Tarns on the Hay stacks Mountain, Buttermerc. 411 



The above concludes our description of the tarns of this mountain, 

 but there still remains an interesting feature to describe. 



(4) On the southern side of the mountain and south-east of 

 Haystack Tarn is to be seen a large pool of water of peculiar 

 character, which suggests a possible wny of formation of small lake- 

 basins. The greater part ot" this hollow is at present filled by peat- 

 hag of the usual type, and as usual at various levels in different 

 parts, but the central part has been hollowed out by some means 

 and now forms a fair-sized shallow pool ; over a considerable area 

 surrounding this is seen an expanse of bare peat only a few inches 

 above the water-level. It is interesting to note that over this bare 

 expanse are scattered a large number of branches or roots of trees, 

 showing that the peat-hag must be of gi'eat antiquity. 



Fig. 5. — Tarn formed by wiud-erosiou of peat, Haystacks Mountain, Buttermere. 



However, the most noticeable feature is the character of the small 

 islands of peat which now project above the water in the pool. 

 These islands are all remarkably undercut and overhanging, and in 

 many cases are penetrated by actual tunnels ; in fact, they mimic in 

 a remarkable manner the natural features of a wave-beaten coast, 

 such, for example, as the chalk cliffs of Antrim or Flamborough. 



It seems almost certain that this peculiar form has been produced 

 by wave-action, which indeed could be seen almost in active 

 operation at the time of our visit, and it must have been especially 

 potent in such a wet and stormy season as that of 1903. At this 

 great elevation, over 1,800 feet, the wind is nearly always powerful. 



