The Ross of Mull 



reaching a dozen or more, and leads forth her young brood 

 to the waters of the Atlantic in mid-July. Here also are many 

 of the gull tribe: the herring gull, of sinister aspect; the 

 lesser black-backed gull ; and on a few of the Torrans, the 

 great black-backed gull himself. Of all British gulls he is 

 the largest and most powerful on the wing. His cry is a 

 deep, far-carrying note, less strident and more musical than 

 those of his lesser relations, and he is always full of anxiety 

 when his nesting-grounds are visited. 



On the southern shores of the Ross, the solan is not 

 often seen, but in summer time these birds of powerful 

 flight enter Loch Scridain in large numbers. No prettier 

 sight can be imagined than to see, of a sunny August day, 

 the solans busy at their fishing on the loch. The sun shines 

 on their snowy plumage, throwing them up with great 

 vividness against the dark blue waters. And then their head- 

 long descent, with wings not closed till the moment of enter- 

 ing the water, but pressed tightly back, and the plunge which 

 sends the white spray glistening in the sunlight, are things of 

 great beauty and charm. 



On the shores of the Ross there are few days when the 

 sea is not restless. Even into Loch Scridain the Atlantic 

 swell penetrates, and near the head of the loch there stands 

 a rock — Carraigean by name — which acts as a sure index 

 of the state of the ocean beyond. At high water the rock 

 is submerged, but the least swell breaks white here, even 

 when on the shores of the loch no movement is visible. So 

 it is that the landsman crossing, maybe, from Bunessan to 

 the Island of Tiree and passing down the shores of Loch 

 Scridain on his wa}^ to the little port, is glad when he sees 

 that all is quiet round Carraigean, or else is filled with 

 anxiety to see the white swell breaking on this lonely rock. 

 And during the winter season with what power does the 

 Atlantic swell beat on these western rocks, even on days 

 when the air is calm and touched with frost. From the 

 high ground of the Ross I have seen the swell dashing in 



143 



