Dec. 1890.] BOTAXICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 19 



luggage transferred to another car which was to take us on 

 the remainder of our journey. Shortly after leaving Lee- 

 nane we saw on the roadside Hypericum Androsmmum, L., 

 and some good plants of Asplenium Tricliomanes, var. cris- 

 tatum. Our next halting-place was Letterfrack, a small 

 village beautifully situated on the sea to the south of 

 Ballynakill Harbour. On our way we drove through the 

 famous Kylemore Pass, the road running along the side of 

 Kylemore Lake, and close by the palatial residence of Mr 

 Mitchell Henry. At Letterfrack we changed horses and 

 started on the last stage of our day's journey. Whilst 

 the horses were being changed we had an opportunity of 

 inspecting the so-called Connemara diamonds, which are 

 simply crystallised quartz. They are abundant on the 

 Diamond Pin, a hill near the town. From Letterfrack to 

 Clifden is 8 Irish miles, and the drive somewhat dreary. 

 On walking up a long, steep hill, we were surprised to find 

 the whole road swarming with small winged ants, and for at 

 least a mile the road was literally living with these insects. 

 We reached Clifden between 6 and 7 p.m., and took 

 up our abode in MuUarkey's Hotel, the principal one in 

 town. Clifden is the capital of Connemara, and is close 

 upon an arm of the sea. It is famed for its serpentine 

 quarries. Beautiful ornaments of this stone are made by an 

 old man, who boasts that he is of Highland descent. Many 

 of these are very beautiful, and most of our party made 

 purchases. 



Friday, 8th August. — To-day we were accompanied in 

 our excursion by Mr E. J. Bodkin, who belongs to the 

 locality. Mr Bodkin is a student of medicine, and a former 

 pupil of mine. As he knew the locality well he was of 

 great service to us. Our excursion to-day was to the neigh- 

 bourhood of Ballinaboy Bridge, about 2 miles to the south 

 of Clifden, specially to search for Erica ciliaris. It was at 

 this bridge that the late Professor Balfour and Professor 

 Dickson looked for E. ciliaris in 1874. Professor Balfour 

 was confident that this was the bridge at which he had 

 gathered the plant in 1852. We searched most carefully 

 about the bridge and all the neighbourhood, but could see 

 nothing of it nor E. Machayi. I have some doubts if it 

 was here that Professor Balfour found it, because in his 



