±5110- If. J 2Q5 



accompaniments of glaciers, could still be traced, of which perhaps 

 the best known was that at Moolieve, at the southern end of the 

 Happy Valley, where eventually will be erected the dam converting 

 this valley into a large lake, which will form the reservoir for 

 Belfast's water supply. 



Mr. Foster said that the Kingdom of Mourne proved a 

 charming district for the pedestrian, no portion of the range being 

 beyond reach in a fair day's walking, provided always that one's 

 starting-point be properly chosen ; and that Newcastle, Kilkeel, 

 Warrenpoint or Rostrevor, and Hilltown afforded such bases for the 

 exploration of the chain. He then proceeded to describe some 

 walks which could be undertaken, and in speaking of the Castles 

 of Commedagh — a wonderful natural feature — said it was strange 

 that so few of Newcastle's visitors had ever viewed this wonderland, 

 which was within two hours' walking of the town. 



He further stated that in a granite area the flora and fauna 

 were, as a rule, poor in number of species, but that in the Mourne 

 district several of our rarer plants were to be found, and he showed 

 views of a series of characteristic plants of the district. An inter- 

 esting botanical fact was that Strangford Lough, a few miles to the 

 north, formed the meeting-place for two plants in Ireland : the 

 Scotch Lovage, Liguslicum scoticum, a northern species, here finding 

 its southern limit and meeting with the Sea Purslane, Atriplex 

 portulacoides, a species of southern origin which had not been 

 found further north in Ireland. In speaking of the fauna he said 

 that in the recesses of these mountains the Fox and the Badger 

 still lurked, whilst the Pine-Marten had been observed in Tolly- 

 more Park and in Donard demesne. Our only Irish reptile, the 

 Viviparous Lizard, had been recorded from here. Of the birds 

 frequenting the district Mr. Foster had many things to recount, 

 including the capture at Greencastle some years ago of a specimen 

 of the Antarctic Sheathbill — unique in the Northern hemisphere. 

 The invertebrate fauna of the neighbourhood was also briefly- 

 alluded to. 



