508 EGG. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



peculiarity of feature yielding to nothing in the whole 

 circuit of Highland scenery ; and incapable indeed of 

 being compared with any other elsewhere, since unlike 

 to any thing which has ever yet been delineated by 

 artists. 



Although the shores of this island present many striking 

 objects and much grandeur of character, the chief inter- 

 est lies in the towering rock called the Scuir, which 

 forms the highest summit of the land on the southern 

 side.* The height of this extraordinary object is consi- 

 derable, yet its powerful effect arises rather from its 

 peculiar form and the commanding elevation which it 

 occupies, than from its positive altitude. Viewed in one 

 direction it presents a long irregular wall crowning the 

 summit of the highest hill, while in the other it resembles 

 a huge tower. Thus it forms no natural combination of 

 outline with the surrounding land, and hence acquires 

 that independence in the general landscape which increases 

 its apparent magnitude and produces that imposing effect 

 which it displays. From the peculiar position of the Scuir 

 it must also inevitably be viewed from a low station. 

 Hence it every where towers high above the spectator ; 

 while, like other objects on the mountain outline, its 

 apparent dimensions are magnified, and its dark mass 

 defined on the sky so as to produce all the additional 

 effects arising from strong oppositions of light and sha- 

 dow. The height of this rock is sufficient in this stormy 

 country frequently to arrest the passage of the clouds, so 

 as to be further productive of the most brilliant effects in 

 landscape. Often, they may be seen hovering on its sum- 

 mit and adding ideal dimensions to the lofty face, or, 

 when it is viewed on the extremity, conveying the im- 

 pression of a tower, the height of which is such as to lie 

 in the regions of the clouds. Occasionally they sweep 

 along the base, leaving its huge and black mass involved 



* Plate V. 



