Mr. ^ym. Btevenson on Bedshiel " Kaimsy 127 



find that the shutting np of two sounds, one to the west and 

 the other to the north, has taken place. At an elevation of 

 about 700 feet, Mr Milne Home and I, last summer, whilst 

 examining the crags on the N.E. side of Dunse Common (top 

 of Borthwick hill) satisfied ourselves of the existence of a 

 very ancient sea-cliff and beach; the former being composed of 

 the hard basalt of which the hill consists, and the latter of 

 fallen blocks detached from the cliff, and well water-worn on 

 the upper surface and the sides exposed to the action of the 

 great western current, their eastern ends being left quite 

 rough. These blocks appear evidently to have remained 

 undisturbed since they received the last farewell kisses of old 

 ocean. No trace of glaciation could be detected. 



In descending the very remarkable ridge of the '' Scarting 

 Kaim " we find the generally steep downward slope inter- 

 rupted by three or four very well marked terraces of consider- 

 able extent, evidently indicating long lulls in the process of 

 upheaval of the land. At lower levels we have other deposits 

 of sand and gravel in the form of ridges, knolls, and flat 

 mounds, their materials having been derived partly from the 

 washing down of portions of the older Kaims. Similar 

 deposits occur near Dunse down to 400 feet and even lower ; 

 but though presenting many points of interest we can do no 

 more on this occasion than simply allude to them. 



To the westward of Bedshiel Kaims very great numbers of 

 gravel ridges and knolls occur at various levels, scattered 

 over a great extent of country. The very striking gravel 

 knoll at Cammerlaws and other Kaims near the Black- 

 adder come up to the 700 feet level ; but there are a great 

 number of similar deposits or formations at lower elevations, 

 e.g., adjoining Gordon Moss and near Earlston, extending 

 over a tract of several miles in extent. As a specimen may 

 be taken the Kaim near the railway not far from West 

 Morriston, from which a large quantity of gravel has been 

 taken for ballasting the line. It consists of sand and gravel, 

 the latter being pebbles of greywacke, porphyry, and old red 

 sandstone, all of which may have been derived from rocks 

 now seen in situ within a few miles to westward ; also many 

 pebbles of quartz apparently of Grampian origin, but none of 

 the particular quartz upon which I to-day submit a separate 

 paper. The sand is irregularly stratified with the gravel. 

 The pebbles are more or less rounded, many of them being of 

 a bulletty form, indicating much littoral rolling. 



In conclusion, I present this paper as a very rough and 



