173 
of Edinburgh, Session 1875 - 76 . 
A sketch of this boulder is given on Plate III. fig. 7. 
10. Along various parts of the hills in this district where their 
highest ranges are seen against the sky, and at a height of about 
2000 feet above the sea, boulders are discernible from a distance, 
lying on the ridges. It would he very desirable to obtain particular 
accounts of boulders at so high an elevation. 
11. In the last Report of the Committee, notice was taken of a 
boulder in Ayrshire called the u Hun terston Boulder.” Along the 
same coast, and especially on the property of Mr Alexander of 
Boydstone, several very large boulders may yet be seen. One, 
called the “ Boydstone Rock or Stone,” is situated about two miles 
north-west of Ardrossan. Some chips of the boulder, sent to the 
Convener in a letter, show that it is porphyritic. The rocks on 
this part of the coast are Old Red Sandstone. The boulder is in 
length about 19 feet, and in breadth about the same. It is partly 
buried in the mud of the shore. Its highest point is 9J feet above 
the shore. It is said to contain 40 cubic yards above the shore 
line. It is supposed that the boulder is buried to the depth of 
5 feet. The tide at high water leaves about 3 feet of the boulder 
visible. This boulder has inspired the poetic genius of an Ayrshire 
letter-carrier (Malcolm Kerr, post-messenger between Ardrossan 
and West Kilbride), who, through Mr Weir of Kirkhall, has sent 
to the Convener the following stirring address : — 
To the Great Boulder on the shore opposite to the lands of Boydstone, 
two miles north of Ardrossan, Ayrshire. 
“ Can’st thou speak, old grey stone, 
Unto me ? 
List thou to the ocean’s moan, 
I to thee : 
Music sweet ! Spirits string 
Wild ditties, as they cling 
To the big waves which swing 
Around thee. 
Stranger ! whence didst thou come 
To this shore ? 
Art thou an Arctic crumb, 
Which of yore 
