50 
BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
Messrs. Watson, Pumphrey, IIiff, and Mantell; and an exhibition 
of a lantern microscope was given by Mr. William Pumphrey, 
showing living objects on a screen. An extensive and interesting 
microscope exhibition was given; and the handsome floral decora¬ 
tions of the room were kindly contributed by Mr. Spinks, of 
Hewitt and Co. 
An excursion to Ireland was made on May BOtli by fifteen 
members and their wives, under the leadership of Mr. Charles 
Pumphrey, which was the most extensive, both as to distance and 
time, that the Society has yet carried out. It included both the 
north-east and south-west portions of the country, and parts of 
the Counties of Antrim, Down, Meath, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and 
Clare, and took the party to some of the finest of the coast and cliff 
scenery, including the Giant’s Causeway, Fair Head, the fine Antrim 
coast road, the Glens of Antrim, the Mourne Mountains, the 
exquisite Bantry Bay, the Lakes and Mountains of Killarney, and 
the bold Cliffs of Kilkee and Moher. The antiquities visited 
included Lake Dwellings on Fair Head, Bound Tower and Monu¬ 
mental Crosses at Monasterboice, Druidical Cromlechs and Tumulus 
at New Grange. The geology was especially interesting ; the hard 
chalk of Antrim, in so many places capped with basalt, producing 
fine contrasts of white and black rocks ; the marvellous columnar 
basalt forming the Giant’s Causeway, and in the lofty cliffs, com¬ 
bining with the intervening beds of ferruginous earth and decom¬ 
posed basalt to form magnificent scenery ; and the limestone beds 
at Kilkee and sandstone flags of Moher, forming two extensive and 
beautiful ranges of sea cliff. The flora specially noticed was the 
profusion of Primroses in the north of Antrim, and of Hawthorn 
near Drogheda ; while in the south-west, the profusion and 
luxuriance of the Royal Fern (Osmunda regalisJ, the exquisite beauty 
of the Butterworts, and the no less beautiful, though small and 
delicate London Pride, compelled admiration. The real Maiden¬ 
hair Fern (Adicintum Capillus-Veneris) was found on the Burren of 
Clare. The party have to be congratulated on the fine weather 
with which they were favoured for the excursion, and the admirable 
arrangements under which it was carried out. 
March, 1893. 
