the largest of the western islands of Scotland, included in Inverness-shire, of which it forms a considerable portion, lies between N. Lat. 57° 2', and 57° 41'; W. Long. 5° 37', and 6° 40'; separated from the mainland by the Sound of Sleat and the narrow straits called Kyle Rhea and Kyle Akyrn. Its form is exceedingly irregular. The length of a line drawn from the point of Aird, its northern, to that of Sleat, its southern extremity, is about 44 miles; its breadth in the northern or broadest portion is more than 20 miles; and its area is about 535 square miles. But so much is the coast indented with lochs and creeks, that there is hardly any place in the island more than 5 miles distant from the sea. The coast is lofty, bold, and rocky, lined in many places with vast masses of trap-rock, or perpendicular basaltic columns. These are especially prevalent on the north-east coast of the island, occupying the whole district of Trotternish, from Portree northwards to the point of Aird. The island may be generally characterized as a great tract of mountainous moorland; but there are several districts of a different character—plains, green hills, and tracts of arable land occupying some portions of the surface. The plain of Kilmuir, in the north-west, and another of smaller size near Bracadale, are the only considerable level portions. The chief tract of arable land lies in the south-east along the coast of the Sound of Sleat. A valley, called the strath, stretches across the island from shore to shore, not much above the level of the sea, near the south of the island. The mountains of Skye form three principal groups; one of which occupies the peninsula of Sleat, in the south-east; another, the district of Minginish, near the centre; and a third, the peninsula of Trotternish, Waternish, and Kilmuir, in the north. The hills in the southern part of Sleat have an average height of only 1200 feet; but further north there are five united mountains which rise to the elevation of 2000 feet.

The mountains of Minginish, however, compose the largest as well as the most rugged and imposing group in the island, and they form a conspicuous object from almost every part of it. Here rise the Cuchullin Hills, near the south of the district, forming a group encircling Loch Coruisk. These hills are remarkable for their bold and serrated character; and Seuir-na-Gillean, which is generally regarded as the highest summit, has been estimated to attain an elevation of 3200 or 3220 feet above the sea. Another summit, called Blaven, east of the Cuchullin Hills, is believed to be the loftiest peak in the whole island. The Red Hills rise further to the north, and are more tame and rounded in outline than the Cuchullin Hills. They derive their name from the streaks of red with which they are mostly covered. In the north of Skye, the loftiest and most remarkable mountain is the Storr in Trotternish. It is quite perpendicular to the side of the sea; and forms a number of detached pinnacles of the most gigantic size and fantastic appearance; one of them being very similar in form to a spire, and forming a conspicuous sea-mark. The height of the Storr is 2348 feet. There are no considerable rivers in the island, but a vast number of rivulets; and of the lakes the chief is Loch Cornisk, already mentioned, celebrated for its wild and barren scenery. The arms of the sea are numerous. On the Sound of Sleat is Loch-in-Daal; on the south-west coast of the island, Loch Eishart, Loch Slapin, Loch Scaivaig, Loch Brittle, Loch Eynort, and Loch Bracadale; on the north-west coast, Loch Follart, Loch Bay, and Loch Soizort; and on the northeast, Portree Loch, Loch Sligachan, Loch Ainort, and Broadford Bay. The islands of Rona, Raasay, and Scalpa, which lie to the east of Skye, are separated from it by the sounds called by their respective names. The district of Sleat consists of stratified rocks, including gneiss, chlorite slate, mica, and horn-blende slate, extending regularly from S.W. to N.E. The central and northern parts of the island, however, are quite different in their geological structure. Large masses of trap-rock there lie above and around portions of sandstone. All the mountains in Trotternish are formed of amygdaloid trap; and among the other formations in this district there are basalt, lias, oolite, shale, &c. Although Skye contains several beds of coal, yet these are so small that they are of very slight value. The only mineral worked is the limestone of the district of Strath. In this district, also, there are quarries of marble; but these, though at one time worked, are now greatly neglected. The marble is generally gray in colour, but there are some blocks as pure and white as the best used for statuary. In the limestone of this region there are many caves; one of which, called the Spar Cave, is remarkable for the beauty of the stalactites with which it is encrusted. Another cave in Skye, near Portree, is adorned with similar crystallizations; and is also memorable as having afforded a refuge to Prince Charles Stuart after the battle of Culloden. The climate of the island is remarkably moist and variable, three days out of four being in general rainy. The hills are frequently enveloped in clouds and mists; and some of the loftier summits are covered with snow for a great part of the year. The soil is not well suited for cultivation, as a great proportion of it is moist and boggy. Indeed agriculture is almost confined to a few districts, including some parts of Trotternish and Sleat, the plain of Bracadale, and patches of ground at Broadford, Soizort, Portree, and other places. And even in these places no great amount of skill is expended in the cultivation of the ground; and the crops raised are far from being plentiful. The farming implements are in many instances of the rudest possible description, and many of the farms or crofts are so small as hardly to render it worth while to introduce the plough or the harrow. Instead of the former, the caschrome, or ancient crooked spade, is much used by the poor; and the place of the latter is frequently supplied by rakes. Except the alternation of oats and potatoes, and even this is not universally practised, there is no such thing as a rotation of crops in a great part of the island, though in the larger farms this is practised. In some of the more remote districts the only method of grinding the corn is by the quern or hand-mill. In fact, it is not agricultural produce, but cattle, sheep, and kelp that form the chief riches of Skye. By far the greater part of the surface, consisting of moorlands and grassy tracts, is devoted to the rearing of cattle and sheep. The breeds of both have been much improved, and the latter are mostly Cheviots. Kelp is obtained by drying sea-ware in the sun, and afterwards burning it in small pits. From these pits, while in use, dense clouds of smoke are continually given out. Fishing is also carried on to some extent in Skye, though the people cannot be said in any sense to be a fishing community. Even their dress is not suited for seafaring pursuits, although they are for a great part of their time on the sea; and except the herring fishery, during its season, they pay very little attention to any other. Oysters, however, are found in abundance in the Sound of Scalpa and Loch Snizort; lobsters on the west coast; cockles, mussels, limpets, &c., in various places. The men frequently leave the island in summer in search of work, either on farms or in the fisheries of the east coast; and the women sometimes leave during the harvest. Owing to the system of subdividing the land into very small crofts, the island is over-peopled, and many of the inhabitants reduced to a state of poverty. Their houses are frequently very mean and wretched; and the failure of the potato crop, which forms here an important article of sustenance, has caused great distress. A gradual alteration is taking place in the system of small crofts; many clearances have been effected, and many of the people have been obliged to emigrate. No manufacture, except that of kelp is carried on in Skye; and the only markets for the disposal of cattle are held at Portree. This town, the largest in the island, has a good harbour, and communicates regularly by means of steamers with Glasgow. The island is divided into seven parishes, and contains also seven churches belonging to the Free Church. The most of it belongs to Lord Macdonald, or to the McLeod family. Armadale Castle, the residence of the former, and Dunvegan Castle that of the latter, are the principal seats in the island. Parts of the latter are very ancient, and it is one of the finest mansions in the Highlands of Scotland. Brochel Castle, in the island of Raasays, is an interesting ruin, occupying a ledge of rock overhanging the sea. The population of Skye is 21,521.