1859.] MtmcHisoN — xoeth highlands. 237 



vable. Then in proceeding further east, the gneissose character, 

 with many granitic intrusions, again prevails, fine laminae of felspar 

 alternating with quartz of white, grey, and pink colours. 



On the west side of the Naver Ferry, granite here and there peeps 

 out in small knolls through the strata, which dip gently to the E.S.E. ; 

 whilst at Betty Hill, on the right bank of the stream, the gneissose 

 flags are raised to vertically and pierced by granite. In short, all the 

 stratified rocks of the region extending from the Naver to Melvich, and 

 thence ranging along the western borders of Caithness, must be 

 classed with the newer gneissose flagstones, though they are penetrated 

 at such numerous intervals by bosses of granite that it would require 

 much time and good detailed maps to ensure their correct delinea- 

 tion. These rocks stretch out to Strathie Point, whilst to the north 

 of Strathie Water the true Old Eed Sandstone often rests at once 

 on granite. (See Map, pi. 12, Vol. xv.) 



Again, between Melvich and the Inn of Achintoul, and thence to 

 the Ord of Caithness, Prof. Ramsay and myself found these granitic 

 outbursts to be so numerous, that we had no difficulty in compre- 

 hending why the overlying masses (in which there were numerous 

 undulations and breaks) should be much more metamorphosed than 

 in the western portion of the same scries of strata where the igneous 

 rocks are much less rife. 



The Eastern Gneissose Roclcs of Sutherland and Ross. — The 

 metamorphic condition of the old stratified rocks which extend 

 eastward from Sutherland into the edges of Caithness is well seen 

 at and around the Scarabin Hills, and has been before adverted to*. 

 On the south-eastern flank of the Scarabins, various stages in the 

 degrees of change may be traced, from slightly altered grey-coloured 

 micaceous quartzites up to the highly crystalline quartz-rock, which 

 is void of mica and is penetrated by much granite, — the prevalent 

 dip being to the S.E. and S.S.E. 



Again, in tracts further to the south along their eastern frontier, 

 these stratified crystalline rocks are well seen to the west of Golspie 

 and Loch Brora. There, at the head of Dunrobin Glen, the finely 

 grained, thin-budded, quartzose rocks, which arc laid down as gneiss 

 in geological maps, consist of nigged bosses with many joints, and so 

 abundantly penetrated by granite that it is difficult to trace the true 

 bedding. 



In the upper part of Strath Brora, however, the strike of these 

 gneisso-micaceous rocks is manifestly from W.S.W. to K.X.K.t In 

 crossing the River Brora above the house of Kil-callum-kil, this 

 gneiss is admirably exposed in a gorge watered by a torrent which 

 Mows down from the tlank of Ben Smeorale into the Loch of Brora. 



The strata are then thrown oil' to S. and .\. of E., at various high 



angles from •"> ,, ° to 70°, — numerous huge masses of granite being ^<n 

 to intrude upon the beds. In tracing the stratified crystalline rocks 



from \V. to K.. or from N.W. to S.K.. it may therefore be truly -aid 



* Sec Quart. .Tourn. (reel. S. ..-. vol. w. ]>. 384. 



t [f subsequent researches Bhould prove thai some of this eastern gm iss pertains 

 to the old «>r rhndamenta] rook, tin- tad \w>ui(| iii no wis, • invalidate the truthful- 

 ness of the deeci ibed succession in the Dorth>western parts of Sutherland an 



