551 
of Edinburgh, Session 1868-69. 
3. It was observed that clay generally occupied the lowest levels, 
sand and gravel the higher levels, a reason for which was assigned. 
The bed called “ sleech ” or “ sludge" was described, as also the 
“brown” or u carse clay;” and the question was raised, whether 
the peat beds, which also appeared among the deposits, were in situ , 
or whether they were formed of drifted materials. The sub-marine 
forest on the Fife coast was noticed. 
Some account was given of the sea- shells found in the districts, 
it being explained that they occurred sometimes in positions where 
they were entire, and also in other places where they were broken. 
It was supposed that in the former case the shells were now where 
they lived and died ; in the latter case, where they had been thrown 
up on beaches. 
An enumeration of the Whale skeletons discovered was next given. 
4. Some details were entered into regarding beds of sand and 
graved , and the pebbles found in both, particularly the fragments 
of coal, as indicating the quarter from which the transporting 
agent had moved. The subject of kaims was adverted to, which 
the author ascribed to the action of sea-tides and currents. 
Some ancient deltas along the foot of the Ochil Hills were 
noticed and shown in a map. 
5. Boulders of a large size were pointed out, with a notice of 
striae on several, and of the direction of the striae. 
These boulders were described as belonging to two distinct 
classes, the one being rounded, the other angular, and each being 
in such different circumstances as to suggest a different mode 
of transport for each class. All the boulders in this district, how- 
ever, appeared, from the nature of the stones composing them, 
to have come from the west or north wesl, in this respect agreeing 
with the direction of the striae on the boulders and rocks, and with 
the direction, in most instances, of the longer axis of the boulders. 
6. The next topic adverted to was the lines of rocky cliffs and 
caves, at a height of from 15 to 30 feet above the present sea-level, 
which proved that the sea had stood that much higher formerly. 
The author then proceeded to show that almost all the hills in 
the district presented smoothed or bared fronts to the west, and 
that many of them were worn down and grooved in such a way as 
to show that some powerful and heavy agent had passed over them 
4 c 
VOL. VI. 
