1 91 7- Irish Societies. 15 



occupying the chair. The paper was illustrated by a series of excellent 

 lantern views, many of them from the lecturer's own negatives. After- 

 wards Dr. Charlesworth and N. H. Foster made a few remarks, to which 

 Mr. Cleland replied. With the election of five junior Members the 

 proceedings terminated. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



October 14. — Excursion to Kilruddery. — A party of twenty-five 

 left Harcourt Street Station at 11.45 a.m. for Bray, arrving at Kilruddery 

 about one o'clock. The day was very stormy. In the wood on the 

 right of the avenue leading from the main gate, the conductor, Prof. 

 A. Henry, pointed out the numerous natural seedlings of various ages 

 of the Silver Fir [Abies peciinata) scattered about in the vicinity of the 

 old parent trees. In the absence of rabbits, this species sows itself in 

 most parts of Ireland almost as freely as the Ash and Sycamore. The fine 

 old hedges of Beech, Yew, Lime, and Evergreen Oak were much admired. 

 In a sheltered spot, some rare New Zealand trees were planted about ten 

 years ago, the most remarkable being the Kauri pine {Agathis australis), 

 of which only another specimen (at Menahilly in Cornwall) is known 

 to exist in the open air in the British Isles. Splendid old trees of Lime 

 and Beech are plentiful in the pleasure grounds ; and the magnificent 

 line of Evergreen Oak [Quercus Ilex), numbering about twenty trees, is 

 unrivalled in Ireland, some of the stems girthing 10 to 12 feet. Special 

 attention was paid to the distinguishing characters of the various species 

 of conifers, such as Pinus insignis (splendid specimen), Pinus excelsa, 

 Deodar, Larch, Abies nobilis. The party returned to Bray about five 

 o'clock. 



November 30. — The opening meeting of the Winter Session was held 

 at the Royal Irish Academy House. The President (Prof. G. H. 

 Carpenter) gave an illustrated address entitled " Useful Studies for 

 Field Naturalists," which was discussed by N. Colgan, R. Ll. Prager, 

 and C. Dunlop. It will be published in next month's issue of this 

 magazine. 



CORK NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



July 1. — Excursion to Waterloo. — A party of twelve members 

 travelled by 3.30 p.m. train from Glanmirc to Blarney, from which they 

 walked to Ballygibbon rath. Here the confluctor, J. Noonan, drew 

 attention to the fact that in southern districts the Whortle-berrj' 

 {Vaccinium Myrtilliis) is generally found growing on all the so-called 

 " Danish raths," except on those erected where the soil is calcareous. 

 " Father Horgan's Round Tower " at Waterloo (erected in 1834 as a 

 protest against Henry O'Brien's theory of the origin of tlie Round Towers, 

 then recently published), was next visited. The party then proceeded 

 to Blarney by the picturesque Ardamadane Glen. Tea was obtained at 

 the Blarney Castle Cafe, after which the members returned to town by 



