ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS IN LOCHS OF HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND. 215 
in front of Aultnacealgach Hotel, and two in Loch Cama at Elphin— 
five in all. I propose on or after July 12 to make an exhaustive exami- 
nation of all these, and report directly thereafter.’ 
Loch Tigh Choimhead.—In reference to this loch Dr. Hew Morri- 
son, LL.D., writes: ‘In my native parish of Tongue, Sutherlandshire, 
there is a loch about two miles from Torrisdale, called Loch Tigh 
Choimhead, that is the Loch of the Watch House. In that loch there 
is.a green island, which has become more and more submerged in my 
own memory. My brother, who is a strong swimmer, went to the 
island at my suggestion some years ago, and with a long stick sounded 
the various parts of it, and thought that it was very likely founded 
on piles or some kind of wood. . . . It might also be worth while 
examining many of the lochs in the northern part of the county. Not 
far from this loch which I have referred to there are brochs, and in the 
near neighbourhood are two large boulders with cup marks.on them.’ 
Loch na Hacon, Tongue.—Mr. Evander Mackay, Farr Schoolhouse, 
Thurso, suggested that the island on this loch was artificial. He had 
visited it many years ago, and had noticed a causeway leading to it 
from the shore. ; 
Caithness. 
On application being made to Mr. Robert McClements, Schoolhouse, 
Keiss, this gentleman communicated with Mr. John Nicolson, 
Nybster, who is greatly interested in antiquarian matters and is 
thoroughly acquainted with all parts of the county. Mr. McClements 
reported : ‘ In Loch Alterwall there is an artificial island. The loch was 
drained about fifty years ago by Sir John Sinclair, who led a burn from 
the loch and so left the island dry. On the island is a small dry-built 
structure whose walls are 5 feet thick, with five steps leading down. 
A jug was found in parts, which Mr. Nicolson pieced together, and 
of which he sends a sketch. He has the jug in his house. 
* At the E. end of Loch Watten there is a small island, a round 
heap of stones about 4 feet above water and 200 yards from the shore. 
The Loch of Stemster has a small island planted with trees. An island 
in Loch Rangag has a broch built on it. Loch Calder has a natural 
island which has a hut circle built on it.’ 
Sir John Sinclair reports as follows: ‘ Loch Alterwall.—This island 
was investigated by Sir Francis Barry in 1900, when a square building 
and staircase were found. Lake Dwelling on Stemster.—This is an 
island in the Loch of Scarmlett in the Stemster district of Bower 
Parish, and not in the Loch Stemster in the parish of Latheron. It 
has now trees growing upon it, but before the trees were planted there 
were indications both of a building and of a staircase. . . . The dwelling 
in the island in the Loch of Rangag is an ordinary small broch of about 
20 feet diameter, and it is always quite easy to wade out from the 
shore to the island.’ 
Mr. John Davidson, West Watten, suggests an island in Loch 
Toftingall as possibly artificial. In the near neighbourhood of this loch 
are Standing Stones and at least four Picts Houses. 
