1896.] 55 



NOTES. 



BOTANY. 



FUNGI. 

 A Blrd's-nest Fungus nc\v to Ireland. — Some few years ago, 

 and again last month, I received from Mr. James Thompson, Macedon, 

 Belfast, specimens of a small Bird's-nest Fungus, which Dr. M'Weeney 

 has identified for me as Cyathus vernicosus, DC, of which, he remarks, he 

 has no previous record from Ireland. Miss S. M. Thompson has kindly 

 supplied particulars about its occurrence. The fungus comes up jear by 

 yearinpotsof CrassuIa.Pciunia, Carnation, &c., in a cold house at Macedon; 

 and its occurrence there has been noticed for more than twenty years. 

 As some interest attaches to this very curious group of Fungi, I have 

 deposited the specimens in the Herbarium at the Science and Art 

 Museum, where they may be examined. 



R. Li/OYD Prakger. 



Earth-Stars in Co. Tippcrary,— Last month Rev. J. W. ffrench 

 Sheppard, m.a., sent me from Rodeen, Borrisokane, three specimens of 

 one of the strange-looking Earth-stars. They were found in a fir-wood. 

 The specific characters of this group of PHmgi appear to be somewhat 

 slight, but Mr. Greenwood Pini, who has kindly examined the specimens, 

 has little hesitation in referring them to Geastcr fimbriatus, Fries. 



R. Li^OYD PraegER. 



MUSCINEM. 

 IVIoss Exchange Club.— It is proposed to form an Exchange Club 

 for Mosses and Hepaticae somewhdt on the lines of those at present in 

 existence for exchanging and recording Phanerogams. Any persons 

 interested in Bryology who would wish to become members are invited 

 to send in their names to Rev. C H. Waddell, Saintfield, Co. Down. 



ZOOLOGY. 

 BIRDS. 



Irish Bird Notes. — GreEn Sandpiper (7!?/a««j ciT/^r^/wj). — During 

 the month of August several specimens of this bird have been obtained 

 in difi^^erent parts of Ireland, one so early as August 8th, shot at Kinnegad, 

 Co. Meath, one on the 2oth at Broadford, Co. Clare, and a third obtained 

 at Mount Charles, Donegal. 



Bi,ACKTAii,ED GoDWiT {Limosa cegocephala). — Have been very numerous 

 this autumn. A small flock frequented Baldoyle Estuary the latter end 

 of September, but I failed to obtain a specimen ; one shot on 27th August, 

 Rathangan, another at Clare Castle; several, Rosslare, Wexford, 24th 

 August. 



BARTAiTyED GODWiT {Limosa lapponicd). — An individual of this species 

 shot at Dundalk, September 7, retaining a good deal of the red summer 

 plumage. 



AvoCET {Recurvirosira avocettd). — A specimen of this exceedingly rare 

 visitor to Ireland was obtained by Mr. Gibbon, junr., at Rosslare, 

 Wexford, on the 27th August ; it was a young bird of the year. 



