Il8 EXCURSIONS IN STIRLINGSHIRE. 



are seen lying tier upon tier in a slightly inclined position, and 

 capped by massive beds of whitish sandstone and trap, the whole 

 presenting one of the grandest specimens of stratification to be 

 witnessed in the countryside." The results of weathering are 

 seen in the accumulated sloping heap of broken rocks lying at the 

 base of the section. The place of these beds in the geological 

 formation of the surrounding country is above the lower carboni- 

 ferous red sandstones and below the trap rocks of the Campsie 

 range. They are seen outcropping at Fintry to the north, and 

 also at Auchenreoch and Dumbuck Glens near Dumbarton. 

 Thin layers of yellowish, fibrous gypsum are found between the 

 beds, and some good specimens were taken out with the chisel. 

 On the return journey Dunglass Hill, lying over against the 

 mouth of Ballagan Glen, arrested attention. This hill (alt. 501 

 feet), rising abruptly from the centre of the Strathblane valley, 

 consists of a great mass of trap which in its upheaval has caused 

 the slight inclination found in the " Ballagan beds." It exhibits a 

 good example of columnar structure. On the north-east face the 

 columns appear to be almost horizontal, contrasting thus with the 

 usual position of such columns, which is vertical. The only- 

 plants recorded at this excursion are Jack-by-the-hedge {Alliaria 

 officinalis) and the great leopard's-bane (Doronicufn Pardalianches). 

 Finnich Glen was visited on two occasions, 7th August, 1886, 

 and 9th July, 1887. Of the former only is there a meagre record. 

 The route taken was from Killearn, where, in the village, is a 

 monument to George Buchanan, the scholar and reformer, who 

 was a native of this parish. In Finnich Glen the party had an 

 opportunity of witnessing the result of the resistless power of water 

 as a wearing agent. The burn in the course of time has eaten its 

 way through the sandstone and formed a deep ravine. At some 

 parts the sides are remarkably precipitous, and look as if they had 

 been cleft by a huge knife, while at others they slope somewhat, 

 and the channel is widened out. At one part the stream branches 

 and surrounds a huge mass of rock. The colours of the autumnal 

 foliage seen in juxtaposition with the deep red of the sandstone 

 formed a remarkably striking scene. 



The Whangie was first visited on 6th August, 1887, and another 

 visit was also made on 18th August, 1888, when the party 

 approached it by way of old Mugdock Reservoir and Mugdock 



