1907 Proceedings of Irish Societies. 131 



pressure to the cover- glass of a microscope-preparation, the perithecia 

 burst, and the single, eight-spored ascus, characteristic of this species, 

 protrudes. 



Professor G. A. J Cole showed a thin section of the calcareous Liassic 

 shale, altered by dolerite, from Portrush, in which the fossil molluscan 

 remains have become infilled, and in part actually replaced, by granular 

 pyroxene. In the most altered layers, streaks formed of pyroxenic grains 

 are the only representatives of the fossil fragments, and would be unre- 

 cognisable as such if the whole gradation were not traceable in the field. 

 Dr. Oldham, about 1838, observed in the same rock a belemnite, the 

 hollow of which was occupied by pyroxene. 



A. R. NiCHOivS exhibited spicules of a marine sponge (Gellius angulatus, 

 var.) obtained at low-water at Lambay Island, Easter, 1906. The com- 

 parative measurements of the spicules of Bbwerbank's type specimen 

 and of the Lambay specimen are given on p. 87 of this volume. 



Dr» M'Ardi,E exhibited the reproductive organs of Lejetmea Mackaii, 

 Hook., also portion of the plant showing the flat roundish under leaves. 

 It is larger than and unlike any other British Lejeunea, and is separated 

 at once from the genus Radula by the presence of under leaves, or 

 stipules. The inflorescence is monoecious, the andrcecia are on lateral 

 branches, consisting of several pairs of altered leaves, which contain 

 one or two globose antheridia each. Perianth large obcordate, capsule 

 very delicate with projecting cilia, spores large, elaters bispiral. The 

 specimens were collected on the walls of the "Pigeon Hole" cave, near 

 Cong, Co. Mayo, in July last. The only other locality for the plant in 

 that district is on rocks by a small lake near Letterfrack. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



November 20. — The President (W. H. Philips) gave his inaugural 

 address on " Some Beautiful Varieties of Ferns." The lecture was illus- 

 trated by a very large number of slides from photographs specially taken 

 by the lecturer. The paper was criticised by N. H. Foster, W. Gray, R. 

 Patterson, W. J. C. Tomlinson, and J. Hamilton. 



November 28. — The first Wednesday " Club Night" was presided over 

 by W. J. Fennell, MR LA., and the evening was occupied by a lantern 

 display. Slides were shown and described by the following : W. J. Fen- 

 nell, N. H. Foster, Robert Patterson, T. Anderson. Miss Walkington, 

 Arthur Deane, Mrs. Hobson, Miss Y. Courvoisier, Miss Andrews, J. C. 

 Tomlinson, R. Welch, W. A. Green, W. H. Gallway, and A. R. Hogg. 



December 12. — The President in the chair. Arthur Deane, the 

 Curator of the Municipal Art Gallery and Museum, gave a short paper 

 on " Leaves and their Functions," illustrated 011 the black-board. R. 

 Welch, H. L. Orr, A. Milligan, W. J. Fennell, W. J. C. Tomlinson, N. H. 

 Foster, Rev. J. Sheils, and the President took part in the ensuing dis- 

 cussion. 



