248 CORRESPONDENCE, &C. 



meet. The Dublin Society (I presume), regarded this as a mat- 

 ter of less importance than the pursuit of other branches of science ; 

 and besides, the expense ^f becoming a member of that body was 

 very considerable. Under these circumstances, a new Society ap- 

 peared to me to be the only way of supplying the deficiency, and in 

 March, 1838, with the aid of my friends, the Rev. B. J. Clarke 

 and R. R. Williams, Esq., the Dublin Natural History Society was 

 ushered into the world. You may easily imagine the difficulties we 

 had to contend with, through evil report, and through good report, we 

 have carried on the Society step by step, until it has attained a degree 

 of prosperity we never thought of arriving at, and I am sure, little 

 expected by those who were opposed to us at first. Its objects are, 

 the forwarding of the Natural History of Ireland exclusively, as we 

 consider, that while engaged in this, the Society will be of real import- 

 ance ; while, were we to merge into the more ample field of foreign 

 productions, we should be insignificant. The above object we have 

 endeavoured to bring about, by making a standard collection of the 

 natural productions of the island, and by having evening meetings, 

 where papers relative to it may be discussed. Our collection, by the 

 kindness of the members, is already far advanced : the conchological 

 part, the most so of any : Mr. Warren having presented 140 differ- 

 ent species of the marine shells, and the Rev. B. J. Clarke, nearly all 

 the land and fresh -water shells of Ireland. The sun-fish, too, is a 

 great source of attraction, from its curious appearance. The ornitho- 

 logical part of the museum is rapidly increasing, and altogether, our 

 collection is in a very fair way. At any rate, when a stranger comes 

 to Dublin now, he may be shown something of the natural produc- 

 tions of Ireland, a thing formerly out of his power to see, except in 

 private collections. Among the papers that have been read, there has 

 been much interesting matter ; a paper on the sun-fish, by my friend 

 Dr. Bellingham, I believe is sent to your Magazine for publication. 

 Our finances (the most important point), are flourishing, for, though 

 our subscription is only £l. we had, at the last quarter, a balance of 

 £80 in the Treasurer's hands. The number of our members is 220. 

 Altogether, from the nationality of our objects, — from the papers that 

 are read often being interspersed with popular lectures, — from the 

 good feeling that exists among our members, — I firmly and con- 

 scientiously believe, no society in Dublin has so much hold on pub- 

 lic opinion ; and supported as we are by members of most of the other 

 scientific bodies of the metropolis, sanctioned by the University, whose 

 respected head is one of our members, and who has borne most ample 

 testimony to our efficiency and utility, and encouraged by all who 

 wish well to our national institutions. I cannot but look forward to 

 a continued course of prosperity." — Henry H. Dombrain. 



Mr. Denny s forthcoming work on the Anoplura. — You are 

 aware, doubtless, of the work I have in hand : to procure the insects 

 for illustrating which, has cost me above 12 years : and though I have 

 been assisted by friends in various parts of the kingdom, with speci- 

 mens of the lice of quadrupeds and birds, still there are several which 

 I have never been able to procure. When I first began seriously to 



