150 Wright — Foraminifera of North-East of Ireland. 



from the fact, that Leda pernula, minuta, zxApygmea — delicate little shells fre- 

 quently occur, with both valves attached, leaving no doubt, but that they lived at 

 those places where they are now found. 



The Estuarine Clay is much newer than the Boulder Clay, and a long time 

 must have elapsed between the termination of the one, and the commencement 

 of the other. It was probably during this period that our Eskers were formed. 

 This clay forms an extensive deposit along the valley of Belfast Lough, and in 

 consequence of its vicinity to Belfast has been better examined than the equiva- 

 lent clays at Strangford Lough and Lough Foyle. It occurs at Lame, under- 

 lying the gravel beds of the Curran.f and higher up Larne Lough, at Maghe- 

 ramorne, and occupies the greater part of the lowland on which Belfast is built. 

 The brackish water forms, Miliolina fusca, 7"rochammina inflala, and T. ma- 

 crescens, found both at King Street and beside the Cooke Statue, would lead us 

 to infer, that when the clay was being deposited, Belfast Lough, except that it 

 stood at a somewhat lower level, must have differed but little from its present 

 condition. When making the new docks some years since, the shells in the 

 Estuarine Clay were carefully tabulated by Mr. Stewart.J It is to be re- 

 gretted that the clay was not at that time also examined for Foraminifera, as 

 unusually fine sections were then exposed. A somewhat similar opportunity 

 was lost for gaining a knowledge of our Boulder Clay species when, in 1842-3, 

 the Clear Water Basin was being made, the Boulder Clay exposed during those 

 excavations being exceptionally rich in shells, and if examined for Microzoa 

 must have given most interesting results. 



The Estuarine Clay is usually rich in Foraminifera. 42 species have been 

 found in the clay at Blackstaff Bridge, Strangford Lough ; 72 at Magheramorne, 

 Larne Lough ; and 98 at Limavady Station, Lough Foyle ; these, as a rule, 

 differ but little from our recent British species. At Limavady Station, JRamulina 

 leEvis, and Lingulina tenera occur, species which are not now found off our coast. 

 Lagena striato-punclata occurs in abundance at the two latter places, and as this 

 form is now one of our rarest British Rhizopods, we may infer that a long time 

 must have elapsed since the clay was deposited. 



Under the name ol Raised Beaches, may be classed the shell deposit at 

 Portrush, and the extensive gravel beds at the Curran, Larne ; both are several 

 feet above high water mark, and are more recent than the Estuarine Clays ; at 

 the latter place, as also at Kilroot, these Clays may be seen underlying the 

 gravels. A large number of Foraminifera have been found at both stations. 



t Gray, rudely-worked flints of the North of Ireland, chiefly in Antrim and Down. Jour 

 Roy. His. and Archaeol. Assoc, of Ireland. Fourth series, Vol. V., No. 39, p. 130. 

 \ Fossils of the Estuarine Clays of Down and Antrim. 



