494 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academi/. 



ties not Tisiially observed on mountains might be looked for. I^one^ 

 however, were noticed on the range, and Armeria maritima is absent, 

 a maritime plant well known to occur on mountains, but Silene mari- 

 tima, Plantago maritima, and Cochlearia grow in abundance on the 

 cliffs facing the sea — diminishing or absent altogether on the inland 

 portions of the range. 



With the exception of portion of Een Boo mountain, and the 

 cential part of the Leitrim range to the east of Glenade, the district 

 we examined was altogether limestone. 



The shape of the mountains is remarkable. They do not descend 

 gradually into the valleys, but are surrounded by cliffs varying in 

 height from 30 to 500 feet. These cliffs extend all round the range 

 to the west of Glenade, and it is only in one or two places that the 

 mountain slope is free from this limestone barrier. There are similar 

 cliffs on the mountains south of Kinlough, but all the rare species can 

 be gathered on the range lying to the west of the Glenade valley, 

 though they are not all confined to it. The mean height of the edge 

 of the cliffs may be taken at 1600 feet. They are composed of loose 

 limestone readily detached, and as this affords a poor security either 

 for the hand or foot, they are dangerous to climb. The cliffs are 

 everywhere separated from the fields and valleys below by a steep 

 slope of talus or debris, extending downwards at an angle varying 

 from 40 to 50 degrees. This slope is frequently 500 feet in verti- 

 cal height (sometimes more), and the cliffs can only be examined in 

 many places by walking along a narrow track made by the sheep, where 

 the talus meets the face of the precipice. IS'owhere else in Ireland is 

 there such an extent of similar cliffs. The top of the talus varies 

 fi'om 900 to 1200 feet above the sea level. 



The highest points in the district ar 



Truskmore, 

 Cloughcorragh, 

 Annacoona, . 

 Ben Bulben, 

 Arroo Mountain, 

 Ben Whisk en, 

 Seafin, 

 King's Mountain, 



e as follows 



2113 feet 



2007 



1963 



1722 



1712 



1666 



1527 



1273 



ISTo rarity was gathered on Ben Boo, 1365 feet, but this hill, together 

 with the range between Manorhamilton and Lough Melvin, is beyond 

 the district examined carefully. 



The Ordnance Map does not give the local names of many moun- 

 tains. This deficiency has been remedied on the map, fi'om information 

 obtained from shepherds and others met with on the hills. 



The only lakes of any extent in the district are — 



Glenade, 216 feet above the sea 



Glencar, 97 ,, ,, 



