XLII. Some Notes on a Fossiliferous Shale, a little way below the Cloch Lighthouse

Abstract

One day in October of last year while walking round by the Cloch, I happened to take a look at the rock sections seen near the shore in that neighbourhood. Being aware that the sandstone rocks exposed for a considerable distance along our coast line—that is south-westwards, from Greenock and Gourock—belong to the calciferous sandstone series, and being also aware that organic remains have been found in this series of rocks in different parts of Scotland, the thought often occurred to me that vegetable or animal remains might be found in the similar strata here. I was thus often tempted, while botanizing by the shore, to take a look at the rocks in passing, and on the day mentioned I examined some alternating beds of sandstone and shale exposed near the shore, about a quarter of a mile below the lighthouse. Some of the sandstones contained carbonaceous matter, which was quite structureless, but on carefully examining one of the beds of shale I found part of it crowded with vegetable remains, consisting for the most part of ferns and calamites—one species of fern, the Sphenopteris affinis, being in great abundance in some parts, and Calamites cannœformis equally plentiful in other parts; while very sparingly appeared the fern, Pecopteris dentata. On the top of the fossiliferous part of the shale I found a piece of tree stem, but not sufficiently preserved to allow of it being identified. I wish here to say that I am much indebted to Mr. John Young, This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract