334 Proc. B. N. F. C, 



slabs of slate, and endeavouring to split them on lines parallel 

 to their bedding plane — a work requiring some skill—as it is on 

 such planes that the specimens are best shown. Under the 

 leadership of one of the secretaries, the party was led to zone 

 after zone, and it was observed that each had its own almost 

 peculiar set of forms. Later in the evening the older beds, 

 lying nearer the axis of the anticlinal, were visited, but not 

 with such good results as regards the bagging of specimens, 

 as the containing shales are more altered and shattered than 

 the later deposits. After an exhaustive evening's work, a 

 meeting is called, at which several new members are elected. 

 A hasty examination of the specimens collected resulted in the 

 prize — a botanist's lens — being awarded to Mr. S. O. Wylie, 

 whose labours were rewarded by 19 species.* The return 

 journey was by train, due in Belfast at 8.20 p.m. 



On 30th August, to 



SALLAGH BRAES. 



The fifth regular excursion of the season was made on 

 Saturday, 30th August, to Cairncastle and the Sallagh Braes. 

 Starting by the 9.30 train from the Northern Counties Station, 

 the party proceeded in waggonettes from Larne along the coast 

 road, on whose beauties it is needless here to dwell. Giving a 

 moment's glance at the basaltic columns of Ballygally Head, 

 and the fragment of castle once known as " O'Halloran's" on an 

 outlying rock, a halt was called at Ballygally Castle, and the 

 talented occupier, himself no mean antiquarian, showed the 

 party over this interesting relic of the Shaws, one of whom 

 built it in 1625 ; and over the lintel of the original doorway is 

 inscribed the date of 1625, and the motto, " God's providence 

 is my inheritans." Besides the castle, there were extensive 

 farm buildings and walled enclosures, some of which still sur- 

 vive in various stages of picturesque decay. Leaving the 

 coast, the vehicles wound slowly along the hilly slopes until the 



* For full list and figures of the fossils from these beds, see Proc, series II., vol. I., 

 part IV., app. IV. 



