i88o-i88i.] 13 



formation very sparingly represented in Ireland. No field offers 

 such attractions to the members of the Belfast Naturalists' Field 

 Club as these Permian beds, their fauna being entirely unrepre- 

 sented in our local Museum, and almost equally so in members' 

 private collections. Much, also, remains to be learned regarding 

 their relation to the other formations in this particular locality. 

 The fast rising tide compelled the party to beat a steady retreat, 

 and direct their attention to the beds nearer high-water mark. 

 Several members, zoologically bent, had a search for the boring 

 Mollusca in the clayey bands, Pholas dactylus being the most 

 conspicuous. Although the space between tide marks cannot be 

 said to be very favourable for archaeological pursuits, yet some of 

 our members were on the alert for anything of that nature which 

 might turn up, and a few well-formed flint flakes were found ; 

 but the grand prize of the day was a magnificent flint celt, 

 beautifully chipped, and measuring \\ inches in length by z\ 

 across. These remains have, doubtless, been derived from the 

 upper gravels which skirt the shores, and which at some points 

 are slowly giving way before the action of the sea. Perhaps no 

 better monument of such inroads can be seen along our coasts 

 than the '* old pump " already referred to ; its timbers are still 

 comparatively stout, but it now stands, unsupported, upwards of 

 fifty yards from the low sea cliff, and surrounded by several feet 

 of salt water at every high tide. The party returned to town 

 by rail about half-past seven, many determined on making a 

 further acquaintance with so interesting a piece of geology near 

 their own doors. 



On 26th June, to 



CHARLEMONT AND BENBURB. 



The third excursion of the Society was made to Charlemont 

 and Benburb, on 26th June. Leaving the Great Northern 

 terminus at 10 o'clock, Trew and Moy station, on the Dun- 



