2 24 The Irish Naturalist, November, 



At a time when Dr. Smith Woodward was opportunely in 

 the chair, Professor H. G. Seeley described, with character- 

 istic power of exposition, a new reptile from the Karroo beds 

 of South Africa, the skull of which clearly indicates the ex- 

 istence of a proboscis of some length, capable, as may be 

 judged from the muscular attachments, of being waved like 

 that of an elephant. 



Although papers on physical geology perhaps somewhat 

 preponderated, workers in all branches contributed by their 

 presence to the success of these well-attended conferences. 

 It is not invidious to say that a gathering which included such 

 senior workers as Mr. W. Whitaker, Sir A. Geikie, Professor 

 Seeley, and Professor Lapworth, was certain to be stimulating. 

 Mr. H. J. Seymour, as local Secretary, organised a most 

 successful series of excursions ; remarkable among these were 

 the two whole days on the Saturday and Sunday. On the 

 former, Dr. T^Iatley conducted a party of sixty members over 

 the Carboniferous section from Rush to Skerries ; and on the 

 latter, some thirty members enjoyed a drive and walk, in 

 brilliant sunlight throughout, from Rathdrum to Glen- 

 malure, Glendalough, and the Vale of Clara. 



Section D. — Zoology. 



The zoologists of the Association were admirably housed in 

 the Royal College of Surgeons, Professor Alex. Fraser acting 

 as local secretar}^ and making excellent arrangements. Dr. 

 S. F. Harmer, F.R.S., of Cambridge, was President of the 

 Section, and local naturalists were gratified that Dr. R. F. 

 Scharff, of the National Museum, was accorded the honour of 

 a Vice-Presidency. 



In his address. Dr. Harmer dealt particularly with the'mor- 

 phology and variability of the Polyzoa, a group in' which, as he 

 reminded the Section, an Irish zoologist, J. Vaughan Thomp- 

 .son, was the pioneer student, and G. J. Allman, another Irish 

 naturalist, author of the " classical monograph." Dr. 

 Harmer's own researches on the Polyzoa are known to all 

 zoologists. In a lucid and comprehensive survey of the 

 Polyzoan '^ colony," he discussed the function of the curiously 

 modified individuals known as '* avicularia,' supporting the 

 view that, "like the pedicellarige of Echinoderms, they are 



