[ 297 ] 

 PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



RoYAi, Z001.0GICAI, Society. 



Recent donations comprise a Golden Pheasant from Mr. Godden, a pair 

 of Rabbits from Masters J. and G. Armstrong, a Long-eared Owl, a Barn 

 Owl, two Pigeons, and a Hedgehog from R. L. Weldon, Ivsq., a vSparrow- 

 hawk from D. Carton, Esq., a Herring-Gull from R. 1^1. Praeger, Ivsq., 

 two Green Monkeys from Rev. J. Botrel, and a Cormorant from T. Clib- 

 born, Ksq. A seal has been purchased. 



9,200 persons visited the Gardens in September. 



Dubinin Microscopicai, CIvUb. 



JUI.Y 2oth. — The club met at Mr. M. HEDL,iiY's, who showed a section 

 of a vegetation from a cusp of the nutral valve of a pig's heart, in which 

 the presence of a large number of the bacilli of schweine-rothlauf were 

 present. The section had been stained with gentian, violet, and rosin, 

 and was examined under a one-twelfth oil immersion. It was pointed 

 out that this section had been obtained from an Irish pig by Professor 

 MacFadyean after the animal's arrival and death in Scotland. This dis- 

 ease has often been mistaken for the disease ordinarily known as swine- 

 plague, but in this disease the bacilli are of another character. The 

 schweine-rothlauf bacilli are amongst the most minute of such organ- 

 isms, and are so closely allied to mouse septicaemia that the difference is 

 best determined by cultivation methods. The specimens are more in- 

 teresting because they are the first which have been demonstrated as 

 existing in Irish swine. The exhibitor has, since receiving this slide, 

 obtained further specimens among Irish swine. 



Mr. F. W. Moore exhibited Xylaria rhopaloides, Nutge. This remark- 

 able fungus made its appearance on a piece of wood which had been im- 

 ported from the Amazon with some orchids. It had not previously been 

 found growing in Britain. 



Prof. Coi,E showed a section of iridescent soda-orthoclase from near 

 Laurvik, S. Norway, illustrating how the play of delicate grey-blue 

 colours in the mass is due to the development of exceedingly minute 

 rods within the crystal. This is an example of " schillerisation " on an 

 unusually small scale. A fine specimen of the syenite in which this 

 mineral occurs has been for some time on view, as a polished tombstone, 

 in Great Brunswick-street, Dublin.! 



Dr. Scott showed some sections from some enlargements which grew 

 on the roots of the Bean ( Viciafaba), and which were sent to him by Mr. 

 G. Pim. The section showed the growths to be composed of three 

 layers, the outer one composed of large spherical cells similar to pith 

 cells. The middle layer was very small, being composed of a few fibro- 

 vascular bundles and single bundles. The inner layer was a mass of 

 spherical cells, somewhat smaller than those in the outer. The cells in 

 the innermost layer were packed with masses of micrococci, in some 

 cases apparently filling up solidly the space inside the cell wall. The 

 stain found most satisfactory was a watery solution of methylene blue. 



Mr. McArdi^E exhibited a specimen of Chivolepiis aureus, Linn., a large 

 red alga, wdth the threads in neat compact tufts, of a brilliant orange 

 colour. It was collected on Carlingford Mountain, Co. Down, by Mr. 

 R. Welch, of the Belfast N.F.C., on the 5th of August, 1893. 



BEI.FAST NaTURAWSTS' F1EI.D ClUB. 

 August 26th.— Excursion to the Giant's Causeway. A party number- 

 ing about sixty proceeded from Belfast by the 8.15 train to Portrush, 

 and thence to the Causeway by the electric tramway. Here they were 



