148 Mr WITHAM'S Description of a Fossil Tree 



The accompanying Plates are intended to afford a more pre- 

 cise idea of the position, form, and internal structure of this fine 

 petrifaction than could be conveyed by description. Plate III, 

 from the pencil of Dr GREVILLE, represents a portion of the fossil 

 in its natural position. Plate IV. represents the internal struc- 

 ture. Plate V. is a sketch of the trunk, including its supposed 

 continuation. These two plates are from drawings by Mr MAC- 

 GILLIVRAY. Plate VI, also by Dr GREVILLE, is a view of that 

 part of Craigleith Quarry in which the fossil tree was found. 



Craigleith quarry, in geological position, is situated in the 

 mountain-limestone group, and lies considerably below the great 

 coal basins of the Lothian s. Its elevation above the medium 

 level of the sea, by barometrical measurement, is 75 feet. In the 

 part of the quarry in which the fossil is situate, the strata incline 

 to the NN. E. one foot in 4^. 



This part of the quarry, from some unknown cause, assumes 

 a trough-like shape, the one side dipping at an angle of 20 to 

 the south, and the other side at an angle of 20 to the north ; at 

 the bottom of this basin lay the roots of this splendid fossil. The 

 general direction of the tree is 20 W. by N., and the dips are as 

 follows : A. B, Plate V, at an angle of 20, B. C. 44 5', C. D. E. 

 39 35', F. 28, G. 28. The length of the stem, from the top to 

 the root, was 47 feet. It presents the appearance of a large 

 branchless trunk, in some parts greatly flattened, so as to -form 

 an elliptical section. The diameters are nearly as follows, and 

 will best shew the places and proportions of such flattenings. 

 See Plate III. 



Feet. Inches. Feet. Inches. 



A. 1 7 long diameter, and 1 4 short diameter. 



B. 1 10 do. 1 3 do. 

 C.D.E. 2 7 do. 10 do. 



F. 2 8 do. 15 do. 



G. 5 do. 20 do. 



