I874-75-] IQ 3 



it is believed that the rounded form of many of our hills, and the 

 curved outline of our valleys, are all due to the same cause — the 

 grinding power of ice. 



The rocks from which the boulder clay has been formed are ' 

 mainly found in the neighbourhood of the deposits. Many of the 

 boulders, however, may be traced to rocks which occur at a con- 

 siderable distance to the north or north-west of the places in which 

 they are found. Boulders of Scotch granite are met with in Eng- 

 land ; masses of Antrim Chalk are found in Cork ; Lias fossils have 

 been gathered in various parts of County Down, which must have 

 been transported from the Lias beds of Antrim. 



The work done by glaciers in past ages has been of the greatest 

 importance to the agriculturist of the present day. Many districts 

 which, but for their beneficent action, would have been occupied 

 by bare rocks or sterile sands, are covered with a rich deposit of 

 soil derived from a variety of rocks, and consequently containing 

 all the mineral elements necessary for the food of plants. 



But my object to-night is not so much to speak of the Glacial 

 period, as of the events that have taken place since that epoch. 

 It is believed, that at the commencement of this period, Ireland 

 was connected with Great Britain, and Great Britain with the Con- 

 tinent ; and that the land was at a considerably higher level than 

 now. Towards the close of the period, it would seem, that the 

 land sank much lower than it is at present, the sea covering all 

 the lower ground, and reducing these countries to a series of groups 

 of islands, represented at present by the various mountain ranges.* 

 For example, there was probably sea all the way from the foot of 

 the Belfast mountains to the north coast at Portrush, the Antrim 

 hills forming a peninsula at one time, a group of islands at another. f 

 Lough Neagh probably formed the deepest portion of this sea, but 

 after the elevation of the land there was a chain of lakes extending 



* It was probably during this period that the caves from which the neighbour- 

 ing hill is named were tunnelled out by the waves of the sea. 



f As none of the Antrim hills rise to the height of 2,000 feet, the whole 

 country must have been at one time under water. 



