22 The Irish Nahiralist. January, 



L. trichoclados the bracts of the female in florescence are ovate, bidentate 

 with the lobes more or less toothed, and the mouth of the perianth is 

 dentate and closed to a point; while iu L. sdacea the bracts are laciniate 

 and ciliate, and the mouth of the perianth is longl}' ciliate and widely 

 open. The distribution of Lepidozia trichoclados in Ireland is still under 

 investigation ; recent research shows it to be found in the following 

 counties — Dublin, Wicklow, Clare, Mayo, Gal way, and Sligo. 



He also exhibited a drawing of the two plants by W. N. Allen, 

 which delineated their characters. A full account of the distribution, 

 with plate, will be published in the Irish Naturalist this year. With 

 regard to the plant exhibited at the previous meeting of the Club as 

 Jimgertnaiiia sp. ? collected by Mr. Hunter on schist rocks, Rathmullan, 

 Co. Donegal, Professor Kaalaas, to whom specimens were sent, writes :— 

 "The most striking character in the plant is the almost rectilineal 

 truncate leaves, which, with regard to their form, are very like those of 

 Jiingermania alpcstris, but it cannot, for many reasons, be referred to that 

 species. In most respects it seems to come near /. IVenzelii, which, 

 however, is somewhat larger, and, moreover, an alpine species that is 

 not likely to be met with iu Ireland. I do not know any European 

 species to which your plant with certainty can be referred." Until 

 fertile specimens be found, it will be difficult to settle this question. 



W. F. GUNN showed shoots of Gooseberries attacked by the American 

 Gooseberry Mildew, Sphc^rotheca Mors-Uva (Berk. & CurtisJ, also aslide 

 of same, showing the perithecia or winter fruit of the fungus in situ. 

 This disease, which has proved most disastrous in America, almost 

 prohibiting the cultivation of the fruit in many districts, first appeared 

 in this country in County Antrim, about five years ago. Since then, it 

 has been reported in a number of districts througliout the country. 

 The fungus attacks the young foliage and fruits, soon after the buds 

 have burst, covering them with a white cobweb-like mycelium, on 

 which conidia are freely produced. Ivater iu the year (he perithecia 

 appear as minute black specks embedded iu the mycelium. 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL 



SOCIETY. 



December i.— The President (Professor Symington, M.D., F.R.S.) 

 in the chair. A lecture was given by Prof. J. W, Byers, M.D., M.A.^ on 

 the subject : " Sayings, Proverbs, and Humour of Ulster." 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



November 17. — The President (W. J. FenneIvU delivered an inaugural 

 address, his subject being " The Club's Builders " He briefly traced the 

 history of the Club from its foundation on March 6, 1863, and proceeded 

 to refer to some of the members whose influence and work had contri- 

 buted to the life of the Club during the intervening forty years. Among 

 the members referred to were Canon Grainger, Professor R. Tate, Robert 



