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PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN,

FOR THE

SESSIONS 1859-1862,

(INCLUSIVE. )

0 Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the
earth is full of thy riches.—Psaum ciy. 24.

VOL. Hl.

DUBLIN :
Riot NPE Deen, “hae: §.0' CBE TY,
BY M. H. GILL.
1863.

PROCEEDINGS

OF

NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN.

SESSION 1859-1860.

ANNUAL STATED MEETING, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2, 1859.
Rozert Catitwett, M.R.1.A., in the Chair.

Tue previous Minutes were read and signed.

The ballot for Officers for the ensuing Session having been opened,
the Secretary read the Report of Council for the past Session. By
this it appeared that six ordinary members and one honorary member,
. had been lost, and that eleven ordinary members, eight associate and
corresponding members, and one honorary member, had been elected.
The number of Members on the Treasurer’s books amount to—

Ordinary Members, . . iia tS ar eek O00)
Corresponding and ‘Associate, SW kvlestuy emeyKeo
Honorary Members...) 5) .0\. 1 4 sce?) TA

etal, sebs Fue. ar) olen ae ee

The Proceedings for 1858-59, completing Volume II., was ready
for distribution among the Members, the Index and Title-page of which
will appear with the back Proceedings, which will be distributed early
in 1860. The Report was adopted.

The Treasurer submitted his account, which showed an expenditure
for the current year, exclusive of printing Proceedings for 1858-59,
amounting to £93 14s. 1d. Thereceipts for the same period amounted
to £98 15s., and £10 to Reserve Fund.

The Scrutineers having presented their report of the ballot, the
Chairman declared the following duly elected as Officers :—

Parron.—His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin.

Presipent.— William Andrews, M. R.I.A.

Vicr-Prestpents.—Sir Edward R. Borough, Bart., M.R.I.A.; Ro-
bert Callwell, M.R.I.A.; C.P. Croker, M.D., M.R.I. A.; Rev. Samuel
Haughton, F.T.C.D. MR.LA., BRS

N, H. 80C. PROC.

2 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Councrt.—H. M. Barton; F.W. Brady; James R. Dombrain; William
Frazer, M.D.; Rev. J. A. Galbraith, F.T.C.D., M.R.I.A.; Samuel
Gordon, M.D., M.R.I. A.; William Hodges; Cathcart Lees, M.D.; Rev.
Eugene O’Meara; George B. Owens, M. D.; Gilbert Sanders, M.R. I. A.;
Professor R. W. Smith, M. D., M.R.1I.A.; H. T. Vickers.

TREASURER.—R. P. Williams, M.R. I. A.

Director or Museum.—Robert J. Montgomery.

Srecreraries.—J. R. Kinahan, M. D., F.L. 8., M. R. I. A.; William
Archer.

The meeting having been declared special, the following recommen-
dation of Council was submitted :—

That the following addition be made to the By-Laws, Rule XIV. :—

Proposed by J. R. Kinahan, M. D., seconded by R. P. Williams, and
passed, nem. con.—N on-resident Members, living more than ten miles from
Dublin, may compound for life on payment of Five Pounds; such Mem-
bers afterwards becoming resident for two months in a year to pay a
subscription of Ten Shillings for each such year, or, at their option, to
pay a further composition of Five Pounds.

The following were then declared duly elected :—

Ordinary Members:—E. P. Mason, M. D., York-street; William
Maziere; Andrew H. Bagot.

Honorary Member :—Robert Patterson, F.R.S., M. RI. A., Belfast.

The Meeting then adjourned to the 2nd of December.

FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 2, 1859,

Ropert Cattwetzt, M.R. I. A., Vick-PRestpEnt, in the Chair.

Tne previous Minutes were read and signed.

The following were presented to the Museum :—

Death’s-head moth (A. atropos), captured at Portlaw, county of Wa-
terford, on the 7th September, 1859; presented by James Martin, M.D.,
Corresponding Member.

Convolvulus Sphinx (S. convolvulc), captured at Killiney, county of
Dublin, August, 1859; presented by Joseph O’Kelly, A. B., Geological
Survey of Ireland, Corresponding Member.

Black tern (Sterna mgra), shot at Moyville, county of Mayo, and
Richardson’s skua (L. Richardsonir), from the same locality; presented
by Robert Warren, Esq., Jun., Ballina, Corresponding Member.

Common crayfish (Palinurus vulgaris), captured at Dalkey Sound,
county of Dublin; from D. J. . Corrigan, M.D., M.R.I.A.

Tur Secretary read the following communication—

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF RARE BIRDS, AND OF THE OBLONG SUNFISH, IN THE
COUNTY OF MAYO.
* Moyview, Ballina, December 1, 1859,
“My prar Dr. Krnanan,—I write to ask you to be so kind as to
mention to the Natural History Society, at their next meeting, the oc-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 3

currence of the undermentioned Birds, which are, according to my per-
sonal observation, of rare occurrence either in the counties of Sligo or
Mayo :—

‘‘ Black-tailed godwit (Zimosa melanura).—One observed late in last
March on the sands near the Island Bartra, on the Moy. A pair were
observed about three years previously, in the winter, near the same place.

“Great shearwater (Pufinus maor).—One in immature plumage
was washed in dead (but quite fresh) on the north coast of Mayo, be-
tween Downpatrick Head and Ballycastle, on the 22nd of last August.

“* Black tern (Sterna nigra).—Three birds were observed on the 12th
of last October, near the mouth of the Moy, between Bartra and the
sand-banks on the Sligo side of the river. My attention was first drawn
to them by their very peculiar style of flight when hawking after insects
near the surface of the water; and the very rapid short twists and turns
which they made on the wing caused me to think at first that they were
some young birds at play; however, after observing them for some time,
I could not make out to what species they belonged, and in order to sa-
tisfy myself as to their identity I shot a pair, when I at once saw that
they were the black tern. It is not improbable that they may have been
bred on some of the many unexplored mountain and bog lakes of Mayo ;
but, as far as my observation goes, they are exceedingly rare, never
having seen but one other bird of the species in this neighbourhood,
although I keep a pretty sharp look-out for such visitants.

“ Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris).—A fine specimen of this bird
paid us a visit on the 21st November, and regaled himself on the scarlet
berries of a creeper attached to the wall of the house; his tameness was
surprising, for the shrub on which he fed was within a foot of the par-
lour window, and close to the front door, and he allowed me to approach
within four or five feet, from which distance I was enabled to observe
him for some minutes while feeding.

‘¢T would also wish to record the occurrence of the Oblong Sunfish
(Orthagoriscus oblongus) on the north coast of Mayo, near Downpatrick
Head. On the 22nd of last August I went with some friends to view
the scenery of the Head and adjacent coast from a boat, as it looks much
finer from the water ; and as we were rowing, about a quarter of a mile
from the shore, I observed what I thought was the dorsal fin of a shark
appearing over the water, about twenty yards from the boat, but, on ap-
proaching nearer, it proved to be the hind fin of a sunfish ; and as he
was rolling along, sometimes on the top of the water, a friend who was
with me (Dr. Ford) fired, and put a rifle-ball nearly through the centre
of the fish’s body, but, owing to the awkwardness of the boatmen, we
were unable to secure him before he sank. He was about four and a half
feet long, and agreed in appearance with the drawing in Yarrell.

‘‘T remain yours sincerely,

”»

“ RopERT WARREN, JUN.

4 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOOIETY.

Dominiok J. Connraan, M. D., read the following :—

ON SOME STRUCTURAL PECULIARITIES OF THE MOUTH IN THD PIPE-FISHES
(SYNGNATHIDZ).

( Vide Woodcut, post.)

Tuer specimen of the Syngnathus before us is dried so as to preserve
and show a very beautiful apparatus which exists under the lower jaw,
and which I have not seen exhibited in any of the museum specimens
that have come under my observation, nor have I seen it described.
The apparatus to which I allude is, what may be called, a ‘‘ Derrick
mechanism’ for enlarging the opening of the mouth, and widening the
throat in the act of swallowing.

As the Syngnathus is generally drawn or preserved in museums (fig.1),
the under line of the jaw is nearly horizontal, the under line of the profile
deviating little from the horizontal, and showing no projection; and,
looked at in a vivarium, the aspect of the fish is the same, and the only
motion usually perceptible about the jaw is that of the singular-looking
fleshy, lip-like lower jaw, which projects upwards from the extremity,
with its valve-like action, opening slightly to admit water for respiration,
and then closing, to aid the action of the tubular jaw in driving the
water backwards through the gills; but this limited motion would not
suffice for taking in food, and hence, when the Syngnathus is about to
swallow, the action of the mechanism I shall now describe is brought
into play. Ifthe dried specimen be viewed laterally, a process (4, figs. 2
& 3), (glossohyal bone), about a quarter of an inch long, is seen projecting
downwards at right angles to the jaw. If, instead of the lateral view
this process be looked at in front, 1t is seen to-consist of two limbs, or
processes, like those of a derrick—one springing from the lower jaw on -
each side, and uniting at an angle in the centre (0, fig. 2). From this
point of junction, which appears to be ligamentary, an elastic tissue (@)
extends along the mesial line between the two sides of the lower jaw
to the valve-like lip, while behind a muscular tissue (c), stretches back-
wards from the point between the operculum to (f) what I believe is the
os hyoides (2). When the animal is alive, the action of this mechanism is
very beautiful. In the mere process of breathing this apparatus does
not come into view at all. It lies quite hidden within the triangular
space within the lower jaw, and fits it, and fills the space so accurately
that it is very difficult to detect it; and even in the dead specimen the
action of this elastic tissue keeps it so accurately fitted in its berth, that
it may escape a very close examination. To return, however, to the
living animal. e

When the Syngnathus is about to swallow, it draws out by mus-
cular action the point of this derrick, as we may call it, from its
receptacle. In so doing, the point of it draws with it the ligamentary
tissue extending to the lower lip until the point is drawn down, so as to be
at right angles with the jaw; the lower lip is necessarily drawn down-
wards and backwards, so as to widen the orifice of the mouth, and the
fish, with the process projecting downwards, is then such as is seen in

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 5

the dried specimen (fig.3). At the same time that the opening of the mouth
is enlarged, the capacity of the throat is widened. The long fork, or
process, “consists of two limbs, as already described, uniting at an angle
in the centre. The same muscular action which draws back the point
of junction in drawing it downwards and away from the lower jaw,
widens the whole extent of the pipe-like mouth ; but it does more than
this, for by the same action the two lips of the bony fork, or derrick, are
made to diverge; and in so doing the throat of the fish is also enlarged
laterally, and to double its former size. In an ordinary-sized ‘Syn-
enathus the jaw measures about a quarter of an inch across when the
bony fork is lying in its receptacle, but when the fork is in action and
out at its full extent at right angles to the jaw, its limbs diverge until
it separates the jaws to the extent of half an inch. The Syngnathus
may be watched a long time in confinement before the action of this ap-
paratus is seen. Sometimes one’s patience is quite worn out watching
for it; at other times the action is seen several times in a minute, and
it is then beautiful to observe with the action and projection of the bony
derrick the simultaneous drawing down of the lip and the widening of
the long pipe-like mouth and throat.

In this mechanism there is an antagonism of ligamentary and mus-
cular action, the elastic ligament drawing down and retaining the point
-of the bony fork in its receptacle within the angle of the jaw, the mus-
cular action elevating it when required to aid the action of swallowing.
In the dead animal the elastic action continuing the bony fork is re-
tained in its receptacle, and escapes observation. In the living animal,
however, this bony process and its action may be easily demonstrated,
by gently bending back the head of the fish, and raising the point of the
process with the nail or a fine edge, and it will then be seen that, while
thus retained, the mouth is opened wide, and cannot be shut.

Dr. Mayne has drawn my attention to an antagonism of muscular
action and ligamentary elasticity in the larynx of the Porpoise, similar
to that which exists in the jaw mechanism in the Syngnathus. In the
porpoise an elastic action keeps the larynx closed without any effort on
the part of the animal until it rises to breathe at the surface, when a
muscular action comes into play, and, for the moment, opens the larynx
to permit the ingress of air.

The Syngnathus is one of our most interesting fishes in a vivarium,
so singular in appearance, so different from all other order of fishes, and
0) avid in the contrast of its colours, and so cased in armour. It is at
first very wild, and, unless the vivarium be covered, will almost cer-
tainly jump over its sides; but it soon becomes reconciled to confinement,
and will, with @ turn or two of its tail, support itself on any stem placed
in the vivarium for its support; or, if there be two of them, they will
intertwine their tails in a knot, and raise their heads and long slender
bodies, side by side, towards the surface, remaining for hours i in that
posture. In the Syngnathus equoreus there is no pouch for the recep-
tion and protection of the young; but in the other specimen on the table
(Syngnathus acus), which I beg also to present to the Society, the pouch

6 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

—if it can be properly called a pouch—is well seen. It is about four
inches long, resembling a bag split down one of its sides, and with the
edges lying in apposition. I must beg of the Society to excuse any er-
rors into which I may have fallen in my observations, for my acquaint-
ance with natural history is necessarily very limited, but it happens
that I have occasionally favourable opportunities of observing the phy-
siology and habits of some of our fishes in confinement, and such ob-
servations as I have in my power I feel obliged to this Society for
receiving.

ON THE FERNS OF WEST CLARE, BEING A LIST OF THOSE GROWING WEST
OF A LINE DRAWN NORTH AND SOUTH THROUGH THE TOWN OF TULLA.
BY F. J. FOOT, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, IRELAND, CORRESPONDING MEM-
BER. -

Tue ferns mentioned in this list (twenty-two in number) are those grow-
ing in the western portion of the county of Clare, that portion being
bounded by a line drawn north and south through the town of Tulla.
f have not had an opportunity of examining the eastern part of the
county; however, as the western side of Clare has apparently, as yet,
been little explored by the botanist, a list of its ferns, with a few re-
marks on the most remarkable forms, may prove acceptable.

Polypodium vulgare, abundant everywhere in shady localities, often
on exposed faces of inland cliffs. Var. 8, serratum. This variety is re-
markable in having the pinne deeply serrated. It remains constant
under cultivation. Localities, wall near church of Kilmurry M‘Mahon,
east of Kilrush; Edenvale demesne, Ennis. Var.y, Hibernicum. This
beautiful variety grows abundantly at Edenvale. It seems to love a
shady place; the margins of the pinnules are deeply serrated. Re-
mains constant in cultivation.

P. phegopteris.— Waterfall, in townland of Glennageer, east flank
of Mount Callan, and west of Ennis.

I had the good fortune to discover P. phegopteris last spring in the
above locality. The waterfall is about 15 to 20 feet high, and faces the
east. The fern grows luxuriantly under the projecting ledge of rock
which forms the fall, and also on the side of the gorge or little ravine
below. Its chief companions are Osmunda regals and Last. recurva.
It is rather an exposed situation, very different from the shady Killar-
ney locality, west of Tore, and yet I did not see any plants at the latter
place as large as some of those which grow at Glennageer. I carefully
examined all the other ravines in the neighbourhood, but without
success.

Lastrea oreopteris.—Locality—Stream, boundary townlands of Cloo-
nulla and Gortnaha, on the north side of the road, about two miles west
of Killadysart; also on the side of th¥ old road south of Clondegad. In
the former locality the plant grows in great abundance; in the latter I
only found one plant. It may, I think, be considered rare in this
county.

L. filie mas.—Generally abundant.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY. z

L. dilatata—Ditto, ditto. The form of this fern varies considerably
with the situation.

L. recurva (Bree’s Fern).—This graceful fern grows in quantities in
almost every ravine in the coal-measure formation. It seems to prefer
shady places, but it may often be met with on the most exposed bogs.

Polystichum lobatum.—Localities—Edenvale, Lisdoonvarna, Lyi-
dently preferring shady places.

P. angulare.—Ditto, ditto.—In a little glen north of Smith’s Bridge,
near Killadysart, I met with a striking variety of P. angulare. I only
could find one plant, which I immediately forwarded to my father,
Simon Foot, Esq., Dublin. He paid a good deal of attention to its ha-
bits and manner of growth, and observed two interesting facts respecting
it, which at once distinguish it from the variety P. angustatum of
Newman and others. First, the Fern in question, besides being lar-
ger than and having the rachis stouter and more scaly than Angustatum,
spreads its fronds out horizontally, while Angustatum grows erect.
Second, the former has bulbille in the axils of the pinne, and is, con-
sequently, a viviparous plant. My father tells me that in Lowe’s book
on Ferns he finds a variety named Proliferum (Wollaston), found at
Wimbledon, and other places in England, by Mr. Wollaston, bearing
bulbils at the point of junction of the pinne with the rachis, and, occa-
sionally, in the axils of the pinnules; pinnules tripinnate, narrow and
attenuated and conspicuously stalked, deeply cleft, and lobes widely se-
parated ; this is the Angustatum of collectors. A portion of a frond is
figured in Lowe, exactly like the variety now described, but it does not

show the bulbs. Plants in the Glasnevin Botanical Gardens, apparently
identical with mine, and also having bulbs, are named Discretum.
Dried fronds of this variety may be seen on the table, as also of a plant
found by my father, some years ago, at Holly Park, county of Dublin,
which is probably Angustatum.

Cystopteris fragilis.—Localities—Kilcorny, Blackhead, barony of
Burren. Cleft in limestone rocks, Corrin Hill, west of Ennis. Roadside,
half a mile north-east of Marble Hill, Tulla. I believe the luxuriant
growth of C. fragilis in Burren is pretty well known already. In the
spring of the year, at Kilcorny, the contrast formed by the peculiar green
and delicate texture of this graceful fern, with the bright colours of Gen-
tiana verna and Geranium sanguineum, is truly beautiful, while, not far
off, on the north side of the valley, the rocks are covered with Dryas
octopetala. Indeed, the stranger does not require a botanical eye to see
that in Burren he has come upon a peculiar and remarkable Flora. The
cleft in the rocks at Corrin Hill is a dark and damp place, which causes
the ferns to assume a long attenuated form, very different from the Bur-
ren plants; however, when planted together, they soon become undis-
tinguishable. I also found C. fragilis growing sparingly on the road-
side near Marble Hill, Tulla.

Asplenium adiantum-nigrum.— General.

A. marinum.—Localities—Aylevaroo, Kilrush, sea-shore generally ;
Mutton Island, Ballynalackan, road-side between Lisdoonvarna and

8 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Blackhead. In the last-named locality my attention was drawn to this
fern by my friend, Dr. O’Brien, of Ennis. It grows in vertical clefts,

which are open joints i in the limestone rock. It attains sometimes to a
height of three fect, or, in fact, the depth of the clefts, as the top jof
the frond always reaches the surface. 1 was so struck with their size
and tuxuriance, that I sent up plants to my father, who immediately
brought some specimens to Mr. Moore at the Botanic Gardens. They
both remarked the strong resemblance, in form and size, borne by the
Ballynalackan plants to the West Indian fern, A. /etwm, and as yet they
have not been able to detect any difference between them. It will be
an interesting fact if it can be shown that this plant is identical with
A. letum, and that the latter is nothing more than A. marinum, growing
under circumstances particularly favourable to its development.

Asplenium trichomanes.—Generally abundant.

A. ruta muraria—Ditto, ditto.

On the wall of Kiltannan demesne, near Tulla, the fronds of this fern
attain a length of six to eight inches, being proportionally broad and
luxuriant.

Scolopendrium vulgare.—Generally abundant. Var. Crispum. Clefts,
limestone rocks, neighbourhood of Ennis.

Ceterach officinarum.—Generally abundant. On the table are some
dried specimens of a variety of this fern, abundant in the Ennis neigh-
bourhood. The fronds are often as long as twelve or eighteen inches,
pinnate, with margin deeply serrated. The dried fronds were some that
I happened to have byme. They show the form pretty well, but do not
give an idea of the length. I believe this variety has been called
Sinuatum, and also Crenatum.

Athyrium filix femina.—Abundant everywhere.

This fern alters its form considerably, according to the situation.
In shady places the handsome form with dark purple rachis, and of a
deeper green than usual, is frequent. In exposed situations the variety
Convexum, Aspedium trriguum (Sith); A. rheticum (Moore), is abun-
dant.

Blechnum boreale.— Abundant and general.

Pteris aquilina.—Abundant and general. The variety Crispa, if it
be a true variety, is also abundant in very exposed places.

Adiantum eapillus Veneris.—Locality, Ballynalackan, near the shore
on the west side of road leading to Blackhead, and also on limestone
cliffs on the east side of and half a mile from the road. The latter lo- ©
cality was pointed out by Dr. O’Brien, of Ennis. I cannot describe my
delight when he first brought me to the spot. The above-mentioned
inland cliffs are formed of horizontal beds of limestone, and on the ver-
tical face of these cliffs in the clefts, or interstices between the beds,
this most exquisite of all the ferns grows in its glory. In fact, for a
distance of fully half a mile, if not more, the stratification of the rock is
distinctly marked by the’peculiar green hue of A. capillus Veneris. Be-
tween this and the sea almost every vertical fissure in the flat bed of
rock over which we walked was filled with this fern, and on the sea side ~

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 9

of the road it is associated with the gigantic Aspleniwm marinum above
described. All the Wardian cases in Great Britain might be well sup-
plied with Adiantum capillus Veneris from Ballynalackan, and what
was taken would hardly be missed.

Osmunda regalis—Generally abundant.

Botrychium lunaria.—Localities, townland of Ballyscanlan, two miles
north of Spancel Hill, on road side, south of Ballynalackan ; Lisdoon-
varna; Ardbooly, two miles north of Tulla. The first and last localities
were discovered by myself—those of Ballynalackan and Lisdoonvarna
by Dr. O’Brien. We both remarked that this fern always grows on dry
slopes, the aspect of which seems to be immaterial. The only exception
to this rule that I know of was a wet upland bog, west of Ballylongford,
county of Kerry, where I found the plant growing in abundance about
three years ago.

Ophioglossum vulgatum.—Very abundant around Ennis, Lisdoon-
varna, Kilearney. It seems to prefer a limestone soil, and generally
grows in flat moist meadows or pastures.

Proressor Kinawan, in commenting on the great interest of Mr. Foot’s
paper, took occasion to record some additional, and, he believed, hitherto
unrecorded localities for some of the species which had been communi-
cated to him since his own paper on the Distribution of Ferns had been
read, and also several localities which had occurred to himself during
the past summer.

Botrychium lunaria.—Turret Hill, Glin, county of Limerick, 1855;
discovered by Mr. William Kennedy. Feakle, county of Clare, August,
1859 VJ. R. K.). This locality is far to the east of Mr. Foot’s line.

Osmunda regalis.—Clare River, one plant (J. R. K.); Althea Knock,
Althea, county of Limerick (Mr. G. Henry Kinahan).

Ophioglossum vulgatwm.—EKastmount, Trenchard (Rey. P. Lyons).

Polystichum aculeatum (lobatum).—Rockmills, county of Tipperary
(J. R. K.). This fern here grows associated with some remarkable forms
of Scolopendrium vulgare, Clare River, county of Tipperary; Lurgan
(J. R. K.).

P. angulare.—Moira, county of Down; Cultra; Colin Glen, Belfast,
abundant and fine; Clare River, county of Tipperary, rare; Birdhill,
county of Tipperary, abundant.

Lastrea montana (oreopteris).—Valley, Birdhill, abundant, but local,
1859 (J. R. K.)

Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense.—Clare River, Limerick side, in im-
mense profusion ; Old Red Sandstone rocks on summits of exposed cliffs.
Sparingly near Castlewaller Deer-park, county of Tipperary. This lo-
cality is similar to that in which it occurs near Feakle. H. Wilsoni
does not occur here.

H. Wilsoni (unilaterale).—Monounta-hill, Feakle, county of Clare ;
on exposed cliffs of old red sandstone, intermixed with HZ. Tunbridgense.
In this locality and that at Castlewaller, the Filmy-ferns strictly confine
themselves to the Old Red Sandstone grits whichhere overlie the Silurian

c

10 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

slates. This is very remarkable sometimes, as the grits are only a few
inches thick, and, as regards exposure, &c., the slates would seem just as
favourable as a habitat. It is worth inquiring whether these plants
are ‘‘ geological” in their distribution or not.

The district here quoted as Clare River is situated within a few miles
‘of Newport, and the formation is Old Red Sandstone, which forms a series
of extremely picturesque waterfalls, well worthy a visit either by the
scenery hunter or the botanist. In a hurried run through the valley under
very unfavourable circumstances, fourteen species of ferns were ob-
served, most of them luxuriantly growing.

Proressor R. W. Suir had listened with much pleasure to Mr. Foot’s
paper. He had himself met Polypodium phegopteris in the county of
Fermanagh, in a similar locality to that mentioned by Mr. Foot; it was
at Sir Arthur Brook’s seat. At Valentia he had met a single plant
of Asplenium marinum growing among many of the ordinary forms which
was a singular variety. The whole plant is very delicate, its fronds
acute and narrow, and the pinne bipinnate. It was astonishing the
number of species of ferns which might be met in a limited district ; in
proof of this he had brought to the meeting a list of those which he had
collected in a limited area last summer; it included 27 species :—Hy-
menophyllum Tunbridgense, H. Wilsoni, Cystopteris fragilis, C. dentata,
Asplenium viride, A. adiantum nigrum, A. trichomanes, Florence Court,
near Enniskillen ; Asplenium ruta muraria, abundant on an old bridge
between Brookborough and Tempo; G. ceterach, on an old wall about
two miles from Tempo ; L. oreopteris, L. recurva, Pol. phegopteris, Cole-
brook Deerpark ; ZL. spinosa, near Brookborough and Tempo; Lastrea
uliginosa, L. rigidum, vicinity of Brookborough. These three, of which
uliginosa is previously unrecorded as Irish, were first found here by
himself. Polyp. vulgare, same locality ; Ophioglossum vulgatum, Ardna-
shin; Osmunda regals, islands in Lough Erne; Scolopendrium vulgare,
ditto, var. multifidum, Blechnum boreale, Polyst. angulare, Pol. aculeatum,
L. dilatata, L. filie mas (afinis & Borrert), Ath. filix feemina (incisum
& convexum), Pteris aquilina, all abundant everywhere; Polystichum
angulare, var. grandidens, found first by Rey. Mr. Eccles in a ditch on
the roadside, half way between Enniskillen and Ballyshannon.

The following gentlemen were then declared duly elected :

Corresponding Member.—James Frazer, Esq., Glasgow.
Associate Member.—Charles Brien, Esq.

The meeting then adjourned to the first Friday in January.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 11

Y :

Woodcut illustrative of Dr. Corrigan’s paper On some structural peculiarities in Syngnathide (vide page 4).

Fig. 1, S. equoreus in profile, with mouth closed; Fig. 3, ditto, ditto, mouth ex-
panded; Fig. 2, under-view of Fig. 3: a, elastic band connecting lower lip (d) and
glosso-hyal bone; 4, derrick ; c, bone terminating in a muscle which connects it with (/)
angle of body case; f, operculum; g, upper jaw.

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 31, 1860.
Wittram Anprews, M.R.I.A., President, in the Chair.
THE previous Minutes were read and signed. The following were pre-

sented to the Museum :—

Black Redstart (Phenicwra tithys), male and female: obtained at
Killiney, county of Dublin, December, 1859. Presented by J. R. Kina-

- han, Hon. See.

Fieldfare (14. pilaris). Presented by Arthur Pollock, Esq., Oat-
lands, Navan.

Proressorn Kinanan, F.L.S8., read the following papers :—

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE BLACK REDSTART (PH. TITHYS ) IN THE NEIGH-
BOURHOOD OF DUBLIN.

In addressing a Dublin audience, it is scarcely necessary to dwell on
the picturesque scenery which, surrounding Killiney Bay, has long ren-
dered it one of the favourite resorts of the citizens, and which even still
enables it to hold its ground as such, although the march of improve-
ment and railways has destroyed much of the rocky grandeur which

_ but a few years since invested this spot with a savage wildness. But,

possibly, many of my hearers may be unaware that to the naturalist the

12 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

line of coast extending from Shanganagh to Dalkey possessed peculiar
charms as one of the most interesting localities in the neighbourhood of
this city. Sheltered, as the southern slope of the hill is, from the north-
ern and westerly blasts by the eminences called Rochestown, Killiney,
and the Telegraph Hills, and borrowing, likewise, protection to the
south from the Bray ridges, it, even amidst the harshest weather, pos-
sesses a genial temperature, favourable to the development of several of
our more delicate plants and animals, and hence, here flourished many
interesting species of both, which are either rare or wanting in other
parts of the ‘‘ Eastern” district. It were foreign to the object of this paper
to enumerate these now, though such a list would hereafter be of ex-
treme value, as the rapid conversion of the south slope of the hill into
building ground threatens soon to obliterate the only Dublin localities
known for some of the rarer species. To-night I have the honour of
laying before the Society a proof of this assertion in a pair of black Red-
starts (Phenicura tithys), obtained by myself at this locality—a species,
as far as I can make out, which has not been before recorded in the
county of Dublin.

The account of the occurrence of the species is as follows :—On the
13th of December, while seated near the white granite rocks which
bound the clay cliffs of Mount Malpas, and engaged watching a robin,
whose tameness was such that he almost fed out of my hands, I remark-
ed a bird, about the size of a stonechat, perch on the rocks within three
or four feet of the stone on which I was sitting. The peculiarity of his
form—aintermediate between that of the hedge-sparrow and the stonechat
—was remarkable; and it also appeared to me that the colour of his
breast was neither the grayish black of the one, nor the greenish olive
of the other, but more of a purple hue. His manners, while partaking
of the jerky motions of the chat, differed in being more graceful and
undulatory. I remarked also, that, when his wings were half expanded,
the white bar, though less in extent, was more defined. While still in
doubt as to his species, although he reminded me much of the redstart,
my friend, the robin, also observed him, and, as is the custom of that
species, jealous of intrusion on his territory, flew at and mobbed the
stranger, driving him from his perch. The moment he took wing, all
doubt as to his genus was removed by the fiery red of the tail feathers
as they were expanded in flight. Having no gun, I was obliged to con-
tent myself with observing him only, which I did for fully three-quar-
ters of an hour, during which he frequently alighted not more than three
feet from me. He flitted along from stone to stone, occasionally alight-
ing on the wet sand at the water’s edge, and picking among the debris
of the tide. If I endeavoured to approach too closely, he immediately
returned to his perch on the rocks and stones which here cover the em-
bankment. The robin again and again pursued and mobbed him.
After the lapse of some little time, a male whinchat (Sazicola rubetra)
made his appearance and joined in the same amusement. Being obliged
to catch a train, I had to leave the three birds thus engaged.

The following day I again visited the same locality, this time armed

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 13

with a small specimen gun. The day was frosty, and I found that the
bird had shifted his quarters to the mica schist rocks near the Druid’s
landing-place, where I found that he had as companions a second male
and a female of the same species. I got a shot at him, but only suc-
ceeded in obtaining a single tail feather. During the hour and a half
that I was on the strand I made additional observations on the manners
of the species. The birds seemed given to picking among the debris of
the tide, and hiding in the holes and crannies among the large loose
stones, making their way through these for several yards at a time.
_ Their flight was like that of the chats, but more lively and steady.
The second male was much bluer than the first, and a most gorgeous-
looking bird while flying in full sunshine.

I was unable to go to the shore the next day, and my next visit was
paid on the 16th. I found the birds at the same locality, 1. e., the little
strand between the White Rocks and the Old Mine. This day there was
an intense frost, with passing snow showers. ‘The bird was much more
familiar than on the previous day, and, in spite of two or three unsuc-
cessful shots on my part, returned again and again to a narrow chinky
ledge within twenty yards of the rock where I had taken my stand.
Here he kept picking at a bunch of lichen, and at length I succeeded in
knocking him over. I examined the chink carefully, and could not see
any insects there; the chink was half full of small pebbles; possibly he
was gathering these. Returning towards the Killiney station, I fell in
with a pair of the birds; of these, I obtained the female now before
you. The birds here were in company with stonechats and robins, and,
like those birds, were employed in flitting about, capturing insects, and
perching on the masses of laminaria piled up on the shore. The snow
showers increased to a heavy fall, and drove me under shelter. The
whinchat made his appearance again amongst the furze on the cliffs, but
out of shot. On the 19th I again went to the locality. The cold was
now intense—so severe, in fact, that the spray on the fuci left unco-
~vered by the tide froze nearly as fast as the tide retreated, Two birds
only—the male, with the blue head and breast, and a female—were seen
this day. They were much more wary than on previous occasions; the
birds seemed in active spirits, taking frequent short flights in the air,
and capturing insects on the wing; the male also uttering a chittering
ery frequently, whereas, on the former occasions the birds had been uni-
formly silent. I observed the same habit of alighting on the summits
of the seaweed heaps, and there picking for some time. The male re-
turned again and again to the same clefts in the rocks, and there
remained for a length of time, picking. On the 21st the birds were still
there, but on the 23rd I could not see any traces of them.

This makes the ninth record of this species in Ireland, the bird hav-
ing been noticed each year from 1818 to 1822, and again in 1847 and
1848, near Youghal, in the autumn and winter; in February, 1836, at
Wexford; in the North Channel, midway between Belfast and Glasgow,
November 5, 1841; and near Roscarberry, county of Cork, November 6,

1845.

14 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

In Great Britain the species has oecurred no less than thirty-five
times, nearly one hundred specimens being recorded in “ Yarrell’s Bri-
tish Birds,” ‘‘ Morris’s British Birds,” ‘‘ The Zoologist,’’ and m ‘‘ The
Field.” They are noted in the months of October to May inclusive, in
different years; in the last month only once. The years in which it has
been noted are—1829, 1830, 1838, 1835, 1839, 1842, 1844, 1847,
1849, 1858, 1856, and 1859. It has occurred in the following southern
maritime shires :—Cornwall (where E. Hearle Rodd and W. Burt state
it is a regular winter visitant), Devon, Hants, Sussex, and Kent; also
in Middlesex, Oxford, and Gloucestershire. In all these the bird has
occurred so frequently as to lead us to indorse Messrs. Rodd’s and Burt’s
opinion for the whole of the southern coast of England. Farther north
it is recorded in Norfolkshire and Derbyshire, and in “ The Field’ of
last week I find it recorded from Kirkwall, in Orkney.

In the European continent its range is—Sweden, where it is scarce ;
Germany and France, where it is a regular summer visitant; Spain, a
winter visitant; Provence and Italy, where it resides from April to
November, and occasionally in the south of Italy all the year; Corfu,
Sicily, Malta, Tangier, and north of Africa. More eastward it is re-
corded from the Morea and Smyrna; and Dr. William Carte has brought
it from the Crimea, where he states, however, that it came only once
under his notice in very severe weather in April, 1856. Taking all
these facts into consideration, we must include this species among the
summer migrants of Europe, whose longitudinal range in summer passes
east of the British Isles, although in winter, probably owing to prevail-
ing winds, the birds are frequently, perhaps even regularly, blown on
the shores of these islands, and thus occur as pretty regular winter mi-
grants. Iam strengthened in this belief by an observation in ‘‘ The
Zoologist’”’ for 1857, occurring in a paper by Captain C. W. Watkins on
the Birds of Andalusia, in which it is stated that Ph. tithys only occurs
in winter months, and disappears about April. I make little doubt that
if this species were watched for on the sea-cliffs of our southern coun-
ties, it would be found to be a nearly regular winter visitant; for I have
heard of several redstarts captured on the coasts of Waterford, Wexford,
and Cork, which have never come under the notice of the naturalist,
which were most probably of this species. I should add, that the birds
were in good condition and plumage, and their stomachs filled with in-
sects, chiefly Coleoptera.

ON MIGRATION IN BIRDS, AND ITS BEARINGS ON THE WINTER OCCURRENCE IN
THE BRITISH ISLES OF EUROPEAN SUMMER MIGRANTS.

Tre migration of birds has been from earliest times an object of atten-
tion and admiration even to the unscientific. I need not do more than
allude to the frequent. references to, and accurate descriptions of it,
which occur in the oldest classics; and even among unlettered savages
of the present day we find migrations of birds anxiously watched for,
and in some cases accurately predicted. It is, therefore, no matter of

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 15

surprise that scientific men should have, long ago, made its phenomena
a subject of study, and have traced many of its laws. There are, how-
ever, certain anomalies in distribution as to the occurrence of species in
certain countries at regular intervals, which, in closely adjoining ones,
are regularly migratory. These, it appears, have not attracted as much
attention as they deserve, and are connected with migration. The most
remarkable is that to which the title of this paper refers, viz., the oc-
currence of summer migrants in winter. Before entering on this sub-
ject, however, it will be necessary to lay down briefly what is here
understood by migration in birds.

In a former communication of mine, brought before this Society in
March, 1858,* when treating on the distribution of ferns in Ireland,
three general laws were enunciated as governing the distribution of
organized species.

These were—That all species require a certain fixed standard amount
of the great physical agents for their due development.

That this standard may be altered within certain limits, without
destruction of the species, though at the expense of its well-being (range
of existence).

And last, that there are certain fixed limits to this range, outside of
which the species must absolutely perish (/imit of existence).

Now, remembering that the standard of existence is not necessarily
uniform in different species, nor even at different ages of the same
species, the standard of existence in the adult birds having a more
extensive range than in the young; and bearing in mind that the food
of the two differs greatly in quantity: periodic migrations—that is,
those strongly marked passages, at a fixed period of the year, of species
from one area to another—are easily explained; excluding at present
those migrations in which the passage performed is merely the shifting
from one district to another of a similar area, necessitated by the failure
of food. This explanation is not contradicted by the occasional resi-
dence through the entire year, or breeding of individuals in districts
intermediate between the actual northern and southern hiemal and
eestival residences of the species; because it must be remembered that
the limits of the standard of existence of a species are sometimes very
extended, occasionally almost equally so,with the limits of the range of
its existence; also, that the climate of every part of the districts passed
through in migration are not either uniform or uniformly constant in
each year, and hence that it may occur that a bird in its northerly pro-
gress, from some cause or other, late in its migration—as, for instance,
a weakling left behind at the annual starting-point whence all the
stronger birds pushed boldly forwards for the north—may, on finding
the instinct of nidification too strong upon it, build its nest in the first
spot which copies its proper summer region sufficiently nearly to fall

* ‘On the Distribution of Ferns in Ireland, with a List of some of the most remark-
able Localities in which they occur.”—Proe. Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. ii., p. 91.

16 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY.

within the extreme limits of its standard of existence, or even in a dis-
trict which, whilst falling within the range of its existence, is yet
excluded from its standard. That summer and winter migrations take
place almost always, if not always, in a line due north and south, is an
argument in favour of this explanation. I cannot call to mind a case
in which nidificatory migration is markedly east and west over an
extended area. In some few cases, it is true, the line of migration is
not bounded by strictly parallel longitudinal lines east and west; but
this might have been premised, since neither can areas similar in their
climates be bounded by parallel lines; but in tracing such areas north-
wards or southwards, we meet with divergent outlying sub-areas which
' copy the climates northward or southward of them rather than those
adjacent to them in a direct line. Such exceptions are, however, rarer
than might have been expected.

A few instances selected from among the birds of the British Isles,
as these have been best studied, and, of these, choosing species which,
occurring north of Great Britain, might have been expected to occur in
Ireland also, but do not, will suffice to illustrate this.

The nightingale (P. luscinia) occurs in Cumberland (Carlisle), Lan-
cashire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex,
Kent, Somerset, Hants, Sussex, and East Devon. It is common only in
the easternmost of these shires, being rare in Cumberland, Lancashire,
‘Somerset, and East Devon, unknown in West Devon and Cornwall,
apparently so in Scotland, certainly in Wales. North of Britain it
occurs in Sweden, Russia, and Siberia; and south in the eastern parts
of France, Germany, and Spain, wintering in North Africa, Egypt, and
Syria; unknown in the Channel Islands and Brittany. Now if these
points be connected on the map, it will be seen that the regular line of
migration is to the eastwards of a line which cuts off Ireland, Wales,
Scotland, and part of England.

The red-backed shrike (Lantus collurio) occurs in Cumberland, Wales,
and the south of England; not in Scotland; north, in Russia, Sweden,
Denmark ; south, in Germany, France, Spain, North Africa, and Cape
of Good Hope, —its line of migration being slightly to the westward of
that of the nightingale, but still excluding Ireland.

The pied fly-catcher (JZ. luetuosa), in like manner, whilst extending
as far north as Scandinavia and Central Russia, is rare in the south-
western shires, and unknown in the north-western.

The lesser white-throat (C. sylviella) extends into Wales, but is rare
there, showing that this is an outlying station. It is unnecessary to
multiply examples further, for the same laws will be found to be more
or less strictly applicable to all the regular summer emigrants of Great
Britain which are unknown as such in Ireland.

Taking such a view of the case, migration resolves itself into this :—
A species (the white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons, for instance) rears
its young in the north during the summer season of that region, when
food, of the kind suitable for those young, is easily procurable. After
the young are fully developed, winter sets in, and either destroys that

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 17

food, or renders it unattainable, or nearly so. The species, flying the
winter, travels south, finding in its course conditions pretty similar to
those which prevailed in its summer abode in more northern latitudes.
When at length it has reached a district (suppose Great Britain) in
which these conditions, or at least conditions compatible with its adult
existence, are permanent in the winter, it there abides until the in-
creasing heat of the spring renders its adopted home unsuited to it, or
at least to its future progeny. Again it takes up its journey, and
travels north, flying from the summer heat. Such a species arriving
here in the winter, the Briton calls a winter migrant. A second species,
the house-swallow (A. rustica), rears its young in Britain. This duty
over, on the appearance of the British winter, it seeks in the milder la-
titudes of the south its winter quarters, returning again to the north
when these prove too hot to hold it.

Now, it has been already shown that in the district lying east and
west of the area included within the normal migratory lines of each spe-
cies, there occur sub-areas which are-nearly as suitable for the well-
being of such species as the districts contained within these limits: and
hence, if by any disturbing cause a migratory bird is driven out of its
usual course, it may in such sub-areas find a spot in which it can sub-
sist, and where it will probably remain until more favourable circum-
stances enable it to regain its course ; and if this divergence takes place
during its northerly migration, it may possibly breed here. Remark-
able instances of this latter phenomenon are seen in Ireland among
southern migrants, in the golden oriole (0. galbula), blackcap warbler
(C. atricapilla), hawfinch (C. vulgaris), crossbill (L. curvirostris), rose
pastor (P. roseus), hoopoe (U. epops), melodious willow wren (Sylvia
hippolais), stone plover (@&. crepitans), dotterel (C. morinellus), and
possibly the grasshopper warbler (S. Jocustedla); and in Great Britain,
in the golden oriole, hoopoe, rose pastor, &c.

Taking it as proven that the migration takes place in a line north
and south—that it has fixed longitudinal limits, and that, through dis-
turbing causes, species oecasionally transgress these limits and survive—
the occurrence of summer European migrants in these isles is what
might have been expected. All that has occurred is this—the birds, in
their passage south, meeting with easterly gales, have been driven from
their course, and finding here localities suited to their habits, remain
either till spring, or till a favourable moment for continuing their south-
ern journey arises.

The instances of the occurrence of such birds in Ireland in the winter
are more numerous than might be supposed from published records. I
have collected all I could come across either from my own researches or
from those of R. J. Montgomery, Esq., and Robert Warren, Esq., Jun.,
of Bailina, kindly communicated to me by those gentlemen, and from
Thompson’s ‘‘ Fauna of Ireland,” and have little doubt that they do not
represent a tithe of the instances in which this has occurred. I divide
them into :—First, regular British summer migrants, unknown as such
in Ireland, though one or two have occurred during that season here ;

D

18 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

second, Irish summer migrants; and, third, European summer migrants,
only irregular visitants to the Britannic area.

First,— British summer migrants occurring in Ireland in winter :—

Reed Wren (Sal. arundinacea). Dublin, 1843; R. J. Montgomery.

Blackeap (C. atricapilla). Belfast, 1834; Louth, 1850, R. J. M.;
Dublin, 1833, 1843, R. J. M., 1846, 1847. This bird has also occurred
in Dublin and elsewhere in several summers, and bred. Tipperary, 1834;
Waterford, 1830, 1834, 1858, R. J. Ussher. Galway, 1842; Cork, 1839.
This bird has wintered in England.

Stoneplover (@. crepitans). Dublin, 1829, 1849, 1853; Waterford,
1840; Kerry, August, 1842; Wexford, 1844.

Dotterel (Ch. morinellus), breeds occasionally in Ireland; Down,
1834; Tipperary, 1853.

Spotted crake (C. porzana) occursin summer. Belfast, 1835, 1847,
1848; Donegal, Down, 1828, 1845; Dublin, 1835; Wicklow, 1835;
Queen’s County, 18384; Kerry, 1845, 1846; Clare, 1832; Waterford,
1842, 1843.

Ruff (JL, pugnax), in some counties nearly regularly. Antrim, Do-
negal, 1837, 1838; Dublin, 1847, R. J. M.; Wicklow, 1853; Kildare,
1838, 1840; Tipperary, 1848.

Common Redstart (Ph. ruticilla). Belfast, Queen’s County, 1847,
R. J. M.; Dublin, 1828, 1830.

Second,—Irish summer migrants :—

Ring ouzel (JL torquata): Dublin, 1842 or 1848; Lambay, 1847,
1848; R. J. M.

Whinchat (S. rubetra). Dublin, 1847, 1848, 1850, 1859; Louth,
1848; R.J. M,

Sedge Warbler (Sal. phragmites). Dublin, 1848; R. J. M.

Whitethroat (C. cinerea). Dublin, 1848; R. J. M.

Chiffchaff (Sy/. rufa). Louth, 1849, R. J. M.; Castlewarren, Co.
Cork, November, 1850, to February, 1851, Robert Warren.

Willow wren (Sy/. trochilus). Louth, 1850-51; R. J. M.

Chimney Swallow (ZZ. rustica). Louth, December, 1850, R. J. M.;
Cork, 1849, R. W. It is a question whether the birds of this species
and the sand martens (ZH. riparia), seen sometimes late in autumn and
winter, do not fall under this category rather than under that of birds
which have overstayed their time here. I have seen the former species
about Dublin late in November in several years (that just past among
the number), and have always remarked that, when this occurred, there
was an interval during which swallows were not to be seen at all,
and then the species reappeared. G. Henry Kinahan, Esq., sends me
a note of the occurrence of the sand marten at Castleconnell, Limerick,
on the 30th November, 1859.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 19

Third—European summer migrants, occurring in winter in the Bri-
tannic area :—

Great grayshrike (Z. excubitor). Northumberland and Cumberland,
Durham, Cheshire, Worcester, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Hert-
ford, Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Devon; on two occasions it has bred in
England. North of England, the species is noted in Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Lapland, Russia; south, in Germany, Holland (rare), France,
Spain, Fezzan. In Ireland, the species has occurred in Antrim, 1834-35;
Down, 1845; Londonderry, 1846; Sligo, 1831 or ’32; Westmeath,
Dublin, 1822 or ’23, 1831, 1850; Queen’s County, 1847 ; Louth, Tip-
perary, Waterford, Cork, 1824, 1844, 1845.

