Reports and Proceedings. 81 



At the monthly meeting of the Geological Society of Gllasgow 

 (15th November, 1866), the following papers were read: — 



I. "Further observations on the Surface Geology of Glasgow." 

 By Mr. James Bennie. 



n. "On the Silurian Scenery of the Enterkin." By Mr. John 

 Dougall. 



The Manchester Geological Society continues, under the able 

 presidency of E. W. Binney, Esq., E.R.S., E.G.S., to contribute a 

 valuable series of papers on Geology, Mining, etc., which are printed 

 and issued at frequent intervals. One of the most interesting papers 

 communicated during last session is by John Plant, Esq., E.G.S. , 

 Curator of the Salford Museum, " On an ancient sea-beach on the 

 Limestone Moors near Buxton." 



About one mile south of Buxton, rises Grin Edge, a long ridge of 

 limestone rimning north-west and south-east, in the middle of a 

 broad valley formed by Axe Edge, Burbage Edge, Long Hill, and 

 Black Edge on the west and north ; and by a range of lower hills on 

 the east and south, one of which is Harper Hill. 



The highest point, called "the Tower," on Grin Edge, is 1,435 

 feet above the sea level ; and the top of Harper Hill has a nearly 

 similar elevation. 



The north-western slopes of Grin Edge and Harper Hill have 

 been scarped into great cliffs by the extensive quarrying of the lime- 

 stone, carried on during many years. 



The first operation in quarrying is to remove the turf and the thia 

 layer of loam and clay, which covers the higher ground of the hills. 

 In laying bare the southern slopes not far from the ridge of the 

 hills, the singular character of this old sea-beach is exposed. 



The surface of the undisturbed rock is seen to be worn into 

 rounded, hollowed, and fantastic shapes, tolerably uniform in depth 

 and size, and extending along a regular line upon the slope of the 

 hills. The smooth hollows between these wave-worn stones are 

 filled with loose shingle, scattered about as upon any rocky coast at 

 the present day. 



The lowest edge of this shingle beach generally ends in a line of 

 bold craggy rocks, at the base of which are huge blocks of rolled 

 stones lying upon a glacis or terrace of limestone, with a rough 

 uneven surface, full of deep hollows and holes, such as are found on 

 all rocky shores at a very low tide. 



The craggy cliffs and rough rocks on the terrace are repeated at 

 lower levels to the bottom of the valley, not so the rocky beach and 

 shingle. The upper edge of this sea beach probably extends nearly 

 to the crown of the hills, and would therefore have an elevation 

 above the valley of about 400 feet. 



The length of the sea beach exposed, is about half-a-mile on Grin 

 Edge and fully that length on Harper Hill. Standing on the old 

 sea beach at this latter place, and looking north-west across the 

 valley to the long flank of Grin Edge, the levels of the two portions 

 are seen to be identically the same above the bold craggy cliffs, and 



TOL. IV, — NO. IIXII. g 



