302 Mr Chambers on the c.vistencc of raised Beaches 



land behind Easter Kincaple is on the same level with the 

 ground immediately south-east of Strathtyrum. Indeed, the 

 identity of surface line which exists between Strathtyrum and 

 Kincaple is remarkable to the unassisted eye, and forms a 

 phenomenon which it would be impossible at present to ac- 

 count for otherwise. Mr Duncan's marks on the second pla- 

 teau are equally striking, from not only a uniformity in them- 

 selves, but a uniformity in relation to the first plateau. Com- 

 mencing here to the eastward of Kingask, and following a 

 curving line westwards to the termination at Pipeland, he 

 gives the following series of numbers, expressive of the height 

 of the various parts above the present high-water mark : — 

 156, 154, 154, 157, 161, 156, 155, 170, 166. The extreme 

 variation here is 14 feet ; that between the first and last num- 

 ber only ten, the places pointed to being several luiles apart. 

 As in the first plateau, the increase of height is towards the 

 west or inland. 



Mr Duncan has made some further observations, not by re- 

 gular levelling y as in these instances, but by his eye only and by 

 the use of the telescopic spirit-level. I here quote from his 

 notes : — " Taking up the first old beach where we left off near 

 St Nicholas, we have first (going eastward) a break of about a 

 mile, caused by the steep cliffs and high bold shore under 

 Brownhills. Passing, however, a little to the east of Kittock's 

 Den, we again come upon land exactly suiting our level, and an- 

 swering, not only in this particular, but in evei'y other, the cha- 

 racter of an old sea-bed. This almost level surface, I followed 

 out for several miles, with no interruptions but what were 

 perfectly explicable. Where I left off, the same gently slop- 

 ing land was continued onward, and I have no doubt that it 

 would be found to go all the way round above Fife Ness, and 

 for a considerable way up the shores of the Firth of Forth. 

 The soil, almost every where throughout what I have inspected 

 of this ancient beach, is of a like nature, being light and dry, 

 and full of small shells, and of excellent quality." 



With respect to the country beyond the Eden, he states as 

 follows: " Commencing my levelling from what was pointed 

 out to me as being neai'ly about high-water mark, on the 



