21 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAD ZOOEOGICAE SOCIKTY. 



Recent donations comprise four Peregine Falcons, from R. M. Bar- 

 rington, Esq. ; a Sparrow-Hawk, from R. P. Jacob, Esq. ; a Guinea-Pig, 

 from Master G. H. Mitchell ; and a Three-banded Douroucouli, from Dr. 

 R. E. Griffin. Two Glossy Ibises, two Night Herons, and two Mandarin 

 Ducks have been acquired by purchase. 



The collection has sustained a loss in the death of the male Chimpanzee. 

 A notice on this animal by Dr. V. Ball, accompanied by a photograph, 

 appears in our present issue. 



3,650 persons visited the Gardens in November. 



Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society 



DECEMBER 5th.- The following papers were read : — Mr. A. Tate, 

 M.I.C.E. — Report of the Society's Delegate to British Association ; Mr. 

 W. H. Patterson, M.R.I. A. — A Notice of ancient Shell-Mounds at 

 Rosapenna, Co. Donegal, illustrated by Finds (this paper will shortly 

 appear in our pages) ; Mr. Douglas Ljthgow — Gossipings about the 

 Parish of Saul. Two ancient carved stones from the Abbey of Saul, 

 presented to the Museum by the lecturer, were shown. Miss Susan 

 Richardson gave an exhibition of the latest improved phonograph, 

 brought from U.S.A. by Mr. Alex. Richardson, Lambeg. 



BEDFAST NATURADISTS' FIEED CEUB. 



December 19. — Mr. W. B. Yeats gave a lecture on the subject of Irish 

 Fairies. The Secretary read, for Miss Ceara Patterson, a short paper on 

 local children's games, illustrated by photographs. Mr. W. H. Patterson, 

 M.R.I. A., presented a report from the Ethnographical Committee, which 

 showed that the Committee were only waiting for circulars and informa- 

 tion from head-quarters before beginning systematic work in the 

 district. 



DUBEIN NATURADISTS' FlEED CEUB. 



December 12th.— The President (Dr. M'Weeney) in the chair. Mr. 

 J. M. Browne, B.A., read a paper on "The Cicindelida (Tiger Beetles) and 

 their Distribution." The reader explained the systematic position of the 

 family and their characteristics, and. gave an account of their habits and 

 their distribution. Mr. T. W. Lyster, M.A., exhibited a very rare book 

 — " Lithographia Wirceburgensis " — a strange geological hoax of the 18th 

 century. Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger, M.R.I.A., exhibited a collection of 

 Brambles, some twenty in number, made during the past season in Co. 

 Dublin. All of these were new to the county, and most of them to dis- 

 trict 5 of " Cybele Hibernica " ; three were additions to the Irish flora. 

 The Secretary exhibited (for Mr. J. N. Haebert) three beetles of the 

 genus Rhinosinms, of which one, Rh. viridipennis, appears to be new to 

 Ireland, and another, Rh. riificollis, is an addition to the Dublin list. 



Cork Naturaeists' Fieed Club. 

 November 29th.— The President, Prof. Marcus M. Hartog, M.A., 

 D.Sc, F.L/.S., gave the inaugural address of the session, entitled "The 

 Evolution Theory." After pointing out the character of scientific theories 

 in general, he proceeded to expound the general view of the evolution 

 theory, and pointed out the principal arguments for and against. A short 

 discussion followed. Mr. G. FarringTon, M.A., described a superficial 

 deposit of very fine sand on a mound sloping east and west at Clay Castle, 



