2^4 *^^^ Irish Naturalist. December, 



by the 12 o'clock train to Dundrnm. After inspecting closely the well- 

 known castle, the party proceeded on foot to Slidderyford cronileac, and 

 from thence scattered over the Newcastle sand-dunes, where the 

 Secretary found a very perfect arrow-head. Heav}- rain came on, which 

 impeded the work of the collectors. After tea in Newcastle, the business 

 meeting was held, the President in the chair. Belfast was reached at 

 S.30. 



The Report and Proceedings of the Belfa.st Naturalists' Field Club for 

 1907-8, recently issued, again contains a record of a good 3'ear's work. 

 The eight field meetings (including the Cork Field Club Union Confer- 

 ence) and twenty winter meetings held, were well attended. Attention 

 is drawn to the excellent discoveries made by members among the jVIol- 

 lusca and Land Isopoda. The most interesting of the several illustrations 

 is a photograph by R. Welch o{ Spirantiies Romanzoffiana in flower in situ 

 on the shores of Lough Neagh. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



October 3,— Excursion to Avondai^e Forestry Station. — 

 Twenty-two members and visitors left Dublin by the to. 15 train from 

 Harcourt-street. On arrival at Rathdrum, Mr. A. C. Forbes, the 

 Director of the Department's Forestry vStation, who acted as 

 conductor during the day, met the part3^ The woods on the western 

 banks of the Avon were traversed, during which many fine species of 

 Fungi were obtained. On arrival at Avondale the real work of the ilay 

 commenced, Mr. Forbes taking the party through the arboretum and 

 the forest plots, pointing out the different varieties of trees the station 

 was testing, and discussing the probabilities of success. He also drew 

 attention to the fine timber (Turke}- oaks, planes, Spanish chestnuts, 

 &c.) which had been planted by the Hayes family over a hundred years 

 ago, when the Avondale estate was in their possession. The members 

 returned to Dublin by 6.5 train from Rathdrum. 



November 3- — Conversazione. — The twenty-fourth winter session 

 was opened by a Conversazione held in the Royal Irish Academy House 

 (by permission of the Council) and attended by a large number of mem- 

 bers and visitors. The meeting opened at 7.30. and at 8.30 the President 

 (Geo. H. Peth3'bridge, Ph.D.) took the chair, and after welcoming the 

 visitors and explaining to them the special objects ofthe Club, introduced 

 Mr. P. E. DAI.T.INGER, B. A. (Hon. Sec. Oniagh Field Club), who delivered 

 a lecture on "The Camera in the vService of Natural History." The 

 lecturer dwelt principally on the great simplification which had taken 

 place during recent years in photographic methods, and the many lines 

 of investigation which could be aided by the use of photography. 

 The use of the camera in the .study of animal life was also dealt with at 

 .some length as well as its possibilities in photo-micrography, and Mr 

 Dallinger showed a very beautiful series of lantern .slides of birds and 



