of Edinburgh, Session 1879 - 80 . 
599 
the island. Tig. 6, plate XIX., shows the trench apparently scooped 
out in the rock . by some heavy agent which has passed through, 
smoothing it on both sides and striating it on one side. The 
direction of the trench is 1ST.E. by X. As it is only the east side 
which shows striation, the striating agent, if it came from the north, 
must have moved from a north-westerly point. 
The strise can be traced longitudinally for about 30 yards. 
The figure shows a boulder, B, resting on an upper part of the 
trench, where there happens to be a sort of shelf where it has origin- 
ally been lodged. 
This is the “Split Boulder” first noticed and described by Mr 
Smith of Jordanhill. Before it broke into its two fragments, its size 
must have been 8x7x6 feet. Though the boulder is a claystone 
trap, viz., the same rock as that composing the main body of the 
island, I do not think it has rolled down to its present position, but 
agree with Mr Smith, that it is a true erratic, having been brought 
by ice which probably jammed in the trench as it was passing 
through. 
The island has a number of Old Red Sandstone and also of con- 
glomerate boulders on various parts of it, very similar in mineral- 
ogical character to the strata which are seen on the shore to the 
X.X.W. at Rothesay and Toward. One of these conglomerate 
boulders is of archaeological interest. It bears the name of the Bel- 
stane, and is supposed to have been in former times connected with 
the Beltane fires. There are markings on the stone which have evi- 
dently been made for some special purpose. One of these boulders, 
about 5 feet square, rests on rock, and may have been used as a 
“Rocking Stone.” The Rev. Mr Lytteil pointed out this stone 
to me. 
East Lothian and Mid-Lothian. 
1. For a notice of several boulders see paper by Convener in 
“ Proceedings of Edinburgh Royal Society ” (7th July 1877). 
2. Extract from paper on the “ Physiognomy of the Lothians,” by 
R. J. Hay Cunningham, in “Trans, of Wernerian Society for 1838,” 
vol. vii. 
“ In this district little extent of country can be passed without 
