24 The Irish Naturalist. February, 1919. 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



November 27. — A public lecture in the theatre of the Royal Dublin 

 Society (by kind permission of the Council) was delivered by Charles 

 Green on " Food from the Sea." The subject of fishes' food and fishes 

 as food for mankind was dealt with from various standpoints and well 

 illustrated with a series of lantern pictures. A large audience was 

 interested in Mr. Green's discourse. 



Recent gifts include eleven Belgian " Hares " from Mr. H. F. Stephens, 

 a Toggenburg Goat from Mr. Davidson, and two Ringdoves from Mr 

 Smallman. An Anglo-Nubian male and four female Goats have been 

 purchased in addition to a Sooty Margabey and two Raccoons. A Two- 

 spotted Parodoxure, a pair of Peregrine Falcons, a Blue and Yellow 

 Macaw, and a Blue-fronted Amazon have been received on deposit. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



November 19. — The Vice-President (S. A. Bennett) in the chair. The 

 President (A. McI, Cleland) read the " Interim Report of the Strangford 

 Lough Survey Sub-Committee," which first dealt with the topography 

 of the lough, its tides, currents, islands, etc. Some interesting facts were 

 brought forward, among them being the maximum sounding of 216 feet 

 at the lough entrance to the Strangford Narrows, diminishing to only 

 42 feet at the sea exit. After deaUng with the general distribution of the 

 islands some points were brought out connected with the nomenclature of 

 the same, from which it would appear that most of the islands are named 

 from their colour or from their fancied resemblance to some object, or from 

 being the resort of some particular animal. The geology of the islands 

 was dealt with very fully in the report, the Sub-Committee drawing 

 particular attention to the question of " erratics " and their bearing upon 

 the general theory of the northern glacial ice-flow, particularly in respect 

 of the presence of Ailsa Craig eurite and Castle Espie limestone among the 

 erratics. The section of zoology was touched on, as requiring more workers 

 in order to do it justice. Coming to botany, there was evidence here 

 that much good work has been done. Lists of the plants occurring in the 

 neighbourhood had been compiled, due account being given of the mosses 

 and seaweeds to be found in the area. 



The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides, m:ips, and a collection of 

 erratics, flowering plants, seaweeds, birds, snails, &c- Particular mention 

 should be made of the block of Castle Espie Umestone found by Mr. R. Bell 

 in siiu. Its surface had been finely pohshed by ice action, and showed 

 glacial striae running in two directions. The meeting terminated with 

 some remarks from Dr. Charles worth and Mr. Bennett. 



