2g8 ' November, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Patas Monkey from Lieut, W. M. Corsellis, a 

 Black-backed Gull from Mr. J. A. Martin, an Oyster-catcher from Mr. 

 F. H. Walker, four Chaffinches, a Kestrel, four Redpolls and two 

 Wagtails from Messrs. Williams, a pair of Hares from Messrs. B. and D. 

 Carton, two Paradoxures from Mr. A. Accrington, two Cockateels from 

 Mr. S. A. E. Goodbody, a Black-backed Jackal and two Royal Pythons 

 from the Hon. P. B. Smyly. Two Llamas have been born in the 

 Gardens. The young Giraflfes and the baby Elephant are in excellent 

 health, and give much pleasure to visitors. 



CONCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF GT. BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 



For the first time in its history, the Couchological Society has met on 

 Irish soil. The Annual Meeting took place on September 19, in the 

 rooms of the Royal Irish Academy, kindly lent for the purpose. This is 

 a Society with a very scattered membership, and its supporters are 

 mostly busy men, scattered throughout the length and breadth of 

 England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Hence it is not to be wondered 

 at that the Dublin meeting was a small one. As a matter of fact, the 

 Secretary, Dr. Hoyle, of Manchester Museum, alone represented the 

 British members ; but there was a good muster of Irish conchologists. 

 In the afternoon, the President of the Society (Dr. Scharff) and Mrs. 

 Scharfif entertained the party at the Zoological Gardens, where a very 

 enjoyable time was spent. In the evening the formal meeting took 

 place, the President in the Chair. The Annual Report was read, officers 

 for the ensuing year elected by ballot, and several new members elected 

 and others proposed for membership. The remainder of the evening 

 was occupied by short papers and exhibits. The President showed a 

 very fine series of land mollusca from the Atlantic Islands, and another 

 very valuable set from the Palaearctic Region in general, both sets being 

 from the National Museum. R. Wei^ch showed a beautifully prepared 

 series of rare Irish mollusca, illustrated by distributional maps. A. R. 

 Nichols, M.A., exhibited rare marine mollusca from the deep waters off 

 the West Coast of Ireland — this set being also from the national 

 collection. R. Li.. Praeger had on view a set of fossil shells from the 

 Belfast Estuarine Clays, and drew attention to their great size and 

 splendid state of preservation. P. H. GriERSON showed a large series 

 of land mollusca from Co. Kilkenny, which included some very rare 

 species. J. de W. Hinch contributed glacial mollusca from the Dublin 

 Mountains, and H. h. Orr, who was unable to be present, sent a series 

 of boxes illustrating different methods of mounting mollusca. Dr. 

 Chaster sent over some very rare and interesting Irish land mollusca 

 recently collected by himself The proceedings concluded with a vote 

 of thanks to the Royal Irish Academy for granting the use of their 

 rooms. 



