134 "^^^ Irish Naturalist, July, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts iuclude a Badger from Mr. E. M, Arcbdale ; a Squirrel, 

 a Porcupine and an Owl from Dr. Langley ; a Sparrow-Hawk from Mr. 

 G. P. Keating ; a Blue- fronted Amazon from Mrs. Hoffe ; a pair of 

 Jacobin Pigeons from Mr. W. Lane-Joynt ; three Swans from Mrs. 

 Cullinan ; a Long-eared Owl from Mr. W. T. Potts ; and two Black Fan- 

 tail Pigeons from Mr. E. T. Ouirke. Two Ravens, six Flamingoes, and a 

 male Rhea have been acquired by purchase or exchange. 



The Council have decided to erect a hospital for sick animals and 

 specimens that require isolation. This will be a great convenience in 

 working the Gardens. It is also proposed to build a new aviary for the 

 larger birds of prey — eagles, falcons, and owls, whose present quarters 

 are somewhat confined. 



DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 



May II.— The Club met at Leinster House, Dr. G. H. PkthvbridGE 

 (President) in the chair. 



Prof. Scott demonstrated Burri's method for the demonstration of 

 micro-organisms. This consists of mixing the infected fluid with a 

 suitable specimen of liquid Indian ink diluted with water. When dry 

 the organisms stand out as white lines on a dark ground ; a close imita- 

 tion of the new dark-ground illuminators. The method has proved of 

 great value in the recognition of some pathological organisms which are 

 rather difficult to stain. 



D. McArdi^E exhibited the burst capsule, spores and bi-trispiral 

 elaters of Conocephaliis conicus L. ; also spirit material of the male plant, 

 showing the white antheridia, the species bein^ dioicous. This is one 

 of the largest of the frondose Hepaticae, remarkable for its aromatic 

 smell ; the reticulated venation of the thallus and large stomata, which 

 can be seen by the naked eye, separate it from all others of the group. 

 It enjoys a wide distribution, being found in Europe, Asia, Japan, and 

 North America. 



F. W. Moore exhibited a seedling of Droscra pygmaea, a very minute 

 species from Australia. In the adult the leaves are rotund on long slender 

 stalks. In the seeding state the.leaves are spathulate, with a few scattered 

 tentacles. The structure of the tentacles and glands could be seen very 

 clearly. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



ApriIv 23.— Geological, Section.— Scrabo Hii.l. This was the first 

 excursion of the season. The remarkable sections showing sills and 

 dykes of dolerite, laid open in the quarries of Triassic sandstone, were 

 examined. 



Fine specimens of sandstone, showing ripple-marks, moulds of sun- 

 cracks, current bedding, and brecciatiou were obtained, also one specimen 

 showing pits of rain-drops. 



