iN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF ALNWICK. 349 
The polished and scratched surfaces now to be described, were 
found in a Limestone Quarry, on Hawkhill Farm, belonging to 
Earl Grey, about one quarter of a mile south of the Basaltic Cliff 
at Ratcheugh, and 24 miles E. by N. from Alnwick. The rocks 
in the neighbourhood, belong to the Carboniferous or Mountain 
Limestone formation, and are much disturbed and broken up by 
the eruption of basalt which occurs, as an injected dike, and also 
as an overflow, shewing successive volcanic outbursts, both during 
and subsequent to the carboniferous era. The metamorphic action 
of the basalt is very marked ; not only are the sedimentary rocks 
contorted and jointed in structure, but also the limestone is 
changed into crystalline marble, and the shale into porcelain 
jasper. The section presented at the Hawkhill Quarry, is as 
follows, beginning with the uppermost bed :— 
ile ree clay, with some large and many et ip a 
fomullo (2453. usobauctinddononioonnaonducudosestencaascasaodadge 
2. Five beds of blue carboniferous limestone, with thin 19 0 
Shaleppartinestarmcecsascseaseeeeccatecene arian i reenee 
3. Coarse shale, with mountain limestone (marine) fossils 0 6 
Ame Coalkonamoor qualibyin. c.c.lmccnenetscaheccarcsancec ce ee.eserct 3.0 
5. Coarse shale, with mountain limestone (marine) fossils. 
This Quarry is situated on the high ground which runs nearly 
parallel with the Coast, and which has apparently been elevated 
by the Basaltic protrusion ; the slope is towards the river Aln, 
and on the opposite bank of the river, nearly a mile distant, the 
same clay bed, as lies at the top of Hawkhill Quarry, is found, but 
at a lower level. 
Now immediately below the Red tough Clay, the surface of the 
Limestone bed is polished, scratched, and grooved. An area of 
20 feet by 6 feet, has been bared in this state; and the same 
polished and scratched surface extends under the clay. One part 
of this surface was flat and even, presenting a smooth bright face, 
like marble artificially polished ; other portions were rounded 
and undulating, but still exhibiting the same mirror-like polish. 
One part, in particular, was one foot below the general level; 
but in this and similar cases, the angular corners of the higher 
portions were removed, and a smooth and rounded outline was 
formed, It is important to notice that the polishing of this surface 
