1823.] Rothetodtliegende and Weissliegende. 336 



of Dr. Boue in Scotland, from which it appears that the greater 

 number of the Scotch collieries are situated in that portion of 

 the tract which abounds in limestone.* 



According to that author, the carboniferous series, designated 

 by him under the general term of terrain du gres rouge, or la 

 grande formation de gres rouge,f appears to be arranged in the 

 following order in the great coal tract of Scotland : 



1. Old red sandstone. Poudingues et gres rouges (in a restrict 



ive sense).;}; 



2. Coal formation. Gres houiller, divided into 



a. Lower portion. Assises inferieures. 



b. Upper portion. Assises superieures. 



c. Uppermost portion. Assises les plus superieures. 



The old red sandstone, as the foundation of the whole, con- 

 tains beds of trap and felspar rocks (partly porphyritic and 

 amygdaloidal), with which it also alternates, and likewise some 

 beds of limestone. 



The lower portion of the coal formation is characterised by an 

 inconsiderable quantity of coal, by variable masses of anthracite, 

 by beds of trap and felspar rocks (partly porphyritic and amygda- 

 loidal), by beds of limestone, and by sandstone that is some- 

 times of a reddish hue. 



In the upper portion of the coal formation, the trap beds seem 

 gradually to disappear, and then follows only a. fine series of coal 

 measures, associated with numerous alternating beds of limestone. 

 It is in this portion of the coal tract that the greatest number of 

 the Scotch collieries are situated. 



The uppermost portion of the coal formation is distinguished 

 by the absence of beds of limestone, by its abundance of coal 

 and of vegetable impressions, and by the appearance of shells 

 resembling freshwater species. This portion of the tract, which 

 most nearly agrees in its general relations with the great coal 

 fields of England, is, however, of rare occurrence in Scotland, 

 and appears to be confined to certain parts of Clackmannan- 

 shire, and the environs of Falkirk and St. Andrew's. Of the 

 Clackmannanshire coal fields, a very able account has been given 

 by Mr. Bald in the Wernerian Memoirs. 



Dr. Boue dwells in particular ou the numerous beds of lime- 

 stone that are distributed throughout the greater portion of the 

 Scotch collieries, and on the few localities in the coal tract in 

 which that mineral is found wanting.§ 



* I have briefly referred to Dr. Boue's account of the coal fields of Scotland in my 

 Comparative View in the Annals of Philosophy, Oct. 1821, and again in Aug. 1822. 



t See Essai Geologique sur l'Ecosse, p. 98—102 ; also p. 163, 862,371, &c. 



X See its description, p. 102 — 119 of the Essai Geologique sur l'Ecosse. 



§ It was, I presume, from observing the intimate state of association prevailing among 

 the different members of the carboniferous series in Scotland (the extreme fundamental 

 part only being free from coal, and the extreme highest part only being destitute of lime, 

 itone), that Prof. Jameson was induced to follow the German method by ranging the 



