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beauty or of sublimity to the scenery of the island. Loch Tanna, 

 by far the largest, lies in a high and gloomy plateau strewed with 

 blocks of decomposing granite, among which the stunted heather 

 barely supports its existence itself as black and uninteresting a 

 sheet of water as any pool in the fens of Lincolnshire ; the aspect of 

 the whole scene is one of utter wildness and desolation, without 

 grandeur. The absence, however, of this element of the beautiful in 

 Arran scenery is scarcely remarked, being more than compensated 

 by the character which the sea imparts to every landscape. 



107. Having thus briefly indicated the plants which the botanist 

 will meet with in each region of the island, it is scarcely necessary to 

 prescribe for him any special excursion or walks. These are best 

 left to his own taste and convenience. It may, however, be not 

 amiss, in a few concluding words, to direct him to the districts where 

 his rambles will be attended with most pleasure and success. Pro- 

 bably no part of the island will offer to him so many interesting species 

 as the vicinity of Brodick, especially if he direct his walks to the 

 Corriegills shore, proceed northwards to Corrie, or explore the 

 tangled thickets and dripping rocks at the head of Glen Cloy. 

 Around Loch Ranza, too, several excellent plants may be obtained ; 

 while, even if the tourist be not botanically inclined, he will find 

 in the exceeding beauty of the coast an ample reward for his 

 walk along the lovely shore between Glen Sannox and Newton Point. 

 The western coast offers many striking scenes, and everywhere com- 

 mands noble views of the broad sound of Kibrannan, with the hills 

 and glens of Cantire beyond ; but its botany presents little that is 

 new to one who has already examined the eastern part of the island ; 

 while the interior of the country is occupied by undulating granite 

 mountains, seldom, except at Glen Catacol, assuming forms of 

 sublimity or beauty, and clothed with no vegetation beyond the grass 

 and heather that grow among the slowly-decomposing blocks of gray 

 granite with which the ground is strewed for miles. Such is the 

 aspect of the country bleak, wild, unvaried -from Loch Ranza 

 to Loch lorsa and Dugarry, where the slate and old red sand- 

 stone formations succeed the harsher granite, and subside with 

 gentle declivities into the alluvial plain through which the 

 Mauchrie water finds its way to the sea. Despite what we have 

 said of the botanical attractions of Brodick, there is no dis- 

 trict in Arran that will better repay the trouble of a visit than 

 the south coast, from Slaodridh to Whiting Bay. Without any of 

 the alpine grandeur of the north, it has many striking beauties of 

 its own; smiling little bays, steep green banks, and bold cliffs of 



