Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 4.djvu/376

 The chief anomaly visible, which is described as appearing at the glen that opens together with Glen Turit, is readily explained in this manner; and indeed the terraces of Glen Turit that are in contact with it offer an explanation too obvious to be overlooked.

The general equality of breadth which prevails among the lines is equally opposed to the notion of their being the remains of terraces; as it is impossible that such an equality should have been preserved amongst them. Nor, had the lost portions of these terraces been removed by the action of water, should they have been most completely removed from the hardest places while they were suffered to remain in the most perishable materials.

The form of the cul de sac in the upper part of Glen Roy, which I have adduced as an argument against the notion of a deluge, offers an equally insurmountable one against this hypothesis. No water runs through that hollow, nor can any state of it be conceived capable of admitting its flow. Had a terrace therefore existed in this place, or had its bottom been at any time filled to the height of the two lines which are found marked on its right side, they must have remained to this day, since they could not have been subjected to the action of the destroying force.

I may add to these considerations, that the appearances at Glen Fintec and at the entrance of Glen Turit are equally hostile to this notion; since in both these glens there is a point of rest where no water flows, or could, under any reasonable supposition have flowed, where nevertheless the lines are as distinct as in any part of Glen Roy. But I must not conclude this argument without pointing out the difficulty of imagining any river running in a situation capable of effecting the required changes. I have already on so many occasions described the position of the surrounding country that it is superfluous to repeat it here. Yet I may briefly remark, that the