314 The Irish Natuialist- October, 



plants were smaller and many of them damaged by cattle; 

 but on the other half of the ground, separated by a wire fence, 

 and on which no cattle were to be seen, the plants were much 

 finer, some of them measuring from 9 to 12 inches. Juncus 

 was prevalent in the marshes, and Hydrocotyle vulgaris and 

 Anagallis tc?iclla abundant. The other dominant species 

 before-mentioned were not so common at this station, though 

 Lysimachia Nummularia occurred frequently. 



This new station is separated by fully four miles of shore- 

 line from the previous one, and the wonder now is how the 

 plant escaped detection so long ; for some of the older 

 botanists undoubtedly roamed over the neighbourhood. 

 Records of other rarities at least support this view. The 

 two conclusions at which I had arrived after my survey of the 

 first station, namely — (1) that the north shore of Lough Neagh 

 ma}' now claim to be the headquarters of the plant's distribu- 

 tion m Europe ; and (2) that an August search was likely to 

 reveal the existence of this exceedingdv rare and beautiful 

 orchid in new localities in the Lough Neagh basin — have, by 

 this second discovery, received an unexpectedly rapid — and, I 

 may venture to add — an agreeably startling confirmation. 



On August 22nd I discovered still another Lough Neagh 

 station for this orchid. I met with it, growing sparingly on a 

 small bit of wet, marshy pasture, with a spongy bottom, 

 opposite the Deer Park, and just tw 7 miles south of the town 

 of Antrim. The area of suitable ground at the place did not 

 exceed an acre or so, and I could only discover four plants. 

 Still this is a notable extension of range. 



Belfast. 



NEWS GLEANINGS. 



S. A. Stewart. 



We regret to learn of the retirement from the curatorsbip of the Belfast 

 Museum, College Square North, of Mr. 8. A. Stewart, A.Jv.S. After a 

 long period spent in business, during which all leisure time was devoted 

 to scientific pursuits, Mr. Stewart became Assistant Curator in 1SS0, and 

 Curator in 1 S9 t . He will carry with him into his retirement the heart- 

 felt <jood wishes not only of scientific friends in Belfast, but of many 

 naturalists throughout the British Islands. 



