TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 115 



succeed reddish slialy beds ; and, on the S.E. side of the section, brown sandstones 

 are found upon the shales, while on the N.W. side these brown sandstones contain 

 also quartz conglomerates. Upon this portion of the series grey flaggy sandstones 

 are seen, and these form the highest members of the rocky strata observable in this 

 portion of Scotland. 



The total thickness of the deposits which this section exhibits exceeds 7000 feet, 

 and it is interesting not only as showing the position of the Pteraspis beds, but 

 also as indicating an area south of the Grampians where, underneath the Forfar- 

 shire flags, a thick mass of conglomerate forms the lowest members of the Old Red 

 Sandstone formation. 



'On the Sandstones and their associated Deposits of the Valley of the Eden and 

 the Cumberland Plain. By Professor Harkness, F.R.S., F.G.S. 



In the yalley of the Eden, from a short distance south of Kirkby Stephen north-! 

 ward, there occur extensive developments of sandstone, which, in many localities 

 south of Appleby, have beds of breccia associated with them. These sandstones, 

 having usually a nearly eastern dip, are spread over the western portion of the Vale 

 of the Eden in Cmnberland, and have as their western boundaries the Carboniferous 

 series. In Cumberland they attain a great thickness, probably nearly 5000 feet. 

 They possess the same mineral nature as the sandstones which in Dumfriesshire 

 aflbrd footprints ; and Ichnolites of a like character to those of the south of Scotland 

 have been foimd in some localities in these Cumberland deposits. They are usually 

 succeeded conformably by clays of a red colour. In some areas these clays contain 

 gypsum ; and at one spot, near the village of Hilton in Westmoreland, there is seen, 

 between the sandstones and breccias below and the clay-beds above, a thin series 

 of deposits which vary much in their lithology. The lower portion of these has 

 a chai-acter approaching that of the marl-slate of Durham, and from this fdBsils are 

 obtained, principally in the fonn of coniferous leaves. Casts of small crinoid 

 stems are also seen, and likewise casts of Brachiopods and Lamellibranchiates. The 

 facies which these fossils present, induces the conclusion that the strata which 

 contain them represent here the marl-slate. Under these circumstances the suc- 

 ceeding marls and gypsvma must be looked upon as appertaining to the Zechstein 

 portion of the Permians, while the luaderlying red sandstones and breccias must 

 be regarded as the equivalent of the German llothliegende, which in this portion of 

 England have a veiy gi'eat development, and which, as they contain the footprints 

 before alluded to, place the PeiTuians of Dumfriesshire that afford Ichnolites among 

 the lowest gi-oup of this formation. 



The clay-beds which represent the Zechstein are conformably succeeded by fine- 

 grained red sandstones with clay layers. These aboimd in ripple-marks, desiccation- 

 cracks, raiu-pittino's, and pseudomorphs, features which are never found in con- 

 nexion with the inferior sandstones. These upper sandstones seem rather to 

 belong to the Trias than the Permians. They trougli under the Sol way Firth, being 

 well developed in the S.E. of Dumfriesshire ; and they appear to support the lias, 

 as this has been described as occumng in the north of Cumberland by Mr. Binney. 



Notice of Elongated Ridges of Drift, common in the South of Scotland, called 

 ' Kaims: By D, MiLira Home, F.B.S.E. 



The author described a number of examples of them in Berwickshire, Roxburgh- 

 shire, and other places. He stated that they were so regular as to have the appear- 

 ance of railway embankments or fortifications, and that they had often been mistaken 

 for the latter. They were from 40 feet to 60 feet in height, and sometimes could 

 be traced for three or four miles. They were found at various heights above the 

 sea up to 750 feet. In examining their internal sti'ucture, they were seen to con- 

 sist generally of sand, gravel, and boidders ; the latter generally roimded, but also 

 occasionally angular. He adverted to the fact that they are sometimes intersected 

 by rivulets and even rivers, but that notwithstanding this, they had all the appear- 

 ance of having, when originally formed, been continuous. The author offered some 

 remarks on the agency supposed to have been concerned in the production of the 



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