PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 101 



of species considered rare or local in other parts of the British isles, with the 

 exception, perhaps, of Trechus labidosus, Heterocerus femoralis, Lathrobium angus- 

 ticolle, Thinobius longipennis, and two or three more; even Diglossa mersa is 

 no longer peculiar to the Irish coast, having been taken in large numbers on the 

 coast of France, in 1852, by Messrs. Blan chard and Signoret, and in Scotland by 

 M. Javet. In one genus only, have we more than the proportion of species that 

 might be expected — namely, Cercyon, of the thirteen species of which, acknow- 

 ledged as European, all have been found in Ireland, and eleven within the limits of 

 the county Dublin. 



That other collectors, however, of whose existence I may be as yet unaware, 

 have taken more, and, possibly, remarkable species not known to me as occurring 

 in the neighbourhood, I should not wish to seem to doubt ; and I hope they will 

 not fail to make their discoveries public, either by sending notices of them to the 

 "Zoologist," or, if they prefer it, communicating them tome, for a future appendix. 

 Thus may the very imperfections of my list tend to the advancement of science, 

 and to the encouragement of new votaries to the study, who, if they would reap the 

 highest and best fruits of their labours, will not forget, I trust — 



" To trace in nature's most minute design, 

 The signature and stamp of power divine, 

 Contrivance intricate, expressed with ease, 

 Where unassi> ted sight no beauty sees. 

 The shapely limb and lubricated joint, 

 Within the small dimensions of a point; 

 Muscle and nerve miraculously spun, 

 His mighty work who speaks, and it is done ; 

 The Invisible in things scarce seen revealed, 

 To whom an atom is an ample field." 



So will the lover of entomology, whom the cheering fragrance of returning spring 

 once more tempts to ramble forth from the scenes of his winter labours, soon find 

 his way, as Cowper says (from whom I have just quoted) : — 



" To regions where, in spite of sin and woe, 

 Traces of Eden are still seen below ; 

 Where mountain, river, forest, field, and grove, 

 Remind him of his Maker's power and love." 



The Rev. Joseph Greene then mentioned that he had bred a specimen of Hip- 

 parchia -^Egeria, on the 1st of March, from a pupa found on a blade of grass, near 

 a poplar, in December last, and drew the attention of the meeting to its very early 

 appearance — proving the singular mildness of the season. 



The Association then adjourned to the 25th of March. 



LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION OF KILKENNY. 



FEBRUARY 15, 1854. 

 Dr. Browne, in the chair. 



The usual business being transacted, the honorary secretaries announced that the 

 auditors, appointed at the January meeting (Dr. Kearns and Robert Molyneux, 

 Esq.), had given in their report, to the effect that the treasurer's statement of 

 accounts was most satisfactory, leaving a balance in his hands of £11 18s. lOd. 



The following donations were announced : — 



Report of the Dublin Statistical Society ; and Statistics of Australia, by the 

 Dublin Statistical Society. 



An Indian letter, folded in the shape of a neck-tie, intended to be sent by hand. 

 It was composed of portions of the palm-leaf. 



