41 8 [Proc. B. N. F, C^ 



hotel, and a start made on cars. The intention was to drive 

 as far as Trassey Bridge, and ascend Slieve Bernagh, commonly- 

 known as the Broken Mountain, and then walk through the 

 range of the Hare's Gap, to the Castle Rocks, and the White 

 River Glen to Newcastle ; but shortly after passing the English- 

 like village of Bryansford, the mist rolled down the mountains, 

 hill and wood disappeared from view, and the rain fell in heavy 

 showers. When Tullyree Hill was reached, and there being no 

 change for the better, a halt was called, and it was decided that 

 the idea of the mountain walk must be abandoned. So the 

 horses' heads were turned, and a drive taken through Lord 

 Roden's charming park of Tollymore, where the rest of the 

 day was spent in botanising amongst the rare flowering plants, 

 ferns, and mosses, for which, as well as its exquisite scenery, 

 the sides of the Shimna River are noted. After tea, on their 

 return to the Annesley Arms, the more enthusiastic botanists 

 of the party explored the sand dunes till a late hour, and again 

 devoted two more hours before breakfast next morning to the 

 same congenial occupation. 



The second day was given up to Slieve Donard. The route 

 taken was by cars to the Bloody Bridge, which takes its lugu- 

 brious title from a massacre of Protestant prisoners there in 

 1 64 1 by a certain Captain Magennis, who had promised to con- 

 duct them safely from Newry to Downpatrick. A few minutes 

 were spent in viewing the chasm known as Maggie's Leap, and 

 relating the story of the athletic powers of that virtuous young 

 lady. The cars were left at 9-33, when, with bright, warm 

 sunshine, tempered with plenty of breeze, it was soon dis- 

 covered that the walk would be dry under foot, and sufficiently 

 cool to be agreeable. Close attention was here paid to the 

 ferns, mosses, and micro-algae, which were found in profusion 

 along the shady side of the glen through which the Bloody 

 Burn tumbles. During the climb the pleasing phenomena of 

 the development of the scenery were specially admired as peak 

 and crag rose to view, and valley and glen disclosed them- 

 selves, and then the coast and sea line, curving away with its 

 fringe of foam to St. John's Point, and the wide channel, with 



