8 



very well formed, and are sharper than those found at Larne, &c. 

 Prom the number of celts and other implements found with them, 

 it is suppose 1 that this must have been the site of an ancient 

 manufactory of flint weapons. The members and friends also 

 examined the weirs where the Toome eels are captured by the 

 ton ; for the Belfast, Liverpool, and London markets. The 

 district is also remarkable for the extensive deposit of fossil 

 earth that occurs there, extending over several square miles, and 

 is several feet thick ; yet it is made up of the silicious frustules 

 of Diatomacese, Oaillonella, Surirella, &c, &c. ; when properly 

 prepared, it makes beautiful slides for the microscope, and 

 specimens of it are found in every microscopic cabinet. The day 

 was all that could be desired, and the few botanists of the 

 party had nothing to hinder their rambles through woods and 

 fields. This district is well known in botanical circles as yield- 

 ing many plants of exceeding rarity, and on this occasion several 

 of these species were found. Here is the only station in Great 

 Britain for the hoary sedge (Carex Buxhaumii), and even here it 

 occupies only a few square yards. It is almost a pity that it 

 should be so scarce, it being, perhaps, the most elegant of our 

 sedges. Those who dread the extinction of our rare native 

 plants need not be apprehensive on account of the visit of the 

 Belfast Field Club to Toome — only two specimens of this rarity 

 were brought away as souvenirs of an interesting excursion. 

 Many other species of carex were observed in full flower, includ- 

 ing the hoary sedge (Carex curta), and the tufted sedge (Carex 

 stricta) . 



The Northern bed-straw (Galium bor-cale) was found just 

 coming into flower, and also the spindle tree (Euonymus 

 europeus), once prized on account of the toughness of its wood. 

 The purple sandwort (Lepiyonwn rubrum) was gathered on the 

 shores of Lough Beg, only two other stations have been pre- 

 viously recorded for this plant in Ireland ; growing along with 

 the sandwort was Leontodon taraxicum var. palustre, a scarce 

 form. A search over the extensive peat bog close to Toome 

 brought to view the tiny, thread-like stems and elegant crimson 

 flowers of the cranberry (Yaccinium oxycoccos) here occurring in 

 abundance, and here also was found the crowberry (Emptrum 

 nigrum), called in the vernacular of the district " monnox 



