170 



ON THE BASALTIC COUNTRY IN IRELAND. 



without interrupting the solidity or continuity of the mate- 

 rial; exactly as a down held hand appears to separate into 

 fingers. The thickness of this stratum, that is the length 

 of the pillars of which it is formed, is fifty-four feet ; it is 

 marked (d) in the two views, and in its passage across the 

 face of the precipice displays more beautiful colonnades 

 than any of the others. 



This seventh stratum emerges from the beach immediate-^ 

 )y behind the south-east point of Portmoon, and where it 

 first shows itself in that bay has its lower edge raised only a 

 few feet above the water; it forms the upper frustum of the 

 larger of the two conical islands, ascends obliquely along 

 the face of Portmoon, and continues to rise until it com- 

 poses the upper range in the beautiful facade, properly 

 called Bengore Head, This is properly the most magnirw 

 cent of all, its convexity towards the sea producing a fine 

 effect. The lower edge of this stratum, that is the line 

 forming the base of its pillars, has here, as at Pleskin, at- 

 tained the height of three hundred feet above the water. 



This seventh stratum, like those above it, also suffers an 

 interruption ; for after having exhibited itself to such great 

 advantage at Bengore, the extreme northern point of the 

 Disappears: promontory lowers, and this stratum disappears for about 

 is resumed one third of a mile; as the promontory rises, it is resumed 

 again : again in great beauty Kt Pleskin, and is interrupted no more ; 



we scarcely ever lose sight of it until we reach Port Noffer 

 (the next bay to the Causeway) ; here, for want of perpen- 

 ind at last va- dicularity it is little seen, and is finally lost oyer the Cause- 

 Dishes. wav> we t n ow not well how. 



Eighth Stratum, (e). 



0th stratum. The next stratum is of the same variety of basalt with 

 the third, tjiat is, irregular prismatic ; it is fifty-four feet 

 thick, and in the views distinguished by the letter (c) : where 

 it emerges at the south-east corner of Portmoon, it is quite 

 accessible by land, and affqrds the best opportunity I 

 know for examining this* species of basalt, as it is there very 

 neat* 



There is little more of this stratum seen in the facade of 

 Portmoon for want of perpendicularity, but it forms the 



lower 



