1896,] Proceedmgs of Irish Societies 139 



return drive to Dungaunou. Friday saw the party walking from Dun- 

 donald through the interesting esker of partially-cemented gravels full 

 of travelled pebbles, by the old road to Scrabo. The intrusive sheets and 

 dykes of Scrabo have acted as a protective skeleton, and preserved the 

 hill and its capping of dolerite when the surrounding unprotected area 

 was denuded away. Saturday was devoted to the rhyolitic area, which 

 has been specially studied by Professor Cole for some years, and mag- 

 nificent weather favoured the party as they drove from Doagh to Sandy 

 Braes. 



After the welcome rest of Sunday, the geologists made a fresh start 

 on Monday, the place selected being Barney's Point, near Magheramorne, 

 where an abundant store of lower Lias fossils was obtained, including 

 Cfrotnya gibbosa. Fragments of Rh?etic rocks led Professor Cole to point 

 out that these Liassic beds had probably overridden the lower strata. 

 Walking across the backbone of Islandmagee, the party inspected the 

 fine cliffs at the Gobbins. Yet more splendid weather favoured the final 

 excursion on Tuesday, and the 7.30 train saw ten members on their way 

 to Newcastle. The dykes that traverse the uplifted Ordovician strata (in 

 some cases themselves traversed by later dykes) were inspected under 

 Professor Cole's guidance. Professor Cole subsequently led the party 

 up by Bloody Bridge and Glen P^ofanny valley to the ridge above, which 

 led to an explanation of the origin of the great detrital fans, which have 

 hitherto been regarded as moraines, Mr. La Touche, of the Geological 

 Survey of India, also mentioned the making of such fans in the Him- 

 alayas in a few hours by a flood. An ascent of Thomas Mountain to 

 inspect the Ordovician rock that overlies the granite — a reminder of the 

 great sedimentary arch under which the latter molten rock accumulated 

 — was the prelude of the final descent through the grounds of Donard 

 Lodge. 



Aprii, ist. — The Secretary's annual report of the section's work was 

 read by Mr. F. W. Lockwood, and, being passed, was sent on to the 

 Committee of the Club. Miss M. K. Andrews subsequently gave a 

 brief account of some of the investigations of the Swiss " Gletscher- 

 Kommission" into the results and cause of the remarkable glacier- 

 avalanche that occurred at the Altels on the nth September, 1895. 



Aprii, 6th. — An excursion to Murlough Bay on Easter Monday was 

 carried out. A party of 15 started by the 6.30 train from Belfast, and 

 drove from Bally castle to Murlough Bay, probably the most picturesque 

 bit of coast in County Antrim. The geology is also of great interest, the 

 most ancient rocks in the county (metamorphic), occurring near sea 

 level, followed by the basal conglomerates of the Carboniferous period. 

 Ascending in altitude and in geological line, the spectator admires the 

 fine slopes of ruddy Trias, upon which rest the interesting pebble beds 

 that indicate the western shores of the great Cretaceous ocean that once 

 rolled between this and the Crimea. A considerable time was spent in 

 searching for the fossils that occur somewhat sparingly in this con- 

 glomerate, which is not developed in PyUgland. The homeward walk 

 along the noble cliffs of Fair Head fitly introduced the period of volcanic 



