194 July, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a beautiful young Zebra from Mr. Verner, three 

 white Rabbits from 'Mr. Seaman, an Arabian Baboon from Mr. J. P. 

 Mullins, twenty-one birds of various species from Mr. R. W, L. Holt, two 

 Hooded Crows from Mr. A. B. E. Hillas, a Gannet from Mr. vS. vSegrave, 

 and a pair of Doves from Misr, Eleanor vStory. The generous offer of a 

 female Giraffe from the vSirdar of the Egyptian Army, to accompany the 

 male which he is now sending from Khartoum, has been gratefully 

 accepted by the Council, A Capuchin Monke}- and six Flamingoes 

 have been purchased. Five Wolf-cubs, a Barbary wild Sheep and a 

 Raccoon have been born in the garden. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



May 23. — Excursion to Isi^andmagee. — Fifty-two members 

 assembled at the Northern Counties terminus at 9.45 to proceed via 

 Larne to Port Muck, Islandmagee. Immediately on arrival at Larne 

 Harbour the whole party crossed to Islandmagee, where cars were in 

 waiting, which were used by some of the ladies, and which also carried 

 the provisions, cameras, and collecting-bags. The greater number of 

 the members preferred to walk, and soon the botanists were at work, the 

 temptation to linger being very great. Presently the road, fringed with 

 great masses of Alexanders {Sntyrnmm Olusatrtim) in flower was left, and a 

 field path taken through farms and over the gentle hills, until suddenly 

 the destination. Port Muck, with its white shingle of rolled flints, 

 and its white houses glistening in the sun, was in sight. A narrow strait 

 divides the Island of Muck from the mainland, and the receding tide 

 was just showing the ridge of the natural causeway which at low water 

 forms a footway to the island, and which looked much easier to traverse 

 than it actually proved later on. Leaving the neat coastguard station on 

 the left, the party descended to Port Muck, and an old ruin on the edge 

 of the cliff was investigated. The party then proceeded to the beach, 

 and as it was now low water the majority were enabled to walk across 

 the boulder causeway to Muck Island — not, however, without various 

 slips and falls and consequent wet feet. Others took advantage of the 

 kindly offer of the local coastguards, who placed their boat and them- 

 selves at our service, and, wading in the shallow water, carried the 

 ladies in a more or less unconventional manner to the boat. When all 

 had reached the island the serious work of the day was begun, and the 

 party separated to thoroughly explore the island. While some collected 

 in the rock-pools and among the seaweed, others ascended to the top of 

 the island (no feet), and watched the numerous birds on the cliffs and 



