Geological Relations of the East of Ireland \ 153 
abounding in heath and sedgy grass. Yet this general tract of the 
central mountains supports numerous flocks of sheep, and in summer 
even considerable herds of horned cattle also ; which are sent up 
from the low lands, and during their summer residence thrive 
exceedingly on the more favourable mountain herbage. In fine 
weather, the summit of Lugnaquilla presents a most extensive 
prospect, reaching even to the Gaultees mountains on the south- 
west, but on this elevated spot an unobstructed view may be often 
hoped for in vain. 
The cap of mica slate on Lugnaquilla, is also partly interstratified 
with beds of granite, and these alternations are sometimes traversed 
by contemporaneous veins of granite, as may be observed in the 
ravine formed by the Ballineddin stream, on the western face of the 
mountain. 
§ 36. From Ballygobben mountain, the boundary of the mica 
slate forms a gently curved line in its farther progress toward the 
south ; this rock constituting the crest and part of the western brow 
of the mountain range which extends through Ballymaghcrow, 
Carrigacrow, and the Shillelagh hills, to Aghole mountain on the 
south-west, and being bordered on the western side by the granite 
flat, to which allusion has been already made. In this quarter the 
mica slate runs to a point, having gradually become narrower from 
Croghan Moira southward ; and to the south of Aghole, the granite 
mountains come into immediate contact with clay slate, on their 
eastern side. 
The last mentioned portion of the mica slate tract is not wholly 
uninterrupted, for in the pass leading to Sandyford, between Carri- 
gacrow hill on the north, and that of Ballybeg on the south, we 
perceive, on the brows of both, the granite rock denuded for a space 
of about four hundred yards, the eastern quarter being occupied by 
Vox.. V. u 
