54 



[Proc. B.N.F.C., 



and Arctic Lemmings have been found in caves in Sligo, Clare, and 

 Cork. This little animal increases so rapidly — two litters being 

 born every year, the average number in each being five, but some 

 times there are as many as seven and eight — that, owing to excess 

 of numbers and consequent scarcity, they are obliged to migrate 

 in search of food. This migration takes place every ten or fifteen 

 years, when millions start off in a straight course, eating everything 

 before them and leaving desolation behind. Nothing will turn the 

 animals from their course; over mountains, swimming rivers and 

 lakes, they swarm, and in populated places fall into the wells and 

 produce the well-known (on the Continent) Lemming fever. This 

 migration may take from one to three years, and usually ends in 

 the little animals entering the sea, and, as they will not turn aside, 

 they are drowned in large numbers. 



Mr. Robert Welch, M.R.I. A., described the Geology of the 

 County Cork. He gave a description, with measurements and 

 also slides, of a submerged Cromleac at Rostellan, and then 

 passed to his favourite study, the land and freshwater Mollusca, 

 briefly describing the various species collected during the Confer- 

 ence week, and showing slides to illustrate many points in species 

 which would otherwise have been obscure. 



The mammoth cave at Buttevant, the latter name a corruption 

 of the warcry of the Barry's, " Boutez en avant " (push forward), 

 created much interest, Mr. J. L. S. Jackson giving quite a 

 romantic description of the interior of the now famous cave and 

 the difficulties of its exploration. The cave has now come into 

 the hands, by purchase, of Mr. R. J. Ussher, the well-known 

 authority on birds. This gentleman for some years past has taken 

 up the task of excavating some of the caves distributed over 

 Ireland, and has published the results. Mr. Ussher is now at 

 work on the Buttevant cave, and kindly gave several of the 

 members an opportunity of examining it. Mr. Jackson was 

 enabled, through the kindness of Mr. Robert Welch, M.R.I.A., 

 to show the meeting some unique slides from flashlight photo- 



