T901. Proceedings of Irish Societies. 99 



Mr. Praeger referred to the triennial conference of the Irish Field 

 Club Union which would take place next June in Dublin. 



At the close of the formal business lantern demonstrations were given 

 as follows:— Mr. Seymour— Three photographs of sea-gulls taken 

 from nature during the severe snowy weather of February, 1900. Mr. 

 Praeger — A series of botanical photographs executed (from nature) by 

 Mr. Welch of Belfast. Professor Haddon — Two series of lantern slides 

 (a) a series of photographs showing the various positions the wings of 

 birds assume during flight ; (£) a larger series of photographs of coral 

 reefs and corals including the peat " barrier reef" of Australia, 1,200 miles 

 long and 30 miles broad. The following members were elected : — Lady 

 Shaw, Miss Annie Shaw. R. J. Ussher. J. P. 



January 29.— The chair was taken by Professor A. C. Haddon in the 

 absence of the President. Sixty-one members and visitors were present. 

 Short papers were communicated by Professor Haddon and Messrs. 

 Seymour, Praeger, and Haebkrt, the cubject being " Derc Ferna, 

 the Cave of Dunmore." Mr. Seymour commenced by giving an account 

 of the structure and formation of caves in general, including those 

 formed by marine erosion, by wind action, and other agencies. Lantern 

 slides illustrating the different kinds of caves were thrown on the screen. 

 Mr. Praeger dealt mainly with the literature of the Dunmore Cave. He 

 also gave an account of an excursion to Dunmore Cave by Messrs. 

 Haddon, Seymour, Halbert, and himself last December. Mr. Halbert 

 described the fauna of the cave, chiefly corresponding to the species 

 which inhabit Mitchelstown Cave, including spring tails, myriopods, and 

 spiders ; Professor Haddon spoke on the human remains for which the 

 cave is celebrated. 



These papers will appear hi extenso in the Irish Naturalist. 



The papers were discussed by Professor Coi,e, Dr. Patten, Mr. 

 CunningTon, and Dr. PeThybridge. The following exhibits were 

 shown: — Mr. Edward Williams— A Pectoral Sandpiper; Dr. G. H. Pethy- 

 bridge— (a) Pink Yeast ; (b) Fluorescent Bacterium ; Mr. A. L. Otway — 

 Eggs of Testuck Marginata; Dr. C. J. Patten — Grey and Golden Plover. 



Three candidates were nominated for membership. 



March 5. — Mr. J. DE W. Hinch read a paper on the High-level Shelly 

 Drift of the Dublin mountains, which will appear in our pages. 



Dr. C. J. Patten contributed some observations on the habits of the 

 Knot, Tringa canutus. The papers were discussed by Messrs. E. 

 Wieeiams, A. h- Otway, and R. Lx. Praeger. 



The following exhibits were shown and discussed : — 



Mr. H. R. Nelson — Various minerals ; Mr. A. Wixuams — (a.) Speci- 

 men of Spirula peronii from Achill Island ; (b.) Specimens of Scaphander 

 li^narius from Portmarnock Strand and Dollymount; Mr. E. WiiyiyiAMS — 

 Specimen of House Sparrow (female), showing abnormal development 

 of the beak ; Dr. C. J. PaTTEN — Magpie with supernumerary hallux. 



Mr. J. H. O'Connell and Miss C. L- Adams were duly elected into the 

 Club, 



