500 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



near Inch Abbey, the Dane's blood, or dwarf elder {Sambucus 

 ebulus) was observed. An interesting variety of the soft shield 

 fern {Polystichum angulare\ known as fimbriatum^ was also 

 obtained. 



On 19th June, to 



CONLIG AND CLANDEBOYE. 



The second excursion of the season was made on Saturday, 

 19th June, to Conlig and Clandeboye. Splendid weather again 

 favoured the Club, and a numerous party of the members and 

 their friends left the Ulster Hall at ten o'clock in three well- 

 appointed brakes, and the road was taken for Newtownards. A 

 short halt was made near Dundonald, in order to procure 

 specimens of a very rare plant, the corn salad {Valerianella 

 carinata), which grows by the roadside at this place — its only 

 station in Ireland. A short search along the hedge bank was 

 rewarded by a number of fine specimens. A visit was paid to 

 a small lake, not far from the road, where our smallest British 

 umbelliferous marsh plant (Apium inundatum\ a tiny species, 

 was collected. A prize having been offered for the largest 

 collection of native flowering plants in blossom found during 

 the day, a keen competition resulted, hedges, fields, marshes, 

 and ponds alike undergoing a close search. 



Shortly after noon, Newtownards was reached, and the 

 opportunity was taken to visit the old ivy-clad church, with its 

 carved doorway and quaint inscription, also the restored town 

 cross. The secretary's whistle having called the members 

 together, a start was made for Conlig. Below the lead mines 

 the party separated, the more energetic section starting oflf on 

 foot to visit the mines, and gather some rare plants which occur 

 on the hill, while others preferred to drive round in the brakes 

 to Helen's Tower, where it was arranged the party would 

 assemble an hour later. The washing floors of the mines were 

 first visited, where the process of separating the galena, or lead 

 ore, from the various impurities excited considerable interest 



