1902. 



251 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a pair of St, Helena Finches from Mrs. Cannon, 

 a Heron from Mr. R. R. Fitzherbert, a lyizard from Mr. L. C. Doran, a 

 Hare from Mr. B. Kilmurray, a pair of Peregrine Falcons from Mr. R. M. 

 Barrington, three Choughs from Mr. P. D. Butler, a Chacma Baboon 

 from Mr. A. B. Goodbody, a Cockatoo from Mrs. Pritchard Rayner, 

 three Pea-fowl from the Dowager Marchioness of Dufferin, a South 

 African Squirrel from Mrs. Fletcher, two Green Monkeys and a Kestrel 

 from Mr. H. St. George, a Zebra from the Zoological Society of London, 

 four Hog Deer from Capt. A. R. Pryce, a white Turkey-cock from Sir 

 Douglas Brooke, and a Mungoose from Colour-Sergeant W. J. Grace. A 

 Malayan Bear, two Porcupines, and a nest of the Meadow Ant ^Lasius 

 flavus) have been bought. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB, 



JuiyY 26. — The half-day excursion to Giants' Ring did not take place. 

 August 16. Excursion to Monkstown and Bai,i,yci.are.— 

 Twenty-six members left from the Linenhall Library, and drove by the 

 Shore Road to the ivy-clad ruins of Whiteabbey, all that remains of the 

 abbey founded for White Canons, which was an offshoot from the Abbey 

 of Dryburgh, in Scotland. Ascending the slopes of the Knockagh, the 

 members visited the ruins of Monkstown Abbey, the reputed burial- 

 place of King Fergus. 



At Monkstown a formal meeting of the members was held, under the 

 chairmanship of Mr. W. H. Phillips. One of the members gave a short 

 address on the historical associations of the place, and announced the 

 further arrangements for the day. Proceeding a few miles further, a 

 visit was paid to Lisnalincha Fort, an excellent example of the early 

 Celtic earthen fortifications. The rath around the circular lis and the 

 outside fosse are still in fair condition, and well worth preserving. 



The next halt was at an ancient monument known as Wiley's Fort, a 

 circular earthwork of about eighty paces in diameter. The encircling 

 rath has been levelled, but part of the fosse remains. This fort has con- 

 nected with it a souterrain, which is not now accessible, and from the 

 number of stones scattered over the surface it is to be feared that the 

 structure has been damaged, if not entirely destroyed. It is to be 

 regretted that so many of our interesting old Irish monuments are 

 allowed to fall into dilapidation. 



