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BUTE, as a county, consists of the Islands of Bute, Arran, Inchmarnock, and the two Cumbraes, in the Frith of Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland. The Island of Bute is about six miles west of the coast of Ayrshire, and half a mile from Cowal in Argyleshire, from which county it is separated by the well known straits called the Kyles of Bute. The island is eighteen miles in length, and from three to five in breadth. To the north the coast is elevated, rocky, and barren; the centre is diversified by hills affording excellent pasturage, valleys, and fertile tracts; the south is hilly, and divided from the rest of the island by the low and sandy plain of Langal-chorid. The principal lakes are Loch Fadd, Loch Quien, and Loch Ascog, between Rothesay and Scalpsie Bay ; the small Loch of Greenan is about the middle of the island; the Red Loch and Bull Loch are near the north end. The coast is rocky, and indented by bays, the principal of which are those of Kilchattan, Rothesay, and Kames, on the east side; Dungoil, Stravannan, Scalpsie, St Ninian's, and Ellerick Bays, on the west side. The soil consists of clay, loam, and sand, with moss lying on gravel. The greater part of the arable land is well inclosed, and excellent crops are raised. The minerals are chiefly limestone, freestone, slate, and a very inferior quality of coal. There are beds of coral and shells of considerable thickness in many places half a mile from the shore. Some fine prospects are obtained from the hills, especially that of Kilchattan in the south district.
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