ARRAN. GEOLOGY. OVERLYING ROCKS. 393 



the coal would be considered as appertaining to a regular 

 series including this substance, of which the strata of 

 calcareous sandstone would be the principal member. 



But that evidence which, in Arran, is defective in the 

 separate portions, is compensated by a comparison of the 

 whole series of secondary rocks. It is thus proved that 

 the outer strata on both sides, have been broken and 

 removed in succession towards the middle of the whole 

 deposit as " it is displayed on the eastern shore ; thus 

 giving free access by a wide and perfect section, from the 

 surface to the foundation, in that part where the series 

 is most complete. Thus the coal, like the white sand- 

 stone and all the various strata that have been enu- 

 merated, is contained within the red sandstone, which, 

 without any change of character, succeeds to these beds 

 while it also precedes them. This is not a solitary pheno- 

 menon, as coal occurs in the south of Scotland in the same 

 situation. In what respect the red sandstone of this latter 

 district may be connected with the red marie of English 

 geologists I cannot determine, being unacquainted with 

 that tract of country ; but the little that remains to be 

 said on this subject will be advantageously deferred till 

 the remaining islands of the Clyde, where the same rocks 

 occur, have been examined. 



I MUST now proceed to the consideration of the remain- 

 ing rocks of Arran, which are generally found in a position 

 superior to the sandstone, and may therefore be con- 

 sidered as of later origin. 



Their general places and relations have already been 

 mentioned, but it is difficult to give a distinct account of 

 them in detail. This arises from the very limited view 

 of them which can be obtained, owing to the form of 

 the ground and the nature of the soil. It was before 

 remarked that in the case of stratified rocks it is- easy to 

 in for the nature of a considerable space from the corn- 



