O^ FOSSILS FROM THE NORTH-WESTERN HIGHLAXDS. 23^ 



land. These fossils were discovered ia the limestone of Durness, where they 

 are numerous, and where more have since then been found. This Durness 

 limestone forms, geographically, an isolated basin lying to the west of the 

 great strike of limestone which runs from Eribol to 8kye. In this detached 

 deposit only have fossils been found, with the rarest exceptions, to be named 

 below. It is important, therefore, that organic remains should be found, if 

 such exist, in the great line of strike, in order to determine whether this 

 last limestone is fossiliferous or not, and also -whether the Durness lime was 

 deposited under the same or under different conditions. It was for the 

 purpose of making diligent search along this great line of deposit, that a 

 grant was asked and obtained last year from the Association ; as also for the 

 discovery of more perfect specimens, and, if possible, new species, from the 

 Durness lime, in order to determine more precisely the relations these fossils 

 bear to the Silurian and other systems, than could be made from the sped 

 mens submitted to Mr. Salter in 1S58. 



Since the Edinburgh Meeting last year, search has been instituted along 

 this great strike of limestone at Durness, Loch Eribol, Inchnadamph, 

 Elphin, and Kinlochewe, and Avill be made at Ullapool and Loch Kishorn. 

 At these points, certain clergymen, teachers, and other gentlemen have kindly 

 consented to do what they can towards the discovery of fossils, so that more 

 systematic search will now be made than heretofore. Good results may be 

 anticipated, if not in the discovery of fossils, at least in greater certainty as 

 to the presence or absence of organic remains in these remarkable rocks. 



At DuKNPiss, in July of last year, many fine fossils were obtained, through 

 the efforts of some members of the Committee and their friends, from a re- 

 markable island of limestone near Cape Wrath, called Elian Garve. These 

 fossils were shown at the Meeting in Edinburgh, and were pronounced by 

 Mr. Poach much finer than any he had seen from the same locality. They 

 have been secured as the nucleus of a collection for the Association. A col- 

 lection of fine specimens was also made by a student resident in the district, 

 for Professor Nicol, of Aberdeen, who now has them in his possession. This 

 island is so difficult of access, except in the very calmest weather, that we 

 were unable to land both this year and last. In June of this year, along 

 with some friends, I landed on a rocky headland of limestone, on the west side 

 of the Kyle of Durness, where fossils are exposed on the weathered surfaces 

 of the limestone in remarkable numbers, and I obtained some good speci- 

 mens. Several gentlemen in the neighbourhood have kindly agreed to make 

 diligent search in the Durness limestone at various points, and one of them 

 has also kindly allowed the use of his boat for this purpose ; so that good 

 work will be done at the least possible expense. 



Loch Eribol. — No fossils have yet been discovered in the extensive lime- 

 stone rocks on Loch Eribol. An Orthoceratite was presented to the Jermyn- 

 Street Museum by Sir II. Murchison, which he got from Mr. Clark, of Eribol 

 House. This Orthoceratite is unique, as being the only organism found in 

 the quartzite. It was not, however, found in situ, nor at the spot marked 

 by Sir Iloderick in his paper in the 'Geological Journal' of August 1860, 

 vol. xvi., but was picked up in a detached piece of rock between Eribol 

 House and the loch to the west. Lime-works have been established on Loch 

 Eribol on the limestone peninsiila of Heilim, and quarrying has been done 

 in connexion with these, but as yet no fossils have been found. These ope- 

 rations afford an unwonted opportunity for their discovery, and the strictest 

 watch is to be kept by the lessee. 



iNCHNADAMPn, — In the immense development of limestone at the head of 



