l6o The Irish Naturalist. September, 



steeply down to Melmore IvOUgli, a beautiful sheet of water 

 banked in between tlie flat sands and the rocky hill. The 

 '' Murder Hole" itself is a lovely .sandy cove amid fine rock- 

 scenery, with the waves tumbling in out of the open 

 Atlantic (Plate 7). The water was irresistible, and soon many 

 were wading. An outlying grassy stack — " Rough Island " — 

 was explored, which yielded some interesting plants, and also 

 the nests and nearly full-grown young of the Great Black- 

 backed Gull. A return was made to Gortnalughoge for lunch. 

 In the afternoon further exploring was carried out, a number 

 of members walking to Melmore Head, the extremity of the 

 promontor}^ where many gulls, shags, &c., were breeding. 

 At 5 o'clock the return journey was commenced, a halt being 

 made at Mevagh to visit the old church and large rude cross 

 that stand there. Rosapenna w^as reached punctually, and the 

 party returned delighted with their first da^-'s excursion. 



Sunday, Jui.y 10. 

 Sunday was as usual a dies 71071, but during the day the partj' 

 scattered far over the district, and members might have been 

 met anywhere from Melmore Head to Glenveagh. To the 

 latter place a section drove, including several collectors, and 

 good work was done among the native w^oods that clothe the 

 steep slopes above the lake. Others looked for prehistoric 

 remains among the sand-dunes with success, and others again 

 explored the rock}- and sandy shores of Sheep Haven. 



Monday, Jui^y ii. 

 At 9.30 the part}^ started on cars for Lough Salt. The 

 route lay southward through pretty hilly country, with much 

 natural scrub, to the hamlet of Glen ; thence steepljaipward, 

 with lovely views of Glen Lough opening out below. As the 

 ascent continued the panorama increased in extent, including 

 theGweebarra rift to the pass beyond Glenveagh, Sheep Haven 

 with Horn Head beyond, Muckish and many other mountains. 

 A wide stretch of moorland and a further ascent to 880 feet, 

 followed by a slight drop, brought the party to Lough Salt, 

 delightfully situated on a long shelf of Lough Salt Mountain, 

 which rises steeply from the water to an additional height of 

 over 700 feet (Plate 5). Here a halt of several hours was made, 

 during which lunch was served. The more active members 

 started at once for the summit of Lough Salt Mountain. Others 

 followed down the outlet stream — which descends a little 



