of Ancient Glaciers in Scotlajid. 339 



giving such a clear exposition of, these hitherto mysterious 

 formations ! 



Such moraines as were probably formed by ancient glaciers 

 are very conspicuous in the vale of the Gala, immediately 

 around the town of Galashiels. The vale there will be at one 

 part about three quarters of a mile broad, by upwards of three 

 miles long, surrounded by hills of considerable elevation, ex- 

 cept where the Gala enters the vale by a narrow passage at 

 the north-west, and again where it opens to the south-east, 

 and jouis the more spacious vale of the Tweed. The glaciers 

 there appear at one time to have extended over the vale to a 

 great height, as lateral mounds of debris can be traced about 

 300 feet above the level of the water. But I wish to confine 

 my observations to what was possibly a later sera, when the 

 glaciers had much diminished, and were perhaps not above 

 150 feet high; for it is then that they seem to have left their 

 most legible traces. 



Nearly half a mile below Galashiels, where the Gala flows 

 through a narrow channel, with high banks on each side, there 

 is a very conspicuous moraine about 140 feet high upon the 

 north-east side, and about 600 feet long, extending across the 

 lower end of the vale. (See No. 2. B.* PI. III.) Upon the south- 

 west side, in a direct line, it can likewise be traced for a con- 

 siderable distance, where it takes a curvilinear bend to the 

 west, until it becomes imperceptible in the higher ground. 

 The greater part of that moraine is composed of clay and 

 boulders, many of which are quite sharp and angular, but the 

 greater portion are rather well-rounded ; and what, perhaps, 

 is worthy of notice, the top, for about 25 feet down, is com- 

 posed of unstratified gravel and coarse sand, which has seem- 

 ingly been caused by the water filtrating through the mass 

 while it was being thrown up, and sweeping away the finer 

 comminuted particles. The breach through which the water 

 flows is about 500 feet wide. This is, perhaps, what may be 

 called a terminal moraine, left on its final retreat by the glacier 

 of the Gala valley. 



At the west end of Galashiels, I'ather more than a mile up- 

 ward from that moraine, the remains of another may be seen, 

 standing out from the banks on each side, the south end in 

 particular being very conspicuous. (See No. 2. C C.) Like- 

 wise, along each side of the vale, there are lateral moraines 

 from 50 to 70 feet high, in some places very distinctly marked. 



A number of these interesting formations is to be seen near 



* The dotted portions indicate the moraines. 

 Z2 



