CONTENTS.

LECTURE FIRST.

Junction of Geologic and Human History-Scottish History of Modern Date

-The Two Periods previous to the Roman Invasion: the Stone Age

and the Bronze Age-Geological Deposits of these Prehistoric Periods-

The Aboriginal Woods of Scotland-Scotch Mosses consequences of the

Roman Invasion-How formed-Deposits, Natural and Artificial, found

under them-The Sand Dunes of Scotland-Human Remains and Works

of Art found in them-An Old Church disinterred in 1835 on the Coast

of Cornwall-Controversy regarding it-Ancient Scotch Barony under-

lying the Sand-The Old and New Coast Lines in Scotland-Where

chiefly to be observed-Geology the Science of Landscape-Scenery of

the Old and New Coast Lines-Date of the Change of Level from the

Old to the New Coast Line uncertain-Beyond the Historic, but within

the Human Period-Evidences of the fact in remains of Primitive Wea-

pons and Ancient Boats-Changes of Level not rare events to the

Geologist-Some of these enumerated-The Boulder-Clay-Its preva-

lence in the Lowlands of Scotland-Indicated in the Scenery of the

Country-The Scratchings on the Boulders accounted for-Produced by

the Grating of Icebergs when Scotland was submerged-Direction in

which Icebergs floated, from West to East-' Crag and Tail,' the effect of

it-Probable Cause of the Westerly Direction of the Current,

PAGE

I-43

LECTURE SECOND.

Problem first propounded to the Author in a Quarry-The Quarry's Two
Deposits, Old Red Sandstone and Boulder Clay-The Boulder-Clay
formed while the Land was subsiding-The Groovings and Polishings of
the Rocks in the Lower Parts of the Country evidences of the fact-Sir
Charles Lyell's Observations on the Canadian Lake District-Close of
the Boulder-Clay Record in Scotland-Its Continuance in England into
the Pliocene Ages-The Trees and Animals of the Pre-Glacial Periods-
Elephants' Tusks found in Scotland and England regarded as the Re-
mains of Giants-Legends concerning them-Marine Deposits beneath

the Pre-Glacial Forests of England-Objections of Theologians to the

Geological Theory of the Antiquity of the Earth and of the Human

Race considered-Extent of the Glacial Period in Scotland-Evidences of

Glacial Action in Glencoe, Gareloch, and the Highlands of Sutherland-

Scenery of Scotland owes its Characteristics to Glacial Action-The

Period of Elevation which succeeded the Period of Subsidence-Its

Indications in Raised Beaches and Subsoils-How the Subsoils and Brick

Clays were formed-Their Economic Importance-Boulder-Stones inter-

esting Features in the Landscape-Their prevalence in Scotland-The

more remarkable Ice-travelled Boulders described-Anecdotes of the

'Travelled Stone of Petty' and the Standing-Stone of Torboll-Eleva-

tion of the Land during the Post-Tertiary Period which succeeded the

Period of the Boulder-Clay-The Alpine Plants of Scotland the Vege-

table Aborigines of the Country-Panoramic View of the Pleistocene

and Post-Tertiary Periods-Modern Science not adverse to the Develop-

ment of the Imaginative Faculty,

PAGE

44-80

LECTURE THIRD.

The Poet Delta (Dr. Moir)-His Definition of Poetry-His Death-His

Burial-place at Inveresk-Vision, Geological and Historical, of the Sur-

rounding Country-What it is that imparts to Nature its Poetry-The

Tertiary Formation in Scotland-In Geologic History all Ages contem-

porary-Amber the Resin of the Pinus succinifer-A Vegetable Produc-

tion of the Middle Tertiary Ages-Its Properties and Uses-The Masses

of Insects enclosed in it-The Structural Geology of Scotland-Its Trap

Rock-The Scenery usually associated with the Trap Rock-How formed

-The Cretaceous Period in Scotland-Its Productions-The Chalk De-

posits-Death of Species dependent on Laws different from those which

determine the Death of Individuals-The Two great Infinites,

81-120

LECTURE FOURTH.

