Proceedings of Irish Societies. 23 



divisions into M'hich they fall. He then gave an account of some of the 

 principal varieties, with many interesting details. The paper was illus- 

 trated by numerous and beautiful specimens. A discussion followed in 

 which Mr. W. McCrum and the President took part. It is to be regretted 

 that owing to the bad weather the attendance was meagre. 



February nth. — The President in the Chair. Mr.W. McCrum read a 

 paper on "Ulster Traits and Characteristics." 



ROYAIv DUBININ SOCIETY. 



February 17th, 1892. — Lord Rosse in the Chair. Professor W.J. Sollas, 

 F.R.S. read a paper on "The Basal Cambrian Conglomerate of Howth." 

 The conglomerate consists of angular, sub-angular, and rounded frag- 

 ments of quartzite and slate. It is exposed in cliff sections at Balscadden 

 Bay on the northern side of the peninsula. Sir Archibald Geikie 

 was inclined to regard it as a volcanic breccia, but the total absence of 

 volcanic rocks at Howth seems conclusive against this view. Professor 

 Sollas regards this conglomerate as the base of the Cambrian series. He 

 considers that the preponderance of slate at Bra}-, and quartzite at Howth, 

 indicates the existence of the shore-line of the ancient ocean to the 

 north of Howth, its proximity being there shown by the existence of 

 this basal conglomerate. 



The discussion was opened by Professor Cole, who thought that much 

 of the formation could be explained by the shattering of the quartzite, 

 and the flowing of the slaty rock around its fragments. Mr. W. \V. Watts 

 pointed out the great difficulty of explaining the existence of quartzite 

 pebbles in a niatrix of the same rock. 



Professor G. A. J. Cole, F.G.S., read a paper on "The Variolite of 

 Annalong, Co. Down." A specimen in the Survey collection, labelled 

 "Variolite," and collected by the late General Portlock on the shores of 

 Co. Down, led Professor Cole to the re-discovery of the rock in Ireland. 

 Variolite (a devitrified basalt), is a very rare rock, and was thought to 

 exist in the British Isles only in Anglesey, where it was discovered by 

 Professor J. F. Blake. The clyke at Annalong is only exposed at low 

 water ; it is of large size, measuring four feet in width, and traceable for 

 eighty-two feet. The passage from true basic glass to variolite can be 

 traced in the dyke. 



Dr. J. Joly read a paper entitled, "A Speculation on a Pre-material 

 Condition of the Universe." 



March i6th.— Professor W. N. Harti^ey, F.R.S., in the Chair. Dr. 

 G. J. Stoney, F.R.S., read a paper entitled, "Proposal of a Standard 

 Gauge to assist in appreciating the small Ultra-visible Magnitudes of 

 Nature." Professor P\ J. Bell's report on the Echinoderms collected on 

 the cruise of the "Fingal" was submitted to the meeting. 



ROYAI, IRISH academy. 



February 22nd. — The President, Dr. J. K. Ingram, in the Chair. Rev. 

 George T. Stokes, D.D., read a paper on "The Knowledge of Greek in 

 Ireland between 500 and 900, A.D." Mr. R. Llo3'd Praeger read a 

 "Report on the Estuarine Clays of the North-east of Ireland." (The 

 author proposes to contribute an article on the subject of this report to 

 the Irish Naturai^ist at an early date, so no abstract of his paper need 

 now be given.) Mr. Praeger also read a "Report on the Botany of the 

 Mourne Mountains, Co. Down," which had been prepared by Mr. vS. A. 

 Stewart, F.B.S. Edin., and himself, under a grant from the Academy. 

 The district reported on covers 180 square miles, almost the whole area 

 being occupied by lofty mountains. Geologicall}', the district consists 

 of granite, and Silurian grits, the latter chiefly on the lower grounds. 

 The Mourne mountains form the highest mountain-chain in Ulster, and 

 the most easterly highlands in Ireland. The flora is a somewhat rich 



