204 The Irish Naturalist. October, 



growth. Returning from Collon by Mcllifont, this rare shell was taken 

 on the Meath side of the Mattock River, opposite the famous abbey, 

 thus extending its known range into a second county division. The 

 botanists with this party noted the alien Medicago jalcaia near Collon 

 in Meath, and Ruhia pcrcgrina near Monasterboice. 



Seven o'clock on the morning of the i 5th inst., saw a group of members 

 wending their way to a gravel pit, where an hour was spent by the geolo- 

 gists in noting the somewhat peculiar stratification of the sands and 

 gravels. Subsequently the train was taken for Kells, and on arrival there 

 the members were conducted to the church. In the churchyard stand 

 the remains — about ninety feet high — of a round tower and several 

 richly-decorated crosses. The next object visited was the stone -roofed 

 cell or chapel known as St. Columbkill's House. 



From here some of the members made a detour to view the well named 

 after the same saint ere proceeding to visit the Cross of Kells. The time 

 at disposal after lunch was spent in exploring the town ere entraining at 

 3.40 for Droghcda, whence during the evening the party left for their 

 various destinations. Car ex pcndida, which occurred in the woods of 

 Headfort Castle, is worth noting. The mollusks Helix hortensis and 

 Pyramidala rupestris w^ere the only ones of interest seen at Kells, both 

 species occurring in the graveyard at the round tower, while the latter 

 was also common in the crevices between the stones on St. Columbkill's 

 House. 



During the visit, fifty-eight species of birds were observed, and it is 

 interesting to record that here at least the Goldfinch is common, many 

 of these beautiful birds being noted throughout the district. 



August 3. — Archaeological Section. — About thirty members and 

 friends paid a visit to Ardglass. First visiting the old Church of Ardtole 

 which was described by Mr. W. J. Fenncll, the party, under the guidance of 

 Mr. W. N. Kinny, visited St. Patrick's Well, and then made their way to 

 Castle Shean, formerly known as Jordan's Castle. This has been restored 

 by Mr. F. J. Bigger, who entertained the party to tea, and provided a 

 programme of Irish jigs and reels danced on the flat roof of the castle 

 to the music of Irish pipes and fiddles. 



September 7. — Geological Section. Excursion to the Giant's 

 Causeway. — Travelling from Belfast by the noon express the party met 

 on arrival some members of the Club staying at Portrush, also some 

 members of kindred societies from Birmingham and Bournemouth. 

 Arriving at the Causeway by electric tram they were met by Mr. Wm. 

 Traill, who pointed out the geological features in detail and gave a short 

 talk on the geology of Co. Antrim generally. He controverted strongly the 

 opinion held by Messrs. Cole and McHenry that the " Red Bed " between 

 the Upper and Lower Basalts was merely the disintegration of the basalts 

 forming the surface of the older series. He (Mr. Traill) believed it to be 

 an independent ash bed or a liquid mud eruption, similar in source to the 

 immense pumice beds found in the Canary Islands, and some other volcanic 

 areas. After this followed a period of quiescence during which vegetation 

 flourished. After a M^alk along the cliff path, where numerous minerals 

 were collected, the party returned to Portrush for tea at the White House 

 Hotel before leaving for home by the 8 o'clock train. 



