120 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



a widening of the river Spey — and offers a lovely item, in the 

 landscape if viewed from any elevation, especially from the top of 

 Kinrara rocks or Craigellachie. Both here and upon Loch Alvie, 

 near Llynwilg, Colonel Thornton used to exercise his skill, and 

 kill the many marvellous pike he speaks of in his well-known 

 ' Tour.' 



Two considerable rivers besides the Truim, viz., the Tromie 

 and the Feshie, join the Spey within the bounds of Lower 

 Badenoch, both flowing from the recesses of the Grampians. 



As we pass along the road near Llynwilg, opposite us rises the 

 great Craig of Kinrara, which stands fairly out in the centre of the 

 valley. Bound the base of the Craig the river pursues its course, 

 and is hemmed in by it, and by the spur of high hills which 

 encompasses the far-famed Loch an Eilein, and separates Glen Feshie 

 from Bothiemurchus, and Lower Badenoch from Strathspey : and 

 as we approach Aviemore under the rock of Upper Craigellachie, 

 the vast forest country opens out to our gaze ; and, beyond, the giant 

 mountains of the Cairngorm, make a magnificent setting to the 

 dark green pine-forest at their feet. 



The Spey pursues its course, ever increasing in volume and 

 rapidity through the great meadows which fringe the pine woods, 

 past ' fairm- toons ' and crofts, round birch-clad knolls, and by the 

 bases of pine-grown hills, through the great division of the valley 

 known as Strathspey. Back now for miles, on either bank 

 stretch the vast forests of pine, reaching to the very bases of the 

 mountains of the Cairngorm range, through Bothiemurchus and 

 Glenmore and Abernethy, near the sources of the tributary 

 streams which flow from Lochs Eunach and Morlich — woodland 

 sheets of water embosomed amongst their sombre recesses, which 

 will frequently find mention in these pages — and still farther to 

 near the head-waters of the river Nethy, which flows through the 

 great Abernethy forest. On the left bank are visible the newly 

 planted areas upon the Countess of Seafield's property which 

 stretch over into the Strath of Dulnan, and again join the 

 ancient pine-woods of Duthil above Carrbridge. Lower down 

 yet, the lovely reaches of the now great river sweep round pro- 

 jecting knolls and the pine-clad slopes of Castle Grant and Gran- 



