Reviews — Geology of Edinburgh and East Lothian, etc. 133 



formation ; but in accordance with the determinations of the plant 

 and fish remains by Dr. Kidston and Dr. Traquair, the group is now 

 considered to represent two palseontological divisions, the one Upper 

 and the other Lower Carboniferous. It is stated that a boundary has 

 been drawn between these subdivisions where the evidence is regarded 

 as conclusive, but as observed (p. 244), the palaeontological break is 

 not of an absolutely definite character ; two plants hitherto supposed 

 to be confined to Lower Carbonifei'ous in this country have since been 

 found in Upper Carboniferous, and no stratigraphical evidence of 

 unconformity lias been detected in the series. 



An interesting feature is the account of the volcanic history of the 

 Arthur's Seat Volcano, and the special description of the petrography 

 of the Carboniferous volcanic rocks of the Edinburgh and Linlithgow 

 districts. Three excellent pictorial plates and a coloured geological 

 map illustrate the geological features of Arthur's Seat. Moreover, we 

 learn that " The re-examination of Arthur's Seat by the Geological 

 Survey confirmed the later views of Charles Maclaren and the con- 

 clusions of Professor Judd regarding its structure, namely, that the 

 lavas and ashes, together with the central agglomerates and their 

 associated igneous rocks, belong to one period of volcanic activity ''. 



The formations newer than the Coal-measures are all included 

 under the heading of Pleistocene and Recent. They comprise Boulder- 

 clay, Glacial sands and gravels, ancient lake-deposits with Arctic 

 plants, raised beaches, and alluvial terraces. Evidence furnished by 

 certain buried river channels indicates that in pre-Glacial time the land 

 stood higher relatively to the sea than at present. In connexion with 

 the Glacial phenomena, of special interest is a transported mass of 

 igneous rock resting on Glacial sands and gravels at Comiston. This 

 is illustrated in one of the plates. 



The economics of the region are fully discussed. Tables are given 

 showing the thickness, class, and quality of the various coal-seams 

 in the Mid-Lothian basin and in the Bo'ness and Bathgate districts, 

 and chemical analyses of various seams are quoted. A table is also 

 given showing the physical properties of the more important building- 

 stones of the region, and an account is presented of the water-supply 

 of Edinburgh and the surrounding districts. 



In the appendix appears a general list of Carboniferous fossils 

 arranged in their systematic order, and this is preceded by notes on 

 the distribution of life in the Lower Carboniferous rocks. There are 

 also lists of Pleistocene and Neolithic organic remains. 



2. The East Lothian or Haddington Memoir describes the Geology of 

 East Lothian and the coastal belt near Cockburnspath in the adjacent 

 county of Berwick. The introduction presents a synopsis of the rock 

 groups and their distribution and an account of the physical features 

 and their development. Brief descriptions are next given of the 

 Silurian rocks of the Lammermuir Hills and of the Upper Old lied 

 Sandstone, the latter formation in this region being associated with the 

 classic generalizations of Hutton and of his associates, Playfair and 

 Sir James Hall. 



The greater part of the memoir is occupied by detailed descriptions 

 of the Carboniferous rocks ranging from the Calciferous Sandstone 



