104 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. VI. 



delicate a bird as a rock-pigeon, and bad as this 

 was now, by the time they had hatched and reared 

 their young it must be much worse. 



The rest of the party having joined me, and the 

 time running short, I left the island in order to 

 fulfil my promise of partaking of Mr. M'lvor's 

 hospitality at six o'clock ; and I must say that 

 after living so many days at small inns where I 

 could, and how I could, an evening spent in the 

 agreeable society of Mr. M'lvor and the ladies at 

 his house was a treat, as I had begun to feel like 

 an uncivilised being. 



On leaving the island we again saw the white 

 cat seated on the same point of rock, and still 

 looking anxiously towards the mainland. 



Limited in size as the island of Handa is, it 

 seems to contain a fine range of rich herbage, with 

 a gentle slope to the south, and to be capable of 

 feeding a considerable number of sheep or cattle. 

 I was told, however, that much loss is sustained 

 from the animals falling over the rocks, when 

 they are inevitably dashed to pieces. 



