hish Societies, 
51 
The sets sent in by the Juniors (under 18) were so excellent that a special 
Silver Medal has been awarded to Miss-M. A. H. Goodman and a Bronze 
Medal to Master James FitzGibbon. 
Dr. Macdowel Cosgrave (Hon. Treasurer), presented the Statement 
of Accounts, which showed a debt to the Bank of ^448 at the close of 
the year. The Report was adopted, and the Officers and Council for 1916 
as proposed, were duly elected. 
W. E. Peebles, J. P., the President-elect, proposed a cordial vote 
of thanks to the retiring President (Sir Charles Ball, Bart., M.D.), for 
his zealous discharge of the duties of the office during the past five years, 
referring to the services rendered to the Society in time past by Sir Charles' 
father — Robert Ball and his brother Dr. Valentine Ball and Sir Robert 
Ball. The vote was passed by acclamation. 
Professor J. A. Scott gave an account, with lantern illustrations, of 
the changes in the Gardens and their inhabitants during 191 5, 
DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 
January ii. — The Club met at Leinster House, the President in the 
Chair. 
H. A. Lafferty showed microscopic preparations of the. fungus 
Langloisula macrospora (A. L. Sm.) which he had frequently found asso- 
ciated with Phytophthora infestans in " blighted " potato foliage and 
tubers. Pure cultures of the fungus were obtained ; and infection experi- 
ments cai'ried out on leaves and tubers, which proved it to be nonparasitic. 
The species was first found in Britain on germinating farm seeds, and this 
constitutes the first record of its presence in Ireland. 
Dr. Geo. H. Pethybridge exhibited a new species of fungus for which 
the name Colletotrichum tahificiim is proposed. It occurs not infrequently 
as a saprophyte on the underground portions of decayed potato stalks 
and produces sclcrotia on the surfaces of which the conidiophores and 
conidia are produced. In mass the conidia are ainethyst -coloured and 
when grown in pure culture the fungus produces an amethystine -coloured 
fluorescence in the medium. In all probability this fungus forms one 
part of what was described by Hallier under the name of Rhizoctonia 
tahiUca, the other being probably Verticillinum alho-atrum R. et. B, It 
is hoped to publish a detailed description of the new fungus in due course. 
W. F. GuNN exhibited mixed spicules of ten or twelve species of 
Gorgonia, and explained that they are found in the soft common body- 
substance of the colonies, and act as strengthening structures. They can 
be obtained by macerating the bodies in water and repeated washing. 
Prepared material was distributed amongst the members. 
