THE PONIES OF CONNEMARA. 347 



between these mountains and the Twelve Bens. They are also plentiful 

 between the Bens and Lough Kylemore and to the south-east of Ballynakill 

 Harbour. 



The igneous dykes (which often yield soil rich in phosphates) occur in 

 great numbers in the western portion of Connemara, more especially to the' 

 west of a line between Ballynakill Harbour and Cashel Bay. 



In addition to the igneous dykes there are great masses of basic igneous 

 rocks south of the railway between Oughterard and Clifden, but especially 

 to the south and east of Ballynahinch. The importance of igneous dykes 

 and of basic igneous rocks can hardly be over-estimated. In Norway, e.g., 

 the villages string themselves along igneous dykes, being especially crowded 

 where the dykes are most abundant and richest in phosphates. 



The uplands extending between Lough Mask and Killary Harbour in 

 many ways agree with the Ochills, Pentlands, and the Southern Uplands of 

 Scotland. They owe their fertility to the limestone schists, and other 

 phosphate-yielding rocks of the Upper Silurian series. To the south of the 

 crescent-shaped Upper Silurian area, which includes the Partry table-land 

 and Joyces' country, lies the area (comprising Connemara proper) consisting 

 almost entirely of Lower Silurian rocks. These rocks extend from Lough 

 Corrib to the Atlantic, and separate the uplands in the north from the 

 extensive granitic area in the south. On the east the Lower Silurian rocks 

 reach the lower end of Lough Mask ; south of Oughterard they come into 

 contact with the triangle of carboniferous limestone lying to the east of the' 

 railway. On the Atlantic side they all but extend to Killary Harbour in 

 the north, and in the south they come into contact with the granitic area in 

 Bertraghboy Bay, not far from Carna. In the lower Silurian area to the 

 north of Ballinahinch lie the Twelve Bens ; further east the equally barren 

 Maumturk Mountains. With the exception of these sterile quartzitic moun- 

 tains, the soil of the Lower Silurian section, wherever it exists in sufficient 

 quantity, is wonderfully fertile. The presence of limestone bands, igneous 

 dykes, and various kinds of schists ensures a plentiful supply of lime, potash, 

 and phosphoric acid. The granitic area extending from the Lower Silurian 

 section to Galway Bay, though, as a rule, but little above the sea-level, and 

 though crowded with lakelets, intersected by numerous streams, and deeply 

 indented on the west by bays, channels, and creeks, is of little value for 

 agricultural purposes. This is partly due to the presence of extensive bogs, 

 but chiefly to the rocks being incapable of yielding suitable soil. 



When the climate, physical features, and geological formations of the 

 west of Galway are taken into consideration, there is no escape from the 

 conclusion that Connemara is in many respects well adapted for the breed- 

 ing and rearing of stout, active ponies, as large as the feral horses once so 

 abundant in the New World, and as hardy as the wild horse (the E. frzewal- 

 skii) of Central Asia. 



The Food of the Ponies. 



During the greater part of the year horses seem to prefer short young 

 grasses, and soft, easily-cropped herbs ; but, as already mentioned, the 

 length of the crowns of the teeth, together with the great length and 

 strength of the jaws, indicate that they are well adapted for feeding on hard, 

 dry plants, which require to be well crushed before they give up theif 

 nutritive constituents. 



