little streamlet which runs below. At about 9 miles from Killarney, and soon after passing Cosaun Lough-the lowest of the little lakes referred to the stream is crossed as it issues from the Black Lough; it is here that St Patrick is said to have banished the last Irish snake. We keep to the left of Cushvalley Lough and Auger Lough, and reach Pike Rock (11 miles), at which point the cars are left, and the tourist proceeds on horseback or on foot to Lord Brandon's cottage (4 miles), where the boat is taken.

As we leave the Gap we see, on the right, the Black Valley, so called from the sombre aspect it presents; this dark colour is caused by the great height of the hills which bound it, and the large quantity of peaty matter dissolved in the water of its lakes or pools. The largest of these lakes is called the "Lake of the Char, or Red Trout." The valley has a tragic and imposing aspect, and is regarded by many as more striking than the Gap itself.

LORD BRANDON'S COTTAGE (15 miles), from which point one may easily ascend the Purple Mountain, fromwhichviews are obtained of the Upper and Middle Lakes, the Reeks, the Black Valley, and, farther off, of Bantry Bay, the mouth of the Shannon, and the

open sea.

The LAKES OF KILLARNEY are three in number, called the Upper Lake, Torc, or the Middle Lake, and the Lower Lake, called also Lough Leane.

The length of the Upper Lake is 23 miles; it contains twelve small islands, the principal ones being M'Carthy's and Arbutus, the latter so called from the great quantity of the arbutus plants which cover it. The Upper Lake is generally regarded as the finest of the three, on account of the variety as well as beauty of its

scenery. Passing through the lake we enter a river about 2 miles in length, called the Long Range, which connects the waters of the Upper and Middle Lakes.

Passing the Eagle's Nest, a precipice 700 ft. high, on the summit of which the eagle still builds its nest, there is a remarkable echo from this and surrounding rocks.

A little way beyond we gain the "Meeting of the Waters; and, inclining to the right, and passing under the arches of the Old Weir Bridge, we enter the waters of the beautiful Torc, or Middle Lake." It covers an area of 680 acres, and contains four islands, the largest being Dinish and Brickeen, which separate this lake from the Lower Lake. There is a cottage on Dinish, to which, if an arrangement is made before starting, the landlord of the hotel will send lunch to await the arrival of the tourist.

Our route now lies across the Lake to one of the three passages from it to the Lower Lake. Before leaving it, the tourist will have time to admire its charming scenery, which is thought by many to surpass even that of the Upper Lake. The passage usually taken is that between Dinish and Brickeen Islands.

The Lower Lake is 5 miles long by 3 miles in width. It contains more than thirty islands, the largest being Rabbit and Innisfallen. The names of the other islands are derived from their fancied resemblance to various objects, or from animals which resort to them: as Lamb Island, Elephant Island, Otter Island, Stag Island, &c. The chief beauty of the lake is in its placid surface and the mountains which border it. There are numerous inlets and bays of surpassing beauty in every part of it. Glena Bay, the part of the lake first entered, is one of its chief ornaments. On

About 2 miles of coasting will enable the tourist to see O'SULLIVAN'S CASCADE, a waterfall consisting of three distinct falls. "The uppermost, passing over a ridge of rock, falls about twenty feet perpendicularly into a natural basin beneath; then making its way between two hanging rocks, the torrent hastens down a second precipice into a similar receptacle, from which second depository, concealed from the view, it rolls over into the lowest chamber of the fall. Beneath a projecting rock, overhanging the lowest basin, is a grotto, with a seat rudely cut in the rock. From this little grotto the view of the cascade is peculiarly beautiful and interesting. It appears a continued flight of three unequally elevated foamy stages. The recess is encompassed by rocks, and overshadowed by an arch of foliage so thick as to interrupt the admission of light."

Midway between the east and west shores is Innisfallen Island, the most beautiful of all the islands of Killarney, to which an additional charm has been added by the poetry of Thomas Moore. The poet was a visitor at Lord Kenmare's when the lines referred to were written:

"Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well; May calm and sunshine long be thine;

How fair thou art let others tell,

While but to feel how fair be mine. "Sweet Innisfallen, long shall dwell

In memory's dream that sunny smile Which o'er thee on that evening fell, When first I saw thy fairy Isle."

Near the landing-place are the ruins of an abbey, founded by St Finhian in the sixth century.

Ross ISLAND, more properly a peninsula, on the eastern shore of the lake, is worthy a visit; and Ross Castle, an ivy-crowned and picturesque ruin, may be visited by paying a small fee to the people in the adjacent cottage. Persons having more time to spend will find it a pleasant excursion by land from Killarney to Ross Island and Castle.

MUCKROSS ABBEY: TORC CASCADE. The tourist may visit these by rowing from Innisfallen to a point on the lake near Muckross; but it will be more convenient to return to the hotel and visit them by car.

MUCKROSS ABBEY is on an estate of H. A. Herbert, M.P. It is a beautiful ruin, and its situation does honour to the good taste of the monks by whom it was erected, and who in this case, as in almost every other, chose for their abbeys the most charming and picturesque situations. The edifice contains both church and convent. The kitchen, infirmary, cellars, and other portions of the structure are still well preserved. The church contains many tombs, some new, others ancient, among them that of O'Donoghue More. In the kitchen is shown the corner where, about the year 1760, John Drake, a hermit, made his abode for eleven years. His good humour and piety made him a favourite with the people of the vicinity, among whom many anecdotes of him, handed down by tradition, are still related. The mansion near by is modern, and the residence of Captain Herbert before mentioned.

Torc Cascade is 60 ft. in height. It falls over a broken wall of rocks. On each side are steep rocks with a luxuriant growth of trees and ferns. The walks are well kept, and one of them leads to a point from which a fine view is to be had of the Middle and