202 The Irish Naturalist, [September, 



of Kerry. The situatiou of the hotel is a fine one, standing as it does in 

 its own grounds on an eminence overlooking the head of the great sea- 

 inlet called Kenmare River, with the little town close at hand at its reari 

 cut ofif by a grove of trees. 



Friday, Jui^y 8th. — Breakfast was punctually at 8.0, and shortly after 

 9.0 the entire party were on the road forCloonee, a ten-mile drive. The 

 route lay across the suspension bridge to the southern side of the inlet, 

 and straight down the shore. The weather was perfect, with light 

 fleecy clouds drifting over the high summits of the Reeks, which towered 

 up magnificently to the westward. No stop was made till Cloonee was 

 reached, and an encampment was made on a heathy knoll between the 

 IMiddle and Upper Lake. Then the party scattered wide over the valley 

 and lake-sides and hills, pursuing their various bents. The lake- 

 bottom and islands were explored by means of boats. All met at 2.0 

 for lunch, only to scatter again until the Secretary's whistle at 5.30 

 warned stragglers that the time for departure had come. The day's 

 work proved satisfactory. The heathery slopes, swamps and bog-holes, 

 cliffs and woods, the lake-shores, and islands clothed with dense thickets 

 of Oak, Birch, Holly, Willow, Arbutus, and Yew, all yielded their 

 harvest to the collector. The best finds included the beetle Paracytmis 

 lu'grocpnetis, new to Ireland, and the large skater Gerris najas amongst the 

 Hemiptera, and among plants SJsyrinchinm avgitsti folium^ Barisiaviscosa, etc. 



In the evening the centre of attraction was two small sitting-rooms 

 which were specially set apart for scientific work, and here until a late 

 hour setting-boards, forceps, killing bottles, vasculums and plant- 

 presses reigned supreme. 



Saturday, Jui.y 9th — A punctual start was made at 9.0 a.m. for the 

 I'pper Lake of Killarney, in weather as cloudless as the previous day. 

 The route northward lay up the valley of the Finnihy River, ascending 

 steadily all the while, with the high mass of Boughil (2,063 feet) rising on 

 the left. Passing through Moll's Gap, a cutting through splendidly ice. 

 rounded rocks at the summit (Soo feet), a grand view was obtained — the 

 deep valley of Owenreagh River in front^with a ridge of brown mountains 

 on the further side, over whose summits MacGillycuddy's Reeks towered 

 in glorious array, clear except for a little cloud cap on Carrantuohill 

 (3,414 feet), the highest point of Ireland. To the right rose Purple 

 Mountain, the Gap of Dunloe separating it from the Reeks ; and further 

 to the right Tore Mountain lay in a blue haze. A rapid drive along the 

 steep slopes of Derrygarriff and Foardall, and past Looscannagh Lough 

 brought the party to the woods that overlook the beautiful Upper 

 Lake of Killarney, and here under a shady oak-tree, the Secretary sounded 

 a halt, and the party quickly scattered through the woods and rocks. 

 The heat was intense, but not enough to deter the naturalists from 

 steadily pursuing their researches. Lunch in the shade proved very 

 grateful, after which further explorations were carried out. One of the 

 best beetles found in this district was the beautiful Donacia dentata, and 

 the rare Lissodcma quadripitstulata was beaten from Oak on the shore of the 

 lake. 



