2l6 
The Irish Naturalist. 
September, 
BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 
JuivY 12-14.— Excursion i'o SouTH-wiiST Dqnp: gat,.— Forty-eight 
members joined in this excursion. Iveaving Belfast by the 7.30 a.m. train 
on the morning of July 12, Donegal was reached shortly after mid-day. 
The first afternoon was devoted to driving round IvOiigli Eske, with visits 
to Ashdoon Waterfall and Ardnamona demesne, at which latter place 
the members were received by Sir Arthur R. Wallace, C.B., D.L., and 
entertained to tea by Lady Wallace. The combination of wood and 
water at this place, situated as it is on the edge of the Carboniferous 
limestone area, and lying between the Barnesmore and Blue Stack groups 
of mountains, was much admired, and the geological and botanical 
features noted. The ferns and orchids for which the district is noted were 
mostly all seen, including Hymenophylhim tunbridgense, H. tinilaterale, Cystop- 
teris fragilis, Lastrea spinidosa, L. cEJiiiila, L. Oreopte?'is, Polypodiiini Phegopteris^ 
and Osmiinda regalis. Lobelia Dorimanna grew abundantly in the lake. In 
the evening a visit was paid to Donegal Abbey. Friday was devoted to 
a drive to Brownhall, where, under the guidance of Major Hamilton and 
his son, the members explored the wonderful ravines, caves, &c., made 
by the Ballintra river as it works its way alternately above and below 
ground through the limestone strata of Brownhall Demesne. The drive 
was continued to Coolmore Strand, on the shores of Donegal Bay. Anti- 
quarian members busied themselves in the sand-hills between Coolmore 
and Rossnowlagh, where neolithic remains and shell-mounds occur fre- 
quently. Others made their way along the cliffs as far as Kilbarron 
Castle. On the return journey to Donegal Ceterach officinariim and 
Cystopteris fragilis were noted on walls between Coxtown and Laghy. 
The most noteworthy botanical feature of the district was the frequent 
abimdance of Cardims pratensis and Habenaria coiiopsea^ just as the pre- 
valence of Melainpyrum pralense was a feature in the woods at Ardnamona. 
The geologists obtained a number of Carboniferous lyimestone fossils from 
rocks south of Coolmore Strand. Here also were noted Trochus lineatus 
and the Purple Sea Urchin, Strougylocentrottis lividus. A short business 
meeting of the Club was held after dinner, the Vice-President, 
N. H. Foster, M.B.O.U., in the chair. Three new members were elected, 
and a vote of thanks accorded to the secretaries. The forenoon of 
Saturday was devoted to a drive to Mountcharles, where the sandstone 
quarries and works were inspected. Afterwards the drive was continued 
to The Hall, where the party were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. J. A. 
Hanna. Two members reported collecting, during the excursion, 43 
species of land and fresh water Mollusca. Very few beetles were ob- 
served. Four species of butterflies and nine of moths were obtained. 
Five species of Hymenoptera were collected, including the Giant Sawfly, 
Sirex gigas. The bird-men noted a total of 64 species. Th-ey were in- 
formed that Black-headed Gulls, Terns, Red-breasted Mergansers, and 
Herons, breed regularly on Lough Eske. The most remarkable fact 
learnt, however, was that the common House Sparrow is unknown at 
Ardnamona and Brownhall. 
