Notes. 



43 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January i6. — The President and Council entertained W. S. Green, 

 C.B., to breakfast in the Haughton House on the occasion of his retire- 

 ment from the Chief Inspectorship of Irish Fisheries. A party of fifty 

 guests were invited to meet Mr. Green, inchiding his principal official 

 colleagues and a representative gathering of naturalists — both professional 

 and amateur. Sir Charles Ball (President) gave an interesting 

 account of Mr. Green's career from his youthful dredging expeditions in 

 southern Irish waters to his invaluable administrative work in improving 

 the output and quality of the fish -harvest along the west coast, pointing 

 out that several valuable export trades of cured fish to North America 

 and Russia had been established by Mr. Green's exertions. His achieve- 

 ment, as a geographer and climber in the Canadian Rockies and the New 

 Zealand Alps were also eulogised. Mr. Green replied in a characteristically 

 modest and humourous speech. 



Recent gifts include a Rabbit from Miss E. Maguire, a pair of Pheasants 

 from Sir John Ross of Bladensburg, a Common Quail from Professor C. 

 J. Patten, and a piebald variety of the Common Eel from Sir Anthony 

 Weldon. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



September 12. — Excursion to Gormanstown and Laytown. — 

 Owing to unfavourable weather in the morning, only seven members 

 attended this excursion, which left Amiens Street at 2 o'clock. The day 

 proved quite a fine one along the sea -shore, and the party, leaving the 

 train at Gormanstown, walked by the sea to Laytown, the geological 

 features and glacial deposits being pointed out by the conductor, J. de 

 W. Hinch. The raised beach north of Benhead attracted particular 

 interest. This part of the coast was marked by an absence of sand- 

 loving plants, being all within the tide -marks. 



October 3. — Excursion to Lucan and Leixlip. — About twenty 

 members turned up at Parkgate Street for this excursion, which was 

 conducted by Miss Knowles, and proved very successful. Flowering plants, 

 fungi, and sponges were the subjects on which attention was specially con- 

 centrated, Miss Stephens taking charge of the last-named department. 

 The occasion was particularly favourable for studying and comparing 

 the three Irish figworts, which grow in convenient proximity by the river 

 in Lucan demesne. Of the three, Scrophularia nodosa was the only one 

 not still in flower. jMost of the other distinctive plants of the locality 

 were recognised, though the majority were past flowering. The marsh 

 marigold {Caltha palustris) was gathered in autumn blossom near the 

 Salmon Leap. The search for freshwater sponges proved successful, 

 and Miss Stephens identified (and afterwards exhibited at the Conver- 

 sazione) the species Ephydatia fluviatilis, which appeared to be abundant. 



November 7. — Excursion to Howth. — Twelve members and friends 

 took part in this excursion, which concluded the year's outdoor programme. 



