310 SKY. GEOLOGY. RED SANDSTONE. 



the ordinary red sandstone occurs with perfect regularity 

 and in its most common form. 



The last portion of this series commences at the line 

 last described, and is continued to a point that admits 

 of no definition, since here the transition into gneiss, 

 to which I already alluded, takes place. 



In following the eastern boundary, or lowest beds, of 

 the sandstone series from Loch Oransa, it is not difficult 

 to trace it in the regular direction for some miles, at 

 least by those imperfect indications which alone can be 

 expected in a country so encumbered with peat and 

 vegetation. The gneiss is also to be traced parallel to 

 it for some time, maintaining its regular characters as 

 at the commencement of the line of junction. But at 

 length the research becomes fruitless or impracticable, 

 and it then becomes necessary to have recourse to the sea 

 coast, for the purpose of finding in its proper place the 

 expected junction. The indications afforded by prolong- 

 ing the linear common boundary from Loch Oronsa, 

 would fix that place between Daalvil and the point of 

 Sleat: it cannot be precisely indicated for want of a 

 name, but may be marked on the map by continuing the 

 line just mentioned. No such junction however occurs, 

 and instead of it there is found a regular gradation from 

 the one series to the other, which I shall describe as it is 

 to be seen on the sea coast, as it is there perfectly ac- 

 cessible ; while it is so obscure in 'the interior that, added 

 to its natural improbability, the description would not 

 be understood, or might perhaps be attributed to errors 

 in the investigation. 



Commencing at Dunscaich, the beds of red sandstone 

 are found dipping to the south-east and accompanied by 

 the schist, their regularity being there as perfect as in 

 the other places already mentioned. Proceeding south- 

 ward that regularity becomes materially disturbed, but 

 as a great number of trap veins occur in this particular 



