the North \East of Ireland. 199 



The headlands of Glenarm on the south, and the bold promon- 

 tory of Gerron on the north, inchide a bay which extends for six . 

 miles between them. Towards the centre of this bay the coast is 

 generally flat, but a low bank of trifling extent called the braes of 

 Carnalloch, here displays the red marie and sandstone (No. 4. of 

 the Introduction) ; and the lias and green sand (No. 3 and 2.) may 

 be traced between the chalk of Bellaire hill and this point ; these 

 formations occupy the base of the mountains which are seen 

 skirting this bay at a small distance inland, and of which the 

 superior regions are exclusively composed of rocks of the floetz 

 trap formation. The summits of these mountains considerably 

 exceed 1000 feet in height. The cliffs of Gerron point are formed 

 by the abrupt termination against the coast of a ridge connected 

 with them. 



These cliffs exhibit basalt towards the summit, and chalk in their 

 central regions ; the beds on which the chalk reposes are concealed 

 along the base of the promontory by enormous masses of the 

 superior strata, which have subsided in this direction and form a 

 range of advanced terraces, causing the headland when viewed at a 

 small distance, to appear as if composed of four strata alternately 

 chalk and basalt. Those who have visited the southern coast of the 

 Isle of Wight will on seeing Gerron point be strongly reminded of 

 the similar subsidence there distinguished by the name of the 

 under- cliff*. 



After doubling Gerron point a scene of the greatest magnificence 

 gradually discloses itself; the ridge running westward from Gerron 

 is seen extending far inland on the south of the valley of Glenarif 

 and crowned by the conical summit of Cruach-a-Crue ; v>?hile on 

 the opposite side of that valley a similar but more lofty ridge 

 terminates in the singular mountain of Lurgethan, which appears as 



