314 ARRAN. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



of fishing boats and of human occupations, present fore- 

 grounds of endless variety. Numerous scenes of minor 

 detail, yet, in a different way, scarcely less interesting, 

 occur at every step as we trace the shores, or follow 

 the courses of the glens and streams which open into 

 this beautiful valley. 



While the western and southern shores of this island, 

 exposed to the violence of the wind, are generally bleak, 

 and bare of trees, the northern and eastern afford to the 

 lover of landscape a continued succession of picturesque 

 circumstances and interesting spots ; in a style the more 

 gratifying as it is of such rare occurrence on the sea 

 coasts of Scotland. Rocks, mixed with trees'and bushes 

 of ash, oak, and birch, ornamented cliffs backed by the 

 rugged spires of the mountains which tower above them, 

 cultivated valleys, sandy bays, and the ever varying sea, 

 present an incessant recurrence of picturesque objects ; 

 forming studies for the artist, even where they do not 

 combine into the more perfect arrangements required for 

 a picture. Among these, the scenery near the entrance 

 of Glen Sannox is peculiarly striking, from the elegance 

 of the conical summit of Kid voe, relieved by the depth 

 of the valley and the darkness of the hills behind it. 

 The geologist whose business it is to seek his amusements 

 and pursue his studies among the more minute details 

 of the surface, if unfortunately he is too sensible to 

 these allurements, is apt to suffer his eye to wander 

 from his proper subject, and, in the contemplation of 

 the variety around him, to lose the order of the objects 

 of which he is in search. 



A scene of peculiar magnificence occurs at Scriden, 

 near Sannox. A large portion of the mountain has 

 fallen from above, strewing the long declivity with im- 

 mense masses of fragments, which in their progress have 

 covered the shore with ruins. The aspect and the com- 

 binations of these groups of broken rock are varied at 

 every instant in proceeding along the shore; while in 



