88 



The Irish Naturalist. 



May, 



(In the Fungi the swarm-cells form a mycelium or system of branching 

 threads). This plasmodium creeps about on rotten wood and on the 

 inner side of bark. When about to form sporangia, the protoplasm emerges 

 to the light and concentrates in small portions, eventually forming 

 sporangia of ver}^ varied types. Some of them have very elaborate devices 

 for liberating the spores. They are found in all parts of the world, 150 

 species being described from the British Isles. Seventy species have been 

 collected in Ireland, but it is hoped that further search will lead to the 

 discovery of many more. 



April 13. — The fifty-second annual meeting of the Club was held 

 in the Museum, College Square North. In the absence of the Presi- 

 dent and Vice-President, the chair was occupied by Robert J. Welch, 

 M.R.I. A., a past president. The various reports submitted to the meeting 

 showed that, although there had been some diminution in membership, 

 the Club continues to do valuable work, and that during the past year 

 the energies of its members had resulted in the recording of much useful 

 information in regard to the fauna and flora of Ireland. The Librarian's 

 report dealt with the usual exchanges of proceedings with kindred societies 

 and with the cataloguing of the Club's library. The Prize Sub -Committee 

 announced the award of prizes to tv/o junior members, Miss Annette B, 

 Foster and E. W. M'Clelland, for essays descriptive of any meeting of the 

 junior section held during the year, both these essays dealing with an 

 excursion to Bel voir Park in May last. The report of the Treasurer (N. 

 H. Foster) showed that the financial position of the Club had been im- 

 proved, and that there was a balance in hand. On the motion of the 

 Chairman, seconded by W. J. Fennell, F.R.I.B.A., the reports were 

 unanimously adopted. 



The following office-bearers were elected for the year 191 5 -16 : — 

 President, R. LI. Praeger, B.A., B.E., M.R.I.A. ; Vice-President, Captain 

 A. R. Dwerryhouse, D.Sc, F.G.S., M.R.I.A. ; Treasurer, Nevin H. Foster, 

 F.L.S., M.R.I.A., M.B.O.U. ; Librarian, Sylvanus Wear ; Sectional 

 Secretaries : — Botanical, N. Carrothers ; Geological, Miss E. L, Andrews ; 

 Zoological, C. G. Robertson ; Archaeological, Robert May ; Junior, J . 

 A. S. Stendall. To fill the places of those retiring by seniority under rule 6 

 Miss S. Blackwood, R. J. Welch, M.R.I.A., and Professor Yapp, M.A., 

 were elected members of Committee. Pursuant to notice given, J. A. S. 

 Stendall moved, and A. W. Stelfox, M.R.I.A., seconded — " That the 

 entrance fee of 5s. be abolished, and that rule 3 be amended accordingl3\" 

 The motion was not carried. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



December 8. — The President (N. Colgan, M.R.I.A.) in the Chair. 

 Nominations w^ere received of Officers and Committee for 191 5. Three 

 new members were elected. Professor Bayley Butler delivered an 

 address on " Graft Hybrids and Vegetable Chimaeras," showing by lantern 

 slide illustrations the results of many experiments in the production of graft 

 hybrids by buds, chiefly as between the Tomato and Solaniim nigrum. ^ 



