280 GEOLOGICAL LETTERS AND NOTES 



specimens were exhibited ab the last meeting viz. Friday the 3rd, 

 upon which occasion they attracted much notice. It was then 

 observed that, although the specimens of rocks and mineral were 

 accurately labelled, the localities of the fossil fish and the slates 

 accompanying them, were not indicated ; and as it is highly 

 desirable to know the exact geological position which these fossil 

 bodies occupied with reference to their superior and inferior 

 strata, perhaps you will favour me with a letter on the subject. 

 There were also fossil heart-shaped bivalves without localities, 

 apparently Cardita (?), and resembling much some fossils of the 

 Plastic day. The occurrence of these in Caithness is rather 

 surprising, and any elucidation from you will add very materially 

 to the value of the specimens. 



I have the honour to be etc., 



Rod. I. Mnrchison, 



Hon. Secretary Geol. Soc, Lond." 



To this letter Mr Culley wrote in reply by return post : — 



Coupland Castle, March 14th, 1826. 



" This moment I am favoured with your letter of March 7th. 

 It is ray intention to send my journal which I kept in traversing 

 the counties of Caithness and Sutherland principally on foot, 

 together with a colouied geological map,'* and such drawings, 

 sections and sketches as were made on the spot. The collection 

 of rocks and minerals would have been larger ; but taking the 

 difficulties of the country into consideration, and that the greater 

 part were carried by myself over rugged mountains, I was rather 

 surprised at their amount. 



I shall add a general description of the country with a slight 

 notice of its agriculture and the manners of the inhabitants, if 

 the Society deem them necessary. Be so good as to inform me 

 on this head. I shall willingly comply with any suggestions 

 which may be thought necessary. 



The fossils I did not intend to send until next autumn, and were 

 sent now to fill up a box. If therefore they are laid aside I will 

 send what others I can collect -with the materials which I have 

 collected for an essay on the small and insulated " Coalfield " to 

 which they particularly belong in Sutherland. The fishes in the 

 clay Slate are from a quarry worked for roofing and flagging, called 

 Banniskirk, in Caithness. It is the prevailing rock of that flat and 



* The original Journal and Map here spoken of are amongst the 

 geological papers at Coupland Castle. 



