CUMBRAY (GREAT). CEN. DESCRIPTION. 475 



CUMBRAY (GREAT).' 



IN the preceding description, it has been shown that 

 Bute consists of two distinct portions, the northern being 

 formed of the primary schistose rocks, and the southern of 

 secondary strata associated with trap. By the former it 

 is connected geologically with the Argyllshire coast, to 

 which it approximates so nearly in position ; by the latter 

 its affinity to the more distant land of Ayrshire is equally 

 established ; the same rocks occupying the whole of that 

 district where it bounds the sestuary of the Clyde. 



The intermediate position of the two Cumbrays, no less 

 than the correspondence of their structure, both with Bute 

 and with the adjoining mainland, serves to draw still 

 nearer this affinity, while it further assists in throwing 

 a general light on the geological connexions of all the 

 islands comprised in the present group, with each other 

 and with the surrounding shores. Independently of this, 

 the Cumbrays present some interest in themselves ; an 

 interest which would have been more considerable, had 

 not the occurrence of similar facts on so many preceding 

 occasions, abated the edge of curiosity on these subjects, 

 and superseded the necessity of a minute description. 



The great Cumbray is three miles in length and one and 

 a half in breadth ; consisting of an irregular undulating 

 tract, the altitude of which does not any where appear to 

 exceed 500 feet. The surface is almost every where high, 

 and it therefore presents throughout the greater part a 

 bleak and barren aspect ; the cultivation being limited to a 

 small space and the larger portion appropriated to pastu- 

 rage. In general, the land descends towards the shore by 

 grassy declivities, occasionally interspersed with low rocky 

 faces displaying the edges of the strata ; but at the south- 



* See the Map of Bute and the 20 n oral Map. 



