PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



59 



and improved by man, almost every sort of tree that will grow in 

 the north is to be found here, mixed with bushes, long heather, 

 and other herbage. Bird-life is abundant here, and we have no 

 doubt that some discoveries may yet be made amongst the smaller 

 species. The whole district has a well-kept look about it, and the 

 cottages have nearly all a well-stocked flower-garden, bright with 

 colour. 



Before leaving the Beauly we may refer our readers to an 

 excellent paper by *Mr. "Wallace on * The Basin of the Beauly,' 

 which he read before the British Association at Aberdeen in 

 September 1885. From this paper it would appear that, before 

 the river cut its present course through the Druim, in geological 

 ages past, it must have formed an expansive lake above the narrow 

 gorge, discharging its surplus waters through the hollow known 

 by the name of Fanellan, finally emerging at Groam of Annat, 

 near Beauly Bridge. Moniack Moss was at one time a lake and 

 the old bed of the Beauly ; subsequently it became a marsh, which 

 was drained at great expense by the late Lord Lovat, and is now 

 well-cultivated land. That this was a loch is easily realised by 

 any one who looks at the lie of the land. 



VI. NESS VALLEY, NORTH SIDE— LOCHS GAERY, OICH, 

 AND NESS; GARRY, OICH, MORISTON, COILTIE 

 AND ENRICK, AND NESS RIVERS. 



The valley of the Ness forms the north-western end of the 

 great glen which, reaching south-westerly across Scotland to 

 Banavie and Loch Eil, almost divides that country into two. 

 The watershed of the great glen divides at Loch Oich. This 

 loch receives the waters of the Garry and its tributaries, which 

 rise in Glen Quoich, and, flowing through Lochs Garry, Oich, and 

 Ness, enter the sea at Inverness. A reference to the map will 

 show the great extent of country thus drained, the head of Loch 

 Quoich being within a very few miles of Loch Hourn, on the west 

 coast. No wilder spot could be found, we fancy, than Glen 



