1 6 Jackson, Deposit of tJic Loiuer Bann Valley. 



some of the rune-like characters, and stales that photo- 

 i^raphs of these examples were submitted to Prof. Stephens 

 of Copenhagen, but he could not decide whether they 

 were actually runes ; and neither Sir John Rhys nor Sir 

 Samuel Ferguson were able to interpret the seemingl)' 

 well-marked Oghamic scorings. 



Ogham appears to have been used for mortuary 

 inscriptions carved on pillar-stones, as well as for com- 

 municating by messengers, and it seems at least possible 

 that the Culbane inscribed stone may well have been 

 used for the latter purpose. {Plate III., Fig. 2.) 



c. Grain-rubber, or .saddle-qiiern. 



A fine example of a "Grain-rubber" was found some 

 little time ago in the peat overlying the diatomaceous 

 deposit, 1 8 inches from the surface, near Portglenone. 

 As it has never been previously described, I take the 

 opportunity of putting it on record here. 



It was obtained by Mr. Bell and is at present in his 

 collection. It is composed of what appears to have been 

 originally a coarse dolerite, the whole of the felspar of 

 which has now become weathered out, leaving the entire 

 surface of the stone full of innumerable holes and cavities. 

 This is, in all probability^ due to the action of the peat in 

 which it lay. It measures 23 inches long, 12 inches wide, 

 and 4 inches thick, and weighs 62lbs. As will be seen from 

 the photograph {Plate IV.)., its upper surface is hollowed 

 out in tlie form of a curve. 



No top-stone, or rubber, occurred with it, hut a 

 rounded specimen of Antrim Chalk, 5x4x2 inches, 

 was found in the diatomaceous deposit below the peat. 

 This, though it has the general appearance of a rubber, 

 seems scarcely large enough, or (;f the right material, to 

 have been used in connection with the above. 



