120 



Resignations from the Club were read and accepted from 

 Mr. Maturin L. Delafield, Jr., Mr. W. C. Alpers and Mr. E. S. 

 Miller. Mr. Miller was elected to corresponding membership. 



The resignation of Prof. F. S. Karle as recording secretary was 

 read and accepted. The vacancy was filled by the election of 

 Mr. E. W. Berry. 



The first paper on the scientific program was by Dr. H. M. 

 Richards, entitled " Notes on the Peat Bogs of Ireland." The 

 peat bogs have been variously estimated as covering from one 

 fifth to one tenth of the surface of Ireland ; probably the larger 

 estimate is excessive. 



Dr. Richards' observations at several points on the west coast 

 including Donegal and Achill Island were given. The basis of 

 the bogs is not always the same, but in some cases it is glacial 

 gravel. The thickness of the peat varies from i or 2 ft. to 40 

 ft., but no exposures of more than 25 ft. thickness were seen. 

 On the slopes and hillsides the peat is thinner but becomes accumu- 

 lated in the lower situations so that the thickness of the bog does 

 not necessarily show its age. Bogs have been known to burst, as 

 in Sligo in 183 i, and to do considerable damage to houses be- 

 low them. 



The peat is mostly vegetable matter and yields very little ash. 

 According to Lyell its formation is supposed to be due to the 

 low temperature preventing complete decomposition of the vege- 

 table matter. Peat is not formed in warm countries and the 

 additions to the beds are made in cold weather. In the bogs 

 seen there was standing water only in the holes and ditches but 

 the soil was wet and soggy. Comparatively little of the bog oak 

 is found. Some of the stumps are in place, showing that they 

 are not driftwood carried into the bog. The dark color and 

 hardness of the bog oak is said to be due to the action of a 

 diatom, a Mciosira, and the formation of bog iron. ore is supposed 

 to be due to the same diatom. 



It was suggested that part of this action may be due as well 

 to Creiiothrix. There is little of vegetable remains except at the 

 top of the bog. Sphagnum makes up a comparatively small 

 part of the peat bog vegetation as seen in the localities men- 



