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



" .... Half-way down 

 Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade !" 

 One sample was collected near St, John's Point, where we 

 hope it will be preserved, and not exterminated. 



When the "Flora of North East Ireland" was published, the 

 samphire was not known nearer than County Donegal ; now 

 we have the record of three stations resulting from researches 

 of members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club. Our next 

 business was to partake of a comfortable and refreshing tea, 

 provided for us at the Bangor Arms, Killough, and then the 

 work of the day was reviewed and new members elected, 

 which closed our field meeting before we came to Belfast. 



HOLYMOUNT. 

 \oth September. 



On Saturday, loth September, the final excursion of the 

 session took place, the hunting-ground selected being the 

 demesne of Holymount near Downpatrick. A bright, cheery 

 day — as perfect as September could produce — brought together 

 a goodly number of members, representing all the various 

 sections of the Club, and, although the primary object of the 

 day was purely botanical, advantage was taken of the oppor- 

 tunity to work in other subjects equally deserving of attention. 

 Arriving in Downpatrick, the party was joined by other 

 members, and without loss of time the greater portion started 

 in well-appointed waggonettes for the happy hunting-grounds, 

 while another section of archaeological taste set off in the 

 opposite direction, as a countryman observed — "in search of 

 iniquities." Both parties, comparing notes in the evening, 

 were loud in praise of their respective drives, the well-kept 

 roads, the rich scenery, the inspiriting freshness of the day, 

 with all the gladsome charm of autumn's golden clusters, which, 

 in field beyond field, in picture after picture, presented the 

 evidence of the greatest blessing a country can receive — an 

 abundant harvest. The main division of the party set out 



