See Bohemian Brethren.

MORAY or ELGINSHIRE, a maritime county of Scotland, on the Moray Firth, bounded N. by the same, W. by Nairnshire, S.W. by Inverness-shire, part of which severs it into two parts, and S.E. and E. by Banffshire. The northern portion of it, lying between Inverness-shire and the sea, is 26 miles in length by 23 miles in breadth; the southern portion, inclosed by Inverness-shire, 14 miles long by 12 miles in breadth; while both together have an area of 340,000 statute acres. In its physical aspects Morayshire presents the characteristics of the Lowlands as well as those of the Highlands of Scotland. The former constitute the maritime section of the county, and the latter the interior. A light, gravelly soil, resting on a Devonian bottom, characterizes the surface of the maritime portion of the county, extending from 4 to 6 miles from the sea-coast. Undulations spread through this district, and in the parishes of Duffus and Elgin become hills of slight elevation. Southward, in the interior, the land becomes always more and more mountainous, until, on the borders of Inverness-shire and Banffshire, it attains a very considerable elevation. The geologic system of this, the highland section, is primary, with here and there strata of mountain limestone. Gneiss is the most prevalent rock among the hills, but it frequently approaches to granite in its structure, especially on the borders of Banff and Inverness shires. The climate of the county is generally considered healthy. On the coast, where the soil is gravelly, and consequently of a dry nature, the temperature is mild; but on the uplands it is more changeable and more subject to extremes. Westerly winds prevail in Morayshire for nearly three-fourths of the year; but most of the heavy gales that visit this county are from the N. or N.W. Easterly winds, however, are prevalent in spring, to the great injury of vegetation. The annual fall of rain upon the N.E. part, near Speymouth, is stated to be little more than 25 inches, and the mean temperature of the year to range from 45° to 50°. In the hilly region, however, the winter is long and often severe, and the harvesting is generally late in being brought to a close. Moray, however, has the other advantages of an extended sea-coast, and large rivers traversing its valleys. The former stretches for about 30 miles along the Moray Firth, from the mouth of the Spey to beyond the Findhorn. It presents to the sea several bold headlands, such as Burgh and Stotefield Heads, and has likewise considerable inlets at the mouths of the Findhorn and Spey rivers. The harbours on the coast are, however, few and insecure. The principal streams of Morayshire are the Spey, on its eastern boundary; the Findhorn, on the W.; and the Lossie, in the centre of the county. The first of these rises from Loch Spey in Inverness-shire, and has about one-half its entire course in that county, after which it enters Moray at Tomachrochri. It then bounds the parish of Abernethy on the W. for about 3 miles, and afterwards separates it from the parish of Duthil. After traversing the detached part of Inverness-shire, the Spey again enters Morayshire, and forms its boundary on Banffshire for the greater part of its course downwards. The stream at last reaches the sea, below the town of Speymouth, by means of a wide mouth studded with islands, after a course of about 110 miles. It has a very rapid and tortuous course; and, after the Tay, discharges the largest volume of water of any stream in Scotland. No part of it is navigable, but it is much used for floating down timber. From the great bends in its course, together with the rapidity of its flow, the strath or valley has been long subject to very destructive inundations. The scenery on the banks of this river is frequently of a highly picturesque character. The Findhorn, which enters Moray on the west, is next in importance to the Spey. Rising among the mountains of Badenoch, it takes its meandering course north-eastwards through Inverness, and entering Nairnshire a little above Balknockan, traverses that county in the same direction. It enters Moray at Kilmoney, when it gradually turns to the N., and after receiving the waters of the Dobras and other smaller tributaries, falls into Loch Findhorn, an inlet of the sea. Its total course is about 50 miles, for 10 of which it flows through Moray, but its waters are not navigable. Valuable salmon-fisheries pertain to the stream. Like the Spey, it is noted for sudden and destructive inundations. The "Moray floods" of 1829 were caused by a great outbreak of the Findhorn. The only other river worthy of mention is the Lossie, which, rising from a loch of the same name, traverses the centre of the county by an irregular N. by E. course, receives the Lochty on its left, and, after passing the town of Elgin, empties itself into the Moray Firth after a course of 25 miles, all within this county. The surface of Morayshire is otherwise diversified by several small lakes. In regard to its soil and agriculture this county may be divided into the maritime or lowland and the highland districts. Of the first, the soil is open and well suited for both wheat and oats. The highlands, on the other hand, are, with the exception of some parts of the valleys, exclusively devoted to pasture, especially for sheep. The breeds that are fed on the hills are mostly Cheviots and black-faced, while crosses with the Leicester-shire and South Downs are generally confined to the lowlands. Most of the cattle are crosses between the native breed and those of Teeswater or Aberdeenshire. The great stimulus given to the agricultural interest in the production of stock, corn, and other commodities for the metropolitan markets, by the ready communication obtained either by sea or railway, has been the cause of many improvements in farming, as well as of a steady rise in the price of land. In 1857 there were 82,401 acres in the county under rotation of crops, against 80,413 acres in the preceding year; and the following statistics for the year 1857 give the acreages as returned:—There were in that year 28,560 acres under grass and hay, 17,213 under oats, 12,737 turnips, 9522 barley, 8749 wheat, 3190 po-