33 6 [Proc. B.N.F.C. 



to visit the mine. On reaching the surface the members walked 

 to Carrickfergus, some of them loitering in the neighbouring 

 fields, the result of which was the discovery of the "water 

 soldier" {Stratistes aloides), and the woodvetch {Vicia sylvaticd). 

 The former plant was a most interesting find, as in Stewart and 

 Corry's flora it it marked as "now extinct" in the three recorded 

 localities, and this is a new station for it, and therefore the only 

 known one in Ulster. The vetch is also rare, but the station 

 has been previously recorded. Those who were not able to go 

 by the earlier train left Carrickfergus by the 8.5 train, thus 

 giving them all time to visit the old Church of S. Nicholas, 

 where W. J. Fennell lead a short paper on the architectural 

 features of the building, which was illustrated by a most excel- 

 lent series of photos and drawings. His paper was such an 

 admirable exposition of the building as it once stood and now 

 remains that it is here appended in extenso. 



W. J. Fennell said — This ancient Church of S. Nicholas is 

 a marvellous example of how successive changes and restorations 

 can thoroughly transform a once stately building into a structure 

 almost completely shorn of all that once gave it freedom and 

 proportion. The present plan of the church is that of a rudely- 

 formed and inverted Latin cross — that is, with the long stem of 

 the cross serving for the chancel plan instead of the shorter one. 

 Those who were with us last summer in Galway and visited the 

 stately old Church of S. Nicholas there, and noted the fine 

 series of columns and arches opening it up into a triple nave, 

 may be surprised to learn that this church in many respects as 

 regards its plan was a sister church, enjoying the same light, 

 airy treatment of triple nave, with round and clustered columns 

 and pointed arches so dear to the early Gothic builders, and 

 the same wide transepts sheltering the minor or side chapels ; 

 and it may still more surprise some to learn, as they regard 

 these dark heavy-looking nave and transept walls, that many 

 of these columns and arches still remain there though concealed 

 from view. Of the original "foundation" of this church little 

 is known. Of course the story of being founded on the site of 



