184 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



Monach Lighthouse, is one mile in circumference, and rises at the 

 West end to 120 feet; the East end is nearly as high, and between 

 the two the land is very low and nearly divided by a remarkable 

 cave or basin, 140 feet long and 34 feet broad, so that from a dis- 

 tance of 5 or 6 miles the island shews two flattish lumps. Towards 

 the West end are 3 or 4 acres of rich soil and coarse grass, but in 

 winter the waves cast their spray over the whole surface; no 

 springs could be found, but there are several pools with brackish 

 water, where the Seals resort in autumn with their young. Rocks 

 dry half a cable off the West and South- West points, but the East 

 side is bold-to: the best landing is on the North or South side of 

 the East lump according to the wind, but it can only be effected 

 with safety during fine weather." 



" Haskeir Aag, the western of the two islands, may be said to 

 be composed of five bare rocks, with deep water channels between ; 

 they are without a blade of grass or any fresh water, and can only 

 be landed on in fine weather. The highest is 83 feet above the 

 sea." 



Besides the above, sundry sunken rocks are indicated on the 

 Chart and described in the directions, and it is stated that there 

 is no anchorage in the vicinity, except on a rocky patch, with 5 to 

 7 fathoms of water, " which lies S. by E. J E., two cables from the 

 highest part of Haskeir [where] an anchor might be let go in fine 

 weather." This description, though necessarily concise, appears 

 to be very correct, and well conveys the general aspect and situation. 



My object in this, as in other similar papers on our Bird-stations, 

 is to describe their physical features somewhat more minutely than 

 has hitherto been done, and to treat of the feathered inhabitants 

 as fully as my materials and opportunities of observation permit. 



The accompanying sketch of the group [Plate III.] will give, it 

 is hoped, some idea of its appearance as seen when approaching 

 from the main range of the Hebrides. Of the western aspect I 

 had no opportunity of making a sketch. 



My first attempt to land upon the group was made upon the 

 30th May of the present year (1881). Previous to this, we had 

 enjoyed what was, perhaps, the only week of real summer weather 

 Scotland has seen this year. Even when tempered by the light 

 sea-airs which gently wafted our good yacht "Crusader" northward 

 from Tobermory — but failed us in the narrow Sound of Harris — 

 the heat was great, and was felt all the more, perhaps, that we 



