Field Club Work hi the North. 187 



the list of local plants are only six in ri\x\\\hQ.x\— Ononis spinosa, Rosa 

 micrantha^ Silaus pratensis, Calamintha offi.cinalis, Primula veris, Grimiiua 

 ovata, and in only two of these Zdi^^s—Rosa and Griinmia—is, the plant 

 withdrawn on account of a proved error of determination, the remainder 

 being omitted since time has shown that they were merely casuals or 

 escapes in the stations credited to them. A useful feature of the Supple- 

 ment is the enumeration of a number of plants which have not now been 

 seen in the district for some years ; the rediscovery of these will be a 

 useful work for the local botanist, since, on account of drainage and 

 other changes, their confirmation as members of the present flora is a 

 consummation devoutly to be wished. The supplement is wisely printed 

 in pages of the same size as the " Flora of the North-east of Ireland," in 

 order that it may be bound with it ; and it furnishes a valuable addition 

 to our knowledge of Irish botany. 



PROCEEDINGS OF IRISH SOCIETIES. 



RoYAi, Z001.0GICA1. Society. 



Recent donations comprise two pairs of Hooded Crows from H. H. 

 Jonas, Esq., and J. P. Swan, Esq. ; a Hedgehog from G. C. Gray, Esq. 

 A Camel and a Chimpanzee have been purchased, and a Golden Agouti 

 born in the Gardens. 



8,790 persons visited the Gardens in May. 



BEI.FAST Naturalists' Fiei^d Ci,ub. 



May i8th.— The first Excursion of the season was held on this date 

 when the Club paid a visit to the old Cistercian Monastery of Greyabbey^ 

 A pleasant morning found a party of sixty collected at the Linen Hall 

 Library at 10 a.m., and a start was made at once in brakes. Passing by 

 Dundonald, Newtownards, and other places of interest, the first h^lt was 

 made at Mountstewart, the seat of the Marquis of Londonderr}-. Here 

 the fine mansion was thrown open to the members, after which the 

 cromleac occupied the attention of the party, and was freely photo- 

 gra])hed. This cromleac, as Mr. W. Gray pointed out, was once tlie 

 centre of a large tumulus, which has since disappeared, leaving only its 

 core. Having examined this relic of olden time, and having noticed" the 

 good sense of the owner of the soil in leaving it intact, the party pro- 

 ceeded to Greyabbe3^ Mr. J. J. Phillips has written a most beautiful 

 and interesting monograph on this fine old ruin, and the information 

 imparted by it during the day greatly increased the pleasure of those 

 who saw it. 



Tea was provided on the hill close by, where a most extensive view 

 delighted the eyes of all present. Strangford Lough and its islands, 

 with the blue Mourne Mountains in the distance, and the ruins of the 

 old abbey nestling amongst the trees beneath, added every feature 

 necessary for a perfect picture ; in fact, it is doubtfid if there is so fine a 

 view in all County Down as is here to be had in the evening sunlight. 



