May 1, 1902] 
indeed. remarks such as the above might be made of 
almost all the various branches of zoology ; the district 
is well worth thorough searching ; the Mourne Moun- 
tains have been scarcely touched by the collector, and 
important finds might be made at anytime. The field 
naturalist could easily spend a profitable week on or 
around Lough Neagh—by far the largest lake in the 
British Islands—which is comparatively close to Belfast 
and easy of access. Here the pollan is found in great 
numbers, and those interested in fish can investigate this 
species, which is not found in either England or Scotland. 
The Toome Eel Fishery is also worth a visit, ten 
thousand pounds’ worth of eels being caught annually. 
Botany.—Though the peculiar group of plants, styled 
in the Cybele Hibernica‘ Cantabrian,” which enrich the 
flora of south-west Ireland are absent in the north-east, 
yet the floras of Antrim and Down are both extensive and 
varied. The recent “Irish Topographical Botany,” by 
Praeger, gives the plants of co. Antrim as 777, in an 
area of 1191 square miles ; co. Down, 742 species, area 
957 square miles. The coast-line of these two counties, 
more than 200 miles, with its sand dunes, mud flats and 
maritime rocks, affords suitable sites for very diverse 
groups of plants. The visitor to Newcastle in co. Down 
will find on its sandy warrens quite a number of uncom- 
mon species, while the muddy shores at Dundrum yield 
such plants as Atriplex portulacoides and Juncus obtust- 
florus. This sea-coast is girt in almost its entire extent 
with hills and mountains of considerable elevation and 
varied mineral composition. The visitor to the Mourne 
Mountains will meet with siliceous rocks, granites and 
indurated Silurian grits and shales, yielding at Tollymore 
and elsewhere hawkweeds, some of much rarity. The 
Trappean hills which characterise almost exclusively the 
greater part of co. Antrim give a flora differing con- 
siderably from that of its neighbouring county. Glenariff 
is typical of the rugged and picturesque ravines cut deep, 
by the waters flowing from the moors above, into the 
basalt and secondary rocks of Antrim. The yew tree, 
formerly plentiful, still lingers on the wild cliffs of 
Glenariff, but apparently is near extinction. The rare 
umbellifer Cavum verticillatum is plentiful on the 
Giant’s Causeway headlands, and Scottish lovage is 
found on rocks washed by the sea near Portrush. The 
bryologist will find in “the glens of Antrim” capital 
hunting grounds, as their moss flora includes many species 
of considerable rarity. The south of the county has 
during last year yielded to the researches of Mr. J. H. 
Davies Ditrichum vaginans, a moss new to the British 
Isles. The valley of the Boyne in co. Louth, to the 
south, is in a limestone district, and has an extensive 
flora consisting of species that usually frequent calcareous 
tracts, but has no special features to note. 
Archaeology.—The antiquities around Belfast are 
numerous and representative, more especially the pre- 
historic remains. Forts and souterrains are abundant 
and cromleacs numerous, the finest being the Giant’s 
Ring quite close to the city. Here a fine cromleac is 
surrounded by a great earthen ring, a wonderful evidence 
of man’s power and labour in the earliest ages. Several 
fine souterrains, chambered and complicated, are to be 
found near Antrim town. Standing stones, some holed, 
are also numerous, whilst Ogam monoliths occur at 
Connor. Celtic pre-Norman churches can be seen in 
several parishes with holy wells adjoining, whilst later 
churches with distinctive features, several round towers, 
such as those at Antrim, Armoy and Drumbo, can easily 
be visited. Of the abbeys, the most attractive are Grey 
Abbey, a Cistercian house, Inch Abbey, and Bun-na- 
Margie, a Franciscan foundation. Some ancient crosses 
and cross slabs, such as those at Downpatrick, Donagh- 
more, Dromore, Movilla and Bangor, are well worth 
inspection, whilst armorial stones abound in every 
churchyard. 
NO. 1696, VOL. 66] 
NATURE 5 
The great Norman castle of Carrickfergus, with its 
bold central tower and surrounding ramparts, is still 
occupied, whilst Dunluce, the chief residence of the 
MacDonnells, overhangs the stupendous cliffs of the 
north coast, one of the finest sights in the three king- 
doms. The Knights Templars had a stronghold at 
Dundrum, where a great circular keep and encircling 
battlements still defy the hand of Time. 
Smaller castles abound on every hand both in Antrim 
and Down, showing how the Normans and subsequent 
settlers obtained a firm foothold, for the Irish were not 
given to castle-building. 
In many districts primitive manners, utensils and 
customs are still common. Wooden vessels and quaint 
candlesticks, wheel cars and slipe carts, donkey creels and 
straw ropes, the scythe and the hand-reaper are the 
peasant’s usual means of living and carrying on his 
ordinary husbandry. Nowhere can all the phases of 
archeology be better studied than in the north of Ireland. 
Belfast—the population of which has increased from 
185,000 to 350,000 since the last meeting—is well known 
as the industrial capital of Ireland. Its linen manufac- 
ture was in a flourishing condition in the thirteenth 
century, was still farther improved by the Huguenot 
refugees who settled in the neighbourhood in the seven- 
teenth, and has now attained to the vastly greater scale 
made possible by modern machinery. Members of the 
Association will be given ample opportunities of visiting 
the most important works. 
Inspection of the newer and no less important ship- 
building industry will also no doubt prove of the greatest 
interest, not only to engineers, but also to the travelling 
public who may care to see the birthplace of the White 
Star steamers, the first vessels in the design of which 
the true characteristics proper to steam-propelled vessels 
were fully grasped, though their great length at first 
evoked prophecies of disaster. Permission to inspect 
these yards has in recent years been only very sparingly 
granted, partly because of the time lost by the workmen 
from the distraction of their attention by visitors. Ad- 
mission to these yards and engine shops will be accorded 
to members of the Association. 
The handbook or guide to the district, a copy of 
which will be presented to each member, will contain 
specially prepared maps illustrating the topography, 
geology and antiquities of the district. The editors in 
charge of the work are Mr. F. J. Bigger, Mr. R. LI. 
Praeger and Mr. J. Vinycomb. 
The following subjects will be dealt with :—‘ History 
of Belfast and the District,” by Mr. F.J..Bigger and Mr. 
J. Vinycomb; “ Antiquities,” by Mr. F. J. Bigger and Mr. 
W. J. Fennell ; “Geology and Physical Geology,” by 
Mr. J. St. J. Phillips ; “ Botany,” by Mr. R. LI. Praeger, 
Mr. S. A. Stewart and the Rev. C. H. Waddell ; 
“Zoology,” by Mr. R. Patterson, Mr. R. Welch, the 
Rev. W. F. Johnson and Mr. H. Lamont Orr; ‘“ Trade 
and Commerce,” by Mr. A. G. Wilson. 
Although the journey to Ireland includes the crossing 
of St. George’s Channel, any discomfort that this may 
have entailed in the past has been reduced to a minimum 
in recent years by the excellent steamers now available. 
The shorter sea passages are v/d Holyhead and Kings- 
town or Greenore and vz@ Stranraer and Larne. Mem- 
bers from England who prefer a night passage have a 
choice of three direct routes—v/? Fleetwood, Barrow 
or Liverpool. The first mentioned has the largest and 
best steamers ; the others have one or two very good 
boats. Passengers from Glasgow wié Ardrossan or 
Greenock will find the direct boats fairly good, though 
comparatively small, old-fashioned and often over- 
crowded ; but the open sea passage is not long, and day- 
light passages are available. 
The railway and steamboat companies will issue return 
tickets to Belfast from the principal stations in the United 
