5IO [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



swept bare again, and Ireland now possesses but the naked 

 limestone floor, and in Belfast Lough a patch, comparable to a 

 single tile only, is all that now remains. Leaving the hill, the 

 descent is made by a deep cut through the rocks, known as the 

 ** Deer's Path," itself a reminiscence of a bygone state of things, 

 and way was made slowly towards the station. Just when all 

 search for the ferns had been given up as useless, owing to the 

 lateness of the season — as they die down in autumn — a botanist 

 of the party, with eyes always on the alert, came upon one of 

 them, the adder's tongue {Obhioglossum vulgatum), growing in 

 a hayfield, an unexpected place for it, in some profusion, and 

 the prize that had been offered was accordingly awarded to the 

 finder, Mr. R. LI. Praeger. There was not much else of 

 speciality found 'during the day. The parasitical broom rape 

 {Orobanche rubra) was found in quantity, as usual parasitic 

 upon the slender fibrous roots of the wild thyme. The general 

 report was that the Knockagh, contrary to expectation, is 

 rather a barren hunting-ground for the rarer plants and insects, 

 but a most picturesque and delightful place to spend a summer's 

 day upon. 



On Saturday, 25 th September, to 



HILLSBOROUGH, FOR A FUNGUS FORAY. 



The sixth and last field meeting of the season was held on 

 Saturday, 29th September, at Hillsborough, the special object 

 being an examination of the Fungi of the demesne and park, 

 for which permission had been kindly granted. About thirty 

 members left by the eleven o'clock train, and soon after reaching 

 the neat town the well-kept grounds adjoining the castle were 

 entered. By the side of the little lake, along whose banks the 

 chestnut trees were showing their rich autumn tints, a halt is 

 called, and the business of the day announced. A prize — a 

 botanist's vasculum — is offered for the best collection of Fungi 

 made during the day, the judges to examine the collections after 

 tea in the hotel. Fungus hunts or forays have apparently 



