244 ^'^'^ /rw/^ NaturalisU November, 1910. 



GEOLOGY. 



Arenig Rocks at Courtown, Co. Wexford. 



lu view of the interest that has recently been aroused in the occur- 

 rence of Arenig rocks in the West of Ireland, it may be as well to draw 

 attention to the existence of rocks of the same age on the Wexford 

 coast near Courtown. These were discovered by Messrs. Mauge, 

 Carruthers and myself upon, an excursion made to that region during 

 the visit of the British Association to Dublin in 1908. Close to Courtown 

 Harbour, on the south, the beds yielded Clonograptus flexilis (Hall.), and 

 some little distance further south a black shale band contained some 

 " extensiform '* Didymograpti. This occurrence of Clonograptus flexilis 

 undoubtedlj- indicates the presence of beds low down in the Arenig 

 Series, while the Didymograpti probably indicate beds belonging to a 

 somewhat higher horizon. 



G. Iv. Er.LES. 



Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge. 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Leopard from Mr. C. J. Roger, fourteen 

 guinea-pigs from Mr. Watson, asparrow-ha\vk from Mr. C. J. Wisdom, a 

 Ring-Ouzel from Mr. R M. Barrington, and a White Sparrow from Mr. 

 T. Walpole. A young Grey Seal given by Mr. N. Seaver could not be 

 reared, and died after a few days in the Gardens. A large number of 

 birds have been lately deposited in the Gardens, including three Rheas, 

 two Demoiselle Cranes, two Reeves Pheasants, three Mute Swans, two 

 Black Swans, an Egyptian Goose and two Bernicle geese. 



A young Llama was born in the Gardens early in October. Such an 

 event has not occurred in Dublin for many years, and the graceful little 

 creature will assuredly prove a great attraction to visitors. The new 

 Aviary for eagles and falcons is now nearly finished, and will afford 

 excellent accommodation for the birds of prey. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



September 17. GeologicaIv Section.— The fine exposure of 

 Cretaceous strata at Kilcoan quarry on the west side of Island Magee 

 was examined, and a large number of fossils obtained, chiefly from the 

 "White Limestone " and " Chloritic Chalk and Sands." These included 

 twQ very perfect specimens of Trochus ; Micraster cor-ajiguiiittm, Klein ; 

 Spondylus spiiwsus. Sow ; Camerospougia fungi/or mis, Goldf ; the phrag- 

 mocones of belemnites ; Cidans-spines, &c. The mineral " Beekite " 

 was noted on an Ostrea sciiuplana. and on a specimen of Inoceramus. 

 The upper surface of the Chalk, where the Boulder-clay has been 

 removed, shows very fine glaciation ; two sets of strine running S. 5*^ W. 

 and E. and W. respectively were observed. So far as could be made out 

 from the surface, the stride produced from the west, were subsequent 

 and superimposed on those made by the ice moving from the north. 



The Lias a little south of Barney's Point was also examined, and 

 yielded a large number of fossils. 



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