334 [ Proc - B.N.F.C., 



intercepted by the impervious strata of the marls, along which it 

 finds its way to openings in the hill-side. 



An active section of the party were busy in search of rarities 

 to add to their herbaria, and were by no means unsuccessful, the 

 broken ground along the stream-course being rich in vegetation. 

 Among the rarest were the wood cow-wheat (Melampyrum sylvati- 

 cum), the bay-leaved willow {Salix pentandra), and the Dutch rush 

 (Equisetum hyemale). The slopes of the adjoining mountain were 

 also searched, and yielded the small wintergreen (Pyrola minor) 

 and the intermediate wintergreen (Pyrola media). A little east of 

 the Glen, in the broken ground at the foot of the Chalk, is one of 

 those subterranean buildings known as souterrains. The entrance 

 to it is by an opening caused by the falling in of one of the cover- 

 ing stones. Inside the structure is seen to be of unhewn stones 

 regularly built, but without cement. Unfortunately, the chamber 

 is greatly filled with rubbish, and the fallen roofstone shuts off half 

 its length. If cleared, it would measure about twenty feet in length 

 by five or six in width, and as many high. Several square open- 

 ings can be seen in its eastern end, which may probably lead to 

 other chambers. The western end shows no openings, but is 

 rounded and neatly built, in shape like the sections of a bee-hive. 

 It is probable if the floor were cleared to a greater depth here that 

 openings would be discovered, as part of another chamber is dis- 

 tinctly seen several yards off in this direction. Subterranean 

 buildings of this character are not uncommon throughout Antrim 

 and Down — (see Guide to Belfast and Adjacent Counties, by the 

 Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, p. 211) — and various opinions 

 have been advanced to account for their probable use. That most 

 generally accepted is, that they were formed as dwellings at a very 

 early period, and are by some antiquaries considered among the 

 most ancient specimens of architecture in the country. The party 

 returned by way of Ligoniel, having enjoyed a most profitable 

 ramble. 





