The Highlands 41 



uniformly over everything alike and is uninfluenced 

 by changes in the rock types. In the extreme north 

 and along the east coast the rainfall is comparatively 

 low (30 to 40 inches = 76 to 101 cm.), and here as in 

 the Central and Eastern Highlands Calluna-moor (the 

 driest type) and heath are more prevalent. In the west, 

 which has a very high rainfall, mostly over 60 inches 

 (152 cm.) and with large areas over 80 inches (203 cm.), 

 the moors are largely dominated by Soirpus cmspitosus. 



The whole area is naturally very thinly populated, 

 and is difficult of access, except along the east coast 

 where there is a fringe of cultivation. From what is 

 known of its botany. it appears to be poor floristioally. 



The Central and Eastern Highlands, lying south and 

 east of the valley of Grlenmore, likewise consist mainly of 

 schistose metamorphic rooks, more variable in kind than 

 those of the North-west Highlands. (3-ranites occupy 

 large areas. The district is characterised by possess- 

 ing extensive continuous areas exceeding 2000 feet 

 (c. 600 m.) in altitude, while considerable tracts above 

 3300 feet (c. 1000 m.) rise ultimately to several sum- 

 mits of 4000 feet (c. 1200 m.) or more. In this mountain 

 mass glacial deposits are limited to the valleys, so that 

 the influence of the lithology on the vegetation is 

 much more evident than in the north-west. The western 

 part of the area has a similar climate to that of the 

 North-west Highlands, and bears similar vegetation, but 

 the central and eastern portions are somewhat drier, and 

 Galluna-irioov and heath and the drier grasslands are pre- 

 valent. Callmia is commonly dominant below 2000 feet 

 (c. 600 m.) and Vaccinium Myrtillus at higher levels. 



Locally the quartzose schists are replaced by lime- 

 stones, and by chloritio and mica-schists, etc., which 

 introduce edaphic and topographical features favourable 

 to the presence of "arctic-alpine" species at the higher 

 altitudes. The Central Highlands include the richest 



