,y> [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



strange weapons surely never before seen on Tory, the invading 

 force of field naturalists was rowed ashore in the fishing boat. 

 Here it was found that the landing had occurred at a small cove — 

 Port Doon — on the east of the island. The weather kept 

 pleasantly calm and warm throughout the visit, but unfortunately 

 the fog did not lift so that the impression gained of Tory was of a 

 tract of stone-strewn barren land, measuring three miles by one, 

 with a few patches of cultivation and three small marshy lakes, the 

 whole being surrounded by steep cliff walls dropping sheer into 

 soft billows of mist, which broke soundlessly against them. By 

 listening intently a faint splashing of waves might be heard against 

 the foot of the cliffs far below, but the island seemed rather some 

 strange lost land of legend than an ordinary island of the sea. 



The eastern promontory of the island which was first explored 

 proved of interest. Immediately to the right of the landing place 

 was the height known as Balor's Castle. Further along the 

 peninsula and protected by a line of entrenchments thrown across 

 a narrow neck of land were the remains of a circular prehistoric 

 fort. These entrenchments have an interest of later date, for it 

 was behind them that O'Donnell took his last stand in 1608 after 

 the flight of the Earls, and here occurred a massacre, the story of 

 which will not bear retelling. Almost at the eastern end of the 

 island is the wishing stone, on the top of a natural pillar of rock ; 

 its virtues were tested by some of the party, but no results have 

 yet been recorded. Returning to the landing place, and hastily 

 disposing of the excellent lunch found waiting there, the members 

 proceeded westward across the island, passing East Town, which 

 consists of some dozen cottages, comfortable and weatherproof, if 

 uninteresting and ugly, which have been erected by the Congested 

 Districts Board. In passing, it may be mentioned that one finds 

 on all sides of the island the friendliest of attitudes toward the 

 Board. Nor is this to be wondered at. A lace school for the 

 women, better boats for the fishers, a nurse, and greatly improved 

 dwellings are only a few of the numerous benefits which it has 



