506 Dr, Mac Culloch 07i Staffa. 



plied to conspicuous single rocks all over the country. This rock 

 consists of variously inclined columns resting against each other, and 

 meeting till they form a conical body, which appears to repose 

 on a bed of curved and horizontal columns. 



It is superfluous to attempt a description of the great cave. The 



language of wonder has already been exhausted on it, and that of 



simple description must fa-l in an attempt where hyperbole has 



done its utmost. I may however remark, that its dimensions 



appear to have been over-rated, in consequence of the mode of 



m.easurement adopted, and that the drawings of it which have been 



engraved, give it an aspect of geometrical regularity which it is far 



from possessing. Its superiority in point of effect to the greatest 



efforts of architecture, might admi: of dispute if there were any 



disputing about feelings. Another cave occurs at a short distance 



westward, of inferior dimensions, and inaccessible unless when it 



can be entered in a boat, an event requiring a combination of 



circumstances of no very common occurrence at Staffa. Large 



fissures are seen above this cave, with an incipient detachment of 



considerable masses, threatening a ruin which is perhaps not far 



distant. Beyond this there is still another cave which appears to 



pass through the promontory in which it lies, but equally or 



even more difficult of access, and still involved in uncertainty. 



Many other caves of less note are to be seen in various parts of 



the cliff around the island, into which the sea breaks with a noise 



resembling that of heavy and distant ordnance. 



In a letter transmitted last year to the Secretary of this Society, 

 I took notice of a fact of considerable importance in the natural 

 history of this island, which had before escaped the remarks of 

 visitors. This is, the occurrence of a bed of alluvial matter on 

 some parts of its surface, containing fragments of the older 



