248 The hish Naturalist. August, 



June 29.— Excursion to Lucan and Leixup. — The excursion which 

 the Committee had decided to hold on this date to the canal between 

 Clonsilla and Lucan had to be abandoned owing to the cleaning of the 

 canal in the early weeks of June, which resulted in the almost com- 

 plete destruction of the interesting water vegetation of this locality. 

 The Committee decided to change the place of excursion to Lucan, and 

 a small party left Park Gate at 2.30 p.m. by the electric tram. On ar- 

 rival at Lucan Miss M. C. Knowles, the botanical conductor, led the 

 part}' along the south bank of the Liffe} r , pointing out the rarer wood- 

 laud plants and grasses which flourish here. The members arrived at 

 five o'clock at Leixlip, where members had tea, and then the walk to the 

 Salmon Leap was resumed. The party returned to town at eight 

 o'clock from Lucan. In connection with the excursion two rare plants 

 were found which will be reported in a future number of the Irish 

 Naturalist. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



May 25.— The first excursion of the forty-fifth year took place to 

 Roughan Park, Co. Tyrone. Twenty-six members and friends attended, 

 went by the 8 o'clock train to Coalisland, and walked to Roughan Park, 

 where they were hospitably entertained by Mr. W. G. Robinson. After 

 inspecting the old castle and the lake, the walk was continued into 

 Stewartstown, where tea was provided, and the 4.45 train brought the 

 party back to Belfast. 



Several plants noted should be mentioned, such as the White Mustard 

 (Brassica alba), the Dusky Crane's-bill (Geranium phceum), the Greater 

 Celandine (Chelidonium majus), and the Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). 

 About the shores of Roughan Lough, among other interesting plants 

 observed were the Bird Cherry (Primus Pad us) and Arenaria trinervut. 

 Of the cryptograms many fine specimens of the common species of 

 ferns w T ere observed, including some nice varieties of Scolopendrium 

 vulgare, and good collections of mosses were obtained, among which 

 special mention should be made of Fontinalis antipyretica, var. giganteum, 

 found growing in a roadside well, and Orthoirichum disphanum on old 

 elder bushes. The ornithological members reported having noted 

 thirty-five species of birds, not a bad list considering the dull unfavour- 

 able day. The list included nine species of our spring migrants, as well 

 as the Great Crested Grebe, which was seen on Roughan Lake, and 

 breeds there. It has not been recorded as a breeding species in County 

 Tyrone before. 



JUNE 15. — Half-day exclusion to Island Mahee. — One hundred and 

 ten members and friends attended. Going by train to Comber, and 

 driving to Island Mahee, the journey was broken by stops at severa 

 places of interest. After thoroughly exploring the island, the party 

 was driven to Ringneill, where Mr. D. E. Lowry entertained them to 



