an island on the W. coast of Scotland, one of the inner Hebrides, 5 miles W. of the Mull of Cantire, between N. Lat. 55° 52', and 56° 9', and W. Long. 5° 43', and 6° 8'. It is bounded N. by the Gulf of Corriveckan, E. by Jura Sound, S. and S.W. by Islay Sound, and W. by the Atlantic Ocean. The island is 23 miles in length from N.E. to S.W., by 6 miles in average breadth, and contains an area of about 156 square miles. A chain of rugged hills traverses its whole extent, interrupted only by Tarbert-Loch, an arm of the sea, which stretches into the island for about 6 miles, nearly separating it into parts. Jura differs much in aspect from its sister isle, Islay, although belonging to the same geological formation. The soil is inferior and the minerals unimportant. Some good slate is quarried, and a very fine sand found on the western shore is used for making glass. Barley, oats, turnips, and potatoes form the chief crops, the first being raised for the distilleries here and in Islay. Jura belongs to the parish of Jura and Colonsay. In 1851 there were 200 inhabited houses, and a population of 1064. See HEBRIDES.

an eastern frontier department of France, formerly a part of the province of Franche-Comté, lying between N. Lat. 46° 16', and 47° 19', and E. Long. 5° 16', and 6° 11'. It is bounded N. by the department of Haute-Saône, N.E. by that of Doubs, E. by Switzerland, S. by the department of Ain, W. by that of Saône-et-Loire, and N.W. by that of Côte d'Or. It is 114 miles in length from N. to S., and 40 miles broad, containing an area of 1928 square miles. The surface of the country is for the most part irregular, traversed as it is by the Jura Alps, from which it takes its name. This mountain range enters the department from Switzerland, and runs in a southerly direction, attaining at some places an elevation of 4000 to 6000 feet. The eastern portion of Jura is the most elevated, the western for a considerable extent is level, while the middle districts form a series of table-lands. The climate is variable according to the contour of the country. In the higher regions it is cold and tempestuous in the winter, and humid during the warmer months. The chief rivers are—the Ain, Doubs, Seille, and Oignon, the latter forming the northern boundary of the department. They are navigable only for small barges. The soil is various. In the level parts to the W. it is a marly clay which is very productive, while in the highlands it is calcareous, thin, and stony. The products are similar to those of the neighbouring departments, including wheat, rye, maize, hemp, wine, and fruit, besides butter and cheese. Cattle and sheep in large numbers are fed on the hill sides, and on the extensive plateaux. Of 1,234,097 acres contained in the department of Jura, 452,498 are arable, 359,286 under wood, 195,242 moors and heaths, 124,907 acres under grass, 51,959 under vines, 29,662 roads, buildings, &c., 13,623 rivers, lakes, canals, &c., and 6920 in gardens and nurseries.

Agriculture generally is progressing. The number of wolves and foxes which come from the mountains in winter do considerable damage, especially to the flocks, which require to be tended with great care and kept in strong and high folds. In Jura manufacture is mostly confined to the nicer articles of workmanship, as the making of clocks and watches, and the turning of wood, ivory, bone, and horn. The coarser manufactures include paper, linen, wool, leather, tiles, chemicals, and hardware. The corn grown here is sufficient for the wants of the inhabitants, without having recourse to importation.

The following are the political divisions and population of the department:

| Arrondissements | Cantons | Communes | Pop. 1851 | |-----------------|---------|----------|-----------| | Lons-le-Saulnier | 11 | 212 | 108,414 | | Poligny | 7 | 162 | 78,311 | | Dole | 9 | 138 | 75,250 | | Saint-Claude | 5 | 82 | 51,486 | | Total | 32 | 584 | 313,361 |

The principal towns are Lons-le-Saulnier, the capital, (with 9400 inhabitants), Dole, Poligny, and Saint-Claude.