47*> [P">c. B.N.F.C., 



gale made itself felt, and when a gust came roaring up the 

 slope it was necessary to cling to the granite rocks for support, 

 while the rain stung as if charged with gravel or sand. Under 

 the shelter of the huge crags that form the highest point of the 

 mountain (2,449 ieet) there was comparative shelter, but the 

 roar of the wind and rain was such that a shout could not have 

 been heard a few yards away. Here again grew the dwarf 

 willow and the cowberry and crowberry. The descent of the 

 mountain was more difficult than the ascent, for the mist was 

 so thick as to obscure everything beyond a few yards' distance, 

 and care had to be taken to avoid several dangerous cliff-ranges 

 in the vicinity ; but, steering by compass, Lough Bingian was 

 soon passed, and a steep descent by the side of a roaring torrent 

 brought the solitary representative of the Field Club into a 

 calmer atmosphere below the cliffs. Here he fell in with one 

 of the greatest botanical rarities of the Mourne Mountains — the 

 parsley fern (Cryptogramme crz'spa), growing in a sheltered 

 nook, where he had observed it just ten years ago. A short 

 visit was then paid to the Blue Lough, and the water lobelia 

 and curious quill-wort {Isoetes lacustris) were found in quan- 

 tity, washed ashore by the force of the storm. A rapid descent 

 of the valley was then made, and the eleven miles to Newcastle 

 were covered in good time ; and as Newcastle was approached 

 the clouds broke, and the sun shone out gloriously, giving 

 beautiful effects of light and shade on the mountains. Presently 

 the whole party was reunited, none the worse for their thorough 

 soaking, and a pleasant afternoon was spent in the woods of 

 Donard Lodge. A number of mountain plants were collected, 

 and, among lepidoptera, the bordered white moth (Bupalus 

 piniarius) was observed in large numbers among the fir trees. 

 One specimen was obtained of the rare Scodionia Belgiaria, 

 which is the second record for this species in our district ; and 

 the barred red, Ellopia fasciaria, was also found. Some beetles 

 were also obtained, of which the best were Dascillus cervinus, 

 Telephones pellucidus, and Rhagium inquisitor. A final hour 

 was devoted to the sandhills, which yielded a large number of 



