34 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



of the old Scots fir wood has disappeared ; but the younger wood 

 is growing up, and thus the physical features still remain the same, 

 beautiful as ever. 



Nowhere very wide, the Cassley river has no important tribu- 

 taries, and soon runs down after rain, the burn that comes down 

 Glen Muic being the largest affluent. 



The river rises in the Gorm lochs that lie along the northern 

 base of Ben More; these lochs are well known for their trout- 

 fishing capabilities. The river, through its upper course, has a 

 gravelly bottom, running through green haughs for the most of its 

 middle course, but very rocky between Glen Rossal and Eosehall, 

 where there is a rather stiff fall for the salmon to ascend, but very 

 pretty withal. Except in the middle reaches, the banks and slopes of 

 the hills are well clothed with birch wood, and indeed, to our mind, 

 there is no prettier bit of Highland glen scenery on the east coast 

 than that about Glenrossal, although on a somewhat small scale. 



The distant views of Ben More and Breabag, on a fine day, are 

 magnificent, and not to be surpassed in the east of the county; but 

 of other hills through all this district there are none of importance. 

 Ben Skerrach on the north, and Ben Eoin on the south of the 

 strath, and nearly opposite each other, being the highest ; and the 

 only lochs, besides those already mentioned, are Loch nam Fuar- 

 Leac, na-Caillich, Skerrach, and na-Faichde. 



The Oykel is the last river in the county. It rises from the 

 southern side of Ben More and Breabag, passing through Loch 

 Ailsh on its way. The country it drains is wide and open, and the 

 moors through which it passes were at one time as good as any in 

 the county for grouse, but for many years back they have given 

 very moderate bags. This moorland stretch is more undulating 

 than hilly, and is generally dreary and uninteresting. The river 

 abounds in Sea-Trout and Grilse, and at one time these used to be 

 caught in great numbers at the Falls at Oykel Bridge, in a landing- 

 net, by a man stationed there for the purpose. 



Shortly below Oykel Bridge the Oykel receives the waters of 

 the Einig — a small river noted for the beautiful shape of its fish — 

 and, after passing under a high hill whose sides are clothed with 

 birch, makes an abrupt turn through a very rocky bed, and opens 



