to that it was employed for very much more serious purposes, evi- 

 dence of which has been furnished by the discovery of cinerary 

 urns, and stone celts or hatchets ; during the progress of the 

 building and the formation of the present ground, some sixteen or 

 eighteen most beautiful celts were found, and several urns. These 

 Mr. Barbour has carefully preserved, and had properly mounted in 

 suitable cases in his library. 



A little beyond Mr. Barbour's, is Cranmore, so called probably 

 from some large tree ; it is now more noted as having sheltered 

 William of Orange and his party, when on their march to the 

 Boyne, some 180 years ago. Crossing the Lagan at Shaw's 

 Bridge, the party drove to the Giant's Ring, so well known to all 

 Belfast as a remarkably good specimen of the megalithic structures 

 of ancient Ireland. Here the Rev. Adam Montgomery received 

 the party, and acted as their guide and friend for the day, and 

 by his courteous manner, kind attention, and a liberal communica- 

 tion of a store of local information, contributed largely to the 

 pleasure of the excursion. 



Leaving the Ring, a visit was paid to Drumbo Glen, which was 

 thrown open by the kindness of the owners, J. W. Fulton, Esq., 

 and R. N. Batt, Esq. In this glen the botanists particularly had 

 a busy and profitable time. A great number of plants of. more or 

 less interest were observed to be coming into flower, and many 

 specimens secured in good condition for the herbarium, though 

 none could claim excessive rarity. Close to the Drumbo Round 

 Tower, the plant bearing the name of Leopard's Bane ( Doronicum 

 Pardallanches J, was found growing spontaneously; this, however, 

 could scarcely be reckoned as truly native : it was probably an 

 escape from cultivation. The Round Tower was again examined 

 as minutely as it has been hundreds of times before, and all the 

 arguments as to its origin and use, pro and con, were discussed, 

 and with Dr. Petrie, leaving the subject as it was found — unde- 

 cided. 



Farr ell's Fort was next visited, and this gave the antiquarian dis- 

 cussion another turn, but the bulk of the party gave more attention 

 to the extensive prospect that stretched out before them, as the 



