22^ The Irish Nahtralht. October, 



pygmacHs was the only uncommon one. Cars were mounted about five 

 o'clock. On arrival at Larne tea was partaken at the King's Arms Hotel, 

 after which a short business meeting was held, Two new members, 

 Messrs. Tait and Downing, were elected, and the party returned to 

 Belfast by the 8.20 p.m. train. 



August 20.— Geoi^ogicai, Section.— Portrush.— Leaving Belfast by 

 12 noon train, the members proceeded to the " White Rocks," where, after 

 studying the striking erosion of the cliffs, as shown by sea-stacks, arches, 

 and caverns, they went on to the large challc quarry b}' the road side. 

 The remarkable V-shaped hollow filled with spheroidal basalt was ex- 

 amined, and the following fossils obtained from the chalk and flints— 

 the phragmacone of a belemuite, specimens oi Belemnitella imuronata, 

 Ananchytes gibbus, Ananchytes ovatus, the cast of a brachiopod, a fragment 

 o{ luoceramus Ciispi, and fragments of sponges. A few minerals were ob- 

 tained from the basalt — chabazite, analcite, calcite, and fibrous 

 natrolite. The party then proceeded to Craigahulliar quarrj% where 

 there is a fine example of columnar basalt passing upwards into tabular 

 basalt. 



On returning to Portrush the indurated Liassic beds were examined, 

 and some impressions of ammonites obtained. So much interest 

 centres round these rocks, in connection with the controversy between 

 the Neptunists and Vulcanists at the end of the i8th century, that 

 regret was felt at finding them partly obscured by rubbish and advertise- 

 ments, instead of being carefully preserved as a natural museum. 



August 27.— Carrickfergus.— The party, conducted by the President 

 (R. Welch, M.R.I. A.), travelled by the i. 50 p.m. train, and on their ar- 

 rival visited the Castle, to -which they were admitted by permission of 

 the authorities. The Castle had more than antiquarian interest for the 

 party on the occasion of this visit. Several snails were observed climb- 

 ing its walls, including Agriolimax agresiis, Liviax arbonim, Hilix aspersa, 

 and Pupa cyJindracea ; and the botanists collected fine specimens of Parie- 

 taria officinalis. 



The party next visited the Church of St. Nicholas, through which 

 they were most courteously conducted by Dr. Briertou. The church is 

 an interesting example of how a great church by successive alterations 

 may be changed to a smaller and debased structure. Tea was found 

 waiting them on their arrival at the Y.M.C.A. Cafe, after which a short 

 business meeting was held-- the President in the chair. 



September 3. — Magheralin. — The members of the Geological Sec- 

 tion started by the 1.50 p.m. train for Moira, and proceeded thence to the 

 large quarry near Magheralin. The fine sections of Upper Chalk with 

 numerous bands of flint were examined and specimens of flint breccia 

 obtained. " Paramoudras" were observed m j■///^ and a large barrel, 

 shaped one lying on the floor of the quarry measured 35 inches by 33 

 inches by 33 inches. Fossils were scarce, but Belemnitella mucronata 

 (Schloth), Khymhondla plicatilis (Sow.), Oslrea verticiilaris (Lam.), and a 

 few crushed echinoids were noted. Boulder-clay was examined, and 

 yielded interesting " erratics " from Donegal, Tyrone and Antrim. 