Black redstart (P. tthys). Kirkwall, Orkney, Norfolk, Derbyshire,
Kent, Sussex, Devon, Middlesex, Oxford, Gloucestershire, Hants, Corn-
wall (vide preceding paper). Extra Britannic range—Sweden, Ger-
many, France, Spain, Provence, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Tangier. In Ire-
land—Near Belfast, 1841; Dublin, 1859 ; Wexford, 1836; Cork, 1845;
Waterford, 1818 to ’22, 1847-48.

The parallelism between these species, as to distribution and occur-
rence, is striking, and the necessary connexion between the causes of it
scarcely needs comment. These remarks have already run to such a
length that I must omit the many examples which might be quoted
from other groups of birds falling under the same categories, for those
quoted have, I think, sufficiently proven that the explanation given is
correct.

Confirmation of the same thing is also seen if examination be made
into other facts relating to distribution. For instance, we find that
of those birds which are resident in Great Britain, non-resident yet
occasional visitants to Ireland, all are migratory im some parts of the
European Continent, and all have occurred in Ireland in the winter.
As examples, may be cited the kite (Milvus regalis), the great spotted
woodpecker (Picus major), Antrim, 1839, 1849; Londonderry, 1832;
Armagh, 1845; Dublin, 1831, 1850; Wicklow, 1848; Wexford, 1845;
Waterford, 1850; Carlow, 1845; Tipperary, 1831, 1849; Sligo, 1835,
1850. In two cases only have these birds occurred here—viz., in May
and August—ain other than winter months.

It is remarkable also that all the southern species, which have only
occurred once or twice in this country, have done so in winter—the
spotted eagle (4. nevia), griffon vulture, White’s thrush, crested lark,
two-banded crossbill, &. Northern stragglers occurring here—as the
eagle owl, snowy owl, and Bohemian waxwing—-have been long ago
recognised as birds driven from their migratory course, and an error has
been committed in not making a more general application of the law to
all cases of accidental visitants—an error the more surprising as some of
our authorities (as, for instance, William Thompson) have recognised it
in regard to some species, to wit, the woodpecker, quoted above. I have
little doubt that to the same principles we must look for the explanation
of the fact, that the occurrence of Australian, American, and African

20 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

birds, such as the jay cuckoo, cow-cow bird, belted kingfisher, Egyptian
goose, soft-billed duck, &c., have mostly occurred in the winter. I must
apologise for the length to which these remarks have run; but that they
were called for is sufficiently shown by the constant remarks of wonder-
ment met with in authors, as to the absence in Irish and Scottish lists
of species met in England, and also occurring much further north. I
hope to return to the subject at some future time, and will now conclude
by calling attention to the fact that, by examination of the few dates
given, it will be seen that these accidental occurrences of species have
occurred nearly in the same years, showing that the same causes have
caused divergence from their usual routes in almost every case.

Mr. Robert J. Montgomery confirmed Professor Kinahan’s paper, as
far as the frequency of the occurrence of summer migrants in winter was
concerned. He submitted a list of species obtained by him in this
season,

The Rev. Eveenr O’ Muara read the following :—
NOTES ON THE REPRODUCTION OF DIATOMACE®.

At a meeting of this Society, held on May 7, 1858,* Dr. Harvey, the
President, in the Chair, I communicated the fact of having observed
bodies, which were considered to be zoospores, issuing from a frustule
of Plewrosigma Spencertt. The President considered ‘the observation
perfectly new, and had no doubt, as such, would be controverted, or at
least probably received with doubt. There was, therefore, he thought,
the more necessity for repeating the observation, and, if possible, con-
firming it.’” Since that time my attention has been directed to the sub-
ject, and, in consequence, I have the gratification of bringing under the
notice of this meeting a fact corroborative of the former observation. In
October last I brought home a fragment of Myriophyllum I had ob-
served floating on the canal near Lucan. Upon examination of the
gathering, I found it to contain some species of Diatomacez, those which
occurred in greatest abundance being Epithemia argus, Epithemia gibba,
and Cocconers pediculus.. In many instances the frustules exhibited
precisely the same abnormal appearances as had been previously ob-
served in the case of Pleurosigma Spencerii, the endochrome, instead of
the usual brown colour, being bright green, and the frustules in the
present case, as in the former, filled with vesicles similar in appearance
to oil-globules.

Among the numerous forms presented to view, a specimen of Epi-
themia gibba specially arrested my attention, in consequence of the pecu-
liarly vivid greenness of the endochrome, as well as an unusual move-
ment of the vesicles within the cell. In the space of a few minutes I
saw several of these vesicles extended from the frustule, and with a very

* Vide ‘* Proceedings,” vol. ii., p. 108.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 91

sluggish motion swim about on the water. A gentleman conversant
With microscopic subjects called on me just at the time. I directed his
attention to the frustule I had been observing, and he, too, witnessed
the phenomenon I have just described. Several frustules, which exhi-
bited the abnormal characters as regards the presence of vesicles and the
colour of the endochrome, were carefully examined by me, in hope of
having an opportunity of observing the extension of the vesicles; but,
although many of these were surrounded by bodies similar in appear-
ance, and having the same motion, in no case except the one did I wit-

ness the actual issue of them from the cell. This observation, confirm-
atory of the former one, and tending to establish the theory that the

Diatomacez, as well as their kindred organisms, the Desmidiacez, some-
times propagate by means of Zoospores, I considered of sufficient impor-
tance to induce me to bring it under the notice of the Society.

The following gentlemen were elected Ordinary Members of the

Society :—Richard William Ormsby Rutledge, Esq., Hague House, Isle

of Man; Octavius O’Brien, Esq., Dublin; Richard Dowden (Richard),
Esq., Rathlee, county of Cork.

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 3, 1860.

Rozsert Cattwett, M. R. 1. A., Vicz-Presrprnt, in the Chair.

THE previous Minutes were read and signed.

Mr. Wittram ARcHER read a paper—

‘ON THE OCCURRENCE OF ZOOSPORES IN THE FAMILY DESMIDIACER.
(WITH A PLATE. )

In bringing forward the accompanying drawings, illustrative of the
phenomenon of the production in the family Desmidiacez of what I be-
lieve to be Zoospores,—while I have to express my regret that so many

links are wanting in the history of their formation and production,—1

nevertheless feel confident the observations will be found, even so far
as they go, of abundantly sufficient novelty to warrant my drawing at-
tention to them. The singular condition which the figures represent
seems to be one of such rarity, so far as I can learn, as to lead me to
believe that this will be the first time of any similar phenomenon being
either figured or recorded in this family—A. Braun’s account of what
takes place in Pediastrum (I believe not truly a Desmidian at all) ex-

_ cepted. And although I cannot, perhaps, add much to their value by

any accompanying remarks of mine, I shall, however, have indicated, as
-it appears to me, the direction in which we are to look for, and the
mode in which we are to expect hereafter, the production of zoospores, -

at least in Docidium, which genus furnishes us with the example in
"question, as well as perhaps in any other Desmidian genus.

_ Thisconsidcration leads me to believe that, before offering anything
‘in the way of explanation of the figures, it would be of importance to

(Res?

22 DUBLIN NATURAL ‘HISTORY SOCIETY.

draw attention to what is stated in books on the subject of the oceur-
rence of zoospores in this family. I believe every writer in our text-
books on microscopic organisms, when touching on Desmidiaces, states
it as a fact, that, like various other algxe, they are propagated by zoo-
spores; while some go more or less into details, I am induced to say,
very deferentially, that I think the descriptions or statements often
given are based rather on assumption than on actual experience, be-
cause (Pediastrum expected) I do not find authorities given or refer-
ences made to published figures or recorded observations. Indeed, I am
disposed to think it not improbable that, in several instances, what is
meant by the authors alluded to, is another, and I apprehend, a distinct

phenomenon, but which is described as, and, as I imagine, erroneously _

called, the formation of the motile bodies or active gonidia, known
amongst the algze as “‘ zoospores.”

It is indeed likely that, by some, arguing from analogy, the asser-
tion is based on the history of the propagation by zoospores, as it occur-
in Pediastrum, as described by A. Braun (vide “ Rejuvenescence in
Nature,” Ray. Soc. Pub., 1853). In that genus this process occurs in
the following manner, of which it may not be out of place very briefly
to remind my hearers:—In this plant the frond consists, as is well
known, of a cluster of cells, disposed im a single plane, generally con-
centrically—the marginal ones laterally and externally, and in some
species the innermost also laterally notched. From the cells of this
frond ‘the zoospores are not emitted singly, as in numerous other algee,
but the entire number, formed by the subdivision of the endochrome of
each into four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two, or sixty-four, or even one
hundred and twenty-eight portions, escape from the parent cell, still
involved in its Inner membrane; and it is within this that they even-
tually settle down and arrange themselves into a flat cluster, resembling
that from a cell of which they themselves originated, each zoospore be-
coming one of the component, more or less notched, cells of the new
frond. ‘These spores are called by the German writers ‘‘ macrogonidia.”
Other fronds, however, give birth to smaller, more numerous, and more
active spores, called ‘‘ microgonidia,’”’ of which the further history after
their escape is unknown. Notwithstanding that in all our text-books,
in which this genus is spoken of, it is referred to the Desmidiacer, I
have myself some time since come to the conclusion that Pediastrum is
not a Desmidian at all, and I shall endeavour briefly to bring before
you the considerations which seem to lead to such a conclusion.

I am, of course, aware of the difficulty sometimes met with in satis-
factorily embracing certain organisms within the terms of what may
occasionally appear as perhaps somewhat arbitrary diagnostic charac-
teristics; and, while the acknowledged fact cannot be overlooked, that
no linear arrangement will ever properly express the whole of the na-
tural and mutual affinities of organic objects; and while at the same
time I will not deny, in regard to certain organisms which seem to be

incongruously united with certain groups or families, that it sometimes '
happens, while our present state of knowledge as to their nature and

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY. 23

history is deficient, that it is more advisable to allow the puzzling forms
to remain combined with such groups as may appear temporarily the
most convenient; nevertheless, if any organism is found really not to
agree with the characters which are common to and appear to pervade
an apparently perfectly natural assemblage, it would seem to me to be
repugnant to a proper classification, if it could be avoided, that it
should be therewith associated.

I shall, then, venture to delay, before entering on the subject pro-
per of this communication by drawing attention to the diagnosis of this
family, as given in Ralfs’ monograph, “The British Desmidiz :’””—
‘«‘ Fresh-water figured mucous and microscopic alge of a green colour.
Transyerse division mostly complete, but in some genera incomplete.
Cells or joints. of two symmetrical valves, the junction always marked
by the division of the endochrome, often also by a constriction. Spo-
rangia formed by the coupling of the cells and union of their contents.’’
Although I have no new observation in regard to the history of Pe-
diastrum to add, I shall just briefly compare that genus with the fore-
going definition.

That Pediastrum agrees with the first clause of Ralfs’ diagnosis, is
indeed apparent.

In regard to the second clause, so far as I can make out, I believe the
complete fission into two distinct cells of any of the component cells has
‘not been observed; that is to say, I believe the number of component
cells in any particular frond is not increased after their first formation;
in other words, there does not appear to be any extension of the cell-
‘wall of any cell accompanied by a transverse fission. Mr. Ralfs men-
tions that he did not see cell-division. I have certainly myself, so far
as my own limited experience in this genus goes, never noticed anything
to indicate the mode of division characteristic of the Desmidiacex. By
this, of course, is not meant to be denied the subdivision of the endo-
chrome within the parent cell,—the necessary prelude to its conversion
into zoospores. The number of constituent cells in a frond, of often
indeed even the same species, seems, therefore, to depend on the number
of times the original endochrome of the parent cell had become seg-
mented, and the consequent number of zoospores. Occasionally a frond
may. be met with in which one of the component cells is about double
the dimensions of the others, while the normal number is deficient by
one; indicating, not the special increase in size of one of the cells, as
compared with the others, but rather that the ultimate segmentation of
the endochrome within the original parent cell, preparatory to being
converted into zoospores, was in this one instance not fully carried out.
Sometimes a few marginal cells are wanting, which may, perhaps, be
explained in the same manner; sometimes, however, they become acci-
dentally removed by external forces. Indeed, itis hard to suppose an
increase in number of the constituent cells of a frond without its be-
coming altered from a plane to an irregular structure, such as takes place
in Monostroma, Ulva, &c., the dimensions of the frond itself, however,

24 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

expanding by a simultaneous increase all over. IfI be right, then,
Pediastrum does not coincide with the second clause of Ralfs’ diagnosis.

As to the next clause, an inspection of any species of Pediastrum ~
will manifest that the cells are not composed of two symmetrical halves,
and that in the empty cells there is no evidence of a suture; unless,
indeed, the slit or gash occurring in those cells which have produced
zoospores, and by which they have escaped, be an indication of its —
existence, while they are characterized by merely being bidentate at the —
external margin of often the outside row of cells only, while the internal
are frequently of undefined outline.

Lastly, so far as I am aware, conjugation has never been seen in this
genus. Ihave myself noticed in Pediastrum Boryanum the cell-contents
of certain marginal cells retracted from the external wall, and massed
together into a green, smooth, orbicular, spore-like body [resting spore ? |
in the centre. But as this took place, not in neighbouring cells, and no ©
cells being empty or disturbed in form, it could not be imagined to be
any process of conjugation effected by the transmission of the con-
tents from one neighbouring cell to another.

The diagnosis given by Berkeley, in his “ Introduction to Crypto-
gamic Botany,” is as follows :—‘ Cells void of silex, free, or forming
brittle threads or minute fronds, increased by the formation of two new
half cells in the centre, so that the two new cells consist each of a new
and old half cell. Spores generated by the conjugation of two distinct
individuals.” - The only point of difference in the above definition from |
Ralfs’ is the introduction of the characteristic of the two new half cells ©
during division being interposed between the old ones; but as in a few
species this can only-be a matter of just inference, not of direct proof, ~
but of which indeed there cannot be any reasonable doubt, it cannot
always be insisted on. But as to Pediastrum, I have before intimated
that, so far as I can see, the component cells do not increase in number —
at all, and therefore in that respect cannot agree with the terms of either
diagnosis.

The figured outline of the cells, often, however, confined to the mar- —
ginal series, yet wanting as they do bilateral symmetry, seems then the |
reason why Pediastrum has been placed amongst the Desmidiacez.
But, whilst arguing against the claims of this genus, as such, I own I
am myself unaware of where else to place it. Its affinity with Hydro-
dictyon utriculatum seems sufficiently striking. That plant, with what, |
however, must appear questionable propriety, has been associated with
the Siphonacese (Micrographic Dictionary), a family of which Vauche-
ria may, perhaps, be assumed as typical. Possibly Pediastrum and its
allies, with Hydrodictyou, may prove a distinct family near Volvoci-
nace, with which they seem perhaps connected through Pandorina
and Gonium, by certain points of similarity in their development, or in
which at least certain parallel phases seem noticeable.

I had written so far of the present paper some months back, and
have read it as I then wrote it. Since then I met with “ Gattungen
cinzelliger Algen physiologisch und systematisch bearbeitet’’ von C,

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 25

Niigeli; also Al. Braun’s ‘‘Algarum Unicellularium Genera nova et
minus cognita,” where I learn that the views of Nageli and Braun were
identical with the conclusions that had forced themselves on myself, and
that those distinguished algologists had actually long since seen fit to
remove Pediastrum and its allies from Desmidiacee, and have trans-
ferred them meantime to the somewhat more humble family, Pal-
mellaceze.

While, then, the object of this paper is to prove that what I think
must be looked upon as zoospores do occur in at least one species in this
family, and, therefore, may occur throughout, and that our books are
therefore not wrong in assuming it (leaving Pediastrum out of the ques-
tion), still I am.inclined to think, as I before indicated, that the state-
ments alluded to are founded rather on the occurrence of what I am
disposed to imagine a distinct, but, perhaps, more unaccountable phe-
nomenon, than on any published record of what can be looked upon as
true zoospores, Pediastrum excepted. I allude to what has been called
the ‘“‘swarming movement” of the ultimate granules of the cell-contents,
a phenomenon of common occurrence in this family. Indeed, I believe
I have myself noticed it more or less frequently in nearly every species
I have seen, and even in those undergoing division. It seems of more
general occurrence in specimens for some time kept in the house; yet,
frequent as it is, it is difficult to describe, and almost requires to be seen
to be understood. It consists of an active, tremulous, vibratory, dancing
kind of motion of the disintegrated endochrome, broken up into an im-
mense number of exceedingly minute non-ciliated granular particles, at
once innumerable, and, I apprehend, immeasurable. Notwithstanding
all the commotion, there is no very great change of place in the active
granules themselves. They not unfrequently form a dense cluster to-
gether, so crowded as to appear a black mass. Sometimes I have seen
these masses of active granules abruptly bounded on one side by a
straight line, as if there were some invisible barrier preventing their
assuming a more scattered appearance (I have tried to represent this in
Fig. 1); but shortly this abrupt line becomes broken, and the cluster
loses this appearance, and becomes gradually thinner. I have noticed
a very similar movement, though less active, in various other alge, and
in germinating spores, which had already commenced to elongate.
Amongst the Diatomaceze (in Hpithemia turgida, and in a species of
Cymbella), I have scen the endochrome throughout the frustule to each
extremity entirely disintegrated into nearly equal and extremely mi-
nute and loose particles, and these exerting a very vigorous, tremulous,
dancing movement, perfectly identical with what is alluded to in the
Desmidiacezx, and, so far as I can see, in no way to be mistaken for the

movement of the bodies described by the Rev. E. O’Meara in Pleuro-

sigma Spencerui(vide Proceedings of last session, Nat. Hist. Reyv.,

vol. v., p. 192, alluded to, however, as Anthozoids, but more probably

Zoospores), and in Epithemia argus, E. gibba, and Cocconeis pediculus,

at our last meeting. A similar movement of the ultimate granules,

which appear brown and quite dead in various organisms, is sometimes
=

26 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

noticeable, This, then, in all such examples I should be inclined to
imagine is a manifestation of the phenomenon called ‘‘ molecular move-
ment,’’ similar to that noticeable in the granules of the fovilla of pollen
in the flowering plants, or to that seen when a small portion of the sub-
stance of the common fresh-water sponge is crushed down and viewed
under the microscope (and of this other examples might be cited), and
rather in the cases so common in the Desmidiacez, and in the very rare
examples referred to in the Diatomacee, indicative of decay, than as the
precursor of a further developmental change. I do not, of course, in-
clude the singular movement of the free, active particles at the extremi-
ties of Closterium, Docidium, &c., which, as every specimen of the
species in which it occurs exhibits it, must be normal; this may, how-
ever, possibly be due to some modification of the same molecular law,
combined with internal currents.

In alluding to internal currents I may mention that I believe this
phenomenon occurs in a greater number of Desmidian species than is ge-
nerally supposed, but ordinarily in very many it seems to be very rare.
Closterium lunula and Penium digitus, as is well known, scarcely ever
fail to show it. But, besides, I believe with care it can be sometimes seen
in other species of Clostertum, as well as other genera, besides. I have
never.seen the rotation, as it is called, more vigorous or more active in
any vegetable cell than I have sometimes, though by no means always,
or often, seen it in Closteriwm didymotocum, where the granules, carried
onwards by the current, chased each other, with great vigour, round and
round the margin of the cell, up one side and down the other, in a man-
ner scarcely comparable to the fitful and irregular currents in Closteriwm
lunula. Again, in Mierasterias denticulata I have noticed a few loose
granules carried by the current, to travel up and down from one subdivi-
sion of a lobe to another, following thus the very zigzag course produced
by the deeply incised margin of this species for two or even three of the
subdivisions ; when, not being then carried any further round the margin,
they were diverted again towards the middle of the frond and joined in
the quadrille (I can think of no better word) there performed by other
free granules, until, perhaps, again carried off to the margin, or a few
different granules being drawn off in their place. I have noticed simi-
lar circulating currents in Cosmarium Lalfsvi ; in this species, however,
the segments being not incised, as in Micrasterias, the granules were car-
ried round and round in an uninterrupted stream. This vigorous cur-
rent, however, is very rare; yet I half think I have been able to see cur-
rents of the fluid contents in Closteria and others, where, at least, it was
not evidenced by its carrying any granules with it. But, be this as it
may, although I have very frequently witnessed the phenomenon of the
active vibratory particles alluded to in very many species, I have never
once seen them escape by any normal process. It is true, that when the
frond is artificially ruptured, they still, for a time, maintain their move-
ment, though generally less actively ; but I have also noticed many of
the granules, broken up by pressure themselves, to set up a very similar

movement, perhaps not so active, though before, of course, they were
still.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISfORY SOCIETY, 27

But if further evidence were wanting to prove the point in question,
I will mention what to me appears to be conclusive; and that is, that
in a number of specimens of Cosmarium (Huastrum ?) sublobatum, which
had been ‘‘ mounted” a fortnight, and which we must suppose to have
been dead, I have witnessed the granular cell-contents exhibiting the
“molecular’’ movement as actively as it occurs in the living frond; and
this might have been kept up while I write, possibly, had not the pre-
paration become spoiled at the end of the period mentioned.

Such, then, is, I apprehend, the phenomenon which may have given
rise to the following passages :—‘‘ British Desmidie,” p. 9, Introduc-
tion :—‘‘ When the cells approach maturity, molecular movements may
be at times noticed in their contents, precisely similar to what has been
described by Agardh and others as occurring in the Conferve. This
movement has been aptly termed a swarming. ... When released by
the opening of the suture, the granules still move, but more rapidly and
to a greater distance. With the subsequent history of these granules I
am altogether unacquainted, but I conclude that it is similar to what has
been traced in other alge.’’ This brief passage is all Mr. Ralfs in his
work has to say on the subject, but, although cautiously expressed, it
would appear he looked on these minute granules as probably zoospores,
and it is, undoubtedly, the same phenomenon to which he alludes. Has-
sall, ‘‘ British Fresh-water Algee,”’ p. 340 :—‘‘The second method is,

assuredly, the usual and legitimate mode of reproduction, viz. that by
bodies analogous to zoospores.” This statement surely appears to be

founded on the molecular movement of the minute swarming granules,
as Braun’s account of the phenomenon in Pediastrum was not then pub-
lished. It may, however, be based on Morren’s account of the develop-
ment in Closterium, to which I shall presently allude.—Berkeley,
“Introduction to Cryptogamic Botany,’ page 121 :—‘‘ Another mode of
increase is from the swarming of the grains of the endochrome, which
becomes individualized as in other algz, and so give rise to anew genera-
tion. These bodies are figured, with filiform appendages, in Pediastrum
granulatum.” The first sentence of the foregoing seems to infer that the
author looked upon the swarming granules as zoospores, but it is, per-
haps, explained by the second, and the statement may be based on what
occurs in Pediastrum.—Carpenter, ‘‘ The Microscope and its Revela-
tions,’ Ist ed., page 291—‘“‘ Many of the Desmidiaceze multiply after
another method; namely, by the subdivision of their endochrome into a
multitude of granular particles, termed gonedia, which are set free by

_ the rupture of the cell-wall, and of which every one may develop into

a new cell. These ‘ gonidia’ may be endowed with cilia, and many pos-
sess an active power of locomotion, in which case they are known as
‘zoospores ;’ or they may be destitute of any such power, and may be-
come enclosed in a firm cyst or envelope, that seems destined for their
long-continued preservation, in which case they are designated as ‘ rest-
ing spores.’—The movement of the zoospores, first within the cavity of
the cell that gives origin to them, and afterwards externally to it, has
frequently been observed in the various species of Cosmarium, and has

28 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

been described under the title of the ‘swarming of the granules,’ from
the extraordinary resemblance which the mass of moving particles beasr
to a swarm of bees. The subsequent history of their development,
however, has not been fully traced out; and this is a point to which
the attention of microscopists should be specially directed.’’ With great
diffidence I venture to suggest that the statements in the foregoing pas-
sage must be based on the swarming movement of the minute granules
which I have endeavoured to describe above. I am disposed to believe
that the granules which the author terms gonidia are not ciliated; and
although the species of Cosmarium often show the movement, it is by
no means confined to that genus, but may be frequently seen also in
multitudes of other species. The author then goes on to describe the
formation of undoubted zoospores in Pediastrum. As to ‘‘ resting
spores,’’ [imagine he must allude to such bodies as are figured by Ralts
in Desmidium Swarts (Br. Des., tab. iv. f.), where they are not pro-
duced by conjugation, but seem to be due to the consolidation of the
contents of each individual joint, which becomes enclosed in its own spe-
cial envelope, as sometimes takes place in Spirogyra, &c. Braun suggests
that the filament met with by Ralfs may have been one which had entered
into conjugation with another filament, and that the string of empty
cells had been torn away; but this is certainly not the case, for I have
myself met with the species in question in some abundance in precisely
the same condition as that figured by Ralfs, and which consists in the
cell-contents of a greater or less number in immediate succession of the
cells of certain filaments becoming retracted to the centre of the cavity
of each cell, and becoming there massed together into a definitely-
bounded spore-like body, without any process of conjugation or union
of the contents of distinct cells. But I was not able to see any further
development, and the specimens soon died. (Vide also, for resting-
spores (?) ‘‘ Micrographic Dictionary,” pl. vi. fig. 3 B; also Proc. Nat.
Hist. Soc. Dub., 1858-9, pl. 1. fig. 14—irrespective, of course, of the
external abnormal condition).—The ‘‘Micrographic Dictionary” de-
scribes only the zoospores in Pediastrum as an @ priort argument for
their occurrence in the Desmidiacee generally, assuming, erroneously,
that genus as belonging to the family.

A recapitulation of this sort would, however, be incomplete without
reference to a communication by M. Ch. Morren in ‘‘ Annales des Sciences
Naturelles,”’ tom. v. p. 266, 1836—‘‘ Mémoire sur les Clostériees.”” In
looking over the present subject I met with Professor Smith’s paper on the
“Conjugation of Clostertum Ehrenberg” (‘‘ Annals of Natural History,”
second series, vol. v., p. 1), and therefore necessarily with that by M.
Morren alluded to; and it seems to me impossible not to coincide in the
conclusions of the former on the points in consideration, and consequently
to look upon those of the latter as founded in error. I shall endeavour
briefly to state the views of Morren, as founded on his observations on
Closterium Ehrenbergu. We believes that in the mature and merely ve-
getating plant the endochrome is evenly distributed throughout its entire
cavity, and formed of extremely small granules (‘‘ utricles”). By-and-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 29

by, however, there appears, towards the middle of the frond, one or many
darker longitudinal regions, which soon become bands, subsequently
changing to be diaphanous, when the ‘“‘utricles’ become larger and
spherical, sometimes disposed in a single series, sometimes in several, and
these, he says, are nourished and increased in size at the expense of the
surrounding smaller granules. These larger ‘‘ vesicles’ he now deno-
minates ‘‘propagules,”’ and states they ultimately make their escape
from the parent frond by its dehiscence at the central suture, or are pro-
truded, along with the remainder of the endochrome, en masse through a
pair of apertures on the under side of the frond. But farther—he be-
lieves that the active granules found at the extremities of this plant (as
well, indeed, in all the species of Closterium, and in some species of a few
other genera), preparatory to the emission of his ‘‘ propagules,”’ leave
their position at the extremity of the frond, and, becoming mixed with
them, exert a fertilizing function on the latter. The subsequent deve-
lopment of these ‘‘ propagules,’’ he states to consist in thew gradual
elongation from their original spherical form ; the endochrome, with the
gradual increase in size of the now young growing frond, becoming se-
parated into two portions, the terminal spaces with the active granules
soon making their appearance as in the adult Closterium, and further
increase in dimensions following, until the full size of the species is
attained. He, moreover, describes the act of conjugation (since accu-
rately described by Smith, /. ¢.); but, strange to say, he (M. Morren) does
not seem to look upon this as a true generative act, so far as I can judge;
but seems to think the sporangium (‘‘ seminule’’) resulting from the act
of conjugation is itself fertilized during the process by the agency of the
at first terminal motile particles. He states the further development of
the spherical sporangium (itself as great in diameter as the old frond),
previously undergoing a revolving motion for a few moments, to consist
merely in its gradual elongation in two opposite directions, but unequally,
thus forming two unequal cones. It is to be supposed, however, that he
must imagine the smaller cone would eventually keep up with the longer,
so as to restore the symmetry. Such is, briefly, Morren’s account of the
reproduction in this plant.

Professor Smith (/. ¢.) gives a nearly similar account of the process
of conjugation. The conjugative act in this species is not undertaken till
after the two original fronds about to conjugate have undergone self-di-
vision in the manner usual in this genus—that is to say, by self-fission,
effected by a division of the contents into two just under the suture,
accompanied by a development of new cell-wall to each old segment, and
separation taking place. The separated portions have now one long (and
old) cone, and one more blunt and rounded (the nascent younger one).
Now, in those individuals about to conjugate, from each of the shorter
or younger cones is protruded a blunt, pouch-like projection from the
lower and opposed sides of each, which approaching by gradual growth,

_ the contents from each emerge thereby, and, meeting half way, amalga-

mate with each other ; at the same time the other opposite portions of the
original parent fronds doing in precisely the same manner. Thus two

30 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

sporangia ultimately result from the two original fronds, conjugation
taking place between each of the opposite individualized pairs of par-
tially old, partially new, fronds—themselves resulting from the self-divi-
sion of the original parent fronds. A parallel phenomenon is furnished
in the process of conjugation by Closter’wm lineatum, as well as by se-
veral diatoms. Professor Smith was not able to see any further develop-
ment of the sporangium, and the propagules of Morren, he believed, had
no existence in fact.

I believe the explanation of Morren’s statement to be possibly some-
thing like the following:—From researches of recent date in regard to
the after development of the sporangium in the Desmidiacezx, it would
seem that it is by a repeated segmentation of the contents into a definite
number of portions, these by-and-by assuming the form of the parent
species and becoming set free by the bursting of the cell-wall of the
sporangium, and eventually growing larger, that the species is itself
perpetuated (Vide Hofmeister ‘‘On Reproduction in the Desmidie and
Diatomez,” translated in Annals of Natural History, January, 1858;
also, De Bary, ‘‘Untersuchungen iiber die Familie der Conjugaten, Zyg-
nemeen und Desmidieen,”’ taf. vi., figs. 12-24, and 35-46). Now it
seems probable that Morren’s ‘‘large vesicles” are but the starch gra-
nules common in these species, and that they were set free but by the
accidental fracture of the frond; that his germinating “ propagules,”’
stated to produce the plant by gradual extension and growth, were most
likely germinating sporangia, after the contents had undergone segmen-
tation into a number of separate portions; that the fronds with unequal
cones, supposed by him to result from the unequal growth of the spo-
rangium, may have been merely detached and accidentally unconjugated
fronds, after having undergone self-division. It is true that this ex-
plaining away of his statements leaves the function of the active termi-
nal granules in Closterium still unexplained ; but I apprehend the true
generative act in these plants is to be sought, and is found, in the act of
conjugation itself. But, even admitting the correctness of Morren’s ac-
count, and that there might be two modes of true generation in these
plants, still his “‘ propagules” could hardly be looked upon as zoospores,
as these latter bodies, in what I believe the strict and proper sense of
the term, do not undergo fertilization at all, and are ciliated and motile.
I may remark it is possible the statements I Have quoted from various
works may be based on Morren’s account just alluded to, yet I do not
find references made to his memoir (written in 1836). I may add that
Smith (/. ¢.) comes to the conclusion to which I had myself arrived, and
which I ventured ere now to express (“‘ Nat. Hist. Review,” vol. v. p-
240), that the swarming particles are not zoospores, and not connected ©
with the development of these species, and I am much pleased to find
my own previous ideas coinciding with those of so experienced an ob-
server. :

There is only one other record which seems to bear at all on this
point, at least which I have been able to gather, and it is questionable
whether it refers here. I allude to Ehrenberg’s f gure, given in his work

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 31

“Die Infusionsthierchen,” Plate ii. Fig. 15, where a number of green
zoospore-like bodies are figured within and external to an empty Clos-
terium ; these bodies, named by him Bodo viridis, and classed amongst the
Infusorial (‘‘ polygastric”) animalcules. Near the centre of the figure,
within the nearly empty frond of the Closterium, there is a green irre-
gular rugged mass. Could this be a portion of the granular endochrome
untransformed into ‘‘ zoospores’’—his animals of the species ‘‘ Bodo
viridis” ?

Having thus endeavoured to convey what I believe is the state of the
question as to the occurrence of zoospores in the family Desmidiacee, I
will next draw attention to the accompanying figures (Plate I., Figs. 1, 4).
Docidium Ehrenbergw here affords us an example of the production of a
few comparatively large ciliated bodies formed at the expense of the

_cell-contents of the parent cell, and which make their exit therefrom

through one or more specially formed lateral tubes. These bodies,
although I am quite ignorant of their after development, I cannot but
believe to be zoospores; and I imagine I am justified in the conclusion,
their appearance and mode of formation seems to be so comparable to
the zoospores in Cladophora, where they undoubtedly, as is well known
in this as in various other alge, propagate the plant and form young co-
lonies in abundance. The first indication of the commencement of the
phenomenon is the production of a single minute hyaline lateral tubercle,
or sometimes of two, or more rarely still of three such tubercles, just un-
der the inflation at the base of, I imagine, the younger segment (Fig. 1).
This tubercle arises—and the same holds when there are two or three—
not from any part of the original segments, but from a special extension
of the boundary wall interposed between the inflated base of the seg-
ment and the sutural line. In other words, the tubercle is not produced
between the segments by their separation at the suture, but from an ex-
tension or addition at the base to one only of the segments. On looking
at the drawings superficially, it might appear that the new growth, with
the projecting lateral extension, was a modification of the phenomenon,
some cases of which were figured and described by me in our Proceed-
ings of last session (ede Plate I., Figs. 10 to 15),* here merely differently
carried out with a definite end to meet a special exigency. But the case
is different here, for in the abnormal growths alluded to (J. c.), the new
irregular portions were added between the old segments by their separa-
tion at the suture, making a third development specially belonging to
neither old segment; whereas here, as I have just indicated, the new ad-
dition is an extension to the base of one only of the original seg-
ments. The growth of the additional lateral tube in the present in-
stance is comparable rather to the somewhat similar extension from the
shorter or younger cone, preparatory to conjugation, in Closteriwm Ehren-
bergwi, described a little back, except that here it is usually longer (or

* Nat. Hist. Review, vol. vi., p. 469, Plate XXXIII., Figs. 10-15.

og DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

more than one), and gives egress to separated portions of the endochrome,
individualized as zoospores, and not permitting it to extrude en masse
for the purpose of conjugating with the contents of a neighbouring frond ;
thus we not unfrequently observe in nature modifications of similar
means conducive to different ends. When the segment gives rise to one
tubercle only, this additional growth is gradually developed more and
more narrowly, diminishing to nothing at the opposite point of the cylin-
drical segment, so that the frond is thus thrown out of its straight or
nearly straight direction, and becomes bent into a knee-shape (Fig. 2).
Such is also the case when two such projections arise side by side. But
when two originate opposite to each other, or when there are three,
the frond is not thrown out of its straight form, because the new addi-
tion to the segment, from which these lateral growths take their origin,
now forms an annular extension equal all round, and the segment there-
fore becomes added to in length by just so much as the annular addition
is broad—and this is less than the 1-3000th part of an inch (Fig. 4). As
the case is pretty similar whether there be one, two, or three of these
lateral growths, I shall continue my remarks upon those cases where one
only is formed. The basal tubercle now gradually elongates, and becomes
a tube in direct connexion and continuation with the frond (like the
finger to a glove), and is about 1-3600th of an inch in diameter, but of
very varied degrees of length (Fig. 2). I have noticed some to cease to
grow after having barely attained about 1-10th or 1-8th part of the
length of the frond, and I have seen a few very long, almost if not quite
as long as the frond itself. The endochrome near the base of each seg-
ment, and in the neighbourhood of the lateral tube, next becomes very
finely granular, of an almost homogeneous appearance and the lateral
tube is filled byit. The remainder of the endochrome (even in the state
indicated by Fig. 2) is still but little altered from the ordinary condition,
and the terminal cavities with the active granules, characteristic of this
genus as well as of Closterium remain unchanged. The annular addition
and the lateral tubes are quite smooth, and destitute of the scattered .
puncta which characterize the empty frond in this species.

Now it is, I apprehend, not a little worthy of remark that the
swarming, active, disintegrated granules disassociated from the rest of
the endochrome, described above as of frequent occurrence, are met with
at this stage, as well as frequently at the stage indicated by Fig. 1, when
the lateral tube first appears as a mere tubercle ; and, moreover, presents
precisely the same appearance and conditions that other specimens of
this species (D. Hhrenbergii) on the same slide exhibit, but which are not
destined to undergo the other changes here described. Further, nume-
rous other species, which occurred in the same gathering, presented si-
milar examples of the molecular swarming movement; for example,
Docidium clavatum, Gonatozyon Ralfsii, various Cosmaria, &c. But I
think it is not less equally worthy of remark, that other specimens un-
dergoing the peculiar development, of which the production of the
lateral tube is a stage, did not indicate any molecular or swarming
movement of the minute granules of the endochrome—that in the termi-

rs, -

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 33

nal spaces, of course, excepted. On the whole, then, it does not appear
to me that these swarming granules had anything specially to do with
the production of the very different motile bodies now to be described.
I have before stated that the endochrome near the base of each seg-
ment, and filling the lateral tubes, becomes very finely granular; it next
becomes segmented into a definite number of rounded portions, or ‘‘ go-
nidia.”’ I was never able to count them exactly, but I suppose they
were not less than twenty, nor over fifty ; nor did the fact of there being
either two or three lateral tubes developed seem to indicate any very
great addition to the number of these bodies. That portion of the endo-
chrome not thus transformed into gonidia lying beyond them, and
extending to the ends of the segments, by this time loses its normal cha-
racter, and seems to become drawn into detached bands or strings, with
a few free granules, and the terminal cavity, with the active particles,
becomes lost. The gonidia lately formed at the middle of the frond
have now emerged through the opened apex of the lateral tube, and re-
main clustered together in a mass very much like a bunch of grapes, the
clusters becoming, by degrees, larger and larger, until all the gonidia
make their exit through the tube, and each adds its quota to the group
(Fig. 3). The same is the case when there are two or three tubes, the
only difference being that a fewer number, but generally about equal,
make their way through each (Fig. 4). Meantime, the unused endo-
chrome, which had become drawn into detached strings, now loses its
bright green colour, changing somewhat to an olive, finally turning
brown, and quite dying, and even, to a great extent, disappears (Figs. 8,
4). ach of the gonidia forming the external cluster appears by this
time to have formed for itself a special cell-wall of slightly compressed

or elliptic form, within which the green contents may often be seen

somewhat retracted. Now, a movement within its circumscribed prison
may be seen on the part of the contents of a few of the gonidia, which
takes the appearance of a twisting motion, backwards and forwards, as
it were on its axis, similar to what may be sometimes seen in the or-
ganisms called Trachelomonas by Ehrenberg. I have not noticed them
to turn completely round. These gonidia are, however, greatly smaller,
nor could I perceive any red spot. If such a comparison might not ap-
pear wholly out of place, I would be induced to say that the movement
of the green contents within the confinmg membrane reminded me
somewhat of the movement of the eye in certain Entomostraca. This
movement is not apparent in all the whole group of gonidia simulta-
neously, but only in a few at a time. Eventually, one by one, the green
contents leave the confining membrane in which they have hitherto

been detained ; but my observation being here incomplete, and my avo-

;

cations calling me away, I am unable to say in what manner they made
their exit. There certainly appeared no neck-like opening or perceptible
aperture, but they probably emerged by rupturing the boundary wall.
Having, however, made their escape, they swim away as ovate or pyri-
form ciliated bodies, pale at the narrower or pointed end, and green

_ otherwise throughout—in point of fact, veritable motile gonidia, or

F

34 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

zoospores, in every way comparable to the similar bodies found in other
algee (Fig. 4); their principal distinction from those, for instance, in Cla-
dophora, being their temporarily abiding in a cluster, each encysted in
its special coating. I vainly tried to satisfy myself whether these zoos-
pores were one or ¢wo-ciliated, but I was not able to decide this difficult
point. They were about 1-3600th of an inch in their narrower diame-
ter, and somewhat greater longitudinally. Having, one by one, es-
caped, the vacated cells remain not long attached at the apex of the la-
teral tube, and I think they fall away therefrom sometimes in amore or
less connected condition, and finally decay. The old frond now gene-
rally separates at the suture, one segment bearing away the empty spe-
cial structure described, the other, of course, unchanged; any remain-
ing endochrome by this time being quite brown, broken up, and dead,
if indeed it be not altogether vanished (Fig. 4). I imagine it may be
possible that in the native pool the whole of the endochrome might be-
come used up in the production of the zoospores, as the course of nature
"may have been more or less arrested under the conditions to which the
gathering had been necessarily subjected. The empty cell-membranes,
or old segments, were to be found for some time afterwards in the ga-
thering, when all traces of the zoospores had completely disappeared ; and
I may add, that the formation of zoospores occupied only two days when
there was a complete cessation of their development. I may also add
that the gathering, in which the phenomenon I have been endeavouring
to describe occurred, was made in September last.

A glance at the figures will be quite enough, as it seems to me,
however imperfect my own description may be, to prove that the phe-
nomenon in question cannot be mistaken for any development of the
parasitic growths Pythiwm entophytum (Pringsheim), or of any species of
Chytridium (Braun), although a hurried reading might possibly lead to
such a conclusion. These organisms consist of colourless pyriform or
flask-shaped bodies, with a more or less elongate neck,—in the former
instance originating, in greater or less numbers, within the cavity of
the cell attacked, and protruding their necks through its external wall,
—in the latter, seated externally wpon it—and both producing and
emitting very minute zoospores through their opened apices. Be these
curious growths antheridial structures or true parasites, which latter,
I apprehend, is most likely, there does not seem much danger of con-
founding that form placed under Braun’s genus Chytridium with the
phenomenon in Docidium above described, but a mistake, so far as re-
gards Pythium entophytum (Pringsheim), seems, perhaps, more worthy
guarding against. For a figure of this plant attacking Hremosphera
viridis (De Bary) (= Chlorosphera Oliveri, Henfrey), see ‘‘ Micrographic
Dictionary,” Pl. xlv., Fig. 8.* It has, also, been noticed by Carter
attacking the cells of Spirogyra, by Brébisson infesting various Desmi-
diac, and is sometimes met with in Closterium lunula. In Pythium

* ‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles Bot.,” 4 Ser., tome xi., Pl. 7, fig. 1.

-t ee

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 35

the several distinct parasites seem to be nourished at the expense of the
contents of the infested cell, presently protruding their tubular necks
through its boundary wall, outside which they burst at their apices
and discharge exceedingly minute ‘‘ zoospores,’’ formed from what has
now become their own proper cell-contents, which are not green;
whereas, as above indicated in the phenomenon in Docidium, now here
for the first time described, the tubular extensions are produced directly
from an addition to the original cell-wall itself, and with which they
are in absolute continuation, and through the apices of which the cell-
contents of the frond are emitted by its own direct conversion into
zoospores, and which are green and comparatively large, after the man-
ner of Cladophora. Pringsheim seems to see little difficulty in suppos-
ing it as easy for the zoospores in Pythium, having arrived at the
surface of a suitable confervoid, to penetrate or absorb their way into
the cell, as it is for their tubular necks in a similar manner eventually
to protrude from within through the outer wall.

I have, however, lately met with a parasitic growth attacking Clos-
terium lunula, and which I refer doubtfully to Pythiwm (Pringsheim),
and of which Fig. 5 is a drawing. Pringsheim’s plant, met with by
him in the conjugated joints of a Spirogyra, he refers to the family Sa-
prolegniee. That observer suggests that a ramification of this parasite
may exist in the interior, so that the numerous projecting utricles may
possibly be connected amongst themselves within the remains of the cell-
contents of the infested Spirogyra. Therefore, he says that the bodies
with elongated necks may actually be the sporangia separated from the
vegetative part of the plant by a septum placed deeply beneath the con-
tents of the infested Spirogyra-spore. This, however possible it may be
in Pringsheim’s plant, does not seem to hold in the curious growth
figured (Fig. 5). Here, at least, each individual plant seems to be a
flask-shaped body, without any connexion with its neighbours: in one
case, indeed, I noticed two of the necks to inosculate within the frond
of the Clostertum. In a word, each flask-shaped body, so far as I can
see, may be said here to combine in itself both the vegetative, as well
as the fructifying portion; the whole plant at maturity being, as it were,
converted into a sporangium.

In the earliest condition in which I saw this plant, the bodies within
the Closterium appeared rounded vesicles, each with a short neck. The
neck of each, by gradual extension, reaches the old cell-wall of the
Closterium ; penetrating which, it grows to a very considerable extent
into the surrounding water. Just within the boundary wall of the
Closterium, each shows a very decided enlargement of the neck, and
the extremity of each is distinctly clavate. So far it appears to agree
with Pringsheim’s Pythium. But it differs therefrom, inasmuch as the
cell-contents are green, not colourless, as well as in the great length of
the necks.

Now I regret I am unable to affirm that the numerous orbicular,
spore-like bodies in the neighbourhood (Fig. 5) are the produce of the

contents of the organism in question, as I did not see their production—

36 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

but I cannot doubt it. When I made this particular gathering, I did
not meet the Closterium so affected in numbers sufficient to make any
definite observations; but I suppose the plants must have given birth
to, and emitted their contents in the form of the gonidia lying about.
For certainly, the bodies scattered around did not occur anywhere else,
but always in the neighbourhood of a Closterium containing these or-
ganisms ; and.where they nearly all, or a few only, still contained their
endochrome, these abounded close by in the relative numbers to be ex-
pected. Admitting them to be such, it may appear questionable whether
this growth be connected with the development of the Closterium itself,
or whether it be a true parasite. I am disposed myself to think the
latter. But, be this as it may, I need hardly insist on the essential dis-
tinctness between the phenomenon depicted in Fig. 5, and the condition
of Docidium shown in Figs. 1 to 4. It may be well to say that the
three ovate ciliated bodics on the Plate near Fig. 4 represent the zoo-
spores appertaining to it, whereas all the other scattered orbicular bodies
belong to Fig. 5. Notwithstanding any description I can offer is so
very incomplete, I venture to think the drawing itself (a faithful copy
from nature), may prove interesting. It seems highly probable that
Ehrenberg’s genus Polysolenia, included by him and by Kiitzing in Des-
midiace (vide Kiitzing, ‘‘ Species Algarum’’), must have been truly a
Closteri1um (probably C. didymotocum) so attacked. I draw attention
here to this very interesting growth, in order to guard against any pos-
sibility of its being thought the remarkable condition of Docidium is

identical with it, or that I may have myself in any way mistaken the | |

one for the other.

