igir. 



Irish Societies. 95 



W. B. Wright, T. Hallissy, C. B. Mottat, J. N. Halbert, J. de W. Hinch, 

 G. H. Carpenter and the Chairman took part in the discussion. The 

 geologists dwelt on the evidence for severe glaciation up to, and even 

 beyond the western shore, but suggested the possibiUty of an unglaciated 

 area to the south. It was pointed out in reply that the discontinuous 

 range of the southern animals could be more easily explained by their 

 survival in an area to the west. 



April 8. — Excursion to the Dublin Mountains. — Con-lucted by 

 W.B. Wright, a large party traversed the Dublin range from Mountpelier 

 to the Scalp, visiting on the way the high-level shell-bearing Glacial 

 gravels at Ballyedmonduft and Larch Hill that have become famous 

 through the researches of the late Rev. Maxwell Close and J.de W. Hinch. 

 After the long walk, tea at the Scalp was welcome, and the party returned 

 to town bv train from Carrickmines. 



NOTES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Trichoniscus Stebbingi in Down and Antrim. 



In company with Messrs. A. W. Stelfox and R. Welch, I recently 

 searched some greenhouses in Hillsborough (Down), also in Botanic Park 

 and Crawford's Nursery, Belfast (Antrim), when we were successful in 

 finding in each of these places Trichoniscus Stebbingi, Patience. This 

 species of Woodlouse had previously been found in Ireland only in the 

 greenhouses at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Dublin. 



In addition to the above, the greenhouses in Botanic Park yielded 

 the following species of Woodlice : — Trichoniscus pusillns, T. roseus, 

 T. pygmcBUS, Oniscus aselliis, Povcellio scaber, P. dilatatus, Metoponorthus 

 pruinosus, and Armadillidium nasatum, as well as two species new to 

 Ireland, particulars of which will be recorded in a subsequent issue. 



Nevin H. Foster. 

 Hillsborough, Co. Down. 



't>' 



The Nuthatch in Ireland. 



On the 26th March, standing in Mr. Trumbull's garden at Malahide, 



I heard the strange note of a bird, in one of the apple trees. Following 



the sound I saw what I thought was a Nuthatch (Sitta ccesia). The 



bird flew across the garden to another apple tree. By careful stalking 



I examined within a few paces the first Irish Nuthatch, noting the black 



streak across the eye, the back and head bluish grey, the short tail and 



reddish under plumage. Mr. Trumbull kindly offered to shoot the bird, 



but I thought it was unnecessary, as I was absolutely certain of the 



species. Since then I have had a letter saying the bird is still about the 



garden. 



W. J. Williams. 

 Dublin. 



