61 



former connection are pointed at in the legend that this strait was 

 once spanned by an enormous bridge, raised by the hand of mighty 

 wizards, of which the only portions that remain are these two 

 ancient abutments.* 



ARRAN. 



42. The Island of Arran is about twenty miles long from N.N.W. 

 to S.S.E. ; about ten miles broad, and, with Holy Isle and Pladda, 

 includes an area of about .100,000 acres. The number of rock forma- 

 tions, sedimentarv and plutonic, which are found within this limited 

 space, is truly remarkable ; perhaps unparalleled in any tract of like 

 extent on the surface of the globe ; while the varied phenomena 

 which they present in their mutual contacts and general relations to 

 one another, are of the highest import in theoretical geology. The 

 variety indeed is so great, and the interest so lively and pleasing, 

 which an examination of the structure of the island and its charming 

 scenery excite, that, as Professor Phillips has remarked, every geo- 

 logist who visits Arran is tempted to write about it, and finds some- 

 thing to add to what has been already put on record. For the 

 student there cannot be a finer field ; the primary azoic rocks, the 

 metamorphic slates, the lower palaeozoic strata, the newer erupted 

 rocks, and phenomena of glacial action, may all be examined by him 

 in easy excursions of a few days ; and the exposition of the strata is 

 so complete in the rugged mountains, deep, precipitous glens and 

 unbroken sea coast sections, that the island may truly be called a 

 grand museum arranged for his instruction by the hand of nature. 



Physical Features. 



43. A line running from the north angle of Brodick bay almost 

 due west to lorsa waterfoot, divides the island into two nearly equal 

 portions, strikingly different in their geological structure and in 

 their outward features. The northern half consists of a mass of 

 peaked and rugged mountains, intersected by deep and wild glens, 

 which diverge from a common centre arid open seaward on a narrow 

 belt of low land. This belt forms the terrace so often noticed 

 already as marking the ancient sea level, and is bounded inland 

 by cliffs pierced with caves and otherwise sea-worn. The road is 

 carried along it from Brodick bay to the mouth of North Sannox 

 water, and again from Loch Ranza to Dugarry at the mouth of lorsa 

 water, and affords throughout views of surpassing beauty. The 

 mountains are naturally divided into three separate ridges, which 



* Quart. Jour. ofAgric. and Trans, of (he Hlghl Soc., No. 43, or vol. ix., p. 430. 