Here, however, my observations conclude, for I am totally unaware
of the after development of the motile gonidza, the original formation and
emission of which I have described. It may be urged that I cannot prove
these bodies to be truly zoospores, because I cannot prove they grow into
young Docidia, as can more or less readily be done according to the spe-
cies in various other Algz, in which the growth of the zoospores into
young plants similar to the parent is witnessed with not great difficulty.
Possibly the bodies I have described may be but equivalent to those de-
scribed in some alge as microgonidia by the German writers; but I can-
not for the present see the probability of this assumption, and imagine
they are more likely to be true motile buds or zoospores. It will be
borne in mind that the true generative process in Docidium Ehrenbergi,
like all other undoubted Desmidians, is by conjugation. -

Assuming that I am right, the bearing of the fact would not be in the
least to affect the acknowledged affinities of this family with their
more immediate allies, the Zygnemacee, or with the Diatomacez ; for in
the former, in Spirogyra and Mougeotia, ciliated motile bodies, probably
zoospores, have been noticed; while in the Diatomacee, although such
a phenomenon had been previously suspected, I need only advert to the
researches of the Rey. E. O’Meara (Joc. cit.), which render it equally
probable, if not decided, that such a mode of propagation prevails also in
that family.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 37

Such, then, is an account, deficient, as I regret it is, in many points,
of what I cannot but look upon, so far as I can make out, as a new and
unrecorded phase in the life-history of this beautiful and interesting fa-
mily, the Desmidiaceze, —a life-history, still obscure in many ofits details,
but yet one which I aver will not yield in interest to any other portion in
the wide domain of our comprehensive science of Natural History, and one
also on which I shall deem myself very fortunate and very happy should
these humble observations of mine, here recorded, ever be found even-
tually to shed even a dim and solitary ray of light in its elucidation.

~ Mr. Wiruiam Arcuer also read a paper—
FURTHER NOTES ON ABNORMAL GROWTH IN THE DESMIDIACER.

In a former paper read to this Society (vide Nat. Hist. Rev., vol. vi,
page 469), I drew attention to an abnormal mode of growth affecting
several species of Desmidiacee. This consisted in there being produced
between the old segments, not a pair of new ones eventually to become
symmetrical with the old, but an irregular, more or less unsymmetrical
inflated expansion, forming with the old segments but one uninterrupted
cavity ; and this kind of monstrosity I endeavoured to show might pro-
bably be primarily due to the omission of the formation of a septum as
‘a preliminary to ordinary vegetative growth. In Pl. xii., Fig. 7, I bring
forward what seems to be a further extension of the same identical con-
dition of Arthrodesmus incus, as that figured in Pl. xxxii., Fig. 11,
l. c. Inthe case last indicated, as in the others, there must exist a
suture between the older segments and the intermediate abnormal growth
—that is, the latter has become interposed between the older segments
by their separation at the original suture.

Now Fig. 7 of the present plate seems to indicate that the vegeta-
tive energy is not necessarily arrested; for between the central growth
(of the first case in A. cncus figured), and each of the original segments,
a new expansion has been formed—the whole, that is, the older seg-
ments and the now three intervening portions (the middle one being the
older) forming still one uninterrupted cavity, and filled with endo-

-chrome throughout. The entire structure, under a low power, might
be mistaken for a Scenodesmus; but, when sufficiently magnified, its real
nature is quite apparent. The specimen (Fig. 7) occurred amongst
several others in the condition figured with my former paper (Fig. 11),
both mixed with multitudes in the normal state, some in the dividing
condition. There does not seem any readily assignable limit to the
extent to which this monstrosity might be carried; yet, even supposing it
had attained some considerable length, and that the extraordinary struc-
ture should survive its own fragility, a time must come, I conceive, as
in ordinary individuals, when its vegetative energy would be spent.

Fig. 6 represents a remarkable mycelioid growth occurring within
a Olosterium lunula, noticed in the paper alluded to, read to the Society
(page 472, J. c), remarkable on account of the impossibility, except on

38 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Pringsheim’s theory in regard to Pythium, of accounting for the origin
of such a curious internal parasite.

In the absence of the author, the Secretary read the following :—

NOTES ON SOME OF THE MARINE ANIMALS TO BE MET WITH ON THE SHORE AT
SPANISH POINT, MILTOWN MALBAY, COUNTY OF CLARE, BY F. J. FOOT,
G.S.1I., CORRESPONDING MEMBER.

Tue present notice is not intended as a disquisition on the structure of
the animals alluded to in the heading; it is solely brought forward to
draw the attention of those interested in this branch of natural history
to this part of the western coast. The reefs of horizontal or nearly
horizontal strata of rock, which extend seaward around Spanish Point
to a considerable distance from the cliffs at low water, afford a fine field
to the sea-shore collector. Innumerable little pools, natural aquaria,
are everywhere around him, all abounding in marine animals. Those
which most attracted my attention were the Actiniade, of which seve-
ral species are to be found.

Anthea cereus.—This species is here extremely plentiful. It occurs
most abundantly at or near low-water mark at the sides and bottoms of
pools, and can be removed by the nail, care being taken, however, not
to wound the base of the animal. Anthea cereus is of a pale fawn colour,
with long, thin, waving tentacles, the ends of which have a very pecu-
liar greenish purple dress, something like shot silk. I kept several
individuals of this species in a vessel of sea-water, which was changed
constantly, and observed that they have the power of retracting their
tentacles to a considerable degree, so as that merely the little purple tips
are visible.

Sagartia nivea.—Very abundant at low water; generally ofan
orange fawn colour, with snow-white tentacles; glands small, whitish
or pale orange. As these animals generally frequent small holes in the
rocks, the only way of capturing them is to break off a piece of the rock
with a hammer. They thrive well in an aquarium. They are grega-
rious, collecting together in great numbers. Among the colony I found
a beautiful form, which seems to be a variety of Sagartia nivea. The
following description is from accurate notes, made while watching the
animal in a basin of sea-water:—Base, light orange; glands small,
numerous, pale orange; disk, brownish fawn-coloured, radiated, some-
what more than one inch in diameter when fully expanded; two snow-
white rays, each a little less than one line broad in the middle, extend
from opposite sides of the mouth to the first row of tentacles; those of
each of the four inner rows alternating with those in the row both be-
fore and behind, tapering, mottled, or streaked; tentacles in the outer
row much more numerous than those in the four inner, but smaller and
thinner, orange pink, passing into gray at the tips. Another curious
form was one I found associated with S. nvea, and frequenting holes.
Body small, pmkish orange; glands few, pale, small; about the mouth

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 39

dark brownish fawn colour; disk crimson, with a satiny lustre; tenta-
cles fawn colour, somewhat sanguine, long, thin, snake-like, and in
alternating rows.

Sagartia rosea.—This pretty species occurs in company with Nivea,
butis much rarer. It is easily distinguished by its bright rose-coloured
tentacles. The body is a dull orange.

Sagartia dianthus.—Its curiously plaited disk and tentacles put
one in mind of a head of curly kale. I have seen it as large as four
inches in diameter. It is generally of an orange fawn colour. It is
extremely difficult to detach it from the rock, as it generally fixes its
base in some crevice in the side of the pool it frequents.

Sagartia troglodytes (?).—This species generally frequents holes in
pools at low water, the bottom of which pools is covered with sand.
The brown disk and grayish tentacles just appear above the sand. At
the slightest touch they quickly disappear, and thus elude capture. Of
all the Anemones, they are the most difficult to take.

Bunodes crassicornis.—This species is very common in the bottom of
pools, at or near low-water mark. It often escapes observation by at-
taching to itself fragments of sand and shells; but a little practice soon
enables the eye to detect it, even when thus covered. There isa large
pool half a mile north-east of Spanish Port, about three feet deep in the
middle. It is literally paved with Bunodes crassicornis of various sizes
and colours. Some are fully six inches in diameter, if not more; and
some, with their large, tapering, snow-white tentacles, contrast pleas-
ingly with the ordinary red or gray form. With them are associated Sag.
dianthus of large size, and Anthea cereus in abundance. A calm, sunny
day at dead low water and spring-tide is the proper time to view this natu-
ral aquarium, and the sight is sufficient to repay almost any trouble in
making the visit. This beautiful pool lies half a mile north-east of
Spanish Point, and about two hundred yards south of the little creek
known by the name of ‘‘ The Boiling Cauldron.”’ To the north of this,
in a little pool under the cliff, ten or fifteen feet above low-water mark,
I captured what appears to be rather a singular variety of Bunodes cras-
sicornis. Itadhered to the rock in a crevice in the side of the pool, and
its position rendered its capture no easy matter. I, however, succeeded
in detaching it uninjured, after a good deal of trouble. It was of ave-
rage size, body blood-red, warted, and without sand or shells adhering
to it. The tentacles, instead of being short and thick, were fully four
inches long, hanging down, and tapering very gradually towards the
point. They presented the appearance of a lot of dark-red worms float-
ing together in the water. This individual lived well in a basin, and
eat pieces of meat voraciously.

Bunodes gemmacea.—This beautiful species is not at all so plentiful
as Crassicornis. It is not gregarious, seldom more than two or three
being met with together. Its usual haunts are small pools at about half
ebb tide.

Smooth Anemone, Actinia mesembryanthemum.—This well-known

40 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

species is to be met with around Spanish Point in every pool, and ad-
hering to the rocks high and dry. They are of every shade of green
and red, and sometimes nearly white. I kept quantities of Anemones
alive in vessels in which the water was constantly changed; but, even
with the constant changing, a little sea-weed is indispensable. It is
interesting to watch them while eating raw meat—first bringing it by
means of their tentacles towards the mouth,-where it gradually disap-
pears with the tentacles themselves. After an hour or two the animal
disgorges the meat in the form of a white mass, from which the nutri-
ment has been extracted.

Echinodermata.—The bottom of almost every pool is studded with
Echinus lividus, varying in size, and either of a bright purple or olive-
green hue. They inhabit hemispherical cavities made by themselves in
the rocks, adhering by their suckers or ambulacral organs. I only met
with two other species of star-fish, Uraster rubens, small specimens of
of which are to be had in most pools by lifting up the sea-wrack and
examining carefully.

Inidia fragilissima.—I found a specimen of this star-fish half out of
the water, and moving almost imperceptibly by means of its ambulacral
organs, at the edge of the large pool north-east of Spanish Point. It
measured twelve inches in diameter, that is between the tips of the
opposite fingers. It was of a greenish hue, and the suckers of a pale
orange yellow. I brought it home in safety, and endeavoured to pre-
serve it, but one of the fingers broke across in the drying process.

I also captured a fine specimen of the Holothuriade in a small pool,
close to low-water mark. It was upwards of ten inches in length, and
was moored by its suckers to the shady side of the pool, evidently lying
in wait for whatever prey might be unfortunate enough to come within
its reach. Its colour was dark purplish-brown above, and dull gold-
yellow, or rather the colour of the belly of a bog trout, beneath. I use
the terms ‘‘ above” and ‘‘ beneath” according to the horizontal position

in which I first remarked it. The ambulacral organs seemed to be ©

thickly dispersed all over the body, and apparently not in regular rows.
When placed in a vessel of sea-water, it several times expanded its ten-
tacles, which were of an orange colour, and presented a most singular
and beautiful appearance. It was constantly changing its form and
size, so that sometimes it was not more than six inches in length. I

sent the specimen up to the Royal Zoological Society’s Gardens in >

Phoenix Park, but it unfortunately disappeared on the journey; proba-

bly it died and shrivelled up so much as to be undistinguishable from:

the alge in whichit was packed. It appears to be H. mger. My sea-
shore researches were very cursory, as I had other duties to attend to;
but I have no doubt that a skilful collector, who had plenty of time to
devote to this fascinating branch of natural history, would find himself
well rewarded by a visit to Spanish Point.

After some discussion a ballot took place, and the Chairman declared
the following duly elected :—

= ee

a ae |

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 41

Ordinary Member :—Thomas Bewley, Esq., Dublin.
Corresponding Member :—John Roland, Esq., M. D., Bangor, Wales.
The Meeting then adjourned to the 2nd of March.

FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1860.
Wim Anprews, M.R.I.A., Presrpent, in the Chair.

Tue previous Minutes having been read, were signed.

The President delivered an address commemorative of the night of
meeting having fallen on the anniversary of the Society, Friday, March
2, 1838. In this address he reviewed the proceedings of the Society
since its foundation. Its formation was due to the zeal of a few gentle-
men, who, finding that there was at the time no Society in the city given
to the popular study of Irish natural history, nor any museum having
for its object the collection of Irish natural history objects, thought that

_ a profitable impulse might be given to the study of natural history by
founding a Society having as its objects the study of Irish zoology and
botany (the Geological Society, founded in 1832, having preoccupied
the field of geology and mineralogy), and the collecting together Irish
specimens in these branches. The papers read at the several sessions of
the Society were enumerated, showing that many of the monographs
since published in illustration of Irish natural history had first seen light
-in the meetings of this Society. After a lengthened review of these,
and a contrast between the state of Irish natural history at the period
of the foundation of this Society and its present condition, the address
concluded. ‘‘My reason for not commenting on the progress science
generally had made in natural history was for the purpose, on this, the
anniversary day of the Society, of detailing the records of its former
exertions, which had so long lain hidden in its Minutes, and which
many of the present Members had not seen.”

The thanks of the Society were voted unanimously to the President.

Rey. Samuel Haughton, F. R.8., read a paper on ‘‘ The Geometric
Form of the Cell of the Honey-bee, and the facts deducible therefrom.”

After due ballot, the following were declared duly elected :—

Corresponding Member :—George O’Brien, M. D., Ennis, county of
Clare. Py

Associate Member :—William Williams, Westmoreland-street.

The Meeting then adjourned to the 13th of April.

FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 13, 1860.
Witt1m Anprews, M. R.I.A., President, in the Chair.

Tur Minutes of the previous Meeting having been confirmed, were
signed.

G

42 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Professor Joun R. Kinanan, F.L.S., read the following paper—
ADDENDUM TO MAMMALOGIA HIBERNICA—CHEIROPTERA,

I raxe this opportunity of presenting to your Society a specimen of the
hairy-armed bat (Scotophilus Leislert), captured some twelve years since
at Belvoir Park, near Belfast, and also of completing my former paper
on the Irish Bats, by giving a detailed description of this species, which
was then omitted, and the first record of which occurs in a paper of mine
contributed this month to the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical
Society, through the kindness of some of whose members I first became
aware of the occurrence of the species in Ireland.
Hairy-armed Bat (Scotophilus Leislert) ; Geof.

Dentition: 4, 2, 4:6; total, +8.

Kars two-thirds length of head, deeply notched at base; tragus,
apex expanded, rounded, blunt, sides slightly excavate, nearly one-half
the length of ear; fore-arm with a broad, hairy band beneath; fur, dark,
duskyish-red above, lighter beneath.

Dimensions.
Inches.

Length of head and Bee, why + pure heatiay 5, Speen

Pemeeed CoF2 1 Figs ks tie. OS eel

a a ace ts gt, 8 se de ee Bea oh TS

oe CAN sn bie a wie go.) ae era ane ae

A a 22) (Sa ea RO Sa, aT 8 5

Sone JOterania. a ORIN 1°75

» Spread of wings, ae: a Ge 75

Tragus narrow at base, inner edge excavate, outer edge slightly ex-
cavate. Ears rounded externally, deeply notched at base, next notch a
lobe, a small separate lobe at junction with mouth, base of ear continued
towards and nearly attaining angle of mouth, internally rounded, lobed.
Fur very long, soft, and silky; on back, dark-bluish at base, duskyish
red at tips; belly, hairs dark reddish-brown at base, grayish-white at
tips; membranes dark; beneath a band of long, grayish-yellowish hair,
0'4 inch in breadth, extending from flanks over second finger, and to
margin of third; interfemoral, hairy above and below; interfemoral
bands distinctly marked, few in number (9°9); nose broad and flattened,
eyes hid in fur.

Additional measurements: Length of exserted portion of tail, 1-75
inch; breadth of ears, 0°37 inch; humerus, 0°75 inch; cubitus, 1:75
inch; pollex, 0°25 inch; second finger, 1°9 inch; third finger, 2°5
inches; fourth finger, 3 inches; fifth finger, 2°9 inches; femur, 0°5
inch; leg, 0°7 inch nearly; toes, to end of nail, 0°375 inch; hallux,
0°6 inch.

Habitat unknown.

Localities: Belvoir Park, county of Down; Belfast, county of An-
trim, July, 1858.

“

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 43

Habits: According to Mr. Darragh’s account, with whom the last-
quoted. specimen lived for ten days, it was at first shy, but afterwards
became tamer, and fed readily.

For the record of this interesting addition we are indebted to Mr.
William Darragh, Curator of the Museum of the Natural History and
Philosophical Society of Belfast. He obtained it living from a man who
knocked it down with a fishing-rod in Blackstaff-lane, Belfast. Profes-
sor G. Dickie, on examination of it, pronounced it new to Ireland, and
a Scotophilus (Noctule). Circumstances prevented his bringing it for-
ward, and in the autumn of 1859, when my attention was called to the
specimen by Mr. Patterson, he kindly gave me his notes on the matter.
On my pointing out the characters of the bat to Mr. Darragh, he told
me of another specimen which had been obtained at Belvoir Park, and
which was in the possession of the family of the gamekeeper, by whom
it had been shot. Subsequently, he procured me this specimen, and
such particulars of its history as left no doubt of its having been actually
captured as stated. On a critical comparison, the specimens were found
to be identical. In January, 1860, I compared my specimen with
Leach’s original specimen in the British Museum, and found them the
same. ‘The species seems to be a rare one everywhere, as, according to
the authorities, it is rare in museums. I need not dwell on the interest
of this addition to the Irish lists, and that so large a species should have
so long escaped notice, holds out hope that some of the other species still
wanting in our lists may yet turn up.

Wir11uM Anprews, Ese., President, read a paper—
ON THE SYNGNATHIDH, OR PIPE-FISH FAMILY.

I regret that I was unable to be present at the meeting in December

last, at which Dr. Corrigan gave his observations ‘‘ On some Structural

Peculiarities in the Pipe-fishes’’—observations that were of interest be-

- eause so few have had the opportunity of examining the habits of these

singular fishes in the living state. The Syngnathide are most remark-
able in their structural characters, forming™an order called Lophobranchii
from the singular character of the gills, which are not pectinated, nor in

equal lamin, but disposed in pairs, in small tufts,—a peculiarity not ex-

isting in other fishes. Their bodies are very slender, much tapering
towards the tail, almost destitute of flesh, and covered with plated scales ;
have a natatory bladder, and a tubular muzzle or snout formed like that

of Fistularide.. In the British seas and on the coasts of Ireland we have

s

six species :—Two Marsupial fish, having true caudal fins, Syngnathus
acus, and S. typhle; four Ophidial, viz., S. equoreus, and S. anguineus,
having each a rudimentary caudal fin; S. ophidion, and S. lumbrici-
formis, in which there is no caudal fin, the tail terminating in a fine
point. All these species are exceedingly common in the harbours and
estuaries of the south-west coast of Ireland; and another of the Syng-
nathide, Hippocampus brevirostris, has been taken in Smerwick Har-
bour, coast of Kerry. Of the Marsupial species, Syngnathus acus and

44 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

S. typhle are plentiful in Dingle Harbour in the spring and early months
of summer, frequenting stony ground abounding with alge, in depths of
four to six feet, where the development and protection of their ova can
be accomplished. I have frequently taken both species in states of spawn-
ing, the S. typhle with the young partially extricated from the ova,
freed from the sub-caudal pouch of the male, and actively swimming,
whilst other portions of the ova in the pouch were not matured. These
two species, having a true caudal fin, exercise it as a propeller, similarly
to other fishes, it not being prehensile, as in the other sections. The
manner of passing the ova to the marsupial bag of the male fish is sin-
gular. In shoal water, or a low tide, these fish may sometimes be seen
in pairs, side by side, apparently stationary on some rocky stone. At
this time the ova—the capsules but imperfectly matured—are liberated
from the female, and received into the abdominal sac of the male, the
male fish having the power of expanding the lappings of the sac, and
attaching the ova by a highly viscid or glutinous secretion. In time, as
the process of maturation advances, the capsules of the ova enlarge,
forming hemispherical depressions in the sac, and eventually the pouch
is foreed open by the full development of the ova and extrication of the
young. In the other species, the genus Nerophis of the last edition of
Yarrell, and the Acestra of other authors, the male fish are destitute of
the abdominal or caudal pouch, and, unlike the last, have no or scarcely
any caudal fin, their long tapering tail enabling them to twine around
and cling to the stems of the larger alge. In Dingle Harbour the S.
aquoreus may be met with very abundantly, in the summer months,
spawning in the months of June and July. This is the largest and most
beautiful of the species, the girth of the body being oval, of a long
tapering form to the tail, the colour of a beautiful fawn tinged with
orange, and marked with numerous pale yellow rings. The irides are
dark, tinged with yellow. In the female fish the abdomen is keeled,
in that of the male depressed. A similar process as to the transfer of
the ova takes place in the fish as described in the last, with the excep-
ticn that the males have no abdominal sac to enclose the ova. These
fish, under favourable opportunities of calmness and of tides, may be
seen side by side clinging with their tails to the tufts of Zostera marina,
in which position the male is enabled to attach to the abdomen the ova,
by the same influence of viscid secretion alluded to in the marsupial
species. This kind of depression in the abdomen of the male is clearly
shown in the specimens of S. lumbriciformis submitted to you, and in
which the ova, attached in three rows, are seen. The S. angwincus and
S. ophidion are similar in habit to S. equoreus, frequenting the same
localities in the spawning seasons, and agreeing in other characters and
peculiarities, with exception that the larger species are sometimes tound
in very deep water, at periods when not spawning. The S. lumbrici-
forms is more frequent in rocky pools under stones, and is the smallest
of British pipe-fishes. It is extensively distributed round our coasts, and
is remarkable for its beautiful markings, especially about the head, of
wavy bars, and with white spots along the length of its body. The

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 45

irides are reddish. It spawns and perfects its young in July. I regret
that I could not obtain for the meeting recent specimens, to have ex-
hibited the interesting novelty, certainly first detected and described
by Dr. Corrigan, of the manner in which the fish, in feeding, exercises a
power for the inflating of the pouch or gullet, and the expansion of the
jaw and mouth. I was aware of the singular manner of the distending
of the throat and mouth of the Dory, Zeus faber in receiving its food, and
of singular peculiarities in Centriscus, and in the Capros aper, but the
power in the Syngnathus appears altogether new, and seems analogous
to the peculiarity in the vesicular inflation exercised by the hyoid bone
in the howling monkeys, which communicates with the larynx, and pro-
duces the sound which gives the appellation to the animal. It is quite
obvious how necessary are practical investigations in the living state to
arrive at any accuracy in the characteristic habits of animals, and hence
have resulted the observation of Dr. Corrigan. I should have mentioned
that I have noticed S. equoreus greedily stripping the stems of Zostera
marina of the young of Anthea cereus, which were attached in a semi-
glutinous state.

Specimens of the different species from Ventry and Dingle Harbour
were exhibited.

Mr. R. Callwell observed that whilst the Syngnathide were under
discussion, it was a suitable time to observe that some years ago, 1849,
he obtained a recent specimen of the S. hippocampus, which was found
on the North Bull, Dublin. His friend, the late William Thompson,
_ being with him soon after, at his request the specimen was lent to him
for the purpose of exhibition. Mr. Thompson’s death occurred before
the restoration of the specimen. Mr. Callwell’s reason for alluding to
it was because, as far as he could learn, this was the first instance of
the Hippocampus brevirostris being found recent on our coast. What
became of the specimen, Mr. Callwell was unaware, but he had intended
it for the Museum of the Society.

Professor Kinahan communicated to the Meeting a list of rare marine
animals, captured by him in Dublin, chiefly during the late low tides.
Of these, at Sandycove, in the extreme laminarian zone, he had met
| Galathea squamifera, very abundant ; Pilumnus hirtellus, do., do.; Nika
edulis, a single specimen, as Irish previously only recorded in Galway.
In all, twenty-three species of stalk-eyed crustacea occurred in a very
limited locality. Among the other groups he communicated that interest-
ing Holothuriad, Synapta inherens (Miller), Chirodota Montagui (Forbes).

The earliest notice of this species, under its proper name, was that re-
corded in Thompson’s “‘ Trish Fauna,” vol. iv., page 443, as having been
obtained in March, 1848, by Mrs. W. J. Handcock, at Balbriggan, county
of Dublin. The species is also recorded (2b. p. 444), under Forbes’ name,
as having been obtained at Carrickfergus, December, 1843. Messrs.
Woodward and Barrett, in their recent monograph on the genus
Synapta in the “‘ Annals of Natural History,” have totally overlooked the
former of these notices, although it was published in 1856. Dr.

46 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Kinahan’s specimen was ‘found burrowing in coarse granite sand, near
the battery, Sandycove, at extreme low water. In the sands of the
zostera banks, Syrine granulosus ? (AU Coy) occurs plentifully. Dublin
Bay specimens of Portunus arcuatus and Galathea nexa, the latter an
addition to the list, were exhibited, as also specimens of Synapta i-
herens, which were shown to be identical with the figures and details in
the ‘‘ Zoologica Danica.”

The Meeting then adjourned.

FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1860.
Wituiam Anprews, M. R.I. A., President, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes were read and signed.

The Honorary Secretary read the following :—

NOTES ON THE CORMORANTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CASTLECONNELL.
BY G. HENRY KINAHAN, C.E., CORRESPONDING MEMBER,

In reply to your queries concerning the habits of the cormorants in the
neighbourhood of Castleconnell, especially as to their roosting on trees,
the following, which I copy from my diary, may interest some of your
members; you may, therefore, lay them before your Society at its next
meeting. They chiefly bear on the partial migration of these birds.

Nov. 2, 1859.—Remarked a cormorant flying over the Shannon, a
short distance above the Leap of Donass. When observed, it was flying
as if to alight among the trees on a small island there situated, but
when near the’ trees it suddenly turned, as if afraid to pitch among
them; I had not seen a cormorant in this neighbourhood previously.
Immediately after seeing the bird, I met one of the water-bailiffs, who
informed me that in the winter they always come here from Derry on
Lough Derrig, where they spend the summer to feed on the eels, and
that at night they roost on the trees in the above-mentioned island.

Noy. 16.—Saw a cormorant roosting on a branch of a poplar tree in
the island above the Leap.

Jan. 19, 1860.—Four or five cormorants every evening for the last
fortnight roost on the island above the Leap.

Jan. 28.—Six cormorants are now to be seen on the trees of an
evening. :

Jan. 24.—Seven cormorants this evening were at the island, one of
which is evidently a new-comer, as, while I was there, he made six
attempts to alight on the branches, without succeeding. It was very
curious to watch him. His first attempt was unsuccessful, as he came
up as if to alight on a cliff, and over he went, performing two or three
summersets in the air; the second attempt had a similar result ; the third
succeeded, so far that he remained on the branch for a second, when he
toppled over ; as he fell, he seized the branch in his bill, and hung on
in that position for more than five minutes, during all which time he

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 47

was trying to regain his footing on the branch, having the appearance
as if he was dancing in the air. The fourth attempt was similar to
the first; while, in the fifth and sixth, he again went through the dance,
after which he gave it up and resumed his fishing on the Shannon,
although subsequently he must have succeeded, for when I returned up
the Shannon there were seven of them roosting. The cormorants that
were ‘‘ wp” to the trees always came to them gently, and when they
had alighted on a branch, immediately spread their wings to balance
themselves, in which position they remained until the branch had ceased
oscillating. I left the neighbourhood on the 25th, and on my way to
Dublin remarked a number of cormorants about the south end of Lough
Derrig, especially near Killaloe. All the birds seen belonged to the
great cormorant, some of them being very old birds.

Proressor Kinawan read a paper, illustrated by recent specimens,
Ow tHe Britis Portuni”, chiefly in reference to Portunus holsatus and
its two varieties, one of which approaches P. marmoreus, whilst the
other is nearer to P. depurator. The existence of these varieties, Pro-
fessor Kinahan thought, explained the discrepancies and confusion
which have arisen as to the distinction between P. marmoreus, P. hol-
satus, and P. depurator.

The following gentleman was elected an Honorary Member :—M.
Alphonse de Brebisson Alsace.

The Meeting then adjourned.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1860.
Wuituiam Anprews, M.R.I.A., President, in the Chair.

The previous Minutes were read and signed.

The PrestpEnT communicated to the Society some interesting na-
tural history notes, which he hoped to lay in detail before them at a future
time. He exhibited a curious malformed trout, identical with the
variety figured in Yarrell; Mr. Andrews’ specimen had been sent nae by
Mr. F, J. Foot.

The Honorary Sxcrerary read a paper—

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF TRICHOMANES RADICANS IN THE COUNTY OF LIME-
RICK, WITH A LIST OF THE FERNS OF KILLALOE. BY G. H. KINAHAN,
Bs 6.8.1.

Iw a paper on the Distribution of Fernsin Ireland (vide Proceedings, vol.ii.,
p- 96), the author has recorded Zrichomanes radicans from the Sliebh
Camailte range of hills, on the authority of specimens in the Glasneyin
Gardens, which Mr. Moore received from Mr. G. A. Pollock. I am happy
to inform the Society that I have personally verified the statement, hay-
ing had the good fortune to meet with the fern, growing luxuriantly,
in one of the glens. Its retreat is exactly similar to the habitat in which

48 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

the fern is found on Tore Mountain, at Killarney, except that the Li-
merick station has an eastern aspect instead of northern. TI also send a
list of the ferns I have observed growing in the neighbourhood of Kil-
laloe.

Common Polypody (P. vulgare): Generally abundant.

Lobed Shield Fern (P. lobatwm): Keeper range, shady places; not
abundant.

Angular Shield Fern (P. angulure): Shady hedges near Newport,
abundant; Keeper glens.

Heath Shield Fern (ZL. oreopteris): Gortnagee, two miles N. W. of
Killaloe and Glennagalliagh, four miles N. W. of ditto; abundant.

Male Shield Fern (LZ. filix mas); Generally abundant; both forms.

Lastrea dilatata: Generally abundant, in shady places, on the Keeper
range. A remarkably attenuated form of this species grows abundantly
in exposed places.

Brees’ Fern (LZ. fenesecit) : Glens of the Keeper range; abundant.

Lady Fern (4. filix feemina): Generally abundant; hill-sides and
hedges.

Lady Fern (A. f. feemina, var. Rheticum): Glenagalliagh. Here this
variety is very well marked, and the rachis is of a dark reddish-purple
hue. .

Wall Rue (4. ruta muraria): Walls; locally abundant.

_Maiden-hair, Spleenwort (4. trichomanes): Generally abundant;
chiefly on walls.

Black-stalked Spleenwort (4. adiantum nigrum): Walls ;, Senerally
abundant.

Common Hartstongue (8S. vulgare): Locally abundant.

Scaly Ceterach (C. officiarum): Walls; locally abundant.

Northern Hard Fern (8. spicant): Hills; abundant.

Fragile Bladder Fern (Cystopteris fragile): Road-side, 8. of Scariff
Bay ; tolerably abundant. Found by F. J. Foot, Esq.

Common Brakes (Pteris aquilina): Hills; abundant.

Killarney Bristle Fern ( Zrichomanes radicans) : Glen in Keeper range.

Tunbridge Filmy Fern (H. Zunbridgense) : Glen in Keeper range.

Royal Fern (0. regalis): Glenomera, Clare river ; field on west side.

Moonwort (2. lunaria): exposed upland slopes; Keeper range; Gort-
nagee ; N.W. of Killaloe Crag west side of stream, 43. The form of this
species, with three spikes of fructification, was observed at the former
station. Found by F. J. Foot, Esq.

Adder’s-tongue (0. vulgatum): Glennagalliagh, abundant; Ballina,
abundant.

Professor Kinahan said it was very satisfactory to have the Limerick
station for Trichomanes confirmed. He had very little doubt, as he had
before stated in this Society, that the fern, so far from being confined to
Killarney, would be found to extend over the whole south of Ireland.
Mr. David. Moore, M. R. I. A., who first informed him of the station for
this fern (quoted in a former paper of Dr. Kinahan’s), had also pointed

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 49

out that the Limerick specimens were not identical either with the Kil-
larney form of the plant or the Glouincaragh plants, but were interme-
diate between the two.

Mr. F. J. Foot had seen the Trichomanes growing in its new station.
He took this opportunity of adding, to his Clare list of ferns, Asplenium
acutum, which he had met since the publication of his list.

Professor Kinahan submitted a notice of some rare animals which
had occurred to him during his researches. The more remarkable were :
Ophidium imberbe—Dalkey Sound; new to Ireland, Templeton’s notice
having reference to a distinct animal. Crebella rosea—Dublin Bay.
Galathea dispersa ; south of Dalkey Island. Pagurus Prideauxii—dredged
at the back of Dalkey Island, in company with Adamsia palliata. Pagu-
rus levis, Shanganagh. Crangon bispinosus, Killiney Bay. Specimens
of the several species were exhibited.

The following paper was then submitted :—

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF COSMARIUM, AND OF A NEW SPECIES OF
XANTHIDIUM. BY W. ARCHER.

Pratt I.

Family — DESMIDIACE.
Genus.—Cosmarrium (Corda).
Cosmarium Portianum (sp. nov.).

Specific characters: Frond deeply constricted; segments, in front
view, broadly elliptic, rough with minute, scattered, pearly granules,
constriction deep, wide, isthmus forming a short neck ; end-view elliptic.

Locality: Pools, Dublin and Wicklow Mountains; not uncommon.

General Description: Frond minute, compressed, in front view about
one-third longer than broad, rough all over with minute, scattered, some-
what depressed pearly granules, which give a minutely denticulate ap-
pearance to the margin, deeply constricted at the middle, the constriction

forming a gradually widening notch at each side, rounded below; seg-

ments, in front view, broadly elliptic, in side view, suborbicular, con-

~ nected by a rather narrow isthmus, forming a short neck; end view,

broadly elliptic. (Sporangium, after a figure by Professor De Bary of

an undescribed species supposed to be the present: orbicular, beset with

somewhat elongate, conical, blunt spines.)
Measurements: Length of frond, 35; breadth of frond, 545 of an
inch.

Prats I.—Fig. 8, front view; Fig. 9, end view.

Affinities: The granulated surface and compressed frond in this
species forbid its being mistaken for any of those in which the surface
is smooth, or the end view circular. Of those species with which it
agrees in the characters first indicated, it is about the most minute, and
I believe it is otherwise amply distinguished from them by its elliptic

H

a

50 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

segments in front view. It perhaps most approaches C. margaritiferum
(Menegh.), but, besides its smaller size, it differs from that species and
C. latum (Bréb.) in not having reniform or semi-orbicular segments, as
well as in the constriction being not a linear, but a wide notch. The
same characters distinguish it from C. Brebissonii (Menegh.), as well
as the pearly granules being minute and closely scattered, not rather
widely distributed and conic. From C. tetraophthalmum (Bréb.) it also
differs in the same characters, as well as in that of the superficial gra-
nules, which in that species are broad, giving the margin a somewhat
undulate or crenate, rather than a minutely denticulate appearance.
From C. Broome (Thwaites) and C. biretum (Bréb.), it differs, besides
other characters, in its elliptic, not quadrilateral or angular segments.
From C. premorsum (Bréb.), C. notabile (Bréb.), and C. Botrytis (Me-
negh.), as well as C. protractum (Nag.), C. gemmiferum (Bréb.), and C.
Turpin (Bréb.), it differs in having rounded, not truncate ends, and
from all the species just named in the central constriction, not forming ©
a linear, but a wide notch.

It is at once distinguished from C. orbiculatum (Ralfs), with which
it agrees in the constriction not forming a linear notch, by the segments
being elliptic, not spherical, and the end view not circular; besides the
pearly granules being minute and depressed, not elevated and conic. It
is true that Professor de Bary (‘‘ Untersuchungen iiber die familie der
Conjugaten,” Pl. VI. 49 @ 4), alludes to a Cosmarium called by him
Cosmarium orbiculatum (Ralfs), which, I apprehend, is actually the
species now described, but, with great deference, I think he is wrong;
this form differs quite from C. orbiculatum (Ralfs), as much, indeed, as
C. bioculatum (Bréb.) does from C. moniliforme (Ralfs). Assuming
that I am right in the conjecture that the present species is identical
with that alluded to by De Bary under the name of C. orbiculatum
(Ralfs), the sporangium has been provisionally described in the fore-
going specific characters, taken from the figure given by that observer,
although I have not myself met it conjugated.

As to other granulate species, so far as I am aware, it needs only -
to contrast this form with C. pluviale (Bréb.), with which it agrees in
being compressed, and in the constriction not forming a linear notch,
but it differs in the form of the segments, which, in the species just
named, are nearly as broad as long, sub-ovate or sub-orbicular, ends
rotundato-truncate; whereas, in the species in question, the segments
are broader than long, elliptic, and ends rounded, the constriction form-
ing a short neck. Of the smooth species, it most nearly approaches C.
bioculatum (Bréb.) in form, but the granulate surface of the present
species at once distinguishesit. The same circumstance, as well as the
want of the solitary superficial projection on each front surface of the
segments, separate it from C. phaseolus (Bréb).

I am not aware of any other species with which it seems at all re-
quisite to compare the present form, nor does there indeed appear to me
any danger, with proper attention, of confounding it with any of those
I have mentioned. This has occurred to me for three or four succes-

, b i

UST. SOC DUBLIN,

.

*
Pr
;
)
:
:

i
re

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‘
’

7

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. ol

sive years, and I have no doubt of its distinctness. I have several
times been asked the name of this species; to afford a more satisfactory
answer than hitherto, the next time the question may be put to me, I
have no hesitation in assigning one to this pretty little species.

On a former occasion (Nat. Hist. Rev., vol. v., p. 251) I had the
pleasure to name a species, forthe ample reasons there given, after that
of my friend, George Porte, Esq. I was not then aware that Professor
De Bary, in Germany, had anticipated me; consequently, my name
for the species alluded to fell to the ground, and with it much of the
compliment I had intended. To restore the latter, I trust the present
attempt may be more successful.

Genus—XantTHipium (Hy.).
Xanthidium Smith (sp. nov.)

Specific characters: Segments trapezoid; spines minute, straight,
acute, marginal, in four pairs; central projections minute, rounded,
tubercle-like.

Locality : Numerous specimens were met with by me on a slide
marked ‘“‘ Wareham, 1849, W.S.,” kindly lent to me by Professor
Harvey.

General Description: Frond minute, in front view about as long
as, or very slightly longer, than broad ; constriction, a deep, gradually
widening notch; segments about twice as broad as long, trapezoid,
_ lower margin somewhat convex, sides narrowing upwards and straight,
ends broad and straight; spines short, minute, straight, acute, mar-
ginal, geminate, a pair placed on each of the four angles; in side view,
segments about as broad as long, with rounded sides, ends truncate,
each upper angle furnished with a minute spine, beneath each of which,
about half way down the segment, there occurs another spine, all the
spines divergent; end view sub-elliptic or broadly fusiform, ends trun-
eate, convex, furnished with three spines, the spines projecting, diver-
gent, none at the sides; the central projection from each front surface
a minute, rounded, smooth tubercle, apparent always in end view; in
the side view the tubercles are sometimes concealed by the projecting
divergent central spines, while in the front view they are hidden by
_ the contained endochrome. Sporangiam unknown.

Measurements: Length of frond, ;;4,;; breadth, ~y4-5 of an inch.

Prats I.—Fig. 10, front view A Fig. 11, side view; Fig. 12, end
view.

Affinities: This interesting little species seems to be allied on the
one hand to Xanthidiwm fasciculatum (Khr.), and on the other to Arthro-
desmus octocornis (Khr., Hass., Bréb.) = Xanthidium octocorne (Ralfs),
var. B, but is perfectly, and I believe, unmistakably distinct from
either. With the former it agrees in the spines being subulate, mar-

ow DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

ginal, and in pairs, and in the central projection being not granulate ;
but it differs in its far more minute size, and in its segments being
four-sided, not reniform or sub-hexagonal, and in its spines being short,
and minute and straight, not elongate and usually curved, and in its
constriction not forming a linear notch. With the other species named
(var. 8) this form agrees in its trapezoid segments, and in the number
and disposition of its spines, but differs in possessing the central frontal
projections, which are absent in the species alluded to, and which cir-
cumstance, I think, should place it out of the genus Xanthidium. The
form now under consideration differs besides from that alluded to in
having its margins straight, not concave; in its spines being minute, not
elongate ; in the segments, in side view, which is less compressed, being
sub-orbicular, not elliptic; in the ends being truncate, not rounded ;
and in the extremities in the end view being blunt, not rounded. Not-
withstanding, therefore, considerable similarity in the general outline
between the present species and Arthrodesmus octocornis, var. B, I
cannot suppose they can be identical. The latter I have not myself
met with in this country, but var.ais not uncommon. However, I
prefer to follow Brébisson, and to place both those forms in the genus
Arthrodesmus, though, perhaps, Jenner’s suggestion to form a new
genus for them, including, of course, Arthrodesmus bifidus (Bréb.)
would, after all, be the better course. Certain it is that the plant now
described is an unquestionable Xanthidium.

I imagine the initials on the slide above alluded to must be those
of the late Professor William Smith; it is, however, in any case by no
means an inappropriate, though but a small and very inadequate mark
of respect to dedicate this species, which I believe to be very distinct,
to his memory.

*

The Meeting then adjourned to the month of November.

-

=~
Or
Co

Ww

SESSION 1860-61.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1860.
WitiraAm Anprews, M. R.1.A., President, in the Chair.
The previous Minutes were read and signed.
Henry Lawson, M.D., read the following paper :—

ON THE GENERATIVE SYSTEM OF HELIX ASPERSA AND HORTENSIS.
(WITH A PLATE.) .

Te following observations upon the reproductive system of Helix as-
persa, our commonest Irish snail, are given as the result of a series of
dissections and microscopic examinations, made during the past summer.
The object of the paper is twofold—firstly, to supply a deficiency in our
text-books on zoology and comparative physiology, by publishing the
descriptive anatomy of the species of Helix most widely distributed in
Ireland, and of thus affording to the student of natural history an
opportunity of verifying by dissection the descriptions given—a circum-
stance too much neglected by writers upon the subject, who prefer the
less difficult task of quoting, wholesale, the investigations of Cuvier,
which were made upon that species (Helix pomatia) most abundant in
his own neighbourhood. Secondly, to put forward my own opinion
concerning the relations of function of the parts which compose this
system.

4 The generative organs of this animal are hermaphrodite in their
nature, and excessively complicated in their arrangement. They occupy
a larger volume of the body comparatively with the other systems than
at first one would be inclined to suppose, extending from one extremity
to the other, and seeming more or less closely related to every organ in
the economy of the creature. They present an external aperture ad-
jacent to the right upper tentacle, and terminate at the ovary, in the
final spire of the shell. For convenience, they may be divided into four
groups :——

. Female.

. Male.

. Androgynous.
. Appendicular.

mR Cobh

Of these, the female organs form by far the largest portion, and
extend over the greatest surface. They consist of an ovary, oviduct,
albumen-gland, and uterus. The ovary is a small, rather compact, fan-
shaped gland, spread over the last lobe of the liver, and, with it, included
in the terminal volution of the shell; its broad, or basal extremity, is
most external, the narrow portion being directed inwards, to terminate
in the commencement of the oviduct. When separated from its attach-

I

54 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

ments, it measures at its widest part about three-eighths of an inch;
whilst from within outwards, it is about a quarter of an inch. It is
composed of numerous branching ceeca, or lobules, of a light-yellowish
colour, bound together by folds of a delicate areolar, or fibrous mem-
brane. A portion placed under the microscope presents the appearance
of a follicle, secreting from its inner wall numerous oval, or spherical,
nucleated cells, and having occasionally within it, and rather near its
mouth, a few isolated zoosperms—no trace whatever of a second sac
invaginated by the former can be observed. The ducts of the various
lobules unite toward the apex of the organ, and form a common chan-
nel—the oviduct. This vessel bends its course in a spiral direction,
from the ovary to the albumen-gland. It is simple at both extremities,
but very much convoluted in the interval. It is about seven-eighths of
an inch in length ; and before it terminates in the sinus of the albumen-
gland, it makes a slight spur-like turn backwards. (I have not seen
any of those decided projections on its convoluted portion, which Pro-
fessor Goodsir has described as existing in Lymneus involutus.) Examined
microscopically, nothing resembling a second tube included within the
duct is to be seen. The albumen-gland is a large, homogeneous-looking
structure, in shape like a boat, situated in the first spire of the shell,
of which it occupies one-half. It lies beneath the lung, rectum, heart,
and urine-gland. Its concave surface embraces the second spire, whilst
its keel is bounded externally by the liver, into which its apex or prow
also projects, its base or stern being attached to the upper extremity of
the uterus. It measures about an inch in length, and is composed
apparently of two distinct portions, an opaque and a translucent. It is
very difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain its minute structure. A
central duct traverses its substance, which would seem to collect from
others more minute the peculiar gelatinous secretion. Viewed under
the microscope, a confused chaos of spherical albumen-globules and
minute fibres is observed. I have not found any zoosperms in this
organ, ‘The sinus is a membranous expansion, formed at the point of
junction of this gland with the uterus; into it the oviduct passes, after
haying been lodged for some short distance in the substance of the
albumen-gland. The uterus is a sacculated duct, measuring usually an
inch and a half in length, and being fully one-eighth of an inch in
calibre. Starting from the last-named gland, it makes two or three
zig-zag turns, and ends as a cylindrical vessel in the vagina. It is
closely adherent along its whole length, to the testis which lies on its .
left border, and which, bemg shorter than the uterus itself would be
if isolated, has the effect of producing the various sacculi above de-
scribed ; so that the two together have not been inaptly compared to
the intestine supported by its mesentery. It is situated upon the
powerful muscles of the foot, and has the gullet and salivary-glands on
its left. At the period of depositing the eggs, this vessel becomes enor-
mously distended, the sacs appearing much more distinct than usual,
each containing its large ovum, and separated from its neighbour by a
well-marked constriction, I am inclined to agree with Turpin, in

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 35

believing that the uterus secretes those beautiful rhombic crystals
of carbonate of lime seen on the egg of this animal, inasmuch as I
have not found them upon those ova which had just entered the upper
sacculi, whilst those situate in the lower ones were invariably studded
with them.

