244 t pr °c. B.N.F.C, 



the lake the ferns were found to be extremely luxuriant ; the 

 bracken (Pteris aquilina) was most remarkable, several of the 

 stems measuring nine feet in length, and bearing an unusual num- 

 ber of fronds. The white water-lily (Nymphcea alba), so scarce in 

 Antrim, beautified the surface of this pretty lakelet, even at this 

 late season. On reaching Killyleagh, the party were kindly in- 

 vited to luncheon by Lachlan M'Laine, Esq., who also placed his 

 fine yacht at their disposal, for the purpose of visiting some of the 

 islands in Strangford Lough. One section of the Club came pre- 

 pared to avail themselves of the opportunity of dredging in the 

 lough, and under the guidance of Mr. Robert Lowry, who kindly 

 accompanied them in his yacht, had a short but most successful 

 cruise. The sheltered inlet of Strangford Lough has been famed 

 for its marine zoology, and certainly the abundance of animal life 

 brought up by the dredge on this occasion was most surprising. 

 Starfish were in the utmost profusion — the dredge, a very small 

 one, was only a very few minutes down, but when brought up, it 

 was found to be not only filled, but heaped up with brittle stars 

 of at least three species — viz., Ophiura albida, Ophicoma rosu/a, 

 and O. granulata, the latter a comparatively rare species. The 

 number of starfishes obtained by this one haul of the dredge was 

 not less than 2,000. Of mollusca, the most noticeable were 

 Chitons, three species of which were found — C. fasicularis, C. 

 ruber, and C. marginata. Specimens of various species of Crus- 

 tacea, echinodermata, zoophytes, and sponges were collected, and 

 those engaged were convinced that if sufficient time bad been at 

 their disposal, the result of the dredging operations would have 

 been of very high interest. The remainder of the party proceeded 

 to visit Green Island, which, like the other islands in the vicinity, 

 is notable on account of the remarkable deposit of Boulder clay 

 of which the surface is composed. The clay contains fragments 

 of rocks of various ages and origin. Large boulders of greenstone 

 were common, and masses of red grit resembling the coarse De- 

 vonian sandstone of Cushendall. Nodules of ironstone and frag- 



