I«14.] Outlines of the Mineralogy of the Ochil Hills. 177 

 established general principles, which facilitate the labours of the 

 student, and prompt to continued exertion. A system which 

 developcs the creat laws of nature, and is substantially improve^d by 

 the examination of her works, is of all others the best calculated 

 to promote every science ; and accordingly we hnd tliat mineralogy 

 has made the most rapid advances wherever this has been fairly 

 adopted Formerly mineralogical inquiries produced nothing more 

 than a mere catalogue of localities ; but now many relations of 

 individuals have been distinctly determined ; others are daily ascer- 

 tained and the most doubtful will probably be accurately known at 

 a period not verv remote. The correctness of these observations is 

 shown by the history of mineralogy within a very fewjears, during 

 which there has been an immense accumulation of geognostic facts 

 collected from portions of the whole known world. In Britain alone 

 has the comparative progress of the science been unequal to the ap- 

 parent ardour with which it has been pursued, and unworthy of the 

 example afforded by our indefatigable and justly distinguished Pre- 

 sident With a view of contributing as far as it is in my power to 

 remedy this deficiency, I have examined the interesting district of 

 the Ochil Hills ; and I now beg leave to lay the general results ot 

 that examination before the Society. In many instances they 

 will be found imperfect and unsatistactory. It would have been 

 gratifying had it been possible for me to have made them more 

 complete ; but as circumstances render that wish unavadmg, I trust 

 that others, whose opportunities may be more favourable, will be 

 prompted to retrace my steps, to correct ray errors, and to add new 

 iacts to those I shall detail. 



General Description. 



Modern geographers consider the Ochil Hills as the southern 

 boundary of the Grampians ; and, in that pomt ol view, the 

 eastern portion may be traced to the Seedlay Hills; while the 

 western extremity should be regarded as a mouniain-arm stretching 

 into the extensive valley which reaches from the verge of the 

 Grampians, properly so called, to the shores of the I«orth: but as 

 the present object is to give a sketch of their particular structure, 

 without entering more into their general relations than distinctness 

 requires, it will be convenient to view them as a smaU moimtain- 

 eroup, which rises above the sea-port of Parton Craigs, on the 

 right bank of theTay, and, after having skirted the northern parts 

 of Fifeshire, traversed Perthshire, bounded Kinrosshire and Clack- 

 mananshire, through a course of more than fitty miles, terminates 

 on the river Allan, near Dunblane, in Pertlishire. - , . , ^ 



This group consists of a high chain, the loftiest point of which, at 

 its first rise,* does not exceed 3 or 400 feet ; but more lotty f summits 



• CraiK I,aw, above the village of Pai ton Craigs. «„,„..„'<, 



+ The following are tbc mo^l ren.a.kahlo, poing from east (o wos Norman s 



Law, Glcnduchy Uilb, Claclicrt Craig, ilicbilU uf AkcruttUv, Castle Law, bc» 



