GENERAL DESCRIPTION 33 



digested food, on which they, the "Gull-Teasers," subsist. 

 Farther out to sea the Great Northern Diver (Bunabhua- 

 chaille) disappears, Avhen feeding, for several minutes at a 

 time under the water. As we advance on our way along 

 the shore an occasional Heron (Gorra-Ghriodhach), Curlew 

 (Crotach), and wary Redshank (Coileach Traghadh) rise with 

 startled cry from sequestered hollows. The Lesser Black- 

 Backed Gull (Dubh-Fhaoileann), Herring Gull (Faoileann 

 Mhor), Black-Headed Gull (Aspag 1 ?), Common Gull (Faoileann 

 Bheag), etc., are wheeling, with measured beat, along the 

 shore, while various kinds of divers fish in the outer 

 channels. Cormorants are particularly abundant, and it 

 was formerly believed that they assumed a new stage of 

 existence at the termination of every seven years : 



Seachd bliadhna 'na sgarbh, 



Seachd bliadhna 'na learg, 



Seachd bliadhna 'na bhal-ar-bodhan, 



Gu sith-siorruidh 'na bhunabhuachaille. 



Which may be translated thus : 



Seven years a sgarbh (Shag or Green Cormorant), 

 Seven years a learg (young Cormorant ?), 

 Seven years a bal-ar-bodhan (Black Cormorant), 

 For ever and ever a bunabhuachaille (Diver). 



The Glen is a grassy flat closed in on the south-east side 

 by the Garvard Hills, which rise abruptly over it in precipitous 

 rocks. The soil raised-beach deposits is of a shelly, sandy 

 nature, and produces wild flowers in abundance. A slow- 

 flowing stream Abhainn-a-Ghlinne running parallel with 

 the base of the rocks is the home of the Water Ranunculus, 

 the Least Marsh wort, and other aquatic plants. The elegant 

 fern- like foliage of the Meadow-rue appears here and there 

 from clefts in the rocks, and masses of the reddish-purple 

 Hemp Agrimony and pink-tinged Valerian grow on the 



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