22 Dr. Mac Cul loch's Sketch of the 



the cliffs again become high, and shortly rise to the greatest altitude 

 which they attain along the whole line of this coast. In a general 

 sense they may be called perpendicular, but they are seldom with- 

 out grassy slopes either at their feet or in some intermediate parts, 

 which diminish their vertical appearance when seen in profile, al- 

 though when viewed in front they still appear perpendicular. The 

 outline is here more varied, the parts more numerous and intricate, 

 and the tone of colour more agreeable, while the foregrounds, 

 which are formed by some high and conspicuous detached rocks, 

 produce with them some of the most magnificent compositions of 

 rock scenery which are to be seen on the coasts of Sky, Not f^r 

 from this place is a large and very remarkable slide, by which a 

 considerable portion of the cliff has been brought from the summit 

 down to the shore, where it forms a promontory obstructing the 

 further progress of the mineralogist, who in defiance of toil and 

 hazard pursues along this rocky coast the beautiful minerals in 

 which it abounds. I have no measure of the heights of these 

 cliffs, but they are considerable. Comparing them with the masts 

 pf passing ships I imagine that the highest can not be much less 

 than 800 feet. The cascades which fall over them are often dissi- 

 pated in spray before they reach the ground, or descend in a 

 mere shower of drizzling rain. 



The cliffs continue with more variety of height than of cha- 

 racter to Loch Brittle, the habitation of the Osprey, and of, what 

 is more interesting to geologists, some rare minerals which I shall 

 describe in their proper places. At Loch Brittle the land runs out 

 into low projecting points, the interior being of small elevation 

 and disposed in terraces. The cliffs rise but little from this place to . 

 the entrance of Loch Scavig, where the coast assumes a new cha- 

 racter, the declivities of the hills reaching the sea at a considerable 



