266 The Irish Nahtralisf. [ Oct., 



Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei.d CIvUB. 

 August 15. — Kei,i.y's GIvEn. A party numbering close on thirty 

 proceeded by car and cycle to Whitechurch, and thence on foot up Kelly's 

 Glen. Some elected to search along the stream, where rough banks 

 strewn with rocks invited the naturalist ; others struck up the heather- 

 clad side of Tibradden Mountain, and along its high ridge to the summit, 

 where, from the ruined sepulchral earn, a fine view of the Dublin and 

 Wicklow hills was to be had. The party re-assembled at a whitewashed 

 cottage at the head of the glen, where tea was spread on the grass. Close 

 at hand rose the green slopes that covered a deposit of much geological 

 interest — the highest of the celebrated series of Dublin high-level glacial 

 gravels. The descent was made across the ridge to Ticnock, and thence 

 to Dundrum. The season was rather advanced for flowering plants, but 

 Trifolium medium was observed in one of its few Co. Dublin stations ; 

 with it grew the Golden Rod (Solidago virgaia-ea). The Sweet-Scented 

 Orchis {Gymnadenia conopsea) and Grass of Parnassus {Parnassia palustris) 

 were still in flower in damp spots, and the mountain variety of the Cow- 

 wheat {Melampynaii pratense var. montammi) was gathered both on Ti- 

 bradden and Kilmashoge. Among the Liverworts collected by Mr. 

 M'Ardle were Scapania nemorosa, S. umb)-osa, Nardia gracillima, axidi Riccardia 

 inultifida var. pinnatijida. 



September 5. — BriTTas Bay. A rainy morning kept a few 

 members away, but a party of close on twenty disembarked at Wicklow 

 from the train leaving Dublin at lo.o. The day brightened as the party 

 drove southward, through pretty undulating country and hedges laden 

 with sloes, hips, haws, and blackberries. The sands of Brittas Bay were 

 reached shortly after mid-day, and as the sun burst forth the party 

 scattered among the dunes. Here that fine and rare rush, /uncus acuius, 

 grew plentifully. Specimens were measured seven feet in height. Other 

 plants of the sand-hills were Carlma, Cynoglossutn, Euphorbia paralias^ and 

 E. portlandica. On the sand-hills the entomologists noted a fair number 

 of species. Amongst the beetles the following are noteworthy: — 

 Dej?ietrius atricapillus, Dromius nigriventris, Otiot-rhynchus ovatus, and a very 

 white form of the common Philopedon geminatus. In the marshy ground 

 behind the sand-hills Aphodius fatens occurred, a very local species in 

 Ireland. Two uncommon plant-bugs were found on the sand-hills, 

 Metacanthus pundipes and Nabis lativentris. The former occurred in abund- 

 ance under Lotus corniculatus ; it had previously occurred only on Portmar- 

 nock sands. The Spiders collected included Lycosa leopardus, L. picta, 

 Fardosa monticola, and an immature Drassus (probably D. delinquens) new to 

 the Irish Fauna. Along the rocks of Mizen Head were found Statice 

 occidentalis and Carex exiensa. Fcrniculum and Arte?nisia Absinthium grew on 

 roadsides adjoining. A note on the fungi taken will be found on p. 268. 

 At 3.30 a sumptuous tea was provided by Mrs. Johnson, and subse- 

 quently the party drove back to Wicklow, and caught the mail train to 

 town. Hon. R. K- Dillon and Brigade-Surgeon Wellington Gray were 

 elected members of the Club, 



