20 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



or penetrate also beneath the skin. In one or two cases the caterpillar has been 

 attacked by a violent diarrhoea for one or two days before death ; in one case the 

 anal segment of its body rotted away. I expect to lose the remaining four speci- 

 mens, as all are ailing, and the hairs are coming off, as was the case, more or less, 

 with the others. 



" Is this a common occurrence, or an accidental one? The complaint seems 

 epidemic about here now ; a caterpillar of Odonestis potatoria in my keeping haa 

 just died of a similar disease, and one or two of other species, some of my own, 

 some in the possession of a friend. Is there any way of removing the disease, or 

 guarding against it? I shall be glad of any information on the subject, as I never 

 before had any caterpillars attacked in a similar manner." 



The Rev. Joseph Greene mentioned that he had lost a fine specimen of the larva 

 of the rare Notodonta trcpida by a disease similar to that mentioned by Mr. Lea. 

 In his case he observed a number of mites in the folds of the skin, and these he 

 suspected were eventually the cause of the death of the individual. He had also 

 noticed, that in one compartment of his breeding-cage, three inches square, con- 

 taining two larvae, one of them was attacked, while the other remained perfectly 

 free from the parasites which caused the other's destruction. 



Mr. Wright read the following note from Robert Warren, jun., Esq., dated 

 Moy View, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo: 



u My DEAR SIR I have the pleasure of informing you that I have ascertained 

 the locality of a fresh-water breeding station of the common gull (Larus canus). 

 It is at Lough Talt, in the centre of the range of Ox mountains, in this county. 

 Lough Talt is completely surrounded by heath-covered mountains, and is situated 

 about ten miles from the sea-coast. It is about one mile in length, and half a 

 mile in breadth, with one or two small, rocky islets on which the gulls build. 

 When I visited it, although so late as the middle of July, I found the nests con- 

 taining eggs (upon which the old birds were sitting), and saw several young binte 

 flying about, and between four and five pairs of adults. As the lake is strictly pre- 

 served, and no one is allowed to molest the gulls, it is to be hoped that their num- 

 bers will increase rapidly." 



Also the following from Robert Davis, Esq., of Clonmcl : 



u MY DEAR FRIEND About the middle of this month (July), 1852, I had sent 

 me, from a part of the Bog of Allen, near Killemaule, an egg of some unknown 

 bird, which I have since been unable to get named until a few days ago, when 

 having transmitted it to a good judge, he, on careful comparison, pronounced it to 

 be that of the Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus, Selby). As I am not aware of any 

 instance of this bird being found breeding in this country before, I lose no time 

 in communicating it, through you, to the Association. This bird itself is very rarely 

 met with here, and only in the immature plumage." 



The President stated, that out of a large collection of shells, &c., which had 

 been collected by Professor Harvey, in Ceylon, and forwarded to him, he had 

 selected those which were exhibited on the table; among them were some beautiful 

 Helices, which he thought interesting, representing, as they did, the same varia- 

 tions of colour as had been observed in our Helix nemoralis. 



The General Secretary announced that, through the kindness of Mr. Callwell, he 

 had been enabled to visit the light-ship, which had just returned from the Conabeg 

 station, in hopes of obtaining any marine shells or animals that might have adhered 

 to her during her sojourn at that place ; however, owing to the vessel being copper- 

 sheathed, he found nothing save a few mussels (Mytilus edulis), which hung by their 

 byssus from the bolt heads attached to the rudder ; he trusted he might be more 

 successful in future examinations, particularly on vessels returning from a long sea- 

 voyage, which he would be able to inspect, through the kindness of the Commis- 

 sioners of the Ballast Office, who expressed the greatest willingness to co-operate 

 with the Association. 



NOVEMBER 25, 1854. 



R. BALL, LL.D., President, in the Chair. 



Professor Robert Smith, of Trinity College, being proposed and seconded, 

 was elected an honorary member ; the Rev. Dr. Romncy Robinson and Richard 



