1878-1879.] 335 



On Wednesday, 24th July, to 



GLENARM. 



A fair muster of members and friends assembled at the 

 Northern Counties Terminus in time to start by the 9-30 train, 

 the weather being most unfavourable. The heavy mists which 

 hung round the slopes of the cliffs and along the shore hid from 

 view everything except those in the more immediate neighbour- 

 hood, and shut out entirely the glorious prospect afforded by the 

 succession of bold headlands which characterise the coastline be- 

 yond Larne. The party were, however, still in hope that the 

 weather would clear up, and, despite appearances to the contrary 

 a few members left the car to examine the Lias deposits exposed 

 near Glenarm. A short time, however, proved that this part of 

 the day's programme would be barren in results, the heavy rain 

 having formed the tenacious clay into an almost impassable waste 

 of mud, making progress almost impossible. A few of the com- 

 moner Lias and Rhsetic fossils were found on the surface; an 

 unusually fine vertebrate joint of an Icthyosaurus was, perhaps, the 

 only specimen worth recording. The rain coming on heavily 

 drove all to seek for a shelter, several finding the Madman's 

 Window a welcome retreat under the circumstances. Those who 

 went on by the vehicle were scarcely more fortunate ; they had 

 managed to reach Glenarm before the downpour came on, and had 

 set out on foot to visit the demesne so kindly thrown open to them 

 by the noble proprietor. The grounds are most extensive and 

 varied, and have the advantage of a fine stream running through 

 them, which in its course forms some choice pieces of scenery. Its 

 banks and the thick wood that fringe them are just the sort of places 

 that the botanist would wish to search for rarities ; to-day, however, 

 botanising was out of the question, the rain compelling all to beat 

 a hasty retreat to the Antrim Arms Hotel, where all the party 



