1900.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. 289 



As next speaker, Mr. R. M. BarringTon referred chiefly to the 

 migration of birds as observed at Irish lighthouses and lightships. He 

 dealt particularly with the migration of the common Song Thrush, a 

 bird generally supposed to be resident and sedentary, but which comes 

 to this country in great numbers between 20th October and middle of 

 November. The course taken during the migratorj' flight was clearly 

 indicated. 



Mr. R. J. USSHER following, gave an interesting account of the habits 

 and distribution of Irish birds in general. He urged that much more work 

 could still be done on Irish ornithology, and he hoped to see workers in 

 the field of ornithology persisting patiently in their arduous toil. The 

 speaker referred to the increase and decrease of certain species, and he 

 hoped that those birds approaching extinction would be vigorously 

 protected. 



Next Mr. SKymour exhibited a series of lantern slides of rock sections. 

 These were the prize micro-photographs, and were well executed. 



Dr. AivCOCK shewed some lantern slides of bats from nature, also of 

 minute structures of nervous and vascular tissues. Many of these 

 photographs were most difficult to prepare, and they showed much skill 

 on the part of the exhibitor. 



The President threw on the screen several capital photographs of birds 

 and beasts in captivity in the Dublin Zoological Gardens, which afforded 

 much interest to the audience. 



During the evening a number of scientific exhibits were on view. 



Mr. R. J. Ussher'S collection of birds' eggs certainly require special 

 mention. It was of very large extent, and occupied most of the centre 

 table. It is admittedly the finest collection of its kind in Ireland, and a 

 large series of the best clutches have now been acquired by the National 

 Museum. Ornithological exhibits were strongly represented, including, 

 in addition, some beautifully mounted specimens, of birds from Dublin 

 Bay vicinity by Mr. Williams ; rare specimens from the Science and Art 

 Museum, shown b}' Dr. SchariF; together with Dr. Patten's exhibits 

 illustrating the plumage, changes, and life-history of certain wading birds 

 Space will not permit of the description of all the exhibits, but among 

 them maybe mentioned the following: — Mr. Carpenter— Beech- wood 

 bored by the Weevil, Mesiles Tardy i ; Professor Cole — Illustrations of 

 gems and precious stones as they occur in nature; Dr. Foord — Irish 

 Cricoids; Mr. J. N. Halbert— Collection of Water-beetles from the 

 Museum series of Irish animals ; Prof. Johnson — Fungus on Tobacco 

 plant grown in Ireland; Mr. Patterson — Fungi from Dunran ; Mr. 

 Moore — Rare plants from Glasnevin ; Mr. Seymour — Igneous rocks 

 and photo-micrograph apparatus; Mr. Welch — Land and Fresh-water 

 Shells. 



Coff"ee was supplied shortly before 10 o'clock, at which hour a very 

 successful and enjoyable meeting was brought to a closd 



