11-12 2 Proceedings 0/ the Royal Irish Academy. 



the time, become miniature torrents, and sweep their margins clear of every 

 green thing. 



When the prevailing wind from the west is blowing, all places in the lee 

 of the towering mass of Croaghmore are in comparative shelter. It is quite 

 easy to mark out this sheltered region on the map of the island; it extends 

 from a spot north-west of Creggan Lough to Portlea. Take the one-inch 

 Ordnance map of Clare Island, latest edition, place a finger on the letter " E " 

 of the name, and draw the finger to the right to the word " Portlea " on the 

 east, and if your finger has been rubbed with moist peat you will roughly 

 mark on the map a band that is the richest in the island both in species and 

 quantity of Mosses and especially of Hepatics. The part thus marked starts 

 with the wettest bit of Clare Island, which lies around and to the N.N.W. of 

 Creggan Lough, and in it Sphagnaceae are more abundant than elsewhere 

 on the island. 



To the north of the band just described, or between the east shoulder of 

 Croaghmore and the light-house, there are several low hills which run in 

 ridges north-west to south-east, and which have small valleys or ravines 

 between them. These depressions also are well sheltered, and in places are 

 partially shaded ; but our plants do not abound in them, owing to the cutting 

 away of the peat-surface for fuel during a long series of years, the traces of 

 which are very evident. 



However, in the depression nearest to Croaghmore, and due east of it, 

 which, moreover, is the widest of these depressions, and where the peat is 

 still very deep, the faces of the banks left by the peat-cutters which face 

 north-east, when they have been undisturbed for a few years, become over- 

 grown with a profusion of Mosses and Hepatics. And along the streamlet 

 that drains this part, just below where it crosses the road at the houses of 

 Ballytoohy, there are many well-sheltered nooks and corners along botli 

 banks, and especially near a pretty little waterfall, that yielded quite a 

 number of species. 



There is a large amount of rock-surface, exclusive of the inaccessible cliff's 

 and the rocks close to the sea; but it supports very few Mosses. The 

 saxicolous species, contrary to what might be expected, are very scarce. The 

 Congested Districts Board in dividing — or, as the natives call it, " striping " — 

 the land into new denominations by the erection of stone walls for fences, 

 have not j r et increased the growth of Mosses and Hepatics on these 

 boundaries. Perhaps the future botanist may one clay find them covered 

 with these plants. The only locality on the island where at present they 

 grow in any quantity on rocks is on the steep east and north-east faces of 

 Knocknaveen, the highest point of which is 729 feet. 



