yS 7 he Irish Naturalist, April, 
reason for this from the microscopic structure of the two rocks. Mr. 
Strachan pointed out that the zeoHtes were undoubtedly of magmatic 
origin, and not produced by rock-weathering or solfataric action as 
generally supposed. The lecturer's views on this point have been ac- 
cepted recently by leading British petrologists. The origin of the iron 
ores, he said, was a subject which had received much discussion, and the 
older views on the matter attributed them to lacustrine conditions. 
Recently, the Geological Survey had published a memoir in wliich the 
iron ores and bauxite were described as having largely originated from 
the weathering of the basalt in situ. The lecturer ventured to dispute 
this theory as applied to at least the uppermost series of the interbasaltic 
beds, which undoubtedly showed stratigraphical evidence of sedimen- 
tation. 
A discussion followed in which A. R. Dwerryhouse, f.g.s., R. J. Welch, 
M.R.I. A., S. A. Bennett, b.sc, Robert Bell, and the Chairman took part. 
The proceedings terminated with a vote of congratulation to Robert 
Bell, on his recent election to the Membership of the Mineralogical Society 
of London. 
February 12. — Archaeological Section. — W. J. Fennei.l, 
F.R.I.B.A., in the chair. Two addresses were given on this date ; the first 
by a visitor, W. Mayes, on the more notable of the Irish Medallists. 
The lecturer exhibited about fifty examples of Irish medallists' worlc. 
J. A. S. Stendall followed with a paper on " Irish Tokens." 
February 18. — R. J. Welch in the chair. A. MT. Cleland read 
a paper on " The Gorges of the Tarn, Cevennes." The paper was illus- 
trated by a series of views taken last summer by the lecturer. 
The following were elected members of the Junior Section of the 
Society : — Miss M. K. Duffin, Miss F. M. Ritchie, Miss J. Doherty, Miss N. 
Humphreys, Miss S. Bell, Miss I. Eoyd, and Miss Montgomery. 
DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
February 8. Visit to the Zoological Gardens. — About thirty 
members and visitors were conducted through the gardens by Professor 
G. H. Carpenter (Hon. Sec. R.Z.S.I.), Dr. B. B. Ferrar (Superintendent), 
and Professor J. Bayley Butler. A special demonstration was given in the 
monkey-house, w^here Mr. Walter Rothschild's great Chimpanzee " Tom," 
the Hoolock Gibbon, the Spider Monkeys, and the collection of Ruffed 
Lemurs were greatly admired. After a visit to the carnivore house at 
feeding time, the party proceeded to the aquarium where the New Zealand 
Tuatara and the Mexican Axolotl were shown and discussed. Finally the 
new fish-hatchery was inspected, eggs and young larvae of Salmon, Brown 
Trout, and Rainbow Trout being seen in the trays, and studied under 
the microscope. 
