102 The Irish Naturalist. April, 



DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 



February ii.— The Glub met at Leinster House. 



Mr. MooRK exhibited sections of the floral leaves of a very fine 

 variety of Masderallia Veitckiana, an orchid which is found growing at 

 high elevations in the Peruvian Andes. The ground colour is bright 

 orange, due to the presence of chromoplastids in the cells immediately 

 under the epidermis, and over part of the flower there is a brilliant 

 sheen, due to the presence of very minute bright crimson papillae with 

 liquid contents. The effect is very striking. 



Mr. G. H. CarpbnTER showed a mandible of the springtail Isotoma 

 z/zW^?V dissected out of the head, and the two mandibles of the bristle- 

 tail Machilis maritima in their natural positions, with the attached 

 muscles. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



February 17.— The President (F. J. Bigger) in the chair. Nevin 

 H. Foster read a paper on " Rambles among and about the Mourne 

 Mountains." He said the Mourne Mountains form the most elevated 

 land in Ulster. They are principally composed of a rough grey granite 

 which has thrust itself through the older series of the Ordovician 

 and Silurian strata. Signs of severe glaciatiou are observable in many 

 places. Perched blocks in many places attest the carrying power of ice 

 About these mountains are to be observed some birds which are not 

 usually to be seen in the cultivated lowlands. Here the Peregrine 

 annually rears its brood ; Ring Ousels and Water Ousels are seen in fair 

 numbers, and on some of the lower slopes the Whinchat and Nightjar 

 are observed. Kestrels are plentiful, and on one occasion eight were 

 seen together, hovering over the mountain side on the look-out for 

 food- It has become an axiom with gamekeepers to destroy every bird 

 bearing a resemblance to a Hawk, even Owls — birds which, like the 

 Kestrel, subsist on mice, frogs, and beetles — sharing the same fate, 

 while in the game interest they should be protected. 



The paper was illustrated by thirty- five lantern slides, most of which 

 were from photos by R. Welch. At the conclusion, remarks and 

 criticisms were made by Messrs. Cunningham, Dickson, Wei*CH, and 

 Gray. 



The President brought before the meeting the desirability of all the 

 members of the Field Club joining and becoming members of the Ulster 

 Fisheries and Biology Association. This new Society proposed to 

 follow out a programme that is quite in harmony with the work of the 

 Field Club. 



BoTANiCAi. Section.— February 13.— The Botanical Section met on 

 Friday, February 13, to continue the study of the ferns of the North- 

 east district. Under the leadership of Mr. W. Porter a very profitable 

 evening was spent. 



