1901. Daviks. — Polygonum Mite at Lough Neagk. 69 



fewer than seven species, one of them being P. minus, also a 

 scarce plant. P. Mite, unless sufficiently studied, is a plant 

 that may very easily be passed over. As has been said by 

 Watson, it is "an ill-understood plant, quite distinct from 

 mi?ius, with which it has been confused, but very near to 

 Persicaria." In order to show that some care has been taken 

 to avoid mistake in the identification of so critical a plant, it 

 may be stated that examples have been most kindly examined, 

 and the name confirmed, by Mr. S. A. Stewart, F.B.S.E-, Mr. 

 Nathaniel Colgan, M.R.I. A., and Mr. Arthur Bennett, F.LS. 



Lisburn. 



THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY. 



Some important changes have recently been made in the 

 bye-laws of the Royal Irish Academy, which, considering the 

 eminence of that learned society, should prove of general 

 interest to scientific students. Hitherto, candidates for 

 membership have been ballotted for at any meeting of the 

 Academy, the names of the candidates duly proposed and 

 seconded having been exposed in the Academy rooms for a 

 month previously. Now, however, new members will be 

 chosen only at one meeting in the year — in March — when not 

 more than twelve names out of those nominated during the 

 year will be proposed by the Council for election into the 

 Academy. 



Another noteworthy change concerns the selection of the 

 Council. Hitherto, the senior member of each of the two 

 Committees of twelve (Science, and Literature and Antiquities) 

 into which the Council is divided, has retired annually. In 

 future the two senior members of each Committee will retire, 

 and the circulation of eligible members through the Council 

 will thus be accelerated. 



We congratulate the Royal Irish Academy on the adoption 

 of these changes which will, we have no doubt, tend to main- 

 tain and, indeed, to strengthen the high standing of that body 

 -r-the leading home of Irish philosophy and science. 



