,, , 9 [Proc. B.N.P.C , 



A visit was then paid to the Carboniferous fossiliferous shales at 

 Cultra, from which the party proceeded to the residence of Mr. 

 F. A. Heron, The Nest, for tea. This came as a surprise to the 

 party, and after a most enjoyable entertainment Mr. Adam Speers 

 proposed, and Mr. J. Maxwell seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr., 

 Mrs., and the Misses Heron for their generous hospitality. One 

 senior— Miss W. Herdman— and three new junior members — 

 Messrs. Josias Cunningham, Alex. C. Scott, and Sydney Scott 

 — were elected, and the party then split up, some hurrying off to 

 the Permian beds, now exposed at low water, others visiting the 

 garden and Mr. Heron's collection of living birds, one of which, 

 a Nightingale, was of special interest, so few members of the party 

 had ever seen this bird in the flesh. Others finished their 

 collecting of various invertebrate groups. Six species of Isopods 

 (Woodlice) were noted, including two of our rarer species, 

 Trichoniscus roseus and Haplophthalmus mengii. 



LISNAGADE AND LOUGH15RICKLAND. 



The second excursion took place on 29th May, when about 

 fifty members and their friends left by the 10-50 a.m. train for 

 Banbridge. On arrival there the party drove to Lisnagade, where 

 the first portion of the time was spent in examining the various 

 raths, by permission of Mr. Wm. Taggart. The earthworks are all 

 in very perfect condition, and form an interesting monument of 

 the "silent vanished races" who once roamed over the undulating 

 hills and pleasant valleys of fertile County Down. The word 

 "lis" means an enclosed abode and is still preserved in many 

 names of places all over Ireland. Lisnagade means "the fort of 

 the hundred," and from its situation was evidently the head- 

 quarters of a very important community. The two neighbouring 

 raths, Lisvaragh and Liswheelan, have also the same well-preserved 

 characteristics, though they are not so large as the other. The 

 Rev. Canon Lett, who conducted the excursion, pointed out and 



