280 Dr HibBert on the Limestone of Kirkton. 



hibits may be estimated at two to three yards, but in tracing it to the part of the 

 quarry where it disappears, it may be observed to thin off to as many inches. 



The inference is, that the calcareous matter was elaborated on the site of Kirk- 

 ton in the form of hot springs, probably at the time in a state of ebullition. I need 

 not add, that this is a phenomenon perfectly familiar at the present day in districts 

 where the volcanic agency is still in activity.* 



This limestone, as I have remarked, contains plants, among which is a beautiful 

 Pecopteris, which I have transmitted for description to Professor Lindley and Mr 

 Hcjtton, to be inserted in their British Flora. 



It could scarcely be expected that this limestone should contain any animal re- 

 mains, but, to my surprise, some most singular creatures have turned up 



No fewer than five specimens were at one time discovered of a crustaceous animal 

 of extraordinary large dimensions. Unfortunately, these specimens in their broken 

 state were soon dispersed. A very able naturalist of Glasgow, Dr Scouler, at pre- 

 sent Professor of Mineralogy in the University of Dublin, obtained the sight of a 

 portion only of one of these animals, which he described Under the name of Eidothea. 

 (Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographical Science, vol. iii. p. 352.) 



When my account of the limestone of Kirkton was made known through the 

 journals, public attention was directed to its singular character, and, as a conse- 

 quence, more of these dispersed remains were brought to light, particularly by Dr 

 Reid and Dr Simpson, severally of Bathgate. The last named gentleman allowed 

 me to exhibit the relics in his possession at a Sectional meeting of the British 

 Association of Science ; and Mr Smith of Jordanhill then brought forward the head 

 of the animal described by Dr Scodlek. 



In Plate XII. figs. 1. and 2. shew both sides of the animal. Fig. 3. is the head 

 alluded to ; while figs. 4. and 5. are the two sides of an extremity, apparently refer- 

 able to the same specimen. 



Upon this occasion Mr ToerIe of Edinburgh was so obliging as to place in my 



* In concluding my mineralogical account of this deposit, I would observe, that my intelligent 

 young friend, Dr Simpson of Bathgate, was the first to inform me, after the reading of my paper, that 

 the limestone of Kirkton had been noticed in an article by Dr Fleming, published in the Edinburgh 

 Journal of Science for April 1825, (p. 307.) In this paper, a brief allusion is made to the siliceous la- 

 minae of the limestone, as well as to its totryoidal and mammillary structure. It is also stated, that 

 " several trunks of trees with their branches" had turned up, in which concentric zones and perpendi- 

 cular fibres were visible. Dr Fleming's remark, that this limestone " encloses the remains of those 

 marine animals which are common in the limestones of the coal formation," I consider as a mistake. 

 The memoir is entitled, " On the Neptunian formation of Siliceous Stalactites." It is almost entirely 

 theoretical, being a defence, in reference to siliceous developments, of the doctrine taught by Wehneb. 



I may also add, that since an abstract of this memoir appeared in print, Mr Maclaren of Edin- 

 burgh has published (in the Scotsman) some very ingenious observations upon the trap-rocks in the 

 immediate vicinity of this thermal deposit, in which their stratified character is advocated. I am sorry 

 that the extreme length of my memoir prevents me from entering into an explanation of his views, 

 and from expressing my own opinion regarding them. 



