296 TttE BEDSHIEL KAIMS 



basin of the Tweed ; and there was no section of the geology 

 of that district for which he did more than that concerning 

 the later changes of level and of climate, of which so many 

 records there exist. The evidence available up to the time 

 when Mr Milne Home's investigations ceased, fully war- 

 ranted him in maintaining the view that, within comparatively 

 recent times, there had been an extensive submergence of 

 the land there, and that, where the stately homes, the 

 meadows, parks, and towns of Tweedside now stand, there 

 once flowed the tides of the North Sea. It was almost 

 universally believed that it was under such marine con- 

 ditions that the extensive deposits of sand and gravel 

 which form the Kaims or Eskers of Berwickshire were 

 laid down. 



By slow degrees our views upon this subject have under- 

 gone a change, and most geologists have now come to think 

 that many of the difficulties which met one in applying this 

 particular explanation to the Berwickshire Kaims, can be 

 better met by connecting their formation with the pheno- 

 mena which accompany the melting of an extensive and 

 thick sheet of ice on the land. Had Mr Milne Home been 

 spared a few more years, many believe that his philosophical 

 mind would have led him to abandon the older view and 

 to advocate in its stead that which is now current. His 

 works gave substantial help to those who came after him. 

 All honour to his name, and to the names of those who 

 worked as he did ! 



It has been almost universally recognised by geologists 

 that Kaims or Eskers have resulted from some causes which 

 came into operation near the close of the Glacial Period. 

 But regarding hoiv they originated opinions have differed 

 widely. To understand, even in a general way, the conditions 

 under which these curious mounds have been formed, we 

 shall first have to review the whole succession of events 

 through which the Glacial Period set in, reached its climax, 

 and came to an end ; and, in passing these events under 

 notice, it will be necessary to digress, from time to time, 

 in order to consider such general principles as bear upon 

 the inquiry before us. 



