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PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAI, ZOOI^OGICAI, SOCIETY OF IRFl<AND. 



Recent gifts to the gardens comprise two Japanese mice from J. B. 

 O'Callaghan, Esq.; two alligators from Dr. Finegan; an armadillo from 

 the Very Rev. M. A. Moore; and a marten from A. Ruttledge, Esq. 



About 8,300 persons visited the gardens in May. 



DUBININ MICROSCOPICAI< CI,UB. 



May 19th. — The Club met at Mr. Greenwood Pirn's, who showed a 

 specimen of Gymnosporangiiini jiitiiperi. 

 Mr. F. W. Moore showed Uredo lynchii. 

 Mr. W. F. de V. Kane exhibited Pandermium pini. 



BKI.FAST NATURAI^ISTS' FlEIvD CIvUB. 



May 21ST. — The first excursion of the season was held on this date. 

 The party, thirty-six in number, took the 8.15 train to Ball3'castle, and pro- 

 ceeded on cars westward along the north Antrim coast to White Park Bay. 

 There the secretaries announced that two prizes would be offered for the 

 best collections of shells and antiquarian objects respectively, made dur- 

 ing the day. The members then scattered over the shore and sand-dunes, 

 and worked back eastward along the shore. The great profusion of the 

 Meadow Cranesbill {Geranium pratensc) was specially noted, and though it 

 evidently preferred the banks and roadsides of the high ground over- 

 looking the bay, plants were found growing among the loose sands of 

 the shore. To archaeologists White Park Bay is a well-known and fertile 

 hunting-ground, Bvery gale which disturbs the shifting sands above 

 tide-mark reveals a fresh portion of the old surface, littered with rude 

 flint implements, bones, fragments of pottery, and cinders. On the pre- 

 sent occasion the greater part of a cinerary urn was obtained, and a large 

 number of other relics. The district proved poor in shells, though large 

 numbers of a limited number of laud shells were scattered over the 

 strand. The machines were again mounted at Ballintoy, and the party 

 drove back to Ballycastle, where tea was in waiting, after which the 

 judging of collections, and awarding of prizes took place, and the party 

 returned by the 5.55 train, reaching Belfast at nine o'clock. 



May 28th. — The first excursion of the Microscopical Section of the 

 club took place, the Bog Meadows being the locality selected. The 

 weather was extremely unfavourable, and there was consequently a small 

 turn out of members, but the programme was carried out in all particu- 

 lars, and a good collection of fresh-water material obtained for subsequent 

 examination. 



DUBININ NATURAI^ISTS' FIEI^D CI^UB. 



The second excursion of the season to Brittas and the Coronation 

 Plantation was fixed for 28th May, but, on account of violent rain, was 

 postponed until 4tli June. Unfortunately the weather was again unpro- 

 pitious ; only a few members ventured to start, and these were forced to 

 return before the appointed time without having done much collecting. 



ROYAI, DUBININ SOCIETY. 



APRiiy 20th.— At this meeting Prof. Haddon communicated a paper by 

 Miss Glascott on "Irish Rotifera." Many species are recorded for the 

 first time as Irish, of which twenty-five are described as new. 



