346 



MR FRANCIS J. LEWIS 



The Spey-Findhorn Watershed. 



(One-inch Ordnance Survey — sheet 74.) — This area lies in the north-east of Inverness- 

 shire, and north-east of the Highland Railway, between Carrbridge and Tomatin. The 

 watershed — which here separates the two rivers by about 8 miles — lies at an average 

 elevation of 1800 feet to 2100 feet and is really a north-eastern continuation of the 

 Monadleath Mountains, being only separated from that range by the Slochd Mor, a 

 narrow valley which descends to 1300 feet. The watershed is formed by a series or 

 chain of rounded hills, whose flanks and summits are thickly covered by peat, which in 

 most places has been subjected to considerable denudation. These hills at the present 

 day are covered with a vegetation in which Calluna is the dominant plant, mixed with a 

 small amount of Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Vaccinium Vitis-Ideaa, V. Myrtillus. 

 Carices, Nardus stricta, and Eriophorum vaginatum. The peat over most of the hills 

 above 1800 feet has an average depth of 11-13 feet, and the upper forest zone, lying 

 about 3|- feet below the present surface of the peat, forms a useful datum line over the 

 whole area. Most of the sections made in this district lay about the 2000-feet contour 

 line, and a striking agreement was shown, not only in the sequence of the strata over 

 this watershed, but also with the history of the peat on the Findhorn-Nairn watershed 

 and Coire Bog in Easter Ross. 



Three typical sections are selected from the many that were made, to illustrate the 

 general history of the peat over this area. 



Section I., 1800 feet on the north side of Allt na Feithe Sheillach : — 



Accompanying Plants. 



Dominant Plant. 



1. Recent peat. 



2. Piuus sylvestris, L. 



3. Sphagnum. 

 Pinus sylcestris, L. 

 Sphagnum. 



Betula alba, L. (fairly large shrubby trees). 

 Empetrum nigrum, L. 



8. Salix Arbuscula, L. 



9. Salix reticulata, L. 

 S. herbacea, L., leaves. 

 10. Stone pavement. 



Section II. : — 



Dominant Plant 



1. Recent peat. 



2. Pinus sylveslris, L. 



3. Sphagnum. 



4. Pinus sylvestris, L. 



5. Betula alba. 



6. Empetrum nigrum, L. A close layer about 18 



ins. deep of stems mixed with seeds of tins 

 plant. 



7. Salix Arbuscula, L. 



Calluna (abundant). 



Eriophorum, Calluna (traces towards the base). 



Eriophorum sp., Menyanthes trifoliata, L., Poly- 

 trichum juniperinum, and in the lower layers 

 abundant Betula nana, L. 



8. Lychnis alpina, L., Potentilla Comarum, Nestl., 



Carex sp., Viola palustris, L., Munim pseudo- 

 punctatum. 



9. Veronica alpina, L. 



10. 



8. Stone pavement. 



Accompanying Plants. 

 1. 

 2. 

 3. 

 4. 



5. Menyanthes trifoliata, L. 



6. Eriophorum sp. (traces of Betula nana abundant 



towards the base). 



7. Potentilla Comarum, Nestl., Carex sp., Menyan- 



thes trifoliata, L. 



