457 



mto a mafs completely uniform, no diftinftion of ftrata in a vertical direc- 

 tion, nor change of the materials in an horizontal one. 



But even ftiould the detritus of the fame place (from caufes which 

 I cannot develope) fufFer a confiderable change, fo that the mafs of 

 depofit fliould have its upper and lower parts different ; fhould alfa 

 ^he detritus of places not far removed from each other vary mate- 

 rially, Hill, in both cafes, the changes in the depofited mafs fliould be 

 gradual, and never per faltum. Now, fliould the ftrata to which we 

 have accefs, differ in every refpeft from this dcfcription, are we 

 not to conclude that they were not formed as Dr. Hutton fuppofes, 

 and of courfe that his theory is falfe ? 



I fliall, therefore, proceed, to give a fliort account of the materials 

 and arrangement of the ftrata, in an extent of about thirty miles 

 along our northern coaft, where they are moft happily difplayed, and 

 have not, as far as I can find, been examined by any naturalift. The 

 circumftances attending thefe ftrata, feem to me to bear direftly againft 

 every one of Dr. Hutton's pofitions, and I hope will plead my excufe 

 (and I admit I require one) for having taken up a queftion already in 

 much abler hands. 



I begin at Murlogh, four miles eafl from Ballycajile. Here the pre- 

 cipice is compofed of alternate flrata of freeftone and coal, inferted be- 

 tween mighty ftrata of columnar bafalt ; the contiguous northern face 

 of Fairhead, confifts of vaft bafalt pillars, 250 feet long each, its N. W. 

 fide alternate ftrata of freeftone and coal. 



The precipice is interrupted a little at Ballycajile, and immediately 

 refumed on its weft fide ; a ftratum of white limeftone forms the bafe, 

 and is covered by fucceflive ftrata of tabular bafaltes ; the limeftone 

 foon difappears, and is refumed again at Kenbaan, with alternate ftrata 

 of bafalt and limeftone (fometimes mixed) over it ; the covering of the 

 limeftone ftratum now changes to an alternation of great ftrata of co- 



VoL. IX. ( 3 M ) lumnar 



