22S The Irish Natia^alisi. 



the party divided into two, one section driving and walking along tli6 

 Clifden road to ascend Ben Lettery, while the other section examined the 

 bogs and lakes in the immediate vicinity. The mountain party passed 

 along the chain of lakelets which extend througliout the course f)f the 

 Ballynahinch River, and turned up the steep side of Ben I^ettery (1904 

 feet), which overlooks the beautiful lake of Ballynahinch. F'rom the 

 summit a truly superb panorama was obtained. Northward, peak beyond 

 peak, rose the mountains, and through a gap to the north-west was seen 

 the rugged outline of Achill Island. Further southward lay Inishbofin, 

 and the whole western coastline of Connemara, and the town of Clifden. 

 To the southward, across a vast stretch of bog dotted with lakes in- 

 numerable, stretched the Atlantic, with long arms reaching up to 

 Roundstone and Cashel, and many outlying islands, behind which 

 the low ridges of the Aran Islands stood clearl}' up. South-eastward 

 lay Galway Bay, backed by the grey uplands of Burren, and further 

 eastward Lough Corrib and the I/imestone Plain. On the summit, the 

 rare mountain ground-beetle Leislus montamis, and the interesting little 

 spider Hahnia montana were found. Photographs having been secured and 

 natural history specimens duly put away, the descent was undertaken, 

 and Recess station reached in time for a refreshing cup of tea befor'e 

 train-time. The lowland party had also a most satisfactory day. A 

 number of rare plants had been collected, including the Pill wort, and iu 

 common with the mountain party, they had collected many of the 

 characteristic Connemara species, such as St. Dabeoc's Heath, London 

 Pride, and Pipewort. The large and handsome wolf-spider Dolomedei 

 fimbriatus attracted the attention of many observers on the bogs ; while 

 the entomologists were agreeably surprised to find one of the most 

 striking British Orthoptera — Muostethus grossus, often considered a rare 

 species^n positive abundance. Others of the party had visited the 

 "Connemara Marble" quarry on Lisoughter, behind Recess Hotel, and had 

 obtained good examples of this beautiful serpentine. It was with much 

 regret that members found their day at an end, and took their seats in the 

 special train that was waiting for them. 



After dinner, bags, bottles, and vasculums Were emptied on the tables, 

 and until a late hour members were busily engaged in examining and 

 jioting the many captures and finds made during the day. 



Saturday, Jui.y 13TH. 



A morning of driving mist found the naturalists embarked on board the 

 6s. *' Duras " at 9 o'clock, which in no way lightened as the steamer 

 passed down the river and set her course for Ballyvaughan, on the 

 southern side of Galway Bay. However, the cheerful predictions of the 

 conductors were duly fulfilled, for as the destination was approached the 

 clouds broke and the sun shone out, lighting up gloriously the strange 

 bare slopes of the Burren mountains and the great masses of vapour that 

 still hung over the higher summits. Advantage was taken of the 

 leisure afforded by the passage to hold a meeting of the collectors 

 of the party, when the work of identifying and cataloguing the various 

 captures was distributed among the different naturalists, one 



