256 



The Irish Natuya/ist. 



iDecember, 



IRISH SOCIETIES. 



ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Recent gifts iuclude six Silver Pheasants from Mrs. S. L. lyow, two 

 Chameleons from Miss MacDonnell, two Peacocks from Mrs. H. Devine, 

 a Goldfinch and a Canary-finch from Mr. John Beers, and a Macaque 

 Monkey from Mr. Edward B. Curzon. Four Jackass Penguins and two 

 Cinereous Vultures have been purchased. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



vSkpTEmber 9.— Excursion to Church Hill. A party of eighteen took 

 train to Portadown, whence, being reinforced by some local nrembers, 

 they drove to the peat factory near Maghery, over which they were con- 

 ducted by Mr. Garnet, managing director. On arrival at Church Hill 

 the party was swelled by the arrival of fourteen members of the Tyrone 

 Field Club. At Church Hill the leading feature proved to be the large 

 nests of the Wood Ant {Formica rufa) which were studied with much 

 interest. The best plant found was Moxurialis perennis, a new station for 

 this rare species. The number of species of birds noted during the day 

 was twenty-nine. Tea was served at Portadown, and a prize for the best 

 collection of plants was awarded to W. H. Robinson, whose set numbered 

 seventy-one species. 



BELFAST NATURAL HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHICAL 

 SOCIETY. 



NovEMBKR 7. —Arthur C. Muir, C.A., lectured on " Belfast Civic 

 Undertakings." 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



September 23. — Excursion to Portraine. — Members and visitors 

 to the number of twenty-six took the 12.30 train to Donabate. From 

 there the party walked to the shore, where the Ordoviciau inlier was in- 

 vestigated under the conductorship of J. de W. Hinch, Hon. Sec. Great 

 interest was shown in this striking development of volcanic activity and 

 many typical specimens of porphyritic andesite were obtained. The 

 coral reefs and graptolitic shales of the district also yielded good results. 

 The party returned to Dublin after having tea at Portraine Asylum. 



October 31. — Annuat, Conversazione. — The winter session 1905-06 

 was opened by a conversaziune in the Royal Irish Academy House, which 



