3^ • The Irish NatufalisU [I'eb., 



tempted to wish that some kindly building-contractor would 

 blow it to pieces, and allow us to forget it. 



A few respectable boulders can still be seen in favourable 

 out-of-the-way places, and near the hills, in the country extend- 

 ing from the Killiney Hills to Stillorgan, Whitechurch, &c. 

 But it is easy to see what became of the great majority of the 

 field-stones ; they were used up to build the walls which 

 enclose such a large proportion of the fields in that district. 

 Mr. Kinahan informs me that the numerous boulders lately in 

 the valley between Bnniskerry and Glencullen have been 

 nearly all taken away to build the Catholic church at Knnis- 

 kerry. He informs me also that most of the large number of 

 boulders about Ballinteer, beyond Dundrum, were used up for 

 building purposes a few years ago. Much of the granite for 

 the Science and Art Museum, Kildare Street, was obtained 

 from the boulders between Ballinteer and Dundrum. He 

 speaks also of a great removal of boulders in late years from 

 Redesdale on the S.K. of Dundrum, and from other places 

 not far off. 



I must not omit to mention an interesting museum of 

 boulders, as we may call it, at Newtownpark, about a mile 

 inland from Blackrock. The obelisk there is of ashlar work 

 rising from a very large rusticated base ; the stones of the 

 latter are clearly all boulders gathered from the surface of the 

 surrounding land. Some show signs of blasting ; but these 

 are only portions of much larger boulders which, in their 

 integrity, would have been too difficult to transport to their 

 present situation. Many of them are four feet in length. 

 There can be no doubt that the squared blocks of the obelisk 

 itself were cut from boulders. This structure was built in 

 1703 ; it would be impossible to make the like of it in these 

 days without having recourse to quarrying, so that it is a most 

 interesting memorial of the state of things in by-gone days. 



The largest surviving boulder that I know of in this region 

 is situated about a mile south of the cromlech and the ancient 

 church of Kilternan. Unfortunately, a new road was made 

 passing close to it, and a great piece has been blasted ofi'il, 

 which interfered with the road. 



Perhaps I may be allowed to mention here the relation of 

 the cromlechs to our present subject. These are usually, but 



