HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



211 



thus taking about two months to pass either under or 

 over the red spot. 



Commander Defforges gave an account of a long 

 series of pendulum experiments he had made for 

 determining the figure of the earth, which he said is 

 unfortunately by no means the regular spheroid it is 

 frequently assumed to be. 



From the United States Naval Observatory, 

 Washington, I have received a copy of the third 

 edition of a Catalogue of Stars that were observed 

 between 1S45 anc * ^77 '• This is a most valuable 

 catalogue ; every possible precaution has been taken to 

 ensure the utmost accuracy. The matter was prepared 

 for publication by Professor Yarnell, and revised and 

 corrected by Professor Frisby. 



On September 18th Venus will be at the greatest 

 distance from the Sun. 



There are no occultations or other phenomena of 

 popular interest in September. 



Mercury is an evening star in the early part of the 

 month in Virgo. 



Venus is an evening star in Virgo. 



Mars is an evening star. 



Saturn is a morning star. 



GEOLOGICAL RAMBLES IN CROMARTY 

 AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



By Charles Wardingley. 



IT is surprising that, during the holiday season, 

 when travelling facilities are so greatly increased, 

 so few take advantage of them for the purpose of 

 visiting the intensely interesting neighbourhood of 

 Cromarty. However, some do take the opportunity, 

 and, whether attracted by the varied natural beauty 

 of the district, the botanical and geological treasures 

 to be found there, or by the interest attached to the 

 birthplace and early abode of Hugh]Miller, the visit 

 is sure to be rewarded by increased knowledge and 

 considerable pleasure. 



At present our purpose is to give a brief sketch of 

 the neighbourhood from a geologist's view, firmly 

 convinced as we are that there is no finer district in 

 Britain for the study of, the Metamorphic, Pakeozoic, 

 and Mesozoic rocks. Hugh Miller has described 

 these in popular, even poetic language, and if geology 

 were not a progressive science, any attempt at 

 further description would probably meet with but 

 limited success. 



But the impetus which he gave to geological 

 research has been very effective, and many new facts 

 have been brought to light by those who, attracted by 

 his words and works, have plied hammer and chisel 

 to disinter the varied remains ot past periods. 



The visitor who approaches Cromarty by steamer 

 will probably have his admiration and enthusiasm 

 aroused the moment he enters the Firth of Cromarty 

 To the right and left of him rise the Sutors ; high, 

 majestic Gneiss cliffs, varying in height from three 



hundred to four hundred and fifty feet. Then, a little 



to the west of the southern Sutor, Cromarty peeps out 



close to the shore, having for its background the 



richly-wooded Hill of Cromarty. Immediately 



behind the town and on the slope of the hill, stands 



out prominently and effectively the statue of the 



remarkable man whose name is indelibly associated 



with the town of Cromarty. 



"Love had he found in huts where poor men lie; 

 His daily teachers had been woods and rills." 



The first visit will probably be to the cottage in 

 which Hugh Miller was born. This cottage is used 

 partly as a dwelling-house, the occupant having 

 known intimately the various members of the Miller 

 family. She is, though communicative, not of the 

 type usually found in such posts, and one feels that 

 she takes a more than commonplace, or shall we say 

 commercial interest in the life and memory of the 

 man whose neighbour she was for many years. The 

 upper storey of the house is used as a museum,'which, 

 though ill-arranged and very incomplete, contains 

 many objects of general and special interest. The 

 embryo geologist's school-books, his early poetical 

 effusions, some local fossils, volumes of the Witness 

 newspaper, and letters from Agassiz, Hibbert, 

 Fleming, Murchison, Robert Dick and others, all 

 have their story to tell of the plodding and pains- 

 taking nature of the man. We leave the house 

 feeling that we have a clearer insight into his make 

 and manner, and we feel, too, less surprised that such 

 a character should have such an influence for 

 good, not only upon the youth of his native town, but 

 upon the rising generation of the entire kingdom. 

 For the geologist, on his first visit, no better guide- 

 book to the neighbourhood can be had than "My 

 Schools and Schoolmasters," and we would re- 

 commend that the geological chapters be carefully 

 and thoughtfully read, before excursions are 

 commenced. 



Let us describe the rocks of the various formations 

 as they occur in order of time, beginning with the 

 Primary representatives. These are best observed 

 and studied in the Sutors and the Hill of Cromarty, 

 and as the one is typical of the others, an examination 

 of the hill (the most accessible) will suffice. It is 

 built up entirely of coarsely-grained Gneiss, having 

 as its chief constituting minerals felspar, mica, and 

 quartz, with a minor proportion of hornblende and 

 steatite. The felspathic element, however, prevails, 

 and the following may be taken as a rough analysis 

 of the entire mass : — 



Silica 65*0 



Alumina . . . . 15*0 



Potash 10 'o 



Magnesia . . . . 2*2 



Oxide of Iron . . . 2*8 



Various 5*0 



ioo-o 

 The rock shows but little evidence of stratification, 



