ON THE PLANT REMAINS OF THE SCOTTISH PEAT MOSSES. 811 



3. East Sutherlandshire — Rhilochan. 



(One-inch Ordnance Survey, sheet 103.) — The peat described here lies five miles 

 north of Rogart Station. On the one-inch Geological Survey map it is shown as four 

 or five distinct areas of peat separated from one another by one or two miles. These 

 areas coalesce to some extent, so that the area of peat-covered ground covers three or 

 four miles by five miles. 



Unlike most of the Western Highlands, Scirpus csespitosus moor is not a con- 

 spicuous feature here, and is mostly confined to the crowns of small elevated areas in 

 the general peat covering. Calluna moor is now dominant, with Myrica Gale. 



Most of the moorland is flat or gently undulating, and the level nowhere rises above 

 650 feet or falls below 400 feet. 



The general depth of the peat is 1 7 feet, although over much of the area 5 feet of 

 peat has been removed for fuel by the inhabitants of the several crofting villages in the 

 neighbourhood. Owing to the amount of peat thus removed, the Upper Forest of. pine 

 is exposed over a considerable area. 



The general stratification is the same as that recorded from the Merrick Hills (8) in 

 the south of Scotland. This is illustrated by the following section, typical of many 

 that were taken north-west of Rhilochan : — 



A. Scirpus csespitosus peat ....... 1 foot. 



B. Pinus sylvestris . . . . ' . . . . 3^- feet. 



C. Phragmites communis, Scirpus csespitosus, Hypnum sps. . 3|- ,, 



D. Salix herbacea ......... 6 inches 



E. Eriophorum vaginatum, Calluna vulgaris .... 1 foot. 



F. Betula glutinosa, Fries., Alnus glutinosa, Corylus Avellana 2^- feet. 



G. Granitic sand. 

 H. Boulder clay. 



A. Much of the peat later than the Upper Forest has been removed for fuel, leaving 

 a thickness in this spot of about 1 foot. On the untouched parts of the moor 5 feet 

 of peat lie above the pine zone. This layer is composed of Scirpus csespitosus, Calluna 

 vulgaris, and Eriophorum vaginatum. 



B. Large stools of Pinus sylvestris. Small Betula glutinosa,, Fries. Calluna 

 vulgaris. 



Numerous cones lie under the stools of pine, suggesting that the forest existed for 

 some time previous to the growth of the trees whose stools are now found in the peat. 



C. The whole of this layer is formed of Scirpus csespitosus, with many rhizomes of 

 Phragmites. Hypnum sps. are also common. The peat is very fibrous and compressed. 



D. A thin band strikingly different from the zone above, being formed of Empetrum 

 nigrum stems, and numerous leaves of Salix herbacea. 



