1906-1907.] 489 



friends travelled by the 2-15 p.m. train. On the way down, the 

 old Castle of Carrickfergus came in for a share of attention. 

 The rock on which the Castle stands is understood to be part 

 of a great dyke thrust up along some fissure, fault, or line of 

 weakness during a period of volcanic or earthquake activity. 

 On reaching Ballycarry a walk was taken through the village 

 to the old churchyard. Stone-lined graves, formed of 

 white limestone, have been found frequently, thus inferring that, 

 as a burial place, it must be of great antiquity. The remains 

 are those of the old Church erected in 1622, during the minis- 

 try of the Rev. Edward Brice, whose tombstone, with its 

 armorial bearings, is still in a good state of preservation. But 

 the chief point of interest was the handsome monument erected 

 to the memory of James Orr, the weaver-bard of Ballycarry, a 

 copy of whose poems Mr. Robert May brought with him to add 

 tO' the interest of the occasion. Photographs of the old Church 

 and historic tombstones being secured, the party moved away tO' 

 visit the Old Mill Glen, the property of Mr. W. J. Porritt, of 

 Redhall, who kindly permitted the party tO' see it. The Hart's- 

 tongue Fern (Scolopendrium vulgare) luxuriated in tremendous 

 quantities in the glen. Crested varieties of this fern were very 

 plentiful ; also Folypodium vulgare, var. semilacerum, Circcea 

 alpina, and Epipactis lati folia. Epipaciis media was also ob- 

 served, its only other Ulster habitat being Glenarm Park, where 

 it was noted long ago by Mr. S. A. Stewart. After tea at the 

 Gobbins Hotel, the usual business meeting was held, the 

 President, Mr. W. H. Phillips, in the chair. Votes of thanks 

 were proposed to Mr. Porritt and Rev. Mr. Egerton, and passed. 

 The latter gentleman kindly acted as guide tO' the old Church. 

 One new member was elected — James Scott — after which the 

 members returned to Belfast by the 7-30 train, reaching town at 

 8-20 o'clock. 



