Europe: — a popular Physical Sketch. 411 



and Scandinavia. As in Scandinavia, the mountains in Great 

 Britain rise, generally speaking, on the west coast, where 

 they are very steep, remarkably so in Scotland ; in Great 

 Britain, however, there are many isolated masses of moun- 

 tains; in Scandinavia there is but one continued. In con- 

 sequence of the westerly situation of mountains, the larger 

 rivers have generally speaking an easterly direction, instances 

 are afforded by the Thames, Ouse, Trent, Tyne, Tweed, 

 Tay, and Spey. The Severn indeed empties its waters on 

 the west coast, but it must be borne in mind its source is on 

 the eastern side of the Welsh mountains. The Clyde, on 

 the contrary, runs from E. to W. Ireland possesses but one 

 large river, the Shannon, which flows through a part of the 

 above mentioned flat transversal tract of country, and whose 

 mouth is on the west side. 



Ireland and Scotland abound with extensive lakes (Erne, 

 Neagh, in Ireland ; Loch Lochy, Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, 

 in Scotland ;) whereas England possesses no lake of any 

 extent. 



Scotland consists chiefly of primitive rocks, and has, with 

 the exception of the southernmost part but little lime, in 

 which respect this country is like Norway. Primitive rocks 

 are found in the eastern part of England, but it consists 

 otherwise of ' Floets' rocks, and more recent formations, 

 abounding with lime, particularly in the southern part. In 

 Ireland primitive rocks appear, as well as more recent for- 

 mations. In some of the Hebrides, on the west coast of 

 Scotland, and on the northern coast of Ireland, appears 

 basalt, which in many places forms pillars, and occasionally 

 picturesque grottos (Staffa, Giant's Causeway.) 



The products of the greatest importance in England are 

 the coals, which are found chiefly in the northern provinces, 

 in the central part, and in South Wales. Tin and copper 

 mines are worked in Cornwall ; lead and other metals 



occur also. 



3m * 



