6 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



all those in the Metropolis interested in the pursuit of any of the 

 branches of the natural sciences should be found now united in one So- 

 ciety ; and he trusted that they would all co-operate, by bringing in 

 contributions in the shape of Papers, and new Members, to advance the 

 objects of the Society. 



The vote of thanks to Dr. Haughton was carried by acclamation, for 

 which he briefly returned his best thanks. 



The President then expressed himself as much flattered by having 

 been elected to the Chair, and said that his best endeavours should be 

 directed to further the interests of the Society. He pointed out that in 

 the department of Botanical Science, in which, like all those who 

 worked up any particular subject, he of course took a special interest, 

 there was a large field for the labours of many workers : for instance, 

 no Paper had appeared in the " Proceedings" on Paleeontological Bo- 

 tany, and Physiological Botany presented ; many questions of interest. 

 He then made an able defence of his favourite science — if, indeed, 

 such were needed — in its varied branches, as regards its application to 

 the elucidation of points connected with other sciences, and as regards 

 its own merits, iu a scientific, economic, and aesthetic point of view. 

 He took occasion to advert to the loss which science had sustained by 

 the recent death of Sir "William Jackson Hooker, and, only within the 

 last few days, of Professor Lindley, both of whom had been Honorary 

 Members of this Society, descanting, at the same time, on the immense 

 advancement of botanical knowledge which had been made by their long- 

 continued labours. Again thanking the Society for the honour done 

 him, he adjourned the Society till the first Friday in December. 



FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1865. 



Dr. David Moore, P. L. S., M. B. I. A., President, in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the preceding Meeting were read and confirmed. 



Mr. B. P. Williams exhibited a specimen of the " Night Heron" 

 (Nycticorax Gardeni), purchased by the Society. This specimen had 

 been shot on the 8th of November, at Bluebell, near Clondalkin, in 

 the neighbourhood of Dublin, whilst perching on the topmost branch of 

 a whitethorn tree, attention having been attracted to it by its peculiar 

 hoarse, croaking noise. This bird is a female, seemingly in adult 

 plumage. It is of exceedingly rare occurrence in Ireland. Its habits 

 are stated to be nocturnal and coy ; but in this instance the bird per- 

 mitted approach to within a distance of fifteen yards, without exhibiting 

 signs of fear. The stomach, on examination, was found to contain remains 

 of shrimps, as well as larvae and water beetles. Por the purpose of com- 

 parison, a male specimen of this species, belonging to Dr. Harvey, of 

 Cork, kindly lent for exhibition to the Society by that gentleman, was 

 also shown by Mr. Williams. This bird was shot near Cork, on the 13th 

 of October last. 



