Ross-shire

a county of Scotland, 80 iles long and 70 broad; bounded on the N. by Sutherlandshire and the frith of Dornock, W. by the Minch, S. by Inverne shire, and E. by the frith of Murray and ithe county of Cromarty, which last it almost incloses, Itis divided into 30 parishes, and the number of inhabitants in 1801 was 52,201. The middle and N.W. parts are mountainous and dreary; the E, part is variegated with woods, lakes, and rivers. The hills feed horses, beeves, sheep, and goats, and abound with game; the rivers and lakes teem with fish and waterfowl; and the loches on the W. coast are visited regularly by a shoal of herrings. The inhabitants of the W. and S. parts speak the Erse language, which is also understood on the E. coast, where, however, English is generally spoken. The island of Lewis is attached to this county. Tain is the capital.