I9I6. 
Irish Societies. 
169 
ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Recent gifts include a large Patas Monkey from Mr. T. K. Laidlaw, 
two Rabbits from Mrs. Light Gordon, a Barn Owl from Mr. W. F. Cleeve, 
a Golden Pheasant and three Silver Pheasants, two Ringdoves, five 
Pigeons and a Cockatoo from Mr. Norman Robinson, two Black Mangabeys, 
three Caratrix Monkeys, a pair of Mongooses, a pair of African Cape 
Hyraxes, and a Great Anteater have been received in exchange for a 
pair of Lion Cubs. 
The Anteater is a highly interesting addition to the Society's collection. 
He is kept in the monkey house, and may be seen on most days between 
eleven and two, and again for a few hours in the evening ; the rest of the 
time he spends in sleep. The method of feeding by means of the lon<^ 
flexible tongue is remarkable. The Hyrax [Procavia capensis) has not 
been shown alive in Dublin for very many years. These animals form 
an aberant group of ungulates especially characteristic of Africa, but 
with a single species — the " Coney " of the Authorised English Bible — 
in Syria and the Sinaitic peninsula. 
NOTES. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Brachytron pratense in Co. Wexford. 
This local species was amonng the Dragonflies observed by me at 
Ballyhyland during the summer of the present year. Only a few in- 
dividuals were noted. Brachytron pratense is not new to County 
Wexford, being recorded from Rosslare by Messrs. J. F. X. King and 
J. N. Halbert in their List of the Neuroptera of Ireland {Proc. R.I. A. 
xxviii., see B. No. 2) ; but as it appears to be seldom met with I think 
a new locality is worth mention. I have seen the same insect on rare 
occasions in previous summers, but felt some distrust of the correctness 
of my identification until the present year. 
C. B. Moffat. 
Ballyhyland, Co. Wexford, 
Turtle Doves in Cos. Dublin and Meath. 
For the last three years we have had records of the occurrence of Turtle 
Doves in our neighbourhood. This year they were observed by Captain 
Taylor, D.L., at Ardgillan Castle on 24th May. They were afterwards 
seen by Dr. George Scriven more than once at Hampton Hall, and on 
June 13th were seen at Gormanstown in Lord Gormanstown's demense, 
the gamekeepers were unable to ascertain whether they were breeding 
or not. We have had the Grasshopper Warbler again at Balbriggan, 
but I am unable to claim the Quail this year as an honoured visitant, 
Charles W. Benson. 
Balbriggan. 
