DUBLIN NATURAL HISTOET SOCIETY. 47 



was trying to regain his footing on the branch, having the appearance 

 as if he was dancing in the air. The fourth attempt was similar to 

 the first; while, hx the fifth and sixth, he again went through the dance, 

 after which he gave it up and resiimed his fishing on the Shannon, 

 although subsequently he must haA^e succeeded, for when I returned up 

 the Shannon there were seven of them roosting. The cormorants that 

 were " up" to the trees always came to them gently, and when they 

 had alighted on a branch, immediately spread their wings to balance 

 themselves, in which position they remained until the branch had ceased 

 oscillating. I left the neighbourhood on the 25th, and on my way to 

 Dublin remarked a number of cormorants about the south end of Lough 

 Derrig, especially near Killaloe. All the birds seen belonged to the 

 great cormorant, some of them being very old birds. 



Pkofessor Ktnahan read a paper, illustrated by recent specimens, 

 On the British Poetunib^, chiefly in reference to Forttmus holsatus and 

 its two varieties, one of which approaches P. marmoreus, whilst the 

 other is nearer to P. depurator. The existence of these varieties, Pro- 

 fessor Kuiahan thought, explained the discrepancies and confusion 

 which have arisen as to the distinction between P. marmoreus, P. hol- 

 satus, and P. depurator. 



The following gentleman was elected an Honorary Member : — M. 

 Alphonse de Brebisson Alsace. 



The Meeting then adjourned. 



FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1860. 

 William Andrews, M, E. I. A., President, in the Chair. 



The previous Minutes were read and signed. 



The President communicated to the Society some interesting na- 

 tural history notes, which he hoped to lay in detail before them at a future 

 time. He exhibited a curious malformed trout, identical with the 

 variety figm-ed in Yarrell ; Mr. Andrews' specimen had been sent him by 

 Mr. P. J. Poot. 



The Honorary Secretary read a paper — 



ON THE occurrence OF TRICHOMANES RADICANS IN THE COUNTY OE LIME- 

 RICK, WITH A LIST OF THE FERNS OF KILLALOE. BY G. H. KINAHAN, 



C. E., Or. S. I. 



In a paper on the Distribution of Perns in Ireland (^^^^e Proceedings, vol. ii., 

 p. 96), the author has recorded Trichomanes radicans from the Sliebh 

 Camailte range of hills, on the authority of specimens in the Glasnevin 

 Gardens, which Mr. Moore received from Mr. G. A. Pollock. I am happy 

 to inform the Society that I have personally verified the statement, hav- 

 ing had the good fortune to meet with the fern, growing luxuriantly, 

 in one of the glens. Its retreat is exactly similar to the habitat in which 



