238 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
which dotted here and there with pasture and arable 
land, afford a pleasing contrast to the dull monotony of 
the pine forests. 
The principal geological formations of the mountains 
are granite, gneiss, mica-slate, and quartzite. These 
exercise a great and appreciable influence not only 
on. the external configuration of the country, but 
also upon its fertility. In some places, indeed, towards 
the south-east various kinds of limestone are met with, 
and here the vegetation is found to differ in a very 
marked degree. 
The greatest part, therefore, of the country may 
be said to consist of immense mountainous tracts 
intersected in different directions by deep valleys. The. 
bottoms and sloping sides of these are adapted for the 
abode of man; butit is not usual to find habitations of a 
stationary character at higher altitudes than 2,000 feet 
above the sea; and even the seters, or chalets, where 
the peasants usually reside a couple of months in the 
summer with their cattle, are seldom above 3,000 feet. 
Although the valleys occupy but a subordinate propor- 
tion of the whole area of the country, yet are they more 
than any other part deserving of attention, as they com- 
prise all the habitable and tillable terrain of Norway. 
In their lowest part runs a sinuous stream. The 
intervening portion between the river and the foot 
of the fields is covered with small patches of grass and 
