70 MR SMITH ON THE CHANGES 



PART II. 



Since my last communication I have continued my exa- 

 mination of the elevated marine beds of the basin of the 

 Clyde. Although it is not my intention to describe the 

 different localities in which they have been observed, there 

 are two which I cannot avoid noticing, in consequence of 

 the very remarkable proportion of extinct or unknown 

 shells which they contain. The first of these is in the 

 island of Bute, which I visited in company with Mr G. B. 

 Sowerby, for the purpose of dredging for shells. Upon 

 landing to search the shore near its northern extremity, we 

 found several valves of the Pecten Islandicus, a shell of the 

 existence of which in a recent state in the British seas Mr 

 Sowerby had previously expressed his disbelief. We were 

 anxious, therefore, to ascertain whether or not these were 

 the exuviae of a living race, and determined to dredge for 

 them in the Kyle, or narrow sound, which here separates 

 the island from the main land. This we afterwards did, 

 but without success, and the inhabitants assured us they 

 had never seen any in a live state. Subsequent inquiry 

 convinces me that all the specimens hitherto discovered be- 

 long to the ancient deposit. 



Our doubts were at all events set at rest with regard to 

 the shells in question, for, upon removing the stones and 

 shingle which lay upon the beach, they were found imbed- 



