42 The Irish Na tu ; -a lis t. 



Mr. M'ArdlE exhibited specimens of a liverwort, Frullania gcrmana, 

 Tayl. which is often passed over for the commoner F. tamartsci, Mich., 

 leaves of which he also exhibited to show the characteristic line of cells, 

 the contents of which are peculiar ; this peculiarity does not occur in the 

 leaves of F. gertnana, and forms one of the marks of distinction between 

 the two plants. It is also a more beautiful object than F. tamartsci, larger 

 and with greater lustre, and the bracts of the perianth are entire. The 

 auricles are larger and more highly coloured, oblong ovate in shape, 

 ventricose. Mr. M'Ardle also exhibited dried specimens of both plants 

 mounted on card-board, which he collected last October on Slieve Glah, 

 Co. Cavan, which is a new locality for the plant. 



Prof. A. C. Haddon showed the two kinds of budding in the polyzoon 

 Flustra ; the one by means of which the colony is maintained, the other 

 peripheral, causing the growth of the colony. In the former the parent 

 organism decays and forms a "brown body" which is digested by the 

 daughter bud. 



Dr. R. H. Creighton of Ballyshannon sent for exhibition micro- 

 photographs of Phyllopod crustaceans obtained in the north-west of 

 Ireland. 



Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society. 



January 2nd.— The President (Prof. FitzGerald, M.I.C.E.) in the 

 chair. Mr. Conway Scott, C.E., delivered a lecture on National 

 Health. An animated discussion ensued, in which the following took 

 part :— Dr. Whitaker, Prof. Redfern, Dr. MacCormac, Messrs. Cowan, C.E., 

 Robert Gray, Seaton F. Milligan, M.R.I.A., J. H. Greenhill, John 

 Horner, J. P., William Armstrong, and Henry M'Loughlin. 



Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. 



December 20th.— The President (Mr. Wm. Swanston, F.G.S.), gave 

 a short opening address, his subject being " The Study of Geology, and 

 the advantages to be derived therefrom." Mr. Wm. Gray, M.R.I.A., 

 gave a lecture entitled "What is a Stone ? Being a Demonstration of 

 North of Ireland Rocks." 



Dublin Naturalists' Field Club. 



January 9th.— Annual Meeting. The President (Dr. M'Weeney) in 

 the chair. The Secretary (Mr. J. M. . Browne, B.A.), read the annual 

 report, which was passed, as was also the statement of accounts, which 

 was submitted by the Treasurer (Prof. Johnson, D.Sc.) Both showed 

 the Club to be in a flourishing and sound condition. The election of 

 office-bearers was then taken up. Mr. G. H. Carpenter, B.Sc, was 

 elected President, vice Dr M'Weeney, retired. Prof. G. A. J. Cole was 

 elected Vice-President, vice Dr. Scharff, and Mr. R. Lloyd Praeger 

 Hon. Sec, vice Mr. J. M. Browne. Mrs. J. T. Tatlow, and Mr. N. 

 Colgan were elected to fill vacancies on the Committee. The new Vice- 

 President, Prof. Cole, having taken the chair amid applause, a hearty 

 vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing officers for their constant 

 devotion to the Club during their term of office. On the motion of Dr. 

 M'Weeney, a sum of ^5 was voted to the editors of the Irish Naturalist, 

 to help towards defraying the expenses of the Journal during the present 

 year. Prof. Johnson, D.Sc, announced his willingness to give a 

 course of lectures and demonstrations on botany for the benefit of the 

 members of the Club. Several members spoke in grateful terms of the 

 generosity of Prof. Johnson's proposal, and the Secretary was instructed 

 to issue a circular, in conjunction with Prof. Johnson, acquainting mem- 

 bers with the proposal. 



