CHAPTEE VIII. 



FORMS A NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTION. 



BANFF was the central point of Edward's operations. 

 Banff is a pleasant country town, situated on the 

 southern shore of the Moray Firth. It lies on a 

 gentle slope inclining towards the sea. In front of 

 it is the harbour. Although improved by Telford, it 

 is rather difficult of access and not much frequented 

 except during the fishing season. Westward of Banff, 

 a low range of hills lies along the coast. The burns 

 of the Boyne, Portsoy, and Cullen cross the range, 

 and run into the sea. 



The fishing town of Macduff, which may be con- 

 sidered the port of Banff, lies about a mile to the east- 

 ward. To reach it, the river Deveron is crossed by one 

 of Smeaton's finest bridges. The harbour of Macduff 

 is more capacious and more easy of entrance than 

 that of Banff. Many foreign vessels are to be seen 

 there in the fishing season, for the purpose of trans- 

 porting the myriads of herrings which are daily 

 brought in by the fishermen. 



Eastward of Macduff, the coast becomes exceed- 

 ingly rocky. The ridges of the hills, running down 

 towards the sea, seem to have been broken off by 



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