THE OLD RED SANDSTONE. 7 



the dry burns on the right bank of that part of the 

 Spey where we have now arrived, attest the pre- 

 sence of the old red sandstone. Geologists tell 

 us that although the hills of this formation are 

 less bold and precipitous than those in primitive 

 districts, yet that they present great diversity of 

 scenery, " here rising in rounded heights, there 

 sinking in easy undulations, now swelling in sunny 

 slopes, and anon retiring in winding glens, or 

 rounded valley-basins of great beauty and fertility." 

 The accuracy of this description is fully corro- 

 borated by the character and general aspect of the 

 country through which the river here pursues its 

 course. For some miles the right bank is bounded 

 by a succession of pine-covered hills that stretch 

 far away into the interior, occasionally presenting 

 a steep declivity, supporting on its side numerous 

 quaint-looking pinnacles of conglomerate, that 

 seem almost ready to topple over and fall into 

 many a dark pool below, where the rod-fisher can 

 with difficulty obtain a footing on the narrow ledge, 

 and must be master of "the Spey throw" to en- 

 sure successful sport there clothed down to the 

 very edge of the shingle with larch and spruce firs, 

 in a gradual slope, and, still further on, showing 

 the deep gorge of a now dry burn of considerable 

 width, extending far back into the evergreen 



