Xvi INTRODUCTION. 



Plym, after a course of sixteen miles, discharges its waters into Plymouth 

 Sound on its eastern side ; here they are met by those brought down by 

 the Tainar on the other. Nearly the whole basin of the Plym is within 

 our area. 



The Yealm rises on Dartmoor, about one mile north-east of Shell Top, 

 and after a course of fourteen miles falls into the English Channel. 

 "Within a couple of miles of its source it receives the waters of three 

 moorland streams, and, after passing imder the village of Comwood, flows 

 in a nearly southerly direction. Between one and two miles below 

 Comwood it receives on its western side a considerable stream, running 

 down from Cholwichtown. It is crossed by the Plymouth and I^ybridge 

 Road at Lee Mill Bridge, and between two and three miles lower down 

 takes a much more westerly direction, under Yealmpton tillage, having 

 been met by two or three small streams between this and Lee i\lill. 

 Passing Puslinch and Kitley, it at the latter place receives a considerable 

 tributary, Kitley Brook or Silverbridge Lake, which, flowing down from 

 the large parish of PljTupton St. Mary, brings the drainage of the 

 c<)untry between Phmpton town and Brixton on the west, and Smithalee 

 and Yealmpton village on the east. At Kitley, two and three-quarter 

 miles from its mouth, it becomes tidal, and a little below receives two 

 small streams through the tidal expanse of Cofileet "Lake." A more 

 Considerable tributary on the left brings the drainage of the country 

 between Newton Ferrers and Holbeton. This is tidal to Bridgend, just 

 above Newton Ferrers village. A little over a mile below Newton 

 Ferrers the Yealm falls into the sea through a narrow outlet, in a direc- 

 tion due west, its course having become deflected a httle way above. Its 

 whole basin is witliin our area. 



The Erme rises on the south of Caters Beam, Dartmoor, a little 

 beyond our boundary line on the north-east, and after a southerly course 

 of fourteen and a half miles falls into the sea at Bigbury Bay. On Dart- 

 moor it is met by some small streams, and about two miles within our 

 boundary hne it passes between the hills of Staddon Barrow and Three 

 Barrows. Two miles further south it flows under Harford Church, and a 

 little below is augmented by two streams. It nms on by Ivybridge, 

 Caton, and Ermington, and is met before it reaches Fleet, a little below 

 Ermington, by three streams that drain the country lying between L'g- 

 borough and Modbury. A little to the south of Oldaport, between one 

 and two miles lower do^vn, it receives another small tributary, which is 

 tidal for a short distance. The Erme flows into Bigbury Bay by a rather 

 wide outlet at ^Mothecombe. It is tidal for two and a half miles. 



Natural Features, Condition of the Surface, &c. — The natural 

 features of the country and the present varied conditions of its surface 

 are both favourable to the production of a large and interesting flora. In 

 the north there is a considerable expanse of elevated open moorland, 



