544 



MR. J. A. DOUGLAS ON THE 



[Nov. 1909, 



resistance to weathering ; not to any essential difference of litho- 

 logical character, such as the presence of argillaceous beds. If the 

 latter were present to the extent of having this marked effect on 

 the scenery, springs would be far more numerous than they are, 

 and the terraces would be clothed with vegetation. Tbe few springs 

 which do occur are for the most part situated at the foot of the 

 cliffs in fertile valleys, not on the barren terraced slopes. 



Fig. 4. — Terrace in the limestone-escarpment: Burren (Clare). 



J. A. D. photogr. 



[The foreground shows the nature of the surface of a terrace.] 



The best idea of this elevated plateau is obtained by driving 

 from Ardrahan, in County Galway, to Ballyvaghan. For 10 miles 

 or so the road traverses a limestone-plain, but near Aughinish Bay 

 and the village of Corranroo, just at the boundary between the 

 counties of Galway and Clare, the great eastern escarpment is 

 first met with, rising suddenly to over 1000 feet (Slieve Carran, 

 1073 feet) and stretching far to the south in an almost unbroken 

 line. The road is continued westwards along the foot of the 

 northern escarpment ; the latter, though somewhat more indented 

 and irregular in outline than the eastern escarpment, is by no 

 means less remarkable. Extending far inland, it forms the steep 

 sides of the Turlough Valley, sweeps round Moneen Mountain and 



