y6 The Kame at Mortonhall. [Sess. 



17. Specimen of teak. 



18. ii greenheart, Dunoon Pier. 



19. Sulphate of bebeerine. 



20. Pine and elm from wreck bored by Teredo. 



VIIL— THE KAME AT MORTONHALL. 



By Mr THOMAS WRIGHT. 



(Bead Feb. % 1893.) 



In going from the village of Liber ton towards the south, the 

 pedestrian passes Alnwickhill reservoir and St Catherine's 

 Well, and then reaches the roadside hamlet known as the 

 Karnes. 1 These cottages take their name from the long ride 

 of gravel which runs through the park on the west side of the 

 road. In Ireland the name esker is applied to gravel ridges ; 

 in Scandinavia they are osars ; in the Northern States of 

 America they are locally known as hogbacks, horsebacks, or 

 whalebacks ; but geologists have adopted the Scotch term, so 

 they are usually called Karnes. 



The finest examples in Europe are to be found in the long 

 valleys of Southern Sweden. Sometimes a long winding bank 

 of gravel and sand extends over 100 miles, and the dominant 

 ridge is joined by smaller ones from the tributary valleys, as a 

 river is by its affluents. They are also to be met with on a 

 smaller scale in the wilder glens of Norway. The tourist who 

 sees one for the first time is puzzled by its appearance, and 

 asks if this is an old rampart. Very pretty, indeed, are these 

 flat-topped ridges during the bright Norwegian summer. They 

 are ablaze with hemp-nettles and crane's-bills and pansies, 

 which for size and colour could give points to British specimens 

 at a wild-flower exhibition. 



In regard to the formation of Karnes, various opinions have 

 been held. The late Mr Milne-Home, in his book on ' Ancient 

 Water-Lines,' expresses the belief that " they were formed by 

 sea -currents out of pre-existing drift on the sea bottom." 



1 It is needless to add that Kamc is Scotch for comb or crest. 



