1858.] MUECHISON SANDSTONES OF ELGIN. 427 



Without quitting this ridge, the observer can scarcely doubt that 

 the mass of the yellow and whitish sandstones are simply the conform- 

 able upward continuations of the true Old Eed Sandstone, and that 

 the succession is similar to that which is exhibited on the Findhorn 

 River between Altyre and Porres. Thus, at Bishop Mill, immediately 

 to the north of Elgin, the gritty sandstones, passing from red to yellow 

 colours and containing scales of Holoptychii, so dip to the N. and by 

 W. that, though the junction is hidden, they must infallibly pass 

 under the beds with Stagonolepis, which at the Findrassie quarry 

 apparently dip at the same low angle and in the same direction*. 



According to my own observation such relations are indeed proved 

 to exist by following the ridge from the Hospital Quarries to the 

 west. At Newton, on the opposite side of the ridge to that occupied 

 by the Bishop Mill quarries, as well as at Garden Moor, many 

 scales of Holoptychii and other remains of fishes occur ia reddish 

 and grey pebbly grits associated with deep-red marly shale, some of 

 which were sent to the Museum of the Geological Society many 

 years ago by that close observer the late Mr. Alex. Eobertson of 

 Inverugie. Now, I satisfied myself, when in company with Mr. G. 

 Gordon, that these red beds with ichthyolites form the lower part of 

 the yellow sandstone ridge, which, whether it contains reptiles at its 

 eastern end, or becomes a pebbly conglomerate towards its western 

 extremity in the north of west, seems to be one and the same 

 deposit. 



In short, the red sandstone and pebble-beds with Holoptychii 

 constitute the natural base of the yellow and white Elgin freestone, 

 the summit of which, after all, is perhaps not more than 120 or 150 

 feet above the red fish-beds. 



The most remarkable exposition of the strata on the summit of the 

 Elgin ridge is seen at the Hospital quarries, where the sandstone is 

 cut into to a depth of about 70 or 80 feet. The uppermost strata are 

 hard and gritty, and only used as road-stones, the central mass 

 afibrding the best freestone in beds of great thickness — fine-grained, 

 slightly micaceous, of white and light- yellow colours, here and there 

 inclining to pink. These beds rest upon softer and marly beds of 

 light-greenish colours. 



A plaiu of complete denudation, formerly much covered by water, 

 and extending from Spynie Castle on the E.S.E. to near Lossie- 

 mouth on the W.N.W., is covered by much detritus, and separates 

 the Elgiti Hills from another low parallel ridge of similar yellow and 

 whitish sandstone, which, also ranging from W.S.W. to E.N.E., 

 extends from Lossiemouth by Stotfield and Covesea to Burgh Head. 

 [The following section, fig. 2, may be considered as the northward 

 continuation of the preceding one, fig. 1, p. 424.] 



Along this coast-ridge, and for a distance of about six miles, 

 numerous quarries have been opened out, one of which has afforded 

 large bones of reptiles, and another numerous impressions of the 

 feet and claws of such animals. 



Having seen in. the possession of Mr. Martin, the intelligent 



* TheFindrassie quarry was filled in, and out of use, when I was last at Elgin. 



