the Old Red Sandstone of Fife. 145 



tion on the opposite bank of the Tay. One specimen, with or- 

 ganisms of precisely the same character with those of the gra- 

 mineous vegetables of the Wormit Bay and Parkhill deposit, is 

 now in my possession. The impressions which are so abundant 

 in the Carmylie beds are well known, and these, as well as Kin- 

 goodie, are universall)' admitted to be inferior to the old red, or 

 rather are regarded as the lowest members of one great forma- 

 tion, of which the old red variety is the most distinguishing 

 type. I have impressions, likewise, from the grey sandstone 

 which extends from Dunkeld towards Murthly Castle,' and also 

 specimens of the same from two localities in Strathearn, namely, 

 the Bridge of Forteviot, and the village of Dunning, at both 

 which places the grey unquestionably underlies the red deposit. 

 From this point on the northern slope of the Ochils towards the 

 Grampians, and eastward throughout the entire valley of Strath- 

 more, the grey sandstone is the prevailing rock. Underneath 

 are clay-slate and greywacke, which observe the same general 

 line of bearing, resting upon the primitive rocks of the Gram- 

 pian chain, and occupying a tract of considerable extent along 

 their southern acclivities. 



The whole of the district thus cursorily noticed, deserves the 

 attention of the geologist, not only from its comprehending, 

 within a comparatively limited and very accessible space, the 

 various members of the coal measures, as well as the mutual and 

 diversified relations of the carboniferous rocks, and those of the 

 sandstones below them ; but also from the abundance of organic 

 remains which the latter are now found to yield in almost every 

 locality, and which there is reason to believe, from the disclosures 

 of every day, are both more numerous and diversified than could 

 have been anticipated. We have traced four separate and well- 

 marked deposits, all inferior to the mountain limestone of the 

 coal-field. 1. The yellow sandstone of Drumdryan, which, 

 in addition to the scales already noticed, contains the bones, 

 teeth, and palates, in the greatest abundance, of some ex- 

 tinct species of the ancient world. 2. Patches of a coarse are- 

 naceous limestone, destitute of fossil remains, and conformable 

 in dip, bearing, and extent with the inferior sandstone forma- 



VOL. XXIir. NO. XLV. — JULY 1837. K 



