TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION ©, 5A7 
Traquair considers fragmentary and indecisive. No undoubted Holoptychian 
remains were obtained. Those that have recognisable affinities are of Dipnoi and 
Rhizodontide, and might be either of Upper Old Red or Carboniferous age. 
Notwithstanding the indefinite fossil evidence, it is highly probable that the con- 
glomerates, pebbly grits, and cornstones of Clubbiedean and Torduff are the 
equivalents of the sandstones and grits of Craigmillar and Salisbury Crags. 
This discovery seems to us of special interest and importance, because (1) it is 
the first record of undoubted Upper Old Red Sandstone fish remains in the Edin- 
burgh district ; (2) it defines more precisely the area occupied by this formation 
round the city—.a point of practical importance, as these sandstones are the source 
of the water supply for the local brewing industry; (3) it raises the question 
whether the base-line of the Carboniferous system throughout Scotland should not 
be drawn where the Ballagan type of the Cementstone group first appears. 
3. Note on the Fish-remains recently collected by the Geological Survey of 
Scotland at Salisbury Crags, Craigmillar, Clubbiedean Reservoir, and 
Torduff Reservoir, in the Edinburgh District. By Dr. R. H.Traquatr, 
FRS. 
The fish-remains from the sandstones of all these localities are very fragmentary, 
but from the Salisbury Crags sandstone portions of teeth of dendrodont, that is, 
Holoptychian fishes, are distinctly recognisable, and a piece of a scale was referable 
. to Holoptychius nobilissimus, a characteristic Upper Old Red Sandstone fish. 
Among the fish-remains from Craigmillar, a portion of a scale also with the 
sculpture of Holoptychius nobilissimus has been found, 
The remains from Clubbiedean and Torduff Reservoirs are still more fragmen- 
tary, and of the fragments none distinctly referable to Holoptychius have been as 
yet detected. Fragments referable to Rhizodont and Dipnoan fishes are present, 
but not generically or specifically identifiable, and it is therefore impossible to say 
whether they are of Upper Old Red or of Carboniferous age. 
4, On the Fauna of the Upper Old Red Sandstone of the Moray Firth Area. 
By Dr. R. H. Traquair, F.R.S. 
The fish fauna of the Upper Old Red Sandstone of Britain is better developed in 
the Moray Firth area than in any other. There are twenty-two determinable 
species, of which four are noted in this paper as new. Of the genera, the most 
noteworthy and characteristic are Psammosteus, Asterolepis, Bothriolepis, and 
Holoptychius. 
In this region we have evidence of three successive zones of fish life in the 
Upper Old Red— 
1, That of the Nairn sandstone, being apparently the lowest, and characterised 
by Psammosteus tesselatus, Asterolepis maxima, and Holoptychius decoratus. 
2. That of the Alves beds, including the well-known Scat Craig deposit, and 
characterised by Psammosteus Taylori, Bothriolepis major, and Sauripterus 
crassidens. Holoptychius giganteus and H., nobilissimus are also common, 
3. That of the Rosebrae beds, apparently the highest of the Upper Old Red 
of the district. Holoptychius giganteus and H, nobilissimus are equally common in 
these sandstones and in the nnderlying Alves beds. Bothriolepis major is also 
found, but of comparatively small size, but there is a complete absence of the 
venus Psamimosteus. The presence of Phyllolepis concentrica, Glyplopomus minor, 
and Phaneropleuron Anderson/ turnishes, however, au interesting correlation with 
the uppermost Old Red beds of Dura Den, in Fiteshire. 
The author expressed his great indebtedness to Mr, W. Taylor, of Lianbryde, 
near Elgin, for furnishing him with most valuable material for prosecuting these 
researches into the fauna of the Upper Old Red Sandstone of the North of Scotland. 
NNQ 
