1895-96.] 2 7°> 



Bare hills of terraced carboniferous limestone rise treeless on 

 either side, appearing as though there was practically no 

 vegetation : but a closer search reveals a rich and varied flora 

 growing mostly in the deep fissures and hollows of the jointed 

 limestone. This flora includes, among many other rarities, 

 mountain avens (Dryas octopetala), bloody cranesbill ( Geranium 

 sanguineimi), Galium sylvestre, bearberry, wintergreen (Pyrola 

 media), scale fern (Ceterach officinarum), and perfect sheaves of 

 magnificent maidenhair fern, better by far than any seen in 

 most hothouses. The roots are fortunately difficult of ex- 

 traction, being sometimes three feet down a six inch crevice. 

 Lunch was served at two at Gleninagh, three miles from 

 Ballyvaughan, close to the Holy Well and O'Loghlin's Castle 

 and Church, and overlooking the sea. It is said this district 

 was visited by one of Cromwell's captains, whose verdict was 

 that there was not enough water to drown a man, nor wood to 

 hang a man, nor ground to bury a man. The church was 

 interesting on account of the curious hollow-built stone altar 

 in which several skulls are kept; in fact, the different niches 

 of the building were decorated with these grim emblems of 

 mortality. Behind the castle stands the Mountain of Cappana- 

 walla (1,023 feet), which was scaled by many members anxious 

 to combine botany with a splendid view. A large number of 

 those present went on to Blackhead (six miles), where the best 

 maidenhair is to be had. This day was the field day for the 

 collectors of marine algae, and the success of the day was 

 judged by the amount of space occupied by those engaged in 

 sorting out and mounting the spoil in the hotel in the evening 

 after the late dinner. The interesting Mediterranean sea 

 urchin {Strongylocentrotus lividus) was also found in vast 

 numbers among the rock pools, with numerous op/iiuri, or 

 brittlestars. The geological results were on the whole un- 

 interesting, consisting mainly of weathered corals and a few 

 Producti. 



On Sunday a good deal of sightseeing was done. The 

 services in the churches were well attended, while some of the 



