190S. Proceedijigs of Irish S ode lies. 103 



male, and also tor its small size and extreme rarity. The first British 

 specimen was found on hazel in Somersetshire by Mr. J. C. Dale more 

 than sixty years ago, and at the time of its discovery near Wexford it 

 had not since then been noticed in any other locality in Britain. The 

 species has recently (1903) been taken on the banks of the Nith, in Dum- 

 frieshire, this being the third recorded locality in the Britannic area. 

 Though widely distributed, it is said to be an excessively rare insect in 

 Europe, and but few examples are known in collections. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



March 14. — Excursion to Greex H11.1.3 Esker, Balrothery.— 

 Twenty members and visitors left Terenure by the 2.45 tram, and on 

 arrival at Balrothery proceeded to study the eskers which are so well 

 developed in that localit}-. The conductor, J. Swain, B.A., gave a general 

 account of the method of formation, and then the party moved along the 

 crest of the esker-ridge in the direction of Clondalkin. On the way a 

 large number of sections in the eskers were examined. The party 

 returned to Dublin through Dolphin's Barn. 



March 17. — The fourth business meeting of the session was held in 

 the Royal Irish Academy House, the President in the chair. J. Bayi^EY 

 Butler, M.A., gave an account of the methods used in modern marine 

 research, dealing with thermometers for recording temperatures of great 

 depths, with methods for collecting and preserving specimens. The 

 paper was illustrated by a large collection of lantern slides. J. de W. 

 Hindi spoke on the paper. 



Aprii. II.— Excursion to the Dodder and Friarstown Gi.en.-- 

 The closing winter excursion was attended by thirty members and 

 visitors, who left Terenure by the 1.30 steam tram for Tallaght. 

 From here the party, under the conductorship of W. B. Bruce, walked 

 up the western bank of the Dodder in the direction of Bohernabreena, 

 observing such plants as the present late season afforded. A heavy 

 shower stopped work for some time, but afterwards a section visited 

 Friarstown Glen, afterwards returning to Tallaght across the fields in 

 time for the 7 tram to town, 



ApriIv 14. — The concluding meeting of the winter session was held in 

 the Royal Irish Academy House. The President in the chair. Prof G. 

 H. Carpenter, B.vSc, gave a paper illustrated by lantern slides on Irish 

 Springtails, with an account of two new species, new to the Britannic 

 fauna. The paper, which will shortly be published in the Irish Naturalist, 

 was discussed by F, Neale, R. LI. Praeger, and the President. The Presi- 

 dent then proposed that the summer excursions of the year 1908 should 

 be devoted to a geological and biological examination of the North 

 Bull or some other defined district. The matter was discussed and 

 referred to the committee. J. H. Ivloyd was proposed as a member, and 

 Messrs. J. Johnson and T. Harford were proposed as Associate Members. 