The male organs lie to the left of the female, and include the testis,
vas deferens, and penis, with its flagellum. The first, as before men-
tioned, is closely united to the uterus, commencing and terminating
with it; nevertheless, it is a very distinct and extensive structure, and
deserves far more attention than has been heretofore bestowed upon it.
It consists of a central duct, closed at its posterior extremity (as shown
by the obstruction to liquids introduced as injections), which is beset
on its sides by two rows of long white granular-looking follicles. These
are observed, under the microscope, to open into the central channel,
and to contain those oval and elliptical epithelial-like cells, usually de-
scribed asthe parents of zoosperms. The central vessel now leaves the
testis, at the point of union of the uterus and vagina, and is continued
as a simple duct for a distance of an inch and a half, or thereabouts,
when it terminates by a rounded aperture in the penis. It is this por-
tion to which the term vas deferens has been applied.- The penis is
represented by a long attenuated tube, wide, and of rather thickish con-
sistence at its base, which is perforated, and communicates with the
generative outlet, cecal at its apex, which is extremely delicate, and
situate deeply in the mass of viscera. It communicates with the vas
deferens by a small aperture, distant from the basal opening about an
inch and three-eighths, and measures, from end to eud, when extended,
about three inches and a quarter. The blind extremity, from its fan-
_ eied resemblance to a whip-lash, has been termed the flagelliform por-
tion. About the junction with the vas deferens, there exists, attached
to the penis, a strong muscular fasciculus, which probably performs the
function of drawing back this organ after it has been everted in copu-
lation.

The androgynous group includes the vagina, vas deferens, and sperm-
sac, with its duct and ccecum.

The vagina is usually described as the termination of the uterine
portion ; but from the direct continuation which it forms with the copu-
lative vessels, and its almost rectangular connexion with the uterus, it
seems more correct to look uponitas the dilated extremity of the former.
Viewing it thus, both may be said to constitute a tube, leading from
the dart-sac, on the one hand, to the sperm-sac, on the other, wider at
its proximal than at its distal end, about one inch and three-eighths in
length, and one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter, following a back-
ward course, beneath the superficial viscera, toward the anterior margin
of the liver, where it expands abruptly into a spherical or pyriform
bag—the spermatheca, or sperm-sac. This vesicle, whose office appears
to be the storing up of the semen received during coition, varies in its di-
mensions under different conditions. Thus, immediately after union of
the sexes, when distended by its seminal contents, I have often found

56 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

it attain the size of a large swan-drop, being more than a quarter of an
inch in diameter; whilst in specimens examined some time after the
performance of the sexual function, it has rarely exceeded the bulk of
a grain of sparrow-shot. I have had many opportunities of observing
the nature of the contained zoosperms, yet I have never succeeded in
seeing them isolated—they were invariably in enclosed bundles, or
spermatophora. The coecum is an appendage whose function, so far
as I am aware, has not yet been investigated. It is a duct, springing
from the copulative tube, at about a quarter of an inch from its union
with the uterus. It measures three inches in length, is of slightly
greater calibre than the tube, and terminates, by a blind extremity,
at the point of junction of the uterus and albumen-gland. It is closely
attached to the sinus before described, and, to a superficial observer,
would seem to convey thus the male element to the female. It seems
homologous with the duct connecting the sperm-sac and ovary in
doris and eolis, which Messrs. Alder and Handcock have described in
their anatomy of the Nudibranchs.

The appendicular group comprises the dart-sac, dart, and mul-
tifid vesicles. The dart-sac is a pyriform vesicle, bearing in miniature
a decided resemblance to the human uterus; it is situated at the anterior
extremity of the animal, to the right of the testes and penis, and is
quite superficial, being covered only by the outer integument and loose
fibrous tissue which involve the other organs. It is about half an
inch in length, and in diameter a little above a quarter at its bore or
fundus, and is provided with very dense and apparently muscular walls,
which are pierced on the left, close to the external opening, by the
termination of the vagina; it communicates with the generative cloaca
by a small circular outlet, which is guarded by two delicately con-
structed lips. These may be traced from their poit of union on the
right side of the orifice, passing round and approximating on the left,
where they leave a small portion unprotected. I would be cautious in
hazarding an opinion upon their function, but it seems to me not un-
likely that they may direct the penis in entering the vagina, and so
prevent the possibility of its being lacerated by any existing rem-
nant of the dart; while, on the other hand, by opening in a valve-like
manner externally, they thus offer no obstruction to the exsertion of the
latter. Springing from the fundus of the sac is observed a fleshy
conical projection, armed at its free end with a calcareous spicule—the
dart or stilette. This projection, or papilla, is about one-eighth of an
inch in length, and is distinctly tubular, being connected at the base
with a small follicle, situated between the layers of the dart-sac. The
stilette appears to be the secretion of this papilla; it is perfectly trans-
parent, about a quarter of an inch long, tapering from base to apex, it
is tetrahedral in form, the sides being trenchant; a transverse section
appears like a square, upon each of whose external sides an equilateral
triangle had been constructed ; it is perforated throughout, and at its
papillary extremity is funnel-shaped, the lips also being slightly everted,

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. o7

or trumpet-like. Thus it would seem to have the power of conveying
the product of secretion of the follicle (if any) through the dart, and in
this way by inoculation of inflicting the ‘‘love-inspirmg wound.” I
believe it has been asserted on all hands that the stilette never pene-
trates beyond the integument of the animal against which it is pro-
jected; that such an assertion is correct I must with all deference
deny, as I have in several instances observed it lying deeply imbedded
among the viscera, whilst a second, quite distinct, existed in its normal
position within the sac; nay more, from one specimen, which I ex-
amined at the period of depositing the eggs, I succeeded in extracting
two almost perfect darts.

The multifid vesicles are a number of branching cceca, produced
by the dichotomous division and subdivision of two small ducts, whose
orifices are situate upon each side of the vagina, adjacent to its union
with the dart-sac. In all there are about forty ccoeca, and each group
extends for about half an inch in the lateral direction. As yet no distinct
function has been assigned to them.

The cloaca is the canal which leads from without to the two great
orifices of the genital organs within ; it is of all, the most anterior ; it is
a very flexible vessel, abont a quarter of an inch in length, and one-
eighth in calibre; it terminates externally in a vertical slit, closed
during life by a sphincter of elastic membrane. This, which is some-
times termed the generative outlet, lies at the distance of a quarter of
an inch from the upper tentacle, on the right side, in a plane posterior,
and a little inferior. Near this outlet is the communication with the
penis, whilst at the further extreme of the cloaca is observed the orifice
of the dart-sac before-mentioned.

It will be seen by the foregoing remarks that I have taken a view
of the parts composing the generative system different from that here-
tofore put forward on the matter. The older supposition was, that the
liver-imbedded gland represented the ovary, whilst the tongue or boat-
shaped structure performed the part of testes;* more recently it has
been conceived by Henrich Meckel, Siebold, Gegenbaur, and Moquin-
Tandon, that the so-called ovary of the older writers is in reality an
hermaphrodite gland, each lobule of which has contained within it a
second, the external secreting ova, the internal zoospores, the oviduct

also having a second vessel invaginated by it. Of these four, however,

the two latter, who have been the latest to write upon the subject, deny
that any included sac or duct exists. Moquin-Tandon, moreover, fol-
lows Van Beneden in his ideas concerning the prostate.

The following are some of the reasons which urged the adoption of
the view I have now put forward.

* This was Cuvier’s idea, and also that of J. F.-Meckel, Carus, Erdl, Sister, Ben-
dach, Pappenheim, Berthelen, Fyfe, and Rymer Jones. Van Beneden also held it; but
he considered that gland a prostate, which is here maintained to be in the sperm-secret-
ing organ.

58 DUBLIN HATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

ConcERNING THE OVARY :—

A. Arguing merely from authorities, I feel inclined to agree with
Cuvier and his disciples, inasmuch as his opponents, though men of
great research and vast fame, are but few in number, and are equally
divided in a matter of observation, upon which, in fact, their argument
is wholly based.

B. I have carefully from time to time examined single lobules under
the microscope with the aid of the compressor, and never have I suc-
ceeded in bringing any contained sacculi into view; although, when I
placed several lobules in the compressor, I had an appearance produced
somewhat resembling invagination, but evidently the result of some
lobule becoming superimposed, and then pressed into the substance of
another.

C. There being no invaginated duct leading from the ovary, the
zoosperms, if there secreted, would have a greater tendency to pass into
the normally widened uterus than into the constricted vas deferens
(indeed, the latter passage could not be effected, as there is no commu-
nication of the vas deferens with the uterus), and so would pass away
externally, and be lost; but such a state of things could not reasonably
exist.

D. From my own observations I may make use of Mr. Handcock’s
most ingenious argument applied to the Nudibranchs, that, as the zoo-
sperms were found in a condition of imperfect development in the
sperm-sac, and fully matured and isolated in the lobules of the ovary,
they could not have proceeded from the latter ; for, had they been there
secreted, they would have been observed in process of development in
the ovary, and fully formed and unconnected in the spermatheca.

RESPECTING THE TESTIS.

A. As there is but one gland in connexion with the vas deferens,
and that so extensive as to rival the ovary im size and structure, we
may fairly conclude that, if a testis exists at all, it is most probably its
representative. It seems to me very unreasonable to term this gland,
as Van Beneden has done, a prostate; such a mode of applying names to
parts is more to be deprecated than the barbarous terminology of human
anatomists, who not unfrequently call an interesting and peculiar struc-
ture ¢nnominata, when, to quote the language of a well-known author,
‘“‘their little puddle of invention has been used dry.”’ I cannot conceive
what resemblance it is supposed to bear to an appendage found in
another sub-kingdom, and whose function is so much unknown, that of
two of the most distinguished physiologists of the day, one thinks it little
more than a mass of muscles,—the other that, most probably, it is the
part in the male homologous with, or representing, the uterus of the
female.

B. The generative organs of the nudibranchiata, which have been so
exquisitely delineated by Messrs, Alder and Handcock, bear on the

——

at

ViOI i Eras Hy tel

AS
ee /
Se

tin

a
S

Ss od
ss

= /

| }

Vi V0
| ‘ge

Ove

ANATOMY OF GENERATIVE SYSTEM OF HELIX ASPERSA AND
HELIX HORTENSIS.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 59

whole so great an analogy ta those of the pulmonifera, that it is very
likely, as the sperm and germ producing organs are isolated in the
former, so are they in the latter. The vas deferens in helix, with its
continuation, the testis, which is attached to the border of the uterus,
holds the place of the greatly elongate corresponding vessel in eolis,
here being, however, less distinction or separation of parts.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE II.

A. The entire reproductive apparatus, natural size—a, albumen
gland; c, cecum; d, dart-sac; 0, ovary; ov, oviduct; p, penis; ow,
outlet; v, vagina; vm, multifid vesicles; s, sperm-sac; sd, spermatheca-
duct; #, testis; w, uterus; vd, vas deferens.

B. Vertical section through the dart-sac, enlarged, representing the
follicle, papilla, dart, protective valve, and orifice of vagina.

C. Outline view of the testis, greatly magnified.

D. A lobule of the ovary, enormously enlarged, exhibiting the ab-
sence of included lobule, and the isolated zoosperms at the aperture.

E: Transverse section through the stilette, exhibiting the trenchant
outline and central perforation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Brrruecen.—Ann. des Sci. Nat.

Bourpacu.—Quelques considérations sur le nidamentum.

Carus.—Beitrage zur genauern kenntniss der geschlichts-organe und
functionen einiger Gasteropoden. Miill. Arch., 1835.

Cuvrer.—Le Regne Animal. Tome v. Mollusques.
_ Ervi.—Beitraige zur Anatomie der Helicen. Mill. Arch.

Fyrr.— Outlines of Comparative Anatomy. 1881.

GreEnBavr.—Vergleichenden anatomie. 1859.

Jones, R.—Animal Kingdom, and Article Gasteropoda, Cyclopedia of
Anatomy and Physiology.

Listrr.—Exercitatio anatomica. London, 1684.

Mecxet, H.—Miill. Arch., 1844, page 483.

J. F.—Ueber ein neues Geschlect der Gasteropoden.

Moauin-Tannpon.—Histoire Naturelle des Mollusques terrestres et flu-
viatiles.

Parrenner.—in Miill. Arch.

SrzsoLtp.—Wiegemans Arch., 1836, i., p. 51.

Van Benepen.—Memoire sur l’anatomie de l Helix Algira. Brux. 1836.

60 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1861.
The PrestpENT in the Chair.
The previous Minutes having been read, were signed.

AtFrED Newton, M. A., Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge,
F.L.S., &c., read the following paper :—

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SNOWY OWL (WVyctea nivea) IN THE COUNTY OF |
Mayo.

As the snowy owl is stated by the late Mr. William Thompson, in
his admirable work on the ‘‘ Birds of Ireland” (1. p. 95), to be ‘‘ a very
rare winter visitant’’ in that country, a record of the capture of one
which I lately had the pleasure of seeing, may not be unacceptable to
the Members of the Dublin Natural History Society. The bird I speak
of was obtained at Ballycovey, in the County Mayo, on the estate of
Mr. George Clive, Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department,
and, as far as I could ascertain, somewhat late in the autumn of 1859.
When first observed, it was sitting on a bog, and was approached with-
out difficulty. The man who found it had no idea what it might be, and
shot at it, wounding it slightly, but sufficiently to enable him to catch it
alive. Itsoon recovered from the injury, and lived contentedly in a roomy
cage until the beginning of October last, when, at my suggestion, Mr.
Clive presented it to the Zoological Society of London, in whose gardens
I saw it a week or two since, enjoying the society of a fellow-prisoner of |
its own species, which was obtained in Unst, the northernmost of the |
British islands, and which has been for many years in the Society’s pos-
session. I was told by the man who looked after Mr. Clive’s bird, that
it moulted its feathers towards the end of the summer; and it certainly
was in beautiful plumage when I saw it at Ballycovey, the last week in
September. I may perhaps be permitted to add that, as far as my own
knowledge extends, we are without any certain information respecting
the change or changes of plumage in this species, and I believe that any
person who could furnish reliable facts bearing on the subject would be
doing good service to ornithology.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1861.
The PrestpEntT in the Chair.

The previous Minutes having been read, were signed.
R. P. Wri1rams, M.R.I. A., read the following paper :—
ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SPOON-BILL IN THE COUNTY OF CORK.

In presenting to the Society these fine specimens of Platalea leucorodia,
or white spoonbill, I am aware that I cannot add anything new to the
accounts already published in the several works on ornithology; but it
may, however, interest the Society to enter into some details as to the par-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 61

ticular birds in question. For two of the specimens we are indebted to my
relative, Richard Quin, Esq., of Firgrove, Innishannon, County Cork. The
village of Innishannon stands on the left bank of ‘‘ the pleasant Bandon,
crowned with many a wood,” which rises from the river to a considera-
ble elevation, facing the rocky hill clothed with wood, which, on the
opposite side, rises nearly perpendicularly. Along both sides of the
Bandon, there are alluvial flats, which above Innishannon form rich
pasturage for cattle in the bends ofthe river; at one of which, opposite
Firgrove, Mr. Quinn (1846) shot the fine specimen of the Canada goose
(Anser Canadensis), which is in the museum of the Society; below In-
nishannon, whether it be from want of improvement, or from being at
a lower elevation, these flats extend to a considerable length and breadth,
nearly to Kinsale, where the river enters the sea. In very high tides
and floods they are partially submerged; about three miles down the
river from Innishannon lies Shippool marsh, adjoining Shippool Castle,
a very old seat of the Herrick family.

Early in December last year, while looking for snipe on the marsh,
Mr. James Herrick fell in with a flock of four spoonbills, of which he shot
one; of this I hadimmediate notice from Mr. Quin, for I had previously
requested him to be on the look out for rare birds, the river near Kinsale
being celebrated for the number of water-fowl and waders that frequent
it. I wrote to him to endeavour to secure it, if it was really a spoon-
bill, and not the shoveller duck (Anas elypeata), which is often so-called ;
the result was, that Mr. Herrick most kindly presented it at once. For
some days after, two were seen, and Mr. Quin was indefatigable in try-
ing to secure them for me; but, owing to their wildness, it was very
difficult to approach them. He, however, succeeded in shooting one
(the specimen which I have had set up with expanded wings, to show
the peculiar black shafts) ; the other he wounded ; but on account of the
extent of slob uncovered by the receding tide, it escaped, and has not
since been heard of; it probably died, and was carried away by the
winter’s floods, which in the Bandon are very powerful on the fall of the
tide, which rises to a considerable height, and pushes its waters as far
as Innishannon Bridge.

About the same time, another was shot by Thomas Hungerford, Esq.,
of the Island, Clonakilty, County Cork, which he has also presented.
These three birds were immature males, and, I presume, birds of the se-
cond year; what impresses me with this idea is, that I learn three other
specimens have been sent to Mr. Glennon, of Suffolk-street, to be pre-
served, all of which were males; they were smaller, and not so white as
the specimens before you; they are probably of the same age as the
living specimens which may be seen at the Zoological Gardens.

On consulting Mr. Yarrell’s work, and others relating to the spoon-
bills, it will be found that considerable differences are apparent between
the immature and adult bird, the most remarkable of which is the crest
or mane of elongated feathers ofthe occiput and neck in the adult birds.
In the present specimens, there is but a very partial elongation; the
colour of these isaltegether white, except the shafts of the wing feathers ;

K

62 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

but in the adult a band of buff feathers covers the breast, extending up-
wards, The colour of the eye of the young birds is ashey-grey ; in the
adult it is orange-red; and probably the same takes place in the eyes of
other birds that, when mature, are of a bright red or yellow, as in the
ease of the Egyptian goose, &c. We are told, also, there is a cere round
the eyes to the base of the beak, which, in the immature birds, is covered
with feathers.

Fortunately for information, these birds all fell into the hands
of inquiring observers, by whom it was thought advisable to examine
the contents of the stomachs, so as to find out on what these birds sub-
sisted during a season the most inclement we have had for several years,
in spite of which the birds were in fine condition, In the works that I
have been able to consult, the food is set down as small crustacea, mol-
luscs, spawn of fishes, &c., but in none, except Morris, who says, ‘in
addition, they eat grasses and the roots of plants,” do I find any mention
of what ail these birds’ stomachs contained, vegetable matter, probably
some of the marsh grasses; no traces of crustacea or animal matter were
found. Now, looking to the conformation of its beak, armed with a
sharp broad nail at the end, I do not see why vegetable substances
should not form a portion of their food, as in the case of the duck tribe,
the palate and sides of whose beaks are not very dissimilar; and therein
perhaps we may find a provision of nature by which the bird, in the ab-
sence of more favourite food, may adapt itself to altered circumstances;
the breast-bones of these birds are produced before you; but I regret I
am unable to exhibit the trachea, which are very remarkable, but,
owing to some misunderstanding, they were not preserved. The fine
plate in Yarrell’s ‘‘ British Birds,” showing the peculiar figure of 8 con-
tortion, will, however, supply the deficiency,.and enable the Members to
observe its peculiarity.

In the work of the late Mr. Thompson, we find records up to 1846
of those shot in Ireland; but I suspect others, as well as of many birds
considered extremely rare, but not so, are, from the non-observant habits
of our country gentlemen, altogether overlooked, I have heard that
Dr. Harvey, of Cork, is aware of one shot in that county in 1859, and
another at Westport; another was shot at the mouth of the Boyne, about
the year 1854, by Reynolds, warrener to James Brabazon, Esq., of Mor-
nington, but unfortunately not preserved, although lying for some time
in the kitchen, and finally thrown out,

It would seem remarkable, that in the accounts published of the se-
yveral captures, all the instances are on the sea-board, none in the inland
counties, although extensive lakes and marshes abound, the resort of
birds feeding similarly. The records of Thompson show that in 1808 one
was shot in the Co, Antrim ; two in Donegal in 1837 and 1838; one in the
County Dublin, near Malahide (the specimen in the Society’s collection),
in November, 1841; one in the Co. Wicklow, in October, 1844; three
in the Co. Wexford, in 1836, November, 1844, andin July, 1840; three
in the Co. Waterford, in 1829, 1848, and 1845; two in the Co. Kerry,
in 1832 and 1846: to the foregoing list, those shot in the Co. Cork are

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 63

now added. The question why this should be I leave to those naturalists
who have devoted their attention to the migration of birds. Were these
birds on their southward flight to more genial climes? How is it to be
accounted for that all were males? We learn that the spoonbills’ nests
only contain four eggs. Can the four alluded to have been all of the same
nest—and the three others, sent to Mr. Glennon, have been also from
one nest, as they appeared to be nearly identical in plumage? Or, do the
sexes separate in the winter time, again to re-unite when the pairing
season arrives?

I learn that when these birds were shot, the weather was mild ; but
previously there had been north-easterly gales, and they might have been
returning from their breeding places in the North of Europe.

Some years ago, I had three of these birds alive, which were at first
kept in a small enclosure, and subsequently enlarged on the ponds at
Drumcondra Castle, which were wired around; they throve very well,
wading along the edges, feeding on various substances, and with the
waterfowl on a mixture of bran, potatoes, and oats; I do not recollect
that anything else was supplied to them: after some time they escaped,
but how I cannot tell; one thing I particularly remember, that it was
very unpleasant to handle them, from the very disagreeable odour at-
tached to them; and that they were covered with parasites, which ran
about on the hands, if the birds werelaid holdof. I shall now conclude
by urging on the Members to exert themselves among their friends in the
country, by which means many rare objects of natural history may be
secured, and thus complete our museum of natural history.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1861.
Wrtam Anprews, M.R.I.A., President, in the Chair.
F. J. Foor, A. M., G. 8. I. read the following paper :—
NOTES ON THE ASTRHZACEA OF THE COAST OF CLARE.

I map the honour in February, 1860, of communicating to the Society
a list of the Astreacea collected by me at Miltown-Malbay, county
Clare.
| Since then I have had opportunities of examining the coast north-
wards as far as Galway Bay, and the present notice contains a list of all
the species that have come under my observation.
T have identified the species, twelve in number, contained in this list,
by the aid of Gosse’s book, on the ‘ British Sea Anemones and Corals.’’
1. Actinoloba Dianthus.—The Plumose Anemone. This species occurs
rather sparingly at Spanish Point, Miltown-Malbay, and not at all at La-
hinch or Liscannor. At Miltown I only saw it in one pool, where it was
tolerably abundant, attained to a considerable size, and was of a brownish
salmon-colour. About Ballyvaughan itis very abundant, and may be seen
at low water, hanging from the ledges of rocks and boulders which are

64 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

perforated by Saxicava and Arca, and abound in ascidians and sponges.
The most common form here is the pure white variety, S. sindonea;
it is a very beautiful object when fully expanded, the body being trans-
lucent white, the numerous tentacles resembling swan’s down, and the
lobes of the mouth and gonidial grooves pure milk opaque white. Gosse
mentions that one of the principal specifie characters of A. dianthus is
its possessing only one gonidial groove, while the other species have two.
I have in one of my tanks a specimen of Sindonea with two distinctly
marked gonidial grooves, one at each end of the mouth. I also have an-
other singular specimen, with two mouths on the one disc. Gosse remarks
that it is common in this species to find the discs uniting into a single
column, but he does not mention the occurrence of two mouths on one
disc ; of course, these aberrations from the normal form are merely to be
considered as monstrosities. The colour of my two-mouthed dianthus
is as follows :—Body brownish salmon-colour ; lobes of the mouths
bright orange, the gonidial grooves not visible; tentacles faintly barred
with alternate reddish-brown and darker brown streaks, and tipped
with yellowish-white. At low-water numerous specimens may be pro-
cured, nearly four inches long, and the disc three inches broad. They
are not easily removed from the rock, as their base is generally situated
in the bottom of a cavity.

- I find dianthus a hardy species, thriving well in the aquarium, where
it is a great ornament, and constantly shifting its position and altering
its form.

T have frequently observed the reproduction by spontaneous division,
mentioned by Gosse. While moving along the glass side of the tank, they
often leave behind a small irregular fragment of the edge of the base,
‘as if,”? says Gosse, ‘‘ their adhesion had been so strong that the animal
found it easier to tear its own tissues apart than to overcome it.”

At the point of division acontia are freely extended, several of which
are left with the small fragment; in a few days, however, these are with-
drawn, and the small fragment becomes a young and perfect dianthus.

Sagartia bellis—The Daisy Anemone. Localities, Miltown-Malbay,
Liscannor, Ballyvaughan. Many of the flat limestone rocks on the shore
about Ballyvaughan are covered to the depth of half an inch or there- —
abouts with sandy mud, on which grow corallines and small sea-weeds ;
these at low-water may be seen to be literally paved with the daisy ane-
mone, their bases adhering to the rock, and the dise protruding through
the mud. They can be removed without much difficulty, and thrive
pretty well in the tanks. The variety Sordida of Gosse, is that which oc-
curs at Ballyvaughan. I however have got another pretty variety, unde-
scribed by him. The colours are as follows :—The base, white ; column,
olive or brownish-grey ; bright patches of yellowish-white round the
mouth, somewhat in the form of irregular short rays; six regular broad
grey rays proceeding from the mouth to the first row of tentacles, and the
rest of the disc, of which these six rays occupy one-half, light-chocolate;
tentacles mottled, with light yellowish-brown, white, chocolate, and
crimson.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 635

Sagartia rosea.—The Rosy Anemone. Localities, Miltown-Malbay,

_ Ballyvaughan. This beautiful species is decidedly rare on the other
portion of the western coast. It may occasionally be found at Spanish

Point at low-water, in the rock-pools, in company with the next spe-
cies. I only observed one specimen at Ballyvaughan, and was unable to
capture it; indeed, its habit of dwelling in small holes in the rock, ge-
nerally in places where the hammer and chisel cannot be worked, render
this by no means an easy matter.

Sagartia venusta.—The Orange-disked Anemone. Localities, Mil-.
town-Malbay, Ballyvaughan. The orange disc and white tentacles are
an unmistakeable mark ofthis pretty species. They occur in colonies at
low-water, and their cave-dwelling propensities render the procuring of
them rather difficult. The only certain method is to break off a piece
of the perforated rock in which they dwell, and place the piece of stone
with its adherent anemone in the tank; any attempt to remove the base
with the nail is almost sure to injure the animal. I lately attempted to
remove one in this manner, and in doing so tore it in two, when the
acontia gushed out copiously, mingled with numerous young but fully
formed anemones. This species is easily kept alive, andis highly orna-
mental in the aquarium.

Sagartia nivea.—The Snowy Anemone. Localities, Miltown-Malbay,
tolerably abundant at Spanish Point, and left dry at low-water. Imen-
tion this latter fact, because Dr. E. P. Wright, in his list, read November
9, 1858 (see‘ Nat. ‘Hist. Rev.,”’ page 117, Vol. vi., No. 2 , April, 1859),
observes that “ he has never scen it left dry by the ebb of the tide, but
has always found it inhabiting the sides of caves which are constantly
full of water.’’ Gosse mentions it as being left dry (see page 70, ‘ Bri-
tish Anemones’’.)

Sagartia sphyrodeta.—The Sandalled Anemone. Occurs sparingly at
Lahinch, generally attached to the Ulva lactuca, in shallow tide-pools. It
is easily recognised by the arrangement of the tentacles, and longitudinal
markings of the column. Gosse says, ‘‘ it cannot be considered a com-
mon species; but when it does occur, it is usually in some numbers.”
In the pools at Lahinch I never found more than two individuals to-
gether ; on the Clare coast it is certainly rare.

Sagartia troglodytes.—The Cave-dwelling Anemone. In my Mil-
town-Malbay list I put a? after this species, because I was not quite
certain as to its identification; but from Mr. Gosse’s very accurate de-
scription, I have now no doubt on my mind that it occurs at Spanish
Point, and may be found at low-water in company with Sagartia venusta
and Sagartia nivea. At Ballyvaughan it occurs in the mud-covered rocks
in company with S. bellis.

The B-like mark at the tentacle-foot (see ‘‘ British Anemones,” pages
85, 95), which is almost always present, distinguishes troglodytes from
other species.

Anthea cereus.—The Opelet. This is probably the commonest ane-
mone we are acquainted with, occurring in numbers all along the coast
from about half ebb to low water, attached and unattached to rocks, sand,
mud, and sca-weed.

66 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

At Ballyvaughan large patches of sand covered with the Zostera ma-
rina are left bare at low-water spring-tides; on these Anthea cereus oc-
curs in such numbers that it might be taken away in cart-loads. It ig
a very hardy species, and does well in an aquarium, some of the brighter
coloured individuals forming a most pleasing object. If the water in
the tank, however, is allowed to become foul from the presence of dead
animals or other causes, the tentacles of the antheas are very liable to
assume a withered, shrivelled appearance ; but cleansing the tank, anda

-supply of fresh sea-water, soon restore their vigorous condition and bril-
liant hues.

Gosse comments at some length on the destructive powers of anthea
with respect to other animals. I find from experience that in small
tanks it is not easy to keep small fish such as gobies, blennies, pipe-fish,
or eels, in company with anemones more than a day or two. Kolis and
doris are not injured by their society, but, on the contrary, are said to
attack and feed on the anemones.

I find that several of the mollusca, such as Zrochus siziphinus, Patella
cerulea, Cypraa Europea, Nassa reticulata, soon die when placed in com-
pany with them; and, as far as I could observe, the proximity of Anthea
cereus did not appear to be more injurious than many of the others.

Actima mesembryanthemum.—The Beadlet. This well-known species
is, as elsewhere, very plentiful on the Clare coast, abounding most in the
littoral zone, in all suitable situations.

Dr. E. P. Wright observes, ‘‘ Nat. Hist. Rev.,” page 121, April, 1859,
‘¢ The dirty estuaries of some of our large rivers, as the Liffey, seem to
exterminate mesembryanthemum from their immediate vicinity.” Cer-
tainly I was quite surprised at its rarity on the muddy shores of Gall
Island and Green Island, and of the mainland N. E. of Ballyvaughan:
westward, where there are rock-pools and clean sandy bottom, it ap-
pears to be as plentiful as usual.

At Lahinch the beautiful variety, fragacea, the strawberry, which
is almost entitled to the rank of a separate species, occurs abundantly
between high and low water. it generally occurs nearer to low-water
than the common form, and is much more easily detached from the rock,
and is decidedly softer to the touch, so much so, indeed, that I could
at once recognise it by the feel, when the animal was concealed from
view beneath some overhanging ledge or by the dusk of evening. The
strawberry is the most easily kept of all anemones, and is a great orna-
ment in the aquarium, creeping about the sides of the vessel, and ex-
panding its base into an irregularly elliptical form. I have one at this
moment, with its base expanded toa length of five inches, and a breadth
of two and a half. In this individual the marginal spherules (one of the
characters of the family) are pinkish-white. The variety t/grinis (column
red, longitudinally streaked with yellow or apple-green), and opora (leek-
green, with longitudinal streaks of yellow), are also very abundant at
Lahinch. The white variety mentioned by Dr. Wright, with slight blue
tinge, and azure base and tentacles, is by no means uncommon at Mil-
town-Malbay.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 67

Bunodes gemmacea. “The Gem Pimplet. The form and marking of
the tentacles of this species when expanded, and its ‘‘ primd facie resem-
blance to an echinus denuded of its spines’ (‘‘ British Anemones,’’ Gosse,
page 193), when unfolded, render it unmistakeable.

Dr. Wright seems to consider it as scarce on the 8. W. coast. I have
observed it occurring plentifully all along the Clare coast, generally mid-
way between high and low water mark, seldom more than two or three
being found together. It is easily kept in confinement, and forms a
pleasing contrast with some of the other anemones.

Bunodes Ballii—The Red-specked Pimplet. This well-marked spe-
cies (with its red-spotted warts and speckled tentacles) is very abundant
on Gall Island, Green Island, and the shore of the mainland N. E. of Bal-
lyvaughan, often protruding through the sandy mud in company with S.
bellis; frequently detached, and lying loose on sea-weed, with Anthea
cereus, and occasionally attached to rocks and boulders. It thrives well in
confinement, when it has not too many companions. I once overstocked
one of my tanks with this species,and in a few days several had died. On
removing the dead ones, I found the acontia extended en masse through
a fracture in the side of the column near the base, and forming a large
unsightly wart; the creatures had considerably contracted in size,—
the column becoming very slender, and the tips of the tentacles just
protruding.

B, Ballii is remarkably active in its movements, much more so than
any other anemone. When adhering to the side of the tank by its base,
it will suddenly detach that part of the body from the glass, and creep
quickly along the side by the aid of its tentacles: when I say quickly,
I mean, about the same pace at which a starfish may be often seen to
move. It will then, after a short time, free itself altogether from the
side of the tank, and let itself sink gracefully to the bottom with some-
what of the movement of a medusa. I have also observed this species,
when in a state of repose, with the tentacles fully expanded but motion-
less, or almost imperceptibly waving to and fro, give a sudden spasmodic
jerk with one or two of those members, as if to strike some invisible
object. I do not see that B. Ballit has been hitherto recorded as Irish.

Tealia cassicornis.—The Dahlia Wartlet. As Dr. Wright remarks,
this species abounds in all suitable places along our coast, presenting to
the eye every variety of form and colour.

The variety insignis, with its crimson column and white tentacles, is
I think the most beautiful. The large size of Tealia cassicornis prevents
it being a desirable inmate of a small aquarium, and a slight injury to
the base in detaching it from the rock is liable to produce death. I have
never seen this species appear to such advantage as in the large tide-pool
mentioned by me at Miltown-Malbay, ‘‘ Nat. Hist. Rev.,” page 398,
July, 1860.

I will now conclude by remarking that this list, though only contain-
ing twelve species, adds six to column six, west province, in the table at
the end of Dr. Wright’s paper, ‘‘ Nat. Hist. Review,” page 124, April,
1859. They are as follows :—

68 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

—

. Sagartia rosea.

. S. bellis.

. S. sphyrodeta.

. S. troglodytes.

. Bunodes gemmacea.
Bunodes Ballit.

& or B® G9 bo

The last, B. Balliz.is altogether unmentioned in his list as occurring
in any of the provinces. The only ones he records as occurring from the
west province, are as follows—

1. Actinoloba dianthus.

. Sagartia bellis, °
. S. venusta.

. S. viduata.

. Anthea cereus.

. Actinia mesembryanthemum.
. Tealia crassicornis.

~I > GiB co bd

Sagartia Parasitica.—Since writing this paper, I have had the good
fortune to be able to add another species to my list, viz. Sagartia para-
sitica, which in Ireland has been only recorded from Bantry Bay. Hav-
ing purchased some cockles from a vender at the door, I remarked that
the greater number of them had adhering to them an anemone which I
had never seen before.

_ On consulting Gosse, I had no difficulty in identifying Sagartia
parasitica. I append some of the principal points in his description :—

* Colowr.—Column, ground-colour, a dirty white or drab, often
slightly tinged with pale yellow; longitudinal bands of dark wood-
brown, reddish or purplish brown, run down the body, sometimes very
regularly, and set so closely as to leave the intermediate bands of ground-
colour much narrower than themselves.

“« Tentacles.—Pellucid, faintly tinged with flesh-colour, cream-yel-
low, or purplish, each marked with a dark-purplish or brown line down
each side, which is broken into about five dashes.

“ Size.—It frequently attains a height of 4 inches, with a diameter
of 24 in column, and 34 in flower.”

The specimens I examined agree very well with the above descrip-
tion, the tentacle markings being very plain and distinct. In size, how-
ever, my largest was only ?ths of an inch in diameter, and the column
appears to be covered by a transparent mantle, of firm consistency,
through which the longitudinal buff and purplish-brown bands are
plainly seen. This may be peculiar to young individuals. Gosse de-
scribes it as being parasitical on wnivalve shells (such as Turritella tere-
bra, Trochus magus, T. ziziphinus, and Buceinum undatum), which are
tenanted by a soldier-crab, and occasionally on stones.

Mr. R. Couch says:—‘ That the favourite site for the anemone (in
the neighbourhood of Penzance) is on the claw of Maza squinado.”

igi -

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 69

Mr. Cocks, however, says:—‘‘That in the neighbourhood of Fal-
mouth it is never found on this crab, nor on Pinna ingens; but fre-
quently on Pecten maximus, as well as on Buceinum undatum, and on
stones.”

4 “I do not remember myself ever to have seen it on a bivalve.”—
osse.

The fact, then, of its being parasitical on Cardiwm edule seems to be
hitherto unnoticed, and is highly interesting with regard to the habits
of the species, which must thus spend a considerable part of its time
buried in the sand, which adheres to the shell of the cardium.

I may remark here that the cockles were particularly large, and
many of them had within the shell a minute specimen of the Pea-crab,
Pinnotheres prisum.

In noticing S. parasitica in his list, Dr. Wright remarks :—‘“‘ This
species would appear to be quite absent from the eastern shores of Ire-
land, and I only know of its being taken once in Ireland, in Bantry
Bay.

Norr.—Of about 50 cockles, more than one-half (25) bore anemones.
None of the cockles bore more than one anemone.

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1861.

Wuit11uM Anprews, M.R.I. A., President, in the Chair.
The previous Minutes were read and signed.
Mr. Wittr1am Arcuer read the following paper :—

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF MICRASTERIAS (AG. ET ALIORUM, NON
EHR.), WITH REMARKS ON THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN MICRASTERIAS
ROTATA (RALFS) AND M. DENTICULATA (BREB.).

To those who in this day advocate the non-existence of Species, it must
doubtless seem but a profitless task and an illusory effort to try, by a
definition or diagnosis, to fix a boundary to that which they assert is only
imaginary ; but they who defend this bold and sweeping theory, how-
ever justly celebrated some of their names may be, are, I imagine, still
in the minority, though that circumstance, I admit, is in itself far from
proving that they have not truth on their side. But, so far as I can at
present see, their case, however plausibly put, seems far indeed from
proven; but, on the contrary, geological data, and our experience of
the world around us, seem hitherto, at least to my humble judgment, to
combine in subverting and disproving it. Species, in the old-fashioned
sense of the word—some more, some less variable—I, for the present at
least, conceive to exist, and not less amongst the microscopic forms than
amongst those of larger growth.

It is true that, unless an organism can be traced through its whole
course of life—that is, that its development from the resultant germ of

L

70 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

a generative act, until in its turn, by another generative act, it assists to
give rise to a new germ, be observed—just as an oak is known to pro-
duce an acorn, which acorn will by-and-by produce another acorn-bear-
ing oak—it cannot be affirmed that any given organism is in reality a
true species. That is, it is not proved that some allied form, which in
the present state of knowledge we are constrained to suppose a distinct
species, may not in truth be only a phase of variation, or of develop-
ment, or an alternation of generation of the actual species, whose extremes
of variation, or whose life history, are as yet unknown. Now, in the
family of Algze, to which I have the pleasure to-night to make a small
addition (the Desmidiacee), this whole course of development has not
been traced, except in twoor three instances, and in many species even the
characteristic form of the sporangium following conjugation, which here
represents the reproductive condition, is unknown, although frequently
met with in other species. But even in regard to the numerous Desmi-
dian species which have not been so traced up to the development of new
individuals, but only so far as the conjugative act itself, and the forma-
tion and perfecting of the resultant sporangium (frequently, indeed, met
with), I would draw attention to a circumstance I am disposed to look
upon as an almost unimpeachable argument as to their actual specific
distinctness. I allude to the fact, that, no matter how numerous or how
few the fronds, the conjugating specimens always conjugate, like form
or species with like form or species—the abundant with their abundant
neighbours of the same species, the rare seeking out the rare of the same,
overlooking species, and the possibly more numerous specimens of a per-
haps closely allied species. And it is marvellous, however few a certain
species may be amongst the mass of others, by what attraction or force
these little vegetable organisms, not endowed with a locomotive power,
are impelled to seek only their fellows when about to conjugate, avoid-
ing other more abundant species, themselves even, perhaps, conjugating
with each other at the time. The same may be said to be true of other
Conjugate. Such at least is my own experience; yet, at the same time,
that a hybrid might occur amongst the lower Algw, as well as amongst
higher organisms, is perhaps not impossible; but even if it did, it does
not appear to me that such a circumstance would weigh as an argument
against the existence of actual species in this family. But, further, I
believe if the development from one generative act to another has been
traced in a few, even in one species, and the result of such investigations
has been to prove that the so observed parent form or species, after pass-
ing through its reproductive stages, gives birth to its own complete
likeness, that its specific rank has to all intents and purposes been es-
tablished. Now this has been done by Professor de Bary in regard to
at least two species of Cosmarium, C. Botrytis and C. Meneghinii ; and it
is worthy of remark that these are both forms whose specific distinctness
has been called in question by some observers, merely because they con-
siderably resemble certain allied species of Cosmarium. To my mind,
indeed, they seem, in a word, to possess only common generic characters;
and for my share, while both the above species are frequent, I believe

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 71

there is not the smallest difficulty in distinguishing them from any of
their allies. Now, analogy seems to me to be here an irresistible argu-
ment. Cosmarium Botrytis, as some may maintain, only a variety of
Cosmarium margaritiferum, or of C.tetraopthalmum, or C. Brebissonit, &e.
—all of which they perhaps would lump together—reproduces ztse/f from
the sporangium, conjugation being a true generative act, as I conceive.
My new Micrasterias differs by more salient and striking characters from
its nearest neighbouring forms than do those species of Cosmarium,
though it is to be mentioned that the development from the sporangium of
any species of Micrasterias is unknown. It is therefore reasonable to
conclude that my new Micrasterias and its allies are distinct species, as
they certainly are abundantly distinct forms. I consider, then, if certain
well defined forms occur, differing from their congeners as much as do
already acknowledged species, and which may be met with the very
next day by other observers, it is imperative that such be duly recorded
under a careful description. And I would remind you that this is the
necessary course in all departments of Natural History. Constantly re-
curring identical forms must be assumed to be the descendants of similar
progenitors, whatever be their intervening phases of development, of al-
ternation, or of metamorphosis ; and, as it seems to me, in the absence of
the various stages of the development of each from the germ generated
from the parent, there is no more difficulty in believing such forms in
the microscopic world to be good species, than in the case of any of the
higher plants or animals, in the absence of tracing their growth from the
ovum or germ, though in one case we may possibly know the stages, and
in the other we may not.

Therefore, on all these considerations, I believe I am not premature
in describing the following new species of Micrasterias ; and I make the
preceding few observations, and direct attention to the foregoing facts,
for the purpose of trying in, I fear, a very inadequate manner, to meet
the objections of those who seem to carry a prudent precaution as to
making new species too far, and thus, as it appears to me, to outstep
the truth in one direction, as much, or nearly so, as do those who over-
multiply species in the other. And those who may be disposed to
question the actual distinctness of certain of these Desmidian species,
and who may draw their arguments from figures or from preconceived
ideas, I would just beg to suspend their judgment until they make a
careful comparison of the living specimens side by side, drawn from dif-
ferent sources and on different occasions ; for I maintain that it is Nature
that should speak, and by Nature that we should be guided, and not by
opinion or theory, nor by any preconceived scheme, however ingeniously
devised, by which, after all, probably good species are unwittingly
grouped together into what are nothing but small subgenera (though,
without adopting that name, called indeed species), the so- -called varieties,
Nature compelling the distinctions at last to be acknowledged, being
the true species. I do not, however, mean to convey that I at all
imagine species to be invariable, and that authors, in disallowing certain
so-called species, in so doing always fall into the error I have alluded

72 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

to: far from it. Iam convinced that, in many departments of Natural
History, very many of the species described in books exist there only,
and are not supplied by Nature; and I only mean to say that it appears
to me the opposite mistake is more frequently fallen into now-a-days
than is generally thought; and my remarks are more especially with
reference to the Desmidiacez.

Class—ALGA. Order—CutorospERME®.
Family—DeEsMipraceZ.

Genus—Micrasterias (Ag. et aliorum, non Ehr.)

Micrasterias Thomasiana (mihi, sp. nov.) "

Specific Characters :—Frond orbicular, smooth ; segments five-lobed,
furnished at the base with three stout, conspicuous, prominent, hollow
projections, the middle conical, rounded, the outer tapering, curved,
elongate, emarginate, divergent; lobes closely approximate throughout,
each bearing two or three superficial, regularly disposed apiculate eleva-
tions, their apices directed outwards; the lateral lobes dichotomously
divided, their ultimate subdivisions bi- or tri-dentate, or sometimes qua-
dridentate, not tapering ; end lobe wholly included, acutely emarginate,
its angles acute. End view—the body of the segment lanceolate, the
projections very conspicuous, together presenting a doubly hastate out-
line.

Locality:—A large pool near the “‘ Old Gable,” Featherbed Moun-
tain, and sparingly elsewhere in the vicinity.

Measurements:—Length of frond, zz; breadth of frond, ;4,;;
greatest depth of frond, ;1,, inclusive of the projections; exclusive of
the projections, <4, of an inch.

