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exit, and in doing so would, in course of time, level the gravels, 
leaving the Terraces as we now see them. The outlets for the 
water would gradually widen until the barrier was cut down 60 
feet, when a period of rest seems to have occurred. 
It would appear the outlet again became obstructed, and 
another levelling took place, and most likely afterwards there 
was a period of rest, which came to an end, and the barrier was 
removed, and the third Terrace represents the present level of 
the rivers during high floods. 
I have mentioned that the Terraces are covered with peat, 
and in the second, by the side of the stream leading out of 
Loch Ledgowan, Mr Macxenztr, of Auchnasheen, shewed me 
four stages of growth where, three years ago, he found, two 
feet below the surface, a large fir stock, with traces of fire 
action upon it; and, on its being raised, there was a still larger 
one under it, not charred; and when it was removed, a third 
was discovered; and, on that being raised, a fourth was seen. 
In the peat the hazel, birch, and oak have been found. 
To allow of so large an accumulation of peat at different 
elevations, great time must have elapsed since the Gravel 
Terraces were formed; and I think with M. Beneranp, in his 
work on “La Seine,” the Quaternary period is coeval with 
the Glacial period, which was brought suddenly to a close with 
the low-level gravels. 
To this Quaternary period the peat deposits immediately 
succeed, and owing to the suddenly diminished rain-fall, leaving 
the rivers clearer, under conditions favourable for the growth 
of peat, which, he shews, never takes place in river valleys 
subject to frequent and heavy floods, but always in valleys 
where springs abound, and floods are few and not turbulent. 
There are few things which strike a traveller more than 
the present treeless aspect of this part of Ross-shire, which 
was once a vast forest; and I would refer all who take an 
interest in the subject of the history of the decay of the Scotch 
Forests to chapter 23rd in Mr James Gerxin’s valuable work 
on “ The Great Ice Age.” 
