SoLLAS — A Map to show the Distribution of Eskers in Ireland. 815 



height varies from 35 to 50 feet. It terminates between two and three miles 

 south-west of Tullamore. 



I had the advantage of studying this esker under the guidance of Lord Rosse, 

 who pointed out to me numerous boulders and pebbles of Gralway granite amongst 

 the rubbly material of which it consists in great part. Lord Rosse also showed me 

 specimens of Connemara marble which he had collected from the esker. 



South of Parsonstown are several eskers, trending from west to east, which, 

 with that near Muddy Lough, more to the east, may be doubtfully associated 

 with the Frankford chain. 



6. The Banagher chain. — This not very well-marked esker (fig. 4), which occurs 

 a few miles north of the Frankford chain, begins a little more than two miles to 

 the east of Eyrecourt, and runs due east, ending against the Shannon. 



III. The System of Edenderry. — The only important chain of this group is 

 that of Philipstown ; it lies south of Edenderry, and begins east of Philipstown as 

 a low ridge, 13 feet in height, but rises eastward until it attains a height of 59 feet, 

 and is then 286 feet above the sea-level ; it sinks further on to a height of 25 or 30 

 feet, and after a course of 3|- miles in all, disappears in a bog. It recommences 

 further to the east, forming a ridge 3| miles long, with a height of from 20 to 50 

 feet. The country to the east of this chain consists chiefly of limestone gravel. 



A small esker, known as Carrick Hill, occiu's to the north of Edenderry. 

 Still further north are two small chains, one near Thomastown, and the other 

 near Ballinadrumny, the small town of Kinnegad lying between them. 



IV. The System of Trim. — Near Trim, and to the east of it, a single chain of 

 eskers commences, and runs from N.N.W. to S.S.E. for about six miles. Near its 

 commencement its summit is 233 feet above sea-level, but the gravel mound, in 

 which it ends, attains a height of 402 feet above sea-level. 



Extending from the town of Athboy, up the valley of the Athboy river, a 

 tributary to the Boyne, is a compound chain of eskers, which may be provisionally 

 associated with the Trim system. 



Several isolated chains occur in the Midlands, of which the relations cannot 

 at present be determined; that at Clonaslee, and another at Greashill, may be 

 cited as examples. 



The chain of Mountmellick and Maryborough would appear to belong to the 

 valley of the Barrow. 



The Portumna Eame-Belt. — Though we have already crossed the ground of this 

 belt (fig. 4.) in following the courses of the Killimor, Tynagh, and Duniry 

 eskers, we have reserved the mention of it for this place, on account of its 

 apparent individuality and exceptional character. This very remarkable feature 

 of the Midland system is the occurrence of a great number of short esker and 



