160 The Rev. Maxwell H. Close, 



correct, would indicate the following oscillations of level of the 

 land. The land, having stood for some time while the upper 

 beach was being formed, rose about sixty-five feet, when the 

 now-submerged peat grew upon it ; it then subsided a little more 

 than sixty-five feet, and stood until the lower beach was formed ; 

 it then rose again, a few feet, to its present level. 



Recent Peat. — Considerable portions of some of the hills are 

 covered with what is doubtless to be called recent peat. On the 

 summits of some of the hills, e.g., Prince William's Seat, 1,825 

 feet, it is now being removed by atmospheric denudation, which 

 seems to indicate that in such situations the conditions are not 

 now as favourable as formerly for its growth and increase. At the 

 head of Glencree, above the Reformatory, the turf lies on the 

 granite to a depth of from six to twenty feet, and it is said that 

 roots of lime and stems of fir, willow, &c., (the fir is unquestion- 

 able), are frequently met with in cutting it there ; the elevation 

 above the sea being 1,500 feet. This also seems to indicate some 

 change in atmospheric conditions in such situations; as it is 

 doubtful if trees could grow there now. 



