Galway Field Chib Co7iference. 227 



waters of the Atlantic, while northward and north-westward rose low 

 rocky granite hills, backed by the higher metamorphic mountains of 

 H Connemara. The geologists of the party examined with much interest 

 the grand sections formed by the stead}- encroachment of the ocean on 

 the tough drift which composes this and the adjoining promontories. The 

 botanists were delighted to find at Gentian Hill several rare mountain 

 plants, which were growing close to sea-level, after the manner 

 characteristic of the west coast of Ireland — such were the Spring Gentian, 

 Mountain Dryas, Blue Moor-grass, and Dwarf Juniper ; and on the muddy 

 shore adjoining a good find was made in the Dwarf Grass- wrack, which 

 was found growing in abundance. The entomologists searched the 

 seaweed thrown up by the tide and were rewarded by the discovery of 

 the local marine rove-beetle Cafiiis fucicola. Besides the small but 

 handsome M'olf-spider Pardosa monticola, a specimen of its large newly-' 

 discovered relation F. ptirbeckensis, F. Cb. rewarded the collector of 

 arachnids. 



At 7.30 dinner was ready at the Railway Hotel, which formed the head- 

 quarters of the party during their stay. After dinner a number of local 

 ladies and gentlemen arrived by invitation to meet the members of the 

 Field Clubs. Among those who accepted the invitation were the 

 President of Queen's College, and Mrs. Moffat ; Sir Valentine Blake and 

 Lady Blake; the High Sheriff of Galway, Mrs. Townsend, and the Misses 

 Townsend; Colonel O'Hara, D.L., and Miss O'Hara; Marcus Lynch, 

 D.L.; Major Wilson Lynch, D.L. ; Professor Kinkead, M.D., Miss Kinkead 

 and party; Prof. BreretcU; L.R.C.S.I. ; Lt.- Colonel Cochran and Officers, 

 Depot Connaught Rangers ; Rev. J. C.Clarke, B.A,, Mrs. Clarke, and 

 Miss Clarke ; Rev. J. T. Berry ; Rev. R. Boyd ; Rev. Father Lally, P.P. ; 

 Mr. James Perry, M.E., County Surveyor, and Mrs. Perry; Mr. W. N. 

 Binns, B.E., Borough Surveyor; Mr. and Mrs. Murray, and Miss Murray ; 

 Mr. and Mrs. Tivy; Mr. J. A. Grant, &c. 



During the evening the Galway String Band performed in the hall, 

 and musical items were contributed by Prof Robertson and Mr. J. A. 

 Grant. Several members showed specimens of the rarer plants and 

 animals of the district, and explained their points of interest. The 



company did not disperse until a late hour. 



t 

 I 



Friday, Jui,y 12TH. 



Friday dawned gloriously fine, and the party, which, now reinforced 

 by local friends, had swelled to over 100, left Galway in high spirits by 

 special train at 9 o'clock, en route for the mountains of Connemara. Oil 

 the way to Oughterard the new railway passes through a charmingly 

 diversified district of wood and lake, with the wide expanse of Lough 

 Corrib to the eastward. After passing Oughterard, the land rises, and 

 the railway emerges on the great plain of South Connemara— miles upon 

 tniles of brown undulating bog, with flashing lakes in every hollow. As 

 the train sped along, lovely views were continually obtained of the 

 quartzite mountains of Maam Turk, and subsequently of the still more 

 picturesque Twelve Bens. At Recess station the members alighted, and 



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