1877-1878.] 299 



measure three to four feet, or even more, in diameter, and were 

 found to be tenanted by prodigious numbers of a very large and 

 lively ant, Formica Hercula?iea, the great wood ant, Churchhill is 

 also interesting as being the habitat of one of the rarer British 

 butterflies, the green hairstreak (T/iecla rubi), which Mr. Robinson 

 has repeatedly observed here. The season was, however, too 

 far advanced to admit of any specimens of it being procured on 

 this occasion. Many rare plants were obtained during the day in 

 addition to those already mentioned. The following are the most 

 noteworthy :— The wood betony ( Stachys betonica), the gladden 

 ( Iris fatidissima), greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingua), meadow 

 rue ( Thalictrum flavum), and a rare form of the water crowfoot 

 (Ranunculus trichophyllus ). The beautiful quaking grass (Briza 

 media) was in profusion in pastures about Loughgall, and sedges 

 were numerous, including Carex curta, C. paniculata, and a 

 peculiar form of C. stricta, which is very distinct and still awaits a 

 varietal name. 



On Saturday, 18th August, to 



DOWNPATRICK AND ARDGLASS. 



Notwithstanding the unsatisfactory weather a goodly number 

 started, and on leaving Downpatrick drove first to Legainaddy, to 

 examine the very fine stone circle at that place. This is one of 

 the few complete circles in the North of Ireland. The outer ring 

 is 105 feet in diameter, and the inner one 57 feet, composed in all 

 of about seventy stones, many standing seven feet high arid weigh- 

 ing fully twelve tons each. 



The weather prevented the intended visit being paid to Castle 

 Skreen, Bright's Castle, St. John's Church, and other interesting 

 objects on the route, leaving, however, the more time to be de- 



