50 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



is unnecessary to dilate : their curative virtues have deservedly elevated 

 this place from the position of a mountain village to a town, consisting, 

 during the season, of not less than 4000 inhabitants, and its increase is 

 still rapid and constant. 



All the open sources here are prolific of that curious substance known 

 as "Barregene," which collects in a thick, unctuous stratum, variously 

 coloured — red, green, and yellow — along the sides of the little water- 

 courses that lead from the springs. The nature of this material has been 

 variously described as animal, vegetable, and mineral. It is only found 

 in water of a sulphurous character, and its organized constituents are 

 wholly microscopic. A careful examination of it, in a fresh state, con- 

 vinced me of its purely vegetable nature. I found it wholly composed 

 of minute algae, in various stages of growth or decay, and easily deter- 

 mined the species as belonging to the genera Leptothrix, Phormidium, 

 and Oscillatoria. 



We left Cauteretz with regret on the 30th of July, intending to pro- 

 ceed, by way of St. Sauveur and Bagrees, to Bagneres de Bigorre and 

 Bagneres de Luchon, on the eastern Pyrenees. 



Mr. E. Percival "Wright read, for Robert "Warren, Jun., Esq., 

 Corresponding Member, the following — 



NOTES ON THE NATATORES OF KILLALA. 



"Wild Swan (Cy gnus ferns or BewicHi). — "Wild swans are frequently 

 seen on the wing, but I have never seen them alight in the bay or 

 river. On some of the Erris lakes it is said they are to be seen every 

 winter. In the winter of 1855-56 they were very abundant in Erris. 

 A party of gentlemen visiting that district in February, 1856, saw 

 upwards of forty in one day. A pair were shot there this winter, but 

 as I did not see them, I cannot say whether they were bewicks or 

 the wild swan. 



Bean Goose {Anser segetum). — A fine bird of this species, wounded in 

 the wing, became quite domesticated in the poultry-yard of its owner 

 in the town of Ballina, where I often admired its elegant and graceful 

 carriage, showing such a contrast in appearance to the tame geese, its 

 companions in captivity. 



"White-fronted Goose {Anser albifrons) Many large flocks of this 



species frequent the extensive bogs in Mayo and Sligo ; when on their 

 flight across the Moy, I have often recognised them by their white fore- 

 heads and barred breasts, but I have never known any to alight on the 

 Moy, although I have sometimes seen them flying within a few yards 

 of the water. 



Shelldrake "(Anas tadornd). — This fine bird may be seen during 

 winter on the sandy flats of the Moy that are bare at low water; a small 

 flock of eight or ten birds frequent the banks of the Sligo side of the 

 river, near Scurmore ; but it is impossible to shoot them, they are so 

 wary. 



