I 



Presentations. 3q5 



it is evident to present-day geologists that this is an error 

 During the formation of all sedimentary rocks there was a con- 

 tinual evolution of life in both plants and animals. The lower 

 bands of sediment contain fossils of species with .simple or..an- 

 isms, but the layers above, «hich were deposited at a later d"ite 

 show by their fossil life various degrees of progress or degenera- 

 tion. The younger rocks are said to be of a higher horizon in 

 th*. vertical scale of rock-building, and are frequently named bv 

 the fossil contained in them. The higher deposits of strata in 

 the Closeburn Basin alternate rapidly between clav shale red 

 sandstone fireclay, and grey sandstoiLe. This tiiin beddin<- of 

 rocks and their prevailing red colour seemed to speak of an 

 . Upper Carboniferous Age in that valley; but, unfortunately 

 ossils could not be found to prove this theory. However after 

 lengthened perseverance I have discovered a band of' slnle 

 crossing the Crichope burn not far below the famous Biirley's 

 iH^ap. This outcrop of dark grey shale has yielded .some beauti- 

 ful specimens of fossil fern prints. Specimens were sent to the 

 Geological Survey, Edinburgh, they in turn submitted them to 

 Dr Kidston the British expert. They are now returned and 

 piesented to your custody. Dr Kidston has named them 

 Neuropteris ovato. This species is found exclusively in U,),>er 

 Carboniferous strata. After a careful comparison with the 

 results of similar work in the Ayrshire coalfield, and a personal 

 examination of the coal measures of the Canobie coalfield I am 

 oi opmion that the Carboniferous strata of the Crichope belono- 

 to the upper coal measures. This gives us another proof of the 

 very uneven floor on which the red sandstones of Gatelawbrid<^e 

 were_ deposited Th. possibility of workable coal seams undel- 

 neath-the probable existence of similar strata throughout the 

 Uoseburn Basin, are problems deserving of closest attention in 

 the future. The Canonb.e coalfield gives us an unbroken series 



deposits which belong to the Carboniferous formation. Fi-om 

 1 e basement beds of cementstone at Tarrasfoot on the north to 



the Liddel Moat on the south, the Esk has laid bare all the 

 h-Xt'l'" r ':^^^"^^"S order. On the Netherbie estate the 

 niftiest bands rise from underneath the Ne^v Red Rocks and 



Fro^"il,'/r'"''' ^'l"** '^^^'" "'^"^'^ ''^ ^"•^"=»".^- ^ fern' bed. 



1 rom that horizon the most interesting specimen ,n the col- 

 lection is Neuropteris Schizeri. This .species is confined to the 

 topmost shale. It is evidently a plant of more perfect organism 



d Hc\; /°"'" "' *'" ^'-'^^^"P^ ^"•■- On the fern ^fronds 

 delicate tracings caused by minute hairs can easily be seen 

 ine last group m this present collection belongs to the lower 

 coal measures of the Canonbie coalfield. They were found at 

 Byreburnfoot, where the historic Byreburn enters the river Esk 

 Several eet above the fo,ssil bank are two seams of coal, H to 2 

 feet thick respectively. This outcrop of coal cros.ses the Esk at 

 the point where the road crosses the tributary stream. This 



