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a gravestone at Carndonagh, County Donegal, which is sup- 

 posed to have originally been over the door of some church 

 there, contemporary, doubtless, with the sculptured crosses. 

 Their comparative rarity over the church doorways, and the 

 consequent value of the few that exist, seems hardly to have 

 been enough recognised by our antiquarians. Meanwhile, the 

 photographers of the party had not been idle, and several nega- 

 tives were secured of the ruins, while some old trees and a de- 

 tached fragment of crumbling wall formed a background to a 

 group of the party, who then made the best of their way 

 through the lanes, now rich with spring flowers, to Finnebrogue 

 House. Here they were cordially welcomed by Major Max- 

 well, D.L., who, after offering refreshment, conducted the party 

 through the gardens and greenhouses, and then mounting them 

 on brakes and cars, drove them round the grounds and beautiful 

 lake in Finnebrogue demesne, enabling them to return to 

 Downpatrick in time for a comfortable tea at Denvir's Hotel. 

 Before starting for the train a brief meeting was held, at which, 

 after a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Gordon for his ser- 

 vices as conductor, and to Major Maxwell for his kindness and 

 hospitality, a number of new members were elected. During 

 the ride home the judges adjudicated upon the collections 

 of native plants in flower made during the excursion, for which 

 a prize had been offered, Miss Patterson being declared the 

 winner, having collected eighty species. The most important 

 of these was the rare bedstraw {Galium cruciatum\ which has 

 been recorded nowhere in Ireland except at Downpatrick 

 Cathedral and Fort, the last record being eighteen years since. 

 It could not be found about the cathedral, but was growing in 

 some abundance about the fort, so it is not likely yet to become 

 extinct. The shepherd's needle {Scandix-pecten-veneris) was 

 found near the cathedral, and on the way to the park were 

 noted the burnet saxifrage {Pimpinella saxifragd) and the 

 fool's parsley {/Ethusa cynapium) neither, of course, yet in 

 flower. The river and ditches near yielded the great water 

 dock {Rumex hydrolapathum)^ the water crowfoot {^Ranunculus 

 peltatus)^ and the very rare water violet {Hottonia palustris)^ 



