248 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN SCOTLAND CHAP, vn 



muirs and the English border. We passed a hill-top 

 on the left, crowned with two cairns, where two 

 brothers met and slew each other, unknowing who they 

 were. And far away lay the dark field of Flodden, 

 where Scotland bit the dust. 



'Grieved was I to hear of Dr. Nichol's death. 

 He was my first scientific friend when growing into 

 man's estate, and but for him I might never have been 

 such as I am.' 



On the west side of Scotland historical and tradi- 

 tional associations enlivened not less the inspecting 

 tours of the Local Director. In Ayrshire he could 

 enjoy himself to the full. The geology had so much 

 variety and interest that it furnished ample material 

 for the most solid talk. The scenery embraced the 

 hills of Kyle and Carrick, with the deep ravines of the 

 Ayr and the Doon, while westward the whole 

 panorama of the Arran mountains rose out of the 

 blue firth. The light of song glowed all over the 

 region. Every parish had its old castles, its legends, 

 and traditions. I have never seen my friend more 

 thoroughly happy than when he was rambling over 

 that part of Scotland. Each day was full of new 

 surprises and delights for him. In the morning we 

 might be tracing out the sites of old Permian volcanoes, 

 or following the succession of lava-sheets in the Old 

 Red Sandstone, but before evening we were pretty 

 sure to get into old ballads and traditions, suggested 

 by the associations of the localities through which our 

 work led us. The old castle of Auchendrane, perched 

 so picturesquely in the ravine of the Doon, with its 

 charming family circle and its hospitable host, so fine 

 a sample of the antique world, filled him with raptur- 

 ous delight, and formed many a time in later years the 



