OR, GRICAT 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." * The 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 out 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 eai^lier date ; and all who put themselves under 

 his guidance were amply i-ewarded by the results. 



It is worthy of note that, laeither on this occasion, nor in the older 

 excavations was a true marl found underlying the peat, or clay. The 

 rock of the district is gi-anite ; 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 Mi'. 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. 



