28 



Carluke, long well known for his profound and accurate acquaintance 

 with these strata and their fossils. The first 235 fathoms give the 

 fresh-water series ; below this, from the Grare limestone down to the 

 oyster limestone, inclusive, there are 13 beds of marine limestone : 

 and among these, the beds 418 and 419 are the equivalents of the 

 Campsie main limestone and coal ; and the Campsie strata generally 

 are represented by the beds from the Kinshaw limestone (381^), 

 inclusive, downwards to the old red sandstone. In the Campsie dis- 

 trict, all the beds above the Kinshaw limestone are wanting ; and 

 the Ballagan beds have no representatives in the Carluke district. 

 The Ballagan series does, however, occur in the S.E. coal field on the 

 Merse of Berwick, as we are informed by Mr. Stevenson, and indica- 

 tions of them have also been noticed on the borders of the East- 

 Lothian field. 



22. Sections very similar to the preceding are obtained around the 

 borders of the district, amid the series of lower strata; but it is 

 impossible to identify the beds except in a very general way, as 

 great analogous groups of limestones, shales, ironstones, and coals ; 

 and viewed in this way the Carluke series, so carefully made out by 

 Dr. Rankine, is typical of the entire lower deposits. The lower 

 coals are generally of inferior quality, but good ironstones descend 

 to the very base ; while limestones, usually marine, occur in oft- 

 repeated alternations with the other measures. A general resem- 

 blance exists, but the local exceptions are remarkable. The Campsie, 

 Duntocher, Carluke, and Hurlet series have been referred to already 

 as illustrating this similarity. At Whiteinch near Partick, a little 

 above the level of the Clyde, a bore of nearly 300 feet gave 11 beds 

 of limestone, varying in thickness from 8 inches to 8 feet, aggregate 

 about 30 feet ; eight bands of ironstone, in all about 5 feet, but no 

 coal seams. At Maxwelton near Paisley, a bore of 200 feet gave 

 neither limestone nor ironstone, but several good coal seams, 

 aggregate thickness about 14 feet. At Goldilee near Houston, on 

 the outer margin of the Renfrewshire fields, where they come 

 against the trap associated with the old red sandstone of the Coast 

 Range, among the strata passed through in a shaft of 110 feet deep 

 were two limestones 8 feet apart, and respectively 7 and 4 feet thick, 

 and four coal seams about 6 feet in all, but no ironstone. At Kaims- 

 hill on the same border, a little south of Lochwinnoch, the limestones 

 and coals are similar, but good ironstone bands are associated. At 

 Howwood near Castle Semple, 125 feet of shales and rich iron- 

 stones overlie a bed of limestone 10 feet thick ; and three miles S.E., 

 at Braidstane near Beith, there occurs the largest body of lime- 



