PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
65 
MARCH 10, 1855. 
K. Ball, LL.D., President, in the Chair. 
Mr. T. W. Warren said that he had the pleasure of announcing the occurrence in 
Ireland of Bonaparte’s gull (Larus Bonapartii). The bird was shot by Captain 
Watkins, near Dublin, and given to Mrs. Baker, of Grafton-street, to stuff. She 
was under the impression that it was the little gull (Larus minutus); but Mr. 
Montgomery happening to see it, at once announced it to be Bonaparte’s gull, with 
which view he coincided. 
Dr. Carte produced Kichardson’s Fauna Boreali Americana, vol. ii., in which 
the Larus Bonapartii was figured, and said, that on a careful examination of the 
bird, he was of the same opinion as Mr. Warren and Mr. Montgomery. The bird 
had been beautifully stuffed by Mrs. Baker. 
Dr. Ball exhibited several specimens of the L. Bonapartii, from North America 
(one of which specimens Dr. Carte said was the facsimile of Captain Watkin’s 
bird). He was of opinion that the gull was not so rare as was supposed, and 
thought it very likely that other specimens would be obtained. 
Mr. Grainger said that the only other recorded Irish specimen was that in the 
Belfast Museum, the species of which was determined by the late W. Thompson, 
Esq., with the assistance of some of the London ornithologists. 
Mr. Wright, though he had no doubt but that the bird in question was the 
Larus Bonapartii, having the testimony of such good Irish ornithologists as Mr. 
Warren and Mr. Montgomery, would wish that an opportunity was afforded of 
comparing the bird in question with Mr. Thompson’s, which is in the Museum of 
the Belfast Natural History Society. 
Mr, John Grainger exhibited a crustacean of the genus Hyas, which he believed 
to be distinct from either of the described species. The circumstances of its capture 
were somewhat interesting. Some years ago a friend of his had taken a cod-fish, 
by a line, when on the banks of Newfoundland. The fish came up with its lips 
fastened together by the hook. It is usual, in such circumstances, for the contents 
of the stomach to be discharged; but, of course, on this occasion, these got no farther 
than the fish’s mouth. On opening this, there appeared about twenty crustaceans, 
more or less decomposed. The most perfect was selected and sent home. It was 
submitted to the late Wm. Thompson, Esq., of Belfast, who pronounced it a Hyas; 
but neither Hyas coarctatus nor araneus, and probably an intermediate species. 
Mr. Grainger thought it the same species as was mentioned in DeKay’s “Natural 
History of New York” as constituting the principal food of the cod-fish off New¬ 
foundland, and considered by that author as identical with coarctatus. The 
principal ground on which a distinction appeared obvious was, that the carapace 
was very little contracted behind the orbits—indeed the entire outline of the 
carapace was more even than in any specimen of coarctatus he had seen. Again, 
the fingers of the hand were much shorter in proportion, and had no well-marked 
gap between them at their base. He, accordingly, thought the American naturalist 
would have been justified in establishing a distinct species ; and he submitted the 
question to the members. 
The general opinion expressed was, that there appeared well-marked differences 
between the specimen presented and numerous examples of coarctatus and araneus 
from the University and Dublin Society’s collections, and that it agreed very well 
with the plate of Mr. DeKay, though not with his description, which included the 
strong contraction behind the orbits, characteristic of coarctatus. 
Mr. Wright read the following notes 
ON COLLECTING AND ARRANGING THE BRITISH MOLLUSCA. 
The accompanying hints for collecting and naming the British mollusca are 
chiefly compiled from the preface to Messrs. Forbes and Hanley’s history. They 
contain nothing that is unknown to naturalists, but I have appended them to my 
catalogue of Irish mollusca, under the impression that it may be of service to some 
who may be tyros in malacology, and to whom the smallest hint is useful; 
