1S96.] Proceedings of Irish Societies. Z^i 



tinction in the Belfast neighbourhood. This clay contains fewer large 

 boulders than the lower boulder clay beds. Mr. Praeger concluded by 

 referring to an investigation into the historical succession of our northern 

 fauna, which indicated an almost arctic climate, ameliorating slightly in 

 the boulder clays, and showing a distinctly southern facies in the estuarine 

 clays and raised beaches, whilst dredgings in this century show a recur- 

 rence of colder conditions. 



In the subsequent discussion Mr. Praeger mentioned that although 

 perfect shells with the valves still united had been found near Dublin as 

 well as in the north, yet they are very rare, the usual condition being 

 much broken and worn. Specimens were handed round for inspection, as 

 well as a selection of rocks found in the glacial beds about Dublin, which 

 Mr. Praeger subsequently presented to the Club. Amongst them were 

 a Cushendall rock and the well-known Ailsa Craig rock. Miss S. M. 

 Thompson expressed a hope that rocks with riebeckite might even yet 

 be found in Co. Down, as a series of very diverse-looking erratics 

 recently submitted to Prof. Cole all proved to contain that mineral ; 

 some of these fragments were found in the bed of boulder-clay in the 

 banks of the stream between Divis and Black Mountain, mentioned in 

 the January number of the Irish Naiziralist, whose elevation is found not 

 to be as much as was at first supposed (1,300 feet), but whose precise 

 height has yet to be determined. Mr. Iv. M. Be;i,i, drew attention to the 

 great difference between the boulder- clays in Antrim and Down, the 

 latter being much looser in texture, resembling the upper boulder-clay 

 described by Mr. Praeger. A collection of rock-specimens was presented 

 by Miss M. K. Andrews. 



January 31st. — A special meeting was held in the Museum— the 

 President (Mr. F. W. Lockwood, G.E.) in the chair, when Mr. W. 

 Gray, M.R.I.A., delivered his lecture, '^ To Galway by Sea and I^and," 

 being an account of the Excursion last summer of the Irish Field Clubs 

 and the Royal Society of Antiquaries to Galway. 



February i8th. — The President in the Chair. Mr. W. H. Patterson 

 read a Paper on " Gaelic Charms, Incantations, and Curses." 



Dubinin Naturai^ists' Fiei.d Ci,ub. 

 February loth.— The Chair was taken by the President (Prof. G. A. 

 J. Cole, F.G.S.) There was a large attendance of members and friends. 

 After the signing of the minutes, the Vice-President (Mr. N. Coi^gan) 

 took the Chair, while Prof. Coi,E delivered his address on "Some 

 Problems in the Geology of Co. Dublin and Co. Wicklow." He said 

 that by indicating how many points of interest still remained unsettled 

 in the geology of Co. Dublin and Co. Wicklow, he hoped to attract some 

 of the energy of the Club towards the study of these matters in the field. 

 He dwelt on the possibility of the discovery of fragmental, but service- 

 able, organic remains in the slates of Bray or Howth ; on the dubious 

 position of Oldhamia ; on the desirability of checking and adding to the 

 old determinations of species from the Ordovician limestone of Portrane ; 

 and on the paucity of graptolites hitherto discovered in the associated 

 shales. The minerals of the contact-zone along the flanks of the 

 Leinster granite may attract other observers ; and the suggestion, made 



