6 



MINERALOGY OF THE OCIIILS. 



where they are also most extensive. They im- 

 perceptibly diminish both in size and importance 

 to the eastward. It is, however, in the latter 

 portion that the romantic valley occurs, in which 

 the Lake of Lindores is contained. In this small 

 spot, nature has crowded together all that can de- 

 light the eye, and elevate the imagination. 



The Ochil Hills are bounded to the north and 

 north-west by the Frith of Tay, Strath-Erne, and 

 Strath- Allan ; to the south-west by the vale of 

 Forth ; to the south by the vales of Devon, of 

 Kinross, and of Eden ; and to the east by the left 

 bank of the Eden^ where it is lost in the right 

 bank of the Tay. 



The prevailing rock throughout the whole of 

 the northern boundaries, is a dark brick-red Sand- 

 stone, which extends as far as Callendar to the 

 west, and to Stonehaven ^ to the east, and is in all 

 probabiUty the old red sandstone. The indepen- 

 dent coal formation, according to Mr Bald f , forms 

 the coal-field of Clackmananshire and Stirling- 

 shire ; and the red sandstone, occasionally assuming 

 the characters of conglomerate f , again occupies 



* See Colonel Imrie on the Conglomerate^ &c. vol. 1. Werne- 

 rian Memoirs. 



See Mr Bald on the coal-field of Clackmananshire, vol. 1. 

 Wernerian Memoirs. 



i This is distinctly the case immediately to the north of 

 Cupar, in a small opening made by the rivulet which empties 

 itself into the Eden below the town. 



