1857.] 



GEIKIE — SKYE. 



crinites. The shales too, when contrasted with those higher up in 

 the series, are remarkably barren in fossils. 



The long narrow peninsula at Obe Breakish consists, on its south- 

 eastern side, of beds of white sandstone, and along its north-western 

 shore of a thick deposit of dark sandy micaceous shale abounding in 

 Gryphcece. Above these shales there occurs in the interior a stratum 

 of brecciated conglomerate formed of lias-limestone and red sandstone 

 fragments. 



From Breakish to Broadford the shore is occupied by low shelving 

 reefs of dark blue limestone with alternating courses of shale. As 

 the rocks approach Corry, beds of calcareous grit often charged with 

 Gryphcece begin to appear. The series described up to this point 

 corresponds in position to the lower lias of England. 



Beyond Corry and on the opposite island of Pabba there begins a 

 series of dark micaceous and sandy shales abounding in fossils*, and 

 answering to the lower horizon of the English middle lias. The 

 syenite of Beinn Bhuidhe descends to the shore north of Corry ; but 

 the shale can still be traced along it as far as the entrance of the 

 Sound of Scalpa, where the last beds visible are of sandstone, greatly 

 disturbed by syenite and trap-dykes. The series is, however, pro- 

 longed on the coast of Scalpa Island near Scalpa House, where a 

 series of calcareous shales rest unconformably on the red sandstone, 

 which has here a south-easterly dip. The organisms of these shales 

 are in a wretched state of keeping, but some of the better-preserved 

 Pectens suggest a comparison with the marlstone of England. 



The continuation of the series through the upper lias will doubt- 

 less be made out along the eastern coast-line of Skye and Raasay, 

 but my explorations have not hitherto extended further north than 

 Scalpa. The sequence of the beds described will be at once perceived 

 from the subjoined Table. 



Table of the Lias of Strath. 



Dark calcareous shales (with Pectens, &c.) Scalpa. 



Middle Lias. \ Dark-grey or brown, sandy, micaceous shales (with 



numerous fossils) Pabba. 



Calcareous grits (with Gryphace) 1 BroadfordBav. 



Limestones and shales in alternate bands J 



Calcareous brecciated conglomerate (Inland.) 



Dark brownish-grey sandy shale (with Gryphcece). \ q. xi Tea \r[ & 



White sandstone 



Limestone and occasional seams ] (with Animo- 



of shale. ., >nites,Gryphites, 



Calcareous grit ; 7 to 8 feet ... J and Pectens). 



Coral -bed ; 2 feet (Isastrcea) ^-Lussay 



Limestone; 1 foot 



Green and yellow sandstone ; 3 to 15 feet 



Fine conglomerate; 2 to 3 feet 



Red sandstone and quartz-rock. 



The dip of these beds from their base at Lussay to their top at 

 Scalpa House (fig. 2) is pretty uniformly 5°-8° to the north-west ; 



* For a description of the fossils collected in Strath I am indebted to the 

 kindness of Dr. Wright. See Appendix. 



Lower Lias. < 



