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XXVIII. On the Buried Forests and Peat Mosses of Scotland, and the Changes 

 of Climate which they indicate. By James Geikie, Esq., of the Geological 

 Survey of Great Britain. Communicated by Archibald Geikie, Esq., F.R.S. 



(Read 19th March 1866.) 



The following communication is an attempt to eliminate the geological history 

 of our Scottish Peat Mosses. So much, however, has already been done in this 

 matter, that the reconsideration of phenomena, for the most part well known, 

 may appear almost a superfluous task. But, notwithstanding the essays of 

 Walker, Rennie, Anderson, and others, in this department of geological inquiry, 

 there is still probably much to be gathered from the same source, which shall 

 greatly increase our knowledge of the condition of these latitudes in the ages that 

 followed upon the close of the glacial epoch. At present, I mean to give only an 

 outline of the subject, reserving for some future occasion a fuller statement of 

 the facts on which the conclusions arrived at are based. 



Our peat mosses appear to contain the record of certain changes of climate, 

 which have not hitherto fully engaged attention. The evidence furnished by 

 the buried timber has indeed been frequently considered, but not so the proofs 

 of altered conditions which the peat itself supplies. These last, more especially, 

 form the subject of this memoir. But any paper treating of the origin and 

 history of our peat mosses would be incomplete, without reference to the ancient 

 forests which they cover, and the evidence on this head has therefore been 

 recapitulated. 



It is proper to state here, that many observations on the present aspect of 

 the peat of our hills and valleys were made conjointly by my colleague Dr 

 Young and myself, during our survey of a large portion of the Peeblesshire hills. 

 The subject of this communication was partially sketched out by us some time 

 ago, but the pressure of other matters latterly deprived me of my colleague's co- 

 operation. 



The phenomena revealed by our peat mosses are three-fold : — 

 1st, The buried trees, and the condition of this country at the period of their 

 growth. 



2d, The causes which led to the destruction of those trees. 

 3d, The present aspect of the peat mosses. 

 vol. xxiv. part ii. 5 F 



