PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



47 



bay of Nigg, a long and wide, sandy and shallow bay, in the 

 winter the abode of many wild-fowl. 



The rocks on the West Sutor, and along the south coast of the 

 Black Isle, are, in point of height and grandeur, nothing in com- 

 parison with those of the East Sutor. Bird-life is represented 

 only by a few Kock Pigeons. 



The west side of the Black Isle is uninteresting in the extreme. 

 The cliffs facing the Firth are low and composed of boulder 

 clay (?), while, sloping upwards, the ground rises in cultivated 

 fields until it meets the straight line of plantation at the top. A 

 most prominent feature of the shores of the Firth is the white 

 house of Findon shining out from the dark fir plantation, certainly 

 not a thing of beauty in the landscape ; and indeed all the fine 

 scenery of the Black Isle, as far as our experience goes, lies on 

 the east side. Still, those who Live in the west have one redeem- 

 ing feature, and that no small one, for the view of the mainland, 

 looking across the Firth, is very beautiful. 



There are many handsome residences in this area, and some of 

 these have fine gardens attached to them, and well - timbered 

 grounds, such as Kosehaugh, Braelangwell, etc. etc. The timber in 

 most of the valleys is principally hardwood, and from the scattered 

 and irregular way in which it grows gives an added beauty to 

 the scene. 



There are no lochs or sheets of water of any size in the Black 

 Isle, and, as might be expected from its restricted area, there are 

 no rivers, the burn that runs out at Avoch (pronounced Aiich) 

 being the largest stream. 



IV. THE CONON. 



The Conon is the principal river in Ross-shire, and, with its 

 affluents, drains all the southern part of the county. Among these 

 affluents are the Blackwater, Orrin, and Meig, the first named being 

 the largest and most important. 



The upper part of the Conon river is called the Bran. Coming 



