314 MR. HAUVIE-BROWN ON PRIEST ISLAND AND ITS BIRD LIFE. 
hollows, and looking thence seaward, it would be difficult to say, 
were the fact not known, whether it was an island or part of 
the mainland. 
Of Howers and wild plants we noticed Wild Parsley, a kind of 
pink snap-dragon like flower, rock plants, and Sea-pink, and on the 
deserted croft-land, Gowans and White Clover. Heather grew 
rank and strong over the knobbies and hills of the northern j^ortion, 
and rank grasses round the gull-frequented loch-shores. Much 
sweet pasture-ground was interspersed, capable of carrying quite a 
number of Sheep and Cattle. 
To the North, and close to Priest Island, lies the island of 
Glaskeir Bheag — frequented by Greylag Geese — and the Summer 
Isles to the north-east, the point of Stoir, and Ehu Coigeach 
and Cromarty, with the grand background, unobscured by mist or 
thundercloud, of the Cromarty and Assynt Hills, Suilbhein above 
Loch Inver appearing more dimly in the haze. 
After two hours spent on the island, we got into the boat, and 
our men rowed ns round the coast line, a wild sea-bitten craggy 
shore, with Scart-haunted caves ; and at the north promontory of 
Toll Eilean-a-Chleirach, we saw a very fine sea-arch in the rock. 
The principle feature in bird life was a fine cormorancy on the north 
side, in the highest cliffs, which are here about one hundred feet 
high. I counted about one hundred birds fly off to sea, and 
reckoned the colony at about one hundred and thirty pairs. 
Between Cormorants and Shags or Scarts in the caves, I believe 
there must be at the lowest estimate, five hundred pairs of birds. 
Coming south along the east side, we spied a Greylag Goose 
at sea, and gave chase — a most exciting chevy, indeed, it proved, 
all the more that fresh meat was a scarce commodity at times at our 
Iron House. It ended successfully, with the result of adding it to 
our larder by a successful stroke of the oar blade and gaff handle. 
It was soon run doAvn, diving shorter each time. If the chase was 
possibly a little cruel, yet the bird was heavy and fat, and in fine 
condition, a sine qua non with us at the time. It is rarely they 
are thus seen at sea in this helpless condition : possibly we 
disturbed the bird on shore in the first instance. 
Of sea fish we got few, owing to the thundery air and calm sea ; 
we got six good Lythe, and bought three large pails full of fine 
Herrings from a fishing smack bound for Little Loch Broom. 
