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Dublin Natural History Society. 



facing the almost inaccessible precipices that present themselves on 

 that side where stands the village of Clehane. Unweariedly he pur- 

 sued his way, and sundry were his risks, ere the summit was attained, 

 where he did penance around the cell of the patron saint. Here all 

 those rarities were found, whose first record is due to the unbounded 

 zeal, acuteness, and perseverance of my friend Mr. Mackay, and 

 well did he explore those wearisome wilds. The rare Saussurea 

 alpina, the elegant little alpine Alchemilla, the several interesting 

 species and varieties of Saxifrage — to these have been added new 

 stations for the Aspidium lonchitis, Grimmia spiralis, and new to our 

 flora the Hypnum rugulosum. In all the mountain range the Wil- 

 soni was the only species of Hymenophyllum detected. At Mount 

 Eagle, seven miles from Dingle, the most western highland in the 

 county, the rare Trichomanes speciosum ? was found in the chasm 

 of a moist but exposed cliff, unprotected by brushwood, and at 

 a much greater elevation than the sheltered and shaded locality 

 of these beautiful ferns at Turk. The Jungermannia Woodsii 

 was again there met with, and at the foot of the mountain 

 the Bartsia viscosa. This mountain appears to consist of coarse 

 gray conglomerate similar to that of Brandon. North-easterly and 

 northerly of Mount Eagle are the beautiful bays of Smerwick 

 and Ferriter's Cove, rich in Algse. Here were seen magnificent 

 specimens of Cystoseira ericoides and fceniculacea, Gigartina aci- 

 cularis, Griffithsice, and erecta : and abundantly at the Cove Poly- 

 phonia violacea and Griffithsia corallina — the former only before 

 noticed by Dr. Drummond at Cairnlough Bay, coast of Antrim. 

 Our tarrying was brief — Killarney our next station ; but so often 

 has that fairy ground been trodden, that what in a botanical way 

 could be said after Mackay, Taylor, and Wilson ? I may venture 

 to add that another station verging on Turk has been discovered of 

 the much-sought Trichomanes ; its continued existence, therefore, is 

 safely secured. At O'Sullivan's Cascade the Hymenophyllum Tun- 

 hridgense grows most luxuriantly ; the Wilsoni exceedingly scarce, 

 and the rare and beautiful Sticta macrophylla appears frequent at 

 the Kenmare side of Killarney. Many are the doubts and varied the 

 opinions of botanists touching the Arbutus, the pride of Killarney's 

 lakes. Although now growing spontaneously, particularly on lime- 

 stone and on a reddish talcose slate, yet I am inclined to think it not 

 strictly native, but introduced from Spain by the monks. In the 

 fourth century monastic institutions were first formed in Ireland, 

 and in the sixth this island had attained such fame for piety and 

 learning, that numbers came from Spain and Italy for the object of 

 leading a more strictly religious life, and acquiring the knowledge 

 which had so distinguished it. Thus we find Saint Finnian, the 

 leper, eminent for his extraordinary learning, knowledge of Holy 

 Writ, and great sanctity, founded the abbeys of Innisfallen, Agha- 

 doe, and Ardfinnian in Tipperary. Innisfallen became a place of 

 great wealth ; numerous and valuable presents were contributed, and 

 the stranger monks introduced from their own countries whatever 

 would prove useful, either medicinally, culinary, or ornamentally. 



