ON TIJF, BASALTIC COUNTRY IN IRELAND. g t 5 \ 



On the eastern side of our area, immediately to the southr Remarkable 

 ward of Kdip and Connor, a similar operation has been per- produced since 

 fprraed, attended by still more extraordinary circumstances, the consolida- 



We here find a district near four miles in diameter, Slrata< 

 called the Sandy Braes; over this whole space the basaltic 

 stratification has been carried off, and the operation has 

 reached deep into a very singular substratum? a reddish 

 breccia, by some mineralogists called a porphyry, the mass 

 friable, but the component angular particles of extreme 

 hardness. n 



The hills, of which this little district is full, are every one 

 perfect segments of spheres j while the loftier basaltic hills 

 that surround it preserve their characteristic form, to wit, a 

 gradual acclivity on one side;, with a steep abruption on the 

 other. 



As we sail along- our northern shore we discover another 

 great chasm or interruption of our strata, which also cuts 

 deep into the substrata: for on the west side of Ballycastle 

 pier, the bold basaltic precipices suddenly disappear, and 

 at a lower level disclose the substratum, which appears to be 

 *n alternation of sand-stone and coal, sometimes with bitu* 

 ruinous schistus. 



A mile or two to the eastward the abrupt precipice is re- v 



sumed, and a basaltic stratum again occupies its summit on 

 to Fairhead, with the same angle of inclination iti which it 

 was disposed along our whole coast, that is a slight ascent 

 to the north. 



Traces of similar operations and abruptions are to be 

 found over our whole area, but the preceding are sufficient 

 tp make us acquainted with the style of these interruptions 

 of our strata ; of course it is time to proceed to the sus- 

 pended demonstration, that our strata, so interrupted, were 

 once continuous, notwithstanding the magnitude of the in- 

 terval by which the corresponding parts are now separated. 



Proofs Jhat our noiv interrupted Strata were once conthiuous. 



We must now turn back to the facades of Bengore, p roo fs that tlw 

 where the strata themselves, and all the circumstances at- interrupted 

 tendiag them, are so happily displayed, as to throw great - traUwcre 



light 



