147 



and again we have narrowly escaped treading upon them in such 

 situations, here, in N. Sannox, in Lamlash Glen, and other places. 

 We have never seen them higher, however, than about 1,000 feet ; 

 nor are they as abundant on the west as on the east side of 

 the island. They occur also in Holy Isle. A long and interesting 

 account of the creature, with figures, will be found in Bell's British 

 Reptiles (p. 61-75). It is the only British representative of the 

 poisonous group of serpents; but there is no authenticated case 

 of fatal effects resulting from its bite in Arran or elsewhere in 

 Britain. We have heard of more than one case of severe symp- 

 toms; but these were removed in a few days by an application of 

 herbs boiled in butter. 



The burns of Arran are all beautiful and picturesque, but in 

 different styles, according to the nature of the rocks across which 

 their courses lie, Those of the granite and slate tract are the most 

 beautiful ; and this Rosa burn, especially in its lower course, and 

 after it enters Glenshant, far surpasses in romantic beauty all the 

 bright streams of this lovely island. 



102. Over the wood which covers the eastern end of the ridge on 

 the south side of Glen Rosa a curious meteorological phenomenon 

 is often witnessed. When the wind is at S.W. or W. with a damp 

 and warm atmosphere, a column of vapour is seen ascending from 

 near the centre of the wood, remaining in a nearly steadfast position 

 for some time, and then suddenly vanishing ; to be again formed, and 

 again as suddenly disappear; and this is repeated through a period 

 sometimes of several hours. The explanation, no doubt, is that 

 currents of wind descending Glen Shirag on one side, and Glen Rosa 

 on the other, produce, by the rapid out-draught into Glenshant, 

 a partial vacuum and vortex of light ascending air over the middle 

 of the wood, which is completely sheltered; and by this reh'ef of 

 pressure a condensation of vapour takes place, just as a cloud is 

 formed in the exhausted receiver of an air-pump. 



We may mention now, when on the subject of meteorology, an 

 interesting case illustrating the relations in which the different 

 kinds of clouds stand to one another: On a bright hot day, after 

 rain on the day previous, a pretty rapid current of wind from 

 W.S.W., with scattered masses of white fleecy clouds, prevailed aloft 

 from early morning as a land wind ; while a light east wind blew 

 below as a sea breeze. The currents met, a little way out in the 

 channel, off the Corriegills shore ; and along a strip of sky, stretch- 

 ing from north to south, the fleecy cumuli of the S.W. current 

 were arrested by the current from the east, and resolved into a 



