s 



VI. Description of a Fossil Tree found in a Quarry at Nites- 

 hill, the Property of Colonel Dunlop of HousehilL By 

 the Rev. Patrick Brewster, one of the Ministers of the 

 Abbey Church, Paisley. 



(Read Feb. 1. 1818J 



1 HE quarry of Niteshill, from which this very interesting 

 petrifaction was taken, lies about three miles south-east of 

 Paisley, and is part of a coal formation. It consists of white 

 sandstone, which in many parts is deeply stained by an im- 

 pregnation of iron. Two very thin seams of excellent coal oc- 

 cur immediately under the sandstone, with the intervention 

 of a few feet of till or blaize. The strata dip to the south, and 

 crop out about a hundred yards north of the spot from whence 

 the tree was taken. At this spot the face of rock is about six- 

 teen feet ; fourteen feet above the tree, and one under ; ano- 

 ther foot being occupied by the stem itself. 



The part which has been detached from the rock consists 

 of stem and roots, five feet of stem, and two of roots, different 

 views of which I have endeavoured to represent in figures 1, 

 2, & 3. 



The tree was found in contact on every side with the solid 

 rock. Its direction was nearly north and south j the root end 



pointing 



