Proceedi7igs of Irish Societies. 189 



Dubinin Naturawsts' Fiei^d Ci.ub. 



May 25th. — An especially interesting excursion was made on May 25th, 

 when a large party visited the bog near TuUaniore in King's County, 

 which is well known to naturalists as the largest breeding place in Ire- 

 land of the Black-headed Gull. Leaving Dublin at 9.15, a rapid journey 

 in a special through carriage brought the members to Tullamore, where 

 they were joined by some local friends, and drove immediately to the 

 vicinity of the bog. Here they were met by Mr, R. Digby, J. P., and the 

 Rev. Canon Russell, D.D., who acted as guides during the day. No time 

 was lost in getting out on the bog, where the unusual spectacle of some 

 fifty persons wending their way cautiously among the pools and marshes 

 to the centre of the vast spongy plain produced a great commotion 

 among the only inhabitants — thousands of graceful sea-birds, that rose 

 in clouds before the part}', and eddied like snowflakes overhead, filling 

 the air with their wild musical din. Here among the bog-pools were 

 numbers of slightly-formed nests, many of which contained brown 

 spotted eggs, others 3'oung birds in the beautiful brown and black 

 mottled down of infancy, while others of larger size, covered with dark 

 feathers, ran about among the heather, or skulked in the beds of rushes. 

 The photographers of the party busily took snap-shots at the birds, old 

 and young, while the botanists were well pleased to find abundance of 

 the Cranberry (FarczwzV/;;^ Oxycoccos)^ with its pink blossoms dotting the 

 wet moss, the waxy bells of the Andromeda {A. polifolid), the Great Sun- 

 dew {Drosera anglica), a somewhat rare fern, Lasirea spinnlosa, and other 

 plants ; and the entomologists captured a variety of rare bog insects, a 

 list of which is contributed by Mr. J. N. Halbert to the present number 

 (p. 172). The edge of the bog was regained without mishap, and the 

 party next explored the beautiful wood of Clonad. Here were found 

 both species of Buckthorn {Rhamniis latharticus and. R. frangtda), the Inter- 

 mediate Avens {Geuin interniediiDii), the Columbine {Aqiiilegia vulgaris), the 

 Water Avens {Geiim rivale), and many other interesting species. In 

 meadows adjoining grew the Green-winged Orchis {0. i/iorio), Q.i\d fine 

 plants of the Royal Fern {Osniunda regalis) were obtained on the banks of 

 a stream in the neighbourhood. The following fungi were collected by 

 Mr. Greenwood Pini and Dr. H. J. McWeeney : — Agariciis (Gahrd) hypjio- 

 rum, Fr. ; A. {Gabra) viycenopsis, Fr. ; and A. {Oniphalia) timbelliferus, Fr., 

 on Sphagnujn ; Peronospora parasitica on Sisymhritim Alliaria ; J\ pygmcea on 

 linemone neviorosa ; Aicidiuiii crassum, Pers., on Rharnnus catJiarticus (the 

 spermogonia were also found on the upper side of the leaf); CEcldiuni 

 aquilegice ; Puccinia epilohii ; P. coronata, Corda, abundant on both species 

 of Buckthorn ; Penidllium olivaceu!n(Ca..), on discoloured spots on Aquihgia- 

 leaf The whole party, now reinforced by a number of the local gentry, 

 assembled at the forester's house at five o'clock, where an ample tea was 

 provided by the Misses Gardiner, of Leinster-street, Dublin. Subse- 

 quently a short business meeting was held." Mr. Greenwood Pim, M.A., 

 F.L.S., who occupied the chair, on behalf of the members warmly 

 thanked INIr. Digby and Canon Russell for the great assistance they had 

 given during the day. Mr. A. J. Pentland and Miss Pentland were then 

 elected members of the Club. The return journe}^ was made in time to 

 catch the 7.42 train to town, and Dublin was reached punctually 

 at ten. 



