134 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



Mr. Alexander Inkson M^Connochie, chief amongst which, for our 

 present area, is Ben Muich Dhui and his Neighbours : a Guide to 

 the Cairngorm Mountains (1885), which contains an excellent 

 map of the district — with Ben Muich Dhui as a centre — the base 

 and sides of which he * estimated to cover an area of about 140 

 square miles,' within the three counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and 

 Inverness. For a description of the panorama, as seen from the 

 summits, we recommend a perusal of Mr. M'Connochie's valuable 

 Guide, and amongst other bits of descriptive brilliancy we find 

 him at one with Hill Burton in describing *the Corrie of the 

 Garrachorry (as) the wildest and the grandest, not only among 

 the Cairngorms, but also in Scotland,' and ' the view of the steep, 

 almost perpendicular, natural wall of Braeriach and of Cairntoul, 

 with Lochan Uaine and the Garrachorry streams in long white 

 streaks, (as) one that will leave an impression on the beholder 

 that will not soon be effaced.' 



No wonder these glorious mountains tempt the footsteps of 

 our Alpine climbers, for does not this area contain the highest 

 continuous mountain-range of all Scotland ; contain also the 

 highest fresh- water springs ^ and fresh- water lochs in Britain ; 

 contain, likewise, the highest inhabited village, — fast rising, of 

 late years, to the importance of a town and tourist-resort, — viz., 

 Tomintoul on the Avon ? No wonder the members of the Cairn- 

 gorm Club are fired to emulation with such a guide as Mr. Inkson 

 M'Connochie ; and the time is not far distant when every little 

 creek and eerie corner of these everlasting hills will yield up their 

 secrets to such as he and they. Already the portable camera is fast 

 laying before us new things every year, of which the photograph of 

 Corrie nan Lochan, of which we give a reproduction, is an example.^ 



^ MacGillivray describes his ascent of Braeriach, and although principally 

 referring to the * Dee ' Basin, it is still deserving of perusal as connected with Spey 

 and Moray. (Natural History of Deeside and Braemar, 1885.) 



2 Loch Coire an Lochan (3254 feet), on the western side of Braeriach, and 

 others, such as Lochan Suarach (2840 feet), whence the river Geusachan flows, or 

 to go farther up to the very source of the loch's feeder, an altitude of 3500 feet, 

 as well as many other springs and feeders far up above Loch Avon on the sides 

 of * Ben Muich Dhui and his neighbours.' Lochan nan Cnapan, above Loch 



