Transactions. 81 



aqueous action. These are found for the most part at t]ie 

 mouths or along the sides of the valleys. Viewed as to time 

 they are posterior to those last mentioned, that is, they are 

 the result of river, lake, or sea action, subsequent to the 

 so-called glacial period, often consisting of the reasserted 

 materials derived from the surface deposits of that period. 

 They are well seen in almost every excavation in the immedi- 

 ate neighbourhood of the town, and are notably developed 

 in the vicinity of Auldgirth Bridge, Cummertrees, &c. 



5. Connected with these, but forming a distinctive 

 feature, are the ancient raised beaches, Avhich are very marked 

 in several parts of the valley of the Nith. 



The first excursion of the season was to Lincluden, 

 Holy wood, and neighbourhood. The district then visited 

 presented us only with the features referred to in No. 4 of 

 our general statement, namely, the superficial accumulations 

 of gi-avels and sands. These are well seen on the road from 

 town to Lincluden, and especially in the railway cutting 

 of the Castle-Douglas line, where beautiful examples of bed- 

 ding, frequently characteristic of these deposits, are visible. 

 These gravel accumulations, as seen in their undisturbed 

 condition, consisted of rounded, oval, or elliptic, or even 

 linear mounds or elevations on the surface of these districts 

 in which they occur, their longer axis, as a rule, lying parallel 

 with the valley. When seen in section, as in the railroad 

 cutting referred to, their true character and origin are at 

 once made manifest. On passing along the side of the Nith 

 interesting sections of these mounds were noticed, obviously 

 indicating the existence of water action at a much higher 

 level than that which now obtains. Near the farm of Jar- 

 dinetown the members were conducted to the top of one of 

 these mounds to examine a shallow depression in the surface 

 not easily explained. In crossing the Cairn at the village 

 of Newbridge, in the bed of the stream a sandstone rock was 

 observed, which is a member of the Permian system of rocks 

 already refen-ed to. No example of the Silurian was seen ia 

 this excursion, unless it be certain fragments constituting 



