



SKY. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 265 



The ridge thus described is separated from the next 

 Elevated land to the north-west, by an irregular low tract 

 forming a valley parallel to it and extending from the 

 head of Loch Eishort towards the northern shore between 

 Kylehaken and Broadford. A second irregular ridge 

 succeeds to this, occupying the whole space from Swish- 

 nish point to Broadford and beyond it ; and followed by 

 another parallel valley, that of Strath, but little elevated 

 above the two seas which it here separates. With some 

 interference from syenite, the whole valley of Strath 

 consists of limestone, the peculiarities of which, like those 

 of the rocks before mentioned, must be referred to the 

 geological description. 



Thus far, Sky is found to consist of regular stratified 

 rocks, which, whether primary or secondary, are extended 

 in a line of which the prevailing tendency is north-east. 

 But here all regularity ceases, and although some de- 

 tached portions of the same and of other strata are to 

 be found in several places, the remaining mass of the 

 island must be considered as formed of unstratified rocks ; 

 all belonging to the family of trap, (including under that 

 term syenite,) and, though of various external forms and 

 characters, all incumbent on the strata and of posterior 

 date. With the regularity of the rocks, that of the hills 

 and valleys ceases ; although there remain certain leading 

 features to facilitate the division and description of the 

 remaining tracts. 



The most conspicuous part of the island is that which 

 follows next from Strath to the northward, and consists 

 of a confused assemblage of mountains of different ex- 

 ternal features, definable by two irregular lines drawn 

 from the head of Loch Slapin to near Broadford on one 

 side, and from Loch Brittle to Loch Sligachan on the 

 other. There is no measurement of the height of any 

 individual of this group ; and unfortunately the general 

 state of the weather in this stormy island has hitherto 



