40 



minutes, we re-asceuded tu the railway, aud continued 

 our ascent above it. One small field through which we 

 passed was yjointed out to us by Professor Kinnahan and 

 Mr. Kelly as one of the very few localities in Ireland in 

 which the beautiful and sweet-scented little orchid 

 Neottia spiralis, (L.) is found ; we procured an abundance 

 of good specimens very easily. Our progress was now 

 across stone fences, hedges, and other obstructions, until 

 we came to a saddle-back protrusion of granite, which 

 extended as a bare ridge about a yax'd high, and the same 

 width, through several small fields ; and our excellent 

 director pointed it out in various other parts of the hill in 

 a diagonal line from our halting place. Continuing our 

 walk we soon found ovirselves amongst enormous masses 

 of granite, scattered about in wild confusion over a com- 

 paratively flat space, which formed the summit of the 

 hill. The vegetation here was only the heather and 

 gorse, and such weeds as usually accompany them in 

 stony moors. Our labour in reaching this spot was now 

 repaid by one of the most beautiful views imaginable — a 

 valley of surpassing loveliness was spread at our feet, 

 the luxuriant crops of ripened grain glittering in the sun, 

 fully warranted the appellation of the Golden Valley, by 

 which name we were told it was known. The range of 

 mountains, beginning with the Head of Bray and the 

 peaks called the Golden Spears, bounded the valley on 

 the opposite side, and stretched far away through Wick- 

 low. To our right the green waves of the glorious Bay 

 of Dublin rolled upon the narrow band of sand and 

 shingle, which separated its waters from the luxuriant 

 meadows of the valley, giving rather the idea of a rich 

 garden watered by a quiet stream than a spread of sea 

 coast, usually so bleak and barren. 



Many portions of the space on which we stood were en- 

 tirely bare, the granite being almost polished by the action 



