1858.] MILLEE NOETHEEN HIGHLANDS. 461 



3. On Fossil Foot-peints in the S-Indstoke at Cummingstone. 

 By S. H. Beckles, Esq., F.G.S. 



[Abstract.] 



Me. Beckles, during a late tour in the Highlands, examined the 

 Sandstone-quarries at Covesea, near Elgin; and, having exposed 

 and removed several square-yards of the Sandstone-slabs bearing 

 fossil foot-prints at this place, has sent a large collection of them to 

 London, but has not yet had the opportunity of studying them in 

 detail. Mr. Beckles says that he has secured several varieties of 

 footsteps, differing in size and form, and in the number of the claws, 

 which vary apparently from 2 to 5. One foot-print, of a circular 

 shape, measured 15 inches in breadth. Some of the smaller foot- 

 prints are evidently formed by young individuals of the same species 

 that made some of the larger marks. Some of the prints have been 

 left, in the author's opinion, by web-footed animals. 



Most of the surface -planes of the rock, at different levels, bear 

 foot-marks. The majority of the tracks, Mr. Beckles says, are uni- 

 serial, the double (or quadrupedal) series being exceptional. 



Mr. Beckles noticed also impressions of rain-prints, weU marked 

 on some of the surface-planes, and indicating the direction of the 

 wind blowing at the time of the rain-fall. 



4. On the Stjccessiok" of Rocks in the Noetheen Highlands. 

 By John Millee, Esq. 



Communicated by Sir E. I. Murcliison, V.P.Gr.S. 



(The pubUcation of this paper is unavoidably postponed.) 



[Abstract.] 



Me. Millee in this communication explained the history of our 

 knowledge of the geology of this district; and, having given in 

 detail an examination that he made of the coast last autumn, he 

 di^ew particular attention to the faithful and comprehensive descrip- 

 tions of the Old Eed district by Sedgwick and Murchison in former 

 years, and showed that his own observations quite coincide with the 

 results of Sir Eoderick Murchison's late correlation of the Gneissic, 

 Cambrian, Silurian, and Old Red strata of the coasts of Sutherland, 

 Ross-shire, and Caithness. 



In conclusion, Mr. Miller pointed out that the Durness Limestone 

 and the fossiliferous beds of Caithness were still open fields for 

 careful and energetic explorers. 



