of Edinburgh, Session 1879 - 80 . 
619 
boulders were on them, and, indeed, on account of their sharp-edged 
ridges boulders were not likely to have lodged on them. 
On the hills of Sgornan Fiannaidh( 3188 feet) and Sgor an Caiche 
(2430 feet), situated farther west, these boulders were not found, nor 
any rock of the same description. 
I proceeded to the next hills, of somewhat greater height, about 
6 or 7 miles to the west, to the south of Balachulish, viz., Bliein 
Balm , Sgorr Dlierag , Sgor Dhonuill , and Creag Ghorm. 
In the bed of a stream which descends the steep eastern face of 
Creag Gliorm , at about 1500 feet above the sea, a belt of rock occurs 
identical with that of the boulders ; also along a great part of 
the semicircular ridge which connects Creag Ghorm with Sgorr 
Dhonuill , at a height averaging 2250 feet, there is rock very 
similar to that of the boulders, there being rather less mica in it, 
and only occasional hornblendic crystals. Biddian nam Bian (3786 
feet) was twice ascended, but it presented no trace of the rock 
sought for. But though the rocks at the two other places indicated 
were found to be almost identical in mineralogical composition with 
that of the boulders, I am not satisfied that they supplied the 
boulders. The spots where these rocks occur are only from 1500 to 
2300 feet above the sea ; whereas the boulders on some parts of the 
Aonach Eagach to the eastward were at a height of 3100 feet above 
the sea. 
Therefore I admit that there must still remain some uncertainty 
as to the birthplace of these boulders. An attempt has been made 
by some geologists to explain how boulders may be transported to 
positions above the level of the parent rocks ; and if that theory be 
correct it may overcome the difficulty referred to. 
It is possible also that the rocks at Creag Ghorm and Sgorr 
Dhonuill may have formerly reached a higher level; and in that 
view it may be remarked that at present the rocks of these hills are 
even now, under the action of the weather, breaking off into huge 
blocks. 
Of course it may still be possible to find the peculiar rock of these 
boulders on more elevated hills elsewhere. Ben Cruachan and other 
hills to the south and west reach a height of more than 3100 feet ; 
but I have been on most of these hills, and I do not think that on 
any of them there are rocks which would produce the boulders. 
