194 



The Irish Naturalist. 



September, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts include a Cherry-crowned Monkey from Major Pike, a 

 Raccoon from Mrs, Scrivener, a pair of Stags, and a pair of Peregrine 

 Falcons from Captain Arbutlinoi, a Kestrel from Mrs. Gumbleton, and a 

 Monitor from Dr. lyangley. 



Three Lion cubs have been born in the Gardens. One of the young 

 Llamas lately born has been exported to Scotland. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



JUiyY i.--Tlie third excursion of the summer season took place to the 

 Diamond Rocks and Tollymore Park when fortj^-four members met the 

 conductors at the Count}' Down Railway Station, where the 9 35 train 

 was taken for Newcastle. On arrival here the party were driven to 

 Trassey Bridge. Leaving the vehicles here the members divided, one 

 half exploring Tollymore Park, and the other starting on the climb to 

 the Diamond Rocks, led by Nevin H. Foster, and accompanied by 

 two quarrynien. The granite of the Diamond Rocks shows well the 

 ' drusy" cavities where the essential minerals of the rocks have been 

 able to crystallise without mutual interference, and, as a result, fine 

 crystals of felspar, smoky quartz, and mica were obtained. Not 

 uncommonly cr5'stals of beryl and topaz are also to be got, but, with two 

 exceptions, only small specimens of these were found. The exceptions 

 were two very nice crystals of topaz. 



The start for Trassey Bridge was made about 4 o'clock, and the whole 

 party were driven back to Newcastle, where tea was provided at the 

 Donard Hotel. 



Afterwards a short business meeting was held. The senior Secretary, 

 then, on behalf of the Club, said how pleased they were to see the Rev. 

 J. F. Blake, one of the best known of the British geologists, with them 

 that day. 



Jui^Y 8.— GEOI.OGICAI, Section — Excursion to Tardree Mountain. 

 Mr. Robert Bell acted as conductor. Proceeding by car from Antrim, the 

 first stopping place was on the slope of Carnearney to examine the 

 obsidian here exposed. After several specimens were obtained the party 

 proceeded to the main exposure in a quarry which is being worked at 

 Tardree Mountain. In this quarry a prominent feature is the columnar 

 structure of the rock. This is taken advantage of in working the rock 

 into pillars, sills, kerbs, &c , but, on account of its coarsely crystalline 

 nature, it is not suitable for fine work. ,Tlie rock, which resembles a 

 granite, is whitish or greyish in colour, and contains porphyritic crystals 

 of sanadine, plagioclase, quartz, mica, and tridymite. After a thorough 

 in\'estigation had been made of the quarr}^ a start was made for the 



