I08 Transactions of the [Sess. 



flora, — fi'om tlie cold northern portion round Corrie, with its some- 

 what bleak but bracing winds, to the balmy recesses of the south, 

 with that gem of a hamlet, Lag, nestling amongst trees and 

 sheltered by rocks, and where you may pick flowers and gather 

 insects belonging to the south of Ireland and England. 



The country over which I purpose to travel is in the northern 

 half of the island. Beginning at Corrie, we will proceed along the 

 sea-shore to Sannox burn ; then up North Glen Sannox, down Glen 

 Chalmadale to Loch Eanza, and after a brief stroll on tlie sea-shore 

 and amongst the equiseta and rushes in Loch a' Mhuilian, pro- 

 ceed up Gleann Easan Biorach to Loch na Davie, then up the 

 Castles and Chior Mhor, down the Saddle, and over the Creaggan 

 to Goat Fell, and after passing down the scarp, proceed by White 

 Water and the shore back to Corrie. The distance from Corrie at 

 any one point may not exceed twelve to fourteen miles, but the 

 long round we take opens out some of the very best of scenery, 

 portions of geology unrivalled in the kingdom, and a flora sufiB- 

 cient to induce even an old botanist to return time after time. 



Passing throiigh Corrie, we notice at the harbour the cave-like 

 openings of the old limestone workings. These strata gave a first- 

 class limestone for both building and agricultural purposes, but 

 they have been stopped for several years, owing, it is said, to an 

 accident in which two men were killed. At present all the lime 

 requu-ed for agricultural purposes is obtained from Ireland, and 

 burned on the island by the consumer, who constructs for the pur- 

 pose a temporary kiln, exactly similar to those used some two or 

 three hxindred years ago on the mainland. The Corrie limestone 

 abounds in fossils, more especially large producti, and it is deserv- 

 ing of note that the valves always rest on the convex side, showing 

 they must have been deposited in very tranquil water. Mixed with 

 the limestone are beds of shale somewhat ferruginous in character ; 

 and a higher stratum yields nodules of hfematite iron-ore. 



Proceeding along the shore northwards, we notice several trap 

 dykes, and the more curious hard ridges in the red sandstone, some 

 of which stand up a considerable height above the surrounding 

 rock, having defied the sea which denudes away the softer stone. 

 We pass some very large boulders of granite, whilst the sea-shore 

 is strewed with smaller rounded stones. The latter are at present 

 being broken up by dynamite, and shipped to Glasgow and other 

 places, to be ground down and used for compounding the "glaze" 

 for stoneware. Already large quantities have been exported, and 

 the shore has somewhat changed its general character. Of the 

 larger boulders, one on the left side of the road is a giant, and, 

 according to Bi'yce, weighs 200 tons, but from my own measure- 

 ments must exceed that by at least 50 tons. One other is a rock- 

 ing-stone, and can be easily moved from at least two points by a 



