342 Anniversary Address. 



adverted to the various theories of their formation. After 

 breakfast^ the party proceeded in an omnibus and other con- 

 veyances to the farms of Bedshiel and Cattleshiel, on which 

 the longest line of Kaims is situated. The examination 

 commenced at the west end, from which looking eastward, a 

 good view is obtained of the whole line, stretching through 

 a low lying plain, for about three or four miles. The line is 

 as a whole concave towards the hills which are to the north ; 

 but the curve is not regular. In different parts there are 

 very sharp turnings, amounting even to a right angle, which 

 it is on any theory most difficult to account for. It is very 

 evident, however, that whatever was the agent which formed 

 this singular ridge, the whole line has been originally continu- 

 ous — now it is broken up in one or two places, at each of 

 which a stream crosses the line. The most important break 

 has been caused by the river Fangrist, and there the interval 

 extends to about 250 yards. 



The party were met by Mr. Thompson, the steward on 

 Marchmont estate, and two labourers, who had come by direc- 

 tion of Sir Hugh Campbell, the proprietor, to open out for 

 the inspection of the club such portions of the Kaims, as 

 might be wished, for the study of their internal structure. 

 Several old quarries were with this view stopped at and ex- 

 amined ; and in these, the geological members of the party 

 entered on an instructive discussion. It was seen that the 

 Kaims were composed of gravel and sand, disposed in regu- 

 lar layers or strata. The gravel consisted of the various rocks 

 of the country, greywacke, porphyry, basalt, and old red sand- 

 stone. Mr. D. Milne Home mentioned, that the greater part 

 of the gravel could have come only from the west or north, 

 and as the fragments were much rolled, must have come from 

 a distance. These Kaims are from 30 to 60 feet in height 

 above the adjoining surface of the country, and with sides at 

 the steepest places forming an angle with the horizon of 

 about 15° or 20°. The gravel seemed to be coarsest at the 

 west ; and there was most sand towards the east end, where 

 it has been largely quarried for building purposes. No 



