Page:Transactions of the Geological Society, 1st series, vol. 3.djvu/30

 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 without grassy slopes either at their feet or in some intermediate parts; which diminish their vertical appearance when seen in profile, although 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 far 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 of passing ships I imagine that the highest can not be much less than 800 feet. The cascades which fall over them are often dissipated in spray before they reach the ground, or descend in a mere shower of drizzling rain.

The cliff continue with more variety of height than of character 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 character, the declivities of the hills reaching the sea at a considerable