244. Dr Hissert on the Limestone of Burdiehouse, 
SECTION V._THE STRATA IN IMMEDIATE ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIME- 
STONE OF BURDIEHOUSE. 
To the sandstone of the Gracemount system, I consider the 
limestone of Burdiehouse, and its associated beds of argillace- 
ous shale, as having immediately succeeded. I need scarcely 
recapitulate its character, but merely remark, that no confirmed 
marine remains have, to my knowledge, ever been found in it ;— 
that it contains the plants usually found in coal-fields in a most 
remarkable abundance, as well as numerous Entomostraca, toge- 
ther with the relics of fish, large sauroid bones, and coprolites, 
and that I consider this limestone as of fresh-water origin. 
No rock beneath this bed is developed, except that which forms 
the floor of the quarry. I was therefore anxious to obtain from 
Mr Torrance of Meadow Head, who possesses the lease of the 
lime-works, some knowledge of the beds subjacent to the lime- 
stone, which do not, however, seem to have been explored to any 
great depth. 
The following is a list of the beds above, as well as below, 
the limestone of Burdiehouse, which I have given in a descend- 
ing order :— 
a, Argillaceous and bituminous shale ofa very dark colour, alternating with which 
are thin seams of ironstone, and three.or more very thin seams of limestone, 
the latter being from 2 to 2} inches thick, and at intervals from each other of 
27 to 36 inches. From 80 to 50 feet of shale are exposed. 
b, The limestone of Burdiehouse, 27 feet thick. 
c, A pavement of rather soft blaes, 2 to 3 feet thick. This is an argillaceous and 
bituminous shale mixed with caleareous matter, and forming, near the junc- 
tion of the rock, or immediately subjacent to it, an impure limestone. 
d, Limestone of inferior quality, 3 or 4 feet thick. 
e, Black blaes (argillaceous and bituminous shale), rather soft ; 3 or 4 feet thick. 
f, A seam of coal 6 to 10 inches thick. 
2, * Yellow clay ;” (an argillaceous and shaly sandstone?) Some of the workmen 
describe this bed as metal, and as forming a very coarse freestone. Deptlr 
unknown. 
The beds of argillaceous shale, both above and below, en- 
close the same organic remains as are found in the limestone of 
