i6o The Irish Naturalist, August, 
DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
April 5.— Excursion to Howth. — Eighteen members under the leader- 
ship of Miss M. C. Knowles, left Amiens Street by the 12.50 train for 
Sutton, where they took the Summit tram to the Bailey Post Office. 
Near this point the descent of the cliffs was made, and Miss Knowles 
gave a most interesting demonstration of the various species of lichens 
growing on the shore. Special attention was drawn to the very distinct 
zones found about high-water mark, each zone being composed of a 
different species. From a point about half-way down the chffs the 
different coloured bands could be very distinctly seen. 
May 3. — Excursion to Blessington and Poulaphouca. — The party, 
consisting of fourteen members, left Terenure at 12 noon, and travelled as 
far as Blessington by the steam tramway. The conductor. Prof. Cole, 
first led the party to the junction of the Liffey with the King's River, 
where he explained how the course of the former stream had probably 
been reversed by changes brought about during the Ice Age. Before 
that time the Liffey probably took a much shorter and more direct course 
to the sea than that which it follows at the present da>. Possibly the 
deep cleft known as the Slade of Saggart represents the old channel of 
the river. The club afterwards went on to Poulaphouca to examine 
the gorge and waterfall. 
May 31. — Excursion to Jobstown and Ballinascorney. — This 
excursion, conducted by W. B. Wright, was attended by eighteen members, 
who took the Blessington steam tram as far as Jobstown, from which 
point they walked over the hills to Balhnascorney, where the conductor 
pointed out various features of geological interest. The gap near the 
top of Slievenamonogue was then visited, and its formation during the 
Ice Age explained. Afterwards the party proceeded to Brittas, re- 
turning to Dublin by the 8 o'clock tram. 
DUBLIN MICROSCOPICAL CLUB. 
June 28. — Annual Excursion. — Ten members took the 10.15 train 
from Harcourt Street to Aughrim, and drove up the valley of the Ow 
towards Aghavanagh. Turning to the mountain road they visited by 
kind permission of the owner, Mr. Pierce Mahony's shooting-lodge at 
Mucklagh, where a beautiful rock-garden in full bloom was greatly 
admired. Most of the party then ascended Mucklagh mountain 
and two members made their way to the summit of Croaghanm^oira 
before rejoining the cars. The day being exceptionally clear and fine 
the views were magnificent. The evening mail train was caught at 
Rathdrum and a halt for dinner was made at Bray before the party 
returned to town. 
