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On Bedshiel " Kaims,^'' and their relations to similar deposits 

 to Eastward and Westward. By Wm. Stevenson, Dunse. 

 When the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club last met at 

 Greenlaw, on the 20th July 1858, the Members, under the 

 able guidance of the Rev. John Walker, enjoyed under 

 very favourable circumstances, a ramble up the valley of the 

 Blackadder, and a visit to Bedshiel Kaims, certainly the 

 most remarkable of their class to be met with in Britain. A 

 long examination and much interesting discussion took place 

 as to their origin. I then stated the opinion, which I still 

 hold, that they were formed of materials deposited under the 

 waters of the sea at a time when it stood relatively about 700 

 feet above its present level, — these materials having been 

 subsequently shaped into their present form by the action of 

 tidal and other currents during the process of emergence of 

 the land. The Club again visited tlie locality from Dunse, 

 on 28th August 1862, but the torrents of rain which fell 

 whilst the party were upon the ground, rendered the inspec- 

 tion very hurried and unsatisfactory. On the first occasion 

 I was requested to contribute a paper upon the subject, which 

 I agreed to do. For this purpose a map of the district show- 

 ing the various levels was essential. The slow progress of 

 the Ordnance Survey has hitherto prevented me from com- 

 plying with the wishes of the Club, but I have now the 

 pleasure of exhibiting a map composed of six of the Ordnance 

 contoured plans on the 6 inch scale, representing a tract of 

 country extending east and west from about Edrom and 

 Swinton to Westruther, and from north to south beyond 

 Abbey St. Bathans and Cranshaws to nearly two miles south 

 of Greenlaw, and comprising an area of twelve miles either 

 way, or 144 square miles. In order to shew at a glance the 

 levels above 600 feet, the map has been coloured according 

 to the contour lines, at Messrs W. & A. K. Johnston's 

 establishment in Edinburgh, thus: — above 1000 feet, rec?; 

 1000 to 900, orange ; 900 to 800, yellow ; 800 to 700, green ; 

 and 700 to 600, blue. The lower levels are left uncoloured. 



The materials of which these Kaims consist are sand and 

 gravel, the former predominating at the east and the latter 

 at the west end. The gi-avel has been derived from the 

 Silurian and Devonian strata to the west and N.W. The 

 stratification, as might be expected if the theory laid down is 

 correct, is very irregular and frequently inclined at various 

 angles. No organic remains have hitherto been found in 

 the sand or gravel. 



