i6o The IrisJi Naturalist. Oct. -Nov., 



viaritima, Polygonum maculaium, and Salicornia herbacea. The weather 

 during the afternoon was perfect. On the shore near Castle Espic a 

 Hock of over thirty swans was seen. N. H. Foster reported a bird hst 

 of thirty-one species. The most interesting ornithological feature was 

 the observation of the Stonechat (one female seen), as the severe winter 

 of 1916-17 had exterminated this species in some districts in Ireland 

 [vide Irish Naturalist, vol. xxvi.]. The four common species of woodlice 

 were found Tea was served in a field at Island Hill at 4.30. Owing to 

 the tide being full it was found impossible to visit Rough Island. Those 

 of the party who remained till the late train had an enjoyable walk back 

 to Comber by way of the fields through Cherryvalley. 



July 27. — Excursion to Raughlan. — Under the conductorship of 

 S. 'Si. Macoun the members travelled by the lo.o o'clock train to Lurgan 

 and drove to Raughlan, where the day was spent on the shore of Lough 

 Neagh. Before leaving Raughlan the President, A. McI. Cleland, thanked 

 Miss Forde for permission to visit the demesne, after which the party 

 drove back to Lurgan. After tea two members were elected. Several 

 of the rarer or local species of plants were noted, but the most interesting 

 botanical find fell to the conductor, who first detected Spiranthes Romanz- 

 offiana growing in a dry meadow close to the shore. Collections of 

 invertebrates were made in several groups which, when worked out, will 

 be published in the Club's Proceedings. 



August 10. — Excursion to Banks of the Lagan from Shaw's Bridge 

 to Drumbeg. A party of thirty members met, and as the district is one 

 peculiarly rich in plant life the botanists were soon hard at work, the 

 following among other plants being noted : — Ceterach officinarum, Hyperi- 

 cum quadrangulum, Butomus ztmbellatus, Lycopus europaeus. Nasturtium 

 amphibium, Lycium barbarum and Equisetum hyemale. On reaching 

 Drumbeg tea was served in the Parochial Hall. From the church the 

 members proceeded to view the grounds of Drum House, which had been 

 very courteously thrown open by the owner. Sir Samuel R. Keightley. 

 Here the party separated, some returning to town by the road, some by 

 the river. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



June i. — Excursion to Killiney Bay. — Eighteen members and 

 visitors took part, the interest being mainly geological. From Dalkcy 

 at 2.30 p.m. the party walked via Coliemore and Sorrento to the junction 

 of the Ordovician slates with the Leinster granite on the sea-shore, when 

 the President (J. de W. Hinch), who acted as conductor, gave an account 

 of the metamorphism produced in sedimentary rocks of the local Ordo- 

 vician slates by the injection of the molten igneous granite. The mica- 

 schist of the district, with its characteristic minerals, andalusite and 

 chiastolite, was then examined, and from the adjoining granite specimens 



