ON THE PLANT REMAINS OF THE SCOTTISH PEAT MOSSES. 813 



B. Much-compressed peat, very fibrous in character, and mostly composed of 

 Eriophorum vaginatum, Calluna vulgaris, with achenes of Potentilla tormentilla. 



C. Fibrous, loosely packed peat largely made up of the rhizomes and leaves of 

 Phragmites communis. 



D. Salix herbacea stems and leaves. 

 Betula nana stems and leaves. 



Rhizomes of Phragmites communis from stratum C. 



E. Much-compressed hard peat formed from Calluna vulgaris and Scirpus csespitosus. 



F. Closely consolidated peat formed of trunks, roots, and twigs of Betula glutinosa, 

 Fries., Corylus Avellana, Alnus glutinosa. 



In both the sections just described, the Lower Forest rests directly upon granitic 

 sand, and any trace of the vegetation existing immediately after the deposition of the 

 glacial deposits is not to be expected, owing to the coarse character of the sand and the 

 fact that it is penetrated by many springs. But the sequence from the Lower Forest 

 to the Upper Forest is extremely clear, and shows that arctic plants are intercalated 

 between the two forest beds. This feature had already been described from the south 

 of Scotland in 1904, and from Shetland in 1906. Bight deep sections taken in various 

 parts of the mosses all showed this feature. In several other sections much water was 

 present, which, combined with the great depth of the peat, made it extremely difficult 

 to ascertain the position and extent of the thinner strata ; but even in these cases, the 

 Upper Forest and Lower Forest were found, the latter stratum being crowded with 

 wood and hazel nuts. In some cases the wood is sound, but in several sections little 

 remains but bark, which is present in great quantity. 



4. Peat on Raised Beaches at Ardgour and Banavie, Ross-shire and 



Argyllshire. 



(One-inch Ordnance Survey, sheets 53, 62.) — Ardgour. — Here two distinct 

 beaches occur on the west shore of Loch Linnhe at altitudes of 25 feet and 50 feet 

 respectively. Although the two beaches do not run far, they are marked off very clearly 

 from one another. Each forms a level shelf, the 2 5 -feet level being rather more than 

 a quarter of a mile in width, whilst the 50-feet level varies from three-quarters of a mile 

 to less than a quarter of a mile in width. Both terraces are covered with peat. 



Tlie 50-feet Level. — The peat is 6|- feet in depth, and, owing to its proximity to the 

 crofting village of Clovulin, has long been dug for fuel, so that in the part nearest the 

 village excellent sections are exposed. 



The upper layers of peat show no continuous stratification, and the chief interest 

 centres round the basal layers, which rest upon the rounded stones and coarse sand of 

 the old beach. The basal 6 inches of peat are black and very compressed, and the only 

 fruits and seeds found in this layer are : — Potentilla tormentilla, Narthecium ossi 

 fragum, Carex arenaria, and Carex sp. 



