180 NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 
the oscula and pores—the mode of reproduction, independent of the 
beauty of their tints, which are altogether altered in their dried state, 
or in spirit preparations. 
Mr. Andrews frequently noticed the great alteration of character 
that almost suddenly takes place in marine objects, especially delicate 
species, when placed in spirits. Mr. Andrews regretted to find on in- 
quiry that the collection of sponges that had been made for the Natural 
History Society had been put astray or lost at the time of the confused 
removal of the Museum from the rooms which the Society held in 
Brunswick-street, and that also not more than one-third of the speci- 
mens are at present forthcoming in the Royal Dublin Society’s collec- 
tion, formed by Dr. Scouler, and which may be attributed to the same 
cause—the packing and stowing away when the change from the rooms 
and the alterations in the Museum were made. There were several 
unique specimens that had been collected by M‘Calla. 
Dr. R. H. Traquair, Professor of Zoology in the Royal College of 
Science, was elected an Ordinary Member of the Society. 
The meeting adjourned to the first Thursday in March. 
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1868. 
Ropert CaLLweEt., Esq., M. R. 1. A., V. P., in the Chair. 
Reap—The Minutes of the preceding Meeting, which were con- 
firmed. 
The following communication, accompanying the exhibition of some 
eges of the Peregrine Falcon, was then read :— 
ON THE SECOND RECORDED INSTANCE OF THE PEREGRINE FALcon LAYING 
irs Kees IN CONFINEMENT. By R. J. Montcomery. 
In 1859 I became possessed of a Peregrine Falcon, which had been the 
property of Prince Duleep Singh, and had been lost by his falconer, 
Mr. John Barr, in 1858, she being then one year old. When I got her 
one wing had been injured, so-as to incapacitate her from flying. The man 
who brought her to me, under the impression that she was one of my 
hawks which had been lost, told me that he found her batthng with a 
rook under a hedge, and, in securing her, he hurt her wing. Finding 
her useless for falconry, I put her on half-pay, and into a cage in the 
Zoological Gardens. In April, 1864, she laid one egg, which was de- 
ficient in colour and deformed, being pear-shaped. It was quite soft 
when laid ; however, I managed to preserve it, and it is now on the table 
before you. Up to this period she had been fed on horse-flesh. I im- 
proved her diet the following winter and spring, frequently giving her 
the chopped-up wings and legs of a pigeon, rook, or rabbit, thereby caus- 
ing her to swallow a quantity of bone. ‘This had the desired effect, as 
in March and April, 1865, she laid two eggs, greatly improved in shape 
