388 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



Blakes of Merlin Park, till about the year 1850, after which it lay 

 idle till within the last few years, when it came into the hands of 

 the Messrs. Sibthorpes of Dublin, who have since worked it, the 

 stone being very good, equal to the stone from the Angliham quarry. 

 Quite recently, on sinking below the floor of the old quarry, other 

 black beds have been found, which appear to be of superior quality; 

 but as yet very little can be said about them, as the surface has still 

 to be cleared off. In the quarry there is a clearing of about 25 

 feet of rock, the upper 17 feet being loose. Under this are three 

 beds of marble, 6, 11, and 15 inches, the two lower sometimes 

 forming one, about 2 feet 2 inches thick. Below the upper marble 

 are about 10 feet of black limestone that lie on three marble beds, 

 12, 15, and 12 inches thick, while still lower are the new beds. 



In Gortveragh, north of the Glebe-house, and a mile E. S. E. 

 of Oughterard, there is a fair black stone that was formerly worked 

 by the Martins of Ballynahinch. It can be raised in very large 

 blocks, but at the present time the stone is not favourably received. 

 The old scabbled blocks still lie there, the quarry not having been 

 worked since the Martins' time. 



Creggs. — Between the last place and Oughterard there is a bed 

 of black marble, spotted with white, which has not been used 

 except very locally. It is capable of being raised in large sizes, 

 and of taking a good polish. A slab 10 feet by over 5 feet was 

 used for the landing at Lemonfield hall-door. 



Kerry. 



Good marbles were formerly obtained at BalUnageragh, five 

 miles west of Listowel, and also near Tralee. In recent years 

 trials have been made in these places, and elsewhere, but none of 

 the stones were considered suitable for the 'present demand. The 

 Kerry stone in general is more or less spotted with white, some of 

 it being variegated. 



Kilkenny. 



Near Archer's Grove, and about half a mile south-east of the 

 town, is the historical Black Quarry, with which has been connected 

 the name of Colles for the better part of two centuries. Dr. Grer- 

 rard Boate, writing in 1652, mentions : — " Besides the freestones- 



