OR OVI8 HISPANIC A. 149 



pastures, and found it in general stony ; what in the 

 west of England would be called a stone-brash, with 

 Rome mixture of loam, and in a few places a little 

 peaty. The plants are many of them untouched by 

 the sheep ; many ferns, narcissus, violets, &c. ; but 

 burnet (Poterium sangui&orba), and the narrow- 

 leaved plantain (Plant ago lanceolata], were eaten, 

 a* may be supposed, close. I looked for trefoils, 

 but found scarcely any. It was very apparent that 

 soil and peculiarity of herbage had liule to do in ren- 

 dering these heights proper for sheep. In the north- 

 ern parts of Europe, the tops of mountains half the 

 height of these (for we were above snow in July) 

 are bogs ; all are so which I have seen in our islands ; 

 or, at least, the proportion of dry land is very trifling 

 to that which is extremely wet. Here they are in 

 general very dry. Now, a great range of dry land, 

 let the plants be what they may, will in every coun- 

 try suit sheep. The flock is brought every night to 

 one spot, which is situate at the end of the valley on 

 the river I have mentioned ; and near the port or 

 passage of Picada, it is a level spot, sheltered from 

 all winds. The soil is eight or nine inches deep of 

 old dung, not at all enclosed : from the freedom from 

 wood all around, it seems to be chosen partly for 

 safety against wolves and bears. Near it is a very 

 large stone, or rather rock, fallen from the mountain. 

 This the shepherds have taken for a shelter, and 

 have built a hut against it : their beds are sheep- 

 skins, and their doors so small that they crawl in. I 



