276 Scientifie Intelligence. 
2. On the Relations of ihe Crystalline Rocks of the North Highlands 
to the Old Red Sandstone of that Region, and on the Recent Fossil Dis- 
coveries of Mr. C. Peach; by Sir Rovericx I. Murcutson, (Proc. Brit. 
Assoc., 1855, Ath., No. 1457).—Having referred to his earliest publica- 
tions relating to the Old Red Sandstone, in 1826 and 1827 (being associ- 
ated in the latter year with Prof. Sedgwick), the author explained how the 
classification originally proposed by his colleague and himself had been 
extended and improved by the researches of Mr. Hugh Miller. Hav- 
ing stated that his matured and condensed views as to the true equiva- 
ents of the Old Red Sandstone being the Devonian rocks of other 
countries were given in his last publication, entitled ‘ Siluria,’ Sir Rod- 
erick called the special attention of the Section to the consideration of 
the true relations of these deposits to the crystalline rocks of the High- . 
ands. ‘To satisfy his mind on this point, and to see if it was necessary 
to make any fundamental change in bis former views, the author has 
spent the last five weeks in re-surveying his old ground in Sutherland, 
Caithness, and Ross-shire, on which occasion he was accompanied by 
Prof. James Nicol. Obtaining ample evidence to induce him to adhere 
to his former opinion, that all the crystalline rocks of that region, con- 
sisting of gneiss, mica schist, chloritic and quartzose rocks, limestones, 
clay slate, &c., were originally stratified deposits, which had been crys- 
tallized before the commencement of the accumulation of the Old Re 
Sandstone, he first gave a rapid and general sketch of those ancient 
metamorphism, of their pristine sedimentary condition. They have ® 
prevalent strike, varying from NE and SW to NNE and SSW, and in 
the northernmost counties of Scotland their prevailing inclination Is to 
E or SE, usually at high angles. In combating a theoretical 
idea, which had only very recently been applied to the crystalline rocks 
etr 
(the thick slates of 
ale usually cleaving in coincidence with the si 
ry decisive joints. ee 
traverses which he made across the direction © 
2 rock masses in the north coast of Sutherland,—the 
ht years ago, with Prof. Sedgwick, the other, In the 
ng this meeting, with Prof. Nicol,—and, in mention! 
