194 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
hilliest districts, there are no valleys in which glaciers could have 
been formed. Therefore, in studying the question of boulder trans- 
port, I thought the problem would be simplified when one of the 
explanations, and that the most commonly received, was inappli- 
cable. In this view of the matter, I am glad now to find that 
Mr James Geikie, the well-known persistent advocate of glacier 
agency, concurs. Since my visit to the Hebrides, I have read a 
most interesting report by him, published in the “ Transactions of 
the London Geological Society ” for October last. In this report 
Mr Geikie describes a visit he had paid to the Western Hebrides. 
Referring to South Uist, the highest hill in which (Mount Hecla) 
reaches to about 2000 feet above the sea, Mr Geikie says — “ The 
nature of the ground is not such as would favour the formation of 
local glaciers of any importance. If such ever hung on the 
southern slope of the mountain, they must have been of in- 
significant size, for they have left no moraines behind them.” — 
(Page 842.) 
So also, in referring to North Uist, Mr Geikie says — “I saw no 
trace of terminal moraines. In short, evidence of local glaciation 
appears to be wanting, and if any local glacier ever did exist, it 
must have been of insignificant dimensions.” — (Page 848.) 
The question remains whether the Islands suggest any other 
agency than local glaciers. In examining the Report, it will be 
found that the following positions seem to be established : — 
Boulders. 
1st. The great majority of the boulders are situated on the slopes 
of hills which face the north-v;est. 
2d. Though there are boulders in all parts of the Islands, they 
are more numerous on the West sides of the Islands than else- 
where. 
3d. Multitudes of boulders occupy 'positions which they could 
not have come into, except from the north-west. 
4th. In a few cases, the parent rocks of boulders were discovered. 
On the mainland, near Gair Loch and Loch Maree, several 
boulders of a peculiar sandstone rock occur, which must have 
come from north-west, as it is only in that direction that there 
are rocks of the same description. 
