4 68 [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



1 8th, the Gobbins and Islandmagee being the locality visited. 

 A party of nearly fifty members and friends assembled at the 

 Northern Counties terminus in time to start for Ballycarry by 

 the 9.25 train. Arrived there, cars were mounted, and a pleasant 

 drive through a fertile country was followed by a walk along a 

 rough country lane, which brought the party to the summit of 

 a grassy hill, where a beautiful prospect opened out. Below lay 

 the sea, stirred by a brisk northerly breeze, and chafing on a 

 picturesque shore, strewn with blocks of chalk and basalt. 

 Southward stretched the low shores of County Down and the 

 Copeland Isles ; further eastward, seen dimly through summer 

 haze, the hills of the Isle of Man. Right opposite lay the Mull 

 of Galloway and the Ayrshire coast ; then Ailsa Craig, towering 

 high out of the water ; and further northward the mountains 

 of Arran and Cantire. 



Before the party made the steep descent to the sea, the secre- 

 taries announced that a prize would be given for the best 

 collection of flowering plants made during the day. Baskets, 

 handkerchiefs, and umbrellas were promptly converted into 

 botanical collecting cases, and a vigorous search for wild flowers 

 began, the ladies of the party being conspicuous by their energy 

 and perseverance in the search for rarities. While the 

 majority of the party spent an hour in exploring the steep slopes 

 and rocky sea-shore, a section started southward, and visited the 

 outcrop of Chalk and Greensand which occurs on the coast at 

 that point. A few fossils were obtained, and also some photo- 

 graphs of geological subjects, which will go presently to enrich 

 the Club's photographic collection. 



When the party had reunited, a start was made northward, 

 along the summit of the cliffs towards Port Muck. The rocks 

 and banks were gay with wild flowers, among which the bladder 

 campion, milkwort, seapink, lady's fingers, and burnet rose were 

 conspicuous. The botanists noticed the great abundance of 

 Venus' comb [Scandix pecten-veneris) in the cultivated fields, 

 and the pretty wood vetch {Vicia sylvaticd) festooning the 

 rocks. The steep cliffs, which descend sheer into the water for 



