I So The Irish Naluialist. August, 



same species. Well-kuown authorities cousider that our Irish specimens 

 belong to a more primitive race than the British forms, where the separa- 

 tion between the two species is very well defined. After a pleasant after- 

 noon, spent in these varied pursuits, the party left the bay at 5.45 for the 

 return drive to Lurgan, where tea was provided, After tea a short busi- 

 ness meeting was held— the President, N. H. Foster, M.B.O.U., in the 

 chair — when three new members were elected, and the party returned 

 by the S.20 train. 



26tli June.— Excursion to the Roe Vai^lev.— A party of fifty-two 

 members and friends travelled to Limavady by the 8.25 a.m. train, w^here 

 they were met b}' H. C. INIarshall, who had gone down the night before 

 to complete arrangements. Cars were taken for the Dogs Leap, where 

 the party remained for over an hour, and then the walk through the 

 Deer Park woods on the west bank of the Roe commenced. O'Cahan's 

 Rock and the Holy Well were visited, and then Mrs. Ricter welcomed the 

 party at Roe Park House. A business meeting was held on the historic 

 hill known as Drumcatt, wdien four new members were elected. The 

 President and Mrs. P'oster entertained the party to tea in the 

 Alexander Arms Hotel, a cordial vote of thanks being passed to them. 

 The members left Limavady at 5.40, and Belfast was reached at S.40 The 

 homeward journey was appropriated by some to the discussion of the 

 results of the day from the natural history point of view. From the con- 

 versations it could be gathered that very few birds were observed, the 

 day's list for the Limavad}' neighbourhood only totalling thirty. As was 

 expected, the Dipper and Kingfisher were both observed on the river. 

 One member reported finding three or four species of water-beetles new 

 to the county. Four common species of woodlice were seen, and a few 

 rarer forms were collected for further examination. Among the dis- 

 coveries of the conchologists were — Hyalinia excavata, var. viiriiict, Liniax 

 /Javits, and Helix aculeata. The botanists saw apparently many interesting 

 plants, but had nothing new in the way of records to add to the known 

 flora of the area visited, The Golden Rod {Solidago Virgaiirca) and the 

 Wall Pennywort {^Cotyledon Unibilicus) grew profusely on the rocks at the 

 Dog's Leap, as did also a variety of mosses and hawkweeds. In the Deer 

 Park woods the four most notable species observed were Mdampyruin 

 pratcnsc, Vibtinnun opitlus, Melica iinijlora, and Lastrea cemula, all of which 

 occurred profusel}' ; Pnums Padtis and Salix pentandra were seen lower 

 down the valley. The geological members of the j^arty gave a good 

 account of themselves as exponents of the bearings of geology on the 

 wonderful scenery of the area as a whole, scenery which comparatively 

 few places in our islands can surpass in its combination of rugged 

 grandeur and pastoral sweetne.ss. 



