I9I6. 
Irish Societies. 
81 
J. N. Halbert's recent list of Irish Tyroglyphidae (Clare Island Survey), 
Acarinda, Proc. R.I. A., vol. xxxi., pt 39, ii.) although A. D. Michael 
(British Tyroglyphidae, vol. ii.) states that it is common in Great Britain, 
feeding in grain and other vegetable substances. 
D. M'Ardle showed Lejeiinea diversiloha, Spruce, one of the foliatcous He- 
paticae, remarkable in the variable character of the leaves, which are bilobed. 
In some specimens the postical and antical lobes are almost equal, in others 
the postical lobe reaches half the size of the antical, and in others this lobe is 
altogether wanting. This variation was demonstrated under the microscope. 
The plants are about ^ in. long, the leaves erect ovate-oblong, cells pellucid 
with firm walls, stems slightly branched rigid, whole plant of a yellowish - 
green colour, sometimes almost white. It grows epiphytic on the larger 
Hepaticae, such as Frullania, at Killarney and Anascaul, in Co. Kerry, 
the only known station. There is one other species, L. Holtii, Spruce, the dis- 
tribution of which is also restricted to the south-west of Ireland. The other 
eleven species are evenly distributed in Great Britain and the Continent, ex- 
tending to the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Some of them abound in 
the Amazon valley, in South America. 
DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
February 15. — Professor Cole (Vice-President) in the Chair, exhibited 
and described mineral phosphates used as fertilizers of the soil. E. J. 
Sheehv, A.R.C Sc., showed some larvae of common Irish beetles. Mrs. T. 
Long (Hon. Secretary) exhibited a set of plants from North Africa. 
March 21. — Professor Carpenter (President) in the chair. P. O'Connor, 
A.R.C. Sc., lectured on " Seed-Dispersal," illustrating his remarks by means of 
lantern slides and an excellent series of specimens. The well-known 
adaptations for dispersal by wind, animals, and water-currents were 
discussed with much freshness of treatment, and particular attention was 
directed to those species of conifers whose seeds seem to be set free only when 
the cones expand under the heat resulting from forest fires. In the ensuing 
discussion Professor Henry contributed some original observations in favour 
of this last-named explanation. 
April i i . — The President in the chair. Rev. Canon F, C. Hayes lectured on 
'* Shrubs and Trees," giving a vivid account of his successful attempts at 
arboriculture in his garden at Raheny, which he most kindly invited the Club 
to visit during the summer. The lecture was followed by a discussion, in 
which R. Ll. Praeger, Professor A. Henry, and A. Williams, r.h.a., took 
part. 
