IRELAND. 



685 



parison wilh the finest lakes of Scotland and Eng- 

 land. Their banks are high, and covered with 

 wood ; numbers of verdant islands are scattered 

 over iheir surface, and the mountains resound with 

 the roar of waterfalls. 



5. Bays. The western coast is the most deeply 

 indented. The largest bays are Galivay and Done- 

 gal. On the eastern coast, are the bays of Dub- 

 lin and Dundalk. 



6. Climate. The climate is damper than ihat 

 of England, but otherwise similar. Westerly winds 

 are frequent and violent. Snow is rare in winter, 



and passes rapidly away. The fields have a green appearance throughout the year. 



7. Soil. A great part of this island is covered with immense bogs, or sterile tracts, pro- 

 ducing nothing but heath-bog myrtle and sedge grass. They form a broad belt across the 

 centre of the island, widening toward the west. The remainder of the soil is stony, but the 

 moisture of the climate preserves the herbage, and renders the land excellent for pasturing. 



8. Geology. A considerable part of the surface of Ireland, amounting to 3,000,000 acres, 

 is covered by peat bogs to the depth of from 5 to 30 feet, which conceal many of its 

 mineral treasures. The island is almost completely surrounded by groups and ranges of 

 primary and transition mountains, the inland and central counties being comparatively low, 

 and composed of secondary formations. On the northeast side there is also a small extent of 

 upper secondary strata, and nearly the whole of Antrim is covered by basaltic rocks. The 

 older rocks are chiefly mica slates, hornblende slates, and clay slates, with limestone and 

 grauvvacke, but granite porphyry and gneiss occur. Copper, lead, and gold are found in 

 these districts. The great central secondary district, comprises more than a third part of 

 the island, and is often called the Great Limestone Valley of Ireland, because limestone is 

 the prevailing substratum. Coal beds abound in this region. 



9. Minerals. Coal is the most abundant mineral. It is found in Kilkenny, in the south. 

 Marble and slate occur in the same quarter. Iron was formerly produced in many parts, but 

 at present few or no mines are worked. Copper, silver, and gold have also been found in 

 small quantities. 



10. Face of the Country. The surface of Ireland is almost entirely level. The genera! 

 appearance of the country is varied and pleasant, although bare of trees. In some parts, are 

 rich and fertile plains, and in others, gentle slopes and waving bills. 



Ireland was once covered with forests which are now replaced by immense bogs. These 

 form a remarkable feature, characteristic of the country. They afford abundant supplies of 

 peat, used by the inhabitants for fuel. From their depths are also taken quantities of wood in 

 complete preservation, which indicate, that these bogs are the remains of the ancient forests. 

 The skins of animals and men that have been swallowed up in them, have been found con- 

 verted into a sort of leather by the tanning matter, which the moisture contains. 



Giant's Causeioay. S'ngular Caverns. 



II. J^iTatural Curiosities. The greatest curiosiiy in Ireland i? the Giant^s Cansewny, au 



74 



Lake of Kdlarncii. 



