280 SKY. COAST SCENERY. 



a natural embankment has been formed by the western 

 swell. Here the cliffs again become high, and shortly 

 rise to the greatest altitude which they attain along 

 the whole line of this coast. In a general sense they 

 may be called perpendicular, but they are seldom without 

 grassy slopes, either at their feet or in some intermediate 

 parts, which diminish their vertical appearance when 

 seen in profile, although when viewed in front they 

 still appear perpendicular. The outline is here more 

 varied, the parts more numerous and intricate, and the 

 tones of colour more agreeable; while the foregrounds, 

 which are formed by some high and conspicuous detached 

 rocks, assist in producing some of the most magnificent 

 compositions of rock scenery that are to be seen on 

 the coasts of Sky. Not far from this place is a large 

 and very remarkable slide, by which a considerable 

 portion of the cliff has been brought from the summit 

 down to the shore, where it forms a promontory ob- 

 structing the further progress of the mineralogist who 

 in defiance of toil and hazard pursues along this rocky 

 coast the beautiful minerals in which it abounds. The 

 heights of these cliffs are considerable. Comparing them 

 with the masts of passing ships they do not seem to 

 be much less than 800 feet. The cascades which fall 

 over them are often dissipated in spray before they 

 reach the ground, or descend in a shower of drizzling rain. 



The cliffs continue with more variety of height than 

 of character to Loch Brittle, the habitation of the Osprey, 

 and of some rare minerals more interesting to geologists. 

 At this Loch the land runs out into low projecting points, 

 the interior being of small elevation and disposed in 

 terraces. The cliffs rise but little from this place to the 

 entrance of Loch Scavig, where the coast assumes a new 

 character, the declivities of the hills reaching the sea at 

 a considerable angle, and without intervening cliffs. 



The scenes which here occur are as remarkable for 

 their difference of character from the preceding, as for 



