Sept., 1S96.] 217 



NOTES ON THE FAUNA AND FI,ORA OF 

 CI.ONBROCK, CO. GALWAY. 



PREFATORY NOTE- 

 BY K. J. McWEENEY, M.D., AND R. EEOYD PRAEGER, B.E- 



Among the many results which have followed, directly or 

 indirectly, the Galway Conference of the Irish Field Clubs in 

 1895, and the gathering and intercourse of naturalists on that 

 occasion, few will be looked back to with greater pleasure and 

 interest by those who were so fortunate as to participate in it, 

 than the week spent in June last by a representative party of 

 the Dublin Naturalists' Field Club at Clonbrock, Co. Galway, 

 on the invitation of our fellow-member, the Hon. R. E- Dillon. 

 A very deep debt of gratitude is due to our host and hostess, 

 the Right Hon. LrOrd Clonbrock and I^ady Clonbrock, whose 

 unfailing kindness was only exceeded by the interest they 

 displayed in our researches, and the assistance they rendered 

 us in numberless ways. When to this is added the fact that 

 every corner of the large estate was thrown open to us, and 

 all the resources of the estate placed at our disposal, it will be 

 seen that we pursued our field work under circumstances of 

 unusual advantage and pleasure. 



It may be well to preface the scientific notes of the different 

 members of the party with a general narrative of our doings. 



On Tuesday, June i6th, the party, consisting of R. F. Scharff', 

 PH.D., E. J. McWeeney, m.d., David M'Ardle, and J. N. Halbert, 

 left Dublin b}^ the 9.15 train for Ballinasloe, which was reached 

 at 12.30. The party was met at the station by one of I^ord 

 Clonbrock's carriages, into which M'Ardle and Halbert lost no 

 time in transferring themselves, whilst Scharff and McWeeney 

 mounted their machines, and the 8| miles to Clonbrock were 

 quickly negotiated. The party was received by Eord and 

 I^ady Clonbrock and the Hon. R. E- Dillon, and after lunch 

 were accompanied round the ground and gardens, and through 

 the more nearly adjoining woods. They visited the " Old 

 Orchard," a veritable jungle of densely packed plant-life, and 

 passing into the open wood were shown the bank on which 

 grows that most remarkable fungus Morchella elata. This 

 bank in Clonbrock Wood and its immediate neighbourhood 

 are the only British localities for the "Tall-growing Morel." 



A 



