Societies and Academies

Abstract

DUBLIN. Royal Irish Academy, June 23.-J. I. Armstrong, J. Calvert, and C. T. Ingold: The ecology of the mountains of Mourne, with special reference to Slieve Donard. The vegetation of the area is mostly Gallu-netum of various types, growing on peat covering granite rock. The peat is mostly retrogressive, especially at high altitudes; rarely a progressive peat formation was seen. Examination of the peat (one station, 518 metres) shows in a two-metre section an extraordinary increase of pollen-grain at 66 cm. from the surface. All the pollen is considered to be wind blown.-J. M. White: Re-colonisation after peat-cutting. Studies were made mainly in Co. Armagh, where peat-cutting is still carried on on a considerable scale. The depth to which peat-cutting is carried was found to be the most important factor in the re-colonisation of the cut areas, when combined with the time factor.-Miss M. Duff: The ecology of the Moss- Lane region, Lough Neagh. Gives a detailed account of the vegetation around Portmore Lough, which is the home of many rarities of the Antrim flora, and of much interest ecologically.-K. C. Bailey: The kinetics of the formation of malonamide from ethyl malonate and ammonia in homogeneous solution. A reaction of the third order. The reaction between ethyl malonate and ammonia in aqueous alcoholic solution takes place in accordance with the equation v =h a b2, where v is the velocity of reaction, and a and 6 are the concentrations of ethyl malonate and ammonia. The velocity is increased by increasing the proportion of water in the solvent.-Elizabeth Mary Ryan and Hugh Ryan: Studies in the diflavone group (5). Metamethoxybenzaldehyde and diaeetoresorcinol. In the presence of alcoholic alkali m-methoxybenzal-dehyde condenses with diacetoresorcinol-dimethyl-ether to form di-m-methoxybenzylidene-diacetoresor-cinol. Nearly colourless prisms. M.P. 157°-158° C. Its dibromo derivative consists of prisms M.P. 213° C. (decomp.) and its tetrabromide also melts with decomposition about 176° C. With diacetoresorcinol m-methoxybenzaldehyde forms two chromisomeric un-saturated ketones. Both melt at 157° C. but one is orange yellow and the other is light yellow in colour. They form the same diacetate. Cream-coloured prisms. M.P. 122° C. The tetrabromide of the last body did not crystallise but was converted by alcoholic potash into nearly colourless crystals melting at 277°-279° C. which consisted mainly if not entirely of 3'-3"-dimeth-oxydicourmaranone. The dipiperonylidene derivative of 3'-3"-dimethoxy-diflavanone was obtained as yellow prisms melting at 245° C. by the action of piperonal on di-m-methoxy-benzylidene-diacetoresor-cinol in the presence of alcoholic hydrochloric acid. Under the same conditions benzaldehyde formed the dibenzylidene derivative of the diflavanone and this consisted of yellowish-white prisms melting at 249° C. -L. B. Smyth: The carboniferous rocks of Hook Head, Co. Wexford. The Lower Carboniferous of Hook Head is conformable with O.R.S. The finding of Avonia (Productus) bassa Vaughan at the very base of the calcareous series shows that no appreciable amount of the underlying sandstones and conglomerates can be of Carboniferous age. The K.Z and C zones of Vaughan are identified. The latter two form a continuous zaphrentid phase, as in south Pembrokeshire. C2 is recognised but it is uncertain whether 8t is present. It is now proved that there is only one dolomite band, repeated by faulting (not two as previously believed) and that it is of laminosa dolomite age. The total thickness of Carboniferous beds exposed is 1300 feet. At the top they disappear under the sea. Several new species are described, and ' Michelinea ' antiqua (M'Coy) is shown to be a degenerate tabulate coral with porous tissues.-Brian Coffey and Hugh Ryan: The constitution of certain compounds formed by the action of alcoholic hydrochloric acid on un-saturated ketones. In a previous paper Coffey and Ryan (Royal Irish Academy, 39, B. 3) showed that where alcoholic hydrochloric acid acts on alcoholic solutions of unsaturated ketones such as a-benzylidene methylethyl-ketone, dimerisation takes place and compounds of the type represented by the formula I are formed.