482 [Proc. B.N.F.C., 



hour spent at this extraordinary place as any of them had seen 

 in all the previous part of their lives ; and bringing away, as 

 souvenirs, abundance of two fine orchids, the pyramidal (O. 

 pyramidalis) and sweet-scented (Gymnadenia conopsea), which 

 grew plentifully in the meadows around. At the hotel the 

 members had been early astir also, and the old abbey had been 

 photographed from all points of view, and visits paid to the 

 handsome Roman Catholic cathedral. All did full justice to 

 the sumptuous breakfast that Mr. O'Donnell provided at eight 

 o'clock, and then the party embarked in five boats to row up 

 the river and across Lough Gill. The sun shone brightly, while 

 a fresh easterly breeze kept the air deliciously cool, and a more 

 perfect day for the lake could not be imagined. The row up 

 the Garravogue is beautiful in the extreme. The banks are 

 wooded thickly, and above the luxuriant foliage the blue moun- 

 tains stand out, and every turn brings fresh beauties to view. 

 A halt was made to gather white and yellow water-lilies, which 

 grew abundantly in the calm water. Further on a great crested 

 grebe was seen paddling up the river in a state of great con- 

 sternation with her brood of young behind her. Then a narrow 

 passage was passed, and the whole lake came into view, studded 

 with islands, and enclosed among rugged hills, wooded on their 

 lower slopes, a sight that drew from every one's lips expressions 

 of admiration and delight. A course was shaped for Church 

 Island, and a landing was duly effected at the eastern end of 

 the island. The ruined church, now conserved by the Board 

 of Works, was inspected, and subsequently lunch engaged 

 attention for a short time. Then, after a short stroll through 

 the woods of the island, the secretary's whistle sounded the 

 advance, and, re-embarkation being safely completed, the boats 

 proceeded across the lake to the mouth of the Bonet River, 

 which was admitted by all to be one of the loveliest spots visited 

 on the trip, offering a charming combination of lake and river, 

 low meadows bright with the pink flowers of the valerian, 

 woods of larch and fir, high ivy covered rocks, and beyond the 

 lake the high limestone mountains. The boats ascended the 



