fome Strata in Ireland and Scotland. 83 
and is ftratified by intermediate ribs of red granite of about an 
inch thick. We crofied Loch Lyne in a boat, and landed on a 
rude mafs of lava, which continues away to the N. E. by the 
town of Ardlun, and onwards to the S.W. fide of Loch Leven. 
In a fmall bay, about one mile to the S.E. of Ardlun Head, 
under a bed of jointed lava, which has fome refemblance of 
pillars, and juft at high-water mark, is a bed of coal, exaftly 
tw r elve inches thick, intermixed with fhale or bituminous 
fhiftus (Kirwan, p. 89.) dipping S.E. towards the Loch one 
yard in three : there is not any intervening fubftance between 
the coal and fuperincumbent lava, which contains many blad- 
der holes. Beneath the coal is alfo lava without any inter- 
vening matter. About twenty yards to the N.W. the coal 
again appears in the cliff, but is not more than from eight to 
ten inches thick. Here are tumblers of various fizes, feat- 
tered on the fliore. Amongft them are iome refembling the 
Derbyfhire toadftone ; and a fhort diftance inland (to the S.W.) 
are rude maffes of lava, {landing up at day, not unlike the great 
Whyn Dykes of Ilay. In the Loch, and at fome diftance 
from the oppofite fhore, there flood, within the memory of 
man, an infulated pillar of coal, from which the country peo- 
ple w r ere accuftomed to procure a fupply for fmiths ufe; but 
the quantities they carried away, and the continual waffling of 
the fea, have now entirely removed it. 
We returned to Fidden Houfe, which is fituated on level 
ground near the fea, and near a fmall Loch, which affords an h ar- 
bour to fmall veifels, but is dangerous to enter. The flat country 
in front of the houfe is entirely compofed of fea fand, including 
Ihells : when dug into, frefh water is conftantly found at a few 
feet below the furface. At the back of the houfe, towards 
the fea, are cliffs of red granite, which extend round .to the 
M 2 Bull 
