ISLE OF MAX. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



appearing to invest most parts of the elevated region. 

 Except the Lycopodium alpinum and selaginoides, it 

 produces no Alpine plants, and with the exception of 

 Ophrys cordifolia, not a rare one to gratify the botanist's 

 curiosity and vary the dreary uniformity of the surface. 

 The view from the summit of Snaefell is remarked 

 for including the several parts of the British dominions ; 

 the ranges of Snowdon and of Cumberland being visible 

 to the eastward and southward, the mountains of Morne, 

 and Fairhead appearing on the west side, and the Mull of 

 Galloway with the elevation of Criffel rising in the northern 

 horizon. A distinct view of the island itself is also obtain- 

 ed ; although the shores are in several directions excluded 

 by the height of those hills which approach in elevation 

 to the parent mountain. It is more interesting to the 

 geologist to trace from this point the relations of the 

 different hills to each other. Although the whole 

 southern division of the island constitutes one group, it 

 is evident that the several elevations are disposed in a 

 linear direction, lying from the N. E. to the S. W. 

 and thus forming a principal chain, with one inferior 

 ridge on each side declining from the central line. Of 

 the accuracy of this line the eye is not a competent 

 judge, but it appears to extend in a very even manner 

 between the points named. Hereafter, it is to be hoped, 

 the construction of an accurate map will enable us to 

 determine more precisely, that which can now be only 

 described in a general manner. The positions and direc- 

 tions of hills, and more particularly of those which consist 

 of stratified rocks, whether primary or secondary, and 

 the relations which these bear in their several parts to 

 the original positions of the strata, form an important 

 question in physical geography. 



The three main elevations which determine the position 

 of the central chain are, Snaefell, North Barrule, and 

 South Barrule. Ben y pot, North Greebah, South Gree- 

 bah, Carraghan, Sartyl, and others, all lying between 



