54 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



level the river assumes a quieter aspect, a broad smooth stream, 

 opening out here and there into still reaches, more resembling 

 lochs, near where it issues out of Loch Beneveian. Though not par- 

 ticularly high or bold in outline, the hills thus far are steep, and 

 covered for a considerable distance along their sides and slopes 

 with trees. Once Loch Beneveian is reached the trees are less 

 numerous on the north side of the strath, but firs now predominate, 

 and are thickly spread along the north side for some way along 

 Loch Affric, the southern side of Loch Beneveian being wooded to 

 tlie very sky-line. 



Between Loch Beneveian and Loch Affric the river joining the 

 two widens out into several small lochs, and it is on the south 

 side of this part of Strath Affric that the greatest number of the 

 natural firs exist, the country being just there more undulating 

 almost than hilly, and containing a good deal of very long rough 

 heather. The north side is almost entirely devoid of trees, and at a 

 single spot where a little burn comes in, is a small extent of green 

 ground, where we saw a solitary Lapwing and one or two ducks. 



Jutting out into Loch Affric at the east end is a peninsula 

 clothed with trees and rhododendrons, and on it is situated the 

 pretty well built shooting-lodge of Glen Affric. 



The scenery here is about as wild as anything we know of in 

 our present area. Looking up the loch, a sprinkling of old 

 natural firs lines the edge for a short distance, these spreading 

 much farther up the hills on the south side, and giving a more 

 clothed look to the place. On the north side tower the heights of 

 Mam Soul (Mam Sodhail), 3862 feet and Sgurr na Lapaich, 3401 

 feet, this latter not to be confounded with the hill of the same 

 name between the head- waters of Strath Farrar and Glen Cannich. 

 Far away in the western distance are the hills forming the water- 

 shed between Glen Affric and the Croe and Shiel rivers, large 

 white patches showing where the snow was yet — the beginning of 

 July — lying thickly on the eastern sides. 



Sgurr na Lapaich rises very steeply above Loch Affric, clothed 

 with grass and heather almost to its summit. Mam Soul lies 

 farther up the northern side, and stands farther back, a much 

 rougher, stonier hill on this side than its neighbour. 



