PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 



341 



had a circumference of 21 cm. and a length of 5 metres, but it could 

 not stand erect. 



Birch coppices. An account has already been given of the 

 distribution of birch coppices in Iceland, and in a subsequent part 







* 



~ 



TV* 





Fig. 36. Hallormstadaskogur: 1894 (see text). 

 (Phot. Th. Thoroddsen.) 



of this work there will no doubt be an exhaustive description of 

 tree-distribution in Iceland, so here only a few very brief notes on 

 the subject will be given. The greater part of the birch coppices 

 in Iceland consists of stunted shrubs having, as a rule, a height of 

 1 3 metres only, sometimes even lower; a fact which is undoubtedly 

 due to the destructive habits of sheep. Well-grown birches - - the re- 

 mains of woods which have formerly been far more extensive 

 occur, however, in a few localities. Of such woods the following 



