162 David Milne, Esq., on Polished and Striated Bocks. 



was formed. The characters given of it correspond with those of 

 the deposit just described as filling the gorge. Mr Maclaren states 

 that it lay immediately on the rocks, that it was of a yellowish colour, 

 that it contained blocks of sandstone which were angular, and rounded 

 blocks of greenstone not belonging to the rock above; lastly, that it 

 was covered with the debris of the hill. In all these respects, the 

 two deposits seem to me to agree. 



It is of some importance to ascertain their identity, because, if 

 this is made out, it would shew that when they were deposited, the 

 surface of the country must have been much the same as at present ; 

 at least, that nothing has since occurred to remove the deposit from 

 either of the two places, or to change the levels. Farther, it is more 

 than probable, that the clay and boulders were at both places depo- 

 sited at the same time and by the same agent, whatever that was. 



Immediately above this clay deposit in the gorge, there is a bed 

 of debris, formed apparently by the crumbling of the superjacent 

 rocks. It is from 6 to 10 feet thick. The only circumstance of 

 interest connected with this deposit is, that sea-shells have been 

 found in it, viz., Limpets, Whelks, and the common large Bucky. 

 The two former, I understand, were found by Mr Nichol. The last 

 I found myself. I do not understand that any of these shells oc- 

 curred in a bed or other apparently natural state ; and the general 

 opinion seems to be, that being all edible, they had been carried there. 

 At the same time, it is deserving of remark, that they were found 

 considerably below the present surface of the ground. These shells 

 were found very nearly in contact with human bones, and the bones 

 of the horse, cow, deer, and pig. Close to the spot, there were also 

 found Roman swords and coins.* 



In connection with these superficial deposits in the gorge, notice 

 may be taken of two other deposits which occur some hundred yards to 

 the eastward, also on the line of the new road. 



One of these deposits is a bed of sand and clay intermixed, full of 

 water-worn stones, from the size of a cocoa-nut and less. At the 

 place where it occurs, a little to the west of Windygowl, the hill- 

 side is very precipitous and rocky. It evidently there occupies, and 

 fills up, a hollow or recess in the hill-side, because at the east, as 

 well as west end of this sandy deposit, the rocks advance beyond it. 

 The sand and clay exhibit traces of horizontal stratification, and the 

 bed extends for about fifty yards along the north side of the new car- 

 riage drive. The great antiquity of this deposit is, to a certain ex- 

 tent, shewn by the enormous mass of rocky fragments, sharp and 

 angular, which have fallen upon it from the overhanging cliffs. One 



* At Inveresk some years ago, in my brother's gcirdcn, similar remains were 

 found, viz., long tusks of the pig, urn, with a Koman name stamped on iho 

 bottom, containing human boneji, and a Denarius of Vespasian. 



