Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 3.djvu/24

 harbour of that place. Resuming thence its northern direction it continues to rise gradually for twelve or fifteen miles, and declines as gradually to the northern extremity of the island at Ruhunish. This ridge shows a gentle declivity to the west while to the east it frequently presents a rocky and broken escarpement. As far as its elevation can be estimated by the aspect of the view from its summit, and by comparing it with other known elevations when seen from the sea, it seems to reach at least the height of fifteen hundred feet. It may even be more considerable, since the gradual ascent of the land around it tends to make it appear lower than it really is.

As the abrupt face of this ridge is directed eastward, it thus forms a second and interior range of cliffs which in many places rises to a considerable height. The most remarkable of these is to be seen at the Storr, from whence it extends for some space northwards. The precipices which form the eastern face of the Storr offer scenes to the lover of the picturesque not exceeded either in singularity or grandeur by any thing which is to be seen in Scotland, and almost as little known to the natives as to casual travellers. In the progress of decomposition vast fragments have been detached from the body of the hill, and continue insulated on its slope, resembling at a little distance the remains of ancient castles and the spires of ruined cathedrals. One remarkable conical rock attains a height of about an hundred and fifty feet, its base not exceeding twenty in diameter, forming a sea mark as conspicuous to the vessels which frequent this coast, as it is striking in a picturesque view.

The mineralogist, no less than the admirer of fine nature, will be gratified by the examination of the Storr. It consists of an amygdaloidal rock, containing abundant specimens of the zeolite family,