General Description :—Frond orbicular, smooth; segments in front
view five-lobed, having the lateral lobes dichotomously incised, furnished
at the base with three conspicuous hollow projections or protuberances,
the middle one conical, rounded; the outer distant from each other rather
less than one-third the diameter of the frond, tapering, curved, some-
what elongate, emarginate at the extremities, sometimes with a tooth
on the upper margin, laterally divergent from each other, but approxi-
mate to those of the opposite segment; basal lobes with two little apicu-
late conical elevations on the surface, apparent only on the empty frond,
their apices directed outwards, equidistantly placed at the base of each
of the primary subdivisions of the lobes, and on a level with the extre-
mity of the primary incision; middle lobes with three similar elevations,
two placed at the base of each of the primary subdivisions, on a level
with the extremity of the primary incision, and the other placed at the
base of the lobe, distant about as far beneath the other two as they are
from each other, the two elevations of each of the basal, and the two
outer of each of the middle lobes forming regular series semicircularly
- disposed; end lobe with two similar elevations, one placed beneath the
other, the outer somewhat within the semicircular series of elevations of

a
”
.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 73

the basal and middle lobes—the inner at the base on a level, and hori-
zontally forming nearly a straight series of three, with the inner eleva-
tion of each of the middle lobes. (Plate II., Fig.2.) Basaland middle
lobes mostly thrice dichotomous, the primary incisions deep, linear, about
one-half the depth of the lobes; the secondary incisions linear, about one-
third the depth of the primary; tertiary incisions shallow, triangular or
rounded, scarcely one-half the depth of the secondary; the ultimate
subdivisions bidentate. Sometimes the tertiary incisions are obscure or
obsolete, when the basal and middle lobes are therefore but twice dicho-
tomous, and the ultimate subdivisions then mostly tridentate or quadri-
dentate. End lobe narrow, with nearly parallel sides at the base for nearly
half its length, thence suddenly widening, wholly included, acutely
emarginate at the end at the middle; outer margin concave at each side
close to the notch, beyond which it is convex, its angles acute. (Figs.1,2.)
Tn side view the frond rather more than three times longer than broad,
segments somewhat pyramidal; in general outline inflated at the base,
sides concave immediately above ; again dilated about half-way up, the
central lateral projections directed upwards, with a sinus on each side
immediately above; sides again contracted, and above again exhibiting
a lateral projection at each side; end truncate, the upper edge (in empty
frond) showing the extremities of the various lobes and subdivisions.
(Fig. 3.) In end view the segment narrow-lanceolate, presenting at
each side, at the middle, the central, rounded basal projections, and be-
yond it at each side, the pair of large conspicuous curved emarginate
divergent projections, the general outline presenting a doubly-hastate
appearance, the rounded projections intervening, the upper edge (in
empty frond) showing the extremities of the various lobes and sub-di-
visions, the lobes presenting a somewhat ob-campanulate outline, with
a lateral minute projection at each side, its apex directed outwards. (Fig.
4.) In transverse view of a segment it is lanceolate, presenting much
the same outline as the end view, save that the outer edge being turned
away from the observer, the subdivisions of the lobes are not now ap-
parent, the foramen and basal projections being now uppermost, and in
this position very strikingly displayed. (Fig. 5.) Endochrome rich
green, sometimes not reaching to the margin of the frond, and thus leay-
ing a hyaline border, and containing numerous conspicuous rounded
scattered large granules.

Plate II. Fig. 1, front view. Fig. 2, same, empty frond. Fig. 8,
side view. Fig. 4, end view. Fig 5, transverse view, all magnified 200

diameters.

This complex form is very pretty, but, without obtaining a side and
end view of an empty frond, is difficult to understand. Indeed, the outer
semicircular series, and inner series of three little apiculate elevations,
are not discernible when the frond contains its endochrome; but the
large curved projections at the base of the segments, even in front view,
are readily seen, and under a low power, owing to the greater depth and
consequent greater opacity, appear like two darker portions at the base
of each segment; by focussing under a higher power, they are most easily

74 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

made out; they are quite conspicuous on the empty frond. (Fig. 2.)
That these curved projections are hollow is indicated by my having seen,
in an empty segment, an infusorium making its way up into and down
again from one. On the empty frond, also, the superficial apiculate pro-
jections are readily seen ; occasionally one appears emarginate or divided,
showing a double apiculus. It is not, however, until an end or trans-:
verse view is obtained, that all these projections, which render this form
so remarkable, stand out in all their striking prominence, giving the
general outline which suggested to me the term doubly hastate. (Figs.
4and 5.) In end view, too, are seen the summits of the superficial projec-
tions directed outwards, imparting to the boundary of each lobe, the outer

edge of which is now towards the observer, a somewhat inversely-sub-
campanulate outline. In a somewhat oblique, partially front, partially
lateral view, the several projections stand out in a crowded, mixed, very
puzzling manner. In by far the greater number of examples the basal
and middle lobes are thrice dichotomous, the ultimate incisions being,
however, very shallow, but mostly quite distinct; the ultimate subdi-
visions are therefore eight to each lobe, and rather acutely bidentate.
But it occasionally happens that the tertiary incisions are obsolete, or
not appreciably deeper than the intervals between the teeth, when the
lobes cannot be said to be more than twice dichotomous, causing the
ultimate subdivisions to be but four in number, and then mostly triden-
tate or quadridentate. The end lobe is narrow, acutely emarginate at
the middle, its lateral angles acute, and whollyincluded—indeed, shghtly
beneath the general periphery of the frond.

It is with great pleasure I avail myself of the privilege kindly ac-
corded to me to name this species after Mrs. Herbert Thomas, whose
paper on Cosmarium, published in the ‘‘ Quarterly Journal of Micro-
scopic Science, Trans.” vol. iii., pp. 83-36, has doubtless been perused
with much interest by every student of the Desmids, and I am happy
at having the opportunity of thus evincing my own humble appreciation
of her researches. I consider that all praise is due to those ladies who
honour our studies by a personal co-operation; and I feel, indeed, that I
am far more complimented than complimenting in being permitted to
dedicate this species to Mrs. Thomas.

Affinities and Differences:—I believe there are only two species
with which there is any chance of this Micrasterias being confounded, and
they are IZ. rotata (Ralfs) and JL denticulata (Breb.), but with the lat-
ter I conceive it has the greater affinity. But as I imagine there is some
misapprehension prevalent in regard to the differences and distinctions
of the two species just mentioned, it may not be out of place, if, before
contrasting them with this new species, I should draw attention to their
own mutual points of similarity and of difference. Micrasterras rotata
(Ralfs) and J, denticulata (Bréb.) agree in having an orbicular frond of
large size, smooth, without spines, papille, or granules, their segments
five-lobed, the basal and middle lobes dichotomously divided ; the lobes
closely approximate throughout, widening the entire way from the base,
the ultimate subdivisions not being attenuate, and the endochrome con-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 75

taining scattered rounded large granules, and frequently retracted from
the margin of the frond, so as to leave a hyaline border. Micrasterias
rotata and I. denticulata differ in the following particulars :—The for-
mer is notably a larger species than the latter; in front view, in the
former, the basal lobes are twice, the middle lobes thrice dichotomous—
in the latter both basal and middle lobes are but twice dichotomous,
thus making in the former the ultimate subdivisions of the middle lobes
eight (and this additional dichotomy makes itself apparent at an early
stage in the growth of the young segments), and making in the latter
the ultimate subdivisions of the middle lobes but four only (in the for-
mer, therefore, the middle lobes are wider in proportion than in the
latter); in the former the ultimate subdivisions of the basal and middle
lobes are acutely bidentate—in the latter they are truncato-emarginate,
with more or less rounded, sometimes subacute, angles; in the former
the end lobe is greatly more distinguishable in character and appearance
from the others than in the latter; in the former, the outline of the end
lobe is narrowed below, inflated above the base, again contracted, and
again dilated and spreading at the extremity,—in other words, more or
less of a narrow campanulate outline (the adjoining upper margin of
the middle lobes closely approximating thereto by a corresponding out-
line)—in the latter, the end lobe is simply cuneate, with the sides
somewhat concave; in the former, the end lobe is distinctly exserted
-beyond the general periphery of the frond—in the latter, it is not ex-
serted, its outer margin being continuous with that of the frond; in the
former, the angles of the end lobe are produced, divergent and bidentate,
in the latter, its external angles are bluntly rounded; in the former,
the central emargination of the end lobe is not so deep as in the latter;
in the former, the endochrome is more dense within the end lobe, es-
pecially at both of its margins, than elsewhere in the frond, giving it a
turgid appearance, and rendering the campanulate outline more strik-
ing,—in the latter it is not so. In the side view in the former (Fig.
9), the frond is stonter and more turgid than the latter (Fig. 6), its
sides less concave. In the end view, the former is stouter, and the
outline is broadly fusiform, with a solitary central slightly elevated
rounded projection at each side (Fig. 10)—in the latter the outline is
more slender, and is lanceolate, with three slight, less rounded and less
elevated projections at the middle at each side (Fig. 7). In my mind,
IM. rotata is a handsomer and more striking species than J. dentt-
culata.

I am thus particular in contrasting these two species with one ano-
ther, because, while I believe them to be quite as distinct as any two
allied species need or can be, and while (though having seen multitudes
of specimens of both) I have never seen one in which there seemed any
difficulty in deciding to which species it belonged, I imagine, never-
theless, as before intimated, that there appears to be some misconception
prevalent as to the distinctness, or as to the actual characters of these
two species. In the ‘“‘ Quarterly Journal of Mic. Science, N.8.,” Vol. 1.,

76 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

page 1, January, 1861, Mr. Lobb, in his interesting paper, describing
the growth of the nascent segment in dividing fronds of Micrasterias,
throughout calls his specimens IZ. denticulata, but he figures M. rotata.
Again, Dr. Wallich, in the two first—and only two as yet published—
of a series of papers descriptive of Desmidiacezx, discovered in Bengal
(‘‘ Annals of Natural History,” 3 ser., vol. v., p. 280, 1860), affirms his
belief that MW. rotata and MW. denticulata, met with by him very sparingly
in that country, are really but varieties of one species. But he adopts the
same course, indeed, with many other allied species. I am compelled,
however, very deferentially to differ from him. Mr. Ralfs himself, in-
deed, in the ‘ British Desmidie’’ (p. 71), expresses ‘“‘ some doubt
whether this plant [ J/. rotata] is not a variety of I. denticulata, as the
angles are sometimes merely acute, instead of being prolonged into teeth;”
but I surely think the claims of each to specific rank do not depend
upon this one, or upon any one character, but, as I have indicated above,
are founded on many and constant points of difference. It is surely
not an argument for their specific identity that they possess several cha-
racters in common—and, so far asI see, I have above indicated all such,
leaving out of question those that are strictly generic. Surely the ulti-
mate, constant, and obvious characters, possessed by one and not by the
other, are those upon which we must rely, and I conceive those I have
above pointed out are abundantly sufficient to separate those two spe-
cies. It is to be conceded, indeed, that sometimes with them as with
other species slight variations occur, such as a greater interval between
the lobes, more or less acuteness of the teeth, or such like accidental
circumstances, but I aver that there is always a tout ensemble rendering
the identification a matter of no difficulty. Iam glad to say I am sus-
tained in this view by that of so distinguished an authority as M. De
Brébisson. That naturalist, indeed, was the first to discover and name
M. denticulata as distinct from Huastrwm rota (Ehr.) = Mierasterias
rotata (Ralfs); and [ am pleased to find that, with his accumulated ex-
perience, he still thinks them good species, and, moreover, concurs with
me in thinking my Micrasterias Thomasiana to be aspecies quite distinct,
and very remarkable. M. de Brébisson ingeniously remarks in refe-
rence to I. rotata, ‘‘Silon voulait exprimer le Merastervas rotata par
la designation symbolique de M. Dixon, je crois qu’il faudrait ajouter
un lobe et dire: a,6,¢,d, ‘radial.’’’ (For the Rev. R. V. Dixon’s paper
alluded to, see ‘‘ Natural History Review, O. S., vol. vi., p. 464; Proc.
Nat. Hist. Soc.Dub. ;” also, ‘‘ Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science,”’
O.S. vol. viii., p.79.) But I should not be disposed to acquiesce in this, as
it seems, I think, evident that the middle lobes in JZ. rotata have the
primary incision merely very deeply carried down, and that the primary
dichotomous subdivisions cannot be said to represent two lobes; this
portion in this species and that in IJ. denticulata, in which the external
(middle) lobes are only twice dichotomous, are homologous (if that term
can be applied to an unicellular plant without special organs), and re-
present the same ‘‘ subdivision”? (Dixon). I have to thank M. de Bré-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. a7

bisson’s kindness for dried specimens of each of those species from France,
and they appear to me to be quite identical with our own.*

I now come briefly to contrast my new species with M. rotata, and
IM. denticulata; and, as in the instances of those two species, it will be
better first to point out where the new species agrees with them; but
as that is, indeed, precisely in the characters in which they agree with
one another as detailed above, it will be, therefore, quite unnecessary
again to narrate those characters (vide supra). I say I. Thomasiana
agrees with all the common positive and negative characters of J/. rotata
and M. denticulata given above; forthe superficial apiculate projections
on the former cannot be called either papille or granules, they are the
summits of the eminences disposed over the frond. The former seems
to me to have a greater afiinity with Jf. denticulata than with M. ro-
tata,—indeed, in front view there is a lability of the former being con-
founded with it. I shall first draw attention to the distinctions between
them. J. Thomasiana is notably smaller than MZ. denticulata (as it is
smaller than Jf. rotata); in the new species the basal and middle lobes
are mostly thrice dichotomous, in Jf. denticulata they are but twice di-
chotomous; in the former, the ultimate subdivisions of the basal and
middle lobes when eight are bidentate, when four only, tridentate,—in
the latter they are four only, and truncato-emarginate, with rounded, or
sometimes subacute, angles; in the former, the terminal emargination
_ of the end lobe is rather deep and acute,—in the latter it is more shallow
and more rounded. To compare WM. Thomasiana with I. rotata, the
former is much smaller than the latter (which, indeed, is larger than /.
denticulata); in the former, the basal and middle lobes are mostly thrice,
sometimes twice, dichotomous; in the latter the basal lobes are con-
stantly twice, the middle lobes thrice, dichotomous; in the former the
teeth of the ultimate subdivisions are not so lengthened as in the latter ;
in the former the middle lobe is narrow, and with nearly parallel sides
below, widening above,—in the latter the end lobe is more or less cam-
panulate ; in the former the end lobe is wholly included, its angles acute,
the central notch deep, acute—in the latter, the end lobe is slightly but
distinctly exserted, itsangles somewhat produced and bidentate, its central
notch shallow and rounded. But, above all, the new species is remark-
ably distinct from both M. denticulata and IW. rotata, and indeed every
other species, by the striking projections at the base of the segments,
and by the superficial eminences. No distinctions can be drawn from
the sporangium in these species, as unfortunately it is unknown, that
of WV. denticulata excepted. It does not appear at all requisite to com-
pare M. Thomasiana with any other species, as there is none other for
which there seems any chance of its being mistaken. Indeed, the only

* Since this paper was read I have had an opportunity, through the kindness of my
friend, Mr. W. Keay, of examining a gathering made near Dundee, in which M. denticulata
occurred, and in no point did his specimens differ from that species collected in this country;
and the same might be said of the other forms therein common to Scotland and Ireland.—

W.A
M

78 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

other species of Micrasterias with which I am acquainted that possess
any processes or projections directed in a different plane from that of the
frond, are MZ. muricata (Ralfs) and M. Americana (Ralfs). In those
species, however, the projections are at the external margin of the seg-
ment, not at their base; and the entire form, and structure, and appear-
ance of the frond is wholly and completely different, any characters in
common being, of course, those only of generic value.

Some may think, I fear, that I have gone to unnecessary length in
carrying out the intention of this paper. I can only apologise by say-
ing I am anxious that these common species of Micrasterias, J. rotata
and M. denticulata, remarkably beautiful and favourite microscopic ob-
jects, should be regarded in what I humbly conceive to be their true

light; andif MicrasteriasThomasiana, with these remarks of mine, should
afford any student of the Desmidiaces the smallest interest, and in so
doing should at all contribute to the end alluded to, my purpose will
have. been attained.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1861.

Witt1am Anprews, M.R.I. A., President, in the Chair.
The previous Minutes were read and signed.
Mr. Wrt11am Arcuer read the following paper :—

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF COSMARIUM (CORDA), OF STAURASTRUM
(MEYEN), OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF CLOSTERIUM (NITZSCH), AND OF
SPIROTAINIA (BREB.).

Famity—DESMIDIACE#.
Genus—Cosmarivum ( Corda.)

Cosmarium tuberculatum (sp. nov.)

Specific Characters :—Frond very minute, constriction very obtuse
and shallow ; segments in front view broadly elliptic, outer margin bor-
dered by a few very minute opaque tubercles or granules; end view
broadly elliptic.

Locality :—A small pool, near the ice-houses, on the Piperstown
road, county of Dublin.

General Description :—Frond very minute ; in front view about 1th
longer than broad ; constriction wide, shallow, forming an obtuse angie;
isthmus wide ; segments broadly elliptic, outer margin bordered by afew
(5-7, often 6) very minute opaque superficial tubercles or granules ; side
view narrower, about twice as long as broad ; constriction a mere gentle
depression or concavity at each side, segments forming about 2rds of a
circle, outer margin, as before, bordered by a few minute opaque tu-
bercles; end view broadly elliptic. Sporangium unknown.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 19

Measurements :—Length of frond, gq55 to zs455; breadth, o345 to
goon 3 depth g75q of an inch.

Plate II., fig. 11, front view; fig. 12, side view; fig. 18, end view;
14 and 15, dividing fronds. All magnified 400 diameters.

- Affinities and Differences :—The very minute size, combined with
the obtuse, shallow, but decided constriction, and, above all, the outer
margin of each segment being bordered by the minute, opaque or dark
granules, render this little species very distinct, causing it to be almost
unnecessary to compare it with any other.* It is intermediate in size
between C. bioculatum and C. tinctum; but, besides the tubercles, it is
quite distinct from them by its broader isthmus and more broadly elliptic
segments.

Genus—Sravrastrum (Meyen).

Staurastrum lanceolatum (sp. nov.)

Specific Characters :—Frond minute ; segments smooth, broadly lan-
ceolate, extremities acute, minutely apiculate; end view, triangular,
angles minutely apiculate, sides concave.

Locality :—Sphagnum ponds, Featherbed bog, county of Dublin,
coating the moss.

General Description :—Frond minute, about as broad as long, con-
striction forming a deep acute notch at each side; supposing the con-
striction absent, the frond would present an orbicular outline ; segments
smooth, in front view broadly lanceolate, the outer margin slightly more
convex than the inner, their opposite lateral extremities acute, minutely
apiculate (though the apiculus is sometimes difficult of detection) ; end
view triangular, angles somewhat inflated, minutely apiculate, sides con-
eave at the centre. Sporangium orbicular, spinous; spines numerous,
somewhat inflated at the base, their extremities subulate, acute.

Measurements :—Length of frond, =,55; breadth, z/55; diameter
of sporangium, including spines, 54; not imcluding spines, zo/55 of an
inch.

Plate II., fig. 16, front view; fig. 17, angular view; fig. 18, end
view. All magnified 400 diameters.

Affinities and Differences :—This species agrees somewhat with Stau-
rastrum orbiculare (Ralfs) in its general external outline ; but it differs
therefrom in its segments being lanceolate, not semiorbicular (the con-
striction being not linear, but a gaping notch), and in the opposite lateral
extremities not being rounded, but acute and apiculate. Its lanceolate
apiculate segments separate it from S. muticum (Bréb.) The same cha-
racters separate it from S. pygmeum (Bréb.), which latter has cuneiform
segments, as well as the extremities of the spines of the sporangium
being bifurcate, not subulate and acute, as in this species. From S. de-

* Unfortunately the figures (Fig. 11-14) are incorrect in representing the tubercles as
so large and elevated. They do not stand out,-nor do they appear of the nature of the
“early granules” of other species. They are more minute, less elevated, and more
‘opaque than in the figure.

80 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Jjectum (Bréb.) it may be known by its lanceolate, not elliptic segments,
and its merely apiculate, not spinous extremities. Its lanceolate pointed,
not elliptic or reniform, segments separate this species from S. brevispina

(Bréb.), while the mucrones of the latter are rather larger, though not
more conspicuous.

Genus CLosrrrium (Wtzsch).
Closterium directum (sp. nov.)

Specific Characters :—Frond rather slender; scarcely at all curved,
nearly straight, linear, ends truncate; fillets indistinct; empty frond,
very finely and closely striate.

Locality :—Several pools, Dublin mountains,

General Description :—Frond rather slender, about fifteen to twenty
times longer than broad, scarcely tapering, lower margin very nearly
straight, upper also very nearly straight, but slightly depressed towards
the truncate ends, giving the frond a nearly straight outline. Endo-
chrome with indistinct fillets, and a conspicuous series of large granules,
Empty frond, generally colourless, sometimes faintly reddish near the
ends, very finely striate,—the latter character sometimes difficult of de-
tection in mounted, but quite evident in fresh specimens. Sporangium
unknown.

Occasionally a distorted specimen is met with, slightly geniculately
bent, or a segment sometimes presents a somewhat irregularly curved
form; but a similar circumstance is not unfrequently to be noticed in
Docidium Ehrenberghii, which is a straight form.

Measurements :—Length of frond, or to z5; breadth, pabp of an
inch.

Plate I., Fig. 23, frond with endrochrome; Fig.
magnified 200 diams.

Affinities and Differences :—This species is decidedly the straightest
and most linear in form of all the genus Closterium, and it will there-
fore be necessary to contrast it with those only whose curvature and
tapering are the most slight.

It may be advisable to contrast this species with C. didymotocum
(Corda), C. obtuswm (Bréb.), OC. amblyonema (Hhr.), OC. intermedium
(Ralfs), C. angustatwm (Kiitz.); and perhaps C. juncidum (Ralfs), and
C. gracile (Bréb.) This species agrees with C. didymotocum in its nearly
straight frond and truncate ends, but they differ in the following par-
ticulars :—in the former, the frond is far more slender than in the latter,
which is stout, and in the former the upper and lower margins are pa-
rallel, or nearly so; in the latter, the lower margin is frequently curved
upwards at the end, and the upper margin is convex, and in the former the
empty frond is far more finely striate than in the latter, while it is more
nearly colourless. C.directum isa more slender, more li near, more bacillar
form than C. didymotocum, and, so far as comparative outward form merely
and length and breadth are concerned, may be said to bear a relationship to ©
that species somewhat similar to that which Closterium juncidum doesto C.

24, empty frond ;

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 81

angustatum ; or which Docidium Ehrenberghii does to D.nodulosum. In-
deed, I do not think there would be a possibility of confounding these
two Closteria if seen side by side. (C. directum agrees with C. obtusum
(Bréb.) in its scarcely tapering frond, but it differs from that species in
its truncate, not rounded, ends, as well as in its striate, not smooth,
empty frond. The latter, indeed, appears to me more to resemble a
somewhat slightly curved Penium (so to speak) than a Closterium, as,
indeed, M. de Brébisson himself remarks, nor does he refer to moving
granules at the extremities. C. directum agrees also with C. amblyo-
nema (Khr.) in its scarcely tapering frond; but the former differs from
the latter in its smaller size, in its straighter outline, in its truncate,
not broadly rounded, ends, and in its striate, not smooth, empty frond.
C. directum agrees with C. intermedium and C. angustatum in its scarcely
tapering frond, but differs in the ends being truncate, not rounded, and
the striz far more fine and close; moreover, those species are conside-
rably more arcuate. O. directwm differs from C. juncidum (Ralfs) and
C. gracile (Bréb.) by its straight frond, not curved downwards at the
ends, and by its much less slender fronds.

Closterium Pritchardianum (sp. nov.) .

Specific Characters :—Frond gradually tapering, curvature slight;
lower margin very slightly concave, inclined upwards at the tapering
conical truncate ends ; endochrome with several fillets, and a single longi-
tudinal series of large granules ; empty frond very finely striate, reddish
near the ends.

Locality :—A pool at the top of Howth, conjugated ; severals pools,
Dublin mountains.

General Description :—Frond from about ten to fourteen times longer
than broad, somewhat stout, slightly curved, tapering very gradually
from the centre, towards the ends more rapidly ; lower margin slightly
concave, and inclined upwards near the conically attenuated truncate
reddish ends; upper margin gradually convex, sometimes very slightly
depressed near the ends, owing to the upward inclination of the apices;
endochrome bright green, reaching near the ends, and having beyond
it, close to the apices, the active granules—large granules in a single
series, longitudinal fillets several; empty frond frequently slightly reddish,
especially near the ends—longitudinal strie very fine and very numerous,
in mounted specimens very difficult of detection, but in recent very
readily made out. Sporangium large, orbicular, or very broadly ellip-
tic, smooth, placed between the empty fronds, which are for some time
persistent. Conjugation taking place soon after self-division, one, the
younger, segment of each conjugating frond is much shorter than the
other, the older, longer segment, each of which lies in a parallel po-
sition, pointing in the same direction.

It is with much gratification that I take the opportunity to name
this species after a well-known microscopist,—Andrew Pritchard, Esq.,
author of several valuable additions to microscopical literature. When
at my request Mr. Pritchard did me the honour to permit me to dedicate

82 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

this species to him, he quaintly added, that his only objection was that
he thought his name too long,—I do not assent to this; but, even if it
were, I might reply, that his services in the cause of microscopy have
indeed been Jong, and far more than deserving of this inadequate com-
pliment,.

Measurements :— Length of frond, 1; to 4; breadth, 74, to >
diameter of sporangium, +4, of an inch.

Plate II., Fig. 25, frond with endochrome; Fig. 26, empty frond ;
Fig. 27, conjugating fronds with sporangium,—all magnified 200 dia-
meters.

Affinities and Differences :—To me it seems that there are only four
species with which there is any likelihood of this Closterium being con-
founded, and those are:—Closteriwm turgidum (Ehr.), C. attenuatum
(Ehr.) (opposed as may seem the specific names of those species), C.
acerosum (Hhr.), and C. lanceolatum (Kg.). Closterium Pritchardi-
anum agrees with C. twrgidum, in its gently curved but slighty taper-
ing frond, in its lower margin being curved upwards towards the red-
dish apices, in its endochrome possessing longitudinal fillets and a single
series of large granules, and in its empty frond being finely striate ;
but the former differs from the latter in its less: stout and less curved
frond, in its conical and truncate, not broadly rounded ends, and in the
strize seen on the empty frond being far more fine and close. C. Pritch-
ardianum agrees with C. attenuatum in the size and general curvature of
the frond ; but the former differs from the latter in its conically-tapered
truncate ends, not suddenly contracted (more or less like the handle to an
oar) into a conical point, and in the strize on the empty frond being far
finer. The lower margin being curved upwards near the extremities
seems to give this new species some resemblance to C. acerosum (Khr.)
and to C. lanceolatum (Kg.); but I believe the somewhat reddish trun-
cate apices and longitudinal striz will readily distinguish it from both.
It is less slender in proportion to its length than C. acerosum, more so
than C. lanceolatum, and the upturned conico-truncate ends seem to me
very characteristic. There appears to me no danger of mistaking this
form for C. Ralfsii, so decidedly distinguished by its turgid ventricose
body, and prolonged beak-like extremities.*

Closterium is a genus in which it is difficult always accurately to
define in words the specific distinctions, resting in allied species, as they
frequently do, on more or less stoutness or slenderness of frond, more or

at
50.9

* Notwithstanding that, when reading this paper, I had almost thought it unneces-
sary to compare my Clostertum Pritchardianum with C. Ralfsii, 1 have been not a little
puzzled to find, in a collection of dried Desmidians which I lately had the pleasure to re-
ceive from M. de Brébisson, certain specimens marked “ Closterium Ralfsii,” which
upon examination I cannot perceive to be distinguishable from my C. Pritchardianum. I
have not myself met with living specimens I could by any means refer to C. Ra/fsii, relying
of course on the description and figures in “The British Desmidiex,” and from which,
beyond any question, my plant differs completely. Indeed, the prolonged beak-like ex-
tremities, as described for C. Ralfsii, would at once justify an assumption that the spo-
rangium would be cruciately lobed, not orbicular—that is (supposing the genus to be

lig ee

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 83

less degree of curvature, more or less rapidity or slowness of tapering,
more or less acute or more or less broadly rounded or truncate apices,
and, in the striate species, on more or less fineness or coarseness of, or
distance between, the strie. But I believe such distinctions to be here
equal in value, and quite as reliable, as more striking characters in other
genera—different allied species of Closterium possessing such in different
and constant degrees of combination; and I cannot admit, because the
distinctions between certain neighbouring species, as compared with each
other, may sometimes depend on a ‘ more or /ess’ as regards certain com-
mon characters, that therefore good and quite distinguishable species do
not exist in this genus. Difficult as it may be (to me at least) to define
those distinctions, there is at least always a tout ensemble, a general
contour, a certain definite combination of characteristics in the same spe-
cies whenever met with, which, when they impress themselves on the
eye and memory, render the identification by no means difficult, [have
never seen even a solitary instance of conjugation except of like admitted
species with like. I therefore imagine, on the whole, it may be quite
possible that certain of the Closteria described by Continental writers,
which (if erring, at least I apprehend erring on the right side) I have
been disposed to think are identical with previously described forms,
may be really quite distinct, could one but see the actual specimens.
But be this as it may, however I may fail to convey by my description
the valid distinctions which I conceive to exist between the foregoing
Closteria and the nearest allies of each, I have no doubt of them myself,
from a careful examination of the living specimens; and I am glad to
say, that having had the honour to submit specimens to M. de Brébisson,
that my own opinion is coincided in by that high authority.

Genus—Sprrrotznia (Bréb.)
Spirotenia truncata (sp. nov.)

Specific Characters :—Frond cylindrical, but tapering near the trun-
cate ends, endochrome a single, rather closely-wound spiral band, leav-
ing a minute clear space at each end, often containing one or more free
granules.

Locality :—Featherbed Mountain, Co. Dublin ; in small pools.

General Description :—Frond minute, five to eight times longer
than broad; cylindrical, but tapering towards the extremities, ends

admitted), it would fall under Stauroceras (Kiitz), whereas my plant is perfectly distinct
as regards the form of the sporangium, besides differing in that of the frond. But in
order to more completely satisfy myself, I requested Mr. Ralfs to allow me to see some
of his specimens of C. Ralfsii, and I have to thank him for his kind compliance. Having
then compared Mr. Ralf’s specimens, and the description and beautiful figure in “ British
Desmidiex” with my plant, I think there cannot be a shadow of doubt but that C. Pritch-
ardianum is wholly distinct in every respect from C. Ralfstz, and I feel satisfied the former
has not been before described. There must therefore be some mistake in regard to M. de
Brébisson’s specimens, but which I have not yet had an opportunity to clear up, and
under the circumstances I have thought it advisable to append this note-—W. A.

84 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

truncate ; endochrome at first a single, rather closely wound spiral band,
its revolutions few, frequently afterwards scattered and indistinct, in
each fully grown frond, leaving at each end a minute semicircular clear
space, in which there occur one, or perhaps two, free granules; gela-
tinous investment very evident.

Measurements :—Length of frond =45 ; breadth, 355 of an inch.

Plate II., Figs. 28, 29, mature frond; Fig. 30, 31, two recently
divided fronds, all magnified 400 diameters.

Affinities and Differences:—The cylindrical frond tapering towards
the ends in this species renders it somewhat like in outline to that of
Spirotenia obscura (Ralfs), with which it also agrees in having a clear
space containing often one, occasionally two, or even three free gra-
nules; but it differs from that species in its greatly more minute size, in
its truncate, not broadly rounded ends, and in its endochrome forming a
solitary, not several spiral bands. With S. condensata (Bréb.), S. muset-
cola (De Bary), and S. erythrocephala (Itzigsohn), it agrees in its single-
spired endochrome ; but its tapering truncate ends well distinguish it
from the broadly rounded ends of the two former, and from the acute
ends of the latter, besides other characters in each instance, as is readily
seen by the foregoing description. From Entospira closteridia (Bréb.),
——a species which I apprehend ought to be referred to the genus Spiro-
teenia—this form is distinguished by its larger size, by its straight and
cylindrical, not arcuate or sublunate, outline, as well as by its truncate
ends and terminal clear space. Its larger size, truncate ends, and broad
spiral band, readily separate this from the following new species :—

Spirotenia parvula (sp. nov.).

Specific Characters :—Frond-very minute, slender, fusiform, ends
sub-acute; endochrome obliquely parietal, scarcely spiral.

Locality :—Featherbed Bog, Dublin Mountains, in Sphagnum pools,
on the moss. Not unfrequent, but readily overlooked on account of its
very minute size.

General Description :—Frond very minute, five to eight times longer
than broad, fusiform, ends sub-acute; endochrome a single oblique pa-
rietal band, often scarcely forming a spire, but frequently presenting to
view apparently three darker portions of elongate form, one towards
each end at the same side of the frond, the other at the middle at the
opposite side, thus leaving’ between them a very narrow eccentric curved
clear space; gelatinous investment of great tenuity, and rendered evi-
dent only by preventing the contact of foreign bodies, and by holding
together the recently divided fronds.

Measurements :—Length of frond, gz to 7745p ; breadth, =,, to

goa of an inch.

Plate II., Figs. 32 to 48, mature and recently divided fronds, all mag-
nified 460 diameters.

Affinities and Differences:—The scarcely spiral, sometimes scat-
tered endochrome, at first made me hesitate to consider this plant as be-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 85

longing to Spirotenia; but as it frequently seems to form an oblique
parietal band, and the self-division, as in other species of the genus, is
oblique, and the divided fronds held together by a gelatinous invest-
ment, there can, I apprehend, be no doubt but that in this genus this
minute little form finds its proper location. Moreover, I have seen some
specimens in which the endochrome clearly made a spiral turn, though
in the majority of instances the condition I have tried to describe above
is seen; and not unfrequently, as in other species, a confused or irregular
condition of the endochrome exists. Its very minute size, subacute ex-
tremities, and without a clear space, easily distinguish this from other
described species of Spirotenia. It really appears to approach more to
Entospira closteridia (Bréb., Kg.), (which plant, as I before stated, I
apprehend should fall under this genus) ; but it is distinguished by its
fusiform, not at all arcuate, and by its narrow, outline, as well as by its
obscurely convoluted, not distinctly and smoothly spiral endochrome.

Mr. Witii1am Arcuer also read the following paper :—

ON A NEW (?) SPECIES OF ANKISTRODESMUS (CORDA), WITH REMARKS IN
CONNEXION THEREWITH AS REGARDS CLOSTERIUM GRIFFITHII (BERK.),~
AND C. SUBTILE (BREB.).

I nave, on the present occasion, to draw attention to a very minute orga-
nism, but which, indeed, so far as I can see, I can scarcely allude to as a
new species; for I conceive that it. has been more than once previously de-
scribed, but I think I shall be able to render it probable that it has been
so under an erroneous designation. Of course, the truth of this assump-
tion depends on my being right as to the identity of my plant with that
of the authors alluded to, as well as upon my own proper appreciation
of its characteristics, and the correctness of my own conclusions in re-
gard to them. I shall now, however, give the characters of the plant
according to my own view, adopting, in doing so, the same mode that
I have done in other species, reserving the reasons why I venture to
differ from those who have previously described what, as I before stated,
I conceive to be one and the same organism, for the paragraph which I,
as previously, head ‘‘ Affinities and Differences.”

Generic Characters :—Cells minute, smooth, elongated, attenuated,
more or less numerously aggregated, forming fasciculi, or families; each
family resulting from the self-division of a single cell, which commences
by the formation of a somewhat oblique septum at the middle, continu-
ally rendered more and more oblique from the young cells growing along-
side one another longitudinally until they each attain the length of the
original parent cell, the process being again and again repeated by each,
till the aggregated family consists of at most thirty-two cells, the family
finally again breaking up into single cells (Niigeli).*

* Gattungen einzelliger Algen,” pp. 82-3.
N

86 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Ankistrodesmus acutissimus (mihi).

Specific Characters: —Cells fusiform, straight, very slender, gradually
tapering, very acute.

Locality :—I have noticed this curious little production for two suc-
cessive years in bog-water kept for some time in the house, and obtained
from pools in the Dublin Mountains.

General Description :—Cells very minute, twenty to twenty-five
times longer than broad, fusiform, very slender, straight, very acutely
acicular, solitary, or forming fasciculi of two or four cells; endochrome
light-green, mostly with a minute parietal semicircular or rounded (nu-
clear ?) pale body or space placed near the middle of the cell (that is,
equidistantly from each end, but close to one side), otherwise usually ap-
parently homogeneous, sometimes slightly ae

Measurements :—Length of cells, 00 to Tb03 breadth, To060 to
zabo5 of an inch.

Plate II., Figs. 44 to 56, mature and dividing fronds; Fig. 57, for
some time mounted i ia Thiwaite’ s fluid,” all magnified 400 diameters.

Affinities and Differences :—I have no doubt but that the plant at
-present under consideration is identical with Closteriwm subtile (Bréb.)*
and, I am strongly inclined to suspect, also with Clostervum Griffithit
(Berk. );{ hence, of course that those writers have described one and the same
thing under the names mentioned. Neither author, however, has de=-
scribed or figured the mode of cell-division in his specimens—a charac-
ter, as I apprehend, of primary importance in separating Clostertum
from Ankistrodesmus. Conceiving that I am right in supposing my
plant to be specifically identical with theirs, and as I think my account
of the cell-division to be correct, I believe I am justified in referring
the plant in question to Ankistrodesmus, and not to Clostertum. To
adopt the plan I have pursued in regard to species, let us compare and
contrast for a moment the genera Closterium and Ankistrodesmus—the
latter genus, I think there can be no doubt, is quite equivalent to Ra-
phidium (Kg.); and I cannot see why Kiitzing should reject a prior
name. Closterium and Ankistrodesmus agree, then, in the cells having
an elongate, more or less attenuated, often arcuate, form; but they differ
in several striking points. In the former genus there is always a pale
transverse band at the middle of the frond or cell, and arising from a sus-
pension or interruption of the denser endochrome at this region ; and this
pale space is apparent no matter what side of the frond is towards the
observer. In the latter genus there is, indeed, often a clear space at the
middle (as indicated in the form under consideration); but it seems to
me of a different nature. Here, in fresh specimens, it does not form a
transverse band, due to interruption of endochrome, but a rounded or semi-
circular or oblique smoothly defined spot, (of nuclear import ?), laterally
disposed, and closely approximated to the boundary-wall—that is, eccen-

* “Tiste des Desmidiées observées en Basse-Normandie,” p. 155.
¢ ‘‘Annals of Natural History,” 2 Ser., vol. xiii, p. 256.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 87

trie and parietal. It is true that it sometimes looks as if it were not 80 ;
but I am disposed to think that this appearance is only when it is up-
permost, and consequently towards the observer; while, on the other
hand, as is frequently the case, it may appear absent when it is on the
side turned away from the observer. In Closterium it is true that a
rounded body occupies the middle of the clear space (possibly nuclear) ;
but it is, at all events, not parietal, but placed in the very centre of the
contents, and it looks, indeed, scarcely different in nature from the
scattered or longitudinal series of amylaceous large granules frequently
present, of which it seems but to form one. Again, in Closterium there
is always a clear space at each extremity of the endochrome, in which a
greater or less number of opaque, very minute, but sometimes variably
sized, granules exert a remarkable constant active movement (as is well
known), which apparently is maintained during the whole life of the
organism. In some species there appears a special vacuole in which these
occur, in others they merely occupy a vacant space immediately beyond
the rest of the endochrome, leaving the rest of the frond clear. In An-
kistrodesmus there are no such granules. It is true, that Mr. Berkeley
alludes to a circulation of fluid contents in his Closterium Grifithit (seen
only under a power ranging from 1000 to 1500 diameters); but this
circumstance is of no generic or specific importance. It is common, in-
deed, in Desmidiacee. Again, in Closterium the self-division is trans-
verse, taking place at the middle of the frond; and, when completed,
the new segment is merely a rounded or somewhat triangular protube-
rance, and the frond, consequently unequal (Figs. 56 and 62 afford an ex-
ample), presently the new, short, roundedsegmentelongatesinto acomplete
counterpart of the older segment, assuming whatever may be the mature
characteristic specific form. In Ankistrodesmus the self-division com-
mences in a slightly oblique manner, presently rendered more and more
oblique by the younger portions growing alongside one another longitu-
dinally, the process being again and again repeated, until an aggregated
fasciculus of cells, greater or less in number, is produced. Now, the
ageregated fasciculated character of the cells in this genus has been, I
apprehend, looked upon as one of primary importance. I imagine it is
only of secondary, and in its place as primary, I should think, the ob-
liquely dividing, slender, attenuated cells should come, and the circum-
stance of those cells being aggregated into fasciculi (in A. falcatus form-
ing dense fagot-like bundles) be regarded rather as an accidental or se-
condary, but very far from unimportant character. Free cells are fre-
quently met with of even A. falcatus, in which, on the other hand, the
fagot-like bundles are often very large, many cells (thirty-two at most,
Nig.) being combined together. It is only the most minute species of
Closterium that are comparable in dimensions with any Ankistrodesmus.

Now, my plant has not a transverse band at the middle (in recent
living specimens), but only a rounded, clear spot at one side of the cell;
it has no clear space near or at the end of the cell containing moving
granules; its self-division is oblique, and the cells frequently remain
combined in twos or fours: therefore, I believe itis an Ankistrodesmus.

v

88 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

It is true that, unlike A. faleatus, the aggregated families do not form
fagot-like bundles, a character given as generic;* but in that species
solitary cells, as well as small families of two or four cells, are frequent,
the larger number eventually arising from the self-division of a smaller.
I have not been able to follow out Nigeli’s observations as to the mode
of growth in A. falcatus, but in a plant which I refer to Ankistrodesmus
convolutus (Corda)—a form I presume to be equivalent to Raphidium
minutum (Niig.)—self-division occurred after the same mode as that de-
scribed, and the aggregated families consisted of at most eight cells.
This was rare, but two and four common; Nigeli referred this (?) plant
to Raphidium (Kg.) = Ankistrodesmus (Corda), on a prior? evidence only,
as he had not seen its self-division.t

It may, perhaps, seem somewhat premature to assume my plant as
identical with Closterium Grifithii (Berk.) and Closteriwm subtile (Bréb.),
seeing that the characteristics relied on by me as generic, in regard to
the former, are unknown or unfurnished in regard to the two latter. It
is true that in the former instance I found my assumption rather on a
prior? evidence, and I cannot, therefore, feel perfectly confident that Iam
right. My plant agrees with Mr. Berkeley’sin very many ways—in form,
in the central pale space, in the absence of moving granules, and in its
occurring in long-kept samples of water. It, nevertheless, differs im size,
my plant appearing to be smaller; and Mr. Berkeley’s figures indicate a
few larger granules in the endochrome, disposed in a longitudinal series.
Taking it, however, for granted that I am right in supposing my plant
and Mr. Berkeley’s to be identical, and that I am also right in my ap-
preciation of the generic characters, I should perhaps have used his spe-
cific name; but I may be wrong in assuming their identity, for I con-
ceive it not improbable that two organisms might resemble very much
in form, but differ in nature, as might be evidenced by their mode of
development. Therefore I thought it better not to take his specific
name. But any doubt as to my plant being identical with M. de Bré-
bisson’s is removed by my having forwarded, amongst others, specimens
of my plant to him; and, in a list returned to me by him of the objects
which he had met with on the slides, he includes ‘‘ C. subtzle,” alluding
to the very specimens in question. I have not since had the opportunity
of having the honour to lay my ideas as to the nature of this plant be-
fore him, and consequently cannot say whether he may coincide or not
with what I have above laid down in regard to it. It may seem, there-
fore, that, if not Mr. Berkeley’s, I ought to have adopted M. de Brébis-
son’s specific name; but as there appears to me so strong a probability
that Mr. Berkeley’s plant 7s indeed the same thing, and his name being
prior, I thought it, under the circumstances, better to adopt a specific
name different from both.

Seeing that a true generative process (such as conjugation) is un-

* Ralfs, “ British Desmidies,” p.179. Kiitzing, “ Species Algarum,” p. 195
(Raphidium).
¢ Op. cit.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 89

known in Ankistrodesmus, no propagation being known, save mere self
division in the manner described, the position of the genus is therefore
doubtful.

Probably, for the present, it is best to consider it as a doubtful or
aberrant genus of Desmidiaceee. Its oblique self-division, so far as it
goes, is somewhat like that of Spiroteenia; but there is no further resem-
blance. Nageli* and Rabenhorst} place Raphidium (equivalent to Ankis-
trodesmus) amongst Palmellacez ; but the very elongate acute cells are
very unlike anything else in that family. De Baryt{ alludes to this genus
as doubtfully Desmidian. :

Assuming that I have proved my plant to be a true Ankistrodesmus,
and not a Closterium, it may be well to compare it with the other ad-
mitted species of that genus. It agrees with A. falcatus in its very slender
and acute cells, but it differs from it by its straight, not arcuate cells,
by its fusiform, more-quickly attenuated cells, by its more intensely
acute extremities, and by the constitutent cells of an old fasciculus being
much fewer in number. It is, indeed, a very different plant. This
form scarcely agrees at all, except generically (as I think), with A. con-
volutus (Corda), the cells differing as they do in their very slender (not,
comparatively, stout) form, in their straight (not crescent-shaped) out-
line, and in their extremely acute extremities. With A. contortus (Thuret)
this form agrees in the very acute cells; but it differs in their straight
(not arcuate or sigmoid) form, and in the cells being not inflated at the
middle.

T have in the foregoing remarks alluded to the distinctive characters
of Closterium and Ankistrodesmus as regards the mode of self-division.
I conceive it may be quite worth while, in connexion therewith, to draw
attention to a remarkable state of Closteriwm acutum (Bréb.), (it may be
C. subulatum (Bréb.), but Lam disposed to think these are synonymous).
This consists of a curious aggregation of fronds of that Closterium into
chains and bundles in the manner I represent in the accompanying sketch
of some of the most remarkable of these cases (Figs. 58 to 60). The fronds
were sometimes juxta-posed side by side, sometimes irregularly, at other
times combined into a kind of chain, while multitudes of fronds, in the
ordinary free condition, abounded in the gathering. This, whatever it
portend, was no accidental juxta-position ; for they, not unfrequently,
in order to accommodate themselves tu one another in the combina-
tion, were of a sigmoid, or otherwise curved and bent character, yet no
gelatinous matrix was apparent, and I cannot say what may have held
them together. Of the meaning of this very remarkable condition
I cannot form any idea, except to guess the possibility of its being an
approach for the purpose of conjugation, on a scale, indeed, wholesale.
No alteration took place either in their internal or external appearance,
though kept for some time; and I then, unfortunately, lost the speci-

* Op. cit. t ‘‘Algen Sachs.”
+ ‘ Untersuchungen Uber die Familie der Conjugaten,” p. 77.

90 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

mens. One thing, however, seems to me certain—the hanging together
of the fronds in the manner shown did not indicate longitudinal self-
fission after the mode in Ankistrodesmus; for, in the same gathering,
dividing fronds occurred after the manner normal and generic in this
and other species of Closterium (Figs. 61, 62), and the combined fronds
were all mature and fully grown, and were quite specifically charac-
teristic.

j ON A NEW LOCALITY FOR POLYPODIUM PHEGOPTERIS, WITH A LIST OF THE
FERNS OCCURRING IN THE DISTRICT COMPRISED IN THAT PART OF SHEET
125 OF THE ORDNANCE INCH MAPS OF IRELAND THAT LIES TO THE WEST
OF LOUGH DERG, AND THE SOUTH-EAST OF SHEET 124. COMMUNICATED
BY MR. G. HENRY KINAHAN, G.§, I.

