1878-1879.] 353 



and archaeological — as to constitute it, in these respects, the most 

 interesting part of Ireland. Some very rare plants were collected 

 here. The geological structure of this western promontory is very 

 striking. The rocks are mainly sedimentary, in most cases 

 Silurian strata that rise to the summit of the mountains, reaching 

 on Brandon an elevation of over 3,000 feet. Mr. Stewart referred 

 at some length to the antiquities of Dingle, which embrace types 

 of great interest. There are ancient churches and religious build- 

 ings dating back some 800 years ; grand old castles, pillar stones, 

 bullan stones, ogham inscriptions, and singular archaic structures 

 whose date is unknown. These were illustrated by sketches made 

 on the spot by Mr. W. Swanston, F.G.S., who kindly consented 

 to exhibit them on this occasion. 



A paper " On the mode of occurrence and probable origin of 

 the Hullite and other silicious minerals found in the volcanic neck of 

 Carnmoney, and elsewhere in the County Antrim" was next read by 

 Mr. William Gault, who stated that, for a lengthened time, he 

 had been making observations and collecting specimens at this very 

 interesting locality, and that the volcanic neck in which these 

 minerals occur has been exposed to denudation, and may be ob- 

 served as a rounded protruberance on the escarpment on the 

 southern side of Carnmoney Hill. It has cut through the Triassic 

 and Cretaceous strata, but its relation to the beds of lower basalt 

 is not so clearly seen owing to the heavy covering of drift and de- 

 composed rocks. At its northern end volcanic ash is found in 

 small exposures. The neck measures about 400 yards across, and 

 is formed of hard, coarsely crystalline grey dolerite rock, contain- 

 ing glistening crystals of augite, and vesicular cavities filled with 

 various silicious and ferruginous minerals, very often with a black 

 substance resembling cannel coal. This black mineral was found 



