3 86 



[Proc. B.N.F.C. 



Islandmagee, which measured i6in x 13111 x ioin. The very fine 

 sections of "Upper Chalk" in the main quarry were next examined. 

 The apparent depth was estimated at about 70ft, but the upper 

 surface has undergone so much denudation that its original depth 

 could not be judged. Surmounting the Chalk, the boulder-clay 

 appears as an irregular band, varying from 2ft to 20ft in depth. 

 The Chalk is hard, compact, and splintery, and contains numerous 

 flints in horizontal layers from 2ft to 6ft apart, and from which 

 interesting specimens of flint-breccia were obtained. Some very 

 fine " paramoudras," characteristic of the " southern division " of 

 our Cretaceous area, were noted in the cliffs, but they did not 

 form such a striking vertical series as those in the Chalk quarries 

 at Maghaberry. One very large barrel-shaped paramoudra lying 

 on the floor of the quarry measured 35m x 33m x 33m. These 

 curious flints are regarded as fossil sponges, the Cretaceous repre- 

 sentative of the recent sponge Poterion patera^ and are named P. 

 cretaceion. 



Disappointment was felt that the record of fossils was small, 

 the fossiliferous bands not being worked at present. However, 

 the characteristic zone fossil, Belemnitella mucronata, was 

 obtained, also Rhynchonella pltcatilis, Ostrea verlicularis, and a 

 few crushed Echinoids. At one end of the quarry a very large 

 basic dyke was noted traversing the Chalk, which in its vicinity is 

 considerably altered. Photographs of the quarry and of the large 

 paramoudra referred to were secured. The party returned to 

 Belfast by the 6-10 p.m. train, having enjoyed a very pleasant and 

 instructive excursion under the able guidance of Mr. Robert Bell,, 

 who kindly acted as field conductor. 



KILCOAN, ISLANDMAGEE. 



The Geological Section had a most interesting excursion on 

 17th Sept. to Islandmagee to study a typical section in the eastern 

 division of the Cretaceous strata, the Lias near Barney's Point, and 



