56 Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Roemer — A Visit to Ireland. 



refute this supposition. These appearances were, for the first time, 

 described by Professor Jukes in 1863 (" On some indentations in 

 bones of a Cei-vus megaceros, etc.," Journ. Geol. Soc. Dublin, vol. x., 

 pt. 2, p. 127 et seq.), and afterwards by Dr. Carte ("On some 

 indented bones of the Cervus megaceros, found near Lough Gur, 

 County of Limerick," Journ. Geol. Soc. Dublin, vol. i., pt. 2, 1865- 

 1866, 2nd series, p. 151 et seq.). who further explained and illus- 

 trated them. Both observers have demonstrated that wherever 

 such portions of skeletons have been observed to be marked in situ, 

 a bone fitting into the indentation has been found with it in such a 

 position that its motion to and fro would at once explain the cause 

 of the indentation. The only doubt remaining was as to the origin of 

 the motion of friction backwards and forwards. Dr. Carte believes 

 that the eifect must have been caused by the rising and sinking of 

 the bog in the long course of ages, the peat having been alternately 

 contracted by the dryness of summer and expanded by the damp 

 and wet of winter. This remarkable phenomenon deserves par- 

 ticular attention, as it shows how eifects are produced through the 

 agency of inanimate nature, which, on superficial observation, may 

 be easily accepted as having been caused by the agency of man. 

 Finally, the same Museum also contains the greater part of the 

 extensive collection made by Sir Eichard Griffith, of the Car- 

 boniferous Limestone and Silurian fossils of Ireland. These 

 collections have been described by Professor McCoy. The 

 original specimens of the remarkable genus Palmchinus particularly 

 ai'rested my attention. Sir Eichard John Griffith, the constructor of 

 the first Geological Map of Ireland, and who has done so much for 

 the geology of that country, is still living in Dublin at the great age 

 of 92 years. I did not fail to call upon him to express to him my 

 deep respect. He related to me what difficulties he had to overcome 

 when he first began to construct his maps, at a time when there 

 were scarcely decent roads through the country, much less railways, 

 and he had himself to obtain the topographical information which 

 was to serve as a foundation for his geological undertakings. 



A third collection worthy of a visit is that of Trinity College. 

 It is arranged in a large hall belonging to the range of magnificent 

 buildings composing this institution. Here also several skeletons 

 of the Cervus megaceros at once arrest the attention, and particu- 

 larly a male, of extraordinary size. There are also several other 

 skeletons, including that of a female. The latter is readily dis- 

 tinguishable, as is the case with several other species of deer, by 

 being hornless, the reindeer forming an exception ; this fact was at 

 one time doubted. The hornless skulls of the females naturally 

 attracted less notice^ on the part of the uneducated finders than 

 those of the males, and on that account remained a long time un- 

 known. Besides the above, there are some valuable specimens of 

 fossils, minerals, and precious stones. 



Some excursions in the immediate and more distant environs of 



^ They were generally supposed by the Irish labourers to be the skulls of horses, 

 and so were thrown aside. 



