304 Mr Chambers on the existence of raised Beaches, 



Applying the theory of upheaving forces to our vicinage, 

 we must presume, that at one time — a time early as compared 

 with our historical retrospect, but late in geological chrono- 

 logy — certainly later than any of the trap disturbances, or 

 even the age of the diluvium — only the tops of some of the 

 neighbouring hills were above the surface of the sea. The 

 sea then closely surrounded the heights on whi(.-h Scoonie- 

 Hill farm-house and Feddinch House are situated, and the 

 Drumcarrie Hill. It was at that time that the platform on 

 which Mount Melville house and Feddinch Mains stand, was 

 formed. An upheaval, to an extent which I am not able at 

 present to specify, raised a larger poi-tion of the slopes of 

 those and other heights into the air, and then began the for- 

 mation of the second platform — that on which Pipeland and 

 Old Grange are situated. Another upheaval, of about 100 

 feet, extended the bounds of dry-land still farther, and then 

 began the formation of what I have called the first or great 

 plateau. This may be presumed to have been, in our locality, 

 an extensive sandy-beach, much like that now existing at 

 Leith. The tide must have every day risen and fallen at 

 least a mile, namely, along the ground now covered by the 

 town, and up to the site of Lawpark Cottage, where the traces 

 of the beach terminate in that direction. Afterwards an up- 

 heaval of about 60 feet must have taken place, leaving land 

 and sea in what, generally speaking, may be called their pre- 

 sent relative situations. The last beach was now dry land. 

 At the site of the town and to the eastward, the ocean rested 

 upon the upturned edges of a series of the lower carboniferous 

 strata, which, in time, it seems to have cut down into the pre- 

 sent beach and overhanging cliffs. To the westward of the 

 site of tlie town, whore these sandstone strata ceased to ap- 

 pear, the sea rested against a bank of clay, which it, in like 

 manner, cut in upon ; this is the bank which now sv/eeps 

 round from Pilmour Row, by Strathtyrum, and along under 

 Bloorahill and Kincaple, to the Eden. At the one place, 

 there was a promontory ; at the other, a bay. But as the 

 I'ocks were worn down at the one place, the bay was filled up 

 with sand at the other. This effect the waves and winds 



