266 G. S. Kinahan — On "Middle Gravels" (?), Ireland. 



seems to have mistaken my notes on tlie Irish drift, making it appear 

 that I believe the " Esker Gravels " contain similar marine fossils to 

 those characterizing the "Manure Gravel" of the Co. Wexford. 

 Such a statement, however, would not bear investigation. Only in 

 three places have undoubted fossils been found in the " Esker 

 gravel." First, shells are recorded from gravel near Eoscrea by 

 Prof. Oldham ; these, however, must be very rare, as, although care- 

 fully looked for, they have not since been remarked. Second, shells 

 are stated to have been found by Mr. Mallet in " Esker gravel. " 

 Where this statement is recorded I am not sure, therefore I can give 

 no particulars. Third, I found a bit of one shell, a bivalve, in the 

 " Esker gravel," at Maryboro', Queen Co. 



From such evidence no comparison can be drawn. Furthermore, 

 as pointed out by Prof. Harkness, chalk-flints are characteristic of 

 the "Manure gravel," while none are recorded from the Esker 

 gravel ; not that I would ass.ert that a gravel without flints in one 

 place may not be the representation of a gravel with flints in 

 another, as stated by me at the Edinburgh Meeting of the British 

 Association (1871). In the east parts of the Cos. Wicklow and 

 Wexford there are gravels with flints ; while to the westward, in the 

 valley of the Barrow, the "Esker gravel" seems to be without them, 

 therefore Mr, Geikie's suggestion, that the Manure gravels and 

 the Esker gravel contain "a similar assemblage of marine shells," must 

 be received with a great deal of caution, as eventually it may be 

 proved to be erroneous. 



I believe the relations between these different gravels are very 

 obscure, and as yet quite unknown. The Esker gravels of the central 

 plain (or upper esker gravels) are between heights of 200 and 350 

 feet. The Esker gravels of the valley of Lough Corrib (or lower 

 esker gravels) are at a less height, and appear to be of the same 

 age as the raised sea-beaches in Cos. Cork and Kerry, the lower 

 raised beach in Co. Limerick, and the lower gravel terraces in Cos. 

 Clare, Galway, and Mayo. In all the western portion of Ireland 

 there is a limit to the variation in the heights of these gravels, but 

 the Shell or Manure gravels seem to have uncertain limits. On the 

 east coast, from the sea-level upwards, to a height of at least 1,200 

 feet, these gravels have been proved by the Eev. M. H. Close, and 

 they have been traced by different observers northward and north- 

 westward to Blacksod Bay; while Harkness has followed them 

 southward and south-westward to Eoaring- water Bay ; their greatest 

 development and maximum height apparently being to the east. At 

 Blacksod Bay they were found at a height of 250 feet ; at Eoaring- 

 water Bay they are close to the present sea-level, and at a similar height, 

 farther north, in the Cos. Clare and Galway, accumulations of gravel 

 occur, sometimes containing shells, but in them chalk-flints were not 

 observed. What to me, however, appears most inexplicable is, 

 that at about a similar height (1,200 ft.) to where Mr. Close found the 

 fossiliferous gravel in the east, there are in the west, numerous terraces 

 and cooms, believed by me to mark an ancient sea-margin,^ yet the 



1 The Eev. M. H. Close has different views with regard to the origin of these 

 cooms. 



