116, 121, 127, 138,
144, 147, 196, 214.

Euomphalus, Rev. Professor Haughton on
the genus, and its relations to Pleuroto-
maria and the Heliotidae, 63.

Eurynome aspera, Professor J. R. Kina-
han's remarks on the Zoe of, and the
habits of the animal in confinement,
77.

Farran, Dr. Charles, on the occurrence of
the Marbled Swimming Crab (Portunus
marmoreus) at Birtirbie bay, Conne-
mara, 5.

on Akera bullata, 21.

Fauna, Professor J. R. Greene's additions
to the Irish, 107.

Ferns in Ireland, Professor J. R. Kinahan
on the distribution of, with a list of some
of the more remarkable localities in
which they occur, 91.

Foot, F. J., M. A., G. S. I., description of
Balliallia Cave, Ennis, with account of
discovery there of the Lesser Horse- shoe
Bat, 152.

notes on the fresh water MoUusca

in the neighbourhood of Ennis ; and the
relation between those now living there
in the lakes and those fossilized in the
marl ; with observations on the acci-
dental presence of marine species, 196.

Fossil Flora of the Lower Carboniferous
beds of Ireland, Rev. S. Haughton's il-
lustrations of the, 122.

Frazer, Dr. W., on Fungi adhering to old
trees under a bog near Tralee, 34.

on disease in Hyacinth roots, 38.

Fungi, Dr. Frazer's remarks on, 34.

Grebe, Eared, near Dundalk, Lord Cler-
mont on the occurrence of, 19.

Greene, Professor J. Rea y, on the distribu-
tion of Actinoida, with list of Irish spe-
cies recorded, 75.

addition to Irish Fauna, 107.

Greenland Bull Head, Wm. Andrews on,
61.

Harvey, Wm. II., M. D., F. R. S., on Lo-
nicera xylosteum, an addition to the
Irish Flora, 56.

remarks on the British Hymenophyl-

lum, 187.

Haughton, Rev. Professor, F. R. S., on the
genus Euomphalus, and its relations to
Pleurotomaria and the Haliotidae, 63.

INDEX.

Ill

Haughton Rev. S., Ulustrationfl of the Fos-
sil Flora of the Lower Carbonirerous beds
122.

on some Fossil Pyramidellida from

the Carboniferous limestone of Cork and
Clonmel, 139.

Hooker, Sir VV. J., letter to W. Andrews,
Esq., on the British Hyraenophylla, 194.

Hyacinth roots, Dr. Frazer on disease in,
88.

Hymenophyllum, W. Andrews on the dis-
tinctive habits of the British, 171.

further remarks on, 174, 193.

Professor Kinahan's remarks on, 179,

192.

Dr. E. Perceval Wright on, 183.

Professor W. H. Harvey on, 187.

Sir W. J. Hooker on, 194.

Kinahan, Geo. H., G. S. I., description of
a Starling roost at Batlikeale, county of
Limerick, 88.

on the remarkable destruction

caused amongst birds in Kerry by the
winterof 1854-5, 147.

Kinahan, Professor John Kobert,

M.D., F. L.S., on Xantho rivulosa and
other Decapadous Crustacea occurring at
Valentia Island, county of Kerry, 9.

on a Crangon new to science, with

notices of other nondescript Crustacea,
and observations on the distribution of
the Podophthalraia, 27.

notes on Professor Melville's paper,

" Carcinological Notes," with a supple-
ment to list of Dublin Crustacea, 43.

on a remarkable variety of Tricho-

manes radicans, 55.
Addendum to supplemental Dublin

list of Crustacea, 58.

remarks on the Zoe of Eurynome

aspera, and the habits of the animal in
confinement, 77.

on the occurrence of a new vEsop

Prawn (Pandalus) in Dublin Bay, 79.

on the subaqueous habits of the

Water Ouzel (Cinclus aquations), 86.

on the distribution of Ferns in Ire-
land, with list of some of the more re-
markable localities in which they occur,
91.

on the genera Philoscia (I^treille),

Itea (Koch), Philougria (Kinahan),
comprising descriptions of new British
species, 110.

on the genus Scorpionura (J. V.

Thompson), 118.

note on Pandalus Jeffrevsii, 121.

note on Pagurus Eblanensis, 121.

Kinahan, Professor J. R, note on dredging
in BelfaHtBay, with a list of species, 128.

. on the distribution of the Irish Echi-
nodermata, 141.

on the tracings formed on recent

rock surfaces by Patella vulgaris and
other Molluscs, 145.

