Irish Societies. 



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tcrcsling section of a hike deposit, pointed out by Mr. W. 15. W'riglit in 

 the elilf, resting on glacial drift. The striated bed rock of the underlying 

 boulder clay was seen. A few yards farther north the rock section dis- 

 appears under Skerries strand. 



BELFAST NATURALISTS' FIELD CLUB. 



July 24. — Excursion to Lslanumagee. — A party of fifteen members 

 journeyed to Larne Harbour by the 10.20 a.m. train, en route for Port 

 Muck, Islandmagee. C.ood botanical work was done, and the members 

 thoroughly enjoyed the day. Tea was served at Port Muck. Some of 

 the members spent a considerable time at the interesting quarry in the 

 inter-basaltic beds at J^allylumford, at one time very extensively worked 

 by the late Dr. Ritchie. 



August 7. — Excursion to Conlig Hill.— The party travelled by 

 afternoon train to Newtownards, from whence the hill was reached. Here 

 the botanists had interesting ground to explore, and a number of plants 

 of special note were gathered. Tea was served at Helen's Tower. On the 

 return journey to Newtownards the southern slopes of the hill were taken 

 as the route. 



August 28.— Excursion to Cloughfin Port. — The place selected for 

 exploration was near Cloughfin Port, on the eastern shore of Islandmagee, 

 and just north of Blackhead. The club party, twenty-four in number, was 

 under the conductorship of Robert Bell, and travelled to Ballycarry by the 

 2.15 p.m. train. A short walk across the "island" brought the mem- 

 bers to Cloughfin Port, where owing to the lowness of the tide an admir- 

 able exposure of the Cretaceous rocks of the district was visible along the 

 foreshore. The conductor gave an account of these beds and their con- 

 tained fossils. Afterwards a good deal of fossil collecting was done, the 

 softer bedded strata of the Greensand formation yielding good specimens. 

 The members made their way round Blackhead, some on the low ground 

 and some over the top by the lighthouse path. Those botanical members 

 who took the former were delighted to see that the Sea Spleenwprt still 

 grows profusely on the inaccessible roofs of the sea caves at Blackhead. 

 The members walked back by the shore path to Whitehead, the botanists 

 noting some interesting plants by the way. On arrival at Whitehead they 

 were entertained to tea by one of their fellow-members, Mr. Franklin 

 M. Walker, of Mount Royal. The members subsequently returned to town 

 by the 8.13 p.m. train. 



September 4. — -Excursion to Lisburn. — A party of twenty-five mem- 

 bers journeyed to Lisburn. Under the guidance of the Rev. Canon W. P. 

 Carmody the pa''ty was first conducted to the site of the old castle situated 

 in Castle Park, and thence to the ancient " lis," close to the banks of the 

 Lagan, around which the town originally grew. Adjourning to the 

 Cathedral, the conductor gave the members an account of the history of 

 the town. After tea in the Parochial Hall, Canon Carmody showed his 

 visitors the ancient registers and parish records. 



