156 The Irish Naturalist. [June, 



ver>' rapid flood of peat and water poured forth, bearing on its surface 

 large masses of the crust of the bog ; it rose 10 feet over Baslick Bridge, 

 and left a deposit of peat, which covered 165 acres of low ground and 

 extended for some 6 or 7 miles down the valley of the Suck. A valley 

 was formed in the peat bog half a mile in length and 20 feet deep.* 



A.D. 1873, October \.—Bogi miles east of Dtmmore, Co. Galway.—Th^ 

 bog was connected with the Dunmore river by the Carrabel, a small 

 stream. It was considerably elevated above the surrounding country, its 

 edges presenting the appearance of high turf banks. " A farmer digging 

 potatoes suddenly observed a brown mass slowly approaching. Leaving 

 his spade in the ground, he went for the neighbours, and on his return 

 the mass of moving bog had half covered his potato field, and completely 

 hidden his corn field from sight, except a few stacks which remained on 

 a knoll, an island in the midst of a scene of desolation." The bog 

 slowly flowed down the valley of the Dunmore, burying three farm- 

 houses, and covering about 300 acres of pasture and arable land, 6 feet 

 deep. The peat was cut along a perpendicular face, 25 to 30 feet in 

 height, which extended down to the underlying gravel. It was from 

 this cutting that the outburst took place. The flood of peat and water 

 moved rapidly at first, but afterwards slowly, and continued in move- 

 ment for II days. It carried away roads and bridges. The subsided 

 portion of the bog extended eastwards from the face of the cutting for a 

 distance of a quarter of a mile ; its greatest breadth measured also a 

 quarter of a mile ; down the middle, a valley from 20 to 25 feet deep 

 was formed, and about the sides the crust was torn asunder. The 

 numerous crevasses so formed were filled to the top with black peaty 

 fluid.* 



A*D. I883f January 25. — Bo£ near Castlereaghy Co. Roscommon. — " The 

 bog was situated between the villages of Moor and Baslick ; in about two 

 hours it moved a mile in a south-westerly direction towards the River 

 Suck ; after a short interval the movement continued, some 4,000 acres 

 of land were covered, three houses had to be deserted, several roads 

 were blocked ; the Ballinagare-road being covered 15 feet deep. Eleven 

 or twelve years ago the TuUa bog, situated about a quarter of a mile 

 from the scene of the present outbreak, burst and discharged itself into 

 the river Suck."* 



A.D. I883f January 30i — Bog mar Newtownforhes^ Co. Longford. — "A 

 bog near Newtownforbes has commenced to migrate, covering turf 

 and potatoes." 



> Report to the Board of Public Works, by Mr. Forsyth, 26th and 28th 

 January, 187 1. 



■Savage, " Picturesque Ireland," pp. 234-235, illustr. («. d.) 



•Report to the Board of Public Works, by Mn Forsyth, 31st October, 



1873' 

 * Freeman's fournal^ January 27, 30, and 3I, 1883. 



*/*»</., January 31, 1883. 



i 



