294i Mr. Witham's Description of a Fossil Tree. 



No. XXVII. — A Description of a Fossil Tree, discovered in the Quarry 

 of Craigleith, near Edinburgh, in the Month of November, 1830. — By 

 Henry With am, Esq., F. G. S., SCc. &>. 



Read, March 21, 1831. 



In the month of November last year, a magnificent Fossil Stem was 

 discovered in the quarry of Craigleith, near Edinburgh, which, in geo- 

 logical position, is situate in the Mountain Limestone group, and lies 

 considerably below the great Coal basins of the Lothians. Its eleva- 

 tion above the medium level of the sea, by barometrical measurement, 

 is 75 feet. In the part of the quarry in which the Fossil is situate, the 

 strata incline to the N. N. E. 1 foot in 4i. This part of the quarry, 

 from some unforeseen cause, assumes a trough-like shape, the one side 

 dipping at an angle of 20° to the south, and the other side, at an angle 

 of 20° to the north. At the bottom of this basin, lay the roots of this 

 splendid Fossil. The general direction of the tree is 20° W. by N., 

 and the dips are as follow : — A B at an angle of 20°, B C 44° 5', C 

 D E 39° 35', F 28°, G 28°. {Sec Plate XXIV.) 



The length of the stem from the top to the root was 47 feet. It pre- 

 sents the appearance of a large branchless trunk, in some parts greatly 

 flattened, so as to form an elliptical section. The diameters are nearly 

 as follow, and will best shew the places and proportions of such flatten- 

 ings : — 



° Ft. In. Ft. In. 



A 5 long diameter, and 2 short ditto. 



BC 2 8 long diameter, and 1 6 short ditto. 



D E 2 7 long diameter, and 1 short ditto. 



F 1 10 long diameter, and 1 3 short ditto. 



G 1 7 long diameter, and 1 4 short ditto. 



On the edges of the latter diameter it was not more than 7 inches. 



