Category: Nature and Antiquarian Notes

When out for a walk on a stretch of moorland in the Draperstown district early in September, on a day exceptionally bright and warm, with the sun shining in an almost cloudless sky and the pollen rising from the blooming heather at every footfall, I saw a most interesting sight. My way lay past a couple of outcrops of rock, the first exhibiting nothing unusual, while the second consisted of a highly indurated silicious rock carrying a large proportion of ferrous oxide, the heat radiating from the numerous minute sparkling crystals which it contained. Resting on its warm surface, or gliding above numerous Dragon Flies, perhaps 40 or more. They quickly disappeared when disturbed, but returned again to their hovering sunbeam dance above the rock when I had walked past. The puzzle is, how did these insects know to come from different places, and probably from considerable distances, to that particular rock. Have they natural means of sending a wireless call to each other, or can they feel the effect of the dancing beams or rays of light far beyond the effect of heat radiation, or were they guided by sight alone?—“G. B. McKeown”’ (Draperstown).

When engaged in flax-pulling operations in the year 1921 in a field of flax belonging to Mr. Palmer of Desertmartin, the workers were astonished to find a circular path in the midst of the flax on which no flax was growing. It looked as if the ground had been paddled at some time during the growth of the crop, but there was no trace of any living creature going into or out of the ring, which looked like the circular path which a goat would make if walking for a long period at the end of the tether. A considerable number of people in the neighbourhood went to see the peculiar occurrence, but could find no satisfactory solution of the cause, some attributing it to the “Wee folk,” fairies, etc. It also became known that a similar occurrence was observed in a field of flax at the “The Loop,” near Ballinderry Bridge, and another at Ringsend, near Moneymore. Would the fungus Agaricus oracdes, which is sometimes causes the appearances known as Fairy Rings in pasture lands, produce the same effect when the land is under flax, and what effect, if any, would it have on the growth of other crops?—“G. B. McKeown” (Draperstown).

[Can any reader answer the above?—Ed.]

Near the top of a building 25 feet high convenient to where I reside there is a hole in the wall 4 x 9 inches in size, and I have often noticed Starlings examining it, but they never nested in it. I formed the opinion that they thought it was unsafe, so I closed the inside of the hole completely and blocked up the outside with the exception of a 3-inch space at the top. The Starlings started to build almost immediately, and are now feeding young ones.—“G. B. Mc Keown” (Draperstown).

I had the following account of a cloudburst from a farmer in the Draperstown district, who was an eyewitness to the destruction done, being in the glen in search of sheep just after the occurrence. There is a narrow mountain valley in the Sperrin Mountains called Glennelly and convenient to its ridge, which has the townland of Goals on one side and Glenern on the other. About fifty-years ago a remarkable cloudburst occurred on the Glenern side of the ridge. The mountain side was steep and covered with 4 to 5 feet of peat, and the deluge broke up about 3 acres of this, carrying most of it away. It also moved a solid mass of peat, about ¾ acre in extent, for about one perch down-hill. Fifty head of sheep were destroyed, and great damage done to low-lying lands along the glen. Just on the opposite side of the ridge—in Goals—a destructive cloudburst had fallen previously, cutting deep furrows into the mountain side.—“G. B. Mc Keown” (Draperstown).

G. B. Mc Keown (Draperstown).–I do not know whether No.3 was tested for anything else, but will make enquiries. The flints have certainly not reached me.

The old church at Ballinascreen dates back to the early Christian period, and appears to have been originally a very substantial building, the gables being 3½ and the side-walls 2¾ feet thick; its length was 78½ and the breadth 25½ feet, rectangular in form. The building material was principally greenstone, the schists of Tullybrick were represented in the arching of the doorway, while the corners were sandstone brought from a distance. The west gable and 30ft. of the south wall, including a portion above the doorway are still standing, the rest of the building being down to within a few feet of the level of the surrounding graveyard, except for the corners of the east gable and a small portion of the adjoining side-walls. There is a considerable number of tombstones in the graveyard, all sandstone, with one exception, this being made of greenstone. The majority of the stones are in a bad state of preservation, moss-covered, partially decomposed, and difficult to read. Some are undecipherable, some have the letters sunk in them, while other have them raised in bold relief, a form of monumental work apparently difficult to execute. The majority of the stones that show any date were erected during the 18th century, and a few during the early part of the 19th century. They record the following surnames:–O’Kelly, O’Haran, O’Hagan, O’Brolly, O’Hegarty, O’Gilespy, McNeill, McNamee, McCormac, McWilliams, Dogherty, Gallagher, Henery, Cleary, Clerkin, Barnett, Donnoly, Cassidy, Bradly. At an early period this graveyward was the only burying-ground for the surrounding district of County Derry and the neighbouring County Tyrone, and I regret to have to have to state that it is in a very neglected condition. –G. B. Mc Keown (Draperstown).

 

“G. B. Mc Keown” (Draperstown).–Mineral analysis; with comments, as follows:–One sample, which contained a small vein of mineral substance about quarter of an inch thick has been found to contain–Copper sulphide, 11.2 per cent.; Iron Sulphide, 7.7 per cent., insoluble matter, 80.2 per cent. This, of course refers only to the sample submitted, and the percentage of copper is high, but this must be taken only as an indication of the occurrence of copper. A vein of such thickness would not be worth working, but may point to a larger body on further prospecting. The marked samples give the following quantative results:–1. Very faint traces of copper. 2. Isolated crystals found to contain copper. 3. Green colouration due to copper. 4. Green streaks containing copper. 5. Pyrites containing no copper. Three other samples were also examined, amongst which was one of galena. The other two contained traces of copper.

“G. B. Mc Keown” (Draperstown).–The plants are unrecognisable, having  completely shrivelled up. I have again written for the mineral analysis, and will publish same as soon as it comes to hand. Please do not hesitate to forward specimens at any time.

Within the vast expanse of atmosphere that circulates above the beautiful valley of the Moyola River, there lies a considerable stretch of the serial route favoured by wild geese during their migration from the breeding grounds of higher latitudes. To the warmer winter quarters in Ireland I have observed them come in flocks arranged in V formation, each bird keeping an absolutely correct position in the ranks like a well-trained soldier. They appear to be quite certain of their route and destination, as they seldom divert from the straight path but proceed rapidly without any apparent hesitation. The journey must be an exciting one for the younger birds as they gaze upon new scenery, and are perhaps coached in ‘goose language’ by their elders as to the many pitfalls awaiting the unwary. After flying up the Moyola valley for several miles west of Draperstown, they usually cross the Tullybrick Hills in the direction of Davagh River (County Tyrone), and sometimes stop to rest on its banks. I noticed a considerable number of flocks passing up the valley on October 21st, and counted as many as 38 birds in one flock. Their appearance often heralds the approach of a north-east storm, which we had on October 21st and 22nd, accompanied by rain on the former date and snow the next day.– G. B. McKeown (Draperstown)

“G. B. Mc Keown” (Draperstown).–The larger butterfly is the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), while the smaller brown one is the common Speckled Wood or Wood Argus (Pararge egeria). The former has been unusually plentiful this year. Most butterflies delight in bright sunlight, but the Speckled Wood is an exception frequenting shady lanes and continuing its solitary flight even on dull days. By the “dark-veined white” butterfly I expect you refer to the green-veined white (Pieris napi); while the early summer species mentioned will be the Orange Tip (Euchloe cardamines).