igiy- . Irish Societies. i8y 



crossing the stem. Seldom found in fruit on account of the dioeicious 

 character, upper leaves furnished with dark clusters of gemmae, resembling 

 curious septate slipper-shaped spores, and doubtless the plant increases 

 by this asexual mode of reproduction. It is sparingly distributed in the 

 counties of Kerry, Mayo, Donegal, Antrim and Wicklow ; several localities 

 in England, and West Inverness in Scotland ; found also on the Continent 

 and in North America. 



F. J. S. Pollard showed minute lateral spiracles, six pairs of which 

 he had discovered on the fourth-stage larva of the Warble-flies 

 (Hypoderma). They are connected by fine air tubes with the lateral 

 trunks of the tracheal system, but these minute tubes appear to be 

 partially blocked, and it is unlikely that the spiracles are functional. 

 Hitherto no such structures — even in a vestigial condition — appear to 

 have been recognised in the larva of any muscoid fly. 



Prof. G. H. Carpenter showed specimens of the Campodea-like bristle- 

 tail Symphylurinus Grassii var. aethiopica Silvestri, collected near 

 Johannesburg, South Africa, by Mr. J. W. Shoebotham. The genus 

 belongs to the family Proiapygidae ; it was first discovered by Prof. 

 Silvestri in South America and has been lately recognised by him in a 

 collection from Zululand. {Ark.f.Zoolog. Stockholm, vol. viii., no. i, 1913). 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



September 22. — Excursion to Portrane. — Threatening weather was 

 responsible for a small attendance on this excursion. A party of eight 

 started from Amiens Street by the 12.30 train, and reaching Donabate 

 about one o'clock spent half an hour there in examining the interesting 

 little modern church and the fine Wych Elm which grows by the church- 

 yard gate. This monarch amongst Co. Dublin elms, still intact and in 

 full vigour, had a girth of 16 feet 3 inches at about 6 feet from the ground 

 and an 80 feet spread of branches when measured in 1903. On the way 

 to the shore at Portrane the Bank Sedge [Carex riparia) was seen in 

 abundance by the alder-lined ditches ; but botanizing was discouraged 

 by the thick drizzle of rain which set in about three o'clock and drove 

 the party for shelter to the ivy-clad ruins of the old church. Here lunch 

 was taken and a business meeting held at which Mr. Lancelot Gubbins 

 was duly elected a member of the Club. 



The shore was reached soon after three o'clock, when the rain passed 

 off and Lambay stood out clearly in the offing. Amongst the shells of 

 the beach the Smooth Cockle {Cardium norvegicum) was found to be 

 quite frequent in various stages of growth. Pushing southward the well- 

 known beds of the Portrane inlier were reached. Here the conductor, 

 Mr. J. de W. Hinch, explained the geological features of the Lower Silurian 

 volcanic ashes, lavas and crush conglomerates, and the numerous sea 

 caves, half masked by the rising tide, were examined with interest. Along 

 these cliffs the Sea Spleenwprt grew vigorously with a profusion of Samphire 



