20 The Irish Naturalist. [January, 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



Royae Zoological Society. 



Recent gifts include a Seal from Sergeant J. M'Goldrick, a White 

 Blackbird from the Lord Lieutenant, an African Dove from Dr. Garland, 

 a Peacock from Mr. J. Hogg, and a Woodcock fiom Mr. J. C. Smith. 

 A litter of Hunting-puppies and a Pigmy Calf have been born in the 

 Gardens. A Black Ape and a Spider-monkey have been bought. 



4,326 persons visited the Gardens in November. 



Dublin Microscopical Club. 



October 20. — The Club met at Leinster House. 



Mr. Henry J. Seymour showed a thin section of a Hornblende 

 granulite from Parry Sound, Lake Huron, Canada, which was collected 

 by Mr. Ramage on the occasion of the visit of the British Association to 

 Toronto last year. The rock consists mainly of dark-green hornblende 

 crystals, usually with rounded outlines. Centric structure is well 

 developed. Each of the aggregates is composed of a pink garnet 

 forming a central core, round which is developed a zone of plagioclase 

 felspars with a very little quartz. Sphene, ilmenite leucoxene, and 

 zircons occur abundantly in the section. The sphene is present mainly 

 in the hornblende areas, while the zircons, which are very minute in 

 size, occur chiefly in the plagioclase zone around the garnets. Some 

 very small granules of another, not yet determined, mineral also occur in 

 the section. 



Prof. T. Johnson showed a preparation of the mycelium of the dry-rot 

 fungus, Merulius lachrymans, as seen in the tracheidal elements of a plank 

 which had formed part of a flooring in an unfinished part of the Science 

 and Art Museum. A very characteristic specimen of the fruit (hymena- 

 phore) of this highly destructive fungus was also shown. Moist still air 

 helps and dry currents of air hinder the growth of the fungus. 



Mr. M'ArdlE exhibited the following rare liverworts : — 



Radida Carringtoni, Jack, with ripe capsule burst, showing spores and 

 elaters, from Anniscaul, Co. Kerry, where it was collected on wet rocks 

 in the mountain stream by the Rev. H. W. Lett and himself in June last, 

 a new station. 



Radida aqiulcgia, Tayl., showing male and female fruit ; this species is 

 remarkable in having the leaves cup-shaped at the base, hence the name 

 agui/egia, "water holder"; it is rarely seen in fruit collected in the 

 same locality as the previous species. 



Bazzaiii: triangularis, Schl., var. innovans, Nees, Carrington and Pearson 

 Exs. No. 124. Found on a damp bank on Mount Eagle, Co. Kerry, in 

 June last. A remarkable compact form more gracile than the type, with 

 heterophyllous leaves, tridentate or plane at the apex, with a series of 

 slender innovations and flagellar interposed. This form is new to the 

 Irish flora. 



