1912. Irish Societies 6i 



latter presented greater difficulties than that of the flora. It was also 

 shown that the geological evidence would lend more support to a different 

 solution of the problem. The theory which gained most support may be 

 thus briefly stated : During the glacial period the land stood higher than 

 it does now, and a large portion of the present Irish fauna and flora sur- 

 vived on an ice -free area, lying to the south of Ireland. Following the 

 retreating ice, this fauna and flora would advance and occupy the south- 

 and south-west parts of Ireland and England, where so many peculiar 

 types are now found. The evidence in support of this theory was discussed 

 at some length. 



Miss Adelaide Sharpe and C. M. Selbie were elected members of the club. 



December 12. — Professor G. A. J. Cole, M.R.I. A., F.G.S., in the chair. 

 The Secretary read out the list of nominations of Officers and Committee 

 of the Club for 19 12. 



The programme of the evening consisted of a number of exhibits- and 

 demonstrations, as follows : — 



R. Southern showed the three Irish species of Lug-worms {Arenicola 

 marina, A. Grubei, and A. ecaudata), together with post-larval stages of 

 each of them. Their distinctive characteristics, habits and life -histories 

 were discussed, and maps showing their distribution exhibited, 



W. B. Wright showed an electroscope for determining rapidly the 

 radium content of rocks and minerals. He explained its mechanism 

 and method of use. He also showed a specimen of hornblende rock from 

 Colonsay, with included and partly absorbed quart?:ite, felspar resulting 

 from the interaction Also limestone from Alno, Gulf of Bothnia, melted 

 by syenite and recrystallised. 



J. N. Halbert showed specimens of the Ash-bark beetle, Hylesinus 

 crenatus, found in the bark of Ash trees near Blanchardstown, Co. Dublin. 

 The trees were dead, and he was of the opinion that they had probably 

 been killed by the beetles. This is only the second recorded instance of the 

 occurrence of this injurious insect in Ireland. 



T. Hallissy showed some new fossils from Bray Head, associated with 

 Oldhamia. They were first found by Father Ryan, S.J. Their resemblance 

 to certain fossils from the Cambrian beds of Canada, recently described 

 by Walcott as Holothurians, was pointed out. 



A. Williams showed pearls from the Fresh-water Mussel, found near 

 Strabane. 



C. M. Selbie showed an unusually large specimen of the Common 

 Lobster, taken in the Irish Sea. It measured twenty -one inches from the 

 tip of the snout to the end of the tail. 



C. Armstrong showed the fibula of a Brown Bear, worked into an im- 

 plement, recently found in earns of Bronze age, on Carrowkeel Mountain, 

 Co. Sligo. This is the second instance of the association of the bear with 

 early man in Ireland, and supplies more valuable evidence than the tooth 

 previously known. 



G. O. Sherrard showed stems of the Common Woodbine which had 

 twisted round each other. 



