272 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



gap between the newest chalk and the oldest Eocene of our 

 area. 



Of the Lower series of Basalts, nothing need be said, for they 

 are practically unfossiliferous. 



We, therefore, come at once to the middle series of the 

 Basalts, which, being in places fossiliferous, may eventually 

 present us with definite evidence as to age. The amygdaloids, 

 of which this is largely composed, are closely similar to those 

 of the Faroes and Iceland, and are probably of the same age. 

 The plant-remains are already known to occur in sandy-clay, in 

 Lignite, in Clay Iron-ore, as silicified wood ; and it is not im- 

 probable that remains may be found in still other qualities of 

 sediment, for they have been met with in yellow and red tuffs 

 in Iceland, brown tuffs in Madeira, dark shales in Mull and 

 elsewhere. In fact, wherever volcanic ejectamenta have been 

 re-arranged by water, or sedimentary deposit taken place, there 

 may plant impressions be looked for. It is generally supposed, 

 and may be accepted, that all the plant bearing beds are on or 

 about the same horizon. 



Irish Bauxite is, as you are well aware, a nearly white alu- 

 minous earth (hydrate of alumina) which adheres to the tongue 

 when dry, and never becomes plastic when wet. It is quarried 

 near Glenarm, and certain beds a little in rear of that town 

 were formerly worked, which abounded in handsomely pre- 

 served plant remains, whose dark colour rendered them conspi- 

 cuous against the nearly pure white matrix. It is unfortunate, 

 however, that during the whole time that quarrying operations 

 were going forward, no one, not even the officers of the Geo- 

 logical Survey, who were then on the spot, thought it worth 

 while to collect, and thus only a few stray specimens seem to 

 have been preserved. Mr. Swanston kindly accompanied me 

 to these pits, which are underground, and now completely in- 

 accessible, owing to the depth of water which has collected in 

 them ; but by digging in an old spoil bank, now a crumbled 

 heap of talus, we unearthed a few fragments of large leaves, and 

 I have great hopes, through the courtesy of the owners, and the 



