130 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



[S 



ESS. LXXV1I. 



level for about one-third of the entire distance, and then 

 slopes gently towards the north, culminating in a rather 

 low-lying portion where water tends to accumulate. The 

 higher parts are about 250 feet above sea-level. 



Soil. 



The soil of this part of Fife, resting on the coal 

 measures, is a loam consisting of clay from the boulder clay 

 and shale, and sand from the sandstone rocks, many 

 boulders of which are to be found in the clay. This loam, 

 however, is by no means uniform in its composition. In 

 order to make comparisons between various parts of the 

 habitat as regards moisture, a few samples of soil were 

 obtained, and the water content and the water-holding 

 capacity estimated, the percentages being calculated on the 

 dry weight in each case. 



The results may be tabulated as follows : — 



Vegetation. 



The vegetation of the land, which till recently was 

 closely covered with trees, is open, this being the usual 

 condition after tree-covering. Many bare patches of soil 

 are present, which will gradually become covered as time 

 goes on. The land is now under conditions favourable to 

 becoming a closed vegetation, hence one expects to find 

 evidences of the transition. It is very narrow, and this 

 narrowness makes it liable to invasion. The present con- 



