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



P.S.— A hurried microscopic examination of the material 

 obtained from the deepest dredging shows an abundance of large 

 typical examples of Hyperammina elongata — an arenaceous 

 Foraminifer — and it is specially interesting as being the first 

 record of this species from the northeast coast of Ireland. 



On Saturday, 4th September, to 



THE KNOCKAGH. 



The fifth excursion of the present season was made on 

 Saturday, September 4th, to the Knockagh, when, tempted by 

 the fineness of the day, a numerous party gathered on the 

 platform of the Junction station upon the arrival of the twelve 

 o'clock train from Belfast. The route was first taken along the 

 base of the cliffs, which, comparatively inconspicuous from a 

 distance, swell out as they are approached into boldly projecting 

 masses and buttresses of rock, not without deeply cut gullies, 

 and ivy-clad turrets and pinnacles, the haunt of the kestrel, or 

 wind-hover, generally to be seen overhead with expanded wings 

 and outspread tail, hanging apparently motionless against the 

 wind, as his piercing eye searches the rocks and glades below 

 for his customary prey of " frogs and mice and such small deer." 

 The Knockagh is a fine typical specimen of the basaltic escarp- 

 ment that lines the northeast coast from the head of Belfast 

 Lough to the mouth of Lough Foyle, and that gives to the Antrim 

 coast scenery its peculiar and striking character. Below the basaltic 

 masses that form the face of the cliff lies the Chalk, and under the 

 Chalk the Lias clays and shales, and the Keuper marls, and to 

 the slippery and treacherous nature of these two latter when 

 worked on by the water that percolates through the chalk and 

 greensands we owe the picturesque " undercliff," where the 

 basalt and chalk have so often slidden forward so as to leave 

 deep hollows between these landslips and their parent cliffs. 



Over and round these broken masses the party made their 

 way, some of the members climbing along the grassy ledges of 

 the cliffs, and searching the rock crannies for ferns and other 



