3926 Dublin Natural History Society. 



Proceedings of the Dublin Natural History Society. 



Friday, April 8, 1853. — Professor Allman, M.E.I.A., in the chair. 



Several donations were announced, and among them was a very fine engraving, 

 handsomely framed, of the celebrated wood-engraver, Thomas Bewick ; presented by 

 Dr. Gordon : who passed some deserved eulogiums on Bewick's skill and truthfulness 

 in his delineations of animal life. 



Mr. Williams presented a fine specimen of the wild swan (Cygnus ferus). This 

 bird had been in his possession for more than sixteen years, and lately met with a 

 severe accident, which had broken its wing close to the shoulder, thus rendering it ne- 

 sessary to kill it. Mr. Williams had bought the swan from a party at Abbeville, in 

 France. The bird had then been kept nearly sixteen years by the person he purchased 

 it from, who had captured it, when a mature bird, in a snow-storm. It was therefore 

 difficult to say what age the bird had reached. He would mention a remarkable fact 

 connected with the death of the bird. Being anxious to put an end to its sufferings, 

 he had given strychnine to the bird to the extent of 40 grains, without producing any 

 sensible effect. 



A paper by Mr. Andrews, " On the Embryology of the Trout," was then read. 



The author said, — " The true value and importance of the natural sciences are the 

 useful and practical results that can be derived from the study. The mere collecting 

 of objects, or the display and arrangement of a museum, may indeed afford pleasure 

 to many, whose time, or powers of observation, cannot command a more extended 

 sphere of scientific inquiry ; but a far nobler aim in the study of the natural sciences 

 is the blending with scientific details enlarged views of practical utility, and to make 

 Natural History conducive, not merely to amusement, but to the substantial improve- 

 ment of man. Such are the views of this Society, and to such are its pursuits and 

 exertions directed. 



" Another important feature in the proceedings are the opinions so freely given by 

 the members : and it is by discussion, which is the life and soul of a Society like ours, 

 that we arrive at the truth on subjects which often otherwise would appear perplexed 

 and obscure. 



" So far back as 1847, I had the pleasure, at a meeting of the Society, of submit- 

 ting to the members a statement relative to the fisheries of Ireland, and alluded at the 

 time to the many extensive lakes and rivers of this country, whose waters might be 

 made valuable by the introduction of the impregnated ova of some of the most esteemed 

 kinds of fish from the lakes and rivers of the Continent ; such as the Perca lucio-perca, 

 P. Zingel, Salmo hucho, &c, which the Danube, Iser, and Save abundantly afford. 

 In France, the inland fisheries are so cherished, that an acre of water is rendered as 

 valuable as an acre of ground ; and the successful experiments in that country attenct- 

 ing the propagation of the ova, are now rendering the object one of mercantile value. 



" One of the most delicious and esteemed fish for the table, the Osphromenus of 

 Commerson, is remarkable for its size and excellent flavour. It is mentioned as ori- 

 ginally from China, and known as the Gourami ; thence introduced by the Dutch to 

 Batavia, who kept and fed it in large earthen vessels, where it deposited its spawn. It 

 was also kept in tanks in the Isle of France, whence it escaped into the rivers of the 

 island, and now abounds there. Introduced also to Cayenne, and to the West India 



