186 Reports and Proceedings. 
of Carluke, many years ago, and named after him. Mr. Hunter also 
exhibited numerous specimens of polished limestone with Corals, 
&c., and explained his process of grinding and polishing them, by 
which any member of the Society, with a little labour, and at a very 
trifling cost, could easily accomplish like results. 
The Discovery of Lower Carboniferous Fossils in the Upper 
Coal-measures.—Mr. R. Wuyte Sxipsey exhibited specimens of 
Productus scabriculus, Discina nitida, Conularia quadrisuleata, and 
Bellerophon Unit, recently discovered in the Upper Coal-measures, 
very greatly higher in the Carboniferous series than previously 
known. 
These fossils are true marine types, and have not hitherto been 
found higher in the series than about 290 fathoms under the ‘ Ell 
Coal,’ generally in the Mountain-limestone and its concomitant 
shales. ‘The specimens now produced were discovered in a coal- 
pit-shaft on the Drumpeller property, about six miles east of Glas- 
gow. ‘They were enclosed partially or altogether in clay-ironstone- 
nodules, which were enveloped in shale, a few of the dorsal valves 
of the Productus being in the shale itself. Their position is about 
30 fathoms from the surface, over- and under-laid by the usual alter- 
nations of sandstones, shales, and fireclays. In this pit the ‘Main 
Coal’ is calculated to be 100 to 110 fathoms from the surface ; and 
the ‘ Ell Coal,’ if in its usual relative position to the ‘Main Seam,’ 
would be 10 to 15 fathoms higher. The position of the fossil-bed, 
therefore, is about 60 fathoms above the ‘ Ell Coal ;’ the horizon of 
these varieties of ocean-life being upwards of 300 fathoms higher 
than hitherto known,—above the regular coal-seams of the Upper 
Carboniferous strata, while any previously known beds of the kind 
lie in the middle series; and Discina nitida, at least, establishes a 
connecting link with the Permian beds. The nodules enclosing 
these fossils are of a brown colour, like hamatite; and this is really 
their character, there being only 28 per cent. of iron in its normal 
state of a carbonate, and 23 as a peroxide: the shale alsois purplish 
red. The cause of this is evidently a large trap-dyke, which, though 
not in contact at this point, traverses the ground in close proximity, 
and by transmitted heat has effected this change in colour and 
character. The Productus is most abundant of all, only one or two 
specimens of the others being got; but great numbers cannot be 
expected, the extent of the fossiliferous bed turned out being only 
the area of the shaft, about ten feet square ; and it is not above one 
foot thick. It is, however, a persistent bed, and clearly in its 
natural position, there being no irregularity nor dislocation visible 
in it or the strata around, except a supposed downthrow in the whole 
mass of beds by the action of the trap-dyke, the pit being regarded 
as on the depressed side. 
The reading of Mr. Skipsey’s paper was followed by some discus- 
sion as to the position of the strata in which the shells were found. 
Mr. JAmEs THOMSON said he thought the Society should be cautious 
in affirming the discovery announced by Mr. Skipsey, until the 
position of some well-known bed of coal in the pit was ascertained, 
