1904- Proceedings of Irish Societies. 67 



frieuds of the Society. The loss of a faithful keeper, and of many valu- 

 able animals are sad features of the Report ; the old female Elephant, 

 "Zita," was wisely shot after she had crushed her keeper M'Nally to 

 death, while two Orang-utaus, Butler Bey's beautiful Giraffe, the male 

 Camel, a remarkably fine female Zebra, and a Capybara that had lived 

 in the Gardens for six years, also succumbed. To balance these losses 

 the young Elephant, given by the Duke of Connaught, the two young 

 Giraffes sent from the Soudan by the Sirdar, and two Himalayan Bears, 

 given by Mr. C W. Dunn, have been received, and are in very good 

 health, while prominent among the births in the Gardens during 1903 

 were two litters each of three Lion-cubs — two males and a female, in 

 April, by " Romulus " out of "Lady Macbeth," and one male and two 

 females, in December, by '* Pluto " out of " Dido." " Pluto " was the only 

 representative of the old Dublin strain, but with the advent of these 

 three promisin-g cubs the succession of true Irish Lions should be 

 secured. The silver medal for photographs taken in the Gardens has 

 been awarded to Mr. J. E. Sullivan, 



After the adoption of the Report a hearty and well-deserved vote of 

 thanks for his long and invaluable services to the Society was passed to 

 the retiring President, Prof. Cunningham, whose removal to Edinburgh 

 is deeply regretted by all the Council. (An excellent portrait of Prof. 

 Cunningham adorns the printed Report). In responding to the expres- 

 sion of feeling. Prof. Cunningham announced the election of the Lord 

 Lieutenant to the Presideuc}', and the re-election of Dr. Scharff and 

 Mr. A. E. Goodbody as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, respectivel}'. 

 Vacancies among the Vice-Presidents are filled by the election of Prof. 

 A. Birmingham and Justice Ross, while Professor A. F. Dixon and 

 Mr. T. Martin fill vacancies on the Council. 



DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 



January 13. — The Club met at Leinster House. 



D. M'Ardi,K exhibited a minute red alga, Pletirococcus tniniattis, which 

 was grov/ing on Lejeunea microscopica. It occupied most of the interior of 

 the swollen leaf lobes, and the Lejeunea had the appearance of bearing 

 copious antheridia. It was collected at Pontoon, Co, Mayo, in 1901, 

 where the Lejeunea grows on the bark of Alder in neat strata, and in 

 fruit. 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY A.ND PHILOSOPHICAL 



SOCIETY. 



January 28.— The President (Prof. Symington, F.R.S.) in the chair. 

 John M. Finnegan, B.A., B.Sc, read a paper on " Radium." 



February 17,— W. Swanston in the chair. R. L1.0YD Pr.\egkr 

 lectured on "A Historic Trial : The Limavady Gold Ornaments Case," 



