394 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



ing, as they do, the greatest number of alpine and the smallest of 

 lowland plants. Lough Curra is easy of access, and will well repay a 

 visit. 



From here we will make a descent by the stream from the lake to 

 the borders of cultivation at about 750 feet, noting the heights at 

 which the more lowland species begin to appear, and reversing the 

 process upon our return, so as to obtain the lower limits of the alpine 

 species. Upon this detour, we meet with Pinguicida lusitanica and 

 Drosera rotundifolia sparingly, in one place at an altitude of 850 to 900 

 feet ; these were not met with elsewhere upon the Galtee range, and 

 the rarity of plants so frequent on Irish mountain ranges seems un- 

 accountable. The results of these observations will be found in the 

 appended list ; but it may be mentioned here, that none of the i.,lpine 

 plants, except Saxifraga stellaris, descend below the levels of the cliff- 

 bases, corresponding with the altitudes of the lakes given above. 



Having examined the attractive, though dangerous, precipices of 

 Lough Curra, and the high ground above, as well as the northern 

 slopes below, we will take a botanical survey of the southern descent 

 towards Mitchelstown. Once the ridge is crossed and we face down- 

 wards, we meet with a gradually-diminishing mountain flora of the 

 commonest type, which, as far as my observations went, contained no 

 remarkable plant. Pour distinct excursions upon this southern aspect 

 of the Graltecs led me to this conclusion ; we will, therefore, resume 

 our course at Lough Curra, and pursue it in an easterly direction. 



Having crossed a spur running north from Dawson's Table (Galty- 

 more), we came upon Lough Diheen (1800 feet) — a small and perfectly 

 barren tarn sunk in- a cradle of glacial drift. This lake is about three 

 parts surrounded by precipices, which do not quite reach the water, 

 and is fringed with piled moraine matter in a barrier about 20 to 

 30 feet high. To the student of ice-action this lake will be of in- 

 terest, but to explore the botany we must scramble up amongst 

 the precipices. Keeping upward towards Galtymore, and examining 

 the different ledges on the faces of the cliffs, we notice merely a 

 diminution in the flora, and find nothing of much interest until within 

 about 400 feet of Galtymore. Here is a small patch of the rare 

 Saussurea alpina, consisting of but four or five plants. This plant has 

 been hitherto known only from two places in the Kerry mountains, 

 and was recently rediscovered by me in the Co. Donegal. "We will 

 leave these few roots undisturbed. Many lowland plants abound 

 here at an unusual height. Chrysos2)lenitim oppositifolium and Ifontia 

 fontana are very plentiful within 200 feet of the summit, and Rhin- 

 antliiis Crista-gaMi occurs at an altitude of about 2400 feet. As we 

 still travel east from Lough Diheen, and examine the bases of the 

 wet bluffs and north-looking cliffs, we again notice Asplenium viride 

 and Oxyria reniformis, though decreasing in quantity. Saxifraga Jiirta, 

 vars. genuina, platypetala and affinis, also occur, the last two being 

 the most abundant. At an altitude of about 2600 feet north of 

 Lough Diheen, Salix herhacea also appears ; it occurred previously 



