134 



The Irish Naturalist. 



November 



September io. — Excursion to the Knockagh. — The seventh 

 excursion was attended by forty-eight members and friends, who entrained 

 for Greenisland at 2.15 p.m. The approach to Knockagh, the ancient 

 name of which was Knocksciagh — i.e., " The Hill of the White Thorn " — 

 was over the links of the Greenisland Golf Club, thence by paths to the 

 base of the mountain. Here R. Bell delivered a short, instructive address 

 on the geology of the hill and district, in which he pointed out the irregular 

 strata of basalt superimposed on the friable amygdaloid, which rests on 

 another stratum of basalt, underneath which appears the chalk. The 

 botanical section of the members found the flora of the hill interesting. 

 Among the plants observed were the wood vetch ( Vicia sylvatica) and the 

 spindle tree [Euonymus europaeus). 



From the summit, 903 feet above sea level, a magnificent bird's-eye 

 view was obtained of Belfast Lough, its shores and surrounding hills, the 

 Mourne Mountains, and Coast of Scotland. After tea a brief business 

 meeting was held, at which, in the absence of the President (S. A. 

 Bennett, B.A., B.Sc.) the chair was occupied by F. Adens Heron, J. P. 

 The election of seven new members terminated the proceedings, after 

 which a start was made for Greenisland Station. 



September 24. — Excursion to Dromore. — The ninth excursion took 

 place, when 47 members visited Dromore. At the Cathedral they were 

 welcomed by the rector of Dromore (Canon J. W. Cooke), who gave a 

 most interesting description of the history of the Cathedral from the 

 time of St. Colman, early in the 6th century, down to the present day. 



The next halt was at the restored cross erected on the abutment of 

 the bridge over the Lagan. This memorial is mentioned as standing 

 in the reign of James I., and still bears traces of very beautiful Celtic 

 interlaced ornament. After many vicissitudes it was finally re-erected 

 on its present site by the exertions of the Naturalists' Field Club. 



The Club was also responsible for the re-erection in the Market Place 

 of the old town stocks, the next object visited. The stocks having been 

 opened one of the bolder members voluntarily allowed himself to be 

 incarcerated therein, this being considered the psychical moment for a 

 photograph. 



Passing the old castle, said to have been built about 1607, the party 

 proceeded to the great Mount of Dromore, where the Conductor (Canon 

 W. P. Carmody, M.A.) gave an interesting address on raths and earth 

 mounds. 



From the mount an adjournment was made to the church school- 

 house, where, after tea, the usual business meeting was held. One 

 junior and nine senior members were elected. The President (S. A. 

 Bennett, B.A., B.Sc.) having suitably voiced the appreciation of the 

 members of the party for the kindness shown by Canon Cooke on this 

 the ninth and last excursion of the summer session, and having outlined 

 the programme of the forthcoming winter session, the proceedings 

 terminated, the members returning to Belfast by the 6.0 p.m. train. 



