166 The Irish Naturalist. [June. 



fig. 23. The cylindrical asci containing eight echinulate spores, and 

 the simple or forked golden yellow paraphyses formed a striking object. 

 Dr. Cooke reports it from France. Mr. M'Ardle is not aware that it has 

 been previously found in Ireland. 



Rev. Canon RusselI/ showed some curious nodules, which, within the 

 last few weeks, were turned up in a field adjoining a large bog at 

 Geashill, King's Co., of which it formed a part fifty or sixty years ago. 

 It is described in the books of Lord Digby's office as being " moory 

 land " in the year 1856, but since then it has been from time to time 

 under tillage — with exception, perhaps, of that part of it where the 

 nodules were found, which has for forty years past been left to nature. 

 So far as he can make out, the process by which such ground is re- 

 claimed from the bog is as follows : — 



The surface moss, heather, and loose spongy turf immediately under- 

 neath, is pared off to the depth of four or five feet and thrown into the 

 bog-hole at the foot of the cutting until it is filled up. The water which 

 is thus displaced forms a fresh hole close to the bank which is gradually 

 retreating as the peat is dug out. Round the edge therefore of what is 

 called "the high bog" at a much lower level a fringe of "moory 

 pasture " is being continually formed, made up of the accumulating 

 loose material that had been cleared off from the top. In course of 

 time road stuff and manure are carted over the ground, and it is made 

 ready for the first crop, which is generally one of potatoes. 



In all probability, then, these nodules were formed in what were 

 originally bog-holes now filled up by the *' clearings " from the surface 

 of the bank. Their peculiar shape may be due, partly to the action of 

 the water many years ago, and partly to the effect of the fungoid growth, 

 with which they are infested. So far as Canon Russell has examined 

 them, they are chieflly made up of the stems and leaves of the rare 

 Sphagnum Austini closely felted together and covered by the threads of a 

 white mycelium, which in some cases find their way into the heart of 

 the nodule. This moss, which grows freely in the bogs about, was first 

 discovered in the locality by the Rev. H. W. Lett, and is well represented 

 by the form in which it appears in these tufts. The papillae, so 

 characteristic of the moss, along the walls of the, cells were brought 

 well into view by the mounts which Professor Johnson kindly prepared 

 for exhibition. They are remarkably well developed, and seem longer 

 than Canon Russell has seen them in some specimens of the living 

 plant. 



Mr. W. F. SiNCl,AiR sent for exhibition two specimens of Shagreen 

 with notes in response to Dr. Frazer's request for information on the 

 subject (p. 79). The first was an example of white Asiatic Shagreen, 

 such as is used in some English sword-hilts and many eastern. It was 

 from the skin of Trygon sephen or some closely allied species of sting-ray. 

 The principal sources of Asiatic Shagreen are the Trygons or sting- 

 rays, and especially Trygon sephen; in which the tuberculated area is 



