330 Dublin University Zoological Association. 



be as vsidely spread as possible, and thus a band of trained observers, 

 after the lapse of a very few years, will become organized over the 

 whole of Ireland, and capable of carrying out any desirable zoological 

 investigation in connection with the centre in Dublin. There are 

 four Secretaries, each taking a department of zoology, so as to ensure 

 a general attention to all parts of the science, combined with that 

 special energy which each may be expected to exert in the promotion 

 of the zoological pursuit he chiefly attends to, and for a proficiency in 

 which he was chosen . There is a limited number of Honoraiy Mem- 

 bers, taken from the Professors and other cultivators of zoological 

 science ; from this body the Presidents are to be selected. As cor- 

 responding members, many of the most distinguished naturalists have 

 been enrolled, in various parts of the empire, and have expressed 

 their warm desire to aid the progress of the Association. Its working 

 is entrusted to the Secretaries, Librarian and Treasurer as a Council, 

 the President merely presiding at fortnightly meetings, held during 

 college terms. 



At these meetings communications are read and zoological subjects 

 discussed, and it is the duty of the respective Secretaries each to note 

 in his special minute-book all the information which may thus be 

 elicited in his special department ; thus will come to be accumulated, 

 in a somewhat classified form, much original information, from which 

 future publications may be drawn. On the whole, the Association 

 promises much to promote practical zoology : it meets in the Presi- 

 dent's rooms in connection with the University Museum, of which he 

 is Director, and in which is a very considerable collection of Irish 

 zoologv in all its departments, and an instructive general collection. 



We give a short abstract drawn up by the General Secretary, Mr. 

 A. Hogan, of the proceedings of the first meeting for the reading 

 of papers : — 



Report of the Proceedings of the Dublin University Zoological 

 Association. 



February 26, 1853.— Robert Ball, Esq., LL.D., President, in the 

 Chair. 



The following gentlemen were duly proposed and elected : — 

 Corresponding Members : The Earl of EnniskUlen ; Professor F. 

 M'Coy, Queen's College, Belfast ; Rev. W. M'llwaine, Belfast ; 

 Benj. Clarke, Tuam ; Thos. Knox, Lurgan ; J. G. Jeffreys, Esq., 

 Swansea ; J. M'Adam, Esq., Belfast ; R. J. Burkitt, M.D., Water- 

 ford ; R. Davis, Esq., Clonmel ; John Garner, M.D., Haltwhistle ; 

 R. Warren, jun., Esq., Sligo ; M. J. O'Kelly, Esq., Cabinteely ; 

 W. R. Tagart, Esq., Monkstown ; and Wm. Ogilby, Esq., Co. 

 Tyrone. 



Mr. Grainger read a paper on the Shells found in the alluvial de- 

 posits of Belfast ; by which it appeared that great numbers of recent 

 shells now found on the coast at no great distance have been im- 

 bedded in the formation upon which the town is built. 



The President inquired at what height above high water mark the 



