512 EEPORT— 1893. 



part of the existing sea-floor. If we suppose that the deposit was trans- 

 ported from Loch Ness, then, so far as we can see, we should postulate 

 a limited submergence in Glacial time to permit of the accumulation of 

 marine beds in that basin. 



7. The pressure of the ice that formed the overlying 45 feet of 

 boulder clay would be sufficient to account for the crushing of certain 

 shells, the compression of the annelid tubes, and the production of the 

 system of cracks in the clay referred to in the report. 



8. Notwithstanding certain obvious difficulties, the majority of the 

 Committee are strongly inclined to infer, from the assemblage of organic 

 remains and their mode of occurrence, the proved extension of the bed 

 and its apparently undisturbed character, that the shelly clay is in situ, 

 indicating a submergence of the land to the extent of over 500 feet. A 

 minority of the Committee, however, do not consider the evidence 

 sufficient to establish this conclusion, or at all points in harmony with it. 

 A note embodying their views is appended. 



9. The Committee suggest that they should continue their investi- 

 gations with regard to the shelly clays at Chapelhall, near Airdrie, and 

 Tangy Glen, near Campbeltown, both occurring underneath boulder clay, 

 and adduced as evidence of submergence in Glacial time. 



For the Committee, John Hoene, Chairman. 



VIII. — Appendix. 

 Note by a Minority of the Committee. 



While we have no wish to emphasise any diSerence of opinion among 

 the members of Committee, we gladly avail ourselves of the oppor- 

 tunity of stating our views afforded us by the courtesy of our esteemed 

 Chairman, whose desire to deal fairly with all sides of the question has 

 been conspicuous throughout this investigation. 



As Mr. Robertson has remarked in his valuable report, this Clava 

 deposit ' is in all its aspects a very puzzling one.' Any theory regarding 

 its origin or mode of formation seems to be beset with difficulties. On 

 the one hand, if we conclude that it is really in place as part of an 

 ancient sea-bottom, and so indicates a submergence of over 500 feet, 

 then it is hard to account for the absence, not only of shell-beds, but of 

 all other traces of the sea over the country generally at a similar level, 

 and at hundreds of intermediate levels down to that of existing tides. 

 If this be a clear case of a former sea-bed, it seems strange that it should 

 be the only one known or visible at a similar elevation in Scotland, if 

 we exclude that at Chapelhall, near Airdrie, which is now generally 

 believed to be not in situ ; while the shelly sands and gravels in the 

 north-east of Aberdeenshire (at 200 to 350 feet or thereby) are also' 

 admitted to be quite inconclusive as evidences of submergence. The 

 sea leaves many and various tokens of its presence where it has actually 

 been. It seems difficult to believe that a ' second glaciation,' or any 

 other assignable cause, could remove all such traces from hundreds of 

 localities all over the country — from sheltered bays, and glens, and 

 inland curves of land, which would then be occupied by the sea — and 

 yet leave those that are found (at Clava and Chapelhall, if these are 

 true instances) in the very tract, as can be shown, of the most powerful 

 ice-sheets. 



