i8 9 2-93-] 495 



those times the " homer" was taken advantage of, as their ser- 

 vices would be very useful in the time of war. This castle was 

 conferred by Henry III. on Jordan de Sankville in the year 12 17. 

 After the photographers had made careful records of the 

 different subjects of interest, the Castle of Ardglass, the former 

 residence of the Beauclercs, was inspected. The site and sur- 

 roundings are very beautiful, but the castle, which is modem* 

 is poor and dilapidated. The broken remains of a rather fine 

 sculpture representing the Virgin and Child lie close to the yard 

 gate, and are worthy of a better fate. Something should be 

 done for the permanent preservation of this interesting statue. 

 After a short visit to the modern King's Castle, where the party 

 were agreeably received by Mrs. Russell, the present owner, the 

 party adjourned to the Castle Hotel, where an excellent tea was 

 provided by Mr. Moore. After tea the business meeting of the 

 Club was held, Mr. W. H. Phillips, F.R.H.S., in the chair. 

 The following were elected members of the Club : — Mrs. J. C. 

 C. Payne, Rev. E. A. Cooper, Messrs. George Fullerton, J. S. 

 Mitchell, and Pakenham Stewart. The secretary took advan- 

 tage of this the closing excursion to make a few remarks relative 

 to the season's work, pointing out the unusually large average 

 of attendance at the various excursions. A short walk 

 was then taken round by the pier to the ruins of Ardtole 

 Church, the ancient parish church of Ardglass, which was used 

 as such till the woodkern of Macartan's country came down and 

 slew the inhabitants whilst attending mass there. The ruin is 

 picturesque, and the view through the east window is very 

 beautiful. In the field to the west is a fine souterrain 100 

 feet long, now unfortunately closed. About Ardglass some 

 good plants were collected ; the rigid fescue-grass was again 

 found, growing in some quantity on walls by the sea, in com- 

 pany with another uncommon species {Schlerochloa loliaced). 

 The black horehound (Ballota alba), white mustard {Sinapis 

 alba), and a sedge {Car ex vulpina) were obtained close to the 

 town. Some commotion was caused amongst the botanists by 

 the discovery of a vase full of another rare plant, the musky 



