RECORDS OF EXCURSIONS IN AYRSHIRE. 



41 



lamelhbranchs and gasteropods. At Blair School the tops of 

 a fine series of dolerite columns were inspected. This dolerite 

 covers about four square miles of area in the Dairy district, and 

 is in two beds, having an aggregate thickness of about twelve 

 fathoms. Between this point and the Cove a 1200 feet hitch 

 (fault) was passed over, but no perceptible break could be 

 observed as having been made by it on the surface features 

 At Cleaves a portion of a large trap dyke, in which a quarry 

 has been hollowed, was inspected; and this dyke was again seen 

 at its full tlnckness cutting through the ash beds in the Cleaves 

 Glen, near to the spot where a cholera victim was buried. 



The neighbourhood of Cleaves Cove having been reached a 

 stand was made at a convenient spot, and, the day being exceed- 

 ingly fine, a grand view was obtained of the Arran peaks and the 

 hills beyond Dairy and Kilbirnie. After this the Cove was entered 

 and the strange and sometimes fantastic manner in which it had ' 

 been carved by natural forces out of the limestone rock was much 

 admired. The Dusk Water, which now runs in the glen at some 

 distance below the level of the Cove, at one time flowed through 

 the passages, as was well made out during its exploration, and at 

 that time the cave was inhabited by a primitive race of men using 

 stone, bone, and horn implements and weapons. For a detailed 

 account of if see the Transactions of the Glasgow Geological 

 Society (vol. vu, part ii.), the Archaeological and Historical 

 Collections relating to the Counties of Ayr and Wigton, and the 

 Stalactites and Stalagmites of the Cleaves Cove, by the writer, may 

 also be consulted. 



The party afterwards proceeded down the Dusk Glen and 

 inspected some beds of red and green volcanic ash which lie 

 below the lower limestone series, and in which are many small 

 roundish bombs or nodules of exceeding toughness, shewing a 

 beautiful microscopic structure. The glen at parts was all aglow 

 with wild hyacinths; and other plants were noted, especially the 

 back hellebore {Veroascum nigrum), which is established in the 

 glen, in some years flowering freely and attaining a great height 



Blair Polices having been entered, many fine trees were 

 examined, some of them being photographed and measured 

 Amongst them were two hornbeams in leaf and catkin ; a plane 

 tree, at east corner of the house, was I2 feet 6 inches at 3 feet 