The Continuity of Existences twice broken in Geological History-The three

great Geological Divisions representative of three independent Orders of

Existences-Origin of the Wealden in England-Its great Depth and

high Antiquity-The question whether the Weald Formation belongs to

the Cretaceous or the Oolitic System determined in favour of the latter

by its Position in Scotland-Its Organisms, consisting of both Salt and

Fresh-Water Animals, indicative of its Fluviatile Origin, but in proximity

to the Ocean-The Outliers of the Weald in Morayshire-Their Organisms

-The Sabbath-Stone of the Northumberland Coal Pits-Origin of its

Name-The Framework of Scotland-The Conditions under which it may

have been formed-The Lias and the Oolite produced by the last great

Upheaval of its Northern Mountains-The Line of Elevation of the Low-

land Counties-Localities of the Oolitic Deposits of Scotland-Its Flora

and Fauna-History of one of its Pine Trees-Its Animal Organisms-

A Walk into the Wilds of the Oolite Hills of Sutherland,

121-152

LECTURE FIFTH.

The Lias of the Hill of Eathie-The Beauty of its Shores--Its Deposits,

how formed-Their Animal Organisms indicative of successive Platforms

of Existences-Laws of Generation and of Death-The Triassic System

--Its Economic and Geographic Importance-Animal Footprints, but no

Fossil Organisms, found in it—The Science of Ichnology originated in this

fact-Illustrated by the appearance of the Compensation Pond, near Edin-

burgh, in 1842-The Phenomena indicated by the Footprints in the

Triassic System-The Triassic and Permian Systems once regarded as

one, under the name of the New Red Sandstone-The Coal Measures in

Scotland next in order of Succession to the Triassic System-Differences

in the Organisms of the two Systems-Extent of the Coal Measures of

Scotland-Their Scenic Peculiarities-Ancient Flora of the Carboniferous

Period-Its Fauna-Its Reptiles and Reptile Fishes-The other Organisms

of the Period-Great Depth of the System-The Processes by which

during countless Ages it had been formed,

PAGR

153-194

LECTURE SIXTH.

Remote Antiquity of the Old Red Sandstone--Suggestive of the vast Tracts

of Time with which the Geologist has to deal-Its great Depth and Extent

in Scotland and England-Peculiarity of its Scenery-Reflection on first

discovering the Outline of a Fragment of the Asterolepis traced on one

of its Rocks-Consists of Three Distinct Formations-Their Vegetable

Organisms-The Caithness Flagstones: how formed-The Fauna of the

Old Red Sandstone-The Pterichthys of the Upper or Newest Formation

-The Cephalaspis of the Lower Formation-The Middle Formation the

most abundant in Organic Remains-Destruction of Animal Life in the

Formation sudden and violent-The Asterolepis and Coccosteus-The

Silurian the Oldest of the Geologic Systems-That in which Animal and

Vegetable Life had their earliest beginnings-The Theologians and

Geologists on the Antiquity of the Globe-Extent of the Silurian System

in Scotland-The Classic Scenery of the Country situated on it-Com-

paratively Poor in Animal and Vegetable Organisms-The Unfossiliferous

Primary Rocks of Scotland-Its Highland Scenery formed of them-

Description of Glencoe-Other Highland Scenery glanced at-Probable

Depth of the Primary Stratified Rocks of Scotland-How deposited-

Speculations of Philosophers regarding the Processes to which the Earth

owes its present Form-The Author's Views on the subject,

• 195-240

244

257

309

252

256

281

BONE-BED, RECENT, IN THE FORMING,

BRAAMBURY, QUARRY OF, UPPER OOLITE, SUTHERLAND,

BREWSTER, SIR DAVID, ON THE CUTTLE-FISH AND BELEMNITE,

BRORA COAL-FIELD OTHER THAN THE TRUE COAL-MEASURES,

BRORA PEAT-MOSSES OF THE OOLITE,

CAUTION TO GEOLOGISTS ON THE FINDING OF REMAINS,
CLAY-BED OF THE NORTHERN SUTOR, LESSON TO YOUNG GEOLO-

CONGENERS OF THE CUTTLE-FISH, BELEMNITE, ETC.,

CROMARTY, CAVES OF, OR THE ART OF SEEING OVER THE ART

FOSSIL-WOOD OF THE OOLITE AT HELMSDALE, SUTHERLAND,

PAGE

254

247

243

LEVEL STEPPES OF RUSSIA, AND THEORY OF MORAINES,

SEPTARIA, OR CEMENT-STONES, OF THE LIAS,

TEREBRATULA, CONTEMPORARY AND EXTINCT TYPES OF THE

284

265

286