ig6 Notes on Last Summer's Excursions. [Sess. 



conducted the party over the new Eoyal Observatory in course 

 of erection there, giving a very lucid and interesting explana- 

 tion of the purposes for which the various portions of the 

 buildings were destined, and of the instruments which, though 

 not then in position, were very shortly to be placed there. 

 When complete, the cost of the Observatory will be about 

 £40,000, and, at least so far as regards the building itself, it 

 will then be probably the finest Observatory in Great Britain, 

 though the instruments are smaller and the staff numerically 

 much less than those of Greenwich. 



After going over the Observatory the party proceeded to 

 the Braid Hills, where ice-striations and other interesting 

 geological phenomena were pointed out by Mr Crawford. 



V 



VII. Gordon Moss. 



A whole-day excursion to Gordon Moss was arranged for 

 Saturday, June 15, but only three members attended, and 

 nothing of any rarity was obtained, the date fixed upon being 

 probably rather early for this locality. 



VIII. Leith to Portobello. 



On the evening of Wednesday, June 19, there was an 

 excursion, under the leadership of Mr Johnston, from Leith 

 to Portobello. The raised sea-beach on Leith Links and other 

 interesting geological features were pointed out, and examples 

 of ice-markings were noticed on many of the rocks, while a 

 number of plants were gathered along the shore. 



IX. BUCKHAVEN TO WEMYSS. 



On June 29 the Society paid a visit to Wemyss. The 

 special object of the visit was to explore the series of caves 

 between Buckhaven and Wemyss, many of which show curious 

 and highly interesting sculptures on their walls, and of which 

 there are several on the coast between these two places. The 

 party numbered about twenty. On arriving at Buckhaven 

 the party was met by Dr Aitken of that town, who had very 

 kindly undertaken to act as leader, and proceeded at once 



