128 Rev. A. Sedgwick and Mr. Murchison on Deposits contained between 



of the same deposit. Further towards the south-east the conglomerate hills 

 o-radually rise into a finely serrated mountain chain called the Maiden Paps, 

 the highest point of which, Mor Bheim, reaches the elevation of 3500 feet 

 above the level of the sea, and overlooks all the primary rocks of the district. 

 This enormous deposit extending still further to the south-east, clasps nearly 

 round tiie primary quartz rock of the Scarabins, and being prolonged (though 

 not perhaps without some interruptions) between that chain and the granite 

 of the Ord, terminates in the cliff between Ousdale and Berridale*. 



From the north side of the Ord of Caithness to the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of Clyne, the old conglomerates retire from the coast, which is occupied 

 by a chain of granitic mountains. This chain declines in elevation, and gra- 

 dually sinks below the level of the other rocks near Loch Brora. To the west 

 of this chain, lofty hills of the conglomerates are prolonged from the region of 

 the Maiden Paps ; and, above Clyne Kirk, pass over the tops of the granitic 

 hills, overlooking in that position (as has been stated in a former paper) the 

 Brora coal-field, though, geologically, much inferior to itf. To the south of 

 Loch Brora they regain what may be considered their natural position, and 

 form a fine picturesque chain, broken into several distinct, truncated, and 

 somewhat pyramidal masses, which range at no great distance from the coast, 

 following the sinuosities of the Firth of Dornoch. 



Near Creech they pass to the south side of the Firth, and the whole system 

 becomes much more expanded, forming- two interrupted ridges of broken 

 conglomerate mountains, bearing nearly parallel to the general range of the 

 Cromarty Firth, and, when seen from a distance, appearing to be embossed 

 upon the sides of the more lofty elevations which are connected with Ben 

 Wyvis. Without, however, anticipating the description of those subdivisions 

 into which these secondary deposits may be separated, we may state generally', 

 that the oldest portion of them appears on the south of the Kyle of Dornoch, 

 between Ardmoreand Kincardine ; — that it rises on the sides of the neighbour- 

 ing hills of gneiss; — that it is seen in the upper part of the Alness abutting 

 against the gneiss ; — that it is found in the same position in the Alt Grant, 

 about a mile below Loch Glass ; — that it forms a well-defined ridge on the 

 flank of Ben Wyvis ; — that it descends into the lower part of Strath Connon, 

 and abuts against the gneiss of Tor-Achilty to the east of Coul ; — that it is 

 seen to rest unconformably upon the primary slate above Fairburn ; — that pre- 



* The Scarabins, formed by fuur principal elevations ranging nearly east and west, are entirely 

 composed of beautifully white compact quartz rock. Their summits and southern flanks are so 

 bare of vegetation, that when seen from a distance tliey look like mountains capped with snow. 



t See Geol. Trans. Second Series, vol. ii. Part III. p. 356. 



