1907. Pi oceedings of Irish Societies. 347 



Robert Young. J. P., seconded the resolution, which was supported 

 by Joseph Wright. F.G.S. ; William Gray, M.R.I,A. ; Robert Patterson, 

 M.R.I.A., and the President, and passed amid applause. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



September 14. — Excursion to PowerscourT.— A party of seven- 

 teen attended the day excursion to Powerscourt, admission to the 

 demesne having been kindly granted by Lord Powerscourt. The weather 

 was everything that could be desired; the long drive from Bray through 

 Lord Monck's demesne and the Powerscourt woods to the Deer Park was 

 most enjoyable. On arriving at the waterfall shortly after noon the 

 members divided ; one party climbed to the summit of Douce Mountain 

 while the rest explored the woods in the immediate vicinity. Special 

 attention was given to wood-feeding insects, for which the Deer Park, 

 offers special opportunities, and some local beetles were collected. They 

 include such species as Sinodendron cylindriciim, the dead remains of which 

 were found in decaying ash and holly trees. Several fine specimens of 

 Melanotics rufipes were dug out of an old holly, which also contained abun- 

 dant traces of the work of Rhopalomesites Tardyi, though very few living 

 specimens of this interesting species were seen. A larva was, however, 

 found in an old holly. A freshly emerged specimen of Thanasimus formi- 

 carins was found crawling on an ash tree. Priobium castaneum is also 

 responsible for considerable injury to the ash trees in the Deer Park. 

 On some shallow pools numerous examples of the local water-bug G err is 

 costce were noticed. The mountain party secured Pterostichus vitreus, 

 Mitoptis alpinns, and other species on the summit. Perhaps the most 

 interesting insect taken was the springtail Isotoma bidentictilata, colonies 

 of which occurred under stones in the river above the waterfall. It is an 

 arctic and alpine species only this year recognised in these islands. In 

 the late afternoon the party drove back to Fassaroe, where the}- were 

 hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Barrington. After tea 

 Mr. Barrington's fine collection of Irish birds, containing beautifully 

 mounted examples of such rarities as the Barred Warbler, Bee-eater, 

 Osprey, Squacco Heron, &c, was greatly admired. The party returned 

 to town by the seven o'clock train from Bray. 



October 5. — Excursion to the South Buee — Fifteen members 

 assembled at the Pigeon House at 2.30. Proceeding along the break- 

 water, the party arrived at the sand-bank, known as the South Bull, or 

 " Shelly Bank." The highest point of the bank is sparsely covered with 

 vegetation characteristic of the littoral zone. After some time had been 

 spent in exploring the sand-bank, a heavy storm of rain came on, and 

 the party dispersed rapidly. 



