93 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



matter up again, with the result that the jawbone in question, 

 along with some other remains of small mammals, has been 

 found in the Geological Survey's premises in Edinburgh, and 

 by the officials there kindly placed in my hands to be recorded. 1 

 As Mr Newton, in a memorandum accompanying the bones, 

 only tentatively referred them to a Lemming, adding, 

 " should be preserved for future examination," I have resub- 

 mitted them to him, and have received the following in reply : 

 " I am returning with this the small bones collected by 

 James Bennie. I have examined them very carefully, but 

 have been almost afraid to touch them, they are so very 

 fragile. I do not think there can be any doubt as to the 

 larger jaw belonging to a Lemming, and it is closely allied 

 to the Arctic Lemming, which is now called Dicrostonyx 

 torquatus ; but being imperfect, one cannot speak with 

 certainty as to the species. The smaller jaw is probably that 

 of Microtus agrestis [Field Vole]. The limb bones may belong 

 to the same two forms " (in lit. 10. iii. 13). 



When the jawbone (lower jaw, right side) came into my 

 hands, 1 made a sketch of it, which is here reproduced. Of 

 the teeth, besides the incisor, only the enamel 

 folds of the second molar were present. 

 Owing to the conditions under which they 

 have been preserved, the specimens are much 

 darkened in colour and very fragile. 



In his letter Bennie narrated in his usual full and interest- 

 ing manner " where and how " he found these bones. 

 Shortly put, the facts are as follows : 



Along the south side of Corstorphine Hill a hollow 

 extends from Coltbridge to west of Corstorphine village, a 

 distance of about three miles. In this hollow the lake, which 

 is said to have existed up to near the middle of the eighteenth 

 century, lay. Marsh and meadow succeeded the lake, and in 

 order to drain the site, a broad deep ditch, known as the 

 stank, was made through it to the Water of Leith, towards 

 the middle of last century. Into this open ditch sewage 

 from the village and the modern villas that had arisen in the 

 vicinity was being run, and to remedy this the Commissioners 

 1 The specimens are being placed in the Survey Collections. 



