Question:

I wonder if you can help with the interpretation of bars 65 - 72 of the McCulloch Strathspey from the RSCDS leaflets.
The dance is a square strathspey and at the end of bar 64, everyone is back in their original places.

"1st and 4th men dance a figure of eight round 1st and 4th women while 2nd and 3rd men dance a figure of eight round 2nd and 3rd women.  Men pass left shoulders in the middle and dance round the women passing right shoulders."
The 2005 edition of the Manual has no guidance on these bars.
The 2008 TAC notes contains the following note:
"1st and 3rd men (passing in front of partners) begin by passing 4th and 2nd men L shoulder & round women by R shoulder.  Men finish by dancing round partners by R shoulder to finish facing c/clockwise, with partners on their right, ready for allemande."
It seems to me that if 4th man is going to pass1st man by the left and then dance round 1st lady by the right, that will be a very twisting route for him to take. Also, the pattern the men take is more a reel of four than a figure of eight and will be quite a stretch in 8 bars.

Answer:

It is like a reel of four with only two dancers, starting with 1^st and 4^th men, and 2^nd and 3^rd men, passing by the left.  It is quite a tight pass by the left for the men and then by the right round a lady, and also a long way to travel, but providing the men are ready (prompt them in plenty time) there should be no problem.