PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
12 
continuous with Knockangin. On the strand of Knockangin, near Balbriggan, 
Scalaria Turtoni had been found, and named in honour of Dr. Turton. Dr. Kinahan 
had obtained Helix pisana rather abundantly near Baltrae, on the north side of the 
Boyne, and also very fine specimens on the south side of the Boyne. Dr. Kinahan, 
on the same evening, gave a continuation of his paper “ On the Abnormal Forms of 
Ferns,” bearing out his former observations, and adducing many views in support of 
a systematic arrangement of all those varied departures from the original type which 
their several gradations might justify. Mr.Williams then made some remarks on the 
opinions advanced by Mr. Ffennell at the last meeting, with reference to the habits 
and periods of spawning of the salmon, and read a communication that had been 
forwarded to him by a gentleman experienced in the river fisheries of the south, 
more especially those of the Banclon river. The next month, June, Mr. Andrews 
gave a paper, “Observations on the Salmon, the Parr, and the Gravelling.” This 
paper was a review of the several opinions that had been given upon the subject at 
the two previous meetings, and of the observations that Mr. Andrews had made on 
the habits of the salmon and on the peculiar! tes of the western rivers, noted by him 
from his inquiries in connection with the fisheries. Some confusion prevailed with 
reference to the young fry, in classing all the young states of the salmonidse as the 
parr or gravelling, and such to be the young of the salmon. Sufficient distinction 
had not been understood as to the characters of the young salmon fry, nor as to the 
periods of their several changes of growth. Most of the salmonidae and species of 
trout presented very strikingly in the young state the peculiarity of the transverse 
bars ; and Mr. Andrews was satisfied, that in many of the clear, gravelly, and swift¬ 
running trout streams of this country, a species similar to the description of the 
parr, figured in Yarrell, having the dark spots on the gill-covers and the trans¬ 
verse bars, were to be met at all seasons, and that they were distinct from 
the young of the salmon, at the same time; in those rivers frequented by 
salmon, the salmon fry, at different stages of growth throughout the year, exhibit 
the transverse bars, and dark spots on the gill-covers. The practised eye of the 
scientific ichthyologist can at once detect the symmetry of form, and peculiarity of the 
pectoral and caudal fins, that distinguish the young of the salmon before assuming 
the smolt state. These views, however, have fully appeared in the proceedings of 
the Society, and which Mr. Andrews at the meeting illustrated by a complete series 
of the specimens of the young of the salmon in its early stage and in its migratory 
dress, and also the parr; the young of the white trout and of the brown trout, 
brought from the Bandon river, county Cork ; the Laune and Caragh rivers, Kerr}-; 
and the Greece, in Carlow. Dr. Kinahan, in connection with the subject (the 
spawning of fish), exhibited recent specimens of the nidus and ova of the smooth¬ 
tailed stickleback, taken the previous day in the Dodder. He gave an account 
of the habits of this little fish on the spawning ground, and its extreme pugnacity in 
defending the nest. Further observations made by Dr. Kinahan on ferns and 
their varieties, and his examination of the extensive collections of Dr. Allchin and 
G. B. Wollaston, Esq., had cleared his doubts as to how far varieties combine 
inter se . Dr. Farran expressed a hope that a greater number of ornithological facts 
would be in store for the ensuing session, and mentioned the occurrence of a flock 
of male wheatears he had noticed at Knockangin, in April last, feeding in the man¬ 
ner of flycatchers, and the singular fact of the total disappearance of the Brent 
goose (Anser Brenta) from the Dublin market. These proceedings and remarks 
terminated the session ; and your Council trust that the Society has maintained 
throughout the transactions its course in a scientific as well as in a popular style, 
and that the subjects on the natural history of this country, brought before the meet¬ 
ings, have proved original, useful, and instructive. 
On being moved by R. Callwell, Esq., and seconded by Doctor Farran, the Re¬ 
port was unanimously adopted. 
The donations made to the Society during the last session were detailed under their 
several heads by Dr. Kinahan. 
The Treasurer then submitted his statement, and observed that he had only to 
reiterate the views expressed by him at the last annual meeting, as to the continued 
prosperity of the Society. The expenses had been heavy, but he was gratified to 
announce that he had a balance in hands of £88 10s. Id.—£45 of which had been 
carried to the credit of the sinking fund account. 