[Read December 6, 1861.]

I nee to call the attention of your Society to a new locality for that rare
fern P. Phegopteris. It is situated in Glendree, county of Clare (sheet
19). On the outcrop of the old red sandstone, near the crest of the
hill, are numerous blocks of sandstone, under one of which, with an
eastern aspect, there is a small boggy cave, if I may so call it, about
two yards long, one deep, and two feet high; this was filled with
Phegopteris, growing most luxuriantly. This is the only station it
seems to occur in, as I searched all about most carefully, without find-
ing another station.

T append a list of ferns remarked, during last summer and autumn,
in that part of the Sheet 125 of the Inch Map of Ireland that lies on
the west of Lough Derg, and in the south-east part of Sheet 124 :—

Polypodium vulgare.—Found everywhere.

P. phegopteris.—Glendree, Clare, Sheet +.

Polystichum aculeatum.—Two miles south-eastof Feakle, and at Curragh-
clune-arthur.

Var. lobatwm.—Woodpark woods, Galway, Sheet 136; Woodford
woods, Galway, 131 and 132; and in various places in Slieve-aughta.
The variety P. lonchitidoides grows very luxuriantly, about a mile
N.N. W. of Woodford, on the old road from Woodford to Lough
Rea.

P. angulare—Woodpark and Woodford, abundantly and luxuriantly ;
and other localities sparingly ; two or three varieties.

Lastrea montana.—Very abundant in the glen about Feakle, &c.

L. filix mas.—Very common; three or four varieties remarked.

L. dilatata.—Very common ; three or four varieties.

L. fenesecii.—Very plenty. at Woodpark and Woodford; also among
the hills, sparingly; abundant at Caher, Loughgraney.

Athyrium filix femina.—Very common; five or six varieties.

Asplenium ruta muraria.—Very abundant in the limestone country
bounding Lough Derg on the west ; a few plants remarked at Wood-
park ; very plenty on the ruins on Inishcaltra.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 91

A. trichomanes.—Abundant in the limestone country bounding Lough
Derg on the west.

A, adiantum nigrum.—V ery common on the low land.

, Scolopendrium vulgare-—¥ound scattered over the district, but not
abundant.

Ceterach officinarum.—Occurs in the limestone country on the west of
Lough Derg; also on the road from Scariff to Feakle, and in one
place in Corrakyle, Clare, Sheet %?.

Blechnum spicant.—Very common ; the bifurcated variety very common.

Pteris aquilina.—Extremely common.

Cystopteris fragilis.—One locality on the road from Scariff to Killaloe,
which lies to the south of the area included in this paper. Liss
Mountain; it occurs in various places on the north of this area, in
the vicinity of Gort, and thereabouts.

Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense.—Glendree cliff, towards the north of the
townland; Cloonnagro, Clare, 49, south of river, at the outcrop of
the old red sandstone; Monounta, on cliffs 600 feet high, on a small
outlier of old red sandstone, about a mile north-east of Feakle,
Clare, 2.

H. unilaterale.—Same localities. It is the more abundant of the two
species at Glendree, and in Derrygoolin, Galway, Sheet '#.

Osmunda regalis—Very abundant and luxuriant in the neighbourhood
of Woodford, and from that along the valley by Lough Atorick to
Lough Graney; also along the Corlea River, which runs into the
valley last mentioned about a mile west ofLough Atorick. It was
remarked sparingly from Woodford to Cregg Lough, which les about
seven miles to the southward.

Botrychium lunaria.—Very common on the slope of the hills; found
wherever a search was made for it. Abundant localities: the
Bleach River, a mile west of Corlea Bridge, Clare, 12 ; Corlea val-
ley, Clare, ‘3 and *9; the slopes of the hills on the east of Lough
Graney ; and the slope on the north of the new road that runs from
Mount Shannon to Bohateh, due north of the R. C. Chapel.

Ophioglossum vulgatum.—A single plant found along the Mount Shannon
stream, but it was never looked for during its season.

A LIST OF BIRDS FOUND IN RATHLINISLAND. COMMUNICATED BY MR. ROBERT
CONOLLY GAGE.

[Read December 6, 1861.]

Peregrine Falcon.—Two pairs breed in the cliffs every season.
Kestrel. Very common, and also breeds in the cliffs.

Buzzard.—One specimen procured on the Island in February, 1845.
Long-eared Owl.—One bird shot in 1858.

Raven.—Two or three pairs breed in the cliffs.

Carrion Crow.—Sometimes seen, but does not breed on the Island.
Hooded Crow.—Very common all the year.

Rook.—Does not breed here, but often comes over from the mainland.

92 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Chough.—Very common, and breeds in caves and clefts of the rock.

Magpie.—Very scarce, there being no large trees on the Island.

Starling.—Permanent, and abundant.

Missel Thrush.—Occasionally seen during frosty weather.

Song Thrush.—Very common.

Fieldfare.—Common in winter.

Redwing.—Common in winter.

Blackbird.—A bundant.

Greenfinch.—Seen only during frost and snow.

Common Bunting.—Of frequent occurrence all over the Island.

Yellow Ammer.—Of frequent occurrence all over the Island.

Black-headed Bunting.—Common in the bogs, where it breeds.

Snow Bunting.—Occurs frequently in winter.

House Sparrow.—Very common.

Chaffinch.—Only appears here during frost and snow.

Goldfinch.—One or two pairs have been seen in the gardens.

Linnet.—Very frequently to be seen. |

Skylark.—A bundant. ;

Meadow Pipit.—Abundant. |

Rock Pipit.—Very common along the shores.

Pied Wagtail.—Permanent, and frequently to be met with.

Grey Wagtail.—Scarce.

Robin-redbreast.— Very common.

Hedge Sparrow.—Very common.

White-throat.—A few specimens have been seen.

Willéw Wren.—<A few specimens have been seen.

Golden-crested Regulus.—Only one specimen, and that a dead one, has
been found on the Island.

Wren.—Very frequent.

Wheat-ear.— Very common during the summer months.

Stonechat.—Rather common.

Swallow.—Very frequent.

Martin.—Very frequent, and builds in the rocks,

Swift.—Common, and builds in the clefts of the rocks.

Nightjar.—One specimen has been shot here. :

Rock-dove.— Very abundant.

Quail.—Rather scarce.

Golden Plover.—Common in winter.

Ringed Plover.—Very frequent along the sea-side.

Heron.—Often seen in the bogs and shores of this Island in the autumn
and summer months, looking for small fish.

Curlew.—Common in winter.

Whimbrel.—Sometimes seen, but not so often as the Curlew.

Woodcock.—Only to be seen during hard frost and snow.

Common Snipe.—Very common and permanent, and breeds abundantly
in the bogs.

Jack Snipe.—Sometimes to be met with,

Redshank.—Frequently seen in winter.

Lapwing.—Common in summer on the higher grounds, where it breeds.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 93

Purple Sandpiper.—Common in winter.

Common Sandpiper..—Common, permanent.

Dunlin.—Frequently seen.

. Turnstone.—Frequently seen.

Oyster-catcher.—Common, and permanent.

Water Rail.—Rather scarce.

Land Rail.—Very frequent.

Moorhen.—Permanent, and abundant.

Coot.—Has become quite common since 1859, when it was first: observed
in the Island.

Grey Phalarope.—The only one ever seen here was shot in 1858.

Little Grebe.— Very common.

Razor-bill.—To be seen in countless numbers in the summer months,
when they breed here.

Puffin.—To be seen in countless numbers in the summer months, when
they breed here.

Common Guillemot.—To be seen in countless numbers in the summer
months, when they breed here.

Black Guillemot.—Common, and breeds on the Island.

Ringed Guillemot.—Very often met with, and breeds along with the
Common Guillemot. ~*

Great Northern Diver.—Of frequent occurrence in winter.

Arctic Tern.—Only one specimen found on the Island, after a storm.

Great Black-backed Gull.—Occasionally to be seen in winter.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.—A few pairs breed here every spring.

Herring Gull.—Very frequent, and permanent.

Common Gull.—Only one specimen (a young bird) was procured here.

Kittiwake Gull.—Breeds here in great multitudes.

Black-headed Gull.— Common in winter, but does not breed here.

Buffon’s Skua.—One bird was killed here in May, 1860.

Manx Shearwater.—Very common in the cliffs, where it breeds.

Red-breasted Merganser.—Sometimes seen in winter.

Hooper Swan.—During hard winters this bird sometimes comes in
small flocks.

Greylag Goose.—Rather common in hard winters.

Brent Goose.—Occasionally seen.

Wild Duck.—Frequently seen, and breeds here.

Wigeon.—Common in winter.

Pochard.—Common in winter.

Goldeneye.—Common in winter.

Tufted Duck.—Common in winter.

Teal.—Common, and breeds in the bogs.

Cormorant.—Often seen; it once bred here, but has not done so for
many years.

Shag.—Very common, and breeds in the caves at the north side of this
Island.

Gannet.—Frequently seen fishing about the Island, especially during
the autumn months.

0

94 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

THREE DAYS AMONG THE BATS IN CLARE. BY J. R. KINAHAN, M.D., M. R.I.A.,
F.L. S., HON. SEC.

[Read June 7, 1861.]

So few are the opportunities naturalists enjoy of studying the habits of
bats in their native haunts, that, without further apology, I venture to
lay before this meeting details of three days’ researches in some
caves situated in the northern extremity of the county of Clare with
Mr. F. Foot, who had the good fortune, in March, 1859, to discover
and to record for the first time in Ireland, the lesser horse-shoe bat
(Rhinolophus hipposideros), a full account of which discovery has al-
ready appeared in our Proceedings.

In one or two minor points I find that Mr. Foot’s deductions from
his own researches were too general; but in the main the observations
which he has published are fully borne out by those made during the
tour at present described. As will appear, during these researches only
one species, that quoted above, was met, although the localities exa-
mined are far apart. They are all situate in the same geological horizon
—the limestone. This rock is drilled and bored with water-worn
caverns, often of great extent, with many passages and windings, and
serving in many cases as water-courses for the ‘‘ buried” rivers, which
give rise to the sink-holes and turloughs for which the district of the
Burren is remarkable. Whether it is to the presence and abundance of
these caverns, or to the peculiar position of the district, that the occur-
rence of this species of bat in such numbers is due, may be a question.
My own judgment, however, leans to the latter solution, judging by the
plants and animals which are found in the district in question.

The Burren may be reckoned one of the most interesting of Irish
districts, whether we look to its geological formation, or its inhabitants,
—hundreds of acres of a formation seen no where else in Ireland—I had
almost said, in Great Britain—to such an extent, without seemingly a
fault or break, bearing on its surface the manifest traces of ocean action
in high water-worn cliffs, and coves far inland, in its surface, nearly
entirely destitute of soil, and its picturesque scenery. On its surface,
wherever a plant can grow, the botanical features exhibited are such as
are seen no where else in Ireland. The Maiden-hair fern (Adzantum
Captllus Veneris), growing in extreme luxuriance, and by the acre ;
that remarkable plant, the Potentilla fruticosa, met elsewhere only in
Galway ; Aj. pyramidalis, hitherto only met in the Isles of Arran;
and other plants of a similar kind, with which I need not delay you;
and even plants met elsewhere here growing in such luxuriance as no
other part of Ireland can display ; the Hart’s-tongue fern, filling every
nook and cranny, exhibiting a luxuriance of growth and a variety of
form which I have never seen approached, far less equalled, in any one
district I have been in.

The Maiden-hair spleenwort, the Wall rue, and Black-stalked
spleenwort, all braving the extreme fury of the western ocean blasts,

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 95

forsaking the vicinity of cultivation, in which alone they are generally
found in other places, and planting themselves in every nook and crevice
of the rocks and cliffs; the Seaside spleenwort obtaining a size, luxuri-
ance, and height which must be seen to be believed, and in its characters
approaching Jamaican forms; the yew clothing the bare cliffs, to say
nothing of the Gentiana verna, Dryas octopetala, Helianthemum canum,
and various saxifrages, clothing every bank.

Of the animals it is scarcely necessary to speak,—the curious Crus-
tacea, such as Pisa tetraodon, Xantho florida, and Rivulosa and Athanas
mitescens ; in Echinoderms,—chinus lividus, Gaertner’s spoonworm,
sipunculi, and holothuriade ; with molluscs and sea anemones, of pecu-
liar form, found in nearly every creek,—point to a district severed, as
far as distribution is concerned, from all the rest of Ireland, and render
it probable that to the same source, viz. peculiar district distribution, is
to be attributed the occurrence and abundance of this bat. But these
speculations I hope to treat more fully of in another paper, and there-
fore pass at once to the proper subject of this.

Our first day’s research was in caves near Inchiquin Lough. The
first cave searched opens to the south, in the face of a picturesque lime-
stone cliff, bounding one side of a deep ravine, destitute of trees, except
an odd stunted ash, but hung with the commoner ferns. Here we did
not meet with any bats. We next proceeded to Vigo cave. This is at the
_ edge of Inchiquin Lough, at the side of the road, at the verge of a dense
plantation, and facing about south-east. The mouth of the cavern ex-
hibits a fine geological section at its entrance; the roof being coal-
measures, which, as the cave rapidly descends, are replaced by the lower
limestone, crowded with fossils. The mouth of the cave externally is
festooned with ivy and a tapestry of ferns, the most abundant of which
are the hart’s-tongue, maiden-hair spleenwort, male fern, a few plants
of the lady fern, were also just beginning to show their heads when our
first visit was paid, March 8, 1861.

The access to this cave is by a steep slope, down which, at the time
of our visit, a tiny stream was flowing, which soon lost itself in the
rubbish at the mouth of the cave. Having gained the bottom, the cave
is continued for some distance nearly on a level, the floor composed of a
slippery, tenacious clay, of considerable depth; it then narrows, gra-
dually ascends, and at length further progress is barred by a high cliff,
up which we did not ascend, as the cave terminates at a short distance
from this point. The breadth of the cave is moderate throughout, and
the roof, in parts low, became near the cliff so lofty, that our candles
barely sufficed to show it in an indistinct gloom. I may observe that
the clay in the floor of the cave was bored and caverned either by
badgers and otters, the track of whose feet might be plainly seen. A few
stalactites of small size hung in parts from the roof, and the cave was
tolerably dry. In one or two. places there are small pools of water ;
though I searched them carefully, I could find no traces of the blind
acarinee, which had occurred so abundantly to me in the caves of Dun-
more, vounty of Kilkenny, in a similar situation,

96 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

We had not long lighted our candles, and proceeded into the gloom,
when my companion captured a lesser horse-shoe bat, hanging from a
crevice in the side-walls of the cave. The daylight was visible at this
point. In our progress to the end of the cave, he captured another spe-
cimen of the same species, hung nearly at the ground. When we
reached the lofty chamber, already spoken of, we found the traces of the
presence of bats very abundant; and indistinctly through the gloom we
could make out the form of one or two, seemingly of considerable size,
hanging from the roof, but far out of reach. On our return, another
specimen was found near the place where the second specimen had been
captured ; and after the lights were extinguished, in the very mouth of
the cave, in broad daylight, Mr. Foot detected a fourth. All these spe-
cimens were of one sex, being males. The only other living thing seen
in the cave was a moth, Zephrosia crepuscularia, which was by no means
rare, and found in all parts of the cave, even the darkest.

We next proceeded to the plantations on the western shores of the
lake. Here, in a cliff, covered in profusion with ferns, especially that
lovely variety of the common polypody, to which the names of Hiber-
meum, Semilacerum, and Pseudocambricum, &c., have been given, are two
caves of small extent, not being more than a few yards deep, and facing
northward and eastward, their mouths being hung with trees. In the
first of these we did not meet any bats; in the second, which is ex-
tremely small and dirty, I found two bats, and numbers of a large mot-
tled spider. Both the bats were males, and both were visible in the
daylight. This cave is moderately dry.

A few days afterwards, we examined some caves near Kilcorney.
The first of these scarcely deserved the name of a cave, being a large
open chink in the face of the cliff, totally destitute of trees, open
throughout to the full blaze of the sunlight, insomuch that the sides of
the cave were hung with maiden-hair spleenwort.

The second cave—par excellence, the cave of Kilcorney—is of very
great extent; the mouth is small, and so narrow at one part, that we
could only squeeze and wriggle in sideways, and a fashionable lady
would certainly have stuck. The roof of some of the passages is so low,
that one requires to crawl in flat. It is a fine example of an under-
ground river; the roof exhibited many traces, such as straws, &c., of
the recent passage of water, which had gained access by the numerous
vertical clefts and shafts with which the roof abounded; and the pebbles
and rocks on the floor were rounded and water-worn, like those in the
bed of a brook. The heavy rain which was falling outside rendered the
examination of this cave hazardous, as floods come on very rapidly. We
therefore spent only about an hour in the cave, during which a consi-
derable number of Passages were examined, but fruitlessly as regarded
bats, the only living creature met with being a small frog, found by me
at the farthest point, carried in probably by the winter floods. The
absence of bats is not to be wondered at, as during winter floods a strong
stream issues out of, and completely fills, the mouth of the cave; and a
farmer in the neighbourhood told us, that only two days previously to

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 97

our visit the stream coming out had been so strong as to flood the adja-
cent meadows.

Our next day’s excursion (March 22nd) was to the caves near Ennis.
The first we visited was Balliallia cave. Here, as you may recollect,
Mr. Foot first discovered this species on March 10, 1859; and in his
paper on the subject, already published in your Proceedings, will be
found a full description of the cave. It is about twenty yards long,
running in a westerly direction, and facing the eastward; although not
hung itself with trees, it faces a plantation only a few yards distant
from it. The day was a very fine one, but the weather previously had
been very severe, with sleet, and rain, and wind, the hailstones in many
places lying piled up, unmelted. The innermost and middle chambers
of the cave were very wet, and there was abundance of moisture even
in the outward chamber. Here we met with nineteen bats, all males,
except one; of these six were in the dark parts of the outer chamber,
all hung separately, and at every height from the floor of the cave;
seven in the middle chamber, also hung at various heights, one only a
couple of inches from the ground, and also hanging separately ; and six
in the last chamber, five closely crowded together, but not clinging to
each other, and dripping with wet. The ground was in parts quite
black with their exuvice. The other animals found here were the moth
and big spiders, already spoken of, and gnats in great numbers, the latter
all alive, but seemingly torpid, as, unless touched, they did not stir. It
was most interesting to see the bats wincing from the light, as Mr. Foot
has so graphically described. I examined each specimen carefully, and
found they were all of the one species, and the greater part full grown.
Mr. Foot seemed to think that the fact of some of the bats being met
with in wet parts of the cavern was due to their roosting place having
become so subsequently to its selection.

We next proceeded to Ennis ; and Dr. George O’Brien kindly accom-
panying us, we drove out to Edenvale; here we examined three caves,
likewise situate in the limestone. The general external features of these
caves were all similar. Situate in a dense, old plantation, the entrances
of the caves were hung with ivy, and the variety of Polypodium vulgare
already spoken of.

In the first cave, which is of considerable extent, and very wet in
parts, we met twenty-one bats, the greater part of them hung in com-
pany, in a tolerably dry side alley of the cave. I examined the bats,
and found all to be males. The moths occurred in this cave also. The
second cave, which is very small and low, I examined alone; it was very
dry. I only found one male here.

The last cave examined is very capacious, with numerous side pas-
sages, some of which are so low and narrow as to oblige us to crawl
through them. There are ponds of water, which require caution. Here
we met five bats, only one of which was a female; they were scattered
through every part of the cave, and all in the dark, and the female hung
alone. Spiders, gnats, and woodlice also occurred. The narrow passage
terminates rather abruptly in a deep well, which might easily entrap an
incautious explorer.

98 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

The last opportunity I had of exploring a bat cave was on Easter

ht po Mecome Monday, April Ist, when, being again in the neighbourhood of Vigo, we

a Sef fw Whee

4

Pl taedtee.

paid that cave a flying visit. We found only two bats; the weather
had been mild and open for some days previously, as was shown by
the numerous wheat-ears (seen for the first time in the Burren on the
27th March) flitting about, and by the chaftinches, which for the first
time I heard this day in every grove and plantation passed through.
Singularly enough, both bats were females, though on our previous visit,
more than three weeks before, all the four specimens met were males.
We did not revisit the other caves in this neighbourhood.

From these observations one or two general deductions may be drawn.
In the first place, the number of specimens met with, fifty-four, being
all of the one species, justifies us in considering this the'characteristic bat
of Clare, coupled with the fact that they occurred at places so far apart
as Inchiquin, Ennis, and Quin, according to Mr. Foot; to which must
also be added the neighbourhood of the town of Galway, as shown by a
specimen captured by Professor William King, in 1858,—giving a very
extensive range of distribution for this species; next the fact, that out
of eight caves examined (for we may exclude the chink at Kilcorney as
too lightsome), the bats occurred in six, all of which were either in plan-
tations, or else close to them, and most of the caves having their en-
trances hung with plants. This shows, in addition to the first deduc-
tion, that to the proximity of woods, to which the animals can resort in
summer, is probably due their selection of these caves. Of the two
caves from which the bats were absent, in the great cave at Kilcorney,
no terrestrial animal could exist through the winter, owing to the floods.
The second cave, at Inchiquin, is very small. Another point put forward
by Mr. Foot may be looked on as proven,—the fact that the sexes hi-
bernate apart. I took great pains to be accurate as regards this point,
and examined every specimen individually myself; yet out of the fifty-
four, I only found one female to nineteen bats at Ballyallia, and one
female to twenty-seven at Edenvale, which occurred in the third cave,
and in a separate passage from those in which its four fellow-tenants
were hung; and two females the sole denizens of Vigo cave, on our second
visit there; four out of fifty-four,—a very great disparity. It may
be recollected that, though Mr. Foot records having examined twenty
specimens in 1859, he only met one female.

I am sure that we left no part of the caves visited unexamined, ex-
cept the roof of the last chamber in Vigo cave; and think it likely the
two females which we met there had wakened from their hybernation
under the influence of the mild weather in some other part of the cave,
possibly the high chamber, and then gone to sleep again.

With regard to the kind of place the bats select, although some of
those in Balliallia were dripping with wet, they as a rule certainly pre-
ferred the dry places, and also, I think, the darkest places, as they are
much more numerous, and in a deeper sleep, in such parts of the cave
as are most deeply sunk in the gloom. On the other hand, it must be
recollected, that in nearly every cave we found specimens in the daylight.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 99

In Vigo, the bat was visible after the candles had been extinguished.
The numbers found congregated together in the one place in Edenvale
and Ballyallia caves show that solitude is not the constant habit of the
bat. They certainly shift their quarters during their hibernation. In the
third cave examined at Edenvale I found recent traces. of the bats in
several places in which the bats were absent, and the two females cap-
tured at Vigo had not been where we found them at our previous visit.
It is possible that they find food during these partial awakenings in the
moths, gnats, and spiders met with in nearly every cave in company
with them. It will be recollected that at a previous visit of mine to
Ballyallia cave, in August, 1859, I could not find any traces of the bats,
although Mr. Foot found them there the March previous. This, coupled
with our finding them so abundant on our present visit, shows that the
surmise as to the animal’s change of habitat in summer is correct. I am
thus particular about the habits of the animal, because so little is known -
of them.

Of the specimens captured I brought several home, and placed them
under a box; they lived with me for eight days, and, although they re-
fused to eat, soon accommodated themselves to their quarters. One,
which escaped, gave me a favourable opportunity of judging of their
skill in avoiding objects about the room, and also in rising from flat sur-
faces. They used to scramble and fight a good deal at night, but were
quiet during the day. On several of them I found specimens of a large
and disgusting-looking tick. The great proportion of them were fully
grown, only about a tenth of them being immature ; these differed in no
respect from the others, except in lightness of colour, and the character of
their dentition.

Addendum.—In subsequent communications of Mr. Foot’s, dated
January, 1862, he records two other stations for this bat, viz. a cave
- near Glenallia, about eight miles N. N. E. of Vigo; and at Glancrawne
cave, near Castletown. These much extend the range of the species in
this district, and afford further proofs of Mr. Foot’s statement, that this
is the characteristic bat of the county of Clare.

NOTES ON THE MARINE FAUNA OF THE COAST OF CLARE. BY JOHN ROBERT
KINAHAN, F.1L.8S., M. RI. A.

[Read June 21, 1861.]

In submitting to your meeting some remarks which suggest themselves
on examination into the results of a few days’ researches, last March, on
the north-western coast of Clare, I do not profess to bring before the
meeting any startlingly new facts, nor even very detailed investigations
in the places examined, although probably some points to be treated of
will prove of value as regards the distribution of certain of the species
recorded, concerning which information as to detailis yet lacking in our
published works ; and all will, I hope, be found tending to what must

100 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

be the primary object of all natural history investigations, viz. the affix-
ing the proper limits of distribution to each species.

The bays more particularly examined were two in number, Liscan-
nor and Ballyvaughan ; and both, I regret to say, were examined under
peculiar disadvantages, owing to the state of the wind and the weather.
It is of great importance in all investigations of this kind that the na-
ture of the localities examined should be stated, as the shore characters,
in a great measure, limit the animals found both as to numbers and va-
riety.

ae Bay differs in the physical characters on its two sides, but
I found little difference as to the species. It may be generally described
as flat, slaty slabs of rock, with but few large rock-pools, and those ge-
nerally shallow. Low, overhanging ledges, however, supply the place
of these. Part of the shore is shingly, and part sandy. These are ge-
nerally unproductive. Numbers of loose, large stones lie in parts on the
ledges of the rocks, and these I found tolerably productive, especially
of Holothuriade.

Ballyvaughan Bay, or at least the part near the village, is very cha-
racteristic. A light silty mud covered nearly every part of the rugged
shore, the only place one had a chance of finding anything being under
the overhanging ledges, and in the perforations, which in many places
regularly riddle the rocks. These perforations manifestly (at least the
larger and more productive) the boring of Pholas, Tapes, and Vene-
rupis, furnish some interesting animals, particularly among the worm-
like echinoderms, some of which I have not yet identified to my satis-
faction.

The chief object of my researches was the crustacea, and therefore
T will first treat of these, taking the most characteristic species, and then
making a few comparisons between the other species met and the same
species as they occur in Dublin and elsewhere. )

“ Facile princeps,” as characteristic of the west coast, must be consi-
dered the florid crabs, Xantho florida and Rivulosa. The first of these
occurs under nearly every stone, about half-way down the littoral zone,
completely replacing, or nearly so, the common green crab (C. menas)
of the eastern shores. They vary much in colour and size, the younger
specimens being often beautifully painted; generally speaking, the tips
of the claws are black; but the variety with light-brown claws is by
no means uncommon. [I find in all adult specimens that the fingers
hare at least one distinct groove, and sometimes two; it is, neverthe-
less, easily known from the next by the absence of dense hairs on the
5th, 6th, and 7th points of the posterior legs. I did not find the species
in ova. Its general colour is dark red, almost as deep as the colour of a
black cherry.

Xantho rivulosa.—Of this species very little appears to have been
known as regards either its distribution or habits, as an Irish species,
until noticed by me at Valentia, although the species as Irish had been
recorded by Captain (now Colonel) Portlock, nearly twenty years pre-
viously. It has been now established as frequenting the entire of the

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 101

southern, western, and north-eastern coasts, though little attention
seems to have been paid to its habits. It is much rarer than the last,
and certainty much more solitary. I never met more than a pair toge-
ther, whilst of Xantho florida twelve or fourteen frequently occur under
a single stone. It is also more active, and does not feign death to as
great an extent; it also frequents much wetter places in sandy pools,
and is found lower down on the tidal zone. Several specimens I found
were carrying their spawn, which was of a bright scarlet colour. Spe-
cimens occurred of every size, as the series before the meeting shows;
but it does not appear to attain as large a sizein this zone as X. florida.
There is a greater variety in colour; the ground-colour in all is yellow,
more or less light; this in some specimens is prettily mottled or dotted
with red; in others, patched and blotched with the same colour; it cannot
be looked on as a common crab; I should add, it lives well in the aqua-
rium. Both species are manifestly scavengers.

P. tetraodon (the four-horned spider crab) next claims our attention,
first added to the Irish list by M‘Calla. It has not yet been, I believe,
recorded south of Galway Bay. We met it very abundantly, and always
in the one habitat, the branching stems of that pretty alga, Gelidium
corneum, in shallow rock pools. The first specimen was detected by
Mr. Foot, but subsequent research showed us that every plant of this
species swarmed with it. All the specimens were young, being under
an inch in length. I have no doubt it occurs all along the south-west
coast, and has been mistaken for Hyas, which it much resembles.

The Corwich, which should come in here, only occurred to me once,
dead, and therefore may be passed by.

Of crustacea also occurring on the east coast, the first is that pretty
little species, Athanas mitescens. This species, though not common, is
by no means rare under stones. It is a regular little miniature craw-
fish. Its mode of swimming is very characteristic, as it preserves a
straightforward path, its disproportioned claws outstretched in front of
the body, and the tail expanded, its progress slightly undulating, and
its motion communicated to it by flapping the outer plates of the tail.
There was little variety in colour, which was deep vinous olive, with
dots of red, the tail occasionally darker, and sometimes, though rarely,
barred with white. It appears at Lahinch to replace the Hippolytes in
Dublin. This species has only occurred once to me in Dublin.

Pilumnus hirtellus occurs, but not nearly as numerously as in Dublin.
The specimens were all small, and confined to the laminarian zone.

The hairy broad-claw, Porcellana platycheles occurs more generally,
and in much larger numbers, than in Dublin. It appears to replace to
a great extent its congener, P. longicornis.

This latter species is far from common, being much rarer than in
Dublin.

The scaly Spanish lobster (Galathea squamifera) is very common,
and universally diffused. I met one or two varieties of it.

The common prawn (P. serratus) is extremely common on the muddy

P

102 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

shores of Ballyvaughan. Its great abundance here, as contrasted with its
rarity at Dublin, is worthy of note.

P. squilla is also common, and varies very much in the characters of
its beak; P. Leachii also occurs.

The Asop prawn (PL. annulicornis) is rare, at least as compared
with Dublin.

Of the common spider crab (St. phalangiwm) I only met one young
specimen; the tides, however, were unfavourable. Hyas araneus is
much rarer than in Dublin, and smaller in size ; H. coarctatus occurs at
Ballyvaughan.

The common edible crab is not nearly so common in the littoral zone
as either at Dublin or Plymouth. I suppose there is some local cause
for this.

The velvet swimming-crab (Portunus puber) is extremely common.
P. corrugatus and Arcuatus occur, but are much rarer than at Valentia.
Of the livid crab (P. holsatus) I only got broken fragments at Lahinch ;
and the same remark applies to Portwmnus variegatus and Corystes Cas-
swelanus.

Hermit crabs are common; both P. Benhardus and P. Ulidianus
very abundant in the rock pools, the latter in spawn. Mr. Foot brought
me one specimen of P. Hyndman.

Of lower crustacea, Ligia oceanica, as usual, was common in the lit-
toral zone; Porcellio scaber occurred abundantly ; Oniseus murarius,
Phloscia muscorum, and O. fossor more rarely.

The only amphipod I could meet in this zone, after much research, was
Orchestia littorea, although O. Mediterranea occurs abundantly in Dublin
and Plymouth. In the other zones were met, along with a multitude
of others, Caprella tuberculosa, Neara bicuspidata, Amphitoe rubricata
and littorina, Lestrigonus faleatus ; but I met with no specimen of Gam-
marus palmatus, although this latter occurs at Dublin.

Passing from the crustacea, I must glance for a moment at the
Echinodermata. Of these the most characteristic, next to the purple sea-
urchin (Zchinus lividus), is probably the gibbous starlet, Asterina gibbosa.
This is by far the commonest of Lahinch and Ballyvaughan starfishes.
Next in the littoral zone comes that commonly diffused species, the
purple-tipped egg-urchin (#. miliaris); next the common starfish
( Uraster rubens); next the common egg-urchin (£. sphera), the spiny
and little crossfishes (U. glacialis and hispida), contend for place with
Ophiocoma rosula and neglecta, Ophiura texturata, Amphidotus cordatus,
and Echinocyamus pusillus.

But the most interesting to deal with are the next group, the worm-
like echinoderms. Of these six species at least are common on these
shores, though varying in numbers. The first, and most interesting of
these to the Irish zoologist, is Gaertner’s spoon-worm (Thalassema Nep-
tun). To Dr. Charles Farran is to be given the credit for, in modern
days, permanently establishing this as an Irish species, although Tem-
pleton had recorded the species many years before. Dr. Charles Farran

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 103

met the species at Clonea, county of Waterford, in 1849, and communi-
cated it to your Society on the 15th April, 1851. The full notice of his
discovery will be found in the first volume of your Proceedings, p. 141;
and a subsequent account in the Natural History Review, vol. xi., p.
71. LIregret to be obliged to dissent altogether from him in the con-
clusion that the animal is a stone-borer. I got specimens in holes in-
closed between old valves of Venerupis trus and Tapes pullastra (var.
Perforans), which ought to be, I think, decisive in the matter; and as
to the fact of the animal exactly filling the pear-shaped cavity, and the
difficulty of removing it through the aperture of the burrows, any one
who considers the nature of the animal—“ soft-bodied, and irregularly
distended with fluid’’—will easily understand the true value of the first
of these objections ; and any one taking into account the softness of the
animal, and the fact that its surface is covered with prehensile projec-
tions, will easily understand, and give its due value, to the second. As
to the sinuosities of the burrows I cannot pretend to speak. I met
none that any well-ordered bivalve might not surmount; at the same
time, I do not mean to say that the animal may not be occasionally a
stone-borer; but certainly at Ballyvaughan it was no more a stone-
borer than the other Holothuriade found along with it, or the very
pebbles which get accidentally entangled in the mollusc holes. The
animal occurs literally in hundreds at. this station, of every size, in
the rocks overhung with sea-weeds, and in company with Pholas, Tapes,
and Venerupis. Almost every stone broken, if containing the one, con-
tained the other, in company with three other echinoderms, one of which
I have little hesitation in pronouncing to be Syrinzx granulosus of W.
Thompson. This was extremely common—in fact, the commonest of
the stone-dwellers. This species is of peculiar interest, having been
first detected by W. H. Harvey, living under stones, at Miltown-Malbay,
a situation in which I likewise found it at Lahinch. The second is Syrvna
Harveti, which has not been, I believe, hitherto recorded as Irish. The
third is Syrinx papillosus. Under the stones, at Lahinch, I met Cucumaria
pentactes, by no means uncommon, along with two of the species already
mentioned as occurring at Ballyvaughan, viz. Syrinvw Harvew and 8.
granulosus. I also met a third species, which approaches very closely
to, if it be not identical with, Dr. Farran’s Thyone Andrews ; but I
must defer till some future session certainty in the matter. Of the mol-
luses I will not speak further than to remark, that southern types are well
marked. I pass them and the other departments by with the less com-
punction, because I hope next session to return more fully to the subject.
I think the investigations held, however, show that the predominant
western forms are those which occur also on the north-east and south,
as contrasted with the narrowed eastern district, of which Dublin may
be looked on as the centre.

Specimens of the various specimens were exhibited, and a fine spe-
cimen of Campanularia calyculata.

104 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES ON THE MAMMALIA OF THE WEST COAST OF
CLARE. BY¥F.J. FOOT, A.M., G. 8. I.

[Read April 3, 1862. ]

I BELIEVE there is no portion of Ireland hitherto less explored by or
known to the naturalist than the western coast of the county of Clare.

The principal reason of this is its remoteness, as railway communi-
cation with other parts of the country only extends as far as Ennis, and
the crossing of Galway Bay depends entirely on the weather; yet this
terra incognita, with its limestone mountains and towering sea cliffs,
presents objects of interest in almost every branch of natural history ;
and good accommodation can be had at Miltown-Malbay, Lahinch, En-
nistimon, Lisdoonavarna, and Ballyvaughan, places conveniently situ-
ated for the researches of the explorer.

On previous occasions you haye kindly listened to communications
of mine on the botany and marine zoology of Clare. I would now say
a few words on its mammalia.

The horse-shoe bat (2. hipposideros)—To the communications al-
ready made by Dr. Kinahan and myself,* I will merely add, that after
searching almost every known cave, I had come to the conclusion that
the wild Burren district was unfrequented by these animals. I must
observe, however, that almost all the caves there are the mouths of
subterranean water courses, discharging often great floods in wet wea-
ther, especially during winter, and consequently not at all suited for
the hybernation of bats. Not long ago, I was informed that bats are
seen flying about in the summer evenings in the most exposed and un-

frequented parts of this Irish desert. The puzzle was, where did they |

hybernate ? I came upon a cave, January 23, 1862, the entrance of
which is a conical hollow, about ten feet deep, in the flat surface of the
rock, all festooned with ivy, ferns, mosses, marchantia, &c. Arrived at
the bottom of this, I perceived a small horizontal passage ; and lighting
my candle (which I seldom go without at this time of year), I entered,
and, with little difficulty, found myself in a spacious chamber, hung with
fine stalactites, and with still finer stalagmites rising from the floor.
It was tolerably dry, and I soon perceived the droppings of bats in abun-
dance. After a long search in every nook and corner, I at last found
one specimen, a male, of our old friend, Rhinolophus hipposideros. There
were also numerous spiders and moths. This cave is eight miles north
of Vigo cave, the extreme point in this direction in which we obtained
this bat last year. A few days subsequently, I got another male in
Glencrawne cave, near Castletown. This extends its range considerably,
strengthening the probability of what I remarked as to its being the bat
of Clare.

* Proceedings Nat. Hist. Soc., vol. ii, pp. 152 et infra.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 105

The hedgehog (Hrinaceus Huropeus).—I have observed that this
animal, which is very common over the coal-measure district, particu-
larly about Ennistimon and Lahinch, is very scarce indeed in the lime-
stone. When I was stationed at Ennistimon, there was hardly a day
that my terrier did not find one in some thicket or ditch, and the trouble
I had in inducing him to leave them rendered them quite anuisance. I
haye not met one specimen all over the limestone of Burren. The
country people tell me, however, that they are occasionally seen. The
Trish name is Granioge, which is also given to the echinus.

The shrew (Sorex araneus).—Very common, particularly in the
limestone, and occurring at upwards of 1000 feet above the sea. Ano-
ther specimen, captured in the lowlands, was identified as Sorex
araneus.

The badger (J/eles tawus).—Is very abundant in the Burren. South-
west of Ballyvaughan, along the boundary between the limestone and
coal-measures, there are numerous swallow holes where the soft black
shale has sunk down, like the sand in an hour-glass, through holes in
the limestone. These are great badger haunts. You can see their tracks
for a long distance from the holes, and in the spring of the year there is
a heap of withered grass outside the holes, which is the old bed discarded
for anew one. The country people tell dismal stories of their dogs going
in, and never coming out again, or coming out with the jaws eaten off
them. Ido not mean from the above description that the badger is
anything of a geologist, preferring to live on a geological boundary, for
it is also found in many of the glens and ravines all through the
Burren.

The stoat (Mustela erminea)—Is very abundant all through the
west of Clare ; on sunny days, in summer, they are frequently to be seen
running across and along the road; when killed, they emit an intole-
rable smell, which is perceptible at ten yards’ distance or more. I have
seen them in unfrequented places, and at an elevation of nearly 500 feet
above the level of the sea, at the Glen of Clab.

The marten cat (Martes foina).—This beautiful animal is now be-
coming rare in Burren. It was once very common, and some years ago
the skin was worth 25s. It is called by the country people Cat Krine,
pronounced Cot Krine, or the cat of the woods. My dog caught one on
the 14th of January ; it was a female, measuring 30 inches from tip to
snout; soles of the feet quite bare; throat and breast of a yellowish-
white, with a brownish spot. I had great difficulty in killing it; I
never saw an animal so retentive of life; it fought manfully, and bit
my dog in the nose and lips. They are very destructive to lambs. The
specimen is in the Royal Dublin Society’s Museum.

The otter (Lutra vulgaris).—Very abundant in the lakes and rivers
of Clare, particularly at Inchiquin lake and the Ennistimon river. But
Burren has no lakes or rivers, its supply of water depending on the rain,
and consequently there are no inducements for otters to frequent its

wilds.

106 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

The common fox (Vulpes vulgaris).—Common all through the wild
parts of Clare. The country people frequently catch them, and sell them
to the hunting gentry of Galway.

The wild cat (Lelis catus).—I have not been able to ascertain for
certain the existence of the wild cat in Clare. I have often been told
of their occurrence in different places, but on close inquiry they turned
out to be either martens or tame cats run wild.

Seals (Phocide.\—Are often seen close along the shore in pursuit of
salmon. I have not been able to identify the species.

The common brown rat, or Norway rat (JZus decumanus).—Is only
too abundant. They are very frequent along rivers and drains, and
grow to a great size.

The common mouse (Mus musculus).—Is met also in great abun-
dance.

I have never remarked or heard of the occurrence of the black rat in
the west of Clare. '

The varying hare (Lepus variabilis).—Occurs in great plenty over
this district. Along the coast they are very fond of grazing close to the
sea in the spring of the year. [have frequently observed them at Kilkee
where patches of pasture occur near the edge of the water, approachable
by some precipitous pathway down the cliff. They are certainly much
more abundant in the limestone district than in that of the coal-mea-
sures.

The rabbit (Lepus cuniculus).—As elsewhere, very abundant in
suitable locales.

I may in conclusion add, that Burren at one time possessed more
mammals than it now does. The heads and antlers of the red deer have
frequently been found at Inchiquin Lake, near Corrofin, as also those of the
wildox. Mention of the wild ox of Burren is made in an old Irish poem,
translated by Mr. Curry, and mentioned in a paper read by Dr. Wilde
before the Royal Irish Academy, at the meetings of the 9th and 25th of
May, 1859. Fin Mac Cumhaill was made prisoner by Cormac Mac Art,
King of Erinn, who, however, consented to liberate him when a ransom
of two of every wild animal in Ireland, a male and female, were brought
before him on the Green of Tara. Cailte Mac Ronain, the foster-brother
and favourite of the celebrated Irish general, undertook and accom-
plished this task within twelve months, and in this poem is said to have
related to St. Patrick the result of his mission. Among the animals he
mentions ‘‘two wild oxen from Burren.” <A foot note in the paper
says—‘‘ Burren, a wild district in Burren, county of Clare, in which herds
of cattle were very common at the time referred to, In the Leabhar-
na-g-Ceart we read of 1000 oxen from Boirinn being part of the tributes
of Cashel to the kings of Erinn.”

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 107

INQUIRIES INTO THE CAUSES OF THE PRESENT DECAY OF THE DUBLIN
CRAB AND LOBSTER FISHERIES ; WITH A FEW SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE
PRACTICABILITY OF AMENDMENT OF THEM AND THE MARKET SUPPLY,
EITHER BY SUBSTITUTION OF SPECIES OR OTHERWISE. BY J.R. KINAHAN,
he Des H.1, §.,,M. RI. A.

[Read February 7, 1862. ]

Wuen we consider that the capture of the animals which are the subject
of this communication is, even at the present day, the principal means
of support during several months of the year to numerous families in the
sea-side hamlets, apology for bringing this subject before the members
of the Society would be superfluous. In a Society where so often even-
ing after evening has been profitably spent discussing, from a scientific
point of view, questions of economic value to the country, the subject
of the modes of capture adopted, the present and past conditions of these
fisheries, the species at present captured, and those which, though abun-
dant, are at present overlooked, ought neither to be considered out of
place nor omitted.

On a comparison of the numbers of species of Crustacea which are
exposed for sale in the markets of Paris, London, and Dublin, it must
be confessed that Dublin folk, as consumers of these dainties, stand
the lowest in the scale. With the exception of three, or perhaps I may
say four Crustacea, the Dublin gastronomical tastes seem to favour the
consumption of true shell fish—such as oysters and cockles—much more
than of Crustacea; and this does not arise from any scarcity of the spe-
cies used as food elsewhere; for, as I hope to show, most of those used
in England and France abound on and about the Dublin coasts. When
in Paris, some two or three years ago, I examined into the species of
Crustacea exposed for sale in the public market, and found the list was
a goodly one, including nine species—viz. the common crab, the lobster,
the cray fish, fresh-water cray fish, common shrimp, two species of
prawn (Palemon), the common green crab, and the velvet cleanser crab;
and these I was told did not include the entire. In the English markets
the list is still larger—twelve in all. This includes the common crab,
the lobster, sea cray fish, fresh-water cray fish, the common shrimp,
three species of prawns (Palemon), Alsop prawn, Mika edulis—this,
together with the Aisop prawn and the smaller specimens of true prawn,
are sold as cup shrimps,—the corwich, and the green crab. Now, com-
pare with this the Dublin list, and we find it limited to the following:
—Common crab, lobster, sea, and fresh-water cray fishes, common
shrimp, which, with the addition of the Norway lobster (called prawns
in the Dublin markets), make up but six, although we will see most
of the other species are found about Dublin, or in localities easily acces-
sible for our markets. We will next examine the species in detail.

1. The common crab (Cancer pagurus) is taken in numbers around
our coast; but of late years the Dublin fisheries have been falling off.

