GENERAL DESCRIPTION 17 



cultural point of view. The hills decrease in elevation from 

 north to south. They usually present their escarpments or 

 steep faces to the north, falling with a gentler depression in 

 the opposite direction. This formation is best seen north of 

 Kilchattan and Kiloran, where the hills rise in perpendicular 

 precipices from the sea, and gradually, though somewhat 

 irregularly, slope southwards to Loch Fada. They rise again 

 more or less abruptly from Loch Fada, falling with an 

 easier gradient in the direction of Scalasaig and Machrins. 

 These alternating ridges and valleys which cross the island 

 from side to side are, to the popular mind, suggestive of a 

 series of violent subterranean upheavals rather than the 

 slower work of denudation. 



Concurrently with an irregularity that appears in the rock 

 structure in the north-east of the island, a series of ridges 

 from Carnan Eoin to Beinn-na-Fitheach runs north and 

 south at right angles to the main tracts of hills, effectively 

 closing in the eastern gap of the main valley and sheltering 

 Kiloran from withering easterly winds. Owing to the 

 general conformation of the hills, cattle for the rearing of 

 which the island has long been famous are able to find 

 shelter from every wind that blows. 



The largest sheets of fresh water are Lochs Fada and 

 Sgoltaire ; the former situated near the centre of the island, 

 and the latter in the northern end. Marshy and reed-over- 

 grown areas along their margins provide seclusion for 

 water-fowl such as the Mallard or Wild Duck (Lacha 

 Riabhach), Coot (Bolachdan), and Teal (Crann Lach). Winter 

 visitors include the Widgeon (Lochlannach) and very 

 occasional flocks of the Wild Swan (Eala Fhiadhaich). 

 Numbers of Snipe (Gudabochd), and less commonly the 

 Jack Snipe, inhabit the marshes. The Lapwing (Sadharcan) 

 breeds plentifully in the peat-bogs on the north side of 

 Loch Fada; and the Meadow Pipit or Titlark (Reabhag), 

 in whose nest the egg of the Cuckoo (Cuthag) has been 



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