28 NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OP THE BELL ROCK. 



base of the tower, and at low water a dotted line of chips and 

 abrasions marks their passage across the Rock to where they 

 are again hurled to the depths. Others, again, may bring up 

 in some sheltered corner, where, if not considered dangerous, 

 they may remain a fixture for years. 



An instance occurred recently where one was wheeled 

 against our grating after occupying a safe position for many 

 years. Those that take up positions in the boat tracks are 

 of course assailed at the earliest opportunity, an operation 

 which generally entails a bit of submarine mining on our part. 

 The reef consists of hard, red sandstone, arranged in irregular 

 layers, with a dip of 15 degrees towards the south-east and 

 extends in a north-easterly and south-westerly direction, 

 having an area of about 500 yards by 100 yards considered 

 dangerous to shipping. The north-east end, on which the 

 Lighthouse is built, is slightly higher, and has an area of about 

 140 yards by 70 yards, the highest portions of which do 

 not exceed 10 feet above the lowest tides. The geological 

 formation of the Bell Rock is similar to that of the Redhead, 

 in Forfarshire, and can be traced northward through Ross- 

 shire, while in the opposite direction the shores of Berwick 

 present the same features, and continues as far as Cumber- 

 land. Soundings prove the existence of a ridge or shallower 

 part of the sea bottom extending a considerable way in these 

 directions, and as the adjacent coasts present ample evidence 

 of the sea having at some remote period in the world's history 

 occupied a much higher level, the theory that the Bell Rock 

 did not always occupy the isolated position it now does, but 

 stretched continuously from the Red Head to Berwick, 

 damming the waters of the Forth and Tay, appears highly 

 tenable. Possibly our present day " Travellers " are, through 

 some great seismic disturbance, wandering evidences support- 

 ing this theory. 



An item of interest to Arbroath Freemasons is the laying 

 of the foundation stone of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, on the 

 10th July 1808, with Masonic honours, by the builder, Robert 

 Stevenson, who, in his own words, applied the square, the level, 



