of Edinburgh , Session 1881-82. 
631 
lying in the harbour of the island of Canna, during a boulder and 
mineral hunt, I heard that fullers earth had been found at the 
south-western end of the island. Upon being shown samples of 
this, I noticed among them fissile schists very similar to those of 
Ardtun. In proceeding, therefore, round the western cliff-girt 
coast of the island, to visit the fuller’s earth locality, we landed at 
every accessible point under the great line of precipice, and at one, 
situated almost at the north-west corner, and immediately under the 
loftiest point, — more than 730 feet in height, — we found a leaf -bed. 
There is here a cliff foot, running for some little distance along the 
shore ; this is strewed with numberless masses of rock which have 
fallen from the cliff, and which fragments give shelter to a colony 
of auks and puffins. 
By the appearances usual to such colonies, the spot may be seen 
from some distance. Landing can be effected only in the calmest 
weather. 
The leaf-bed can be most easily cut into, if not also most easily 
seen, in a small cave ; this gives shelter alike from what may fall 
from the cliff, from the skies, and from the birds. 
The bed consists of a highly laminated brown clay — almost a 
mud ; for, on account of the water which ooses through the very- 
vesicular overlying dolerite, — which streams down its face, and 
which is flung in spray from the sea, — the material of the bed is in 
its outer portions, and, when first broken into, little harder than 
putty. Its laminae are as thin as paper. They split with a tap, or 
slight pressure from the edge of a knife ; this easy cleavage being 
to some extent due to the extraordinary number of leaves which lie, 
flat-pressed, between the argillaceous layers. Most of these leaves 
are as pulpy and soft as the rock, and blacken the hands with their 
fragile fragments. 
By working with a pick-hammer a little way under the rock-cover, 
firmer portions may be reached ; and specimens which will endure 
the friction of carriage obtained. The leaves seem much the same 
as the species found at Ardtun. A series has been sent to the 
Industrial Museum. 
The whole thickness of the towering cliff is made up of successive 
layers of igneous rock, — sometimes basalt and basaltic — sometimes 
amygdaloidal, — sometimes tufaceous. I could distinctly see bands of 
