BAILY ON" FOSSIL PLANTS FROM TITE SOUTH OF IRELAND. PART I. 41 



This bird had been shot by Dr. Hinde, Staff Surgeon, on the 21st 

 of January, 1865, a few miles above the so-called Falls of Barraconda. 

 These Falls, which at the time of Dr. Hinde' s visit were little more 

 than rapids, are about 500 miles up the River Gambia. The Owl was 

 startled from some trees, which there lined its banks, by the sound of 

 the oars, but shortly re-alighted : on again rising, it was shot. This 

 species was originally described by Prince Buonaparte in his " Con- 

 spectus Generum Avium ;" and a very beautiful figure of it, by Mr. 

 Wolf, was annexed to a paper on its occurrence in the Gambia district 

 by J. H. Gurney, M. P., in the " Ibis," for 1859. Dr. Wright was 

 able to confirm a remark made by Mr. Gurney, that the transverse 

 markings on the upper part, and the spots on the lower part of the bird, 

 are not of a true black, but are, more properly speaking, of a dark 

 brown, varying from the other portions of the plumage rather in inten- 

 sity of hue than in actual difference of colour. The tarsi and feet, how- 

 ever, in this specimen are of a slightly yellow hue. This Owl must still 

 be regarded as a rare bird in collections. One in the Leyden Museum 

 is from Rio Boutry; two or three in America are from the River 

 Gambia ; that in Mr. Gurney's possession is from the Barra Country, 

 very probably from the very same spot as the specimen now exhibited. 

 Dr. Kirk saw only three pair during his explorations of the Zambesi 

 district, in the Livingstone expedition — of these he succeeded in 

 obtaining five specimens; they were shot at the confluence of the 

 Shire and Zambesi ; so that, probably, not more than a dozen specimens 

 exist in the different museums in Europe and America. Dr. Hinde has 

 presented this specimen, with many other interesting Birds, Fish, and 

 Reptiles, to the University Museum. Dr. Wright concluded his re- 

 marks by expressing his great regret that Dr. Hinde had found it impos- 

 sible to be present at their meeting that evening, as he could have told 

 them so very much more about the habits of this bird. 



The following paper was then read : — 



On Fossil Plants from the South of Ireland. Part I. By William 

 Hellier Baily, F. L. S., F. G. S. 



Commencing with the oldest fossiliferous strata, I have to remark 

 upon the absence of all reliable evidence as to the existence of vegetable 

 organisms during the Cambrian formation in Ireland. In the Silurian 

 rocks there is, however, clear evidence of the existence of Plants ; these 

 were first discovered by Mr. A. B. Wynne, F. G. S. (now of the Geolo- 

 gical Survey of India), during the progress of the Geological Survey of 

 Ireland, near Hollyfort, in the county of Tipperary, with many other 

 interesting fossils ; and since by Mr. C. Galvan, one of the Fossil Collec- 

 tors of the Geological Survey, from the "N. E. side of the Keeper Moun- 

 tain — these Plant remains consisting of stems of considerable size, the 

 vegetable matter being converted into coal, and root-like fragments, with 

 depressions resembling Stigmaria of the coal formation (also a root), 

 associated with Graptolites, and fossil shells of a marine character. 

 vol. v. o 



