1841] JOURNAL— IN THE HEBRIDES. 107 



hours to hunt for the Menziesia caeridea, which is reported to have 

 been found there ; we found nothing like it, except Empetrum nigrum, 

 after a careful search, and are convinced that it is not to be found 

 in these islands, but that some mistake has taken place about the 

 locality. We arrived at Stornoway at 6 p.m. The cliffs of the 

 Shiant Isles are formed of fine basaltic columns, and in one place 

 there is a miniature " Giant's Causeway ; " we saw there peculiarly 

 large specimens of Carex binervis, Lychnis dioica. The rocks are 

 perforated with fine arches in several places, and on the whole the 

 islands are well worthy of a visit. Stornoway is a large town of 

 3000 inhabitants, and makes a good appearance, being built along 

 the shores of the bay for an extent of nearly a mile. Many of the 

 houses are very good, and there is a good inn kept by Mr. Maclver. 



Aug. 17. We started this morning for the Butt, in company 

 with Mr. Mackenzie, the Sheriff Clerk, who was of great use to us 

 ■during our trip to the Butt. The interior of the country as far as 

 Barvas (on the west coast) is an extended uninhabited moor, pro- 

 ducing scarcely anything except heath. Far to the south we saw 

 our old friends Chesham and Lanya, and to the north was the much 

 lower (but highest hill of that part) Murmaich. Near Barvas the 

 usual sandy district occurs, and with it the same rich vegetation 

 that we had seen in other places ; we saw Lamium intermedium, 

 Juncus halticus, and many other plants. We were informed that 

 the people give the roots of the Fetasites vulgaris, which abounds, 

 to the cattle in the winter. At Barvas we called on Mr. MacRae, 

 the minister, and the schoolmaster, Mr. Nicholson, and then walked 

 on towards the Butt, calling at Galson, the residence of Mr. Mac- 

 gregor, on our way, and reached the school-house of Ness about 

 ■9 p.m. Mr. Finlayson, the minister, most kindly received us into 

 the Manse for the night. 



Aug. 18. Rose early, and walked by the new pier at Dun 

 Errodale along the coast by Sto Harbour to the Butt, and so back 

 to the school-house. The cliffs are fine all the way round, but more 

 particularly so at the Butt itself. At Sto Harbour I found the 

 largest specimens of Sagina maritima that I have ever seen, also 

 Eanunadus sceleratus, Pyrethrum maritimum, Carex extensa, etc. We 

 went on to Galson to breakfast by invitation, with Mr. Macgregor. 

 After that it began to rain, and we had a very wet walk to Barvas, 

 so that we were obliged to give up our plan of going on to Callernish, 

 and remained at Barvas for the night. The minister, Mr. MacRae, 

 received us most kindly to dinner and to sleep. 



Aug. 19. A wet morning, so that we could not start until the 

 middle of the day, when it cleared up, and we walked back to 

 Stornoway. Balfour and I went down to the sands at Barvas, and 

 round the west end of the Loch before starting, but found no plants 

 of interest. We intended to have gone to Callernish to have seen 



