the North East of Ireland. 207 



wards the south and east. This valley is principally occupied 

 by the red sandstone, which, in those directions terminates against . 

 the mica slate, forming the base of Knocklead (the round-backed 

 mountain seen in the distance) and extending thus far in conti- 

 nuation of the primitive district already described in Cush- 

 leak. Between 4 and 500 feet on the ascent of this mountain, a 

 bfed of primitive limestone may be traced. Above this, through an 

 interval of about 400 feet, the strata have not been ascertained ; but 

 probably the red sandstone, and perhaps also the lias and mulattoe, 

 may be found in this space, since the chalk appears at the elevation 

 of between S and 900 feet ; and the whole is crowned by a cap of 

 basalt, 980 feet in thickness. 



On the eastern side of Ballycastle bay, the basalt rises into low 

 cliffs, and the substratum of chalk emerges from the level of the 

 sea, but soon sinks again.* In this interval the vein of wacke and 

 compact limestone, described by Dr. Berger, page 172, occurs ; from 

 hence to Kenbaan there is nothing that requires particular at- 

 tention. 



* I cannot more clearly describe the general arrangement of the chalk and basalt, as 

 displayed on the Antrim coast, than by transcribing the following paragraph from the late 

 Mr. Hamilton's Letters, a work which may be classed with Mr. White's well-known 

 letters on the Natural History of Selborne, as one of the most elegant models which our 

 language possesses of writing upon such subjects ; and as affording one of the few ex- 

 amples which prove that they are capable of being treated in such a manner as shall 

 render them not only interesting to the enquirer into the detail of science, but engaging 

 to the man of general information and cultivated taste. 



" The northern coast of Antrim seems to have been originally a compact body of lime- 

 stone, (chalk) considerably higher than the present level of the sea ; over which, at some 

 later period, extensive bodies of vitrifiable stone haye been superinduced in a state of 

 softness. The original calcareous stratum appears to be very much deranged and inter- 

 rupted by these incumbent masses. In some places it is depressed greatly below its an- 

 cient level. Shortly after it is borne down to the water's edge, and can be traced 

 under its surface : by and by it dips entirely, and seems irrecoverably lost under the su- 

 perior mass. In a short space, however, it begins to emerge, and after a similar variation 

 jrecoversits original height." — Letters on the Coast of Antrim, page 5. 



