22,2 The h'ish Naturalist, 



in dark vapour, and sending an occasional splash of rain over the 

 plain below. Presently the ground grew rougher, till it blazed with 

 purple heather, among which hung abundantly the large bells of St. 

 Dabeoc's Heath. Passing through a pine wood the vehicles halted 

 beside a mountain stream, whose banks were fringed with Royal Fern 

 growing six feet high. This was the rendezvous for the day. To the 

 left the lake narrowed among steep wooded hills, and a glorious valley 

 stretched away for miles, overhung by high mountains on each side. 

 Behind rose the purple slopes of Carn Seefin, and in front lay the 

 shining waters of the lake. It was an ideal spot for naturalists, and in 

 a few minutes the party was scattered far and wide in eager search. 

 The botanists rejoiced to find here the characteristic flora of Conne- 

 jnara— London Pride, Pipe-wort, Lobelia, St. Dabeoc's Heath, &;c. The 

 rare Bog Orchis was found sparingly. The geologists found congenial 

 ground in the spoil-bank of an old copper mine on the hill-side. A new 

 Irish beetle, Chilocuis bipustulatus, and the rare northern ground-beetles 

 Pelophila borealis and Caralms daihratus delighted the entomologists ; while 

 under the stones on the margin of the lake were found numerous 

 examples of a rare southern jumping spider, Attus floricola. 



Lunch occasioned but a short lull in the business of exploration, 

 which was continued energetically until the repeated blasts of the 

 Secretary's whistle recalled the wanderers, and the return was effected 

 in time to catch the special train at 6 o'clock for Galway. 



After dinner a formal Conference on Field Club work was held. The 

 chair was occupied by G. H. Carpenter, B.Sc, President, Dublin 

 Naturalists' Field Club. 



The Chairman said that the duty of taking the chair that evening 

 devolved on him since the President of the senior Club (Belfast) was not 

 present. He referred to the origin of the Field Club Union, an outcome 

 of the formation of which they saw in the present successful excursion, 

 and pointed out the great desirability and usefulness of such an organiza. 

 lion, and the good work which during its short existence it had already 

 accomplished. This evening representatives of all the Irish Field Clubs 

 and of several similar English Societies met together in friendly con- 

 ference, and he called for remarks and suggestions on matters relating 

 to Field Club interests. 



Wm. Gray, M.R.I. A., as an old member and ex-President of the 

 Belfast Club, referred to the benefits resulting from an interchange of 

 ideas in the field, as was accomplished on an expedition such as this. 

 He congratulated the Clubs on the number of lady members present, and 

 on the presence of representatives of science from England. The forma- 

 tion of the Irish Field Club Union was already justified by its results. 



Prof. T. Johnson, D.Sc, Treasurer, Dublin Naturalists' Field Club, 

 said that at a meeting of this kind the members reaped benefits of the 

 same nature as accrued to the meetings of the British Association. They 

 learned that there was a brotherhood in science, and that assistance and 

 encouragement were ready on every hand. He thought that if possible 

 a meeting of this kind should be arranged annually. 



