OR OVIS IIISPANICA. 
149 
pastures, and found it in general stony ; wliat in the 
West of England would be called a stone-brash, with 
some mixture of loam, and in a few places a little 
peaty. The plants are many of them untouched by 
the sheep ; many ferns, narcissus, violets, &c. ; but 
hurnet (Poterium sanguisorba), and the narrow- 
leaved plantain (Plantago lanceolata), were eaten, 
as may be supposed, close. I looked for trefoils, 
hut found scarcely any. It was very apparent that 
soil and peculiarity of herbage had little to do in ren- 
dering these heights proper for sheep. In the north- 
ern parts of Europe, the tops of mountains half the 
lieight of these (for we were above snow in July) 
are bogs ; all are so which I have seen in our islands ; 
er, at least, the proportion of dry land is very trifling 
to that which is extremely wet. Here they are in 
general very dry. Now, a great range of dry land, 
^et the plants be what they may, will in every coun- 
try suit sheep. The flock is brought every night to 
®ae spot, which is situate at the end of the valley on 
the river I have mentioned ; and near the port or 
passage of Picada, it is a level spot, sheltered from 
^11 winds. The soil is eight or nine inches deep of 
old dung, not at all enclosed : from the freedom from 
Wood all around, it seems to be chosen partly for 
Safety against wolves and hears. Near it is a very 
J®''ge stone, or rather rock, fallen from the mountain, 
his the shepherds have taken for a shelter, and 
ave built a hut against it : their beds are sheep- 
® 'ns, and their doors so small that they crawl in. I 
