36 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN 



the Kyle, where the road from Eoss-shire to Sutherland crosses it 

 by a handsome bridge, which has replaced the old one that was 

 carried away by the extremely high floods of January 1892, which 

 did so much damage in the north. 



The southern branches of the Carron river just mentioned drain 

 the forests of Diebidale, Alladale, and Glen Calvie, uniting near 

 the shooting-lodge of Alladale, and lower down, close to Amat, 

 join the northern branch, the Blackwater. The Blackwater flows 

 for a considerable distance through the Braelangwell shootings, and 

 is a dead, dark, peaty-looking stream. Below the Amat Falls the 

 river is more rocky, with many good pools, and altogether has a 

 more sporting appearance. For the last mile of its course it is 

 extremely shallow, and, from there being no lochs near its source 

 to retain the water, it rises and falls very quickly. 



Between Ardgay and Edderton the hills rise to a greater 

 height, and a very large area has been newly planted. Indeed, 

 the woods (and these all planted within the century) are now 

 almost continuous from here to Inverness. These woods do not 

 extend up the hillsides, nor indeed inland, for any great distance, 

 except up some of the warmer straths — as that of the Conon, for 

 instance — but we have no information as to what height trees can 

 be planted with any chance of thriving, exposure and soil having 

 so much to do with this. 



At Fearn, and just below the shooting-lodge, there is a tidal 

 loch, very shallow and muddy, where generally a few wild-fowl 

 are to be seen, and numbers of Water-Hens. No fish except 

 Mullets live in the loch, any unfortunate Sea-Trout that gets in 

 generally being found dead. South-eastwards as far as Edderton 

 the coast-line and adjacent country are covered for miles with 

 whins and broom, which in summer are one glorious mass of yellow 

 flowers, a truly beautiful sight, and the air is almost sickly with 

 their scent. At Edderton are several good farms and a large extent 

 of cultivation, which runs far up the valley formed on the west 

 side by the Struy range of hills, and on the east by the hill of Tain. 



Between Fearn and Tain the traveller by rail may see thousands 

 of wild-fowl in winter, sitting on the water only a few hundred 

 yards from the line, taking little notice of the train ; while in the 



