3^8 [Proc. B. N. F. C, 



for the conveyances, the party had the pleasure of an invitation 

 to examine a collection of fossils and antiquities made during 

 the past year, by a young gentleman who bids fair to have soon 

 a very representative series, illustrative of these inviting de- 

 partments of research. Many good Lias and Carboniferous 

 fossils were noticeable in the collection, and it was most inte- 

 resting to find a portion of a boulder of Middle Lias, which was 

 found when excavating for the railway. This would tend to 

 confirm the opinion, that that zone is only represented by frag- 

 ments scattered through the surface deposits, and that it does 

 not occur in situ in the neighbourhood. Among the antiquities 

 were several very fine arrow heads, of the various types ; also 

 axes or celts. One of the latter was a peculiar form, about 

 i^in. broad, with parallel sides, and was of flint, neatly 

 chipped, and resembling the Danish weapons. The hurried in- 

 spection was brought to a close by the announcement that the 

 vehicles were in waiting, and soon all were on their way to 

 Fair Head, delighted with the prospects of another favourable 

 day. Ballycastle may be said to consist of two parts — the town 

 proper clustering round the church, and the portion adjoining 

 the quay. Near the latter is gathered a goodly village looking 

 out towards Rathlin. This was once the seat of considerable 

 industries — breweries, tanyards, salt and glass works being once 

 in full operation ; while the collieries, a short distance off, 

 yielded from 10,000 to 15,000 tons annually, causing consider- 

 able shipping trade. Lewis says that " the harbour was spacious, 

 in which seventy-four gunships could anchor with safety in any 

 weather, and upon the improvement of which ^i 30,000 had 

 been expended ; also a pier and quay, the construction of which 

 had cost ;^3o,ooo." What a change has passed over this scene ! 

 The breweries, &c., are now no more, and the remains of the 

 glassworks were recently removed as an eyesore. The pier and 

 harbour, for which the Irish Government granted so liberally, 

 is now a hopeless ruin, endangering any craft that would 

 attempt an entrance ; a few fishing boats are its only occupants. 

 This entire commercial development seems to have been due 



