PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 159 



DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. 



MARCH 25, 1854. 

 R. Ball, LL.D., President, in the chair. 



Dr. Ball read a paper on the Vulturidas, being the first part of a series illustra- 

 tive of the collection of birds, now in course of arrangement in the Museum. 



Dr. Carte said that he had examined tbe ligament on the vulture's neck, and that 

 it did not consist of muscular fibre, but of a peculiar non-elastic tissue, as thick 

 as a man's middle finger, running along the back of the neck. 



Mr. Hogan exhibited a carinated specimen of Littorina littorea, taken at Kings- 

 town, and Mr. Walpole exhibited some Falmouth specimens. Mr. T. W. Warren 

 exhibited a very fine series from his collection, some of them taken in Ireland. 

 Mr. E. P. Wright brought forward a specimen from the Royal Dublin Society's 

 Museum, which he found when arranging the British mollusca, among some 

 shells collected by the late Mr. M'Calla, in Roundstone Bay. This specimen was 

 beautifully carinated throughout all the whorls, and presented no appearance of 

 accident having caused it. After some interesting conversation as to the reason of 

 carination in shells, Mr. T. W. Warren exhibited a male specimen of the Harrier 

 (Circus cinerarius), lately procured by him in the County of Tyrone, in fine 

 adult plumage, and a specimen of the common Scolopax, which, from the 

 shortness of its beak and general appearance, resembled, at first sight, Bhrems' 

 snipe. 



Rev. Joseph Greene exhibited a specimen of Gluphisia crenata. This is only 

 the third instance of the occurrence of this very rare moth, and is, perhaps, 

 the first time it was exhibited at a Natural History Society in Ireland. It was bred 

 from the larva, by Mr. Greene, taken at Halton, Bucks ; also a female specimen 

 of Steropus fagi, bred from a larva, taken at the same place. 



APRIL 15, 1854. 



R. Ball, LL.D., President, in the chair. 



Dr. Ball read a paper on the Falconidse, being in continuation of his series illus- 

 trative of the collection in the Museum. 



Mr. Hogan exhibited a small Crustacean, captured by him on the sea-shore at 

 Rhyl, N. Wales, in the act of devouring the weevil, Phytonomus punctatus, 

 which it had seized beneath one of the elytra. The weevil was at the time alive, 

 and floating on the surface of the incoming tide. It would appear that the circum- 

 stance is new, as Mr. J. O. Westwood, to whom the case was referred, had not 

 heard of any similar instance. 



Dr. Kinahan exhibited a curiously-elongated specimen of Helix ericetorum, from 

 Crumlin ; and a series of specimens of this species, from the same place, including 

 the Albino variety, with translucent bands. This variety, Dr. Kinahan remarked, 

 he had met with in Helix hortensis, H. pisana, and H. virgata. He also exhibited 

 a curious series of damaged shells, which had been repaired ; and remarked that 

 these shells should be distinguished from those in which the distortions arose from 

 disease of the secreting membrane, of which he also showed specimens. 



Rev. R. B. B. Carmichael, F.T.C.D., being duly proposed and seconded, was 

 elected an honorary member. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



MAY 6, 1854. 

 R. Ball, LL.D., President, in the chair. 



Dr. Ball read a paper on the Strigidse, being the third of a series illustrative of 

 the collection in the College Museum. 



Mr. Lamprey read a paper, translated from the French of M. E. Claperede, 

 illustrated by drawings selected from Ehrenberg. Annales des Sciences and others, on 

 alternate reproduction, and on the metamorphoses of the lower animals. 



