JULY. 123 



continuing our course along the beach, keeping by the 

 sea wall, we shall soon see on our left a large heap of 

 bricks, the remains of an ancient brick-kiln ; just past 

 which we shall see a deep hole, of some considerable 

 size, at the further end of which is a large pond ; this 

 hole was for two seasons the " Ultima Thule" of my ex- 

 plorationsthis is the " Hilly Field of Ireland." The 

 soil is limestone, and is covered with an infinity of 

 plants of all kinds ; the ground is literally carpeted 

 with the " bird's-foot trefoil" (Lotus corniculatus), 

 which here grows luxuriantly ; together with Anthyllis 

 Vulneraria, Matricaria ChamomillcBj Centaurea ni- 

 gra, burdock, Veronica, Heracleum sphondylium, 

 Plantago maritima and lanceolata, and an immense 

 number of other plants ; and the steep slopes upon the 

 beach are clothed with verdure in a similar manner 

 and of a similar kind, down to within a short distance 

 of high-water-mark ; while the edges of the slopes are 

 fringed with old black-thorns (among which Eudorea 

 lineola occurs), together with white-thorn, brambles, 

 broom, &c. 



Following the main path, bearing to the left, we shall 

 soon see on our right a lodge-house ; a little past which, 

 and in front of us, is a gate or stile ; on passing over 

 which we are in a wild, uncultivated, damp field, over- 

 grown with brambles, furze, broom, honeysuckle, and 

 a great variety of undergrowth of herbaceous plants ; 

 crossing this field we come to a stone wall in front of 

 us, but if we look in the right-hand corner we shall see 

 a few stones placed, after the manner of steps, in the 

 wall ; ascending these, and jumping down to the other 

 side, into a lane, we turn to the right, continue our 

 G2 