108 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

This arises from various causes, but none has, in my opinion, been so
active as too close fishing of the ground, and the consequent destruction
of the young, which, though unmarketable, are used as bait by the
fishermen,—in some cases foolishly, as for baiting the whelk pots. In
the summer hand-line fisheries hardly any other bait is used when crabs
are procurable ; and this might be avoided, for I have found the velvet
cleanser crab (Port. puber) equally efficacious as a substitute. The
grounds in which these animals are found are rocky, weedy bottoms,—
hence the fisheries are confined to a short distance of the shores. The
chief places about Dublin are Skerries, Howth, Kingstown, Dalkey, and
Bullock. The fisheries used to be carried on solely by wicker pots,
made on the principle of the common wire mouse-trap, but with the
opening at the top. Latterly, about Kingstown and Dalkey, the drum-
net has superseded the pot. It is made of net stretched in the form of
a drum, on hoops, with openings at opposite ends, one opening being at
the top, the other at the bottom. From the hoops the bait, consisting
of bits of fish, is suspended by means of withes, generally made of the
common briar. These are sunk, and left down a certain number of
hours, when they are taken up, the crabs, &c., removed, and the pots
or drums rebaited, and sunk again. On the west coast crabs, &c., are
taken by a method I never saw used about Dublin,—an open hoop,
having two lines set crosswise on it, and below furnished with a bag-
net; this is fastened to a strong line, of sufficient length, bait attached
to the cross lines, and the apparatus then lowered into the sea (this kind
of fishing being practised from high shores) ; after the lapse of ten or
fifteen minutes, it is drawn up, and the crabs, &c., found in the bag.
When pots, &c., are used, the fishing is most precarious; the pots are
frequently lost through gales, or carrying away of the buoys by passing
vessels ; and as the baits require to be frequently renewed, it often hap-
pens, when the crabs are scarce, that the cost of the bait exceeds the
value of the capture. The crabs taken at Skerries are generally of large
size, but epicures prefer those captured about Bullock and Dalkey, which
are moderate sized, plump, and heavier in proportion, though, singularly
enough, those captured at. the back of the east pier at Kingstown are
mostly inferior. I suppose the feeding grounds have something to say
to it, the Bullock grounds being free from the influence of the sewerage,
which seriously affects the Kingstown grounds.

' 2. The lobster (Homarus vulgaris). The remarks made concerning
the modes of capture and feeding grounds of the common crab apply to
this species likewise, except that it prefers a stale bait. Heavy gales
affect the supply of the two species in a remarkable manner. This last
season, after the heavy gales of the 9th February, 1861, proved a very
bad one, probably the disturbance of the rocks near the shore had some-
thing to say to it, by causing the destruction of their feeding places.
They have much fallen off in numbers of late years. Rutty has a
curious statement about this species in his Natural History of Dublin,
vol. i., p. 371. He says :—‘“‘ This is native and good at Howth and
Lambay ; but what they have good at Bullock they bring from Water-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 109

ford, &c., and feed and send to Dublin market, those of their own pro-
duce being small and bad.”” No such custom prevails at the present day,
yet I never heard any complaints of Bullock lobsters.

3. The sea craw fish, or spiny or horny lobster (Palinurus vulgaris),
is extremely rare about Dublin. The markets are supplied from our
western and southern coasts, but the consumption is but small.

4. The fresh-water craw fish (Astacus fluwiatilis)—This scarcely can
be included among the edible Crustacea, as its great use in Dublin is as
a garnish to fish. It is chiefly supplied to us from the streams in the
county of Kildare, as at Maynooth.

5. The shrimp (Crangon vulgaris).—This is only seen in the markets
in small numbers, and of these most are imported, although it is ex-
tremely common on the Dublin coasts, the sandy pools on our beaches
everywhere containing it; and in some places, as about Rush, the species
growing to a large size. They do not want for flavour, so that we can
only account for its absence from our tables by a want of appreciation
in the eating public. I have remarked that those which frequent the
flat beaches are subject to extinction from two causes, viz. excessive
frost and very hot summers. After either of these, you can gather the
dead shrimps at times in bushels on the Merrion strand.

6. The Norway lobster (Mephrops Norvegicus).—This, though called
the prawn in the Dublin markets, differs much from the true prawn,
being four or five times the size of that animal, and of a different shape.
It is the most beautiful of all our Crustacea, as regards sculpture, and is
generally abundant, and much appreciated in our markets. These are
supplied by the trawlers from the deep waters which lie between this
country and the Isle of Man. I do not think this species is found in
Dublin Bay. Ball and Thompson’s information was founded on an
error, owing to the habit of the trawlers throwing overboard the un-
saleable fish. These are all the species, as far as I can learn, which are
fished for here; but the following also occur, and the capture of some
of them might afford employment to some of our idle hands, or be made
a source of profit to the regular fisherman.

1. The common prawn (Palemon serratus).—This occurs in the crab
grounds about Dalkey Island, and formerly constituted an important
fishery. Why this has fallen off it is impossible to say; the species still
exist there, but is rare. I show you a specimen taken there in 1861,
which for size, &c., equals any I have ever seen. They used to be taken
in pots, made like the crab pots, but more closely woven. It is also taken
at Bray Head. I am afraid, unless new grounds can be discovered, it
would hardly repay the expense of bait, &c.

2. The squill prawn (Palemon squilla).—Is one of the small species
which might be profitably introduced for consumption, if a taste for
“shrimps’’ were once acquired. It is found abundantly in every rock pool
about our coasts, and in the pools cut off from the sea by the railway,
and in the weedy portions of the slob, at Malahide, &c., where they can
be captured by a common hand ringnet in abundance. I can speak of
them as an article of food from experience, and am sure, if they were once

Q

110 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

introduced, they would grow into public favour. This is the species men-
tioned by Rutty as having been destroyed by the frosts of 1740, as his
reference to Rondeletius will show, and not the common prawn, as stated
in error by Thompson and others. The third species of prawn, Leach’s
prawn (P. Leachit), is not met about Dublin, but is very abundant at
certain seasons in Galway, where they are sold, as Professor Melville
informs me, indiscriminately with the squill prawn and the young of the
common prawn.

The Asop prawn (Pandalus annulicornis).—This species occurs in
our rock pools; but being more properly a deep-water species, if fished
for, it must be sought in the deeper waters. It occurs in myriads in the
herring nets, and I have seen it in shoals among the refuse of the boats
at Bray. It is a great pity it has not been introduced into our markets
(for it is common enough in the London markets). Leach states con-
cerning it:—‘‘It is used as an article of food at Yarmouth, and is at
that place so much esteemed for the table as to afford constant employ-
ment during the summer season to several fishermen, who take it in
abundance at a considerable distance from the shore, and name it, from
that circumstance, ‘ the sea shrimp.’”’ Off Dalkey it occurs abundantly
in the whelk-pots when crabs are used for bait. I am sure there would
be no difficulty in procuring it, the supply seeming inexhaustible.

Nika edulis, which, along with the four foregoing, make up the cup-
shrimps of the English vendors, is extremely rare in Dublin.

4. The green crab (Carcinas menas).—This species swarms around
our coasts, and is easily captured, either by bobbing for it, as is done for
eels, with a bundle of garbage, or by the hand, under stones, at low
water. Although found in both the London and Paris markets, it bears
only an inferior price. It might, however, with advantage be substi-
tuted for the common crab as bait, and so diminish the destruction of
the young of that species. It is used by the Malahide fishers as bait for
their whelk-pots, and immediately after exuviation, while still soft, is
used as a bait for shore hand-lines about Dublin, being then called soft
crabs. We may yet be driven to it as a substitute for the common crab
at our tables.

5. The velvet cleanser crab (Portunus puber).—This is extremely
abundant under stones at half tides, and a great pest in the crab-pots. I
have seen as many as fifteen taken out of a pot at a time. It is not bad
for eating; and, « I stated before, I have substituted it successfully for
the common crav as bait. The great objection to it is the small amount
of flesh found in it; but this would not prevent its bemg used in the
manufacture of sauces, a purpose for which the smaller common crabs
(C. pagurus) are used. The fishermen near Kingstown, who call it the
fiddler, commonly destroy all they find in the pots; but I have seen it
used for baiting the whelk-pots. Around Dublin there are a number of
other crustacea which are eaten abroad, and which, like the last men-
tioned, might at least be used as sauces: the scaly Spanish lobster (Ga-
lathea), found abundantly in certain localities, two species of cleanser
crabs (Portunt), and easily procured by the dredge, &c.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. PEL

Rutty also mentions that in his day the hermit crabs (Paguride)
were eaten, and held in some esteem.

This paper has already run much further than originally intended,
but cannot conclude without a few general remarks about our local
fisheries. There can be no doubt that formerly these were much more
lucrative than at present, and that of late years the supples have fallen
off, and it may be profitable to consider the cause.

The first of these, without doubt, is too close fishing. Unfortu-
nately, the period of the year when these delicacies are in season 1s also
that at which hand-line fishing is in vogue ; hence a ready market is ob-
tained for individuals which ought rightly to be thrown back again into
the sea to grow. Unfortunately, also, those which carry the spawn—
or coral, as it is called—are considered the greatest delicacies ; and
hence we are burning the candle at both ends, destroying the young and
destroying the ova. Then, again, the number of competitors on the
fishing grounds is much increased; hence large individuals have be-
come scarce, and the fisherman is obliged, in self-defence, to relm-
burse himself the cost of his bait, time, and tackle, by vending crabs
which formerly were thrown back into the sea. This can be easily un-
derstood, when I mention that I have personally known a fisherman to
obtain only four shillings’ worth of crabs in return for an outlay of over
ten shillings for bait. How this is to be met I do not see. Legisla-
tive interference with the fisheries has always defeated itself, partly
through popular prejudice, and partly through arbitrary restrictions,
which have in too many cases converted the natural active guardians of
the fish into their destroyers, or at least into passive witnesses of their
destruction by others. Another cause, doubtless, has been their in-
creased consumption, through the opening of new markets, &c., which
has brought about the very thing noted before—too close fishing; from
which, I may remark, we are not the only sufferers, as several of the
English and American grounds have been abandoned from this cause.
Another cause which may be noted in the case of the Dublin fisheries
arises from the changes which the advances of civilization have
caused in many of the feeding grounds: numerous houses and terraces,
built in the vicinity of the sea, pouring in gallons of filthy and delete-
rious sewage per hour, causes the destruction of the food on which the
animals feed, if not their own, and drives them from their haunts. I
have been watching this agency at work in a locality not far from my
own residence, where the establishment of a large laundry, with sewers
running into the sea, has, even within the past three years, caused the
nearly total disappearance of some species of crustacea, molluscs, and
actini, formerly abundant, and much diminished the number of others.
Any one who has dredged Scotman’s Bay, at the back of the east pier,
must be cognizant of the mischief which may be caused by sewage.
Here, what was formerly a sandy bottom, with numerous living tenants
(I speak of a distance of even some miles from shore), is now converted
into a series of cinder banks, and beds of fetid sandy mud, nearly des-
titute of any kind of life. While we keep up our present absurd—I

112 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

can give it no milder name—system of sewerage, in which, under the
false idea that the foul matter will be dissipated in the tide, we carry
the outlets of our sewers down into the sea, this evil must increase ; nor
can it cease until some method is devised of destroying the filth in a
series of cesspools, or by some means or other rendering it innocuous be-
fore its passage into the pure water. JI am sure the chemists, if their
attention were called to the matter, could assist us here, and thus pre-
vent the mischief which has arisen, and is arising, not merely to our
own crab and lobster fisheries, but also to more important fisheries, —
many of the fishes proper, I have not the smallest doubt, having been
driven from Dublin Bay by this. Under the present system, the natural
course of events is, the solid matters are carried out to sea in the first
instance, and then either returned again in a minute state of division,
but not the less hurtful on that account, and spread upon our beaches,
or else, meeting with a cross-current, deposited as a bank of fetid, life-
less mud. Had I time to enter fully into this branch of the subject, I
could bring many instances forward, from my dredging researches, in
corroboration—one must suffice. Few of us are unaware of the lament-
able change which the carrying the main sewer of Kingstown out at the
back of the west pier entailed on the Salthill strand ; and the odours, not
quite Sabean, which now greet the nose on a summer’s evening, will
prove how mistaken the popular system of sewerage is,—the filth being
merely removed from one limited locality to be extensively spread broad-
cast on the beaches, slowly but surely poisoning every thing round there.
Legislative enactment might meet this difficulty, but I am doubtful on
the point. Another cause, doubtless, of the falling off—to which, per-
haps, the destruction of the prawn fishery at Dalkey is due—arises from
changes in the submarine banks, due to violent storms, which have de-
stroyed many favourite feeding grounds; in fact, since a heavy gale
many years ago, the molluscs, &c., thrown up on many of our beaches
have been totally altered as to numbers and species. There is one re-
medy which, supposing the sewage difficulty removed, might restore
our feeding grounds: this is the breeding of crabs and lobsters in stews
into which the sea has full access, and from which the young could es-
cape or be transferred at the proper season into localities more fitted for
their adult growth. These remarks are intended to apply more parti-
cularly to the grounds about Kingstown, Dalkey, and Bullock, as of
these I have a personal knowledge; but they are generally applicable
to all localities, and therefore take no notice of trawling. Of the num-
bers of these animals consumed in the Dublin markets I have no accurate
means of speaking; but judging by the displays in the shop windows,
and the number of boats employed in the fisheries, it must be consi-
derable enough to render the subject brought forward in this communi-
cation of considerable importance. I hope at some future time to return
to the subject. Ifthis communication should be the means of calling
the attention of those more capable of treating of its details to this most
important subject, the object I had in view in bringing it forward will
have been accomplished.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 113

A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF PREY, PERCHERS, AND WADERS, OBSERVED TO
FREQUENT THE DISTRICTS OF MAYO, AND SLIGO, WHICH BORDER ON
KILLALA. BY ROBERT WARREN, JUN., CORRESPONDING MEMBER.

[Read February 7, 1862. ]

Sea Eagle (Aquila albicilla.)—I have occasionally seen during winter;
and in December, 1851, I shot a fine specimen of this bird on the sand
hills of Bartra, Killala Bay.

Peregrine Falcon (falco peregrinus).—Is resident, and breeds on the
high cliffs along the coast.

Merlin (Falco esalon).—Is resident and common.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)).—Is very common, and breeds amongst
the ruins of the numerous old castles and abbeys scattered through the
country.

Sparrow-hawk (Acczp. nisus).—Is very common in the well-wooded
districts. A singular instance of their impatience of hunger has come
under my notice. In the summer of 1857, a pair built a nest on a
larch, in a plantation near the dwelling-house, at Moyview, and reared
four young ones, which I was in the habit of looking at very frequently :
when they were nearly fledged, on one day that I visited the nest, I only
saw three birds, and, on making a closer search, I found the leg of the
missing bird, clean picked, in the bottom of the nest, and the other
leg lying at the foot of the tree. This was pretty fair evidence of the
missing bird having been devoured by his companions.

Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris).—Is very rare; I have only seen it on two
occasions.

Marsh Harrier (C. eruginosus).—I cannot with certainty say I have
seen; but, when snipe shooting, I have occasionally seen birds which may
have been of this species.

Hen Harrier (C. cyaneus).—Is rare is this locality ; I have seen but
one old male.

Long-eared Owl ( Otus vulgaris).—Is resident in the wooded dis-
tricts.

Short-eared Owl (Otus brachyotus).—Is a winter visitant to the
heaths and mountains.

White Owl (Strix flammea).—Resident, and common.

Water Ouzel (Cinclus aquaticus.)—Is resident, and frequents the re-
tired rocky streams.

Missel Thrush (Lerula visewora).—Not so numerous as in the south
of Ireland.

Fieldfare (Merula pilaris).—Is a regular winter visitant.

Common Thrush (Merula vulgaris).—Is plentiful, and resident.

Redwing (Merula cliaca).—Is a regular winter visitant.

Blackbird (Merula nigra).—Numerous in the wooded districts.

Hedge Sparrow (Accentor modularis).—Is common, and resident.

Redbreast (Hrythaca rubecula).—Very common.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola).—Common, and resident.

114 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra).—Is a summer visitant, in very limited
numbers, to particular localities; and as it seldom leaves its favourite
feeding grounds, it is but seldom visible to the casual observer.

Wheatear (Sawicola enanthe).—Is a regular summer visitant, very
numerous in sandy rabbit burrows.

Sedge Warbler (Salicaria phragmites).—Regular summer visitant. |

White Throat (Curruca cinerea).—Regular summer visitant; fre-
quents hedges and low bushes.

Willow Wren (S. trochilus).—Regular summer visitant; very com-
mon, and arrives in the country about a month earlier than the White-
throats.

Chiffchaff (Sylvia rufa).—This does not occur in the original list.
In a communication subsequently laid before the Society, Mr. Warren
thus records its occurrence to him in the district :

The cause of the omission of the Chiffcltaff’s name from the list I
furnished, was in consequence of my never having seen or even heard —
it during my sojourn in this district up to the date of the list being
made out; but, notwithstanding my not having come across the bird for
so many years, yet I had no doubt but that it would be met with in
some of the well-wooded parts of the country, or even at some future
time in this locality, and I am glad to say this idea has turned out cor-
rect.

On the 11th of last April, I observed one in the garden at Moyview,
singing away very strongly ; and I was in the hope that it would have
remained in the place during the summer, but much to my regret its stay
was only for two days. I was at some loss at first to account for its
sudden disappearance, as this place appeared well suited for its resi-
dence, the plantations being mixed, and of over forty years’ growth:
however, after some consideration, I came to the conclusion, that it
must have taken flight to Belleek, the fine demesne of Colonel Knox
Gore, situated about three miles further up on the Mayo side of the river,
and that its departure was influenced by the superior attractions afforded
by the very extensive plantations and old timber there. This surmise
was correct; for some time in July I passed through the demesne, and
had the pleasure of both seeing and hearing them in full song.

On the 8rd of October, I again met one in the garden here; I watched
it for some time from a short distance, and heard it singingin very low,
imperfect notes, something like what bird-fanciers call recording.

Gold-crested Wren (Regulus auricapillus).—Is resident, and com-
mon in suitable localities. |

Great Tit (Parus major).—Is common, and resident.

Blue Tit (Parus eeruleus).—Is very abundant, and resident.

Coal Tit (Parus ater).—Is common, and resident.

Long-tailed Tit (Parus caudatus).-—Was very common in the plan-
tations at Moyview during the winters of 1857-58, and 1858-59, but
I have not observed them since that time.

Common Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii).—Is very common, and re-
sident.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 115

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba).—A fine specimen of this bird was
shot by me in a barley-field on the island of Bartra, the 25th of April,
1851 ; it was sent to my friend Dr. Harvey, of Cork for his collection,

_ but unfortunately he did not receive it in time for preservation.

Grey Wagtail (Motac. boarula).—Resident, but not common.

Titlark (Anthus pratensis).—Is very common, and resident.

Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus).—Is very common, and resident on the
sea~coast.

Skylark (Alauda arvensis).—Is very abundant.

Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes nivalis).—A winter visitant, and in
some years assemble on the island of Bartra in very large numbers in
March.

Common Bunting (Hmberiza miliaria).—lIs resident, and common.

Yellow Bunting (Zinberiza citrinella).—Very abundant, and resident.

Black-headed Bunting (Zmber scheniclus).—A resident.

Chaffinch (Pringilla celebs)—Very common, and resident.

Sparrow (Pyrgitta domestica).—Is resident in very limited numbers
in particular localities.

Green Linnet (Coccothraustes chloris).—Resident, but not nume-
rous. ;
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris).—Is very rare: a fine bird of this
species was observed feeding on the red berries of a costoneaster-tree,
close to the parlour window at Moyview, in the month of November,
1857.

Goldfinch (Carduelis cardo).—Is resident, and common.

. Linnet (Linaria cannabina).—Very common, and resident.

Lesser Redpole (Zin. minor).—Is rare; in May, 1856, I observed a
pair feeding on some alders at Moyview.

Mountain Linnet (Linaria montiwm).—Is very numerous in both
Mayo and Sligo, and frequents the benty sand hills of Bartra Island in
large numbers throughout the year.

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula vulgaris).—Is occasionally seen at Moyview.

Starling (Stwrnus vulgaris).—Very numerous in winter, and in sum-
mer, breeds in the high cliffs of Kilcummin Head, Killala Bay.

Chough (Fregilus graculus).—Is rather scarce, but it breeds in the
cliffs of Kilcummin Head, Killala Bay.

Raven (Corvus corax).—lIs resident, and common.

Grey Crow (Corvus cormx).—Is not very common.

Rook (Corvus frugilegus).—Is very numerous.

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula).—Very common.

Magpie (Pica melanoleuca).—Is very numerous in this locality, and
on some evenings in winter they assemble in large flocks before going to
roost in the Moyview plantations. I have sometimes counted fifty birds
in a flock.

Wren (Troglodytes Europeus).—Is common, and resident.

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).—A regular summer visitant.

Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida).—Is occasionally seen in winter.

Swallow (Hirunda rustica).—Is a regular summer visitor.

116 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

House Marten (Hirundo urbica).—Is a summer visitor.

Sand Marten (irundo riparia).—Summer visitant.

Swift (Cypselus apus).—A regular summer visitor.

Night Jar (Caprimulgus Europeus).—Is rare; I have only seen one
specimen, which was found dead in a field at Moyview, in September,
1860.

Woodquest (Columba palumbus).—Is increasing in numbers every |
year; and in some seasons it gives great annoyance to the farmers, by
devouring the young turnip plants just after they have escaped the ra- |
vages of the fly, and put on the rough leaves.

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia).—Is common round the coast, in the
vicinity of high cliffs, where it breeds.

Turtle Dove (Zurtur vulgaris).—A solitary bird was observed feed-
ing in a stubble-field at Moyview, late in October, 1861. It was pro-
bably a young bird of the year, because there was no appearance of the
crescent on the neck.

Grouse (Zetrao Scoticus)—Common on the heathy bogs and moun-
tains.

Partridge (Perdix cinerea).—Is not numerous in this locality.

Quail (Coturnix dactylisonans).—Is very scarce here.

Golden Plover (Squatarola pluvialis).—Frequents the sandy shore of
Bartra and Killala Bay in immense numbers in winter, and but very few
remain to breed on the bogs and mountains during the summer.

Ringed Plover (C. hiaticula).—Is very common round the shores of
the bay. I have seen them in summer at Lough Conn, where they pro-
bably breed; and I have frequently found their nests and eggs on the
island of Bartra. The nests were generally placed a short distance from
high-water mark, and were merely a shallow hole scratched in the sand
or gravel, and in every instance which I have seen were lined with
bits of broken cockle-shells.

Grey or Sand Plover (Sq. cinerea).—May be seen in small flocks
round the sea-shore during autumn, winter and spring, and occasionally
as late as June in summer. On the 22nd June, 1860, I observed a flock
of thirteen birds on the Bartra sands.

Lapwing ( Vanellus cristatus).—1s very common.

Turnstone (Strepsilas interpres).—Is very common in winter, and
has been observed in Killala Bay in May and June.

Sanderling ( Calidrus arenarius).—Is common during autumn, winter,
and spring on the Bartra sands and Killala Bay.

Oyster-catcher (Hematopus ostralegus.)—Is very common in winter,
and occasionally seen in summer.

Heron (Ardea cinerea).—Is very common.

Curlew (Numenius arquatus).—Is very numerous.

Whimbrel (WV. ph@opus).—Common in May, and also is to be seen
in August, on its return.

Redshank (Zotanus calidris).—Is very common.

Common Sandpiper (Zotanus hypoleucos).—Is very common in sum- —
mer on all the inland rivers and lakes. :

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 117

Greenshank (Zotanus glottis).—Is common in winter in Killala Bay,
and occasionally in summer. In May, 1851, 1 saw one on the swampy
shore of Mulligarry Lake, near Killala, and as it was very noisy and
restless, it is probable that it had a nest.

Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa melanura).—Is very rare; I have only
seen it on two occasions.

Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa rufa).—Is very abundant in Killala Bay
in winter, and is occasionally seen in summer as late as the month of June.
Notwithstanding their remaining so late in the season, I have never,
except on one occasion, seen them assume the adult summer plumage ;
and that was at Bartra, on the 10th of June, 1852, when, amongst a
flock of over fifty birds, I remarked two which had the red breasts.

Woodeock (Seolopax rusticola).—Common in winter.

Snipe (Scolopax gallinago).—Is very numerous.

Jack Snipe (Scolopax gallinula).—Is common.

Curlew Sandpiper (Zringa subarquata).—I have seen on a few oc-
easions near Bartra and Killala.

Dunlin (Zringa variabilis).—Is very common, but not so numerous
as in the south. I have seen them in summer on the boggy shores of
Lough Conn, where it is probable a few pairs breed. A few winters
ago, as I was returning from Bartra in my boat, I saw one of these birds
caught in a most absurd trap. My attention was first drawn to it by
seeing it repeatedly rise a short distance into the air, and on alighting
violently shaking its head, apparently striving to detach a round lump
from off the end of its bill. The bird appeared very much exhausted ;
and on approaching closer to ascertain the cause of its strange manceu-
vres, I discovered that a eockle, of the size of a hazel-nut, was firmly
fixed to its bill, and the most violent efforts of the poor bird failed to get
rid of it, at least while I was observing it. Itis very probable that the
Dunlin discovered the cockle lying open on the sands, and, when attempt-
ing to feed on it, was caught by the cockle suddenly closing.

Purple Tringa (Zringa maritima).—Is not uncommon on the flat,
rocky shores of the Sligo side of Killala Bay. I have killed eleven at
one shot near the village of Enniscrone, and I have also shot them as
late as the 24th of May at Kileummin Head.

Knot (Zringa canutus)—Is very abundant in winter on the sandy
flats of the bay and river.

Land Rail ( Crex pratensis).—Is very numerous in summer.

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus).—Is resident, though seldom seen. I
have killed the young in summer in a small bog near Killala.

Water Hen (Gallinula chloropus).—Is very common.

Coot (Fuliea atra).—Is common, and resident.

[Addendum to foregoing paper.—Tree Creeper ( Certhia Samliaris).—
The omission of this bird from the list may be now filled up. July,
1862, I had the gratification of observing it in Belleek demesne, and
watching one for some time feeding its young, in a nest built in the cleft
of = Wa branch of a poplar-tree, about twenty feet from the ground.

R

118 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

ON THE MIGRATION OF BUFFON’S SKUA (LESTRIS PARASITICUS), AND
RECORD OF OCCURRENCE OF RARE BIRDS IN IRELAND. BY JOHN ROBERT
CRANE, LIEUTENANT, 67TH REGT. COMMUNICATED BY R. P. WILLIAMS,
M. BI. A.

[Read February 7, 1862.]
Athlone, January, 1862.

Tue specimens of Buffon’s Skua (Lestris parasiticus), were shot by
me on 16th May, 1860, on the Shannon, about five miles south of Ath-
lone. I was out in company with two other officers shooting land rails,
which are very plentiful on that part of the banks of the river. The
day was very stormy and cold for the season; the wind was from the
N. W. I was sitting in a boat at a place called Long Island, when a
flock of about twenty Skuas passed over. I saw at once that they were
not common birds; the long tail-feathers marked them at once; but as I
was sitting in the bow, the flock had nearly passed before I saw them,
but I succeeded in killing one. Some time after another flock of about
the same number passed, but I could not get a shot; but a third flock
came over, out of which I killed one with each barrel, making three in
all. I gave two of them to the late Mr. Glennon, and he then showed
me another, which he told me had been killed from a flock in the County
Donegal on the 17th, the day after I got mine. The birds were follow-
ing the course of the Shannon, flying north. I gave the third specimen
to Major Newton, R. A., who sent it to his brother, Alford Newton, Esq.,
well known for his work on eggs. I saw between sixty and seventy in
all. One of the other officers who was with me and saw me kill the
birds was Captain Rowland, 55th Regiment. I think the skuas were
migrating when I saw them. They did not seem inclined to settle any
where; the three flocks were steadily pursuing the same course in a
northerly direction. I fear there is but little chance of meeting with
them again, as I look on their occurrence as quite exceptional. They
were probably driven from the sea by severity of weather, and induced
to pursue their journey along the course ofthe Shannon, as affording them
comparatively more shelter than the open sea. The weather had been
very stormy for some days, and on the 16thit blew so hard that we could
hardly keep our boat clear of water ; there were several heavy hail-show-
ers during the day. I showed the birds to several boatmen here, who
are constantly in the habit of attending the officers of the garrison in
their shooting excursions, and they all said they hadnever seen anything
like them before.

I may mention that in November, 1858, I shot, near the same place,
a specimen of the Yellow Shanks, or American snipe, (Zotanus flavipes)
of which I can only find one other British record—viz., one shot in Not-
tinghamshire. Unfortunately I did not then know Mr. Glennon, and I
gave it to a friend who said he could skin birds; but it was very fat,
and he tore and spoiled the skin so much that he threw it away. I was
not then aware of the extreme rarity of the bird, or I would have en-
deavoured to preserve some part of it.

Witp Swan (Cygnus

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 119

I believe the Redstart (Ph. ruticilla) is a rare bird in Ireland. I

once shot two in the County Wexford; I gave the skins to Mr. Glen-

non. Many years ago I found a specimen of Bulwer’s Petrel (Thallas.
Bulwer?) dead on the sea-shore at Kilmore, County Wexford, but it was
in too advanced a stage of decay for preservation. I have, however, no
doubt whatever of its identity, and it does not appear to have been ob-
served before.

A LIST OF THE SWIMMING BIRDS (NATATORES) OBSERVED TO FREQUENT

THE DISTRICTS OF THE COUNTIES MAYO AND SLIGO WHICH BORDER ON
KILLALA BAY AND THE TIDAL PARTS OF THE RIVER MOY. BY ROBERT
WARREN, JUN., CORRESPONDING MEMBER. ,

[Read March 7, 1862. ]

).—This fine bird is often seen passing over-
head on its way to the mountain lakes of Erris, to which itis a regular
winter visitor. I have only once seen them on the tidal part of the Moy,
viz. during the severe weather of 1860. Onthe 28th December, I ob-
served three birds, feeding in company with a large flock of widgeon,
close to the Moyview shore; it being flood-tide, they fed closer to the
land as the water deepened, and, as I watched them from behind a fence
while they were feeding, I remarked they occasionally uttered a low,
sweet note. After some time, the rising tide brought them within shot;
and, although I severely wounded two (one having a broken wing), they
unfortunately got away, my dogs being afraid to follow them, and my
boat being at the time several feet deep under snow, I was unable to
secure them. On the 30th of same month, a flock of twenty-two was
seen flying up the river, closely followed by a small flock of five. All
that were observed had the adult plumage. In some years they are very
abundant on the Erris lakes. I have been credibly informed by a gen-
tleman who was shooting with a party in Erris, in the winter of 1856,
that on one day they saw upwards of forty swans on the lake.

Bean Goose (Anser segetum).—Is a regular winter visitant. I saw
a wounded bird of this species become quite domesticated in the poultry-
yard of a person in Ballina.

White-fronted Goose (A. albifrons).—Is also a regular winter visi-
tant, and much more numerous than the Bean Goose. Both species are
frequently shot by the country people, who watch for them on their
flight to and from the feeding grounds.

Shelldrake (Anas tadorna).—A small flock of this fine bird may be
occasionally seen in winter frequenting the sandy flats of the bay and
river, which are bared by the tides at low water. In their mode of
flight they appear to me to resemble the geese much more closely than
the duck tribe.

Shoveller (Anas clypeata).—I have only once seen. On the Ist of
January, 1862, when widgeon shooting on the river, I observed a fine

120 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

male amongst a flock of widgeon. It was apparently in adult plu-
mage, as its colour was very brilliant.

Wild Duck (Anas boschas).—Is very numerous here, and much more
so than they appear to the casual observer, chiefly on account of the
place they frequent by day. Some remain in the bogs, but the great
body of them keep out in the open bay, just outside the violence of the
surf that continually breaks on the Bartra sands. During very stormy
weather, the great flock rests on the unfrequented sands at the western
side of Bartra. I have often found their nests (in small bogs) contain-
ing from eight to fourteen eggs.

Gadwall (A. strepera).—This rare duck I have met twice. In the
first instance, in the winter of 1855, I observed a small flock of five birds
feeding on the sands, at low water, on the Sligo side of the river; and
again, on the 6th of March, 1856, I shot an adult pair, male and
female, out of a flock of seven, as they were feeding on the Moyview
shore, in company with some widgeon. -The patch of buff on the tail-
coverts of the male, and the peculiar carriage of their heads and bills,
induced me to aim at them rather than at the widgeon, of which I killed
a pair also at the shot.

Pintail (A. acuta).—This elegant-looking duck visits the bay and
river nearly every winter, in limited numbers, and associates with the

widgeon on their feeding grounds. In December, 1856, I shot a splen-
did pair (male and female, i in adult plumage), from amongst a flock ‘of
widgeon, near Bartra.

Teal (A. crecca).—Is seldom seen in any numbers on the river,
unless driven by severe frost from the inland waters and bogs; but then
flocks of fifty to one hundred individuals may be seen on the tidal parts
of the river, where they remain until the frost disappears; on the night
succeeding which event, they all, with the exception of a few strag-
glers, depart for their usual inland haunts. Although of comparative
easy approach in its inland haunts, yet on its visit to the sea-side I have
always found it the most wary of the ducks, and the most difficult to be
shot from a boat.

Widgeon (A. penelope).—In very large numbers frequent the bay
and river; some arrive as early as September, but the great body of
them do not make their appearance before October, and they take their
departure for their summer quarters in March; but generally a few
stragglers remain until the middle of April. In the early part of winter
they are considered very good for the table, but towards spring they
acquire a rank and fishy flavour. This change may be partly attributed
to the approach of the breeding season, and partly to a change of food,
because towards spring the supply of zostera, or widgeon-grass, is ex-
hausted, and they substitute the laver, or sloke, which grows in great
abundance on the stony shores of the river and bay.

Black Scoter (A. negra).—In the winter of 1857, a pair were observed
to frequent the river near Bartra for some weeks.

Pochard (A. ferina).—I have met only once, when I shot a a aiale
on the river, near Moyview.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 121

Scaup (A. marila).—Is rarely seen ; I have shot only one specimen,
a female.
Long-tailed Duck (4. glaccalis). —Is a regular winter visitor to Kil-

lala Bay; it arrives in October, and occasionally delays its departure

until May. A few stragglers are to be seen in the river, but the greater
portion of them remain in the bay, where they are not easily observed,
because their feeding grounds are close to the surf of the Killala and
Moy bars; however, when not seen, their very peculiar cry will always
call the attention of the observer, and cause him to be on the look out
for them. As far as my limited experience goes, I find them to be in
this locality the tamest and most easily shot of all the duck tribe.

Golden-eye Duck (A. clangula).—Is seldom seen on the river before
February and March, during which months a few small flocks frequent
the river opposite Belleek, the seat of Colonel Knox Gore, about a mile
from Ballina; and they very seldom come farther down the river, unless
disturbed.

Red-breasted Merganser (JZ. serrator).—Is very numerous during
winter in the open bay and river, and afew are to be seen during summer.
I have seen them on Lough Conn in May and June, and I have been
informed that a few pairs breed on some of its unfrequented islets,

Eared Grebe (P. auritus).—I have occasionally seen in winter on
the river. In February, 1852, I shot a fine specimen, in the winter
plumage; it was in company with another, swimming in the channel
near Killala; I again met with it in the winter of 1855.

Little Grebe (P. minor).—Is resident in the inland waters; but I
have never seen it on the river here, except when driven down by frost.

Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis).—This fine bird is a regular
winter visitor, and sometimes, before taking their departure in April and
May for their northern haunts, a few assume their beautiful summer
plumage. I saw a flock of ten Northern Divers, of which nine birds ap- ~
peared to be in perfect summer plumage, on the 24th of May, 1851, in
the open bay, near Kilcummin Head.

Red-throated Diver (C. septentrionalis).—Is also a regular winter
visitor, and, like the Northern Diver, a few birds assume the summer
plumage before leaving in April and May.

Black-throated Diver (C. arcticus).—One in apparently adult plumage,
exhibiting the fine black throat, was seen by my brother, Mr. E. H.
Warren, near Bartra, in April, 1851.

Common Guillemot (U. troile).—Breeds in very large numbers at
Downpatrick Head, near Ballycastle, about six miles from Killala.

Black Guillemot (U. gryile).—Is common, and breeds round the
coast from Kilcummin Head to Downpatrick Head.

Puffin (Ff. arctica).—Is only occasionally seen in the bay and river.
I shot a young bird of the year, near Rissark Abbey, in the winter of
1856.

Razorbill (A. torda).—Is very numerous, and breeds in the same lo-
calities as the Guillemot. After storms, in winter, they are sometimes
thrown up dead in numbers on the Bartra shore.

122 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

Great Cormorant (C. cormoranus).—Is very abundant, and breeds on
the high cliffs round the Mayo coast. It extends its fishing excursions
very far inland. I have seen them on Lough Conn, in Mayo, and on Lough
Erne, in Fermanagh.

Green Cormorant (C. cristata).—Is also very numerous. It appears
to me to be strictly marine in its habits, for I have never seen it fishing
in the fresh water of either lake or river. They breed round Mayo
coast, from Kilcummin Head to Downpatrick Head, and further west,
wherever the coast is suitable.

Gannet (S. dassana).—May be seen fishing in summer far out in the
bay ; andI have no doubt that they breed on those stupendous rocks or
islands, the Stags of Broadhavén, on the north-west coast of Mayo. In
September, 1851, I caught a young bird of the year on the Bartra sands;
it appeared quite exhausted for want of food.

Sandwich Tern (S¢. Cantiaca).—This beautiful bird is the most
abundant of all the tribe which frequent Killala Bay, and the earliest
to make its appearance in spring. A few of the dates of its arrival since
1851 which I have noted are as follows, viz—In 1851, April 6th;
1852, March 23rd; 1858, April 7th; 1854, March 21st; 1855, April
1st; 1856, March 20th; but the main flock did not arrive until the 26th.
Since that year, I have not had the opportunity of noting their arrival
in spring. The only breeding haunt they have, which I am acquainted.
with, is a small fresh-water lake, of a few acres in extent, close to the
residence of William Gardiner, Esq., of Cloonagh, about two miles from
Ballina, and four from the sea. There is a colony of Black-headed Gulls
also breeding on the lake ; but the Terns keep apart from them, and lay
their eggs on a flat mud-bank, near the middle of the lake. I was for
a long time puzzled as to where they bred; and seeing them all through
the breeding season carrying sand-eels in their bills to feed their young
puzzled me the more, because I always saw them fly across the country
in the direction of Lough Conn, and when visiting that lake I never
could find them; and it was by mere chance I discovered them at Cloo-
nagh, in May, 1857. They breed earlier than the smaller species of Tern.
I have found their eggs nearly hatched the latter end of May.

Common Tern (S. hirundo).—Is very numerous in summer, and they
breed on some flat islets in Lough Conn. I have never known them to
arrive in the bay before the month of May.

Arctic Tern (St. Arctica).—I have occasionally shot in summer on
the river; but Ihave not been able yet to ascertain where they breed.

Little Tern (St. minuta).—Is occasionally seen in summer. On the
24th of May, 1851, I shot one out of a flock of three, as they were fish-
ing near Bartra; and in July, 1861, on the sands near Killala, I saw
two old ones, with a young one in company ; the latter appeared only to
have left the nest a few days before, its wings not being quite grown, al-
though it was able to fly.

Black Tern (S¢. nigra).—On the 12th of October, 1859, as I was
fishing near Bartra, at the mouth of the river, where it flows into the
bay, I observed a flock of four or five small Terns resting on a sand-

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 123

bank. I at first thought them to be young Common Terns ; but shortly
after they commenced to hawk after some insects, and the very sudden
and adroit twists and turns which they made while in pursuit of their
diminutive prey at once told me that they were birds which I was unac-
quainted with ; and, on shooting a pair, I saw that they were the Black
Tern in the immature plumage. One of these is now in your Museum.

Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus).—Is resident in very large num-
bers ; they breed on a small lake, midway between Killala and Ballina.
In the centre of the little lake there is a small island, nearly circular,
and only about fifteen yards in diameter, upon which the nests are placed
so thickly that it is almost impossible to walk without damaging either
nests or eggs. When last I visited the island, I counted upwards of
two hundred nests, with eggs and young; and under some bushes,
amongst the very thickest of the gulls’ nests, I discovered two wild ducks’
nests, containing eight and nine eggs, upon which the females were
sitting, apparently unmolested or disturbed by their noisy neighbours.
There is also a very extensive colony breeding on Lough Cloonagh.

Kittiwake (Zar. rissa).—This pretty gull breeds in thousands on the
shelves and ledges of Downpatrick Head and the adjacent cliffs.

Common Gull (Z. canus).—Is very numerous in winter, and a few
pairs breed on a rocky islet in Lough Talt, in the Ox Mountains, county
of Sligo, about twelve miles from the sea. This is the only breeding
haunt that I know of.

Herring Gull (Z. argentatus).—Is very common, and breeds in large
numbers on the lofty cliffs of Downpatrick Head.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus jussus).—I have but seldom seen
in this locality. —~

Great Black-back Gull (Z. marinus).—Is common in the bay
throughout the year. About twelve or fifteen pairs breed every summer
on the flat grassy top of the lofty pillar-like rock off Downpatrick
Head. This rocky pillar is situated about one hundred yards out from
the mainland, from whieh it is separated by deep water; its sides are
perpendicular, and I should say some hundred feet in height; so that
the gulls are able to rear their young in perfect safety, unmolested by
man.
Iceland Gull (Z. Jslandicus).—Is occasionally seen. I shot an im-
mature bird near Bartra, in December, 1851; and I saw one flying with
some Herring Gulls, also in the same locality, in December, 1854, and
again on the 7th of May, 1855, one passed close to the dwelling-house
at Moyview. I think, from the whiteness of its plumage, it must have
been an adult bird. On the 24th of December, 1861, I observed an im-
mature bird in a ploughed field at Moyview ; and from that date up to
the 26th of January, 1862, it continued to frequent the fields and shores
about Moyview. It was very tame, so much so that I thought it a pity
to shoot it; so that I tried to take it alive with a baited hook; but, un-
fortunately, it was so seriously injured by the hook, that it only survived
its capture a few hours. This specimen is now in your collection.

Glaucous Gull (LZ. glawcus).—On the 19th of December, 1859, I

124 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

wounded a gull on the Moyview shore, and, from its large size, I consi-
der it a young bird of this species.

Richardson’s Skua (Lestris Richardsonir).—Skuas are often seen in
very large numbers in October, on their passage to the south-west ; but
whether on a regular migration from more northern countries, or merely
a change of feeding ground from one part of the coast to another, I will
not take upon myself to determine, but leave the question to be solved by
those of greater experience in the migration of sea birds than I am myself.
My brother, Mr. E. H. Warren, who resided at Bartra from 1851 to
1855, observed them every October during his sojourn there on the pas-
sage towards the south-west. They always appeared to come from the
open sea, and, when holding that course, invariably crossed the island
of Bartra. In some years they appeared in greater numbers than at others ;
but we never remarked them so numerous as in October, 1851. We first
observed them on the 8th of the month, when two flocks, of eight and
nine birds, were seen flying towards the south; and again, on the 15th,
we counted seventy-two as they came from the open sea in small de-
tached flocks, at irregular intervals of time. On the 16th, we saw up-
wards of a hundred pass in a very short space of time; and as we were
only able to watch them for about two hours each day, it is very pro-
bable that what we saw formed but a very small portion of the flocks
which passed over the island. Several of the Skuas appeared fatigued,
and would occasionally rest on the water for a few minutes; but im-
mediately after would rise from it, and follow the course of their com-
panions. It was singular that, although there were plenty of gulls on
the sands, and flying about while the Skuas were passing, that they
never attempted to chase any while we were watching them. We re-
marked a good many adult birds, with light-coloured throats and bellies,
and long tails, amongst the various flocks which came close by us; but
by far the greater number were dark-coloured, immature birds. I shot
one of the latter, as a small flock of four or five flew past me; and, as
I was in some doubt as to the species, I forwarded it to my lamented
friend, the late William Thompson, of Belfast, who, in answer to my
queries, pronounced it to be Richardson’s. In September, 1855, I shot
another young bird, which I sent to my friend, Dr. Harvey, of Cork, and
T believe it is preserved in his fine collection of our native birds; since
then I have killed two or three others, and all have proved to be Rich-
ardson’s.

Fulmar Petrel (Procellaria glacialis).—On the 24th of January,
1857, I found an immature bird of this species thrown up dead on the
Moyview shore ; it was quite fresh, and had apparently died only a few
hours before being discovered. The specimen was forwarded to Dr.
Harvey, of Cork.

Great Shearwater (Pufinus maor).—On the 22nd of August, 1859,
when at Downpatrick Head, I received an immature specimen of this
bird from a man who found it left on the shore by the receding tide a
few hours before; it was quite fresh, though the plumage was in bad
order from being tossed about by the waves.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 125

Stormy Petrel (Zhallassidroma pelagica).—I have only seen one indi-
vidual in the river.

This concludes my lists, and in them I have only included those
birds which came under my own observation.

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SNOWY OWL (SURNIA NYCTEA ) NEAR SWORDS,
COUNTY OF DUBLIN. BY ROBERT J. MONTGOMERY, M. R. D.S., HONORARY
CURATOR.

[Read March 7, 1862. ]

Tue great Snowy Owl (Surnia nyctea), or, according to modern nomen-
clature, Vyctea nivea, is a native of the northern portions of both conti-
nents, Greenland, however, being its stronghold. Sir John Richardson,
describing its habits in the fur countries, states that it hunts in the day-
time, and follows the grouse-shooters, by grouse meaning willow-grouse
(Zetrao umbellus), for the purpose of sharing in the spoil. On these
occasions it displays considerable boldness and audacity. The same
traveller says the Snowy Owl frequents in summer the most remote
Arctic lands that have been visited, but retires with the ptarmigan, on
which it preys, to more sheltered districts in winter. Wilson and Au-
dubon, the American ornithologists, concur in stating that fish forms a
portion of the food of the Snowy Owl, and by their account he displays
great dexterity in his mode of capturing this description of prey. Whether
this be true, or not, I cannot say; but his foot seems to be most admirably
adapted for retaining a firm hold of a quarry so slippery, the sole of the
foot and the under side of the toes being entirely clothed with fea-
thers, while by the remarkable formation “of the foot he is enabled to
grasp with all four toes, which are long, and armed with very sharp and
powerful claws. The plumage of the Snowy Owl is particularly dense;
no bird with which I am acquainted is so perfectly protected against the
extreme cold of the countries in which it is chiefly to be found, the eyes,
the point of the beak, and claws being the only portions of the bird un-
covered by plumage both dense and downy.

This species has been more frequently met with in Ireland than in
either England or Scotland, which at first view seems somewhat strange,
the bird for many years having been believed to be a permanent resi-
dent in the Orkney and Shetland Islands. It is now, however, ascer-
tained to be only a winter visiter to those islands. The specimens which
have from time to time visited us are most probably from Greenland or
Labrador; they are mostly young birds, on their migration to their
winter quarters. Our geographical position accounts for the more fre-
quent occurrence of the bird in Ireland than in England or Scotland.
Thompson records nine instances. One of those nine ‘refers to the speci-
men in our Museum, which was shot near Omagh, county of Tyrone, in
1853, and presented to the Society by Edward ‘Waller, Esq.

