282 Mr. Weaver on the Structure of the South of Ireland, 



fines, whose dip varies from south to north, how could we 

 expect any conformity between them ? 



If we now pass to the westward of the Monavoullagh sand- 

 stone conglomerate range by ascending from the vale of the 

 Blackwater, from Lismore for example, to the table-land on 

 the north, on which are planted the Knockmildown masses of 

 the old red sandstone formation, we traverse in our course the 

 older stratified rocks, still possessing the eastern and western 

 strike, and for the greater part the southerly dip, and in which 

 occur numerous slate quarries. The Monavoullagh sand- 

 stone conglomerate range extends nearer to the declivity lead- 

 ing down to the vale of Dungarvan than the Knockmildown 

 sandstone conglomerate range does towards the Blackwater 

 valley, from which it recedes considerably to the north, and no- 

 where does that formation approach and reach the vale until 

 we enter upon the region of the Kil worth mountain and the ad- 

 jacent hills, where it descends toward that valley and supports 

 the carboniferous limestone ; while in the defiles and ravines 

 by which that mountain is furrowed, and whose course is 

 toward the Blackwater, the clayslate formation is exposed to 

 view in strata nearly vertical, supporting the old red sand- 

 stone formation in unconformed position*. But Mr. Griffith 

 represents the conglomerate of the Monavoullagh as under- 

 lying these older stratified rocks, although they lie mainly to 

 the west rather than to the south of the Monavoullagh range; 

 so that, according to his view, the whole of the schistose country 

 lying to the west of the Monavoullagh range, and extending to 

 Kilworth, together with the superimposed ranges of sandstone 

 and conglomerate of that region, are swamped in one general 

 formation, coloured purple, which colour is made to extend as 

 far south as to a line drawn from near Ringabella inlet, adja- 

 cent to the southern entrance of Cork harbour, to the head of 

 Bantry bay, and thence to the western coast opposite to Dur- 

 sey island, the said colour denoting a newer transition series, 

 while the included bands of limestone are considered as be- 



* Memoir on the South of Ireland, in Geol, Trans,, vol. v., second se- 

 ries, ^ 47, in which I have remarked that the formation, as there exhibited, 

 is quite analogous to the old red sandstone of England, presenting the same 

 varieties in colour and composition, and consisting of compact and slaty 

 beds of firm sandstone, associated with others of a looser texture, with . 

 sandstone conglomerate, and with beds of indurated clay and slaty clay; 

 the reddish-brown colour predominating in the series. Similar relations 

 are also well displayed in the old red sandstone of Kerry Head and the 

 Slieve Meesh range, as well as in the ranges of Knockfeernagh, Kilcruaig, 

 and Kilmead}', taken in connexion with the chain of the Seefin, Slieve 

 Riagh, Slievenamuck, and Gaultees mountains. /(?»?^. §§ 48, 49, 60. The 

 parallel might be continued still further north. Ibid. ^ 69, as well as in the 

 various quarters indicated in my memoir on the east of Ireland, Geological 

 Transactions, vol. v. first series. 



