SIMMONS — EVIDENCE OF GLACIAL ACTION IN SCOTLAND. 103 



cestors of Pty. Mortoni, from the American Greensand, may be repre- 

 sented in time by some of the species of Acrodus, we would invite 

 comparison with an unnamed tooth of this genus from the Forest mar- 

 ble of Stanton, in Wiltshire. In the same way, if the development 

 theory be correct, the connecting links might be hereafter discovered 

 between the more primitive Orodus ramosus of the Carboniferous 

 limestone and the Forest Marble species of Acrodus, and the Acrodus 

 AnningicB of the Lias of Lyme liegis. 



NOTES ON THE EVIDENCE OF GLACIAL ACTION 

 IN SCOTLAND. 



By P. Simmons, Esq., oe Wiiiteincii. 



In the parish of Raldernock, county of Stirling, and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of "fragments of stone reared by creatures of clav," 

 Craigmadden Castle, the pedestrian will find three large stones well 

 worthy of his notice. They are situated in the centre of a bog ; 

 consequently, if the said pedestrian desires to observe, measure, and 

 minutely examine them, he must, as three friends lately did, take off 

 boots and stockings and wade through the water that surrounds the 

 stones to within two feet; that 

 is to say, if he desires such arti- 

 cles to remain dry. The 

 forms part of an extensive na- 

 tural amphitheatre, situated in 

 the Craigmadden moor; and the 

 stones have received the name Fig. 1. — View (looking to the S.E.) of the 

 "Auld AVives' Lifts," from the " Aiud Wives' lifts." 



absurd tradition that they were placed, once upon a time, among the 

 heather by three old women, natives of Baldernock, Strathblane, and 

 Campsie. 



The Lifts are considered by some antiquaries to be nothing more 

 or less than a cromlech or sepulchral monument ; others, however, 

 think they are an altar which the Druids used. The former opinion 

 is maintained by Dr. Daniel Wilson in his 'Archaeology.' His 

 words are : "It is remarkable as an example of a trilith, or com- 

 plete cromlech, consisting only of three stones. Two, of nearly equal 

 length, support the huge capstone ; a block of basalt measuring fully 

 18 feet in length, by 11 in breadth, and 7 in depth. A narrow tri- 

 angular space remains open between the three stones, and through 

 this every stranger is required to pass on first visiting the spot, if, 

 according to the rust ic creed, ho would escape the calamity of dying 

 childless. It is not unworthy of being noted, that though the site of 

 this singular cromlech is at no great elevation, a spectator standing 

 on it can see across the island from sea to sea; and may almost at 



