191 2. Irish Societies, 45 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Lesser White -nosed Monkey from Mr. H. C. de 

 la Poer, a pair of Lions (East African), from Mr. H. C. Barclay, a male 

 Leopard from Capt. C. Wood -Hill, three Rabbits and six Cavies from 

 Mr. W. Costello, a young Donkey from Master L. Ferrar, a pair of Pink- 

 footed Geese from Mr. W. Williams, a Mute Swan from Mrs. Moffett, and 

 a West African Python from Mr. C. E. Lane Poole. The last named is 

 more than fifteen feet in length, and the largest snake ever exhibited in 

 the Society's Gardens. Two White-handed Gibbons have been obtained, 

 and occupy the large central cage in the Monkey House. One of them 

 is a very attractive and agile animal. 



DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 



December 13. — The Club met at Leinster House, the President, A. R. 

 Nichols, m.a., in the chair, 



J. N. Halbert, m.r.i.a. exhibited a " beetle -mite ' Oribata sphagni, 

 Michael, found amongst moss in a stream on Croaghpatrick, Co. Mayo. 

 The species is remarkable on account of its aquatic habit, small size, and 

 other characters. According to the original description the pseudo-stig- 

 matic organs are minute in this species, and completely hidden within the 

 pseudo-stigmata. In the Croaghpatrick specimen, however, these organs 

 are clearly visible, and of very strongly clavate structure. The only 

 previously known locality for the species is Epping Forest, where it was 

 discovered by Mr. A. D. Michael, who described and figured it in his 

 " British Oribatidae. " 



Dr. G. H. Pethybridge showed the parasitic fungus Thielavia hasicola^ 

 Zopf., from Adare, Co. Limerick. It is known to attack the roots ot a 

 considerable number of cultivated plants, and in the present instance it 

 was causing considerable damage to the tobacco crop. Its presence in 

 Ireland has not hitherto been observed ; hence the present is a new record. 



C. F. Ball exhibited preparations of Utriciilaria prehensilis, E. Meyer. 

 This curious little Bladderwort is a native of tropical and south Africa, 

 and Madagascar. It grows in very shallow water, and the strap -like 

 green leaves, i to 2 inches long, float on the surface. The stems run about 

 in the mud and from them appear climbing flower stems twining like a 

 Runner Bean, and these produce yellow flowers. On the stem in the mud 

 are formed bladders, which are transparent. The bladders are traps for 

 catching small aquatic animals ; the small animals can easily push open a 

 valve -like door to enter, but once inside cannot get out, and perish from 

 starvation or suft'ocation. The products of their decomposition nourish 

 the plant, and are taken up by special absorption cells which line the 

 interior of the bladders. These absorption cells are rather curious ; they 

 consist of a basal cell on which are fastened two long finger-like cells, 



