The Shiant Isles form a small archipelago in the North Minch, some 5 miles south-east of the Park district of the Island of Lewis. Although grouped with Ross and Cromarty, they are 20 miles distant from Rudh Re—the nearest point of! the mainland. Geologically, the islands are connected with the Trotternish district in the north of Skye, showing as their principal feature thick dolerite-sills intruded into relatively thin Mesozoic sediments. The Shiants are, in fact, the northernmost representatives of the ‘trap isles’ of the Hebrides. The group contains three comparatively large islands—Garbh Eilean (the rough island), Eilean an Tighe (the island of the house), and Eilean Mhuire (Mary Isle). Of these the first two are the largest, both being about a mile in length, with a maximum breadth of about half that distance. They are connected by a shingle-beach (except during unusually high tides), one side or other of which provides a safe landing-place even in rough weather. Garbh Eilean, the northern island, rises to a height of 528 feet, and is bounded on the north and east by high cliffs. Those of the northern face are particularly impressive, showing at one point a sheer wall 500 feet high rising out of the sea. On the north-east and east the bottom of the clift's is buried under great scree-slopes which, being partly overgrown, form the nesting place of countless puffins. Eilean an Tighe is 410 feet in height, and is bounded on the east by similar high cliffs, together with