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



qth, $th, and dth July. 

 DUNDALK, NEWRY, AND CARLINGFORD. 



The principal feature of the long excursion, which took place 

 on above dates, was the alliance formed with the Dublin 

 Naturalists' Field Club, and no member of either club will 

 regret the union of pursuits that occupied the time, which 

 turned out all too limited for the many interesting and 

 instructive studies to hand in the districts of Dundalk, Newry, 

 and Carlingford. A reserved carriage on the Great Northern 

 ten o'clock train conveyed the party to Dundalk, where the 

 Dublin members had arrived an hour previous. The wag- 

 gonettes soon passed through the town, and on to Ballyma- 

 scanlan, pausing on the road in sight of Castletown Fort, the 

 famous residence of Cuchullin, chief of the Red Branch Knights, 

 in the first century, and called Dundealgan after a celebrated 

 chief of the Firbolgs, Dealga, who flourished long previous to 

 the Christian era. He it was who fought the chiefs of Conacht 

 for seven long years in consequence of a great raid they made 

 upon the plains of Muirthemne (Louth) and Cuailgne (Slieve 

 Gullion). It is said that in his many battles not less than 50,000 

 men were slain, all of which is recorded in the Irish Tain-bo- 

 Cuailgne. After a short drive up the side of the river, the crom- 

 leac and dolmen at Ballymascanlan were reached, and carefully 

 examined and photographed. This cromleac is undoubtedly 

 one of the finest in the country, a full-grown man with uplifted 

 hands being able to walk under the top stone, which measures 

 12 feet long and 6 feet broad, and was estimated to weigh 40 or 

 50 tons. The dolmen, or giant's grave, which is close by, is 

 about 20 feet long by 6 feet broad, with two covering stones 

 remaining, the whole being in good preservation. 



Whilst those interested in antiquarian matters were satisfying 

 themselves at the cromleac, the entomologists were busy, and 

 the botanists had already occupied themselves to advantage, as 

 the following notes showed : — Near Dundalk — Greater Celen- 

 dine (Chelidonium ma/us), Round-headed Poppy (Papaver 



