DEFINITION OF THE AREA. 



The whole area at present under treatment, within its encircling 

 rim of inland mountains, and between them and the coast-line, 

 contains some 3250 square miles.^ 



The sea-coast extends, with a general N.E. to S.W. trend, between 

 Girdleness, in the extreme N.E. of the area, to Fifeness in the S.E. 



The inland boundaries form a sinuous ridge of mountainous 

 elevation throughout the greater portion of its course of about 330 

 miles, measured by means of a planimeter. 



The greatest diameter from N.E. to S.W. is approximately 100 

 miles in a straight line ; from E. to W. 90 miles ; and from N. to 

 S. 40 miles. 



The parent stream is the Tay, which, with its many larger and 

 smaller tributaries, drains into the sea at Dundee. The remainder 

 of the total drains directly into the North Sea by the rivers of 



^ The Tay Basin and Strathmore contain exactly 3270 square miles, or 2,092,800 

 acres ; or, if reduced to still more minute subdivisions, 15,826,800 square yards. 

 The correct landward boundary is 329 miles in extent. The correct coast-line 

 measures 82 miles : add for the sinuosities of estuaries 67 miles, and a total is 

 reached of 478 miles. The above careful measurements are certified to by Mr. 

 D. Gibson, Ordained Land-Surveyor and Certificated Measurer, as calculated from 

 Bartholomew's reduced map from the Survey of half a mile to the inch, worked out 

 by triangulation. These measurements include those portions of other counties 

 such as Fife— besides Perth, Forfar, and Kincardine — which lie within the area, and 

 are exclusive of such portions of these counties which lie outside the presently 

 treated of " Faunal area." After triangulation these measurements were tested and 

 proved by planimeter, also by Mr. Gibson, to whom I here desire to record my full 

 appreciation of, and thanks for, his trouble and time expended upon the same, as 

 well as other work he has done for me. 



Col. Drummond Hay recognised as correct limits and boundaries of the area, 

 "all the drainage area between Fifeness and the southern half of Kincardineshire" 

 {in lit., 20th January 1888). As will be seen above, I have slightly departed from 

 this as regards the northern boundary, and gone up along the coast-line so as to 

 include the point at Girdleness and the drainage which flows into the Nortli Sea 

 southwards of that promontory. 



