1904-1905.] 261 



flowers now in full bloom, interspersed with ferns of various 

 species unfolding their fronds, called forth exclamations of 

 pleasure as the party pursued its way through the well-tended 

 grounds. On arrival at the lake, a swan sitting on her nest 

 was pointed out, and a cygnet not long emerged from 

 its shell was observed swimming about in charge of its male 

 parent; while dotted over the water were to be seen mallards, 

 coots, moorhens, and little grebes. But the scene which 

 elicited most numerous expressions of admiration was the 

 collection of conifers growing by the upper end of the lake; 

 here are many varieties of pines and cypresses of varied form 

 and hue, some standing stiff, and looking as if subjected to a 

 clipping process, others with gracefully decumbent branches, 

 in places stretching out over the water, and all affording 

 typical nesting sites and feeding places for the numerous 

 great, blue, and coal tits, redpolls, golden-crested wrens, and 

 siskins which flew about from tree to tree, ^nd enlivened the 

 scene with their melodious warblings. Among these trees 

 may be mentioned — Pinus insignis, Pinus 2^^^sappo, Abies 

 Do7iglassi, Abies Albertiana, Abies deodara alba, Gupressus 

 erecta viridis, Thuga gigantea, Libocedrus decurrens, and 

 W ellingtonia gigantea, with many other species, all displaying 

 a perfection of form which, as well as the condition of the 

 grounds and gardens, reflects great credit upon the care and 

 attention bestowed on them by Mr. Bradshaw, whose name as 

 a cultivator is a household word with those v/ho attend the 

 horticultural shows of Dublin and Belfast. Ever and anon, 

 on turning a corner in the paths, our eyes were almost dazzled 

 by the blaze of colour from the masses of rhododendrons, for 

 which the soil here, being destitute of lime, is specially 

 adapted, the luxuriance of their flowers and foliage testifying 

 to their well-known calcifuge propensities. 



The ruins of " Old Cromlyn Church " were next visited, 

 and diverse opinions expressed in respect of their antiquity, 

 some affirming that they were the remains of a pre-reforma- 

 tion church, while others regarded them as of much more 

 recent erection. However, there can be no doubt that an 



