1906-1907.] 479 



Lathrcea squamaria, Mercurialis perennis, Epipactis latifolia, 

 Allium ursinum, and Carex pendula. An unrecorded colony of 

 the Dog's Mercury {Mercurialis perennis) was pointed out by Mr. 

 Tomlinson, growing by the roadside, near the railway station ; 

 also some fine specimens of Scale Fern {Ceterach oficinarum) on 

 a wall,, near the town, no record of which appears hitherto to 

 have been made. Sisymbrium Alliaria, found in the Upper 

 Demesne, seems to be also a fresh record for this locality. 



ARDBOE. 



The third excursion of the Summer Session took place on 

 June 1 6th. when eighty-five members and visitors met at York 

 Road Terminus, and took the 9-15 a.m, train to Antrim, the 

 programme being a steamer trip on Lough Neagh and visits to 

 Ardboe and Toome. On arrival at Antrim, the party were 

 joined by the Vice-President, Mr. Nevin H. Foster, M.B.O.U., 

 and the Revs. W. S. Smith and W. A. Adams, and a few other 

 friends. The party were soon on their way to the lake-side at 

 the mouth of the Sixmilewater, and embarking on the ss. Lough 

 Neagh Queen, steamed av/ay shortly after half-past ten o'clock 

 to Newport Trench on the Tyrone shore, which was reached 

 shortly after noon. Here all disembarked for a walk along the 

 shore to Ardboe Point, on which stands the ancient Monastic 

 and Ecclesiastical ruins of Ardboe, with its justly celebrated 

 Irish Cross. This Cross is one of the finest in Ireland, as well 

 as being one of the least known. It stands eighteen feet high, 

 and IS composed of freestone, which is not found in the district. 

 The date of the Cross may be assigned to the ninth or tenth 

 centuries. It is now conserved as one of the National Monu- 

 ments. Close beside the Cross are the ruins of the Pre-Reforma- 

 tion Church, which became the place of worship when the older 

 one was abandoned. The Monastery of Ardboe is said to have 

 been founded by St. Cblman. It was destroyed by fire in 1166. 

 A remnant of masonry, sufficient to outHne the extent of the 

 ancient Church, is all that now remains of the early Monastic 



