near St. Andrews. 201 
burn; but, from recent alterations, it can now be seen only on 
the north side, and there to a limited extent. Taking the 
utmost stretch of this deposit, it appears not to occupy a super- 
ficial area of more than 100 yards each way. Although thus 
contracted, there is reason to think that it may be the remnant 
of a more extensive bed which the action of the sea had reduced 
to its present diminutive dimensions ages ago, when the relative 
levels of land and sea, and perhaps the outline of the coast, 
were somewhat different from what they are now. ‘This clay 
has been known for years to contain shells; little notice, how- 
ever, appears to have been taken of it beyond occasionally 
picking out a few Scrobicularie as they were washed bare by 
the burn. In this state the matter remained till about two 
years ago, when the proprietor cut a water-course and a pit for 
a mill-wheel through the deposit, on the south side of the burn. 
Although these excavations were not very extensive, they re- 
sulted in the turning up of a number of marine shells and some 
mammalian bones, which had the effect of directing attention 
more particularly to the subject. A short time afterwards, 
during the sinking of a well opposite the former excavation, but 
further from the edge of the burn, a considerable number of 
shells of different species were again observed. This well was 
dug 9 feet deep, and the section taken as accurately as possible. 
In order, however, to test the strata as far as the condition of 
things would allow, another pit was dug for this purpose, still 
further from the burn, and higher above the level of the sea 
than either of the previous excavations, the surface of the ground 
at this part being about 10 feet above the sea-level. 
The following section is from the latter of these pits; and it 
may be observed that the only appreciable difference between 
the two sections was in the second bed of the former being 
somewhat thinner than that of the latter, owing, perhaps, to its 
proximity to the burn, by which the sand and gravel might 
have been washed away before the stream cut out its present 
channel :— 
feet. inches. 
elnck veretable earthy, .chiaowee lati owe ye Lye 6 
2. Coarse sand, numerous small rolled stones, and lit- 
RORAIES MCU Gy sir...) Nao ate bo Mane tee nen as alae beee oh MO 
3. Brown sandy clay, few stones or shells.......... 1 4 
4. Bluish-brown clay, with here and there thin part- 
ings of fine white sand; shells plentiful; the bed 
GU CHE UMCOUS Ecce 5 St sks one ates sate ae) 
The contents of the second bed corresponded in every respect 
with the materials on the sands at the east of the town at the 
present day. The contained shells were chiefly Patella vulyata, 
