attended were not fair-weather naturalists, but such as felt them- 

 selves gifted with stamina sufficient to brave a bad day on the 

 mountain, and who were also endowed with an amount of enthusiasm 

 that enabled them to snatch enjoyment even from adverse cir- 

 cumstances. The Cave Hill is well known as a good locality for 

 naturalists — a number of rare plants occur on it, and the cabinets 

 of local geologists have from time to time been enriched by the 

 fossils found in the limestone quarries. Some of the specimens 

 found by members of the Field Club at these quarries are unique, 

 not having as yet been found elsewhere. Only a few fossils were 

 secured on this occasion, the stone which is at present worked 

 being only slightly fossiliferous. The sections exposed here are, 

 however, very instructive, ranging through Lias, Greensand, and 

 Chalk, with the usual capping of Basalt, which also bursts through 

 the sedimentary rocks in the form of dykes. On the debris of 

 the quarries two rare plants were found, viz., the Gromwell 

 ( Lithospermum officinale J, and the Red Broom Rape ( Orobanchc 

 rubra). The latter occurs only as a parasite on the roots of the 

 Wild Thyme {Thymus Serpyllum). Those present had a good 

 opportunity of verifying the fact, as the plants were easily dug out 

 of the loose debris, and the connection observed. It seemed 

 strange that the slender thread-like roots of the Wild Thyme 

 should be able to afford nourishment not only to their own proper 

 plant but also to such a gross succulent parasite as the Broom 

 Rape. In the Deer Park, not far from the quarries, is the only 

 Irish habitat for the Musk Moschatel (Adoxa Moschatcllina). It 

 grows here in small quantity, and completely hidden under large 

 blocks of stone. It has been known in this station for forty years 

 at least, and is evidently quite wild, there not being a trace of any 

 introduced plants in the Park, save the trees so recently planted. 

 It had been announced that at this excursion the habitat of a rare 

 fern would be indicated, and a special prize was offered by one of 

 the members for the first specimen discovered, one of the condi- 

 tions being that none of the plants were to be removed. Accord- 

 ingly, on leaving the quarries, the party were taken higher up the 

 hill, and the field was pointed out in which the Moonwort 



