62 The Irish Maturalist. March, 
interior of the hd. These soUd undifferentiated teeth of the peristome 
appear to mark a very primitive stage in that organ, which is so highly 
developed, and so characteristic in other mosses. There is also a peculiar 
feature in the protonema wliich develops curious " frondiform " leaves ; 
these disappear before the young stems are developed, and are therefore 
often overlooked. In these peculiarities, Tetraphis is not approached 
by any other mosses, excepting the exotic genus Calomnium. 
NOTES. 
GEOLOGY. 
Beekite. 
In the Report and Proceedings of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club 
for 1911-12, recently published, Mr. James Strachan has an important 
illustrated paper on beekite, or cycloidal chalcedony. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Insects on the Great Blasket and in Wesfc Kerry. 
In the Irish Naturalist of October, 19 12, Mr. A. W. Stelfox records the 
land and freshwater mollusca found during his visit to the Blaskets in 
the preceding June in company with Mr. Praeger. A few beetles were 
collected on Great Blasket on this occasion ; although they are common 
insects they are worth recording from so isolated a locality: — Cicindela 
campestris, Cyclonotuvi orbiculare, Phyllopertha horticola, Athous haemor- 
rhoidalis, Byrrhus pilula, and Barynolus Schonherri. 
Mr. Stelfox remarks that although no natural habitats with permanent 
water appear to exist on the island, yet two species of water-beetles were 
collected there ; these were identified by Mr. Balfour Browne. The 
first, Helophorus viridicollis, Steph., occurred under clumps of sphagnum 
in damp places on the summit between the Signal Tower and Slievedonagh. 
The second, Anacaena i^lobulus Payk., was found on the cliffs at Foilbeg. 
A single example of the common earwig, Forpcula auricularia, with 
rather long forceps (7 mm.) was also collected on Great Blasket. 
On the mainland at Cloghane the uncommon black variety of Carabus 
{^ramilatus (var. interstitialis Duft.) was taken. It would appear to be 
of rather frec[uent occurrence in the south-west of Ireland. Also, the 
wing-cases of Carabiis clathratus, and two fine examples of Carabus 
glabratus on the high pass at Connor Hill, 
J. N. H ALBERT. 
National Museum, Dublin. 
