1854] Mtltawn-Malbay. 5 x 



through bog and under hill-sides till a second collection of 

 white houses proved to be Miltown-Malbay, and we took 

 up our quarters at the Atlantic Hotel, very comfortably, 

 but not in view of the sunset. 



" There is a good bit of strand below the sandhills, but 

 only for a short distance, since the coast is a low cliff with 

 ledges of the slaty limestone rock, running far and irregu- 

 larly into the sea, abounding in rockpools and inlets, in 

 which wherever the water remains at low water, there the 

 Purple Urchin quite paves the bottom and is a most curious 

 and interesting sight ; each one burrowing a lodgment for 

 itself, and then adhering with its numberless suckers so 

 firmly that it is a matter of difficulty to detach them ; the 

 suckers frequently break off sooner than let go their hold. 

 The animal has also a way of moving its spines which, no 

 doubt, assists progression ; though they do not move much 

 from their holes. A few, however, were seen scrambling 

 over the backs of their comrades. Their size varies from 

 a hazel-nut to an orange, and their colours are quite 

 beautiful, contrasting well with sea-anemones of various 

 hues. 



" 25th. In the afternoon we went across the sandhills. 

 .... We saw Viola lutea (? curtisii, Bab.) growing in 

 immense profusion, and a pink-flowered variety of the 

 scarlet pimpernel (var. carnea) similar in colour to Ana- 

 gallis tenella (bog pimpernel). Along a small cliff of rock, 

 just below the mill, ,1 found Osmunda growing in plenty 

 in the stone along with several other common ferns. 



"July 26th. We left the hotel for the Cliffs, passing 

 Lahinch with its sandhills and bay (Viola ? curtisii seen 

 here ; Althaea officinalis near Miltown) . . . and made our 

 way to the stables, built, as well as a tower for the accom- 

 modation of visitors, close under the best part of the Cliff. 

 Viola still growing in the grass (not sandy). On reaching 

 the edge, we betook ourselves to one of the little safe crows' 

 nests built expressly, and gazed down this awful height 

 some 700 feet. The descent is quite abrupt, and in some 

 places the cliff overhangs the bottom ; the horizontal strata 

 so well marked in most parts as to make it look almost like 

 a built wall. There are two detached pieces, one a long 



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