ARGYLEIHIRE (Airer-Gaedhil, territory of the Gael), a co. in thy w. of Scotland, cut up into many peninsulas by arms of the sea, and including numerous islands. It is bounded n. by Inverness-shire; w. and s. by the sea; e. by Perthshire, Dumbarton, Loch Long, and Firth of Clyde. Its greatest length is about 115 m. ; greatest breadth, about 60 m. ; its extent of coast-line is very great, amounting to 663 m., owing to the indenta tion of the coast by numerous lochs running inland. Next to Inverness, it is the largest co. in Scotland—area, 3210 sq.m., of which 1063 are occupied by the numerous islands. No part is above 12 m. from the sea or from large inland lochs. The co. is divided into the districts of Cantjre, north and south Argyle, Lorn, Appin, Cowal, INIorven, and Sunart. The chief islands are Mull, Islay, Jura, Tiree, Coll, Lismore, and C,olonsay, with Iona and Staffa. There are upwards of thirty other islands of smaller size. The general aspect of A. is wild and picturesque, marked by rugged and lofty mountains and deep inland bays. Some fertile valleys exist. The north part is entirely mountainous, and presents some of the grandest scenery in Scotland, as Glencoe. The highest peaks are (Ord. Trig. Survey) Bideau nam Bian, 3766 ft. ; Ben Cruachan, 3693; Buachael Etive, 3341—all in Lorn; Ben Ima (end of Loch Long), 3319; Ben More (Mull), 3185; Ben Creach (Morven), 2790; North Pap of Jura, 2565. The chief bays are (going south)—Loch Mloidart, Loch Sunart, Linulte Loch, branching off into Loch Eil and Leven, Loch Fyne, and Loch Long. There are no rivers of any size. The streams are short and rapid, the principal being the T.:rchay, running through Glenorchy into Loch Awe, and the awe connecting that lake with Loch Etive. The inland or fresh-water lochs are Loch Awe and Loch Lydoch. The rocks of A. are mica-slate, which predominates on the main-land; trap in Mull and Lorn; quartz rock in Islay and Jura; granite around Loch Etive and in Knapdale; patches of Has and oolite in many of the isles; and a little old red sand stone w. of Loch Fyne and in South Cantire. Lead-mines occur at Strontian (where the mineral strontianite was discovered, and from which the names of the earth called strontia and the metal strontium are derived), at Tyndrum, and in. Islay and Coll. A copper-mine exists in Islay. The Easdale and Ballachulish quarries supply the best roofing-slates in Scotland. Coal occurs near Campbelton; fine marble in Tiree, etc.;
excellent granite near Inverary; and limestone in most parts of the county. The fertile parts of A. lie along the arms of the sea and the mountain streams. The soil is mostly light, sandy, and gravelly loam along the coast and the sides of rivers, and gravelly, with a till bottom, on the hillsides. Sheep and cattle rearing are the chief occupations of the farmer. More sheep are reared in A. than in any other Scotch co., and nearly a million acres are in permanent pasture. In number of cattle, A. yields only to the counties of Aberdeen, Ayr, Lanark, and Perth. In 1875, A. had 23,552 acres under corn, and 12,131 under green crops, as well as 58,504 acres under permanent pasture, exclusive of heath or mountain-land. A. abounds in deer and game. Loch Fyne is famed for its herrings. Loch Awe abounds in salmon and trout.
In many parts of A. the peasantry are still very poor, notwithstanding that steamers now connect every portion of the coast with the commercial center of Scotland. The manufactures are unimportant, the chief being whisky, in Campbelton and Islay, and coarse woolens for home use. The chief towns and villages are Inverary, Campbelton, Oban, Dunoon, Appin, Lochgilphead, and Tarbert. The three former unite with Ayr and Irvine in returning oue member to parliament; the co. returns another. Pop. in '71, 75,679, represented as mostly using the Gaelic language. This exhibits a con siderable decrease since 1831, which has chiefly resulted from emigration. This extensive county is divided ecclesiastically into not more than fifty parishes, which contain only two royal burghs, Iverary and Campbelton, the former of which is a station of the circuit court of justiciary. The principal proprietors are the duke of Argyle, the head, and the earl of Breadalbane, a branch of the Campbell family. Among the antiquities of A. are the ruins of Iona and Oronsay, and many duns, or circular forts along the coast. In Cantire formerly lived the Macdonalds, or lords of the isles, whose power was weakened by James III.
ARIA (Am), in music, a rhythmical song, as distinct from recitative. The term was formerly applied to a measured lyrical piece either for one or several voices; but is now commonly applied to a song introduced in a cantata, oratorio, or opera, and intended for one voice supported by instruments. ARIETTA, a short melody. Autos°, a passage in the style of the A., often introduced into recitative. A. BUFFO, a comic song, etc.