84 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



climate is met with. This is still further accentuated when one 

 passes over the farther watershed into the northern portions of 

 ' Dee.' Nothing can be more marked, especially in a late spring 

 or generally backward season, than the comparative growths of 

 trees or cereals on the high rolling lands east of Spey, and of 

 those west of the same river within the confines of the Laigh of 

 Moray. 



The climate of the Spey has this distinct motto attached to it : 

 — ' High and dry.' The soil over a large part of its valley is of the 

 same gravelly, dry nature, growing wealth of balsamic pine-trees. 

 At 900 feet elevation, the well- winnowed atmosphere has per- 

 haps the most elastic, bracing, and health-restoring properties of 

 any locality in Scotland. From the Plain of Moray to the valley 

 of the Spey, the higher reaches of its tributaries, and the Carn 

 districts of the Cabrach, any one in search of health can take a 

 perfectly steady and ever-increasing dose of ozone, feeling lighter, 

 better, livelier with every successive change, as we have ourselves 

 experienced, even within a few hours. It is indeed a glorious 

 country, and is becoming well known throughout its length and 

 breadth — from Kingussie down to Grantown and Aberlour, and 

 even to the coast, and far up from Nairn and Forres, among the 

 hills at Tomantoul, and in Strathnairn and Strathdearn, and even 

 among the Braes of Moray — to an ever-increasing multitude of 

 summer visitors. 



It is needless, perhaps, to point out the bearing which surface 

 geology has upon climate, and climate upon numerous, or all, forms 

 of life, and the true meaning of faunal areas. Surface geology 

 undoubtedly has some claim in assisting to prove the intimate 

 connection which exists between many branches of Natural 

 History. 



Surface geology takes us back to a remote past, and gradually 

 leads up to our study of the present — even offering connecting 

 links through the bounds of tradition and history. Surface 

 geology also acts directly upon climate, climate upon botany and 

 zoology ; and the Great Ice ages have acted as pioneers and ' sur- 

 facemen ' in laying down the great drift, and even bearing germs 

 of future life. 



