Vol. 62.'] 



STRTJCTUBE OF THE SGURR OF EIGG. 



57 



rock of dull-grey aspect may be seen for long distances in many 

 parts of the escarpment of the Sgurr. The breccia below, com- 

 posed largely of non-volcanic material, is a local accumulation, 

 which is seen at this place for a length of perhaps 50 yards. 

 Moreover, I shall offer reasons for believing that it is interbedded 

 in the basalt-group, and therefore does not follow the irregular 

 base of the pitchstone. 



The locality has sufficient interest to merit a more particular 

 description. It is clearly the same as that which was visited by 

 Macculloch, Miller, and others ; and the fossil wood preserved in 

 various collections has doubtless come from this place. Despite 



Pig. 5. — Section at the southern base of the pitchstone, about a quarter 

 of a mile west of the eastward termination of the ridge. 



N 





B 



P=Base of fresh columnar pitchstone. 



X=Brecciated and decayed pitchstone, enclosing blocks of the fresh 



rock and rare pieces of other rocks. 

 Z=Breccia, with blocks and fragments of foreign rocks. 

 W=Large log of fossil wood. 

 S= Horizon of sandstone and plant-bed seen farther east. 

 B = Basalt-series below. 



Hugh Miller's allusion to a ' prostrate forest ' underlying the pitch- 

 stone, I cannot learn from the published accounts, from the inform- 

 ation of residents, or from personal search, that wood has ever been 

 discovered under the Sgurr, except at this place ; and the large pieces 

 of pine which have been obtained at different times may very possibly 

 be portions of a single tree. To exhibit the relations of 'the rocks, 

 as well as to procure good specimens of the wood, some work 

 with pickaxe and spade is necessary. Excavations have been made 



