136 The Irisii Naturalut. June, 



May 14.— Excursion to Chair of Kildark.— Fifteen inenibers and 

 friends left Dublin b}- the 12.30 train on a geological excursion to the 

 Kildare inlier. T. Crook, A.R.C.S.I., acted as conductor. Cars were 

 taken at Kildare Station, and the parly drove three miles to the north- 

 ward to the foot of Grange Hill, on the southern slope of which stands 

 the Chair of Kildare. 



The Chair of Kildare is a mass of limestone, some three miles N, of 

 the town of Kildare, and forms part of a hilly ridge, running in a N.K. 

 and S.W. direction. This ridge is six or seven miles long, and has an 

 average width of about three-quarters of a mile. The rocks of which it 

 is composed are partly sedimentary and partly volcanic, all of Silurian 

 age, and are overlaid unconformably on all sides by the Carboniferous 

 limestone of the plain. The four hills form striking features in the dis- 

 trict; they were probably at one time covered by Carboniferous rocks, 

 and the}' owe their present relief to the fact that they are made up 

 largely of hard basaltic and gritty rocks, in consequence of which they 

 have been able to resist the weathering forces which have stripped off 

 their Carboniferous flanks with comparative ease. 



The party then ascended Grange Hill, passing at different levels the 

 various kinds of rocks which form the hill. Fine specimens of volcanic 

 ash, andesite, and porphj-ritic basalts were obtained, and finally at the 

 Bala limestone, which forms the Chair of Kildare, the members obtained 

 many characteristic Silurian fossils. At this point a business meeting 

 was held, Dr. Connolly Norman presiding, at which Miss Foster was 

 elected a member. The party then walked back to Kildare, and after 

 tea returned to Dublin. 



CORK NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



April 20.— Annual. Meeting.— Thomas Farrington, M.A., in the 

 chair. The report was submitted b}- the Hon. Secretary, and adopted, 

 together with the Treasurer s statement, :.howing a balance in hand of 

 about £(i. 



The membership of the Club now stands at 58, including 11 hon. 

 members, as compared with 67 last year. Owing to the Cork Exhibition 

 running a second year, it was again decided not to hold any excursions. 

 The Club was able, thanks to contributions from several members, to 

 have a section in the Exhibition, which created a good deal of interest. 

 The Secretary interviewed Colonel Plunkett, Director of the Science 

 and Art Museum, Dublin, and through his kindness obtained a repre- 

 sentative collection of Irish l)utterflies, moths, and beetles, which were 

 lent to the Club. These were supplemented by collections of birds from 

 Sir John C. Neligan, K.C., and Mr. F. R. Roliu ; botanical exhibits from 

 Miss H. A Martin, and Messrs. R. Lloyd Praeger and R. A. Phillips; 

 insects from Messrs. W. H. Johnson, J. L/. Copeman, and J. J. Wolfe; 



