206 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



and go as close round the islands as possible. This we did, with 

 the unexpressed hope that "after all we might manage to land." 

 On the 11th June, therefore, about 8 a.m., we again laid on a 

 course for the Flannans, with light airs of wind, and it was 3 p.m. 

 before we reached off the nearest isles, and then stood away past 

 Eilean Mor by the northward, with a heavy swell from KE., and 

 a fresh breeze. Captain MacGillivray would not stand closer to the 

 lee shore than half a mile, though with a steam yacht we could of 

 course have run in much nearer. Indeed a sailing yacht is not 

 at all suitable for visiting those far isles. We noticed, as we 

 passed, a colony of rock-birds near the eastern extremity of the 

 peninsula of Eilean Tigh, and several considerable colonies on 

 Eilean M6r, and we saw the landing-place on the latter, and how 

 utterly impracticable it was to-day. 



The average height of the whole group is about 100 feet, but 

 Eilean M6r reaches an altitude of 280 feet, and has an area of grass 

 of some 80 acres; whilst Eilean Tigh is computed to have about 50. 

 Only three sheep were visible on the former. 



We then tacked through the sound between the two groups, in a 

 channel about 1 J miles wide, and ran close under the cliffs of the 

 windward shore of Eilean an Gobha, so that we could hear the loud 

 mutterings of the rock-birds, and could easily identify the species 

 with our binoculars. On Rhodorheim — the most northerly — two 

 Wild Geese were distinctly made out, standing in profile against the 

 sky. The gneiss rock was curiously seamed, especially on Eilean 

 an Gobha and Bronn na cleit, by numerous felspar and quartz veins; 

 and on the summit of Eilean an Gobha, above a round-edged goe, a 

 huge boulder about 1 5 tons in weight, or possibly much more, lay 

 a few feet from the edge of the cliff. Numerous rocks and skerries 

 lie off the isles of Rhodorheim and Eilean an Gobha, and between 

 these and Bronn na cleit, and are visited by Seals and innumerable 

 Scarts. 



After sailing southwards, clear of Soraidh, we tacked again to 

 try to effect a landing on Eilean Tigh. On Eilean M6r, on the 

 grass slope, we saw the remains of the chapel of St. Flann, and 

 on Eilean Tigh those of the dwelling-house formerly mentioned, 

 at the head of the western goe. On Soraidh, on the S. side, 

 were several colonies of rock-birds, with a few Kittiwakes. We 

 got into the gig, taking a few provisions, in case of landing and 

 not getting off easily, and approached the reputed landing-place 



