252 The Irish Naturalist. October, 1902. 



As to the botany of the district passed over so quickly, there was not 

 as much variety as might have been expected ; nevertheless, several of 

 the less common plants were collected. Briza media was found at 

 Monkstown and at Ballyclare. Peplis Portula was grown plentifully in 

 the ditch at Lisnalinchy Fort. Alchemilla filicatilis was met with at 

 Wiley's Fort, and with it Trifoliuvi medium. At Ballyclare Barbarea 

 intermedia was gathered by the river bank. 



A halt was made at Baird's Hotel, Ballyclare, to prepare for the 

 return journey. No more appropriate place could be selected, with its 

 quaint garden of strange shrubs and flowers, fantastic summer-houses, 

 quiet nooks, rustic seats, decorative figures, and antiquarian objects. 

 Attendants, attired in ancient Irish costume, marched in silence to and 

 fro, bringing up a succession of geological and antiquarian objects — 

 stone, bronze, and iron weapons illustrative of pre-historic and 

 mediaeval times, and thus furnished the members with ample materials 

 for examination and discussion during their stay. From Ballyclare the 

 members returned to Belfast by the Antrim Road, and thus completed a 

 most enjoyable day's outing. 



DUBLIN NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



June 21.— The ExcuRvSION to Wicki^ow, announced on the pro- 

 gramme for this date, did not take place. 



August 23. Excursion to Kii^cock. — On this date a small party of 

 members left Dublin by the midday train. The morning had been 

 rather threatening, but those who went enjoyed a fine afternoon, work- 

 ing back along the Royal Canal bank to Maynooth. A number of the 

 local canal-side plants were gathered, such as (Enanthe fistulosa, &c. The 

 insects taken include the beetle Corylophiis cassidioides^ making a third 

 Irish record for this species, and the best finds amongst the aquatic 

 species were Haliphis confinis and Gyrinus opaats. The water bug, Corixa 

 Bonsdorffi, which it was thought might occur in this locality, proved to 

 be quite a common species. The water-net brought up an abundance of 

 the smaller aquatic animals, amongst these being some interesting 

 species of water-mites, such as Arrenurus oniatus, George; A. maculator, 

 Muller ; A. tricuspidator, MuUer, and A. crenattts, Koenike, this last being 

 previously unrecorded as a British species. Several examples of the 

 true water-spider, Argyrotieia aquatica^ were captured ; it is known to 

 inhabit the canal in other places. After partaking of tea at Maynooth, 

 the party returned to Dublin by the afternoon train, well pleased with 

 their ramble. 



