Kinahan — On Irish Arenaceous Rocks. 589 



have not been fairly tested ; more especially as only the surface 

 stones have been used in these buildings. 



Carboniferous. — For the most part these occur as bands mar- 

 gining the older rocks, but in places in the limestone they are 

 interstratified ; some of them are fit for all cut- stone purposes, 

 although none of them have come very prominently forward on 

 account of the good-class limestone of the county, which is pre- 

 ferred by the workmen. 



Meelick. Near Killala. — Brownish grey ; quartz-grained, with 

 little cement ; easily worked, large blocks can be procured ; ex- 

 tensively used in the piers and quay-wall at Ballina, and in the 

 neighbourhood. 



Crossmolina. A good freestone to the westward of the Deel 

 river. 



Between Foxford and Swinford are flags, some so thin that 

 formerly they were used for roofing instead of slates. 



Farm quarry. At Westport there is a peculiar stone. It 

 occurs in the upper beds of the limestone quarry. It is thin- 

 bedded and square, on account of the systems of joints that cut 

 across it, these joint-lines being glazed with a film of quartz. One 

 system of the joints is perpendicular, the other slightly oblique ; 

 but if the stones are properly selected and laid, the natural faces 

 produce a perfectly even perpendicular wall, having a surface that 

 looks like finely-cut limestone, laid in narrow courses ; they were 

 used in Lord Sligo's house at Westport, the dressings and other 

 cut-stone being of limestone. 



In the new church at Westport, Carboniferous Sandstones were 

 used; but, unfortunately, dry stones and newly-quarried stones 

 were mixed promiscuously, and consequently the drying and 

 shrinkage of the latter have caused ugly open joints and uneven 

 settlements. 



The old church and round tower at Augliagower were built of 

 the local red stone. It seems to have worked freely and well, but 

 is not very durable. 



Poulsharavogen. Six miles from Swinford. — This stone, although 

 at the east of the county, is in general similar to that described as 

 occurring at Meelick, near Ballina. In places, however, the stone 

 is conglomeritic or pebbly ; and, under such circumstances, Wilkin- 

 son considered it better adapted for cut-stone purposes. This 



