262 report — 1859. 



torted gneiss, these showing that that granite at least was of more recent origin 

 than the enclosed gneiss. Further on was an extensive section of the boulder clay, 

 which exhibited many features in common with similar clays in other places ; but 

 there were no perceptible scratches on the boulders of gneiss and granite, as, to 

 use the phraseology of their lamented friend, Mr. Hugh Miller, the Aberdeen gra- 

 nites were more likely to be the scratchers than the scratchees ! He then showed 

 specimens of the porphyry and hornblende rock, before coming to the Cove, where 

 there is a seam of granite upwards of six feet in thickness, lying conformably to the 

 hornblende schist. He then referred to the excellent and instructive section 

 exhibited in the muckle shore of Findon, and aptly illustrated its structure by a book 

 tilted upon one of its corners. He then described the highly picturesque views on 

 the Muchalls shore, exhibiting specimens of the porphyries and strangely contorted 

 gneiss, and had a stereoscope and the views of Mr. Wilson, which he invited parties 

 to inspect at the close of the meeting. Next came the Garron, from which he 

 exhibited rich iron ore, and showed that it was strongly magnetic. He then 

 remarked that, near this point, where the Old Red Sandstone commences, there was 

 a synclinal axis, and that the rocks, although towards Stonehaven they were nearly 

 perpendicular, had a slight northerly dip. In exhibiting a specimen of the whorl-rock 

 at the village of Cowie, he presumed that the name was derived from the whorls of 

 the spindles made use of before the introduction of the spinning wheel — 



When makin' whorls was a trade , 

 An' spindles in the time o' need. 



But the most remarkable thing was that in this intercalated claystone he believed he 

 had detected organic impressions ; but this was yet under consideration. He then 

 showed that green stone, blue heathen, occurred in a dyke on the south side of the 

 bay of Stonehaven. Dr. Longmuir then proceeded to describe the various ingredients 

 of the conglomerate, and remarked on the absence of fragments of granite except 

 near the Castle of Dunnottar. He also described veins of pure carbonate of lime as 

 traversing the conglomerate on which the ruins of the castle stand, and stated that 

 there was a clearly defined fault in the sandstone of the Castle-haven. 



On the Remains of the Cretaceous Formation, tyc. in Aberdeenshire. 

 By the Rev. Dr. Longmuir. 



He stated that he had no intention of doing more than showing their friends from 

 the south a series of specimens, which they might have little expected in a region of 

 granite and gneiss. He was desirous of bringing forward a brief notice of those who 

 had examined these fossils. That they were well known to their ancestors was 

 evident from the flint arrowheads and axes which were occasionally turned up in 

 cultivating the fields. A land-surveyor from Berwickshire, who had acquired a 

 taste for geological pursuits from Dr. Hutton and Mr. Bruce, who afterwards became 

 Secretary of the Natural History Society of Edinburgh, seems to have been the first 

 to recognize their geological importance. His son brought these flints under the 

 notice of Mr. C. Lyell, who determined that they were similar to those found in the 

 English chalk. In 1834, Dr. Knight, formerly of this University, read a paper on the 

 subject before the Association, of which only the title appears in the 'Transactions/ 

 But in the course of twelve years, these chalk remains had nearly been forgotten, 

 when he sent an account of his first examination of the Hill of Dud wick, in the 

 neighbourhood of Ellon, to his lamented friend Mr. H. Miller, who was pleased to 

 print it in the 'Witness.' Since that time he had visited the locality from Ellon to 

 Peterhead, and brought the result of his examination before the Association in 1850, 

 and now he wished to do little more than to submit the specimens to the examina- 

 tion of geologists. About twenty years ago, Mr. Johnston of Moreseat, in digging 

 for a waterfall, got into a substance containing many singular impressions. An 

 examination of these led him to infer that this was a portion of the green- 

 sand, which the fossils as well as lithological character of the matrix fully confirmed. 

 But he next proceeded to the lower ground nearer the sea, and found in hillocks of 

 water- worn stones, several nodules of a yellow limestone, in which he had found 

 both vegetable and animal remains, which were now on the table, arid which pa- 



