GENERAL DESCRIPTION 25 



that the island "hath ane parish kirke." Oran's Well, with 

 its unfailing spring of clear, cool (though possibly now 

 contaminated) water, is situated to the north-east of the 

 spot where the church stood. The abbey barn was utilised 

 for a time as mansion-house, retaining its designation of 

 "An Sabhall Ban." It stood on the ground where the 

 kitchen-garden is now laid out ; and here, according to 

 tradition, Montrose's famous general, Alastair Mac Colla 

 (Alexander MacDonald), son of Colla Ciotach (Kolkitto), was 

 born. Some stones at the base of an old elm are said to 

 have formed part of Coil's drying-kiln. 



Among the ferns Lady Fern, Male Fern, Broad Buckler 

 Fern, and others luxuriating in the woods around Kiloran, 

 a few plants of the Soft Prickly Shield Fern, a rare 

 plant in the West of Scotland, were found. Gooseberries, 

 Raspberries, Currants, etc., carried from gardens, principally 

 by the Blackbird, are springing up everywhere. Besides 

 providing conditions suitable for the growth of particular 

 plants, those sheltered woods are the homes of numerous 

 birds that love a sylvan retreat. In spring and early 

 summer the Song Thrush (Smeorach), Mistle Thrush (An 

 t-Eun Glas), Blackbird (Lon Dubh), Wren (Dre611an), Red- 

 breast (Brudeargan), Titmouse (Cailleach a' Chinn Duibh), 

 and Chaffinch (Breac an t-Sll) contribute to the chorus of 

 song. The Dipper (Gobha Dubh nan Allt), Water Rail 

 (Dre611an Dorann), and Water Hen (Cearc Uisge) frequent 

 the burn and its vicinity. In the trees the Ring Dove 

 (Caiman Coille) often has its nest; the Sparrow Hawk 

 (Speireag Ruadh) and Owl (Cailleach Oidhche) less fre- 

 quently. Sparrows (Gealbhonn), which almost completely 

 disappeared, years ago, from the island, have again become 

 numerous and destructive to growing seeds an occupation 

 that is being shared within recent years by the Greenfinch. 

 Small colonies of the Rook (Rocais) attempted, unsuccess- 

 fully, on several occasions to settle in the trees in the park. 



