SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



129 



NATURAL SCIENCE IN IRELAND. 



npHE study of natural history in Ireland has 

 always been more or less intermittent and 

 largely influenced by the activity of one or a few 

 leaders. There have been cycles of successful 

 field-work directed by such men as Thompson, in 

 the north, Edwin Birchall, from Dublin, and, to 

 a lesser extent, by others ; but the intervals of 

 apathy are even more remarkable, considering the 

 splendid opportunities. Never, however, has there 



We have just received a special number of 

 "The Irish Naturalist," the organ of the Field 

 Club Union, which is entirely devoted to the 

 report of the second triennial conference and 

 excursion of the Union, held at Kenmare, from the 

 7th to 13th of July last. It is beautifully illus- 

 trated with reproductions of photographs and a 

 diagram. Through the courtesy of the Editors we 

 are enabled to present one of these to our readers, 































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Ice-Rounded Bluff of Old Red Sandstone at Loo Bridge. 



[From the Report of Kenmare Conference, Irish Naturalists' Union.) 



IBelfasf, Photo. 



been such a period as the present in Ireland for 

 systematic study of natural science, directed with 

 so much ability by Messrs. Lloyd Praeger, Geo. 

 H. Carpenter, Grenville Cole, and the spirits who 

 organize the Irish Field Club Union excursions. 

 These annual and other reunions of the lovers of 

 nature in the Sister Isle do more than anything 

 else to foster their interest in biology. They 

 bring about a healthy emulation among the 

 members, and afford opportunities that are most 

 valuable for comparison of ideas and knowledge. 



October, 1898.— No. 53, Vol. V. 



showing a fine example of ice-worn rock. The 

 other pictures include two of strawberry trees 

 [Arbutus nnedo), Cloonee Lough, views on the Sheen 

 and Kenmare rivers, Upper and Muckross Lakes, 

 ice-worn rocks at Moll's Gap, two erratic blocks, 

 a bank of Irish spurge (Euphorbia hibernia), the 

 spotted slug of Kerry {Geovialacus maculostcs), young 

 caterpillars of peacock butterfly [Vajiessa io) on 

 nettle, nest of wood-ant [Formica nifa) at Killarney, 

 and one of wood-spider [Pisaura mirabilis). The 

 Report of the Conference and Excursions is given 



