388 MiNERALOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



Loch Dee is a wild mountain lake, out of 

 'which the River Dee issues, about 15 miles to 

 the S. S. W. of New Galloway. It is a mile in 

 length, and perhaps about half as much in breadth. 

 Its immediate banks are low and flat, consisting 

 principally of ^eat-moss covered with heath ; but 

 to the W. and N. W., at a few miles distance, 

 rise the Hills of Glenhead, Buchan, and Merrock, 

 to the height of 1000 to 1700 feet or more. On 

 the east of it^ is the Hill of Craigericaillie, and to 

 the no?:th, Millyea. The lake itself, is of no great 

 depth, for it easily freezes over. I had no means 

 of fathoming it. It contains salmon, trout, pike, 

 perch, and eels. The scene around is as wild and 

 bleak as can well be imagined. Nothing to be 

 seen but heath and rocks. No human dwelling 

 within view. Betwixt this lake, and that of 

 Doon, is eight miles, and this appears to be about 

 the extreme length of the Doon mass of granite. 

 West from Loch Dee, runs Glentrool, where the 

 granite probably terminates toward the south. 

 I regretted not being able to explore this glen. 

 Mr Macmillan informs me, that it is bold, beau** 

 tiful, and romantic. 



As already observed^ the river Dee issues from 

 the above-mentioned lake or loch of the same 

 name; takes a south-easterly direction, and, after 

 a course of 1 8 miles, loses itself in the Lake of 

 Ken, at the beautiful seat of Airds, six miles 

 ^ S. E. by S. of New Galloway. In ks course, it 



