12 



vigorous, in the full enjoyment of the very conditions best suited 

 to their growth and development. In the centre of the building 

 is a unique fountain, called a " ferndelabrum," combining a jet 

 d'eau with convenient nitches for growing ferns; and the rockery 

 is composed of Red sandstone from Dundonald, and Greensand 

 from Cave Hill. 



The party were with difficulty withdrawn from the attractions 

 of the fernery, more particularly the winding gallery of rocks, 

 from which the best view of the whole is obtained. Leaving the 

 fernery, they entered the house by the conservatory ; and, having 

 partaken of refreshments, kindly provided by Mrs. Valentine, 

 they di*ove off to the salt mine at Duncrue. It is not always 

 that searches for coal are rewarded like Lord Downshire was for 

 his search at Duncrue : expecting coal, he some few years ago 

 sunk a shaft for the purpose, and, to his surprise, came upon a 

 bed of rock salt of great commercial value. Salt generally occurs 

 in isolated irregular patches in the New Red sandstone, the forma- 

 tion so largely developed at Belfast and around the margin of 

 the Antrim trap rocks. Several attempts have been made near 

 Carrickfergus to reach salt, as yet without success. At Duncrue 

 the principal bed occurs at a depth of about six hundred feet, 

 and affords constant employment for about forty miners. The 

 greater number of the hands were left work when the members 

 of the Naturalists' Field Club visited the mine, but owing to 

 the kindness of one of the directors, W. Valentine, Esq., J. P., 

 every preparation was made for a descent, and a party of about 

 sixty, including twenty ladies, availed themselves of the oppor- 

 tunity, and were let down some 620 feet, three at a time, in a 

 bucket, and only laughed at their fears when they were landed 

 below. Having expected to get into a dark, confined, and dirty 

 wet pit, they were agreeably surprised to find a most extensive 

 series of lofty chambers, extending in every direction for hun- 

 dreds of yards, and from fifteen to thirty feet high. Mr. 

 Valentine had the whole place thoroughly illuminated for the 

 occasion. Lights were fixed all round the sides of the mine, and 

 on the great square columns of salt that supported the roof ; 

 and a succession of coloured lights, crackers, Roman candles, 

 and other fireworks combined to produce the most magical effect. 

 The arrival of each group of friends by the down shaft was 



