82 The Irish Naturalist, [ March 



Dr. C. Herbert Hurst showed preparations of the auditory organ 

 situated in the swollen basal joint of the antenna of the gnat {Culex) 

 which he described and figured in the Trans. Manchester Micros. Soc, 1890. 



Prof. A. C Haddon showed preparations illustrating the nauplius and 

 cypris stages in the development of Balamis balanoides. 



Mr. R. J. MiTCHEiyiv exhibited a microscopic preparation and micro- 

 photograph of Melohesia farinosa ? The distinction of some of the species 

 of Melobesia is based on minute characters in the structure of the 

 thallus ; the use of microphotographs in indicating these microscopic 

 differences was noted. 



Bei<fast Naturai, History and Phii^osophicai. Society. 



January 7th. — Mr. Joseph BarcrofT lectured on " The Properties of 

 the Surface of Liquids." 



February 4th. — Mr. S. F. Mii<i,igan lectured on " Antiquities, Social 

 Customs, and Folk-lore of Tory, Inismurray, and the South Islands of 

 Aran." 



Bei<fAvST Naturai^ists' Fiei<d Ci,ub. 



January 25th, Botanicai, Section. — The proceedings commenced 

 with an account of the vascular structure of plants by Rev. C. H. 

 WADDEiyi/, who showed how the various forms of vessels formed the 

 skeleton of plants, while at the same time serving as a system of 

 circulation. 



Mr. R. L1.0YD Praeger then gave a very complete account of the 

 various species of British ferns, illustrated by a fine set of mounted 

 plants, which were handed round. He pointed out the means of dis- 

 tinguishing some of the closely allied species which are often mistaken 

 by amateurs. Among the most interesting M'ere some plants of Adder's- 

 tongue with several fertile spikes, and some fronds of Hymenophyllum 

 grown under glass, which had produced several years' innovations from 

 the ends of the old fronds instead of dying down as usual. 



GEOI.OGICAI, Section.— Mr. Praeger gave an address upon "The 

 Glacial Series at Belfast and Dublin— A Contrast." The subject was of 

 special interest, as the Club is investigating the glacial geology of the 

 district, whilst Professor Sollas and Mr. Praeger are working out the 

 Dublin drift deposits. Mr. Praeger described the beds in Wexford as being 

 of late Pliocene age, the ancient sea-beach at Ballyrudder being our 

 earliest glacial beds, being overlaid by lower boulder clays. Marine shells 

 are much more abundant in the Dublin series than in the north ; fossils, 

 derived from Lias, being also singularly plentiful in beds at Kill-o'-the- 

 Grange. The splendid series of sands and gravels about Dublin were 

 described, which overlie, and are intercalated with boulder clay, Mr. 

 Praeger suggesting their being probably represented in the North by 

 the sands and gravels of Neill's Hill and the Dundonald Valley, which, 

 he thought, should be thoroughly investigated. The existence of an 

 upper boulder clay, less hard and more sandy and earthy, with plenti- 

 .ful marine shells in places, was mentioned as being now accepted in the 

 metropolitan district, although local geologists fail to find such a dis- 



