130 CLIFFS OF GAMRIE. CHAP. vm. 



the tremendous lashings of the waves at their feet, and 

 thus the precipitous rocks descend in several places 

 about six hundred feet to the shore. The coast scenery 

 at Gamrie is unrivalled on the eastern shores of Scot- 

 land. The cliffs are the haunts of myriads of sea- 

 fowl. " On a fine day," says Edward, " and under 

 the mild influence of a vernal and unclouded sun, the 

 scene is particularly beautiful. The ocean lies tran- 

 quil, and stretched out before the spectator like an 

 immense sheet of glass, smiling in its soft and azure 

 beauty, while over its surface the kitty wake, the guil- 

 lemot, the razor-bill, and the puffin, conspicuous by 

 the brilliant orange and scarlet of its bill and legs, are 

 beheld wheeling with rapid wing in endless and 

 varying directions. On firing a gun the effect is 

 startling. The air is immediately darkened with the 

 multitudes of birds which are roused by the report. 

 The ear is stunned by the varied and discordant 

 sounds which arise. The wailing note of the kitty- 

 wake, the shrill cry of the tammy-norie, and the 

 hoarse voice of the guillemot, resembling, as it were, 

 the laugh of some demon in mockery of the intrusion 

 of man amid these majestic scenes of nature ; all 

 these combined, and mingled occasionally with the 

 harsh scream of the cormorant, are heard above the 

 roar of the ocean, which breaks at the foot of these 

 tremendous and gigantic precipices." 



The view from the heights of Gamrie on a sum- 

 mer evening is exceedingly fine. The sea ripples 



