1909-1910.] 



2 57 



courteously welcomed by Mrs. Ritter. One of the most important 

 spots in the demesne is a bee-hive shaped grassy hill behind the 

 house, which is said to be the same as that known to archaeo- 

 logical and ecclesiastical students as Drumceat, where St. Columba 

 presided over a great national assembly in the year 575 a.d., the 

 famous Irish Saint having been invited over from Iona specially 

 for the occasion. It is doubtful whether or not this is the 

 historic hill. The hill itself is clearly a ridge or terrace of glacial 

 or glacio-fluviatile origin, composed of sands and gravels. 



A short business meeting of the Club took place on the top 

 of the hill, the President, Mr. Nevin H. Foster, presiding. An 

 enthusiastic vote of thanks was here given to Mrs. Ritter, on the 

 motion of Mr. H. C. Marshall, seconded by Mr. W. J. C. 

 Tomlinson, and suitably conveyed by the Chairman. Mrs. 

 Ritter acknowledged the vote in graceful terms, and then led the 

 way down again to the house, and exhibited some bones, a bronze 

 pin, and some stones that had recently been excavated by her 

 sons from an opening on the side of the hill. The opinion was 

 expressed by those most competent to judge that the bones did 

 not indicate animals of ancient type. 



After leaving the Park the members all re-united at 4-30 p.m. 

 in the Alexandra Arms Hotel, where the President and Mrs. Foster 

 entertained the party to tea. Before rising from the table a 

 cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. and Mrs. Foster for their 

 kindness, on the proposition of Mr. S. A. Bennett, seconded 

 by Miss Dobbs, and the President suitably responded. The 

 following members were elected : — -Mrs. Balfour Browne, Miss 

 Foster, Messrs. W. Joseph Stokes and Robert Martin ; and the 

 party left Limavady by the 5-40 p.m. train, and arrived in Belfast 

 at 8-40. 



Very few birds were observed. The day's list for the 

 Limavady neighbourhood only totalled thirty. As was expected, 

 the Dipper and Kingfisher were both observed on the river. One 

 member reported finding three or four species of Water-Beetles 



