On the so-called Raised Sea-Beach Bed at Leith. 423 
Cuvier and Professor Buckland, inconsistent with the Testi- 
mony of Moses and the Phenomena of Nature." A general 
description of the superficial accumulations has been given by 
Mr Milne-Home in a valuable memoir " On the Lothian Ooal- 
Fields." This author states, that it is possible to identify and 
individualise at least seven formations, each having separate 
characters, and probably belonging to different epochs. Under 
the existing soil supporting vegetation, there is, 1^^, An upper 
covering of gravel and boulders ; 2d, A deposit of sand and 
shells ; ^d, Beds of fine sand ; 4:th, Beds of fine clay ; bth^ 
Coarse gravel or stony clay; Qth, Lowest boulder-clay ; 1th, 
Beds of sand and gravel. In the " Lithology of Edinburgh," 
Dr Fleming divides the strata belonging to the modern epoch 
into three groups, — First, The Taragmite series, formed subse- 
quently to the dressings and groovings of the solid rocks, and, 
where present, reposing on them. They seem to have been 
formed when violent aqueous movements were taking place, 
and probably at a period when the state of our island was 
widely different from the present. The second, or Akumite 
series, is chiefly characterised by its laminated clays and sands, 
and indicates the assorting power of water under circumstances 
of comparative tranquillity. The third, or Phanerite group 
consists of deposits produced by causes in ordinary operation, 
and respecting the circumstances under which they have been 
formed little obscurity prevails. I had repeated opportunities 
of visiting the critical sections in this neighbourhood with the 
late Professor Fleming, and of verifying the accuracy of his 
observations. I shall therefore make use of these generalised 
expressions in the remarks which follow. 
The lowest bed of the Taragmite group which has been ob- 
served in this neighbourhood consists of loose angular frag- 
ments of rock, 2 to 3 feet thick, which rest on the edges of strata 
composed apparently of the same materials, and in other places 
of sand and gravel. The extent of this basement deposit is at 
present but little known. The result of three borings, shown 
in a diagram which is copied from one in possession of Mr 
George Robertson, civil engineer, proves that the basement 
bed of the Taragmite series is of considerable extent in the 
neighbourhood of Leith. Two of the borings were made for 
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