VI. Description of a Fossil Tree found in a Quarry at Niteshill, the Property of Colonel Dunlop of Househill

Extract

The quarry of Niteshill, from which this very interesting petrifaction was taken, lies about three miles south-east of Paisley, and is part of a coal formation. It consists of white sandstone, which in many parts is deeply stained by an impregnation of iron. Two very thin seams of excellent coal occur immediately under the sandstone, with the intervention of a few feet of till or blaize. The strata dip to the south, and crop out about a hundred yards north of the spot from whence the tree was taken. At this spot the face of rock is about sixteen feet; fourteen feet above the tree, and one under; another foot being occupied by the stem itself.

The part which has been detached from the rock consists of stem and roots, five feet of stem, and two of roots, different views of which I have endeavoured to represent in figures 1, 2, & 3.