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XXVII.—On the Parallel Roads of Lochaber. By Davip Mint Home, LL.D. 
Blaise RL Mic Solo eX BETS) 
(Read 15th May 1876.) 
I. The Parallel Roads of Lochaber have presented to geologists a problem, 
which is still unsolved. Dr Maccuttocu, about sixty years ago, when President 
of the Geological Society of London, first called attention to these peculiar 
markings on the Lochaber Hills, by an elaborate Memoir afterwards published 
in that Society’s Transactions. He was followed by Sir THomas Dick LAUDER, 
who in the year 1824, read a paper in our own Society, illustrated by excellent 
sketches. His paper is in our Transactions. The next author who attempted a 
solution was the present Mr Cuarites Darwin. He maintained that these Roads 
were sea-beaches, formed, when this part of Europe was rising from beneath 
the Ocean. He was followed by Professor Acassiz, Dr BuckLAND, CHARLES 
BaBBAGE, Sir JoHN Lusppock, RoBERT CHAMBERS, Professor RocErs, Sir GEORGE 
M‘Kenziz, Mr Jamieson of Ellon, Professor Nicot, Mr Bryce of Glasgow, Mr 
Watson, and Mr Jotty of Inverness. Sir CHARLES LYELL, though he wrote no 
special memoir, treated the subject pretty fully in his works, giving an opinion 
in support of the views of AGAssiz. 
I took some little part myself in the discussion, having in the year 1847 
read a paper in this Society, which was published in our Transactions. 
During the last five or six years, there has been an entire cessation of both 
investigation and discussion, in consequence probably of a desire to await the 
publication of more correct maps of the district, which at the request of the 
British Association for the Advancement of Science, the Ordnance Survey 
Department undertook. 
These Ordnance Maps were not available to the public before last Autumn, 
when with a copy of these in my hand, I went back to the district, to see 
whether any more distinct views would occur to me, than those I had obtained 
thirty years ago, when the late Ropert CHAamBeErs and I examined the Parallel 
Roads together. 
II. Perhaps, before stating the results of my recent visit, it may be con- 
venient for those who happen not to be well acquainted with the subject, that 
I briefly state the problem to be solved, and the different solutions which 
have been suggested. 
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