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have seen the matter discussed by any physicist, astronomer or 

 glacialist. Thank you for calling my attention to the fossil tree 

 on Carlton Bank, as I am especially interested just now in the 

 Lower Oolitic Vegetation. I will try to get over there some day 

 soon. And so he did on January 4th last year, when we met in 

 the quarry and found the tree had unfortunately been covered up 

 with debris, however, we saw parts of other fossil trees which 

 are fairly common. This was one of the last scientific walks he 

 took and not long after he began to feel unwell little thinking 

 how soon alas he would see no more of this world's structure ! 



Geologists sometimes meet with amusing incidents, Hawell 

 used to relate with great glee, an encounter he and a geological 

 party once had with a crusty old farmer on the Yorkshire Coast ; 

 they were passing through a field when up came the farmer to turn 

 them out for trespassing, he was very rough and in any but an 

 amiable mood, as he ordered them away. "We are a peaceful 

 party " urged Mr. Hawell, " we have simply come to look at the 

 rocks and examine the stones and we shall not do any damage," 

 however, this polite remonstrance had little effect. Mr. Hawell 

 in his turn, became rather annoyed at the man's uncouth manner 

 and remarked " why, you might think we were a party of fools." 

 " I dunno but what ye are ! " was the answer, and then the 

 party went on rejoicing and merry at the compliment which had 

 been paid them. With this anecdote we may fairly include one 

 or two extracts from Sir Archibald Geikie's " (scotch 

 Eeminiscences." 



Some capital stories illustrating at once Scotch caution and Scotch rural 

 simplicity are told in connection with the author's geologising experiences. 

 It was often a great puzzle to the countryside why he should spend his time 

 chipping off pieces of the " stanes " of old Scotland to carry away in a bag. 



A member of the Geological Survey, whose daily avocation consists in 

 such pursuits, is, of course, specially liable to become the victim of curiositea 

 and suspicion. He finds himself set down now for a postman, now for a 

 doctor, for a farmer, a cattle-dealer, a travelling showman, a country gentle- 

 man a gamekeeper, a poacher, an itinerant lecturer, a ganger, a clergyman, 

 a play-actor. 



If he happens to be chatty with strangers he may find himself put down 

 for something else as well Writes. Sir Archibald : — 



I was dining with an old friend, the late Mr. Cathcart of Knocblolian, 

 who told me he was quite sure I must have been recently in his neighbour- 

 hood. " Only yesterday," he said, " I met the old farmer of G , who had 



a strange tale to tell me. ' Dod ! Mr. Cairthcart,' he began, ' I ran across 

 the queerest body the ither day. As I was comin' by the head o' the cleugh 

 I thocht I heard a wheen tinkers quarrellin', but when I lookit doon the>-e 

 was jist ae wee stoot man. Whiles he was chappin' the rocks wi' a hammer, 

 whiles he was writin' in a book, whiles fetchin' wi' the thorns, and miscain' 



