On Brick-Clay Beds and their Fossil Remains. 125 



courage us, however, for by patient and continued observa- 

 tion, combined with experimental research, it may be our 

 privilege to trace and connect a series of phenomena where- 

 by Almighty intelligence has thought fit to manifest His 

 power and purpose. The highest aim of science is the 

 discovery of a law, and every law that we discover becomes 

 an additional manifestation of an intelligent and a supreme 

 Lawgiver. 



On the motion of Mr David Page, a cordial vote of thanks 

 was given to Dr M'Bain for his able and interesting address, 

 and also for his valuable services while President of the 

 Society. 



I. On the Strata discovered in making the East of Fife Extension 

 Railway, with special reference to the Brick Clay Beds and their 

 Fossil Remains. By the Rev. Walter Wood, Elie, Fife. Com- 

 municated by James M'Bain, M.D., R.N. [Plans and Sections 

 of the Railway were exhibited in illustration.] 



The East of File Extension Kailway commences at the 

 Kilconquhar Station of the Leven and East of Fife Eailway, 

 and terminates at Anstruther, a distance of about six miles. 

 The cuttings are not heavy, and are almost entirely through 

 the boulder-clay and more recent deposits ; the subjacent 

 rock being reached only in one or two places. It is some- 

 what singular, that although Elie House, a little distance to 

 the north of the line, is built upon Trap Tufa, and though 

 the same rock appears in several places on the shore to the 

 south, it is never touched by the railway except at the farm 

 of Ardross, where there is a pretty deep cutting through it. 

 It presents there the same appearance as on the shore, being 

 distinctly stratified, with many faults and slips, and inter- 

 sected towards its junction with the neighbouring rocks by 

 numerous veins of calcareous spar. The junction, however, 

 does not appear in the cutting, as the Neptunian rocks on 

 both sides have been removed by denudation. There is an 

 instance within the cutting of a slip, where the contiguous 

 surfaces have by friction been polished till they have ac- 



