b MONOGRAPH OF DURA DEN. 



which, as will be afterwards noticed, correspond to three equally 

 marked geological formations. The Ochils consist of a chain 

 of trap hills, extending through a course of upwards of fifty 

 miles, gently rising on their eastern extremity to about 400 

 feet, and attaining on the AA^estern, in Bencleuch and Dalmyatt, 

 an elevation of nearly 3000 feet above the level of the sea. 

 The Lomond ridge consists of an elevated table-land, about 

 four miles in length, completely insulated from the neighbouring 

 hills, with a gentle slope towards the south ; but on the north 

 the acclivity is precipitous and rocky, and springs from the valley 

 of Stratheden to the height of nine to ten hundred feet. The 

 east top is 1466, and the west 1721 feet above the sea-level. 

 Overlooking the whole county, and the two noble rivers by 

 which it is encompassed, with the German Ocean to the east, 

 the towers of Stirling and " the lofty Benloraond" to the west, 

 the rugged serrated outline of the Grampians to the north, and 

 the extensive plains of the Lothians, begirt by the Pentlands 

 and Lammermuirs, the Bass and Berwick-LaAv to the south, — 

 the prospect from either summit may vie Avith any in the king- 

 dom, presenting at once to the eye whatever is necessary in 

 water, forest, and mountain, to form the beautiful, the pictur- 

 esque, or the grand. Some of the objects in the immediate 

 vicinity give additional charm to the scene — the Palace of 

 Falkland, which lies at the base of the East Lomond, and Loch- 

 leven, Avhich washes the sloping defiles of the Avest peak, and 

 where, in the middle of the deep blue lake, may still be observed 

 the ruins of the keep in Avhich the unfortunate Mary Stuart Avas 

 imprisoned by her subjects. Standing by Cross-Macduff, in the 

 parish of Newburgh, the poet says, almost to the letter of the 

 description, — 



" You do gaze — 

 Strangers are wont to do so — on the prospect. 

 Yon is the Tay, roU'd down from Highland hills, 

 That rests his waves, after so rude a race. 

 In the fair plains of Gowi'ie. Farther westward 

 Proud Stirling rises. Yonder, to the east, 

 Dundee — the gift of God, and fair Montrose, 

 And still more northward, lie the ancient towers 

 OfEdzell." 



