various parts of Scotland. 403 



mountains, I did not discover any variation from this general 

 character. I should add, that the felspar is the glassy variety. 



The cliffs from Loch Skresort to Scuir-more, exhibit the same 

 general appearances of sandstone skirting the shores, and intersected 

 by trap veins, or with masses of trap rocks superimposed on them. 

 A more particular knowledge of this coast is scarcely attainable either 

 from sea or land. At Scuir-more a small beach affords a point of 

 access, and here some variations occur which are worthy of notice. 



The sandstone is in this place elevated at very high angles, 

 varying from forty to sixty degrees and upward, and it appears to 

 dip uniformly toward the west. In composition it differs more 

 materially, being ferruginous from oxide of iron, and in place of 

 clay, containing calcareous earth. It is also traversed by numerous 

 minute veins of calcareous spar, and is intersected by innumerable 

 basaltic veins, of different sizes, and often of great magnitude. By 

 these and the subsequent disintegration of the rocks, it is hollowed 

 into caves, and wrought into arches, producing strange and pic- 

 turesque scenes of ruinous grandeur. I may remark, that the junction 

 of these different rocks does not appear to be attended with any 

 change in the nature of either. In one of the veins there is a portion 

 containing a compound of an uncommon nature, but somewhat 

 resembling the rock above described, being a mixed mass of crystals 

 of augite, hornblende, and felspar. Loose specimens of black 

 pitch-stone are also found on the beach, arising in all probability 

 from some vein of that substance. But the production for which 

 it is most remarkable is the green chalcedony, or heliotrope as it is 

 generally called. 



This substance, which exists in large masses, is also found 

 occupying cavities in the basaltic amygdaloid, in nodules varying 

 from the size of a mustard seed to that of a pea. These are 



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