174 
The Irish Naturalist, 
July, 
plate produced a very complete differentiation of the tissues of the wood, 
the result being equal to that obtained by multiple staining. 
BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
May 19.— The first excursion of the 44th year was held to the district 
between Leitrim and Castlewellan, opened up by the new branch line of 
the Great Northern Railway. About seventy members attended. On ar- 
riving at Leitrim station the members visited Magheramayo Fort, and 
the granite quarries and works, afterwards walking into Castlewellan, 
where the famous gardens and grounds were thrown open to the Clubby 
the kindness of Lord Annesley. Tea was served in the Annesley Arms 
at six o'clock, and afterwards a short business meeting was held, the 
President (W. H. PhiTvI^ips) in the chair, when votes of thanks were 
passed, and four new members elected. The party afterwards returned 
by train. The Mountain Fern, Lastrea Oreopteris^ which is not common, 
was obtained at Tullyuasoo Mountain, near the quarries. The ornitho- 
logists agreed that, on the whole, the district traversed was poor in bird 
life, the Meadow Pipit being the dominant species ; a few other common 
species were observed. The movements of a pair of Pied Wagtails in the 
vicinity of one of the lunching groups near the quarries pointed to the 
proximity of their nest. After a short search this was found ; it was 
in a crevice in a heap of granite chips, contained one egg, and was pro- 
fusely lined with feathers. Apart from captive birds, thirty-five 
species in all were observed during the day. In the short time spent at 
the railway station, prior to leaving Castlewellan, many Woodcocks 
were observed taking their customary evening flight, and, judging by the 
number seen, it was evident that here, as elsewhere in Ireland of late 
years, this bird is on the increase, and is breeding in tolerable profusion. 
June 2. — Excursion to Tandkagee, Co. Armagh. — Ninety members 
travelled by the 2.15 p.m. train to Tandragee station, which is situated 
at the Madden Bridge, one-and-a-half miles east of the town. On arrival 
the party were met by a local club member, the Rev. W. F. Johnson, 
M.A., of Poyntzpass, and his wife ; also by the Rector, the Rev. Wm. 
M'Endoo, B.D., who escorted the party over the parish church, and also 
through the Castle demesne. On reaching the River Cushen, on the 
way to the town, the party separated into two sections — about one-third 
of those present entering the lower demesne at the River bridge, and 
working their way through it to the other end, a little south of the town. 
After leaving it, they rejoined the other section in the upper demesne 
attached to the Castle. The size, beauty, and variety of the conifers was 
especially noteworthy. The River Cushen flows through ihe lower 
demesne, which is locally spoken of as the Forge Wood. The Kingfisher 
and the Dipper occur here, a pair indeed of the former being noted. 
The coleopterists, led by Mr. Johnson, bottled quite a number of speci- 
mens for further examination. It is also good for MoUusca, but the 
