366 Dr. Mac Culloch on the Parallel Roads of Glen Roy. 



The chief anomaly visible, which is described as appearing at the 

 glen that opens together with Glen Turit, is readily explained in this 

 manner ; and indeed the terraces of Glen Turit that are in contact 

 with it offer an explanation too obvious to be overlooked. 



The general equality of breadth which prevails among the lines is 

 equally opposed to the notion of their being the remains of terraces ; 

 as it is impossible that such an equality should have been preserved 

 amongst them. Nor, had the lost portions of these terraces been 

 removed by the action of water, should they have been most com- 

 pletely removed from the hardest places while they were suffered to 

 remain in the most perishable materials. 



The form of the cid de sac in the upper part of Glen Roy, which 

 I have adduced as an argument against the notion of a deluge, offers 

 an equally unsurmountable one against this hypothesis. No water 

 runs through that hollow, nor can any state of it be conceived capable 

 of admitting its flow. Had a terrace therefore existed in this place, 

 or had its bottom been at any time filled to the height of the two 

 lines which are found marked on its right side, they must have re- 

 mained to this day, since they could not have been subjected to the 

 action of the destroying force. 



I may add to these considerations, that the appearances at Glen 

 Fintec and at the entrance of Glen Turit are equally hostile to this 

 notion ; since in both these glens there is a point of rest where no 

 water flows, or could, under any reasonable supposition have flowed, 

 where nevertheless the lines are as distinct as in any part of Glen 

 Roy. But I must not conclude this argument without pointing out 

 the difficulty of imagining any river running in a situation capable 

 of effecting the required changes. I have already on so many occa- 

 sions described the position of the surrounding country that it is 

 superfluous to repeat it here. Yet I may briefly remark, that the 



