214 HILLSIDE, ROCK, AND DALE 



readers to realise what kind of a place the island is, 

 and I hope will also give them a desire to visit a site 

 in the North Sea which has attractions for naturalists, 

 as well as romantic historical associations. 



The Bass Rock stands near the mouth of the Firth 

 of Forth, about two miles distant from Canty Bay, 



TANTALI.ON CASTLE AND BAY 



which is the nearest land. It is composed mostly 

 of volcanic greenstone, and it is about a mile in 

 circumference, the height is a little over three hundred 

 feet. The only landing-place is on the south side, 

 the west, east, and north sides rise sheer out of the 

 sea and are almost inaccessible except to expert 

 climbers, and many places would defy even these. 



