TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 649 



are two other species, of which small traces only have been ob- 

 tained. 



In the coal formation of Fifeshire a new specimen of Palceo- 

 niscus has been found. 



M. Agassiz remarks that it may appear strange that he should 

 consider the Gamrie fossil fishes as belonging to the coal for- 

 mation, but they seem to be so nearly related to that deposit 

 that he cannot regard them as of much more recent origin. There 

 are three species, namely, one Cheir acanthus, one Palceoniscus, 

 and a third, of which perfect specimenshavenot yet been obtained. 



From this short notice it must be evident how important the 

 study of the fossil fishes of Scotland is for advancing our know- 

 ledge of the beings which existed before the oolitic period, 

 and how much we may yet expect from future careful investi- 

 gations. 



On the Geology of the Pentland Hills. By C. Maclaren. 



These hills are about fifteen miles in length and from three to 

 six in breadth. The fundamental rock is transition slate, accom- 

 panied by grauwack^ in vertical strata, which are covered un- 

 conformably by conglomerate and various felspar and claystone 

 porphyries, in beds dipping to the south-east, at angles varying 

 from 10° to 35°. Beds of conglomerate, alternating with grau- 

 wacke, abound in the western part ; in the eastern, the grau- 

 wacke is accompanied chiefly by felspar, claystone porphyries, 

 and amygdaloids. A vast mass of sandstone forms the termi- 

 nation of the chain on the west, and rises to the height of nearly 

 1800 feet in the two Cairn Hills. The age of the hills, or the 

 period of their elevation, is indicated by the position of the secon- 

 dary rocks on their flanks. The sandstone of the Cairn Hills in- 

 clines against the transition rocks, at a considerable angle, on the 

 north side, and at Craigintarrie appears in beds almost vertical. 

 On the south side the older strata of the coal formation are found 

 at various places, in a position highly inclined or vertical, while 

 a newer portion of the same series is found in horizontal beds, 

 or dipping in towards the hills at a low angle, and in juxta- 

 position with the former. It follows that the elevation of the 

 transition rocks took place at a period subsequent to the depo- 

 sition of the older, but previous to the deposition of the newer, 

 part of the coal formation. 



