IIG SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



The Hanging Rocks, or " Giant's Ribs," as they are called, consist of 

 vast prismatic columns of basalt, similar to those in Fingal's Cave and the 

 Giant's Causeway. The district is peculiarly rich in subjects of botany and 

 mineralogy. The hill alone contains four hundred species of plants. From 

 the beginning of summer till the latter end of December, Duddingstone 

 Loch is covered with flocks of coots, wild-duck, and teal ; while the swan, 

 taking jiist precedence, and " fashioning her neck into a goodly curve," 

 svnms gracefully forth with her brood. In wdnter, when frozen over so as 

 to admit of the pastime of curling, this lake presents one of the most 

 animated pictures imaginable. The skaiting-club, composed of the ilite of 

 fashion — generally young men of the university, but often comprising veterans 

 in every department of the state — here meet for the exhibition and practice of 

 their art. The evolutions performed by the more skilful on those occasions, pre- 

 sent a variety of attitudes which the statuary might consult with advantage, and 

 which never fail to surprise the stranger who is only familiar with winter as it 

 passes in the south. Cars and sledges, occupied by ladies, are whirled along by 

 the skaiters — groupes of experimenters glide cautiously along the margin — the 

 more adroit venture farther — while the forward often present ludicrous pictures 

 of the punishment attending all who enter upon such slippery paths without 

 the necessary forms of initiation. The borders of the lake are surrounded by 

 well-dressed company, booths are erected for shelter and refreshment, and a 

 liberal supply of native music gives zest to the treat. The skaiting scenes so 

 often represented by Dutch painters, will convey a very accurate idea of the 

 winter festivities on Duddingstone Loch.* 



The Calton-hill, with which we close this bold panorama, is by many 

 prefe:*ed to every other point of view in Edinburgh or its vicinity. The 

 principal objects which it commands are thus described in a manuscript poem 

 on the subject, a few extracts from which may illustrate the text.f 



• An amusing work, by R. Broun, Esq., under the title of " Curliana," lias recently apptared, from which 

 the stranger, unacquainted with this national pastime, may derive much information and amusement. 



f . . . Afar to the eastward directing the eye 



Mid the tumult of waters the Bass we descry,*— 



A fortress— a prison — a giant in form. 



With battlements towering aloof in the storm ; 



Through its cayerned recesses the hurricane raves, 



And howls to the boisterous dance of the waves. [And 



* See vol. i. p. 60, of the present work. 



J 



