TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 61 



were plentiful. The whole of the rubbed serpentine enclosed in the drift shows 

 small pieces of chromate of iron standing up beyond the matrix, proving that this 

 mineral is very generally diffused throughout the whole of the serpentine of Unst. 

 The direction of the ruts, &c. is nearly W.N.W. and E.S.E. The hills of the 

 Muckle and Little Heogs lie to the north of this spot (Hagdale), and a slope, from 

 about 20 feet above the level of the sea, rises gradually hence to the top of tlie 

 Muckle Heog to the height of at least 500 feet. In this slope lies the famed 

 chromate-of-iron mine. On reaching the top of this hill I found the W.N.W. end 

 vertical and polished to the depth of at least 150 feet. The hill to the north of 

 this slopes towards it. This stortn side had evidently resisted a portion of the de- 

 stroying force, and turned it on its western flank, and thus it swept down the valley 

 towards Haroldswick Bay, evidenced by the greater destruction there than on the 

 eastern side towards Baltasound. This is a fine instance of crag and tail, the north 

 end of the Muckle Heog being the crag, the south with the Little Heog forming 

 the tail. The scene from the top of the Muckle Heog, when looking towards 

 Haroldswick, and then in the direction of Bm-rafiord, is one that tells of mighty 

 agency long continued, powerful to crush and grind — so powerful that the really 

 hard and massive hills of serpentine have been ploughed down and removed to 

 below the sea-level in places near Haroldswick, the sea having since pUed up a 

 beach on these spots, through which the water percolates from the low peaty soil 

 formed at the back at each recession of the tide. All over Unst the rocks show 

 traces of abrasion, and in many places deposits of drift, enclosing stones of all 

 sizes, some of which are roimded and striated. I mention a few of these spots 

 where I got drift, so that any one desirous may see them. First, Hagdale, at 

 Hammer, on the side of Baltasound. The haunted burn of Watlea, between Balta- 

 sound and Ueay Sound, and at the latter place on the sea-shore. On the south side 

 of the Island of Ueay a similar deposit imderlies a sandy raised beach, which 

 encloses pebbles, whelks, oysters, and other sea-shells, as well as fish-bones, in 

 abimdance. Large perched blocks (some many tons in weight) lie scattered 

 about everywhere. In none of the glacial deposits did I find a single organism. 



Thus, then, at both ends and the middle of this interesting group of islands 

 traces of glacial action have been found. I must, however, leave the filling up of 

 the interspaces to others. I feel certain that, from the appearance of the islands 

 as we coasted along them, the whole have been visited by similar action. 



Additional List of Fossils from the Boidder-clai/ of CaitJiness, 

 %C.AV. Peach. 



In 1862, at Cambridge, I had the pleasure of reading to this Section a list of 

 fossils found in the Boulder-clay of Caithness. In consequence of the interest which 

 it excited, I have since paid greater attention to this deposit and its organisms, and 

 have been ably assisted by my friend Mr. Joseph Anderson of this place (who is 

 also a hard worker in the Old Red Sandstone), and Mr. J. Miller Sutherland, of 

 Lybster. These gentlemen have kindly brought all their gatherings to me for ex- 

 amination, and thus I find that they have also got nearly the whole of the organisms 

 mentioned in both lists. Mr. Sutherland has found one shell and Mr. Anderson two, 

 which have not occun'ed to me. 



The Foraminifera, mentioned at the bottom of the list, were named by Messrs. 

 Jefireys and Waller, both excellent authorities. They were taken by me out of a 

 veiy small nest of sand enclosed in the clay of the Burn of Haster. With these 

 were portions of minute shells, and plates and spines of Echinoderms, and spicula 

 of Sponges. Mr. Anderson has since obtained a gi-eat many Foraminifera, Ento- 

 mostraca, &c., by washing the Boulder-clay itself, probably as many as ten or 

 twelve genera. These all require careful examination by those conversant with 

 such minute and difficidt forms before they can be made use of. Mr. Jefireys had 

 suggested to me that very delicate organisms might be got by washing the' Boul- 

 der-clay, but I thought it too hard and obstinate, so that to Mr. Anderson is the 

 credit due of first proving Mr. Jeffreys's suggestion correct, although he had never 

 heardof it. This washing test, if applied to deposits of clay apparently destitute of 

 organisms, may lead to interesting results. Mr. Anderson and mvself have washed 



