80 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



west towards the Moray Plain, and southward and south-east 

 towards the Spey valley. This dividing spur is at last cut through 

 by the Spey itself, at the Pass of Sourdan. 



The Glen of Rothes is narrow and wooded at its north end, and 

 also at its south entrance, but widens out around the watersheds of 

 its tiny streams, into a long oval and level haugh, wooded round 

 its edges, yet closely approximated to the open grouse-moors above. 

 The handsome residence and shooting-lodge and offices of Glen- 

 rothes or Birchfield occupy a lovely site upon the east slope. 



The Lossie river rises amongst the Braes of Moray, and runs a 

 comparatively short course past Elgin (having been joined by the 

 Black Burn, which runs past Pluscarden) through the Laigh of 

 Moray and by the Loch of Spynie. Though a small stream under 

 normal conditions, it asserted itself with considerable violence at 

 the time of the great floods of 1829, as will be found fully treated 

 of in Sir Thomas Dick Lauder's volume. The whole historical 

 aspect of Loch Spynie — formerly such a paradise for sportsmen 

 and the haunt of the Wild Swan — will be found fully treated 

 of also in Shaw's History of Moray : an Account of the Province 

 of Moray^ Charles St. John's Sport in Moray, and many other 

 volumes among the unusually rich literature of this part of 

 Scotland. 



Eemarks on Climate and Climatal Changes. 



The climate of the south side of the Moray Firth is universally 

 admitted to be dry and salubrious. We cannot do better, in speak- 

 ing of it in general terms, than quote the MS. of the late Mr. 

 George Norman. Mr. George Norman ^ says : ' Indeed, in no 



^ In February 1868 Mr. Norman sent a short sketch paper to The Zoologist, 

 q.v. p. 1065, but it was upon the suggestion of Mr. G. W. Anderson that he 

 afterwards elaborated his notes for the special purpose of a contribution to a 

 Guide to Forres and its Neighbourhood, which was at that time contemplated by 

 Mr. Anderson, who himself supplied us with the information. The Guide-book, 

 however, was never published, nor were Mr. Norman's papers put in type. We 

 have therefore not considered it out of place to reproduce these notes, made by 

 such a keen observer and excellent naturalist as Mr. Norman was acknowledged 

 to be, and whose early death naturalists must deplore. These notes are now in 

 the possession of Mr. Anderson, bookseller, Forres, who kindly lent them to us 

 for use in our present work. 



