242 The Irish Naturalist. LOctober, 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



RoYAi, Zooi^oGiCAi, Society. 



Recent gifts include a pair of Pochards from Sir Douglas Brooke, 

 Sparrowhawks from Mrs. Harte and Colonel Mausergh, monkeys from 

 Mr. A. B. Kenny and Mrs. Blakene}', a Kestrel from Miss Lovell, an 

 Otter from Mr. M. Timulty, two Giant Tortoises from the Hon. Walter 

 Rothschild, a cockatoo from Mrs. Booth, Peregrine Falcons from Mr. 

 Brooke and Mr. H. M. Winder, and a pair of Green Linnets from Mr. 

 Kdwards. 



18,064 persons visited the Gardens during August. 



Belfast Naturai^ists' FieivD Ci.ub. 



June 23 — The third field meeting of the summer session was held in 

 Tollymore Park, by kind permission of Lord Roden. The park is laid 

 out on the sloping sides of a valley, through which the Shimna River 

 traces a winding course. The bed of the river is formed of some of the 

 oldest stratified rocks in Co. Down, and illustrates in a remarkable 

 manner the eroding effect of river action, and the fantastic forms into 

 which running water can sculpture the very hardest rocks. About 

 eighteen birds were recorded, and a large number of beetles were collected 

 for further examination. As this is a noted botanical district, the botanists 

 were very active, and verified the names of many species. The Vice- 

 President (Mr. W. H. Phillips) offered a prize for the best lists of ferns 

 observed. Mr. Porter, the winner of the first prize, verified seventeen 

 species of ferns, and Mr. Orr took the second prize with fifteen species. 



A formal meeting of the Club was held in the Roden Arms, in the 

 village of Bryansford, just outside the park gate. Mr. Robert Welch 

 Was formally congratulated upon his being appointed photographer to 

 the Queen. His accepted works included many that were taken in con- 

 nection with the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. After the election of 

 members, the party adjourned for tea, and returned to Newcastle in time 

 for the last train to Belfast, 



August it. — The fifth meeting of the session was held at Glenavy 

 and the shore of Lough Neagh. A large party left Belfast, and were 

 joined by members from Lisburn, Antrim, &c. The walk from Glenavy 

 railway station to Lough Neagh — a distance of about two miles — was 

 undertaken under the most favourable conditions, and has highl}- appre- 

 ciated b}^ the part}'. Deviating from the country road, the party entered 

 Glenconwa}^ and for some distance traced the banks of Glenavy River. 

 The latter was very much swollen by the recent rains. 



The eastern margin of Lough Neagh, with its sandy borders, possesses 

 a varied and very interesting land flora. The aquatic and sub-aquatic 

 plants of its waters and neighbouring drains add considerable interest, 

 and constitute a region most attractive to the botanist. The river glen 

 yields a good many of the sylvan species. Here the melic grass {Mclica 

 Mniflord) was found in profusion and very luxuriant. The Yellow Loose- 

 trife {Lysimachia), one of the many pretty lacustrine plants, was met with 



