1 62 The Irish Naturalist. August, 



Botanical Notes from Co. Antrim. 



Oil June 14 last I went to Knock Dim, the only known station in this 

 county for Dryas octopctala^2a\0i found it in full bloom and great profusion 

 on the northern cliffs. These grim basaltic crags are at present trans- 

 formed into an exquisite rock garden ; from a hundred rock-ledges 

 drooped clusters and garlands of the beautiful Dryas, the large white 

 flowers gleaming like ropes of pearls against their dark background, 

 while other ledges literally foamed over with white masses of the INIossy 

 Saxifrage, and in tiny crevices on the face of the rock dark blue 

 gleams of Polygala mingled with the pure white stars of Arcnaria verna. 



On June 21 I found a fine clump of Lignsiicia/i scoticuni among rocks at 

 the western end of Brown's Ba}', Islandmagee, distant about half a mile 

 from its station at Skernaghan Point, recorded in 1896. 



Having been long intending to explore Skerry whirry, a remote basaltic 

 escarpment lacing south and west (whereas most of our basaltic cliffs 

 face N. and E.) in the heart of the hills between Larne and Balh'mena, 

 I got there on June, 24, and was amply rewarded for a long cycle ride under 

 a roasting sun. First on the southern slope, above the hamlet of Magher- 

 abane, I found Vicia orobus in some abundance — a sure sign that this 

 was "terra incognita" from a botanical point of view ; the place is 

 nearh' four miles (as the crow flies) N. W. of Ballyboby Junction, where 

 Mr. Tomlinson found this plant last year, and over four miles S W. of 

 the Sallagh Braes station. Then, high up among the rocks on the 

 Western face, I came upon a small ledge of heather, interlaced in all 

 directions with the long trailing branches of Arctonaphylos Uva-tirsi — a 

 plant unknown to me before, but subsequently identified by Mr. Praeger. 

 I searched lor a long time among the rocks, but did not succeed in 

 finding any more of this rare plant, which w-as last seen (so far as the 

 N. E. of Ireland is concerned) in 1S37 at Fair Head, its only local 

 station. On June 29 I revisited Skerrywhirry, and made another long 

 search for more of the Bear-berry among the heather and rocks, both at 

 higher and lower levels, but without success. I found Vicia orobiis in 

 profusion on the western slopes also, and Habenaria albida rather 

 sparingly, and saw Galiinn boveale flowering in abundance on the Ijanks 

 of the Glen whirry river, where it was seen b}- Templeton in 1793. 



C. J. IvII.I,Y. 



Ivarne. 



ZOOLOGY. 



The Woodlice of Ireland. 



We are attempting to make a systematic survey of the Iri.sli Woodlice, 

 and should, therefore, be verj' grateful for collections of specimens from 

 any part of Ireland which may be sent to either of us at the addresses 

 i;iven below. 



ft 



Fenagh House, Bagnalstown. D. R. Pack Berksford, 



Hillsboro', Co. Down. N, H. Foste;r, 



