32 The Irish Naturalist. :Marclii 



migrate, which they accomplish by means of a =silken parachute, the 

 threads of which constitute " gossamer." Poison facts and myths were 

 discussed, the lecturer stating that any spider living in the British Isles 

 could be handled with impunity ; but some foreign species were doubtfully 

 dangerous, but probably not so to a healthy man. The " Katipo " of 

 Australia was stated to be the most deadly spider known, some specimens 

 of which were exhibited, having just been received from a place many 

 miles from any civilisation. Tlie lecturer lucidly explained the method 

 of snare construction and the various wiles which spiders adopt to capture 

 their prey ; also spider courtships. Trap-door, wolf, leaping, and water 

 spiders were all discussed and interesting facts given respecting them and 

 many other spiders, with concluding remarks on spider instinct and 

 intelligence. The lecture was profusely illustrated with lantern slides, 

 and terminated with a remarkable cinema film showing spiders performing 

 various operations, including web-building and capturing prey. 



At the conclusion of the lecture a short discussion followed, in which 

 the President, Messrs. Hoskins and Holness, and the Hon. Secretary took 

 part, the proceedings terminating with the election of four new ordinary 

 members. 



NOTES. 



ZOOLOGY. 

 Gonia fasciata in Fermanagh. 



]\lr. J. N. Halbert of the National Museum, Dublin, informs me that 

 the fly, Gonia fasciata, is unrecorded from Ireland. It is common here 

 on a dry grass}^ bank facing south, but so far I have only seen it in this 

 one spot, it seems excessively local. It appears every year in April, on 

 sunny days, crawling among the dry grass stems and is very sluggish 

 and only flies a short distance when disturbed. It disappears entirely, 

 unless the sun is out. I have taken Gonia capitata on the Finner sandhills 

 near Bundoran, Co. Donegal. 



Charles Langham. 

 Tempo Manor, Co. Fermanagh. 



Calocoris striatus at Woodenbridge, Co. Wicklow. 



In my note on Powerscourt insects in the January number of the 

 Irish Naturalist (p. 9, supra) it is stated that the plant-bug Calocaris 

 striatus had been found at Tempo in Co. Fermanagh. Sir Charles 

 Langham writes to say that this is an error, the insect was taken by him 

 not at Tempo but at Woodenbridge in Co. Wicklow, on the same date 

 as my capture of the species at Powerscourt. On the following days 

 he found several more by beating oaks and other trees in different parts 

 of Colonel Proby's woods in the same locality. From this it would seem 

 that this species, though undoubtedly local, is not as rare as had been 

 imagined in this country. Very possibly the Irisli specimen in the 



