1S96.] Proceedings of Iris/i Societies. 185 



last was down. At appropriate times Mr. William Gray and Mr. 

 Alexander G. Wilson (Hon. Secretary) briefly described the geological 

 features of the Triassic period and the salt-beds in particular, Mr. Gray 

 explaining the lithological characters and Mr. Wilson giving a resume oi 

 some of the recent discoveries of the fauna and flora of the period. 



The salt is here worked by being quarried from the matrix, often in 

 an almost pure state, and when raised to the surface in buckets is tipped 

 into a reservoir, from which the brine flows down to the evaporating 

 pans near the town. The best thanks of the Club are due to Mr. 

 Alexander Miscampbell, the Irish Manager of the Salt Union, for his 

 courtesy in allowing the members to visit the mine. On reaching the 

 surface the members walked back to Carrickfergus, some of them 

 loitering in the neighbouring fields, the result of which was the discovery 

 of the "Water Soldier" {Stratiotcs aloides), and the Wood Vetch {Vicia 

 sylvaticd). The former plant was a most interesting find, as in Stewart 

 and Corry's flora it is marked as " now extinct " in the three recorded 

 localities, and this is a new station for it, and therefore the only known 

 one in Ulster. The vetch is also rare, but the station has been previously 

 recorded. Those who were not able to go by the earlier train left 

 Carrickfergus by the 8.5 train, thus giving them all time to visit the fine 

 old Church of St. Nicholas, where Mr. W. J. Fennell read a short paper 

 on the architectural features of the building, which was illustrated by a 

 most excellent series of photos and drawings. 



The GeoIvOGicaIv Section held an Excursion on T6th May to Squire's 

 Hill, for Cretaceous strata, and basaltic dykes and flows. A considerable 

 number of the usual Chalk and Greensand fossils were obtained, from 

 various horizons, and several photos were taken of the remarkable dykes, 

 from one of which was taken the beautiful junction of chalk and basalt 

 recently exhibited at the Club's meetings by Mr. R. Bell. 



Another excursion of the section was held on the 13th June, to Wood- 

 burn, for the lower beds of the Cretaceous series. A number of the 

 usual Chalk and Greensand fossils, such as lanira, Pecten, Terebratula 

 Exogyra, Rhynchonella, Catopygus, &c., were taken, though none were new 

 to the local list. Those who were also botanists were pleased to see the 

 glen abundant in the Wood Vetch and Guelder-rose in full flower. The 

 beautiful Eqtiisetu??i sylvaticwn was also in quantity. 



Dubinin Naturalists' Field Club. 



May 30th. — Excursion to Lambay Island. This excursion was of excep- 

 tional interest. A party of 46 left Dublin at lo.o a.m. on board the s.s. 

 " Erin's King," and, steaming round the cliffs of Howth, were soon close 

 to the island of Lambay. The water was quite smooth, and the sky, 

 which was cloud}' at starting, speedily cleared, and a day of glorious sun- 

 light ensued. The steamer passed close inshore right round the island, 

 and the great colonies of sea-birds, the sheets of wild flowers on the slopes 

 and cliffs, coupled with the brilliancy of sea and sky, formed a scene not 



