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OR, GREAT IRISH DEER. 223 
the stony bottom was reached at a depth of only four feet ; it dipped 
towards the southern end, where it was about five feet from the sur- 
face. The northern half of this trench did not contain a single 
fragment of bone or horn; the southern half was literally packed 
with them.”* ‘Fhe remains found in the course of this exploration 
represented about fifty individuals, the majority of the bones being 
those of young deer. . 
The result of the more hasty excavations recently made, was the 
discovery of two skulls and several portions of horns on the first 
day. On the second day-a trench was opened, and cut through an 
accumulation of 27 inches of peat, resting upon about 22 inches of 
sandy clay, intermingled with roots and traces of various forms of’ 
vegetation. Underneath this among granite boulders, three fine 
heads were found ; one of them of the largest size, and in nearly per- 
fect preservation, with antlers measuring about eleven and a half feet 
from tip to tip. 
There was something startling in the success of our expedition : 
thus setting ont from the busy scenes of Dublin, with all the bustle 
of its crowded thoroughfares, and not less crowded scientific sections ; 
and landing among wild uncultured bogs, to dig down, and .at once 
light upon the remarkable evidences of an extinct fauna once so 
abundant. There were not even wanting sceptical doubters ready to 
hint at previous preparations having facilitated a too easy discovery. 
In this, however, we profited by the careful and intelligent labours 
of Mr. Moss at an earlier date ; and all who put themselves under 
his guidance were amply rewarded by the results. ; 
It is worthy of note that, neither on this occasion, nor in the older 
excavations was a true marl found underlying the peat, or clay. The 
rock of the district is granite ; being part of a band of granite’ five 
miles broad, which extends from Dublin Bay in a south-westerly 
direction into the County of Waterford. A granite sand was found 
in some places to a depth of three feet; and Mr. Moss, after careful 
examination, describes the underlying clays as almost entirely free 
from calcium carbonate, and having every appearance of a granitic 
origin. But a little to the north of the section thus described, a 
light-coloured marl, rich in calcium carbonate, makes its appearance 
almost under the turf. 
* Proceedings R. I. A., 2nd Ser., Vol. II. 
