1909- Irish Societies. 179 



May 22. — Excursion to thk Bovnp: Vali^ev. — Fifty members and 

 friends left Belfast by the 7 30 a.m. train for an arclutological exploration 

 of the Boyne Valley, under the guidance of W. J, Fennell. Drogbeda 

 was reached at 9.40, and vehicles were taken for the drive. The party 

 visited Newgrauge, Mellifont, and Monasterboice. After tea in Drogheda 

 the usual business meeting was held — the Vice-President, W. H. Gall- 

 way in the chair— and the 6.40 traiii was taken for Belfast. Water 

 beetles received special attention from the zoologists. Previously there 

 were onl}' two or three species recorded for County Meath. On this 

 occasion about forty-six species, practically all of which were common 

 ones, were noted. One noteworthy fact was that certain species which are 

 scarce in County Down were exceedingly common. The conchologists 

 were well rewarded b}' finding Vitriiia pyrenaica at Mellifont, Monaster- 

 boice, and between the latter place and Collon, where it was first taken 

 in Ireland by P. H. Grierson some few years ago. Only dead shells were 

 found, except at Monasterboice, where two living specimens were picked 

 up after a vigorous search. This species as yet in Ireland has only been 

 taken in County Louth, all the above localities being in that county, but 

 it seems probable that it may have a much wider distribution. It may 

 be well to mention that this is a Pyrenean and Alpine species, and, pro- 

 vided that our Irish shell is true V, pyrenaica, presents one of the most 

 interesting examples of discontinuous geographical distribution in the 

 European fauna. The ornithologists noted 41 species of birds. The 

 President's prize for the best collection of wild flowers was won by Miss 

 Anna M'Conuell, who had 72 species. The Vice-President's prize for 

 photographs was won by Mr. Holland. 



June 12. — Excursion to Derryadd by Lough Neagh. — Eighty, 

 two members and friends travelled in specially reserved carriages by the 

 1.50 train from the Great Northern Station to Lurgan, where brakes and 

 cars were in waiting All were soon driving through the pleasant level 

 lands that lie to the south-east of Lough Neagh. Shortly after three 

 o'clock the party arrived at the shores of Derryadd Ba}', and leaving the 

 vehicles, proceeded on foot along the shores of the lake. Here the party 

 scattered. The ornithologists of the party reported having noticed 

 thirty-two species about the shores of Derrjadd Bay. Of these, the mo.st 

 interesting was the Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla Raii. The conchologists 

 found the dry-weather conditions most unfavourable for collecting land 

 shells, but, along the lake shore, nice specimens of the elegant amber 

 shell — Suciiuca clegans — were abundant in certain damp muddy spots, 

 where it was feeding in company with a fresh water species— Z^w/z^-^ 

 palustris — the marsh shell. The latter was the short, malleated and obese 

 form for which Lough Neagh is noted. Several Planorbis niarguiatits 

 were also collected — that curious non-typical form found in Lough Neagh 

 and Lough Beg and the canals and rivers connected with both. This is 

 the form so puzzling to English conchologists, who often confuse it with 

 P. (arinatiis owing to the fact, amongst others, that the keel is almost as 

 central and the shell as flat as English and Continental specimens of the 



