2 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



time out of print, and therefore not readily available to those who 

 may only be interested in our present area. 



Commencing in the east, the watershed divides at the Ord, 

 tlie high hill over which the main road from Sutherland to Caithness 

 runs. Just here is the highest ground in this part of the water- 

 shed, one or two of the hills rising to 1300 feet and upwards in 

 height. After a short run west, the watershed, which for some 

 considerable distance forms the march between the two counties 

 of Sutherland and Caithness, turns due north, and so continues 

 until the boundary between the parishes of Keay and Kildonan 

 is reached. There is little to remark thus far on the contour 

 of the ground. The hills are of no great height, and the only one 

 at all remarkable in any way is Cnoc-na-Neranach, or the Irish- 

 man, which has a peculiar pinnacle called the ' Seat,' well known 

 to the lessees of the Torrish and Suisgill shootings. 



After leaving the county march, the watershed follows a 

 generally westerly course, across a large extent of flow ground, 

 until Ben Griam Bheag (about 1900 feet) is reached; only one 

 corrie on this hill sends its waters to the north, the remaining portion 

 and its larger brother, Ben Griam Mhor (1936 feet) contributing 

 theirs to the Helmsdale. Beyond the Ben Griam hills, and round 

 by Loch Leum a' Chlamhain, the watershed runs through some of 

 the wildest and most desolate-looking country to be found any- 

 where in Scotland, a great extent of flow ground, with lochs, small 

 and great ; after heavy rain the whole country looks like a sea. 

 Leaving this dreary locality, the march takes a turn to the south, and 

 runs along by the large Loch nan Cuinne, or Eumsdale, as it is more 

 generally called ; this is one of those large lochs that act as a reser- 

 voir to the river Helmsdale. Still pursuing a southerly course past 

 Truid Air Sgithiche and Halmadrie, our course lies along the 

 march dividing the parishes of Clyne and Farr, between Loch a' 

 Choire (from which issues the Malert, one of the principal branches 

 of the Naver) and Ben Armine, which hill drains almost wholly 

 into the river Brora. 



With the exception of the chain of large lochs, of which 

 Kumsdale, just mentioned, is one, there are no very well-marked 

 features in the country through which this part of the watershed 



