54 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



the sides and tops of the mountains, which do 

 not dissolve and disappear, until the sun has 

 risen several degrees above the horizon, and 

 the heat is considerably increased. In damp 

 and rainy weather, the largest part of the clouds 

 seem to collect, and dissolve upon the moun- 

 tains. In winter the snows fall sooner^ lie deep- 

 er, and continue longer on the mountains, than 

 on any other part of the country. These phe- 

 nomena denote a greater, and a more constant 

 collection of vapours and clouds by the moun- 

 tains, than takes place any where else ; and it 

 seems to be occasioned by the greater degree 

 of cold, 'which prevails in those elevated situa- 

 tions. The highest parts of our mountains gen- 

 erally abound with rocks, and are co^^ered with 

 large quantities of thick green moss ; so exten- 

 sive, compact, and thick, as to reach from one 

 4-cck to another, and of so firm a contexture as 

 to beai' the Vv^eight of a man, without being 

 broken. These immense beds of moss retain 

 the moisture supplied by the clouds and rain : 

 And while part of it runs down the sides of the 

 mountains, part will be detained by the spungy 

 surface, to penetrate and sink into the earth. 

 On this account, and for want of a more rapid 

 evaporation, several of our mountains are con- 

 stantly wet on their tops, and have marshy 

 spots, which are frequented by the aquatic 

 birds. The roads over these mountains are 

 frequently very. wet and miry, when the valleys 

 belcv/ are dry. When the waters thus supplied 

 by the clouds and rain, meet with any strata 

 wliich prevent their descent, they collect in such 

 quimtities as to form a channel, and issue out 



