22 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
shoe, the concave sides facing a valley, from which the boulders 
appear to have issued. In this locality there are also elongated 
mounds of rubbish, running more or less parallel with the lines of 
boulders, — very similar to the moraines so common in Switzer- 
land. The impression made on the mind by an inspection of these 
two localities was that the transport of the boulders found there 
was due to glaciers. 
“ There is a third class of boulders, distinguished from the two 
classes just referred to. The latter are generally angular, and 
lie on the upper surface of the land. The third class are rounded 
in shape, and imbedded in gravel or clay. They are, in short, 
huge pebbles, having evidently undergone tremendous friction by 
being pushed or forced along an uneven surface, in contact with 
other stony materials. 
“ Some of the boulders belonging to the first and third classes 
have been carried great distances ; and when it is considered that 
they had to pass across valleys, ranges of hills, and arms of the 
sea, the difficulty of the problem as to the mode of transference is 
vastly increased. For example, there are in the county of Berwick 
several granite and mica-slate boulders, which, — if they came from 
the Highland hills, as they probably did, — must have crossed many 
ranges of hills, and at least one arm of the sea, and one large 
valley, that of the Firth of Forth. 
“ Until many more facts have been ascertained, it would be a 
pity to form very decided opinions as to the agency of transport. 
Instructive as some districts are among those referred to above, 
there are others probably even more so on the west coast of Scot- 
land, and on the Hebrides. It is desirable that the boulders 
reported from these quarters, should be visited scientifically ; for in 
size and peculiarity of position, they are said to be even more 
remarkable than those now described. The Boulder Committee 
have in their custody schedules representing the place, size, and 
other particulars of these boulders, which they will lend willingly 
to any geologist who will inspect them and report on them. 
The Committee had two duties assigned to them. Besides 
ascertaining the position of remarkable boulders, they were to 
endeavour to secure the preservation of the most interesting. 
They have not yet proceeded to the fulfilment of this second duty, 
