4 
AT SEA. 
our view, as we dashed through the Pentland 
Frith, by a thick fog, in which most of them 
were enveloped. We could, however, distinguish 
Stroma, South Ronaldsha, and Hoy, and, in 
the latter island, the hospitable seat of Colonel 
Moodie, at Melsetter. Opposite to it, on the 
Caithness coast, whilst viewing the venerable re¬ 
sidence of the Earls of Caithness, I recollected 
the hearty welcome and kind assistance that 
Mr. Borrer and myself received there, from the 
present hospitable proprietors, but nine months 
before, when we were rambling over these north¬ 
ern parts of Scotland. Near to Mey Castle was 
the church of Canisby, and, on the opposite side, 
the steep cliffs of Dunnet Head. When we had 
got out of the frith, a clearer atmosphere gave 
us a view of the Paps of Caithness, in the south¬ 
east ; in the south, was the fine conical hill, called 
Ben-y-Graeme ; and, in the south-west, the great 
mountains of Ben Hope and Ben Luyal, in Su¬ 
therland. No sooner had we passed the frith, and 
got to the westward of the Orkney Islands, than 
we were becalmed, and continued so for two days ; 
Hoyhead, and the old man of Hoy, a singular 
rock near the shore, being most of the time in 
Thursday, sight. On the Thursday, a Tringa, 
June s. w hich appeared to me a new species, 
flew on board quite exhausted, and was taken. 
From this time, calms or bad winds, and fre- 
