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The curiously beautiful sea-mouse Aphrodita aculeata, also Terebella conchilega, Sabella tubularia, and Serpula contortuplicata.

Of the Crustacea, belonging to Decapoda Brachyura : Three specimens of the long-legged spider crab-Stenorynchus phalangium.

Many specimens of Hyas coarctatus (Leach).

Five specimens of Eurynome aspera (Leach).

Two specimens of the cleanser swimming crab-Portunus depurator (Leach).

Two of the livid swimming crab Portunus holsatus, and many of the dwarf swimming crab-P. pusillus.

Of the common pea crab, Pinnotheres Pisum, we only found one specimen.

Of the Anomourous Decapods, many Paguri were found

P. Bernhardus-the common hermit crab.

P. Cuanensis (Thompson.)

P. Hyndmanni (Ibid), named after our comrade, Mr. Hyndmann.

P. Thompsoni.

Many were also found of the pretty minute porcelain crab -Porcellana longicornis (Edw.); and Galathea-Galathea Andrewsi (Kinnahan.)

Of the Macrourous Decapods, we found the channeltailed shrimp.

Crangon Almanni (Kinnahan), one specimen.

Of the genus Hyppolyte :

H. Varians (Leach), one specimen.

H. Thompsoni (Bell), one specimen.

H. Pusiola (Kroyer), two specimens.

This was the extent of our collection of crustaceans, and it will be observed that, of this number, two were named after two of our companions, and three others were species, so recently made known to science, that our friend Professor Kinnahan, also of the party, had named them.

Of Echinodermata, we obtained several species, and many very fine specimens.

We procured several specimens of the common Egg Sea Urchin-Echinus sphora (Müll.), and the Purplespined Sea Urchin-E. Millaris (Leske).

Three dead specimens of the little Pea Sea UrchinEchinocyamus pusillus (Müll.).

Three fine specimens of the Purple-heart Sea Urchin— Spatargus purpureus (Müll.).

Four of the Common-heart Sea Urchin-Amphidotus cordatus (Penn). Of the Star-fish division we procured two specimens of the common Sand-star-Ophiura texturata (Lane), and numerous specimens of the following species of Ophiocoma :

O. neglecta (Forbes) Gray brittle star.

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Of the genus Uraster we procured

U. rubens (Linn.) Common cross fish.

U. hispida (Fenn.) Little ditto.

We found large quantities of the very common alconium constantly in the dredge;-A digitatum, called Dead man's fingers.

We did a little in Icthyology, for we enjoyed the sports of the beautiful little Mackarel midge in a basin where it darted about like a living crystal of berryl, its brilliant green back glittering in the sun. Some small specimens of Cyclopterus lumpus, the lump sucker, were also taken; and Dr. Edwards, trying to while away certain troublesome qualms which affected some of the party, began fishing, and caught a fine gurnard (Trigla). Numbers of medusa floated by, and the water in our basins was occasionally full of the lovely Cydippe.

Of the feathered tribe we saw many species, but our attention was otherwise engaged and no notes were made; but I was much struck with the extraordinary number of sea-birds' feathers we saw floating in patches from time to time. At five o'clock p.m. we again reached our anchorage, and bade farewell to our kind entertainer, for whose kindness I cannot be sufficiently grateful. I was an invalid during the whole day, and received from him an amount of delicate attention in consequence, which

I shall never forget.

My object in the present paper has been to shew how much of nature and natural history can be seen in an excursion to the proper fields, and, by so doing, to stimulate the members of this Society to a more united and energetic action in gleaning the beauties of our own locality.

The CHAIRMAN referred to the glacial action in the neighbourhood of Killiney Hills, which extended a considerable distance into Wicklow. On visiting the Seven Churches he had been surprised to find so many evidences of glacial action. All persons who visited the district, whether geologists or not, were struck with the immense number of large boulder stones-blocks of granite lying on the surface of the ground, though there was not a single mountain near.

Mr. ARCHER thought it more probable that these blocks had been deposited by drift ice or icebergs, than by. glaciers. The effects to which he had referred were distinctly those of glaciers.

This terminated the business of the ordinary meeting.

An EXTRAORDINARY MEETING was then held, to consider the expediency of continuing the payment of ten guineas a-year for official reports of the Society. It came before the meeting as a recommendation from the Council. Several members spoke in the highest terms of the success of the experiment, and the manner in which the reports had appeared, applauding both the medium of publication, and those who were instrumental in producing the reports. The motion was carried by sixteen to one.

THIRD ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 16th November, 1857.

THOMAS INMAN, Esq., M.D., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

:

The following were elected Ordinary Members :-
JOSEPH COOPER, Esq., Alderman.

JAMES ELLIOT, Esq., Professor of Mathematics,
Queen's College.

GREGORY TYMBAS, Esq.

SENOR DON MANUEL PACHECO.

The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS exhibited one of the rarest of our Fungi, the Batarrea phalloides, found near Wallasey. ISAAC BYERLEY, Esq., F.L.S., exhibited a Locust, captured last summer at Liscard; and a Cidaris papillosa, dredged off the N.W. coast of Ireland.

The Rev. J. ROBBERDS, B.A., referred to Sir John Herschel's successful translations into hexameter and pentameter verses, recently published.

Professor HAMILTON then read the first part of his paper, which will be found recorded in the business cf the next ordinary meeting.

An EXTRAORDINARY MEETING was then held, to consider for the second time the motion adopted at the last meeting; which resolution was unanimously confirmed. (See page 46.)

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