1884-1885.] 337 



disposal for the journey, and, after a quick run, arrived at 

 Cookstown at 9 a.m. Without entering the town, the road is 

 at once taken for Killymoon Demesne, admission to which had 

 been kindly granted by C. F. Moutray, Esq. On the way the 

 attention of members is attracted by the local building stone, 

 which is carboniferous, or mountain limestone. The rock is 

 seen in situ in the railway cutting, and is of a pale grey colour, 

 resembling the Armagh limestone. This spot is worthy of 

 notice, as from it were obtained specimens of the exceedingly 

 rare fossil brachiopod, Camaraphoria isorhynchus. Before 

 entering the richly-wooded grounds a halt is called, and the 

 Rev. George Robinson, of Armagh, is unanimously appointed 

 chairman for the day, in the absence of the president. The 

 secretary then, referring to the circular announcing the excur- 

 sion, reminded the members that the main object of the pro- 

 gramme was botany, the special department being the collecting 

 and study of fungi, for the best collection of which made during 

 the day a prize was offered. Under the guidance of Rev. H. 

 W. Lett, who also acted as j udge at a later period of the day, a 

 vigorous start is at once made, and soon the members spread 

 themselves, and set to work in real earnest. The storm of last 

 winter has left sad traces of its destructive force in all directions 

 here. Uprooted trees are everywhere to be met with, some of 

 them of immense size. Now, in the calm of the finest of 

 autumn days, when there is scarce a rustle among the leaves 

 overhead, and the stillness is only broken by the collectors as 

 they announce some new find, or exceptionally fine specimen, 

 it is hard to conceive what a din and noise there must have 

 been here when the fallen trunks, under or over which the 

 members scramble, were laid low by its force. Pursuing the 

 search with much ardour till past midday, the party reassem- 

 ble near the castle, which is an imposing pile close to the 

 Derry side of the Ballinderry or Kildress River — a beautiful 

 stream, which winds through the grounds. The castle is a 

 comparatively modern building, and was erected at a cost of 

 about ^80,000, from designs by the once celebrated English 



