Geological Collections, 387 



spinal canal. The following are the proportions between the side and the 

 diameter of the end. 



Cervical . Dorsal Lumbar 



2|- inches side. 3 inches side. 2| inches side 



3 'I inches diam. 3|^ inches diam. 3|^ inches diam. 



These proportions are sufficient to distinguish them from the vertebrae of 

 the Ichthyosaurus and Crocodile. But they are larger in dimensions than 

 any which Mr Conybeare seems to have met with, and appear to agree more 

 nearly with those found in England in the Kimmeridge day, than with those 

 found in the lias. 



I am informed by Dr M'Donnell, that single vertebrae of the same kind 

 have been found iu the lias near Same ; and in the collection of William 

 Temrent, Esq. of this town, there is one which was obtained from the lias 

 of Colin-glen, and which, from its dimensions, appears to be an extreme 

 caudal vertebra. 



The discovery of this genus in our lias connects that formation most 

 intimately with the oolites of England and France, and affords us reason to 

 hope, that when fully examined, it will, though imperfectly developed, 

 amply reward the labour of the inquirer, by the discovery of many singular 

 remains, which may probably, like this Plesioraurus, supply us with new 

 links in the chain of organic being. — Ann. of Phil. May 15, 1831. 



Canobie Coal Field — In a letter from Dr Macculloch, printed in the 

 Correspondence relating to the Mineralogical Survey of Scotland, of which 

 we have taken notice in preceding numbers, the following passage occurs : — 



" I allude to the definition of a coal field, hitherto not known in Scotland 

 as such, and no where wrought, except very partially near Canobie. This 

 hitherto unsuspected tract reaches from Fanna Hill and the Carter Fell, all 

 the way to Ardbigland, in GalloAvay, but it is very much broken, and 

 apparently worthless westward of Langholm ; while eastward, for a very 

 wide and continuous space, it lies chiefly in the Duke of Buccleuch's lands, 

 though I am not fully informed as to his boundaries. In the decidedly 

 worthless part much money has been idly wasted ; and to save this in future 

 is to stop the diversion of the capital to unproductive purposes. At the 

 other extremity it has not been known or understood, and thus reversely 

 there may be gain from the knowledge, as the actual discovery of coal would 

 improve a now very unproductive country. To mark the field is the funda- 

 mental step, and it is all of which my survey can take cognizance." 



Seams of Coal in the Berwick District The seams of coal near the sea 



coast in this district, generally dip nearly due east, at an inclination of one 

 yard in three ; to the westward, their dip is to the southward of the east, 

 with an inclination of one yard in ten or twelve. 



\st, The Muckle Hovvgate seam is the first workable bed on the Scremer- 

 stone estate, and in its vicinity ; it lies at various depths below the surface, 

 and is about two feet six inches in thickness ; it is considered an inferior 

 coal in quality, and used only for burning limestone. 



2<f, The Caldside seam, supposed to be about sixty fathoms below the 

 Muckle Hovvgate seam, is generally used for the same purpose, though 

 rather of a better quality than No. 1. 



3c/, The Scremerstone main coal, supposed to be about sixty fathoms 

 below the Caldside seam, is four feet in thickness, but with a thin band of 

 stone near its bottom. This seam is reputed the best coal for house use, 

 except the portion nearest the bottom, which is sold for lime burning. 



ith, The stony coal lies from two to three fathoms under the Scremer^r 

 stone main coal ; its thickness is about four feet, including a band of ston« 



