OF ELIE AND ERROL. 621 



and on which the mansion-house of Cairnie, for example, and the town of Colins- 

 burgh rest. 



At this point there occurs the same break in the succession as in the above 

 section. Though not as prominently shown, it is really present. 



4. The Arctic shell-clay. The upper portion consists of sand, for the most 



part unstratified ; but at two points it was observed to be separated into layers 



by partings of minutely triturated coal shale. This sand interpenetrates and 



passes into the clay, which corresponds in structure exactly with that of the 



shore-section, and, like it, contains shells in exactly the same state of preserva- 

 tion. 



5. The boulder-clay in three stages. 



The highest portion to the east was black, with almost a bluish tinge. At 

 a somewhat lower stage it shows a brown colour, while lowest is the basement 

 bed full of shivers from the shaly rock on which it rests. The boulders are 

 numerous and large, some of them two yards in diameter and striated. Boulders, 

 indeed, are found all through these beds up to the top of the sand forming the 

 upper portion of No. 4, but they are much the most numerous in No. 5. 



Transverse Section, Elie. 



It seemed desirable to examine these deposits on a line, as nearly as possible, 

 at right angles to the previous sections ; and with this view I took the banks of 

 a small stream, which falls into the sea a little to the west of Kincraig — the 

 Cocklemill Burn. A mass of trap, t, springs up close to high-water mark, and 



Section IV. 



Fig. 4. 



behind it there lies a small patch of boulder-clay, b. Beginning at the surface, 

 however, and taking the beds in order, we have — 



1. Blown sand rising into dunes. 



2. The shingle, and shells, and sands of the so-called raised beach. It runs 

 about half a mile up the banks of the stream, and rises at certain points 18 or 20 

 feet above high- water mark. The shells are the common species of the Frith, and 

 as fresh as those now lying on the shore. 



3. The third deposit consists of sands and clays, arranged in contorted layers. 

 Its junction with No. 2 is not seen, but that it is older, and, therefore, underlying, 

 is proved by the much worse preservation of the shells. When first laid open, a 



VOL. XXIV. PART III. 8 F 



