630 t pt '<> c ' B.N.F.C., 



Dr. Dwerryhouse having replied, the Chairman conveyed to 

 Mr. Nevin H. Foster the hearty congratulations of the Club upon 

 his election as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London, one of 

 the greatest honours which a field naturalist can obtain. He 

 also expressed regret that the Club is about to lose two of its 

 members, Mr. and Mrs. Balfour Browne, who were leaving for 

 England. 



EXCURSION TO SLIEVE-NA-GRIDDLE. 



On Boxing Day a small band of enthusiastic members 

 travelled to Downpatrick by the 10-50 a.m. train. Upon leaving 

 the train the party proceeded on foot to the Wells of Struell, 

 situated some two and a half miles east of Downpatrick. In 

 former days a " pattern " was held annually at this sacred place, so 

 closely associated with St. Patrick. After inspecting the various 

 wells, to which miraculous healing powers are attributed, and a 

 visit to the " stations " on the neighbouring hill, the party 

 proceeded on their way to Slieve-na-griddle. In ascending this 

 summit a protruding boss of igneous rock was examined. The 

 rock, which in some respects resembles a granite, is of uncertain 

 age, but is certainly post-Silurian. Several good hand specimens 

 showing the junction of the igneous and Silurian rocks were 

 obtained. In most cases near the junction what appeared to be 

 "junction-breccia" was observed. Some pieces of the igneous 

 rock showed traces of " slickensiding," possibly due to earth 

 foldings after the rock had consolidated. Proceeding towards the 

 top of the hill, some exposed surfaces of the underlying Silurian 

 rocks showed traces of severe glaciation. The glacial stria, which 

 ran in all cases due north and south,, were almost at right angles 

 to the bedding of the rocks. Close to the highest point a small 

 overflow channel or " dry gap " was pointed out, cut during the 

 later stages of the Glacial Period by the waters from the melting ice 

 which stood against the northern slope of the hill. The descent 



