551 



Fig. 10. — Grains ("chamber casts") of pale-green serpentine (represented decidedly too 

 dark) in a decalcified specimen of Liassic ophite from the Isle of Skye, presented 

 to us by Professor Harkness. The grains are for the most part invested with 

 "true numrauline layer," which in some places is asbestiform. The grain, A x, 

 (which is below the level of (he others) has its surface quite hispid with separated 

 aciculi. Opaque: 210 diameters. 



Fig. 11. — Transparent siliceous " definite shapes" (only made properly visible by means 

 of Webster's condenser, with graduating diaphragms) of the " canal system," 

 partly imbedded in calcite. The matrix having been decalcified a little, the " defi- 

 nite shapes" project above its surface : the thin end of the long one is still imbedded, 

 as shown by the characteristic rhombohedral and macrodiagonal cleavages of the 

 calcite passing over it. 120 diameters. N. B. — Figure 11 x is cancelled. 



LVIII. — The Btjins on Aedillatjn, Co. Galwat. By G. Heney 

 Kinahan, F. E. G. S. I. 



[Eead November 8th, 1869.] 



Ardillaun, or High Island, lies a short distance from the coast of 

 lar-connaught, and on it are the ruins of an ancient ecclesiastical 

 colony. Of this island O'Flaherty, the historian, thus writes: " An- 

 ciently called Innishiarther, i. e., the "West Island, it is inaccessible 

 but on calm, settled weather, and so steep that it is hard, after landing 

 in it, to climb to the top." He afterwards states that the abbey was 

 founded by St. "Fechin of Omay, and that eleven holy hermits are buried 

 here; while Hardiman in his notes gives the names of these men.* 



The ruins of the ancient structures are situated at the S. W. end of 

 the island ; an irregular peninsula being enclosed by a wall extending 

 from the cliff over a coose that enters the island on its western shore, 

 to the cliff over another coose that runs north-westward into the south 

 part of the island ; and inside this wall seem to have been all the prin- 

 cipal buildings. 



Between the two cooses is a small lake, on the north shore of which 

 the settlement was erected. The church was enclosed within a wall 

 or cashel, and associated with it are other structures, with the prin- 

 cipal clochaun. 



The accompanying sketch plan (map, PL XLV.), shows the cooses, 

 lakes, and wall, of all these buildings whose sites can now be traced. 



This island, about twenty- four years ago, was part of the Connemara 

 property of the Martins ; while it belonged to that family the ruins 

 are said to have been protected, and to have been in a good state of pre- 

 servation. Unfortunately, when it passed out of their hands it came into 

 that of an absentee English proprietory, and during the famine and sub- 

 sequent years (1846 et teq.) many of the most interesting of the carved 

 stones were carried away. Since then no care has been taken to pre- 

 serve the ruins, they being allowed to be destroyed by persons hunting 

 rabbits ; while the crosses and the other carved stones have been knocked 



* 0' Flaherty's " History of Hiar or West Connaught," pp. 114 and 115. 

 SL I. A. PEOC. — VOL. X. 4 D 



