63 



organic life both clearly point to that long period of time elapsing between 

 the formation of the Upper Sihtrian (vol. iv.) and that of the carbon- 

 iferous (vol. vi.) 



But just as the length of time between the sixth century and the 

 nineteenth is great in modern historic impoitance, so is that between the 

 Carboniferous and the present vast in geologic significance. Yet, during 

 the whole of that long series of past ages, I believe our early nucleus was 

 ttbove Water, and UTider very varied conditions of climate, was being 

 carved out by nature's tools — now ice and snow, now semi-tropic rains — 

 into that lovely form we now behold. The atmospheric agents, as we see 

 them at work, during our puny lifetime, seem weak indeed ; but how vast 

 this period during which they have been at work ! To my mind it is not 

 the great amount of denudation thus effected that is so surprising as the 

 survival of any portion of that rough-hewn block of country turned out 

 from nature's quarry in early (jarboniferous ages. In our own time, geolo- 

 gically sjieaking, this district exjjerienced, I believe, a very considerable 

 change of level during the lapse of the most modern of glacial periods, 

 but long ere these glaciers clothed the districts in mantles white, or glacial 

 seas washed mountain foot, our mountains and our glens had received very 

 much their present form. 



Finally, let us remember that if we, in our literary aspect, preserve 

 with so much care the mouldering manuscript of a long past age, we ought 

 far more to venerate our weathered and time-worn mountain district, with 

 its rocky volumes inscribed by the finger of God, and its grand old history, 

 and take care that we allow not encroaching railway and utilitarian smoke 

 to mar this ancient relic. 



SuMxMAEY. (To be read from below upwards.) 



18th. to 6th. cent, f Geological periods from the Carboniferous to the 

 M. S.S. ) Present. 



5tb. cent. M.S. or j Upheaval and enormous denudation with formation 

 Vol. V. miAAiViy. ( of early nucleus (fig. 3.) 



4th. cent, M.S. or i Prolonged depression and accumulation of Upper 

 Vol. IV. ( Siluian marine deposits (14,000 ft.) 



