OF THE GRAMPIANS. 



457 



from the Grampians, and flows into the plains of 

 Kincardineshire, the congiomerate, with its adja- 

 cent stratified rocks, are laid open for inspection in 

 their whole extent of breadth, by the river cross- 

 ing their lines of direction nearly at right angles. 

 In this district, the commencement of the aggre- 

 gation of the conglomerate may be seen, and its 

 progress of accumulation may be traced up to its 

 most combined mass. 



The rock, in the plains of Kincardineshire, con- 

 sists of a brown sandstone. When in the plain, 

 this rock is perfectly horizontal in its position ; 

 but as it approaches the undulated ground, form- 

 ing the south basis of the Grampians, it begins 

 to deviate from its horizontal position ; and by 

 a very gradual acclivity, it at last obtains a per- 

 fectly vertical position. When it first deviates 

 from its position in the plain, some few rounded, 

 masses are found imbedded in its composition, and 

 are generally found in the lower parts of the lay- 

 ers. These rounded masses augment in numbers 

 as the rock augments in its acclivity, and soon af- 

 ter it has gained its vertical position, the princi- 

 pal base of sandstone disappears, and the conglo- 

 merate is seen in its greatest mass. The mass here 

 is only about 400 yards thick ; it is very nearly 

 vertical in its position, having only a small degree 

 of dip from the mountains, that is to say, it dips 

 to the south, It has here the same narrow lines,- 



