lii INTRODUCTION 



with tillage, marshes, and extensive bogs, and occasional esker 

 ridges. The Shannon flows for 40 miles along the NW. edge, 

 spreading out for the greater part of this distance into the 

 broad expanse of Lough Derg, with a sinuous shore-line and 

 numerous islets. No other important rivers or lakes are found in 

 the division. Unreclaimed land only about 10 per cent. ; grass 60, 

 crops 25 per cent. As regards exploration, the hiU-country is the 

 least known, but will not yield much. On the plain, no part has 

 been thoroughly worked except about Dromineer on Lough Derg ; 

 but as a whole the flora is tolerably well known, chiefly by 

 Mr. Colgan's work and my own. 



Flora 576 species. The only group of special interest is 

 found on the limestone shores of Lough Derg, where there is a 

 remarkable assemblage of plants which has been ah'eady referred 

 to (p. xxxiii). The rarest species in the division are all inhabitants 

 of this region : — 



Inula salicina, 2. Teucrium Scordium, 7. Chara tomentosa, 5. 



11. Kilkenny. 



South-eastern. Area 796 square miles. Inland, with many 

 miles of tidal waters on the southern margin — the estuaries of the 

 Suir and Barrow. The surface is varied, as a consequence of frequent 

 petrological changes. In the north, the Coal-measures form a table- 

 land of cultivated high ground, of about 1000 feet elevation. The 

 centre is chiefly undulating limestone, highly tilled. In the east 

 Old Eed and Silurian ridges rise to 1200 feet, and the heather- 

 clad cone of Brandon, the southern outpost of the Leiuster gran- 

 ites, towers over the Barrow to a height of 1694 feet. In the south, 

 Old Red Sandstone and Silurian rocks chiefly hold sway, forming 

 elevated heathy country. Kilkenny can claim a greater variety of 

 river-scenery than any other county in Ireland. The beautiful Nore 

 pursues a southern course right across the county ; the Barrow forms 

 the eastern boundary for many miles ; and the Suir, here an imposing 

 river, runs along the southern margin. The only lake in the county 

 is the little Lough Cullin ; and bogs are equally rare, occurring only 

 in the extreme NW., on the borders of Tipperary. Grass land 



