CHAP. xvn. MURCHISON AND PEACH. 275 



information I have received from you respecting the 

 structure and succession of the Caithness deposits, and 

 for your very agreeable conversation, which was so 

 instructive as to the physical geology of these parts of 

 Scotland. Pray do not forget the old geologist who 

 wTOte upon Banniskirk fishes thirty-two years ago, and 

 who much desires to make a decent show of them in 

 the great National Museum of the Survey ; and in return 

 I promise you all the rarer British plants, which are to 

 be had by the zealous endeavours of Yours most faith- 

 fully, EODERICK I. MURCHISON." 



On the following day, Sir Eoderick and Mr. Peach 

 left Thurso for Stromness in the Orkneys, on the other 

 side of the Pentland Firth. They went to Kirkwall, 

 passing on their way the Standing Stones of Stennis, 

 the Orkney Stonehenge. On their way north, they 

 visited Sumburgh Head, and saw the Old Eed Sand- 

 stone of Caithness prolonged into the southern limb of 

 the Shetland Islands. Then to the northernmost island 

 of the group ; and finally the two geologists were 

 dropped by the steamer " Pharos," on its way south, on 

 the bleak headland of Cape Wrath. They proceeded to 

 visit the Durness limestone, where all that Peach had 

 already discovered was confirmed by the personal obser- 

 vation of Sir Eoderick. It was not until the end of 

 September that Mr. Peach reached Wick. 



In the meantime, Sir Eoderick proceeded to Leeds, 

 where the next annual meeting of the British Association 

 was to be held. There he laid before the geological 



