4394 Dublin Natural History Society. 



details that characterise the Salmonidae. I have to regret, however, the absence of 

 Mr. Ffennell, whose able assistance would have been valuable on this subject, which 

 he had started in the Society and invited it to the discussion. It is a subject also that 

 requires the aid of the sound judgment of the practical men of the great Scotch 

 fisheries." 



The Chairman said that the salmon-fisheries of Ireland had for some years past 

 excited great and general interest, yet it was a subject that appeared not to have been 

 understood. He would be glad to hear any remarks from the Members upon the 

 statements which Mr. Andrews had submitted. 



Wheatears feeding on Flies ; 8rc. 



Doctor Farran wished to offer a few observations prior to the adjournment of the 

 Society for the summer recess. Ornithological facts, with the exception of Mr. 

 Andrews' highly interesting paper on the membranaceous duck of Australia, had oc- 

 cupied the attention of the Society very briefly during the late meetings ; but he 

 trusted a large accumulation of such would be in store for the ensuing session. He 

 thought the following notes might prove interesting: — Walking on the shore of 

 Knockaginn, on the 3rd of April, 1854, he (Dr. Farran) saw eight or ten male wheat- 

 ears (Saxicola CEnanthe),m fine plumage, sitting on a little eminence or sand-hill. 

 It being a fine sun-shining day flies were abundantly about, on which the wheatears 

 were feeding in the manner of the flycatchers, capturing the insect on the wing, and 

 immediately returning to the spot they left. They appeared fearless, suffering you 

 to approach within five yards, and remaining motionless until attracted by their 

 prey. It would appear, from such a number of male birds being together, that they 

 preceded the females in their migration. Another fact was the almost total disappear- 

 ance of the brent goose (Anser Brenta) from the Dublin markets. This bird, erro- 

 neously named bernicle,has hitherto been abundant, and much esteemed for its flavour. 

 The winter was very severe, which usually brings them in numbers to our shores. The 

 cause of their disappearance should be inquired into. 



Honorary Members. 



The Chairman then announced that the ballot should take place. There were the 

 names of some distinguished men that had been approved of by the Council to be 

 nominated Honorary Members. He should mention that it was a rule of the Society 

 that " No person residing in Dublin, or within ten miles of it, can be elected as an 

 Honorary Member of the Society.'' 



Annual Dinner. 



Mr. Andrews, one of the Secretaries, then stated that this meeting closed the ses- 

 sion for the season. The Society in its objects had endeavoured, throughout the past 

 session, to bring before its meetings subjects, original, useful and instructive, and more 

 especially of value in practical points. The mere collecting of the objects of the natural 

 history of a country, or the records of their existence, are but limited stages in the 

 advance of the science ; our powers should be bent to trace causes of existence, and 

 the results useful and practical derivable from such causes. He trusted that during 

 the recess the Members would aid these objects of the Society. He also mentioned 



