MINERALOGY OF THE REDHEAD. 345 



having an inclination of 24>°, which have been 

 deposited from a state of suspension in water. 

 Had the water been in a state of rest, these strata 

 must have assumed a horizontal position, but if 

 we suppose the water to have been in a state of 

 motion, we have then the influence of a new- 

 agent to consider, which may lead us to the con- 

 clusion, that the motion of a fluid depositing sus- 

 pended earthy matter, modifies the statical ten- 

 dency of that matter to horizontality. If the 

 cause now mentioned be considered capable of 

 giving an inclined position of 124" to strata form- 

 ed from coarse materials mechanically suspended 

 in water, at what angle are we to fix the maxi- 

 mum of its effect, at 24' or at <;0* ? and are we 

 to confine its operation to the construction of the 

 recent beds of gravel and sand, or suppose its in- 

 fluence to have been exerted at the formation of 

 the more ancient strata of the globe ? 



We may add, that these beds of gravel occur at 

 the eastern extremity of the great valley of Strath- 

 more, and in all probability were formed at the time 

 when this valley was an inland lake. The masses 

 of gravel are neither smooth on the surface, nor 

 regularly rounded, as we always observe in sea- 

 gravel. It is also worthy of notice, that similar 

 beds of gravel and sand had been formed in the 

 same place, but at a period more remote, which 

 now appear in the form of solid rock. 



At Wormy Hills, near Aberbrothick, there is a 

 mineral welL The water is a strong chalybeate, and 



z3 



