C Davison — British Earthquakes of 1889. 367 



the shock was felt at those places. But, at the other six places 

 marked on the map, the characteristic earthquake-sounds were 

 heard. They were compared to the movement of heavy articles 

 of furniture overhead (Glen Saddell and Killean), the passage of 

 heavy vehicles (Kilberry and Lochranza), a strong blast of wind up 

 the chimney (Gigha), and a cartload of stones being suddenly emptied 

 (Gigha). The sound is said to have accompanied the shock at 

 Kilberry, and to have preceded it at Glen Saddell and Lochi-anza. 



Position of the Epicentrum and Geological Relations. — The centre 

 of the disturbed area is about 3^ miles S.E. of Clachan. That the 

 earthquake can have had no connexion with the great southern 

 boundary fault of the Highlands is evident from the distance of 

 the epicentrum from the continuation of the line of this fault. 

 Pi'of. C. Lapworth, F.R.S., has, however, been good enough to give 

 me the following note ou the possible geological relations of this 

 earthquake. 



"The geological structure of this district shows that between 

 Loch Fyne and its prolongation, Loch Killisport, there is a band of 

 slaty material more or less unaltered. A corresponding band occurs 

 on the fringe of the Highland district, running from Stonehaven to 

 Dunoon and Eothesay. Between these two well-marked lines of 

 slate, lies a great area of gneiss. The relation of the gneissic rocks 

 to the slaty rocks is disputed ; by some it is suggested that the 

 gneisses rise in an anticlinal form from below the schists ; by 

 others, that the gneisses lie on a synclinal formed of the slates. 

 The apparent dips of the metamorphic strata make the latter 

 interpretation the simpler and more probable one to geologists 

 accustomed to lowland areas. If we recollect, however, that the 

 Highlands are actually a denuded mountain complex, it becomes far 

 more probable that this apparent synclinal is actually a fan-structure 

 or inverted anticlinal, as suggested in my paper on " The Secret of 

 the Highlands."^ If this is the case, the slipping and movements 

 caused by lateral pressure will take most effect along the two planes 

 of contrary motion running midway between the crest of the main 

 fold and its bounding synclines. Curiously enough, the line of 

 direction of the axis of the disturbed area coincides precisely with 

 the theoretical position of the southern zone of contrary movement, 

 on the assumption that the gneisses form an inverted anticlinal." 



Autliorities. — The only published account of the earthquake that 

 I have met with is contained in the "' Oban Times " for July 20 ; 

 and I am indebted to the courtesy of the Editor of this paper for 

 searching his files and sending me the extract referred to. For 

 the greater part of the information on which the above account is 

 founded, I have to thank the following gentlemen : the Eevs. J. 

 Johnstone (Lochranza, Arran), D. N. Macdonald (Killean), J. F. 

 McKenzie (Gigha), and H. W. Strang (Campbeltown) ; Mr. E. A. 

 Cavana (Gigha) ; and especially Mr. J. N. Macleod of Kintarbert and 

 Saddell, without whose aid the account of this earthquake would 

 have been much more imperfect than it is. 



1 Geol. Mag. Dec. II. Vol. X. pp. 120-8, 193-7, 337-44 (1883). 



