268 CRAIGNISH ISLES. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



THE CRAIGNISH ISLES.* 



UNDER this general title is included a number of 

 islands exceeding twenty, some of which lie within the 

 Loch of Craignish, and the remainder occupy various 

 positions on different sides of the point which bears the 

 same name. 



The principal islands in the loch are, I. Mackalken, 

 I. Macrean, and I. Ree ; and the most remarkable on the 

 outside are, I. Macfaden, Rusantrue, Resave, Garvrisa, 

 and Baisker; each group being accompanied by many 

 smaller islets and rocks, of which the names, if they have 

 any, are only known to the few fishermen who live in the 

 immediate vicinity. Island Ree and Macalken island are 

 the largest, being each about three miles in length and 

 half a mile in breadth : I. Macrean is considerably less ; 

 and of the rest, Garvrisa, which is the largest, is scarcely 

 a quarter of a mile in its greatest dimensions. The 

 smaller diminish gradually to mere rocks ; all of them 

 however bearing grassy summits, and being, in the 

 breeding season, the resort of the Tern, which approxi- 

 mates to itself all the untenanted green rocks of this coast. 



The islands within the loch are highly picturesque, 

 being covered with patches of coppice and interspersed 

 with fine trees ; the disposition of which is rendered 

 very ornamental by the intermixture of houses, grey 

 rocks, and irregular ground. They all bear the marks 

 of having been once entirely covered with an oak forest, 

 many remains of very large trees still existing in various 



* The uniform composition of these islands renders a geological 

 map of them unnecessary, while their size is such that they can scarcely 

 be distinguished in the general Map belonging to this work. Those 

 who wish to acquire a more accurate knowledge of the west coast, 

 and of the minute parts of its geography more especially, must consult 

 Arrowsmith's large map. 



