138 The Irish Naturalist. July, 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



June 8. — Benderg Bay.— The train arrangements of the County 

 Down Railway allowed of an hour being spent at Downpatrick. The 

 Secretary conducted the members through the Cathedral. Another 

 member gave a history of the ancient cross. Leaving the Cathedral the 

 part3'. proceeded to the ancient rath. Returning to the station the party 

 witnessed the start of a flock of seventy-five pigeons of the Ayr Homing 

 Pigeon Club. 



Some additional members having now joined, all proceeded by train 

 to Ardglass, where cars were taken for Benderg Bay. Here the party 

 dispersed, some along the shore, some to the top of the cliffs, to pursue 

 their respective hobbies. Benderg Bay is a fine stretch of sand bounded 

 at the north by Killard Point. Just beyond the high-water mark rise 

 the steep cliffs of conglomerate with interstratified sands. The geologist 

 places them as the product of interglacial times Many of the rocks on 

 the headland show the result of glacial action either in their rounded 

 shapes or by the presence of well-defined striations marking the direction 

 of the motion of the glacier. Many of the members passed over to Gunn's 

 Island in quest of birds. On the way home several antiquities were 

 visited, and a rapid drive brought them to the Castle Hotel in Ardglass, 

 ' where tea was partaken of previous to proceeding to Belfast. In the 

 train members were enabled to compare notes on the day. Here the 

 botanists exhibited their finds, which included the Wild Beet {Beta 

 maritima) from Benderg, as well as some rare grasses and mosses. Thirty- 

 eight species of birds were noted. In the sandy cliffs of Benderg the 

 Jackdaw builds its nest at the end of sand burrows ; here also the Shel- 

 drake was found breeding. On Gunn's Island three species of Tern were 

 observed and eggs obtained, together with those of the pretty little 

 Winged Plover. The conchologists had a busy time collecting shells on 

 the shores of the two days — one lady securing Trochus lineatus, which is 

 a local rarity. The beetles came in for some attention, and the records 

 amply rewarded the members who pursued this branch of natural 

 history. As a result of the day's work many intend to revisit this com- 

 paratively new but very interesting district to pursue a more detailed 

 examination than could be effected in the all-too-short time of a single 



excursion. 



•. ■ 



JuivY 18-20. — Dublin and District.— The proceedings of the joint 



. Clubs at the Third Field Club Conference will be found on pages 140-141. 



The Belfast Club was represented by sixteen members, including 



Messrs. Heron, W. H. Patterson, Robert Patterson, J. St. J. Phillips, and 



the Rev. Father Onail. 