Mammalogia Hibemics, Part I., sub-
class, Dissencephala ; order. Cheirop-
tera, Insectivoridao ; or, a general review
of the history and distribution of Bats in
Ireland, 154.

remarks on Hymenophyllum, 179,

192.

on the genift Raniceps, and on the

occurrence of the Tadpole Fish in Dublin
Bay, 197.

review of terrestrial Isopoda — Appen-
dix.

Lanius collurio. Fide Butcher Bird.
I Lonicera xylosteum, an addition to Irish
I Flora, Professor Harvey on, 56.

Mammalogia Hibernica, Part I. (a general
i review of the history of Bats in Ii^nd),
i 154.

i Marbled Swimming Crab, at Birtirbie Bay,
I Dr. C. Farran on the occurrence of, 5.
! Melville, Professor A. G., M. D., " Carci-
t nological Notes,'' being a list of theCrus-
; tacea podopbthalmia of Galway marine
! districts, made chiefly in 1850,41
' Members, list of (1857), 66.
! Mollusca, fresh water, in the neighbour-
hood of Ennis, &c., F.J. Foot on the, 196

Montgomery, Rol)ert John, on peculiarities
I in the habits of the Starling (Sturnus
i vulgaris), 82.

Mute Swan in Dundalk Bay, Lord Cler^
I mont, notes on the capture of, 84.
I discussion on the, 81.

Notodonta bicolora, a newly-discovered
moth in Ireland, Adam White, F. L. S.,
I on, 137.
Nudibranchiata, Dr. E. Perceval Wright,
notes on the Irish, 135.

Officers for 1866-7, 8; 1867-8, 74;
1858-9, 126.

0*Meara, Rev. Eugene, on the occurrence
of Anthozoids in Pleurosigma Spencerii,
108.

Ornithology of county of Kerry, W. An-
drews, notes on, 61.

Pagunis Eblanensis, Professor J. R. Kint-
han, notes on, 121.

IT

INDEX.

Panilalus, Professor Kinahan on a new
Irish, 79.

— — JefFreysii, Professor Kinahan, note
on, 121.

Pastor roseus, near Dublin, J. R. Dora-
brain on the occurrence of, 16.

Pleurosigma Spencerii, Rev. Eugene
O'Meara, on the occurrence of Antho-
zoids in, 108.

Podiceps auritus near Dundalk, Lord Cler-
mont on the occurrence of, 19-

Popular meeting, 26.

Portunus marmoreus (Marbled swimming
Crab), at Birtirbie Bay, Dr. C. Farran
on the occurrence of,^.

PyramidellidsB from the Carboniferous
limestone of Cork and Clonmel, Rev. S.
Haughton, on, 139.

Raniceps, Professor Kinahan on the genus,

197.
Rhinolophus hipposideros, F. J. Foot,

G. S. I., description of Balliallia Cave,

with account of the discovery there of,

152.
Report of Council, 1856-7, 2 ; 1857-8,

€7; 1858-9, 153.
Rules, 63.

Scorpionura (J. V. Thompson), Professor
Kinahan on the genus, 118.

Sebastes Norvegicus on the Irish coast, W.
Andrews on the occurrence of, 61.

Starling, R. J. Montgomery on pecu-
liarities in the habits of, 82.

roost, G. H. Kinahan, description of

a, 88.

Staurastrum (Meyen), Wm. Archer, de-
scription of two new species of, 199.

Sturnus vulgaris. Fide Starling.

Tadpole Fish (Raniceps trifurcatus), in

Dublin Bay, Professor J. K. Kinahan

on, 197.
Tetrachastrum, a new genus in the Desnii-

diacese. Rev. R. V. Dixon on, 203.
Thecla Betula3 in Kerry, W Andrews on

the occurrence of, 17.
Trichomanes radicans. Professor Kinaha

on a remarkable variety of, 56.
Tracings formed on recent rock surfaces,

by Patella vulgaris and other Molluscs,

Professor Kinahan on, 145.

Water Ouzel, Professor J. R. Kinahan on

the subaqueous habits of, 86.

White, Adam, F. L. S , on a newly-disco-
vered Moth in Ireland (Notodonta bico-
lora), 137.

Williams, R. P., M. R. I. A., on the oc-
currence of Colias edusa in county of
Waterford, 17.

Wright, Dr. E. Perceval, F. L. S., notes on
Irisli Nudibranchiata, 135.

— remarks on the British Hymeno-

phvllum, 183.

Wright, Joseph, list of Carboniferous fossils
obtained near Cork, 150.

Wynne, Right Hon. John, record of the
occurrence of Adiantum Capillus- Veneris
in county of Leitrim, 16.

Xantho rivulosa and other Decapodous
Crustacea at Valentia, Professor Kinahan
on the occurrence of, 9.

Zoe of Eurynome aspera, Professor Kina-
han on, 77.

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