i8 9 z-93.] 471 



Maps were exhibited of the Mourne district, showing the route 

 to be traversed by the party. Geological maps were also pro- 

 duced, and the construction and age of the mountains discussed, 

 and the relation of the Mourne Mountain granites to the 

 dolerites, syenites, and porphyries of the Carlingford hills and 

 the granites of the adjoining highlands of Slieve Croob. Speci- 

 mens of some of the rarer plants of the district were passed 

 round also, that they might be the more easily recognised if 

 met with by any of the party. Newcastle was reached at 9.20, 

 and here a view of the mountains was obtained which alone 

 would have been a recompense for the journey. Slieve Donard 

 towered up, its lofty summit swathed in great broken patches 

 of snow-white vapour. Below all was clear, but half way down, 

 encircling the huge mountain as with a girdle, was a narrow 

 horizontal belt of grey cloud, stretching far out over the sea on 

 the one hand, and on the other merging into the masses of 

 dazzling cloud which were rolling over the inland mountains. 

 Breakfast next occupied the attention of the party, and, after an 

 excellent meal at Mr. Lawrence's comfortable rooms, the party 

 drove off rapidly. The pretty village of Bryansford was soon 

 passed, and then the road skirted the rich woods of Tolly more 

 Park. Rising above them, grand views of the mountains opened 

 out, and now the destination ol the party — Slieve Bearnagh — 

 became visible, rising steeply at the head of the deep valley of 

 the Trassey Burn, and crowned with huge masses of bare rugged 

 granite. At Trassey Bridge the coach halted, and the day's 

 work began ; and, taking with them only such impedimenta as 

 were required in the pursuit of their scientific bents and for the 

 preservation of specimens, the party proceeded up a rough turf 

 road which led up the valley and into the mountains. On one 

 side rose Slieve-na-Glough, on the other towered Slieve Meel- 

 more, its eastern shoulder terminating in a huge cliff called the 

 Spellick, which overhangs the glen. A steep ascent now 

 brought the party to the Hare's Gap, where an entomologist 

 pointed out that the granite boulders were dotted over with a 

 pretty little moth (Eupithecia pumilatd), which so closely 



