I860.] JAMIESON DEIFT, ABEEDEENSHERE. 365 



altogether gigantic dimensions ; for after deducting 300 feet for the 

 bottom of the valley, we still have left 1800 feet to reach the top of 

 this Meal Uaine. If, again, we take refuge in the supposition of 

 floating ice, we must invoke a submergence of at least 2100 or 2200 

 feet ; for our iceberg must have some depth of water to swim in. 



Here then is a dilemma, either raise the coast-line 2200 feet, or 

 fill up the valley with an ice-stream 1800 feet deep. 



It is possible however that a glacier may have caused the markings 

 low down the hill, and floating ice those on the top ; although in this 

 case the coincidence of direction in the moving agent is singular, and 

 the fact of markings on the south brow of the hill also curious. It 

 is clear, however, that immense force must have been in operation ; 

 for the rock on the top is one of the most obdurate to be met with, 

 being a rugged gneiss full of quartz- veins. No force of water alone 

 could, I think, have left such a handwriting on stuff of this adaman- 

 tine texture. 



The adjoining mountain, Ben Bhrackie, reaches a height of about 

 2800 feet ; and over its summit the rock is not thus rounded, but has 

 disintegrated into numerous blocks, that lie thickly all about. 



This may perhaps be partly due to the different quality of the 

 strata, which are very hornblendic. However that may be, I did not 

 remark any smooth bosses of rock until I had descended the N.TV. 

 slope to an elevation of about 2220 feet ; but no grooves or glacial 

 furrows occurred to me. 



Several miles to the west of this, near Hioch Yore, on the mica- 

 slate ridge before mentioned, I had observed, on one of its northern 

 slopes, at an altitude of about 2220 feet, a hump of the rock remark- 

 ably smoothed and ground down, and covered with parallel striie and 

 furrows pointing N. 70° to 80° W. and transverse to the lamina) of 

 the strata. 



§ 4. All along the northern slope of this ridge, from Meal Uaine at 

 one extremity, westward for ten miles to Hioch Vore at the other, I 

 had remarked many boulders of granite and porphyry at heights ex- 

 ceeding 2000 feet, the highest being one of granite, that lay at an 

 elevation of 2390 feet (by aneroid). These boulders seldom exceeded 

 two feet in diameter, and were generally smaller. The highest which 

 I had noted on Meal Uaine was at 1960 feet. They are also not on- 

 frequent in the high-lying drift along the north slope of these hills. 



Now I examined the greater pari of that ridge, crossed it at 

 several points, ami walked along its crest for miles, hut saw no indi- 

 cation anywhere of this granite orporphyry in situ. I think there- 

 fore I am justified in concluding that they have been carried to their 

 present position from a considerable distance; and knowing that 

 such rocks occur in the high mountains situated to the northward 

 (as, for instance, in those of Glen Tilt). I think it is further probable 

 that l/n /•< lies the source from whence they have come. 



Hut it is not at '2 1 or even 2400 feet that we cease to lind SUch 



transported fragments, for in the Braemar district 1 met with them 

 much higher. 

 A remarkable instance of this occurred on 11m Hill "f Morven, 



