1098. i85 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Receut gifts include a male Swau from Lady Palmer, Rabbits from 

 Mrs. Dent and Mr. E). Gerrard, an Amazon Freshwater Turtle from 

 Dr. H. C. Arden, and two Ringtailed Coatis from Mr. R. Casement. A 

 female Coypu has been purchased. 



Ten of the Rhea's eggs lately laid in the Gardens have been successfully 

 hatched by the male bird, and the chicks are now a month old and 

 thriving. They have been placed in a paddock at the end of the lake, 

 where they may be seen under the careful wardship of their father 

 picking up food from the ground and snapping flies in the air. The 

 three Chimpanzees continue in excellent health and condition. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



JuivY 4. — Excursion to King's Rivkr. — Members and visitors to the 

 number of 13 left Terenure by the 11 am. train for Blessington, with W. 

 F. Gunn as conductor. The heat haze prevented an extended view in any 

 direction during the day, and the excursion was mainly devoted to the 

 botany of the Liffey between Blessington and the King's River, and the 

 latter river for some distance before its junction with the LiflFey. 

 Mimiilus guttatiis appeared in considerable abundance by the LifFc}', and 

 on the King's River C«;Y/«wi-/ra/^//j-/j-, recently found hereby W. B. Bruce, 

 turned up. Late in the afternoon the party forded the King's River, and 

 after viewing the striking windings of the Liffey from the southern 

 bank, returned to Blessington. 



JUI.Y 25.— Excursion to Kii^messan and Bective.— A small 

 party left Dublin by the 9.30 train from the Broadstone under the 

 conductorship of J. de W. Hinch (Hon. Sec). On arrival at Kilmessan 

 the road to the Boyne at Bective was taken, and during the walk 

 Verbascum Thapsus and Centaurea Scabiosa were observed, the first in a gravel- 

 pit, the second by the roadside. When the Boyne at Bective was reached 

 rain was falling very heavily, which put a stop to field work for some 

 time, but during the afternoon some collecting of water plants was done 

 by boating. Among the plants found during the excursion were 

 Ranunculus Lingua, Dipsacus sylvestris, Matricaria discoidea, Verbena officinalis, 

 Ballota nigra. At a meeting held in the Wiugfield Arms Hotel, 

 Kilmessan, C. F. Ball was elected a member of the Club. 



