240 [Proe. B.N.F.C., 



a passing record. Before they left Limavady, a lady residing 

 there kindly exhibited to the excursionists a seagull, of the herring 

 species, which had been in her possession and under her constant 

 oversight for the space of forty-two years. This bird, although 

 thus aged, is still, so to speak, possessed of all its faculties. The 

 bill is overgrown somewhat and bent, crossing at its extremity, 

 and the gait of this extraordinary bird somewhat affected by its 

 longevity, but still it is comparatively active, and, when under 

 inspection, quite able to hold its own with the poultry in the yard, 

 who crowded around to share the food which the lady threw to it, 

 and of which it partook with apparently an excellent appetite. 



The party reached Belfast on the evening of this day (Thurs- 

 day), having thoroughly enjoyed their trip, notwithstanding the 

 unfavourable state of the weather, and without a single accident 

 or disappointment, their programme having been carried out with 

 nearly entire completion. 



On Saturday, 12th August, to 



COLIN GLEN AND CASTLE ROBIN. 



The members and their friends assembled at the Ulster Hall 

 at twelve o'clock, and, mounting the vehicles which were in atten- 

 dance for the conveyance of the party, a pleasant drive by the 

 Lower Falls Road and Andersonstown brought them to the Wood- 

 bourne entrance of Colin Glen, admission to which was kindly 

 granted by the courtesy of Finlay M'Cance, Esq., J. P. The glen 

 possesses considerable interest to the botanist, as it is the habitat 

 of several rare plants, and many species of our native ferns occur 

 here in great profusion. During Saturday's excursion several well- 

 marked varieties or " sports " of them were met with, particularly 

 of the common hartstongue ( Scolopendrium vulgare). It is, how- 



