36 Transactions. 



III. A Geological Sketch of Annandale. 

 By Mr George Johnstone. 



The Chairman read this communication, in which the author 

 made particular reference to the northern portion of the district 

 referred to in the title, and illustrated his remarks by a chart 

 showing the different rock formations. The district is, said the 

 writer, about twenty miles in length, and about eight in breadth 

 and is surrounded on three sides — N., E., and W. — by hills of 

 Silurian origin. Within this area the Silurian rocks appear 

 frequently at the surface — i.e., along the banks of the Annan and 

 its tributaries. The dip of the rock is generally about 80 deg., 

 while at one place in the River Milk it is almost perpendicular. 

 The Old Red Sandstone is found in the Burnswark group of 

 hills, extending about five miles in length and about three-quarters 

 of a mile in breadtli. This rock is remarkable for the great 

 quantities of white pebbles which it contains, and is similar in 

 appearance to the Old Red Sandstone found on the shores of the 

 Firth of Clyde. Burnswark itself is of volcanic origin. All 

 the hills possess the peculiar rounded appearance of the glacial 

 action, and the smaller elevations in the valleys show, where 

 sections have been made, the unmistakable evidence of the 

 boulder clay. 



Summer Programme. — This being the last meeting of the 

 Session, the following programme of the Field Meetings was sub- 

 mitted by the Secretary and adopted : — May — To Wood Castle, 

 Spedlins Tower, Corncockle Quarry, and Raehills Glen. June — 

 To Calkerbush, Southwick, and Douglas Hall. July — To 

 Moniaive by Dunscore, returning by Barjarg lime-stone quarries. 

 August — Neighbourhood of Moffat. September — Dornock, Kel- 

 head, returning by Lochmaben. It was reported that the follow, 

 ing members would, in connection with the excursions, prepare 

 information for the members, or describe the places, &c., visited, 

 viz.: — Dr Gilchrist, in Geology; Mr Wilson, Botany; Mr Barbour 

 and Mr J. Lennox, Archaeology ; Mr Maxwell, Fungi ; Mr 

 Lennon, Entomology ; Mr Davidson, Mineralogy ; and Mr 

 Clirystie, Ornithology. 



