VI PREFACE. 



larger and more complete than its predecessor by adding 

 several new Excursions, by giving an account of the Arctic 

 shell beds of Arran, which had been in the meantime dis- 

 covered, and of the excavations within the Tormore Stone 

 Circles made by the late Duke of Hamilton, at the request 

 and under the direction of the Author, as well as by the 

 introduction of much new matter relating to the antiquities, 

 history, and traditions of the Island. The work was thus 

 made to serve as a general Guide to Arran. Dr. Miles being 

 absent from this country, several additional species were 

 added to the lists through the kindness of Dr. Carpenter. 

 Into the part relating to Clydesdale, changes not less extensive 

 were introduced; the more important of which was a con- 

 nected account of the Arctic shell beds of the Clyde basin, in 

 their true physical sequence, with a list of all the species 

 then known. 



Since the Third Edition was published, the active and 

 successful labours of members of the Geological Society of 

 Glasgow have made the structure and fossils of the Clydes- 

 dale strata known to geologists everywhere, through the 

 medium of * their excellent Transactions, in much greater 

 detail than could be given in this work, and it has hence 

 been considered unnecessary to include in the present edition 

 that portion of the last which related to Clydesdale. The 

 .-juice thus saved has been used for the enlargement of the 

 rest of the work, so as to embrace more of the geology, 

 natural history, and antiquities of the Islands. A chapter 

 on the Birds of Arran has been most kindly supplied by .Mi. 

 Robert Gray, author of a recent work on the Minis of the 

 West of Scotland, which has already taken a high position; 

 and a list of the Quadrupeds has been obligingly furnished by 

 Mr. Edward Alston, F.Z.S., a well-known naturalist. The 

 Author has also to express his obligations to Dr. F. Buchanan 

 White, Dunkeld; Rev. David Landsborough, Kilmarnock; 

 and to Mr. David Robertson and Mr. Johu Young, Glasgow, 

 for important additions to the lists of species in the depart- 



