153 DUBLIN NATXTBAL HISTOET SOCIETY. 



FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 1, 1859. 

 "William Andrews, Esq., M. E. I. A., President, in the Chair. 



The previous Minutes having been confirmed, were signed. 



The Honorary Secretary presented, on behalf of Mr. F. J". Foot, 

 Geological Survey of Ireland, Corresponding Member, a specimen of the 

 lesser horse-shoe bat ( Rhinolophvs hipposideros), captured at Ennis, 

 county of Clare. No published record of this species as Irish is to be 

 found in the authorities. 



Eev. Professor Galbraith, F. T. C. D., moved, Professor Kinahan 

 seconded, and it was resolved unanimously : — 



" That the special thanks of the Society be given to Mr. Frederick 

 J. Foot for his valuable donation to the Society's Museum." 



In the absence of the author, the Honorary Secretary read the 

 following — 



description of balliallia cave, ennis, with account of the discovery 

 there of the lesser horse-shoe bat. by frederick j. foot, g.s.i. 



My friend. Dr. Kinahan, having told me that about six years ago 

 he had been informed of the existence of a cave in the neighbourhood 

 of Ennis, county of Clare, which was a favourite resort of bats, requesting 

 me, in my examination of that district, to be on the look-out for it, — ^I 

 met with a cave in Balliallia demesne, at a distance of about two miles 

 and a half north of the town of Ennis, which I think must be that 

 alluded to. 



This cave penetrates nearly twenty yards in a westerly direction, 

 through strata of limestone, which dip to the east at an angle of five or 

 ten degrees. The entrance is through a hole in the ground four feet 

 square, on the slope of a hill facing the east. I have enclosed a 

 rough plan and section to show the form and dimensions of the interior, 

 which is divided into three compartments. Descending a few feet, we 

 reach the doorway, which is four feet wide by three feet six inches in 

 height ; its sides built of dry masonry, and a large flag of limestone for 

 the Lintel. Passing through it, we stand, or rather stoop, in the first 

 compartment, which is eight feet long, five high, averages five feet in 

 width, and contracts at its further end to an aperture two feet wide, by 

 which the second compartment is entered. 



We now take leave of the daylight, and, lighting a candle, per- 

 ceive that we are in a chamber twenty-two feet in length, ten in width, 

 and nine feet in height. Evidences of human occupation of the cave 

 are also seen here, as there is a bench of rough stonework, two feet high, 

 at each side, probably erected by distillers of illicit whiskey, as report 

 says that formerly this cave was one of their places of resort. The 

 ceiling presents a varied appearance, being in some places rough with 

 projecting points, which form nooks and crannies ; while in others the 

 flat under-surfaoe of the beds of rock appear fretted with incipient 



