282 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



rushes with many a swirl and eddy through the narrow rock- 

 strewn channels of the isles, foaming with races and overfalls to 

 such an extent that the surrounding inhabitants of Knapdale 

 compare them — " magnis componere parva" — to that far-famed 

 gulf, where " Coirebrechain surges roar," whose northern portal, 

 the frowning island of Scarba, lies but a little distance to the 

 north-west. Thus an approach to these islands in unsettled 

 weather is anything but pleasant, and a landing on the outer and 

 more exposed skerries impossible. The largest island, Eileam 

 Mor, is interesting also from an antiquarian point of view, on 

 account of the ecclesiastical remains on it, consisting, so far as 

 I could see, of an old ruined chapel, part of whose vaulted roof 

 remains intact, an ancient cross, and the effigy of an ecclesiastic 

 carved in stone, and reclining beneath, in solitary state, save 

 when a party of fishermen make the place their temporary abode 

 in summer, when the channels amongst the isles absolutely teem 

 with fish. 



As we pass up the loch, not far above Castle Swen, on the 

 left hand side is an inlet, consisting of a large muddy bay, which 

 joins Loch Kiels on the Sound of Jura, the whole forming a 

 capital feeding-place for wildfowl. Farther up are other inlets, 

 more especially the Linne Vurich, where the waters of the loch 

 rush on both sides of an island, over a shallow, into a large 

 sheet of water two miles long, forming, when the waters within 

 and without are at different levels, a dangerous rapid at spring 

 tides. This, too, is a favourite place for wildfowl, Wigeon, and 

 more especially the diving ducks, such as Goldeneyes and Scaups, 

 and the Red-breasted Merganser. The way in which sea and 

 land are interlocked in this part of Scotland must be seen to be 

 appreciated, and to a lover of Ornithology is well worth a visit, 

 as it is out of the ordinary route of the innumerable tourists who 

 crowd the Scotch hotels during midsummer and early autumn. 



In ornithological interest Loch Swen, owing to its muddy 

 bays and inlets, stands high amongst west country lochs, though 

 the West may be said to compare unfavourably with the East of 

 Scotland in regard to the variety of birds which attract the 

 puntsman, such as wildfowl and waders, although with sea-fowl 

 and rock-birds the West is well supplied. 



For instance, every winter when shooting on the East coast, 

 I have always seen, if I have not shot, several Wild Swans. Two 



