1904-1905.] 265 



found growing. Also on the banks two species of carex were 

 found in flower. In the water there was a very large quan- 

 tity of elodea (the Canadian water- weed), together with spiro- 

 gyra, one of the filamentous algce. The ivy-leaved toadflax 

 was growing plentifully on all the walls. It is a beautiful 

 little plant, and though so very common yet it is a most in- 

 teresting one. When in bloom, the stalk which carries the 

 flower grows out towards the light, but as the fruit begins to 

 form it responds to the stimulus of light in a different way, 

 for it now bends round and finds its way into the dark 

 crevices of the wall, thus burying its seeds. A few of the 

 members were fortunate enough to find the adder 's-tongue 

 fern. They are to be complimented on finding this plant, 

 especially seeing that it was growing side by side with the 

 sorrel plant, the leaves of which are so similar to those of this 

 fern. Two species of orchids were gathered, the tway-blade 

 and the early purple orchis. Lousewort was also found to be 

 growing very freely. This plant is parasitic, stealing food 

 which has been collected by the roots of grasses, this it 

 accomplishes by boring into their roots. The field woodrush 

 and the broad-leaved hairy woodrush were also growing 

 in the ground, and in the shaded portions the common 

 wild arum was growing plentifully. The following plants 

 were also found in flower : — ^beaked parsley, wood sanicle, 

 greater stitchwort, barren strawberry, hairy bitter cress, hearts- 

 ease, dog violet, bluebell, ground ivy, wood-sorrel, also the 

 oak and sycamore. Many of the commoner species of ferns 

 were observed growing luxuriantly, and of the more locally- 

 distributed species were seen asplenium Adiantum-nigrum 

 and ophioglpssum vulgatum. The oak fern, poly podium Dry- 

 opt eris is growing in the demesne, where it has probably been 

 introduced ; and a fine collection of varieties of the lady fern, 

 athyrium Filix-fotmina, raised from spores, gave a subject for 

 mutual interchange of opinions among the pteridologists. 



One of the very interesting features of the day was the 

 presence of Mr. Stewart, the old botanical chief of Ulster. 



After leaving the church the members proceeded to the 



