178 ProcoedincfR of the Roj/al Irish Academy. 



to a thin, wet, peaty soil, under a brown, level sheet of vegetation in 

 which Calluna is dominant, low U. Gallii, Erica cinerea, and Nardus 

 abundant, with wet tracts inhabited hjJuncus squarrosus, Scirjjus cc8spi- 

 tosuSj and Sphagnum. 



Gleticree, 



The valley is generally devoid of drift, save for mounds and terraces 

 along the course of the stream. There is only a thin, peaty, or friable 

 soil, strewn with rounded granite boulders. There is no subsoil drainage, 

 and the springs form numerous wet lines which trend towards the river. 

 On the lower part of the slopes Ulex GalUi is often predominant, or at 

 least the Gallii type of vegetation. U. europceus occurs in considerable 

 patches, lines the fences, and generally tends to replace U. Gallii as 

 one descends towards the valley bottom. The same may be said of 

 Pteris. The wet parts are rushy. Certain dry knolls, as well as 

 certain wet areas, are occupied by stunted Calluna. Willows [S. cinerea 

 and S. aurita) colonize certain wet parts, and along the streamlets are 

 bunches of native trees — Betula, Ilex, Salix, Corylus, Almis, Quercus, 

 Pijrus Auciiparia, Primus sjmiosa, Cratcegus ; the same species form 

 thin scattered scrub and individual trees over the greater part of the 

 valley. Here and there Nardus becomes conspicuous. The vicinity 

 of the river is dry and sandy, with a strip of fine Ulex europceus and 

 Pteris where not cultivated. 



The whole valley is a jumble of associations. This is the result 

 of the absence of drift, which makes the moisture factor extremely 

 variable, the ground changing from wet to dry every few yards. 



Eippure. 



This massive hill, with broad, gradual slopes on all sides, is covered 

 with a thick peat-cap (6 to 10 feet), except on the very summit, where 

 weather is denuding it, exposing a large, stony tract, interspersed with 

 high, heather-crowned islands of peat. Considering the slight slopes 

 and thick peat, one might expect to find the hill in possession of the 

 Q\idiXdiQ,iQxi^iiQ, Scirpus-Calhma association of the high grounds, which 

 is so extensively developed around the base of the hill at the head of 

 Glenasmole. ^Nevertheless, Calluna is the dominant plant, and a dry, 

 mossy sward the prevailing type of vegetation. The explanation is 

 to be found in the numerous underground streamlets which tunnel 

 through the peat at its base, and drain the overlying bog. Between 

 these channels large patches of "SC" are sometimes to be found, and 



