94 • TraH.gactionx. 



broken and accidental forms, littoral shells are absent, while the 

 presence in great numbers of deep sea microzoa and mollusca 

 proves the pelagic character of the deposit. Above this shelly clay 

 there is a zone of clay without shells, covered in its turn by a layer 

 containing recent and littoral shells. In no other deposit have 

 the arctic deep sea and the temperate littoral periods been so well 

 divided. There succeeded to the last Glacial epoch a gradual 

 but comparatively rapid rise of sea level until the Garvel Park 

 was immersed to a depth of at least 600 feet, and it became the 

 habitat of an arctic pelagic fauna. During this rise considerable 

 denudation of the boulder clay took place, a fresh ledge of which 

 was annually disintegi'ated. The constant change of conditions, 

 currents, and materials gave rise to the greatest diversity in the 

 deposits, and during the rise and subsequent fall of the sea level 

 our present shores became successively the littoral, the laminarian, 

 and the pelagic zone, so that in many localities all kinds of 

 bivalves are found mixed together in the same bed. It was con- 

 tended by Mr Macfadzean that, as the same evidences are also 

 found in Scandinavia and in N.E. America, the rise and fall of 

 sea level were universal and simultaneous over this quarter of 

 the world. He exhibited a classified collection of shells obtained 

 by him from the Garvel Park dejaosits, and offered to present it 

 to the Society if it was thought of sufficient interest to the 

 members. 



III. The Ancient Lake Dwelliuys of Scotland. 



By Mr G. F. Black, Corresponding Member. 



Mr Black, in a lengthy communication on the above subject, 

 referred to the first discovery of lake dwellings in Scotland in 

 1781, and to the explorations carried on at Zurich in 1853-4. 

 Since 1857 several have been noted in this country, and described 

 by various archaeologists, especially that at Lochlea, Tarbolton 

 Ayrshire, by Dr Munro and Mr R. W. Cochran Patrick, M.P. In 

 reference to this lake dwelling, Mr Black gave a minute descrip- 

 tion of the size and situation, and a list of the various relics found 

 during the explorations. Mr Black remarks that lake dwellings 

 have been found at Lochmaben, Sanquhar, Friai's' Carse, Loch 

 Orr, Lochwood, Closeburn, Corncockle, and in the parish of 

 Morton, in Dumfriesshire : and, in conclusion, suggested that 



