t of their courses the Spey forms the western and the
Deveron the eastern boundary of the county. But Banffshire streams are
comparatively short, the chief being the Avon, Fiddich, Isla, Buckie,
Deskford--with a series of cascades--and Livet. Most of them are stocked
with trout and the Spey and Deveron are famous for their salmon. The great
glens are distinguished for their romantic scenery, the chief being Glen
Avon, Glen Barry, Glen Fiddich, Glen Isla, Glen Livet, and Glen Rinnes. The
largest lochs are in the extreme south: Loch Avon (2300 ft. above the sea),
Loch Builg (1586) and Loch Etchachan (3100).

_Geology_.--The geology of Banffshire is closely connected with that of the
neighbouring counties of Aberdeen and Elgin, from which it is divided by no
natural boundaries. The greater portion is occupied by crystalline schists
of sedimentary origin belonging to the Eastern Highland sequence. The
groups which are typically developed comprise (1) slates, black schists and
phyllites with thin black limestone, sometimes containing tremolite, (2)
the main limestone, (3) the quartzite (Schiehallion). These form
subparallel belts trending north-east and south-west from the seacoast
between Cullen and Portsoy southwards by Keith and Dufftown to the head
waters of the Avon beyond Tomintoul. Some excellent sections of the
phyllites are to be seen on the shore between Sandend, near Portsoy, and
Findlater Castle, near Cullen, and in the railway cutting near Mulben, west
of Keith. The main limestone has been worked at Fordyce, near Grange east
of Keith, and at Keith and Dufftown. The quartzite, which is regarded as
probably the highest member of the series, forms prominent ridges due to
the more rapid erosion of the phyllites, mica-schists and limestones
occupying the intervening hollows. It appears on the coast between Cullen
and Buckie, it forms the Durn Hill near Portsoy, the Binn of Cullen, the
Knock Hill, Ben Aigan and various ridges trending southwards from Grange by
Glen Fiddich towards Tomintoul. In the north-east part of the county there
is a large development of slate with interbedded greywackes and pebbly
grits, which occupies the coast section between Macduff and Troup Head
except a small part at Gamrie. The slate has been quarried for roofing
purposes. No fossils have been found in these strata and their age is
uncertain. The metamorphic sediments have been pierced by acid and basic
igneous intrusions, partly before and