LOWER CARBONIFEROUS ROCKS ON THE FIFESHIRE COAST. 391 
clear evidence to connect these intrusive traps with the deep-seated forces which 
produced such vast results. The question would require much closer attention 
than it was in my power to give; but everything seemed to support the views so 
ably propounded by Professor Rogers in the Transactions of this Society. 
Before entering on the sedimentary strata, it is right to state that the object 
of this paper is restricted properly to a single point. The petralogy of these coasts 
—the mineral structure of their rock-masses—I do not refer to, except incidentally. 
For the present, my remarks are confined to one point, a consideration of the 
fossils in connection with the different levels at which they occur, and the light 
which is thus cast on the different groups of strata in their geological relations. 
III. Mountain LIMESTONE. 
In regard to the classification of the rocks of this district, I have been led to 
deviate to a considerable extent from the views commonly held. If about 1400 
feet be taken from the lower series—the calciferous sandstones of Mr MactarEN— 
and added to that upper marine zone, usually termed the Mountain Limestone, then 
a well-defined base line is obtained for the upper division, and the two groups 
may be distinguished by satisfactory characters. To the whole of the upper 
division, I would extend the term Mountain Limestone; and to the underlying 
group the term Lower Carboniferous. The reasons for this arrangement I shall 
afterwards state. Assuming it in the meantime, the Mountain Limestone will 
present the three following portions, viz. :— 
1. The Six Upper* Limestones, A to F. 
Immediately underlying the coal-fields on the Fife coast, we find these beds 
with shales and sandstones intercalated. The whole body of strata is set down 
by Mr Gertz as from 150 to 200 feet thick in the Lothians; and by Mr Pace 
as 200 feet thick in Fife. Ifthe lowest bed F be included, I am disposed to put 
the estimate considerably higher. The Ardross limestone, to which I referred at 
the outset of this paper, is the bed F’, the lowest of these six beds. 
It is the abundance of their fossils which render these six limestones so 
important. As itis often difficult to know how far such lists as the following 
may be depended on, I may mention that all the fossils here named were collected 
by myself, the beds and the localities being carefully noted. With the excep- 
tion of one or two of the commoner species, they will all be submitted along with 
this paper. The determination of fossil species is often a point of much difficulty, 
especially where no collection exists to which reference can be made; and I may 
therefore mention, that the lamented Dr FLemine and Dr Scou.er of Glasgow, 
two of our highest authorities, did me the favour to examine part of my collec- 
* The term upper is used only relatively. They form the highest portion of the strata to which 
this paper refers, underlying the coal-fields. 
