NOTES ON THE FLORA OF THE ISLAND OF BARRA. 183 



XVI. 



NOTES ON THE FLORA OF THE ISLAND OF 



BARRA. 



BY ALEX. SOMERVILLE, B.SC, F.L.S. 



[Read 27th December, 1887.] 



Through the enterprise of the Highland Fisheries 

 Company, the Outer Hebrides have, during the last 

 two seasons, been brought within easier reach of us, 

 for it is now possible, travelling by Oban, to leave 

 Glasgow at 6 in the morning, cross the Minch by 

 the above Company's steamer, and land on Barra by 

 half-past 8 same evening. 



The Outer Hebrides, or "Long Island," as they are 

 collectively called, consist of the series of larger isles, 

 viz., Lewis, with its annexed Harris, North Uist, 

 Benbecula, South Uist, and Barra, with a multitude 

 of islets besides, of every conceivable dimension. 



Barra is the most southerly island of consequence. 

 It is oblong in form, Qh miles in length, with a 

 narrow-necked peninsula to the north which may 

 be said to add two miles more. 



I need hardly refer to the importance which Barra 

 has recently acquired as a fishing station. Nature 

 has endowed the island, as Miss Gordon Cummin g 

 has said, with one priceless boon in the excellent 

 harbour of Castle Bay, a haven which affords secure 

 anchorage in all conditions of the tide. This bay 

 faces south, and is protected by the island of 

 Vatersay, which, lying across the entrance, acts as 

 a breakwater, the Sound of Vatersay furnishing an 

 outlet to the Atlantic on the west and to the Minch 

 on the east. 



Barra has a population of fully 2,000 ; but during 

 the six weeks from the middle of May till the end 

 of June there is an influx of over 4,000 people, 



