338 MR FRANCIS J. LEWIS 



The general sequence resembles that in the mosses at similar elevations in Kirk- 

 cudbrightshire examined last year (2), though in this case the upper forest zone of 

 pine is wanting. 



(2) Eastern Region of the Basaltic Plateau. 



To the north-west of Portree stretches a wide expanse of peat some 3^ miles in 

 length by 2 miles in breadth, drained by the Lon an Eireannaich and a few tributary 

 streams. Like the other lowland mosses of Skye, the surface of the moss is smooth and 

 covered with a close mat of vegetation, the plants in greatest abundance being Molinia 

 cserulea, Moench., Scirpus csespitosus, L., Eriophorum vaginatum, L., stunted plants of 

 Calluna vulgaris, Salisb. , Erica Tetralix, L. , abundant Drosea intermedia, Hayne, and 

 Carices. The eastern part of the moss, lying nearer Portree, has been much dug for 

 fuel, and for that reason the sections were made chiefly in the central and western 

 region. Seen from the summit of some of the hills round Portree the moss appears as 

 a large flat expanse, bounded on the north, south, and west by steeply rising hills, 

 covered with Calluna, Betula alba, Pteris, and hill pasture. 



The history of the peat over this district agrees in its main features with that 

 described from the district round the Red Hills. The beds are as follows : — 



1. Scirpus-Sphagnum peat, with traces of Calluna, 3-4 feet. 



2. Eriophorum peat, containing abundant remains of Calluna, 3 feet. 



3. Black hard dry peat, containing Scirpus remains and small twigs of Betula alba, 

 2 feet. 



4. Clay, containing many small angular stones (basaltic). 



These layers are not well defined : the upper portion of the peat contains very little 

 Calluna or Eriophorum, but in bed 2, Scirpus and Sphagnum become less abundant, and 

 Eriophorum vaginatum and Calluna increase in quantity. In the lower parts of zone 

 2, the peat becomes drier and Calluna increases greatly. The lowest layer — zone 3 — 

 does not contain any distinguishable plant remains, except small twigs and roots of 

 Betula alba, L. 



A series of sections taken near the banks of Dubh L6n, however, showed a distinct 

 basal layer of Betula alba of shrubby size. Associated with the birch are Eriophorum 

 vaginatum (abundant), Carex, sp., Narthecium ossifragum (seeds abundant), Calluna 

 vulgaris, and patches of Sphagnum, particularly near the base. The lower layers contain 

 some sand and small angular stones (basaltic). Few of the birch stems are more than 

 4 inches in diameter, and the beds above the basal layer of birch agree in character 

 with those already described in the first section. Several borings were taken towards 

 the northern, southern, and western margins of the moss, and these all showed that the 

 basal layer of shrubby birch extends generally over the area. The same feature can be 

 well seen in many of the turbaries near Portree. 



