145 
of Edinburgh, Session 1878 - 79 . 
a breccia or conglomerate occurring on the mainland, and which 
Dr Macculloch and Professor Hicol (“ London Geological Society’s 
Journal” for 1856, p. 37) concur in representing as “ the bottom 
beds ” of the great sandstone formation which lines the north- 
west coast of Scotland, and which constitutes the entire mass of a 
number of small islands lying off the coast, extending from Cape 
Wrath to Skye, a distance of about 100 miles. Dr Macculloch men- 
tions having observed a similar conglomerate on the west side of the 
Lewis. (“Western Islands,” vol. i. p. 196.) 
These breccia sandstone cliffs extend along the east coast of Lewis 
for about 15 miles. Eef erring to them, Mr James Geikie 
(“London Geological Society’s Journal” for 1873, p. 534) says that 
“ red sandstone and conglomerate of Cambrian age cover a portion 
of the Eye peninsula and the shores of Stornoway harbour at Arnish 
point. The same deposits are continued north as far as Gres.” — - 
Gres is about 15 miles to the north of Arnish. 
This sandstone formation is not confined to the coast. It extends 
some distance inland, though how far has not been ascertained. Mr 
Caunter showed to the Convener a bed of the breccia in the channel 
of a stream which runs through his garden on the north side of 
Stornoway. Mr Geikie, in his paper before referred to, suggests that 
“ red sandstone may occupy the sea-bottom at no great distance from 
Cellar Head, and hence we are not compelled to suppose that these 
sandstone fragments have travelled from the mainland” (p. 539). 
The “sandstone fragments” here alluded to by Mr Geikie, are 
“ red sandstone boulders, lying in the fields, which we found at the 
Butt ” (the northern extremity of Lewis), and also on “ the sea- 
beach at Barabhais ” (a place about 20 miles from the Butt, on the 
west coast). Cellar Head is a point on the east coast of Lewis, 
5 or 6 miles south from “ the Butt.” 
Mr Caunter told the Convener that he had seen the sandstone 
boulders on the shore between the Butt of Lewis and Hess, and 
that they occur there inland up to a height of 300 feet. 
How, a presumption arises, from the number of these sandstone 
boulders at and near the Butt, that there must be in that district 
rock in situ of the same nature. The Convener regretted having 
been prevented searching the coast and fields between the Butt and 
Barvas, to examine these boulders and see if any sandstone rocks 