8

126 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

My friend, Professor Kinahan, has recorded his having seen two
Snowy Owls in Tipperary, in December, 1853.* He describes their flight
as very beautiful, strong but buoyant, which, from the texture of the
feathers and formation of the wings and tail, by their relative length,
and the comparative length of the wing-feathers to each other, I should
suppose to be the case, even if I had not the testimony of so accurate an
observer as my friend. Those last mentioned, in addition to one I know
of having been killed in Mayo, in 1850, a living specimen obtained in
the same county in 1859, by my friend, Mr. Alford Newton,+ and the |
example now before you, make the number of Snowy Owls known to
ornithologists to have visited Ireland in a wild state, fourteen.

The specimen exhibited to night, by permission of the Council of the
Royal Zoological Society, was wounded in the wing by a countryman
near Swords, in this county, a few weeks ago. I obtained it on the
22nd of last month for the collection in the Zoological Gardens. It is a
female, I think in its second year. Its habits are exactly in accordance
with those of every other example of Surnia nyctea I have had any op-
portunity of observing. It remains generally in the very front of its
cage, perfectly fearless, and ready to show fight, never taking advan-
tage of a screen of branches put into its cage as a place of retirement.
It also prefers sitting on the ground to any kind of perch or block. The
light does not affect it in the least. I have tried it with rabbits,
birds, and rats; but it prefers meat cut small to all these, and feeds out
of its keeper’s hand. When first procured, I had to force the meat
down its throat. [This bird died October, 1862, and was ‘presented to
the Society’s collection. ]

[ Addendum to above.—Mr. J. B. Doyle mentioned having seen a spe-
cimen of this bird, said to have been shot at Summerhill, county of Sligo,
by Mr. Palmer. A communication laid before the Society at a subse-
quent meeting details its capture, as also the occurrence of a second spe-
cimen, at the same place :—

“ Moyview, May 24, 1862.

“Dear Krnanan,—I write to say that the Snowy Owl shot by Mr.
Palmer was obtained by him at Summerhill, 26th January, 1856. He
got it stuffed by old Glennon, of Suffolk-street. Mr. Palmer also told
me that his son met, and attempted to shoot, another in the demesne there
sometime in November, 1860.

‘1 remain, yours sincerely,
“‘Ropert WaRrREN, Jun.” |

* “Natural History Review,” vol. i., p. 22. t+ “ Proceedings,”’ vol. iii., p. 69.
y ? Pp ee) Pp

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 127

ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE GOLDEN ORIOLE, AND OTHER RARE BIRDS. BY
R. P. WILLIAMS, M. R.I. A.

[Read June 6, 1862.]

On behalf of 8. Hawtrey Jones, Esq., J. P., Mullinabro, Waterford, I
have to present a very fine female specimen of that rare bird, the Golden
Oriole. Having heard of its occurrence, I applied to my friend, Mr.
H. D’Olier Grant, of Waterford, who spoke to Mr. Jones, and that
gentleman immediately sent an order to hand it to me for the Society.

As to its capture, Mr. Jonés writes :—
“ May 16, 1862.

‘“‘T am glad to find that you have got the Golden Oriole safe. It was
shot near this on Saturday, the 3d inst. It was by itself. One of my
little boys told his elder brother, when he saw it, that he saw some days
previous one of the same description, but brighter in colour ; but I think
it was the same bird. Mr. Fleming shot near this, about two months
back, a hoopoe. He has it now stuffed.”

At the same time the bird here alluded to was obtained, another
female was preserved by Mrs. Glennon. I learned it was shot over Bray,
county of Wicklow. On examining the contents of the stomach, it was
found to be full of small beetles and vegetable matter. I am surprised
those beautiful birds are not more in request for aviaries. I recollect, in
1837, the young birds were to be bought at the Quai du Pontneuf, Paris,
for about a franc each, as well as hoopoes, hawfinches, woodpeckers, &c.
I brought home several of each, and presented them to the late Mr. J.

_ Egan, who had an aviary in Dorset-street.

Ihave next to present, from Mr. Warren, jun., of Moyview, Ballina,
to whom the Society is so much indebted, an Eared Grebe, which is either
a female or a young bird.

Mr. Warren writes as follows:—‘I send you for the Natural His-
tory Society the skin of a young Hared Grebe (P. auritus). Asitis in the
first year’s plumage, it will offer a strange contrast to the brilliant co-
lour of the fine specimen you already have. I shotit, February, 1852, in
the Moy channel, near Killala. There was a second bird in company, and
apparently inthe same plumage. You will see in the list of birds which
I sent the Society the dates when I saw one or two other specimens,
which I have not the slightest doubt were of this species. I have strong
doubts of the extreme rarity of many birds supposed to be so, and I am
inclined to set it down to the want of observation of sportsmen, or their

‘indifference to any other than birds of game. Thus, in talking of this very

species before us, I find it recorded in ‘The Field,’ of the 17th of May,
that, among notices of ‘ rare birds on their migration, shot at Horsay-on-
the-Mere, about eight miles from Yarmouth, were two pairs of the Kared
Grebe, in full plumage, very fine specimens, and very rare birds indeed.’ ”
The presentation of these birds completes our collection of Grebes and the

| Oriole, as the Society previously possessed a fine male Oriole, also shot in

128 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY,

the county of Waterford. Mrs. Baker, taxidermist to the Society, pre-
sents specimens of the oldand young Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa), given
to her by a Mr. Hamilton, who has gone abroad. She cannot positively
say it had been shot on the Irish coasts, but is under the impression that
it was. Morris mentions two having been procured in Ireland, at Wex-
ford; and one in October, 1852, was shot at Tutbury, near Burton-on-
Trent, and was secured for the collection of H. W. Des Veaux, Esq., of
Drakelow Hall. Yarrell does not give the bird as British.”

[ Addendum to the above.—In a communication, dated March, 1862,
Mr. F. J. Foot notices the Golden Oriole as follows :—‘‘ This bird has
several times occurred. ‘Two specimens were shot some years since at
Roxton, near Corrofin, and, some fifteen years ago, a small flock of them
were seen on some crags near Ennis.’’ |

ON THE FORM OF THE CELLS MADE BY VARIOUS WASPS, AND BY THE HONEY
BEE; WITH AN APPENDIX ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES. BY THE REY.
SAMUEL HAUGHTON, F. T. C. D.

[Read November 21, 1862.]

THE geometrical form affected by the cells of various kinds of wasps and
bees has attracted the attention, and called forth the speculations, of
naturalists and geometers from the earliest periods. By one class of
writers the geometrical properties of these cells have been used as
proofs, not so much of the skill and instinct of the insects as of the wis-
dom and intelligence of their Creator; while, by the opposite class of
writers, these same geometrical properties of the cells are alleged as a
sufficient cause for the production of the insects that make them, from
the advantages which these forms of cells are supposed to possess over
other forms—advantages said to be so important as to decide the battle
of life in favour of the insects that adopt the geometrical plan of making
their cells.

I have for a long time felt convinced that both parties in this con-
troversy are in error, as men generally are when they attempt to specu-
late on the reasons for the existence of things; and that the properties
of the cells are only the necessary consequence of their geometrical form,
which form itself is the necessary consequence of mechanical conditions,
totally unconnected with design, and incapable of rendering an account
of the origin of the insects that make the cells.

The geometrical cells of the wasps and bees that I have had an op-
portunity of examining may be divided into three classes.

Ist. Hexagonal cells, formed of adjoining pyramidal figures, with
slightly curved axes, not terminating in a point, but in a rounded ex-
tremity.

The British tree-wasp forms its pupa cells in this manner, and, in consequence of the

pyramidal form of the hexagonal cells, the comb opens out on the lower side, so as to
present a larger surface than on the upper side.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 129

2nd. Hexagonal cells, formed of adjoining prismatic figures, with
rectilinear axes, terminated by a truncated plane, at right angles to the
axes of the prisms.

These cells are found in wasps’ nests from St. Lucia, in the West Indies, and at Gra-
ham’s Town, in South Africa, which were placed at my disposal for this investigation by
Mr. Robert J. Montgomery.

3rd. Hexagonal cells, formed of adjoining prismatic figures, with
rectilinear axes, terminated by three faces of a rhombic dodecahedron,
which three faces also form, each, one-third of the termination of a similar
set of adjoining hexagonal prismatic cells, placed end to end behind the
first set of prisms.

This double comb is produced by the well-known form of the cells of the honey-bee,

All these varieties of cells may be accounted for, simply by the
mechanieal pressure of the insects against each other during the forma-
tion of the cell. In consequence of the instinct that compels them to
work with reference to a plane, and of the cylindrical form of the
insects’ bodies, the cells must be hexagons; and in consequence of the
instinct that induces the bees to form double combs, the mutual pres-
sure of their heads against each other compels the bottom of the cell
to assume the form of the rhombic dodecahedron. If we could imagine
spherical insects endowed with the instinct of working from a point
and not a plane, their cells would cease to affect the forms of the hexa-
gon and rhombic dodecahedron, and would imitate the totally different
form of the pentagonal dodecahedron—instances of which may be seen
in the bubbles produced in the froth of an organic solution, and in the
shapes of the elementary cells of vegetables, equally restricted in their
growth in every direction—and also in the pentagonal faces assumed
by leaden bullets made to fill completely. the inside of a hollow shell,
and then discharged against a bank of earth or a wall, from a mortar.

On this subject, I cannot do better than quote the words of Buffon,
who was the first person that put forward a rational theory of the shape
of the cells of bees. The passage which I quote may be found in his
Mistoire Naturelle, tom. iv. p. 99 :—

‘‘ Dirai-je encore un mot; ces cellules des abeilles, ces hexagons,
tant vantés, tant admirés, me fournissent une preuve de plus contre
Venthousiasme et l’admiration : cette figure, toute géométrique et toute
réguliére qu’elle nous paroit, et qu’elle est en effet dans la speculation,
nest ici qu'un résultat méchanique et assez imparfait qui se trouve
souvent dans la Nature, et que l’on remarque méme dans ses produc-
tions les plus brutes; les cristaux et plusieurs autres pierres, quelques
sels, &c., prennent constamment cette figure dans leur formation. Qu’on
observe les petites écailles de la peau d’une roussette, on verra qu’elles
sont hexagones, parce que chaque écaille croissant en méme temps se
fait obstacle, et tend a occuper le plus d’espace qu'il est possible dans
un espace donné : on voit ces mémes hexagones dans le second estomac
des animaux ruminans, on les trouve dans les graines, dans leurs

130 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

capsules, dans certaines fleurs, &c. Q’on remplisse un vaisseau de
pois, on plutot de quelque autre graine cylindrique, et qu’on le ferme
exactement aprés y avoir versé autant d’eau que les intervalles qui
restent entre ces graines peuvent en recevoir ; qu’on fasse bouillir cette
eau, tous ces cylindres deviendront de colomnes a six pans. On en
voit clairement la raison, qui est purement méchanique; chaque graine,
dont la figure est cylindrique, tend par son renflement a occuper le plus
d’espace possible dans en espace donné, elles deviennent done toutes
necessairement hexagones par la compression reciproque. Chaque
abeille cherche a occuper de méme le plus d’espace possible dans un
espace donné, il est done nécessaire aussi puisque le corps des abeilles
est cylindrique, que leurs cellules soient hexagones,—par la méme
raison des obstacles reciproques. On donne plus d’esprit aux mouches
dont les ouvrages sont les plus reguliers, les abeilles sont, dit’on, plus
ingenieuses que la giepes, que la frélons, &c. qui savent aussi l’architec-
ture, mais dont les constructions sont plus grossiéres et plus irrégu-
liéres que celles des abeilles: on ne veut pas voir, ou l’on ne se doute
pas que cette régularite, plus ou moins grande, dépend uniquement du
nombre et de la figure, et nullement de Vintelligence de ces petites
bétes; plus elles sont nombreuses, plus il y a des forces qu’agissent
egalement et qui s’ oppose de méme, plus il y a par consequent de con-
strainte méchanique, de regularité forcée, et de perfection apparente
dans leurs productions.” —-Buffon.

The opinions of the older writers, especially of mathematicians, on
this subject, differ widely from those advanced by Buffon.

I shall here translate some of the most important of the passages
bearing on this point.

The famous Pappus, of Alexandria, in the Introduction to the
Fifth Book of his Mathematical Collections, says :—

‘‘ God has imparted to men, indeed, the best and most perfect
knowledge of wisdom and discipline; and has assigned to some ani-
mals, devoid of reason, a certain portion. To men, therefore, as mak-
ing use of reason, he has permitted that they should do all things by
reason and demonstration, but to other animals without reason, he has
given the possession of what is useful and conducive to life, by a cer-
tain natural providence.

“Any one may understand this to be so, as well in many other
kinds of animals, and more especially in bees. For order, and a certain
admirable deference to those who rule in their republic, ambition,
moreover, and cleanliness, heap together an abundance of honey; but
their foresight and economy concerning its conservation are much more
admirable—for holding it for certain, as is just, that they carry back
some portion of ambrosia from the gods to choice men, they pour out
this, not rashly on the ground, or into wood, or any other unformed
and misshapen matter; but collecting from the sweetest flowers that
grow in the earth, they form from them most excellent vases as a re-
ceptacle for the honey, (which the Greeks call xypca, and the Latins
fat), all indeed, equal, similar, and cohering among themselves, of the

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 131

hexagon species. Now it is thus evident that they construct these by
a certain geometrical foresight; for they consider it fit that all the
figures should cohere together and have common sides, lest anything,
falling into the intervening spaces, should spoil and corrupt their work.

‘Hence, three rectilinear and ordinate figures can effect what is
proposed—I mean ordinate figures which are equilateral and equiangu-
lar, for ordinate and dissimilar figures did not please the bees them-
selves. Now, equilateral triangles, and squares, and hexagons (ne-
glecting other dissimilar figures filling space), may be placed next each
other, so as to have common sides—other ordinate figures cannot; for
the space about the same point is filled, either by six equilateral tri-
angles, or by four squares, or by three hexagons—but three pentagons
are less than sufficient, and four are more than sufficient to fill the
space round a point—neither can three heptagons be established, so as
to fill the space round a point.*

“The same reasoning will apply much more to figures having a
greater number of sides. There being, then, three figures, which, of
themselves, can fill up the space round a point, viz., the triangle, the
square, and the hexagon; the bees have wisely selected for their struc-
ture, that which contains most angles, suspecting, indeed, that it could
hold more honey than either of the others.

“The bees, forsooth, know only what is useful to themselves, viz.,
that the hexagon is greater than the square or triangle, and can hold
more honey, an equal quantity of material being employed in the con-
struction of each; but we, who profess to have more wisdom than the
bees, will investigate something even more remarkable, viz., that of plane
figures which are equilateral and equiangular and have equal peri-
meters, that is always the greatest which consists of most angles, and
the circle is the greatest of all, provided it be included in a perimeter
equal to theirs.””— Pappus.

In 1712, Maraldi published in the Memoires de ? Academie des Sei-
ences, Paris, 1712, page 299, a remarkable paper, in which is investi-
gated, for the first time, the terminal planes of the bees’ cell, which
are now well known to be formed of the faces of the rhombic dodecahe-
dron. He appears to have believed, that the object of having lozenges
of the same form, as terminating planes, was to enable the bees to
carry in their mind the idea of one geometrical form only, in addition
to their original idea of the hexagon. The angles of the lozenge are
found by him to be 110° and 70°, by observation; and 109° 28/ and
70° 32’, by calculation. He gives, also, the following mean measure-
ments of the cells :—In a foot long of comb, there are from 60 to 66 cells,
about two lines for each cell, and the depth of the cell is five lines.

Reaumur appears to have been the first who introduced the fantastic
idea of economy of wax, as the motive cause of the peculiar shape of the
terminating planes, and, not being a geometer, he obtained the assistance

* The proofs of these assertions are omitted in this translation.

132 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

of Konig, to calculate the angle of the lozenge which should give the
least surface with a given volume. Konig determined this angle at
109° 26’, agreeing with Maraldi within two minutes.

Mac Laurin published in the ‘“ Philosophical Transactions,”’ 1748,
p- 565, an elaborate geometrical paper on the subject, in which he
proves that the tangent of the angle in question is the square root of 2,
and that it is therefore equal to 109° 28’ 16"; and he computes the
saving of wax as ‘‘almost one fourth part of the pains and expense of
wax they bestow, above what was necessary for completing the paral-
lelogram side of the cells.”

Lluilier, in 1781, published in the ‘ Berlin Memoirs,” p. 277, an
elaborate discussion of the entire problem, in which he arrived at the
following results, already found by Mac Laurin’s geometrical method :—

a. That the economy of wax is less than one-fifth of what would
make a flat base.

b. That the economy of wax, referred to the total expenditure, is
3th, so that the bees can make fifty-one cells, instead of fifty, by the
adoption of the rhombic dodecahedron.

He does not share, however, in the enthusiasm of the naturalists,
but maintains, and proves, that mathematicians could make cells, of the
same form as those of the bees, which, instead of using only a minimum
of wax, would use the minimum minimorum, so that five cells could be
made of less wax than that which now makes only four, instead of
fifty-one out of fifty.

Notwithstanding this conclusive decision in favour of the mathe-
maticians, the advocates of final cause, and those who maintain that
economy of wax can create a new species, have both persisted in using
the bees’ cell in illustration of their respective theories, with a pertina-
city that proves the persistent vitality of an exploded theory. In
illustration of this remarkable tendency of false theories to reproduce .
themselves, I shall here add, as an appendix to my account of the form
of the wasps’ and bees’ cells, some remarks on the Origin of Species, the
substance of which originally appeared in the ‘“ Natural History Re-
view” of 1860.

APPENDIX ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES.

The active and restless mind of man has never been content with
the knowledge of the present, but has always sought to know the
future and the past. The guesses of the ancients as to the future .of
man are amongst the most interesting, and, at the same time, the most
puerile of their philosophical speculations. The reader of the Tusculan
Disputations rises from his task, charmed by the style of the writer,
but thankful that a certain revelation of the future renders him immea-
surably superior in knowledge to the weavers of these pleasant webs of
fiction, and though he admires the skill of the ingenious sophists who
live again and dispute in the pages of Cicero, he would not for an
instant exchange his own position for theirs.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 1338

The moderns have resolved, by their speculations on the past, to
show that in ingenuity and oddness of conceit, and, probably, also in
wideness from the truth, they are in no respect inferior to the ancients.
The future being shut out from us, we are resolved to try what we can
effect, in proof of our versatility of imagination, by guessing at the his-

tory of the past.

To establish a character for subtlety and skill, in drawing large
conclusions on this subject from slender premises, the first requisite is,
ignorance of what other speculators have attempted before us in the
same field; and the second is, a firm confidence in our own special
theory. Neither of these requisites can be considered wanting in those
who are engaged in the task of reproducing Lamarck’s theory of orga-
nic life, either as altogether new, or with but a tattered and threadbare
cloak, thrown over its original nakedness.

The sciences of geology and political economy are mainly answer-
able for the revival of these exploded and forgotten fancies :—geology,
in supplying the lost history of organic life, which could never be stu-
died profoundly from the creatures living at any given time; and poli-
tical economy, in furnishing, from its mean and sordid motives, a
Malthusian force, supposed to be sufficient to supply the wants of pre-
vious theories.

One of the earliest speculators on the origin of the diversified forms
of life we see around us, and class as varieties, species, and genera, was
Buffon, who published in 1766* his theory of the derivation of all
mammal forms by degradation, from fifteen primary and perfect types,
and nine special or isolated species.

This theory of Bdoyéveo.s by degradation, although now superseded
by the theory of progression, has much to be said in its favour, and
derives additional importance from the facts of the history of life made
known since Buffon’s time, by the science of geology ; the principal of
these ,additional facts are, the degradation of fishes from their first in-
troduction in the Old Red Sandstone period to the present day ; the cor-
responding degradation of the Cephalopods, and, though in a somewhat
less degree, of the Reptiles.

Some of the classes given by Buffon are as old as the time of Moses,

_ who defines with accuracy the class Ruminantia, distinguishing it from

the Pachydermata and Rodentia, in his classification of ‘‘ clean” and
‘«unclean’’ beasts.

Whatever may be thought by the more enlightened moderns of the
merits of this classification of mammals, Buffon certainly agrees with
them in one respect: he takes the non-reality of species as the starting-
point of his theory, and, by a continued degradation downwards, deve-
lops all the varieties of life we see on the surface of the globe.

To those who love to dwell upon the past, this theory of degradation
will afford solace and consolation in the troubles of the present, as they

* “ Histoire Naturelle,” tom. xiv. + Leviticus, xi. 2-8.
pt

134 DUPLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

can reflect upon how good and excellent their ancestors were, and con-
gratulate each other upon their superiority to those that will come after
them. Every system of philosophy provides its followers with a ‘‘ sola-
tium doloris;’” the degradationists find it in the contemplation of the
past, and the progressionists in the prospect of the future ; to those who
are contented with the present, and deny our knowledge of the past or
future, both theories appear as the idle dreams of childhood, the awaken-
ing from which will disclose a reality totally different from the troubled
fancies of the night.

Lamarck is the father of the progressionists, and of the many who
quote his name as an authority in support of their systems, or express
their disapproval of his doctrine, few have taken the trouble to under-
stand his theory or trace it to its origin. It is apparently founded on
the confusion of species, like that of Buffon; but there is in reality an
arriere pensee, like an unseen presence, which corrupts his reasoning, and
discloses the motive force of his entire system. This hidden spring of
action and theorizing is a profound, and, as many think, a well-founded
contempt for humanity, which pervades his writings as thoroughly as
it does the ‘‘ Voyage to the Houyhnhms.’’ Lamarck was too quick-
witted and acute an observer, however deficient he may have been as a
reasoner, to have believed his own theory, the real mainspring of which
is the desire to degrade man into an intelligent baboon, or yahoo ; what
difference is there inaname! In his desire to do so, he overlooks every
fact at variance with his foregone conclusion, and writes of mankind
with a virulence which, though devoid of the wit of Swift, springs from
the same profound and unalterable conviction of the worthlessness of
the creature he describes :—

‘Si Newton, Bacon, Montesquieu, Voltaire, et tant d’autres hommes
ont honoré lespéce humaine par l’étendue de leur intelligence et de
leur génie; combien ne la rapprochent pas de l’animal cette quantité
d’hommes bruts, ignorans, en proie aux préjugés les plus absurdes, et
constamment asservis par leurs habitudes, qui cependant composent la
masse principale chez toutes les nations ?” +

Lamarck’s contempt for his species is again shown in the strange
list of resemblances he selects for his comparison between man and the
chimpanzee, a comparison fully as degrading as Swift’s mock imitation
of a naturalist’s description of a yahoo.

Lamarck’s theory consists in the assertion of the following laws,
six in number, which he dignifies with the title of Laws of Nature :—

I. Law of Specialization of Function, by which a function at first

general, or belonging to the whole body, is determined to a particular
organ.

* “ Recherches sur l’ Organization des Corps Vivans,” p. 127. Paris, 27 Floreal.
An, X

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 135

Il. Law of Nutrition producing Death, by the forced inequality be-
tween the materials fixed by assimilation, and removed by excretion.
This law is intended to account for death, which is a puzzle to the
naturalists.

Ill. Law of Movement of Complex Fluids in Canals.—This law I
profess my inability to understand: in the statement of it, Lamarck,
who, like most naturalists, is unacquainted with physics, and untrained
in the severe discipline of mathematical reasoning, attributes properties
to fluids in motion, which must be considered by lookers-on as little

‘short of miraculous.

IV. Law of Change of Composition of Fluids in Circulation.—This
law is as obscure, and as miraculous in its results, as the preceding.
Natural religion, however, would appear to consider herself entitled to
her miracles as well as revealed religion.

V. Organic Forms acquired under the presiding influence of external
circumstances are transmitted by Generation. —This law involves the
famous Law of Natural Selection, attributed within the last few months
to Mr. Darwin.

VI. By the concurrence of the preceding Laws, of a long lapse of time,
and an almost inconcewable diversity of surrounding circumstances, all
Species have been formed in succession.—Lamarck’s theory is essentially
one of Progression, and is totally opposed to that of Buffon, which is
one of Degradation; yet it is remarkable that they both rest upon the
same foundation—the assumed non-reality of species. Like his suc-
cessors in the Progression Theory, Lamarck spent his life in the esta-
blishment of the reality of species, and it is a humiliating reflection that,
at the close of it, he believed himself to have lived under a delusion.
Let us hear his confession :—

“‘ J’ai long temps pensé qu’il y avait des Hspeces constantes dans la
nature, et qu’elles étoient constituées par les individus qui appartien-
nient a chacune d’elles. Maintenant je suis convaincu que j’etois dans
Verreur a cet égard, et qu’il n’y a réellement dans la nature que des
individus.”’

What must we think of the principles that guide the speculations
of naturalists, when we find minds like those of Buffon and Lamarck
drawing opposite conclusions from the same premises? It matters little
in this question whether the premises be true or false, whether species
be truly distinct or not; our surprise at the logic of the naturalists is
natural, and must border on a courteous contempt.

The English revival of Lamarckianism, or ‘‘ Progress in Organic
Life,” by Mr. Darwin, involves no idea in advance of those contained in
Lamarck’s six laws, but gives a greater prominence to the Law of Con-
tinuation of Peculiarities by Generation, by the assertion that such
peculiarities, and such only, as are useful to the creature, in its struggle
for existence, will become hereditary ; the reason being, that animals
provided with such peculiarity will have the advantage in the battle of

life over their fellows in the competition for food, females, and other

136 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

necessaries for the preservation of the individual and species. This
notable argument is borrowed from Malthus’ doctrine of population,
and will, no doubt, find acceptance with those political economists and
pseudo-philosophers who reduce all the laws of action and human
thought habitually to the lowest and most sordid motives. It is digni-
fied with the title of a Law of Nature, called the Zaw of Natural Selec-
tion, and forms the only bond fide addition made by Darwin to Lamarck’s
famous Theory of Progression ; in which, however, it is implicitly in-
volved.

I make no account of Mr. Darwin’s geological additions to Lamarck,
for two reasons. In the first place, the laws of geographical distribu-
tion explained by geological change are not ad rem, and were previously
fully treated of by Buffon and Forbes; and in the second place, Mr.
Darwin admits that the facts of geology are opposed to his (Lamarck’s)
theory, and they are pleasantly alluded to as the geological difficulty!
So far as the history of life on the globe indicates a progression, La-
marck is entitled to the benefit of it, as in the case of mammals and
plants ; but certainly not to the exclusion of the facts in favour of de-
gradation, —such as the case of Fishes, Reptiles, and Cephalopods,
which must be credited to the account of Buffon and his followers.

Lamarck says distinctly :—‘‘Ce ne sont pas les organes, c’est a dire,
la nature et la forme des parties du corps d’un animal, qui ont donné
lieu a ses habitudes et a ses facultés particuliéres; mais ce sont au con-
traire ses habitudes, sa maniére de vivre, et les circonstances dans les-
quelles se sont rencontrés les individus dont il provient, qui ont avee le
temps constitué la forme de son corps, le nombre et l'état de ses organes,
enfin les facultés dont il jouit.”

This statement implies all that is essential in Mr. Darwin’s Law of
Natural Selection, which, by its prominence, fills in his system the place
occupied by the Law of Imitation in the original theory of Lamarck.
This difference arises from the difference of the points of view of the
Frenchman and the Englishman,—a difference characteristic of the two
races. The Frenchman, with the vivacity and perception of the ridicu-
lous belonging to his nation, seizes upon the quality most likely to ele-
vate a monkey into a man, selects the faculty of imitation, and, with a
bitter satire, endows his monkey with the human desire to better his
condition, and lift himself above his brother chatterers. He thus mag-
nifies the monkey power of imitation,—which is truly wonderful, and
extends to the most extraordinary actions,—into the position of a law
of nature, sufficient to create man! The Englishman, on the other
hand, firmly believes his theory, and, with a confident faith in the
power of food and comfort, equally characteristic of his country, elevates
the desire to supply the stomach into a law of sufficient force to convert
an eel into an elephant, or an oyster into an orang-outan.

Other theorists, whose name is legion, have printed their crude
fancies, and have met with numerous readers among the young and in-
experienced,—the sciolists of science. It is not to be supposed that a
public which accepted mesmerism and table-turning could judge with

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 137

accuracy of the pretensions of loose and ill-reasoned speculations on the
origin of life. It has rained, hailed, and poured theories of life,—reli-
gious, philosophical, and pseudo-scientific,—with a marvellous rapidity,
within the last few years. Some theorists have started from the nebu-
lar hypothesis of Laplace; others have speculated on the results of
superfcetation ; and others on the brilliant and seductive theory of the
correlation of physical forces ; but they may all be classed as, knowingly
or not, the followers of Lamarck. Some have taught that all the planets,
being composed of the same mineral constituents as the earth, must
produce in succession the same organic phenomena, and weary the
reader with the idea of the same pterodacty les and cetacea, the same
monads and men, appearing on all the globes that circle round the sun!
Others have called to mind the loss of heat of our planet, and, by the
correlation of forces, have reproduced it in the increasing intelligence of
_ the successive forms of life that have peopled our globe!! In a word,

there is no folly that human fancy can devise, when truth has ceased to
be of primary importance, and right reason and sound logic have been
discarded, that has not been produced, and preached as a new revela-
tion. Neither have the disciples of Lamarck wanted the martyr spirit,
i.e. the disposition to make martyrs of others, which is generally
supposed to be essential to the apostles of a new faith. They have
courted persecution, and reviled their opponents with bitter words, and
with such weapons as are permitted by the free civilization under which
we live. They argue, with a logic worthy of their system, that because
truth has been often in a minority, therefore minorities and theories in
a minority must necessarily be true.

It is curious to observe the natural instinct by which Lamarck and
his followers appeal from the judgment of their peers to the young, the
enthusiastic, and the inexperienced. I shall quote but two instances
of this necessary instinct of self-preservation :—

‘Que de réflexions ces considerations pourrout faire naitre dans
Pesprit du petit nombre de ceux qui en sont susceptibles et qui sont
lents a prononcer ! les autres auront bientdt fait 4 cet égard : ils tran-
cheront sans examen, et décideront d’aprés ce qui leur conviendra le
mieux, ou selon, la portée de leurs conceptions.” —Lamarck, p. 128.

“*T by no means expect to convince experienced naturalists, whose
minds are stocked with a multitude of facts, all viewed, during a long
course of years, from a point of view directly opposite to mine

but I look with confidence to the future, to young and ris-
ing naturalists, who will be able to view both sides of the question with
impartiality.””-—Darwin’ s Origin of Species, pp. 481-82.

The theories of Bdoyeveocs, already described, and many others, are
based upon the following three unwarrantable assumptions, the denial
of which, until proved, brings to the ground the entire structure, like a
child’s house of cards—

I. The indefinite variation of species continuously in the one direc-
tion,

138 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

II. That the causes of variation assigned, viz., cross-breeding (Buf-
fon); imitation (Lamarck); and natural advantage in the struggle for
existence (Darwin), are sufficient to account for the effects asserted to be
produced.

III. That succession implies causation.
On each of these a few words of explanation are necessary.

I. Zhe indefinite variation of species continuously in the one direction.

This has been expressed by some Lamarckians as a state of unstable
equilibrium of nature; but, should we assume the existence of a law,
which is contrary to all we know of every other department of nature ?
If we must have a mechanical analogy to fix our ideas, nature might be
better compared to a condition of dynamie equilibrium, in which all the
parts are in motion, and never return to precisely the same relative
positions, but, nevertheless, continually balance round certain definite
positions of equilibrium, which never change. What should we think
of the astronomer, who, from a few years’ observation of the precession
of the equinoxes, should predict that in due time the north pole of the
earth’s axis would point to the same position among the stars that the
south pole now occupies? Yet this very species of assumption is made
by Lamarck and Darwin, in their appeal to the supposed influence of a
long lapse of time. Yet, in the writings of the latter progressionist
there is this singular inconsistency, that while he shows the utmost
effects of human breeding on domestic animals to be capable of produc-
tion in ten or twenty years, he denies the right of his adversaries to
appeal to the unaltered condition of the ass, the ostrich, or the cat, for
3000 years, as a proof that specific forms balance round central types,
and have no tendency to depart indefinitely from them.

Is it rational to suppose that man can alter the head and neck of a
pigeon into any desired form in six years, and that nature, with her
greater skill, cannot in 3000 years lengthen the ostrich’s wings by a
single inch, although, according to the theory, it is her evident wish to
do so?

II. The causes of Variation assigned are not adequate to produce the
effects assigned to them.—The discussion of the inadequacy of the causes
assigned would lead to a treatise longer than that of Buffon, Lamarck,
or Darwin —and I must therefore content myself with an example.
The humble bee and the hive bee coexist together, and the latter is
supposed to be developed from the former by the law of natural selec-
tion, breeding, in succession, bees possessed of the talent of economizing
more and more of wax in the construction of their cells.

1. The humble bee constructs single cells, and uses 100 units of

wax.

2. A bee (not known to science, but, doubtless, extinct) was grown,
that made cells in the form of equilateral triangles placed in double
combs, with flat bottoms to the cells. This bee used only 50 units of

wax.

DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 139

3. A bee (also extinct) was grown, that built square cells in double
combs. This bee used only 412 units of wax.

4, A bee (also extinct) was ‘grown, forming hexagonal cells with flat
bottoms, in double combs. This bee used 33i units of wax.

5. The hive bee (now living side by side with his humble progeni-
tor) was produced by natural ‘selection, dependent on the economy of
wax, arising from the contrivance of substituting for the flat bottoms of
the hexagonal cells the trihedral angles and planes of the rhombic do-
decahedron.

This bee (ow bee) uses 322 units of wax.

6. The Bee of the Future (not yet produced), which shall have learned
how to construct the cell described by the mathematician Lluiller.

This bee will be broader and shorter than the present, the breadth
and length admitting of prediction to any degree of approximation.

This Bee of the Future will only require 244 units of wax !!—Vivat
Geometria !

Of these six species of bee (the first and the fifth are living), No. 5
using only 322 lbs. of wax in the construction of its cells for every 100
Ibs. used by No. 1. According to the Malthusian law, No. 5 has exter-
minated No. 4, by virtue of the trifling advantage of $rds of a pound
of wax in every 100 lbs.; and this slight advantage is gravely alleged
as the efficient cause of converting one species of bee into another! This

_ would be all very well, if No. 1, the spendthrift humble bee, were not

still living, and holding his ground well against his enemies, to bear
witness against this silly theory.

In fact, the whole question of the economy of wax, and other such
questions, require a thorough sifting. To my mind, it is evident that
economy of wax has nothing whatever to do with the making of the bee’s
cells; but that this and other properties, such as maximum resistance

_to fluid pressure, &c., necessarily reside in the bee’s cell, because they

are the inherent properties of the rhombic dodecahedron, which is the
form affected by that cell. The true cause of that shape is the crowding
together of the bees at work, jostling and elbowing each other, as was
first shown by Buffon. From this crowding together, they cannot help
making cells with the dihedral angles of 120° of the rhombic dodeca-
hedron ; and the economy of wax has nothing to do with the origin of
the cell, but is a geometrical property of the figure named.

III. The most serious logical blunder committed by all who invent
a theory of life from the geological succession is, that Swecession implies
Causation. It is agreed that the Paleozoic cephalopoda produced, in
some way or other, the Red Sandstone fishes; that these in turn gave
birth to the Liassic reptiles ; that the non-placental mammals of the upper
Oolite grew after some fashion, and ultimately produced the Tertiary
mammals, some of which, in an unhappy hour, gave birth to man. The
only fact at the basis of this astonishing inverted cone of reasoning is
that these creatures did succeed each other in the manner described, and
from this it follows, post hoe ergo propter hoc, that they succeeded each
other in the way of cause and effect. I propose to test this strange theory

140 DUBLIN NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

by a corresponding theory of the mineralogical succession of igneous
rocks, which opens up a fertile field of speculation, hitherto unwrought.
The igneous rocks of the Paleozoic period contain abundance of felspar,
whose principal constituent is potash ; the Mesozoic igneous rocks abound
in soda, replacing potash; and in the tertiary period, soda itself gives
way to lime and magnesia. Viewed in the light of the Lamarckian phi-
losophy, here is a distinct indication that soda and lime are only allo-
tropic conditions of potash. We may read the history of their formation
in the crust of the globe, if we will only open our eyes and see it written.
I may add, by the way, that this theory of the origin of lime is more
intelligible than that of many geologists, who would attribute the greater
accumulations of calcareous rocks in secondary and tertiary strata to the
creation of lime by organic force.

If any chemist or mineralogist were to put forward such a geological
theory of the origin of soda and lime as the foregoing, he would be re-
garded as a lunatic by other chemists and mineralogists.

How does it happen that a theory of the origin of species, which
rests on the same basis, is accepted by multitudes of naturalists, as if it
were a new gospel? I believe it is because our naturalists, as a class,
are untrained in the use of the logical faculties which they may be cha-
ritably supposed to possess in common with other men. No progress in
natural science is possible as long as men will take their rude guesses
at truth for facts, and substitute the fancies of their imagination for the
sober rules of reasoning.

It has been well observed by the greatest of living paleontologists,
‘that past experience of the chance aims of human fancy, unchecked and
unguided by observed facts, shows how widely they have ever glanced
away from the gold centre of truth !’

ENDEX IO V.OL,.ELT.

Andrews, Wm., M. R. I. A., on the Syng-
nathide, 43,

Ankistrodesmus (Corda), W. Archer on a
new(?) species of; with remarks on
Closterium Griffithii (Berk.), and C. sub-
tile (Bréb.), 85.

Annual meeting, 1859-60, 1.

Archer, Wm., on the occurrence of Zoo-
spores in the Desmidiacezx, 21.

on abnormal growth in the Desmidi-

acer, 37.

description of a new species of Cos-

marium (Corda), and of Xanthidium

(Ehr.), 49. .

description of a new species of Mi-

crasterias (Ag.), with remarks on the

distinctions between M. rotata (Ralfs),

and M. denticulata (Bréb.), 69.

description of a new species of Cosma-

rium (Corda); of Staurastrum (Meyen) ;
of two new species of Closterium

(Nitzsch); and of Spirotznia (Bréb.),

78.

onanew(?) species of Ankistrodesmus
(Corda), with remarks in connexion
therewith as regards Closterium Griffithii
(Berk.), and C. subtile (Bréb.), 85.

Astrzacea of the coast of Clare, F.J. Foot’s
notes on, 63.

Bat, Hairy-armed, Professor Kinahan on,

42.
Bats of Clare, Professor J. R. Kinahan,
three days among the, 94.
Birds in the county of Mayo, R. Warren,
Jun., on the occurrence of rare, 2.
Professor Kinahan on the migration
of, 14.

Birds of Rathlin Island, R. C. Gage's list
of, 91. .

of Prey, Perchers, and Waders fre-

quenting some districts of Mayo and

Sligo, R. Warren, Jun., on the, 113.

Swimming (Natatores), R. Warren’s,

Jun., list of, 119.

R. P. Williams, M.R. I. A., on the
occurrence of Golden Oriole and other
rare, 127.

Black Redstart near Dublin, Professor Ki-
nahan on, 11.

Buffon’s Skua, Lieut. J. R. Crane on the
migration of, 118.

Closterium (Nitzsch), Wm. Archer’s de-
scription of a new species of, 80, 81.
Griffithii (Berk.), and C. subtile

(Bréb.), W. Archer on, 85.

Cormorauts in the neighbourhood of Cas-
tleconnell, George H. Kinahan, G.S. I.,
notes on the, 46.

Corrigan, Dominic J., M. D., on some
structural peculiarities of the mouth of
the Pipe Fishes (Syngnathide), 4.

Cosmarium (Corda), W. Archer’s descrip-
tion of a new species of, 49, 78.

Crab and Lobster Fisheries, Prof. Kinahan
on, 107.

Crane, Lieut. J. R., 67th Regt., on the mi-
gration of Buffon’s Skua, and record of
occurrence of rare Birds in Ireland, 118.

Desmidiacee, Wm. Archer on the occur-
rence of Zoospores in, 21.

further notes on abnormal growth

in, 37.

new species of, 49, 69, 78.

ul INDEX.

Diatomacee, Rev. Eugene O’Meara’s notes
on the Reproduction of, 20.

Election of members, 2, 10, 21, 41, 47.

Fauna of Clare, Professor J. R. Kinahan on
marine, 99.

Ferns, Professor J. R. Kinahan on some
additional localities for Irish, 9.

Professor R. W. Smith, M.D., on ad-

ditional localities for Irish, 10.

of West Clare, F. J. Foot’s list of, 6,

49.
of Killaloe, G. H. Kinahan’s list of,
47.

occurring in the district comprised in
that part of Sheet 125 on the Ordnance
inch maps of Ireland that lies to the
west of Lough Derg, and the south-east
of Sheet 124, G. H. Kinahan, G. S. I.,
list of, 90. ,

Fisheries, Crab and Lobster, Professor
J. R. Kinahan, on, 107.

Foot, F. J.. M. A., G. 8. I., on the Ferns
of West Clare, 6, 49.

Notes on the Astraacea of the coast

of Clare, 63.

Marine Animals on the shore at

Spanish Point, Miltown-Malbay, county

of Clare, 38.

Natural History Notes on the Mam-

malia of the west coast of Clare, 104.

Gage, R. Connolly, list of Birds found in
Rathlin Island, 91.

Golden Oriole, and other rare Birds, R. P.
Wiliams on, 127.

Hairy-armed Bat (Scotophilus Leisleri),
Professor Kinahan on, 42.

Haughton, Rev. S., F. R.S., on the Form
of the Cells of Wasps and Bees, 128.

on the Origin of Species, 132.

Helix aspersa and H. hortensis, H. Law-
son, M.D., on the Generative System of,
53.

Inquiries into the causes of the present
decay of the Crab and Lobster Fisheries,
Professor J. R. Kinahan, 107.

Kinahan, G. H., G.S. 1, on Cormorants
in the neighbourhood of Castleconnell,
46.

on the occurrence of Trichomanes ra-

dicans in county of Limerick, with a list

of the Ferns of Killaloe, 47.

on a new locality for Polypodium

phegopteris, with list of Ferns, 90.

Kinahan, Professor J. R., M. D., F. L.S.,
on some additional localities for Irish
Ferns, 9.

on the occurrence near Dublin of the

Black Redstart (Ph. tithys), 11.

on the migtation of Birds, andits bear-

ings on the winter occurrence in the Bri-

tish Isles of European summer migrants,

14.

addendum to Mammalogia Hibernica

(Cheiroptera), 42.

list of some rare marine animals taken
near Dublin, 45, 49.

—— three days amongst the Bats of
Clare, 94.

on the Marine Fauna of the coast of

Clare, 99.

inquiries into the causes of the pre-
sent decay of the Dublin Crab and Lob-
ster Fisheries, with suggestions as to
their amendment, 107.

Lawson, H., M. D., on the Generative Sys-
tem of Helix aspersa and H. hortensis,
53.

Lestris parasiticus, Lieutenant J. R. Crane
on the migration of, 118.

Mammalia of west coast of Clare, F. J.
Foot, natural history notes on, 104.
Mammalogia Hibernica, Professor J. R.
Kinahan, addendum to, 42.

Marine animals, F. J. Foot, notes on
some, 38, 49.

Professor J. R. Kinahan, list of some

rare, 45.

of Clare, Professor Kinahan on, 99.

Micrasterias (Ag.), W. Archer, déscription
of a new species of, 69.

rotata (Ralfs), and M. denticulata
(Bréb.), W. Archer, remarks on the dis-
tinctions of, 69.

Migration of Birds, Professor J. R. Kina-
han on the, 14.

of Buffon’s Skua, Lieut. Crane on |
the, 118.

Montgomery, R. J., on the occurrence of
Snowy Owlat Swords, near Dublin, 125.

Natural History notes on the Marine
Fauna of county of Clare, F. J. Foot,
104.

Newton, Alfred, M.A., F.L.S., &c., on
the occurrence of the Snowy Owl (Nyc-
tea nivea) in county of Mayo, 60.

Nyctea nivea in Mayo, A. Newton, M. A.,
F. L.S., on the occurrence of, 60.

at Swords, near Dublin, R. J. Mont-

gomery, on the occurrence of, 125.

INDEX. ii

Officers for 1859-60, 1.

O’Meara, Rev. Eugene, A.M., notes on
the Reproduction of the Diatomacez,
20.

Orthagoriscus oblongus in county of Mayo,
Robert Warren, Jun., on the occurrence
Of, 2;

Pheenicura tithys, near Dublin, Professor
J. R. Kinahan on the occurrence of, 11.
Pipe Fishes, Dr. Corrigan on some struc-
‘tural peculiarities of the mouth in, 4.
William Andrews on the, 43.
Platalea leucorodia in county of Cork,
R. P. Williams on the occurrence of, 60.
Polypodium phegopteris, George H. Kina-
han on a new locality for, with list, 90.

Seotophilus Leisleri, Professor J. R. Kina-
han, description of, 42.

Smith, Professor R. W:, M. D., localities
for Irish Ferns, 10.

Snowy Owl (Nyctea nivea) in county of
Mayo, A. Newton on the occurrence of,

at Swords, county of Dublin, R. J.
Montgomery on the occurrence of, 125.

Species, Rev. S. Haughton, F. R.S., on
the origin of, 132.

Spirotenia (Bréb.), W. Archer, descrip-
tion of new species of, 83, 84.

Spoonbill in county of Cork, R. P. Wil-
liams on the occurrence of, 60.

Staurastrum (Meyen), W. Archer, de-
scription of new species of, 79.

Syngnathide, Dr. Corrigan on some struc-
tural peculiarities of the mouth in, 4,

William Andrews on the, 43.

Trichomanes radicans in county of Lime-
rick, G. H. Kinahan on the occurrence
of, 47.

Warren, Robert, Jun., on the occurrence of
rare Birds, and of the oblong Sun Fish
in county of Mayo, 2.

a list of the Birds of Prey, Perchers,

and Waders observed to frequent the

districts of Mayo and Sligo which bor-

der on Killala, 113.

a list of the Swimming Birds (Nata-
tores) observed to frequent the districts
of the counties of Mayo and Sligo which
border on Killala Bay and the tidal
parts of the River Moy, 119.

Wasps and Honey Bees, Rev. Samuel
Haughton, F. R. S., on the form of the
Cells made by, 128.

Williams, Richard P., M. R. I. A., on the
occurrence of the Spoonbill, county of
Cork, 60.

on the occurrence of the Golden Oriole

and other rare Birds, 127.

Xanthidium (Ehr.), W. Archer, descrip-
tive of a new species of, 51.

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