i jo Wright— Foraminifera of North-East of Ireland. 
from the fact, that Leda femula, minuta, and fygmea —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 Larne, under- 
lying the gravel beds of the Curran, f and higher up Larne Lough, at Magbe- 
ramorne, and occupies the greater part of the lowland on which Belfast is built. 
The brackish water forms, MUiolina fused, Trochammma inflate, and T. ml- 
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-t It is to be re- 
gretted that the clay was not at that time also examined for Foramimfera, 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, Ramulma 
lavis, and Lingulina occur, species which are not now found off our coast. 
Lagma striato-functeta occurs in abundance at the two latter places, and as this 
form is now one of our rarest British Rhiropods, we may infer that a long time 
must have elapsed since the clay was deposited. 
Under the name of Raised Beaches, maybe classed the shell deposit 
Portrush, and the extensive gravel beds at the Curran, Larne ; both are severs 
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. 
.Gray rudely-worked flints of the North of Ireland, chiefly* and Down. Jour 
Roy! HU and Archseol. Assoc, of Ireland. Four* series, Vol. V., No. 39. P- -so. . 
\ Fossils of the Estuarine Clays of Down and Antrim. 
