XXXIII. On a Series of Foraminifera and Ostracoda from a Post-tertiary Deposit in Lewis

Abstract

Last summer my wife and I spent a couple of weeks in the Outer Hebrides, and had a few pleasant explorations among the lochs and tarns for fresh-water Ostracoda. At Lewis there is a small grassy streamlet, issuing from a gravel quarry on a high ridge on the wayside, between Stornoway and Barvas. There was very little water in the streamlet, not more than covered the short grassy vegetation, giving little hope of much success in the way of fresh-water Ostracoda, and for this reason no great effort was made. Judging from the contour line on the map, the quarry cannot be less than between 300 and 400 feet above the level of the sea. None of the material collected was examined till our return home, when, on looking over this gathering from the gravel quarry, it was found to contain marine Foraminifera, Ostracoda, and Star-fish plates. Had there been only one or two of these organisms, they would have been thrown aside as having got there by accident, except there had been strong proof to the contrary; for it does happen sometimes, notwithstanding all the care that can be taken, that such waifs will make their appearance. When we take into account, however, the large number of different species obtained, there can be no room left for doubt that they are from a marine deposit. Had these forms been seen before leaving Lewis the true position and character of the deposit might have been ascertained. It is most probable This 250-word extract was created in the absence of an abstract