16 



Evening scientific meetings of the Society were 

 held in March, June, and December, in conjunc- 

 tion with the Royal Geological Society of Ireland, 

 and were largely attended by the members of 

 both Societies. 



The following papers were read and discussed 

 at the meetings held during the past year : — 



1. On the Mechanism of Flight in the Albatross, considered 



in relation to its Muscular Anatomy. 



2. On some Parasites found in Animals from the Dublin 



Zoological Gardens. 



3. Remarks on the genus Phaneropleuron. 



4. On the Flight of Bats. 



During the visit of their Royal Highnesses the 

 Prince of Wales, Prince Arthur, and Princess 

 Louise, in the summer of 1871, His Excellency 

 Earl Spencer drew their attention to the want of 

 an Elephant in the Dublin Gardens ; the result 

 was that their Royal Highnesses communicated 

 with His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, 

 who telegraphed his wish to present to the 

 Dublin Gardens the fine male Elephant recently 

 brought home by him from India, in H.M.S. 

 "Galatea." In due course of time this fine and 

 docile Elephant arrived in the Gardens, and has 

 been placed in the Elephant and Camel House, 

 which is now permanently fitted up with hot- 

 water pipes for heating the three apartments of 

 which the house consists. 



