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The Round Tower of Antrim, with its associations ; the rush of the 

 train through the mosses and peat-deposits on the way to Bally- 

 mena ; the peep at the tower of the elegant parish church of this 

 town, rebuilt under the direction, and with the aid, of the Rev. Dr. 

 Reeves, Ireland's accomplished antiquarian ; with the distant appear- 

 ance of Sliemish, associated as it is with Ireland's patron saint ; — 

 all these furnished an abundant supply of suggestions for travel- 

 talk to the antiquarians and archaeologists of the party. 



At Coleraine, owing to a pre-arrangement, the party were 

 favoured with an inspection of the far-famed " Dalriada brooch." 

 This pleasing addition to the incidents of the excursion occurred 

 chiefly through the kindness of Mr. Gilmore, Coleraine, the possessor 

 of this precious relic of Ireland's former glory. Our space prevents 

 us from particularising the history and the appearance of the brooch, 

 already fully described in the " Ulster Archaeological Journal." It 

 is of the purest gold, and must have been worn in ancient days by 

 one of our native chiefs, if not kings, highest in rank. 



Poi'trush having been reached, the submerged peat-bogs in the 

 neighbourhood of the Black Rocks were visited, and a few blows of 

 the hammer, and application of the spade and pick, brought to light 

 some very interesting animal remains, in the shape of several 

 Colceoptera, embedded in the partially-fossilised peat. The shell-bed, 

 or raised beach, indicating the former sea-level at Portrush, was 

 afterwards explored, where the guide of the party, Mr. Gray, drew 

 attention to several shells, of existing species, but now wanting in 

 this locality — cyprcea being among the number, several specimens 

 of which were picked up by members of the Club. Having examined 

 the altered Lias on the beach, which was at one time such a puzzle 

 to geologists, owing to its apparent Plutonic origin, the party pro- 

 ceeded, some on cars, provided for their transit, and the more earnest 

 and agile on foot, by the way of the Long Strand, at the White 

 Rocks, to Dunluce Castle, the appointed place of rendezvous for 

 the whole. On the way, a cave in the white chalk cliff beneath 

 the road, and communicating with the sea, was visited, and the 

 rendezvous at Dunluce Castle succeeded. Nearly the entire of the 

 party crossed by the old beaten track, over the still-existing pre- 

 cipitous cliff, and explored the ancient stronghold so boldly over- 



