Orkney Islands
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Orkney Islands. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a group of 90 Scotch islands, islets, and skerries, of which only 28 are inhabited, and which have an aggregate area of 376 square miles, the largest being Pomona or Mainland (207 square miles), Hoy (53), Sanday (26), (26), Westray, Westray, South Ronaldshay, Rousay, Stronsay, Eday, extend 50 miles N. E., and are separated from Caithness by the Pentland Firth, 62 miles wide at the narrowest. With the exception of Hoy, which has fine cliffs, and in the Ward Hill attains 1,564 feet, the scenery is generally tame, the surface low and treeless, with many fresh water Iochs, and the soil bent on peat or moss. nual temperature is 45°, the rainfall 34.3 inches. The area under cultivation has more than doubled since 1850, but is still less than one-half of the total area. The live stock during the same period has trebled; agriculture and fishing are the principal industries. ( Ptolemy's Orcades) wrested by Norse rovers from their Pictish inhabitants. They continued subject to the Scandinavian crown-till 1231, and afterward under the Earls of Angus and Stratherne and the Sinclairs -till in 1468 they were given to James III. of Scotland as a security for the dowry of his wife, Margaret of Denmark. The present landed chiefly of Scotch descent, generally Scotch origin of. mixed Pop. 23,100. Pop. ( 1918 In the World 1918 Scapa) Flow the British in Grand the Orkneys naval operations. Here German war-ships were interned and subsequently sunk by order of the German Naval Command.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
an archipelago of northern Scotland. Twenty-eight of the islands are inhabited. Some of the smaller contain but a family or two. The highest elevation in the group is 1,600 feet. The total area is about 390 square miles. One hundred and seven thousand acres are under cultivation. Oats, hay, and turnips are the principal field crops. The summers are cool; the winters are stormy. Sheep, cattle, and horses were formerly of a stunted breed; but improved strains have been introduced of late. The women knit, and raise rabbits and poultry. The men build boats, make sails, nets, and ropes, and catch herring and codfish. Steamers from Aberdeen and Leith call regularly. The principal town is Kirkwall. The Orkneys are mentioned by Ptolemy, Pliny, and other Roman writers. There are numerous remains of the ancient Picts. In 1099 the Scandinavians took possession of the islands. The present inhabitants are reported at 28,698. They show strong traces of Scandinavian blood. Scandinavian words are incorporated in the language of the people. Orkney is a Gaelic word, meaning "Islands of Whales."