of Edinhurgli, Session 1883-84. 
849 
from the Conglomerate hoiilders in the counties of Moray, Nairn, 
and Banff. Two other sources were considered by him more pro- 
bable — Cromarty to the N.W., and the hills near the east end of 
the Caledonian Canal. 
Throughout the county there are hundreds of rounded boulders 
of granite, gneiss, and mica slate, whose shape suggests that they 
have been pushed or rolled over the surface. These are chiefly em- 
bedded in gravel, clay, and sand. 
Pluscardine Hill has had lodged on its north slope a number of 
boulders which have apparently come from N.W. There is a 
gneiss boulder, 13x8x6 feet, about 46 tons, called Chapel Stone f 
situated to west of Pluscardine Chapel ; also a Syenite boulder, 
12x8x3 feet, about 1 3 tons. The rocks in situ here are Old 
Red Sandstone. 
Carden Hill forms a rocky sandstone range running about E. and W. 
Between it and Pluscardine Hill, there is a shallow valley, through 
which boulders may have been rafted to their present sites in an 
easterly direction. The two Carlin Stones might have come that way. 
The rocks along ridge of Carden Hill, have been ground down by 
some agent which has passed over it from N.W. Many boulders of 
granite and gneiss lie on the ridge, most of which have longer axis 
N. W. by W. Some lie along ridge, on its northern edge, apparently 
stopped there in their farther progress ; others lie on south side of 
ridge, as if pushed over it, and placed beyond reach of transporting 
agent. 
Blocks of the Carden Hill sandstone rock are also there, as if 
broken off the ridge by the agent which passed over from north. The 
ridge of Carden Hill extends for about a mile, and is at a height of 
400 feet above sea. 
Many smoothed and striated surfaces are visible, the direction of 
the striae having been observed at different places as follows : — W. 
by N. ; W.N.W. ; N.W. by W., and N.W. The most frequent 
direction was N.W. At one spot, striae observed N. by E., and 
crossing the N.W. striae ; the forming appearing, therefore, to have 
been first formed {Second Report, p. 154). 
Quarrywood Hill, about 200 feet above the sea, composed of 
sandstone rocks. On N.W. slope there are four or five large Con- 
glomerate boulders, about 140 feet above sea-level. 
