Mineralogy of Sky, 15 



terlstic difference between the two groups. We have seen that the 

 Cuchullin and Blaven form one irregular mass, continuous in the 

 ridges and much confounded both with each other and the general 

 mass of the island. But the Red hills form rather a distinct assem- 

 blage of mountains, being separated either singly or in small associa- 

 tions by deep vallies, and placed as it were upon the general level. 

 This group is bounded on the west by the vale of Strath, which ex- 

 tends from Broadford to the head of Loch Slapin, and skirting the 

 sound of Scalpa terminates at Loch Sligachan. I may add that ex- 

 cept the slight mixture of substances which appears to take place in 

 Glamich hill, and in one or two more of those which come into con- 

 tact with the Cuchullin and with Blaven,- these two groups do not 

 interfere, but are composed respectively of different and well cha- 

 racterized rocks. 



The great mountain of Blaven is skirted by lower hills, descend- 

 ing gradually into the table land of Strathaird, which we shall 

 hereafter see to be the largest portion of the secondary stratified 

 rocks existing in Sky. 



An uneven land, rising into irregular low hills, occupies the whole 

 tract to the southward of the valley of Strath, with the exception 

 of a nook which may be defined by an imaginary curved line 

 drawn from Loch Oransa to the castle of Inverfuchag. This part 

 of the island forms another distinct mountain group rising into 

 two principal summits, and attaining an elevation apparently of 

 fifteen or eighteen hundred feet. 



The general elevations of the remainder of the island may be 

 discussed in a few words. 



Having passed Loch Sligachan, an irregular ridge of high land 

 appears branching in two directions. The main ridge occupies the 

 eas-tern side of the island to Portree^ where it is interrupted by the 



