72 The Irish Naturalisl. March, 



dead in Newry, on the footpath near the Corry Monument. 

 It is a very perfect specimen, so that it is impossible to surmise 

 what could have killed it. 



Before concluding this note I should like to draw the atten- 

 tion of Irish entomologists to the small amount of knowledge 

 we possess of the insects of the centre of Ireland. There is a 

 stretch of country from Fermanagh to Waterford of which we 

 know practicalh' nothing as far as beetles are concerned. It 

 would be well if our home naturalists would endeavour to 

 reduce this gap in our knowledge of the fauna of our country. 



Poyntzpass. 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January 26. — A.nnuaJv Meeting was held in the lecture theatre of 

 the Royal Dublin Society, the President (Rt. Hon. Jonathan Hogg) in 

 the chair. There was a large attendance of members and the general 

 public. 



The Hon. Secretary (R. F. vScharff, Ph. D.) read the report of the 

 Council for 1908. The admissions to the Gardens durinu the year were 

 185,735 and the receipts, ^2,259 17^^. 3(/., as compared with 260,666 and 

 ;/r4,074 during 1907. The year 1907, when the International Exhibition 

 was held in Dublin, was, of course, exceptional, but the receipts have not 

 been so low as this since 1901. 



Nevertheless, no efforts have been spared b}' the Council to keep the 

 Zoological Gardens in the high state of efficiency which they had 

 acquired during previous years, and to attract visitors by giving them 

 greater facilities for visiting the collection of animals The receipts from 

 Sunday admissions during 1908 are the most satisfactory part of the 

 income, showing that the Gardens are as popular as ever with the work- 

 ing classes, for whom these exceptionally low fees were specially 

 intended. The Council issued during the year, for the first time, books 

 containing six Sunday tickets for adults and twelve for children at one 

 shilling each. 



During the autumn the British Association held its annual meeting in 

 Dublin. The attendance was large, and many members visited the 

 Gardens on this occasion. The Council invited all the zoologists 

 present to a special breakfast, while the Local Reception Committee 

 entertained the Members of the Association and their families at a 

 Garden Party in the Zoological Gardens. 



At the last general meeting Dr. Cosgrave was elected to succeed Dr. 

 Dixon as Treasurer. During the past year a general revision of the wages 



