K9I9- Irish Societies. 43 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



September 21. — Excursion to Portmarnock. — A party of twenty- 

 five met at Amiens Street and proceeded to Portmarnock by the 1.50 train, 

 favoured by beautiful weather. Walking to the estuary, the object of 

 the excursion, the Velvet Strand, was reached. Owing to the lateness 

 of the season, very few birds were seen, some Oyster- catchers and Dunlins 

 alone calling for observation. Through the action of a recent on-shore 

 gale an abundance of sub-littoral shells had been cast up, and the examina- 

 tion of these occupied the party for the next two hours. Proceeding 

 towards Malahide by the sea-walk, the botanists collected, on the banks 

 bordering the road, several uncommon plants — Wild Mignonette, Hound 's- 

 tongue. Hairy Violet, Sweet Violet and Bog Pimpernel. On the opposite 

 side of Malahide estaury, the conductor, G. C. May, pointed out the 

 Tiesting ground of the Common, Arctic and Lesser Terns, which, owing to 

 the protection given in the breeding season, had increased prodigiously. 

 The party returned to Dublin by the 6.30 train. 



October 12. — Excursion to Lucan and Leixlip. — A party of 

 eighteen, conducted by W. F. Gunn joined in this excursion. The 12.30 

 tram was taken to Lucan, and in beautiful weather the conductor led 

 the party through the demesne. Here the autumn colouring and the 

 beauty of the Liffey in high flood delighted every one. On leaving the 

 demesne, the party went to the Salmon Leap, which was looking its 

 very best owung to the large quantities of water pouring over the fall. 

 After tea in Leixlip, the excursion returned to Lucan through St, 

 Catherine's farm, a way new to most of the members. The chief object of 

 the excursion was to search for Mycetozoa, of which the following species 

 were discovered : — Trichia varia Pers., Arcyria denudata Sheldon, 

 Physarum nutans, sub-species leucophaeum, Pers., Didymium squamulosum, 

 Fr. The conductor having kindly offered a lens to the collector of the 

 largest number of species of Mycetozoa, it was awarded to Miss Sheila 

 Sanderson, 



November 21. — J. de W. Hinch (President) in the Chair. The evening 

 was devoted to exhibits, among which were the following : — Prof. Col*, 

 F.R.S. : Maps illustrating the physical divisions of the British Isles. 

 J. DE W. Hinch : Varieties of Irish Granite. R. LI. Praeger : Specimens 

 of Lathyrus maritimus (Sea Pea) from Co. Kerry and Trichomanes 

 radicans (Killarney Fern) from Co. Carlo w. 



December 21. — J. de W. Hinch (President) in the chair. Mr. G. C. 

 May lectured on the Birds of Ireland, and illustrated the lecture by a num- 

 ber of lantern shdes. The lecture was discussed by the President, R. 

 LL Praeger, and H. W. D. Dunlop, 



