Notes on the submergence of Scotland

Abstract

1. The old red blocks of Morayshire and its vicinity do not occur in the interior of the country, but the blocks belonging to the interior are strewed all over the plains of Moray, and the ridges of the Black Isle. Most of the blocks perched upon the S.W. and S. sides of the Strathnairn hills are not native, but evidently belong to the basin of the Ness. The S.W. slope and summit of Doune Daviot are strongly glaciated. Its talus spreads out to N.E. Two round hummocks (700 feet), of fine sand are situated upon this talus, and they are strewed with large blocks of conglomerate and Doune Daviot gneiss, all streaming eastwards or across the line pursued by the land ice. Along the N. ridge of Strathnairn we see how the old red sandstone beds were torn up by continental ice. The old red blocks are strewed along the line of junction of the old red and the gneiss, and rest chiefly on the gneiss. Many of these blocks have been moved only a few inches in their native beds. But among them may be found blocks which are not native. These are also strewed over the sandy ridges in long streams to the E. or nearly so. No blocks could be deposited upon continental ice, but they would fall down when the valleys were well filled with glaciers, upon which they would be carried along. It is thus evident that the blocks of the Ness basin, which