172 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Dr Chambers’ paper was read before this Society in December 
1852, and was published in the “ Edin. New Phil. Journal ” for 1853. 
The author’s chief object was to point out that there were, in his 
opinion, two sets of phenomena in regard to boulders and smoothed 
rocks. One set he considered to be the effects of local glaciers, the 
other he ascribed to a general glaciation of the entire country. 
The Convener does not mean to discuss this theory. He wishes 
only to notice the facts which Dr Chambers brought forward in 
support of it. 
Dr Chambers states — 
1. That on Cuineag and Canish (quartz hills in Assynt, 
situated about thirty miles to the north of Gairloch), he 
found, “up to a height of 1700 and 1800 feet, striae running 
from about N. 60° W., with certain exceptions. One of these 
exceptions was at the base of Cuineag, where the streaks are from 
the direct north, apparently by reason of the turn which the agent 
had there received from the base of the adjoining hill. Another 
exception was at the hollow dividing the mass of the hill from its 
loftiest top, where another system of streakings had come in from 
the direct west.” 
2. “On a summit south from Ben More, fully 1500 feet high, 
and four or five miles to the S.E. of Cuineag, there are streak- 
ings on the quartz, observing the normal direction of this general 
movement, viz., from N. 60° W.” 
3. On the gneissic platform between Coul More and Suilvean 
(south part of Assynt), Dr Chambers says he “found polished 
surfaces striated from N.W. to W. To the west and north of the 
latter mountain are markings in all respects similar. These are 
situations where no local glaciers could exist.” 
4. “ Streaking, precisely the same as that of Cuineag and 
Canish, exists at an elevation of at least 2000 feet on the similar 
quartz mountain named Ben Eay, south of Loch Maree, and forty 
miles from Assynt — this striation being from N.W. or thereabouts, 
and totally irrespective of the form of the hill.” 
5. “Passing northward to Bhiconich, we find near that place 
striae coming in from the coast, viz., from the N.W., and passing 
across a high moor, with no regard whatever to the inequalities of 
the ground.” 
