1924. Irish Societies. 4j 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL 



SOCIETY. 



Professor W. R. Morton in the Chair. A lecture on " Lough Neagh 

 in legend and history " was given by the Rev. Canon Archer, B.D., in the 

 Museum, College Square North. The lecturer mentioned that the origin 

 of the lake was believed by some autnorities to be the result of ice action. 

 Others held that it owed its being to volcanic action, and the lecturer 

 inclined to that view, though he thought both actions might be responsible. 

 Having shown how intimately the Lough is associated with the history 

 of Northern Ireland, Canon Archer dealt with some features in its natural 

 history, and made special reference to the Pollan, explaining the name of 

 that fish as derived from an Irish word meaning a dark or shady pool. 

 The shrimp which infests the lake wa5 also referred to, and the remarkable 

 swarms of the Ma^'-fiy. Touching on the belief that Lough Neagh petrifies 

 wood, the lecturer said it was certainly not the water that did this, for he 

 had found many instances of this curious phenomenon above the level 

 of the lake. The lecture was illustrated by lantern slides and maps, and 

 a hearty vote of thanks was accorded on the motion of the President, 



[It is a well known fact that the so-called " petrifactions " are 

 derived from the inter-basaltic beds.- — Eds.] 



NOTES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Marten in Co. Limerick. 



Sir Charles Barrington reports to me that a pair of Martens have 

 lately been seen at Glenstal, Co. Limerick. They were hunting squirrels 

 in the woods. As these animals are rare in Ireland you may wish to 

 have a record of them. 



Shawford, Hants. George C. May. 



[Mr. May has since informed us that two pairs of Martens were 

 caught on this estate about the 14th of July last. — Eds.] 



Squirrels near Central Area of Belfast. 



There have been four squirrels in our garden at Lennoxvale, this 

 winter. Orie is almost grey, another dark red, a third is light red, and 

 the fourth, red with a white ring round its tail. They became so tame 

 that when we put food out for them on the pantry window-sill they 

 climbed up the spouting to get it, and sometimes they even came inside. 



Belfast. Joan Loewenthal 



[Our young correspondent's note is interesting as recording the fact 

 that squirrels have now reached the margin of the central area of the city 

 and we hear are now close to the University and New Museum now build- 

 ing in Botanic Park. — Eds.] 



