PERTHSHIRE. This is the most splendid for its scenery and appearance, as it is the most extensive county in Scotland. It is of a very compact form, nearly free from angles of any note, and almost coinciding with a cir cle; the longest diameter, between the east and west, being about eighty miles; and the shortest from north to south, being seventy. One detached portion alone, on the borders of the Firth of Forth, intrudes between Fife and Clackmannan. The total area is estimated at 5000 square miles.
Physical Geography.—Perthshire is, in every sense of the word, a mountainous country, although containing many considerable tracts of flat land, or of low undulat ing hills. It is divided between the highland and lowland districts, the latter forming about a third of the whole. The boundary between these is part of that great step which, to the southward, distinguishes the highlands from the lowlands, and is popularly known by the name of the Grampian mountains. To the south of this is a distinct ridge of hills, which, from near Stirling to near Newburgh, nearly coincides with the boundary of the county, and which, at a more northern point, is conti nuous with the Sidlaw ridge, leaving between it and the Tay the great and valuable alluvial flat, called the Carse of Gowrie.
The interval between the Ochil hills and the Gram pians, is by far the most extensive tract of low lands in Perthshire ; and being covered with agriculture, wood, and gentlemen's seats, it forms altogether the most bril liant and wealthy looking tract in Scotland. This district extends from Blairgowrie and Coupar on the east, to Corn rie, Downe, and Aberfoyle, on the west ; including the magnificent valley of Strathearn, with part of that of the Almond, the Tay, and the Isla. The distribution'of the hills and valleys within the highland portion, is very irre gular, and the mountainous land bears a very large pro portion to the rest. As the ridges which the hills form regulate the distribution of these valleys, the description of the one almost implies that of the other.
The principal valley is Strath Tay, commencing from the lake of that name, and attending the course of the Tay to Dunkeld, where it terminates, by the meeting of the hills, to form the pass of Birnam. This is an ex tremely rich and beautiful tract, while it is also of consi derable dimensions. On the north it is bounded by the ridge of Ben Lawers, and on the south by an extensive group of mountains, by which it is separated from Strath earn, with the intervention, in one place, of the valley of the Braun, which also opens at Dunkeld. The latter boundary also defines its southern branch to the west ward, while the eastern one is formed by another consi derable mass of hill land, which separates it from Strathairdle. The dimensions of this latter valley are not considerable, and it forms a kind of notch in the line of the Grampians.
The next valley in consequence to that of the Tay, is that of the Tumel, which joins at Logierait, and extends northwards to near the pass of Killicrankie. Here it ter minates for a considerable space between Fascally and Loch Tumel, where the river forces its way through a very deep and narrow glen. But, at the issue of Loch Tumel, it again expands into a rich fertile woody valley, which, in its progress westward, extends to near Mount Alexander. The boundaries of this upper Glen Tumel, are, on the south, the ridge of Shehallien and Faragen, and, to the north, a group which separates it from the valley of the Garry, containing Blair in Athol, and the seat of much of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland.
Glen Lyon is the last valley of any considerable dimen sions. It is bounded by the ridge of Shehallien on one side, and that of Ben ',elvers on the other ; losing itself gradually westward about Meggarnie, and terminating west of Fortingall; heing again renewed, in some mea sure, as the river proceeds from this to be lost in the Tay near Dull. Many smaller glens attend the rivers and lakes in which this county abounds, but they do not re quire any particular description.