XX PREFACE. 



and gravel-covered valley of the Spey, and of the ancient 

 levels and probable depths of the ancient Moray Firth ; 

 we have also spoken of the great Geological fault, 

 and have mentioned other matters of minor significance, 

 whilst describing the features of the area. Some of our 

 readers may desire to obtain fuller information upon 

 these and other points, and here and there, generally in 

 footnotes, we have indicated some of the sources whence 

 such information may be obtained. 



Finally, if it be allowable at all for authors to plead, 

 we would like to put in a little word in justification of 

 our treatment of this area in two volumes. The area 

 treated of is quite double the size of any of the subjects 

 of our previous volumes ; the features of the country are 

 much more varied, and, consequently, to illustrate these 

 efiiciently requires many more Plates. The Fauna itself 

 is more extensive, and bears points of interest quite 

 different from those of insular or western areas. To 

 have made one large, thick volume would have rendered 

 the book clumsy and heavy to handle. 



J. A. HARVIE-BROWN. 

 T. E. BUCKLEY. 



November 1895. 



