1904-1905.] 253 



the Saturday Afternoon Excursions, which for many years 

 have been a feature of our work, were practically abandoned. 

 This was due to several causes, of which we may mention the 

 following : — The absence of members at the seaside and on 

 holidays ; and the fact that a number of our members preferred 

 to combine botanical with geological work, and for that pur- 

 pose joined in many of the Geological Section's excursions. 

 This, on the whole, we regard as satisfactory — indicating, as 

 it does, an extension of interest in scientific study; whilst we 

 are satisfied that the botanical features of the localities visited 

 on these occasions were duly observed by our members. In 

 fact we incline to think that regular and frequent excursions 

 of the Sections combined would benefit both very much. 



From amongst the results of the outdoor work of the Sec- 

 tion which have been brought under our notice we select the 

 few following as being the most interesting. In August, 1904, 

 the British Pteridological Society determined, with regard to 

 a variety of a species of fern known as Bleclinum Spicant, which 

 had been collected by Mr. William Porter on Monk's Hill, 

 West of Ligoniel, that it was a variety of the fern not pre- 

 viously known, and accordingly named it B. Spicant var. tri- 

 capitatum (Porter). Of not less interest to Ulster botanists 

 was the finding of the yellow bird's-nest, Hypopithys multi- 

 flora^ by Mr. N. Carrothers, in the demesne of Ely Lodge, on 

 the shores of Lower Lough Erne, in July last. This plant had 

 been, till then, unknown in the flora of Ulster, and is very 

 sparingly distributed throughout the rest of Ireland. Mr. 

 Carrothers has been also doing valuable work in the observa- 

 tion of alien plants and casuals in this district. 



Amongst other items may be mentioned the finding of 

 Geranium jjyrenaicum once more at Conlig by Mr. S. A. 

 Moore. We think this may now be regarded as a permanent 

 station for this plant, notwithstanding the opinion of some high 

 authorities that it continues to grow only where the soil over- 

 lies the limestone. 



In May last Mr. H. C. Marshall found Polypodium vulgare 

 var. semilacerum at the Deer Park, Cave Hill. This is a new 



