198 DB. W. T. BLANF0RD ON THE APPARENT RESULT [Feb. IC)00, 



9. On a Particular Form of Surface, apparently the Result of 

 Glacial Erosion, seen on Loch Lochy and Elsewhere. 

 By W. T. Blanford, LL.D., F.R.S., Treas. G.S. (Read 

 January 10th, 1900.) 



[Plate IX.] 



There is a form of surface, the result, I believe, of glacial action 

 and subsequent subaerial denudation, of which I have now seen 

 examples in widely-separated areas. I first noticed it on Lake 

 Como, then in the Great Glen of Scotland, and again in British 

 Columbia. 1 These are the only striking instances that I have seen, 

 but smaller and less conspicuous examples appear to be common in 

 valleys that have been traversed by glaciers. 



The surface in question consists of an almost even plane, sloping 

 at a moderate or high angle, and cut at intervals by small ravines 

 or channels, along which rain drains off. 



I think it probable, indeed almost certain, that this peculiarity 

 must have been noticed by other geologists. I have not succeeded in 

 finding any description of it, despite some search, but I shall not be 

 surprised if it has attracted the attention of some among the many 

 eminent observers who have studied the glacial phenomena of Scot- 

 land, and if it has been fully described, perhaps by more than one. 

 I do not call attention to the peculiar surface because I think it new 

 to geologists, but because I believe, for reasons that will appear in 

 the sequel, that this combination of glacial and freshwater erosion is 

 worthy of further examination and record. I should perhaps have 

 published some notes on it before, had I been able to obtain photo- 

 graphs or figures of the locality, but until recently I have been unable 

 to procure any. Last August, T made use of a fortnight's leisure 

 to revisit Loch Lochy, and my son made some photographs of the 

 scenery. The accompanying Plate (IX) reproduced from two of 

 these photographs may, I hope, serve to explain the peculiarities to 

 which I am calling attention. 



The Great Glen of Scotland, traversed by the Caledonian Canal, is 

 one of the best known tourists' routes in the British Islands. It 

 has been repeatedly described, 2 and it well deserves the attention 

 of all geologists and physical geographers, for it is a remarkable 

 valley in many ways, in no respect more than in its extraordinary 

 straightness of direction, which is approximately north-east and 

 south-west. As is well known, the bottom of the Glen is chiefly 



1 The locality on Lake Como is east of the lake, a short distance north of the 

 town of Como itself. That in British Columbia is on a hill opposito Lord 

 Aberdeen's ranch at Vernon. The Scottish example is here described. 



1 There is an excellent account of it in Sir Archibald Geikie's ' Scenery of 

 Scotland' 1st ed. (1865) p. 177, & 2nd ed. (1887) p. 234. 



