2 26 The Irish Natiiralist. October, 



geologists, botanists, zoologists, and archaeologists finding ample oppor- 

 tunities for work, and the afternoon passed all too qnickh', Bundoran 

 being reached in time for dinner at 7.30, After dinner a short business 

 meeting was held— William Gray, M.R.I. A., in the chair. Resolutions 

 ofs^'mpathy for recent bereavement were passed to the Club's President, 

 N. H. Foster, M.B.O.U., and to Mrs. Thomas Anderson. On Tuesday 

 morning the party drove to Ballyshannon, where the remains of the 

 Abbey were visited, and the 2.40 train froin Bundoran brought the mem- 

 bers back to Belfast. During the whole excursion the weather was 

 uninterruptedly fine, and a considerable amount of really excellent field 

 work was done by various members. At this early stage it is not pos- 

 sible to give anything like a full list of the finds, but a complete account 

 will be published in the Club's annual report. The rarest bird seen was 

 the Tree Sparrow, between Bundoran and Ballyshannon, four feeding 

 together. It is satisfactory to know that this species, first found breed- 

 ing in CO. Donegal in 1907, is still established there. The Grasshopper- 

 warbler is a new record for county Sligo, while the Corn Bunting and 

 Tufted Duck were apparently breeding in county Leitrim, though not 

 hitherto known to do so. That local bird, the Siskin, was seen near 

 Bundufi" Lake, while Goldfinches were noted near the same place. A 

 curious and striking feature was the complete absence of Missel Thrushes, 

 Song Thrushes, and Larks, while the Blackbird was only seen at Gleuade 

 and Mullaghmore. 



JUI.Y 31. — A party of members and friends, numbering seventy-four, 

 visited Inch Abbe\ and the valley of the Ouoile, under the guidance of 

 J. L. S. Jackson and W. A. Green. The party travelled b}- the T.50 train 

 to Downpatrick Station, where vehicles were waiting. Inch Abbey was 

 reached about 3.30, and the part}^ proceeded to explore the ruins, which 

 stand on what was anciently Inis-Cumscraidh, or the Island of Cunis- 

 craidh, who was one of the sons of Conor Mac Nessa. Mr. Parkinson 

 gave the members an interesting resume of the history of the Abbey, 

 after which the party scattered, studying the plant and animal life of 

 the river and its banks. The Rev. Dr. Pooler placed two boats with 

 boatmen at the disposal of the party, and many spent the afternoon on 

 the waters of the Ouoile. At five o'clock the party drove to Quoile 

 Castle. Here much interest was displayed in the great square keep, 

 with its vaulted lower chamber. The drive was then continued to 

 Downpatrick, where the members and friends were entertained to tea by 

 the Rev. Dr. and Mrs, Pooler. The usual business meeting was held 

 before tea, the President of the Club, N. H. Foster, M B.O.U., in the 

 chair. One new member was elected, and a hearty vote of thanks was 

 passed to Dr. and Mrs. Pooler for their hospitalit}-. After tea most of 

 the members visited the Cathedral, founded by St. Patrick in 440. The 

 7.15 train brought the members back to Belfast. The field work done 

 was considerable, though full records have not yet been handed in. Julv 

 is about the worst month in the year for the collection of mollusca. The 

 water-lily leaves on the Quoile River, however, were found to be, as usual, 

 the habitat of good species. Avcylus laaistris, the lake limpet, with 



