16 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



covered with beautiful moss. From this it rapidly sharpens 

 towards the north-west till it becomes a mere edge called Ceum 

 na h-Aon Choise, or the ' step for one foot.' At the end of this 

 there is a deep depression in the ridge called Bealach ant Sealgaire, 

 * the Hunter's Pass.' Beyond this it again slightly broadens and 

 is excessively rugged in character. From this end of the mountain 

 descends the deepest precipice, to the north-east, over 1000 feet 

 of sheer descent. 



South of Beinn Fhada is the long range, which, starting at the 

 head of Loch Duich, divides Glens Shiel and Moriston on the 

 south from Glen Affric on the north. The first part of ridge, well 

 known to all visitors at Loch Duich, is a range of extremely steep 

 and sharp-pointed mountains, sometimes known as the 'Five 

 Sisters.' There are, however, six of them, and their Gaelic name 

 is Beinn Mhor, that is, the ' Big Mountain,' in contrast to their 

 neighbour * Beinn Fhada,' the 'Long Mountain.' First comes 

 Sgurr na Moraich (2870 feet), below which is the rugged conical 

 peak of Sgurr an t-Searraich (1887 feet), third Sgurr nan-Saighead 

 (2987 feet), then the highest peak Sgurr Fhuaran (3505 feet), then 

 Sgurr na Carnach (3270 feet), and lastly the precipitous Sgurr na 

 Ciste Duibhe (3370 feet), the 'Peak of the Black Chest,' so called 

 from a very deep ravine on its south-western slope. A very steep 

 green slope descends from close under the summit into Glen Shiel, 

 having a perpendicular height of upwards of 3100 feet. 



Beyond Beinn Mhor the range continues unbroken and lofty 

 for several miles, the principal summit being Sgurr a' Bhealaich 

 Dheirg (3378 feet), with a ridge like the roof of a house. Beyond 

 Clunie the range broadens considerably and becomes more a group 

 than a ridge. Ciste Dhubh (3218 feet), due north of Clunie, is a 

 very remarkable hill. The top is broken into several black jagged 

 peaks, and its lower slopes are smooth and green. From the head 

 of Glen Lichd it presents a beautiful appearance. 



East of this rises Garbh-leac (3673 feet), narrow-ridged and 

 steep-sided. On the west side of this mountain some years ago a 

 great earth-slip took place. It is connected on the north with 

 the serrated and almost inaccessible ridge of Sgurr nan Ceathram- 

 han (3614 feet), a peak sending off long shoulders on the north 



