J. F. Campbell Collection > On the parallel roads of Lochaber

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XXYll.—On the Pavaltel Bonds of Lochaher. By David Milne Home, LL.D.
(Plates XLI., XLII., XLIII.)
(Read ISth May 1876.)
I. The Parallel Roads of Locliaber have presented to geologists a problem,
which is still unsolved. Dr Macculloch, about sixty years ago, when President
of the Geological Society of London, first called attention to these peculiar
markings on the Locliaber Hills, by an elaborate Memoir afterwards published
in that Society's Transactions. He was followed by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder,
who in the year 1824, read a paper in our own Society, illustrated by excellent
sketches. His pajier is in our Transactions. The next author who attemi^ted a
solution was the jwesent Mr Charles Darwin. He maintained that these Roads
were sea-beaches, formed, when this part of Europe was rising from beneath
the Ocean. He was followed by Professor Agassiz, Dr Buckland, Charles
Babbage, Sir John Lubbock, Robert Chambers, Professor Rogers, Sir George
M'Kenzie, Mr Jamieson of Ellon, Professor Nicol, Mr Bryce of Glasgow, Mr
Watson, and Mr Jolly of Inverness. Sir Charles Lyell, though he wrote no
special memoir, treated the subject pretty fully in his Avorks, giving an opinion
in support of the views of Agassiz.
I took some little part myself in the discussion, having in the year 1847
read a pajier in this Society, which was pubhshed in our Transactions.
During the last five or six years, there has been an entire cessation of both
investigation and discussion, in consequence probably of a desire to await the
publication of more correct maps of the district, which at the request of the
British Association for the Advancement of Science, the Ordnance Survey
Department undertook.
These Ordnance Maps were not available to the public before last Autumn,
when with a copy of these in my hand, I went back to the district, to see
whether any more distinct views Avould occur to me, than those 1 had obtained
thirty years ago, when the late Robert Chambers and I examined the Parallel
Roads together.
II. Perhaps, before stating the results of my recent visit, it may be con-
venient for those who happen not to be well acquainted with the subject, that
I briefly state the problem to be solved, and the different solutions which
have been suggested.
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