1892-93.] 475 



alluvial tract, extending into the mountains for several miles. 

 On the right Slieve Bingian rose two thousand feet in one 

 steep slope, its summit buried in mist. On the left the cliffs of 

 Slieve-na-glogh could be seen now and then through a rift 

 in the clouds, and straight in front Bencrom, wreathed in 

 cloud, reared its rugged form at the head of the valley. 

 Walking here was easy, for the wind was blowing right up the 

 glen, but the rain still increased, and now came down in 

 torrents. But naturalists are generally philosophically inclined, 

 so a halt was made at some pools under Slieve Bingian, where 

 several rare plants were known to grow, and specimens were 

 leisurely secured of the long-leaved sundew (Drosera inter- 

 media), water lobelia {Lobelia Dortmanna), and Rhynchospora 

 alba. The party then pushed on up the glen till opposite the 

 cliffs of Bencrom, where they turned to the right up the slope, 

 and a steep climb brought them to the gap between Slieve 

 Lamagan and Slieve Bingian. On the ascent some butterflies 

 were obtained in spite of the storm, three species of Eupithecia 

 — E. pumilata, E. minutata, and E. satyr ata var. callunaria — 

 and the larva of Oparabia filigrammaria. Some large speci- 

 mens of felspar were also obtained. The weather had become 

 still worse, and it was now blowing a gale, with torrents of rain, 

 and so thick that it was impossible to see more than twenty 

 yards ahead, so the majority of the party decided to push down 

 the valley to Annalong, the secretary alone expressing his 

 intention of carrying out the programme by ascending Slieve 

 Bingian, remarking that it would be impossible to get any 

 wetter. So two members started down the slope for the valley, 

 while the third turned southward up the mountain. A climb 

 up a boulder-strewn slope brought him to the summit of the cliffs 

 which overlook the Blue Lough, and here the lesser twayblade 

 was found growing in luxuriance. Battling on against the 

 storm and rain, the northern peak of the mountain was reached, 

 where the dwarf willow was growing in great quantity in the 

 fissures of the crags of granite. A steep climb of half a mile 

 more and the summit was attained. Here the full force of the 



