situated at no great distance from the coast, which is mostly steep and rocky. The hills and mountains are in detached masses. The interior consists of undulating plains rising to the height of 200 or 300 feet above sea

level. A great part of the country is thus rather low and flat, and though there are many rivers and lakes the land is imperfectly drained, and bogs, some of them of great extent, are a common feature.

6. The principal watershed stretches across the country from south-west to north-east, but is not formed by any prominent range of heights, consisting rather of low hills or somewhat elevated plains; and there is no general slope of surface east and west.

7. The rivers find outlets between the hills and mountains near the coast, radiating from the centre in all directions. They are generally deep and sluggish, and with the exception of the Shannon are of no great length.

8. The greater part of the surface of Ireland is well adapted for agriculture, though, owing to the abundance of moisture, it is fitted for pasture rather than for corngrowing. Of minerals, granite is abundant, and copper, iron, coal, salt and pottery-clay, are of some importance.

LESSON 25. THE COASTS.-I.

1. A coast which forms the limit to mountain ranges is necessarily high, and this as stated above is the general character of the Irish coast. Being exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, it is broken into numerous deep inlets on the west and south-west; while its western side is skirted with islets. The distance round Ireland is about 750 miles, but the coast, when we take into account its windings, is three times as long, that is about 2200 miles.

2. As there are no broad plains stretching down to the sea, there are no long, wide river-estuaries: the only important estuary is that of the river Shannon, on the west side of the island, which is long but narrow. Of the numerous bays or inlets of the sea, some have the name of loughs (lochs), and many of them form excellent harbours.

3. Unfortunately, the best of these natural havens are. upon the western coast, removed from intercourse with England or the Continent, with no outlook but the broad Atlantic, and situated among districts which yield only agricultural produce, such as their opposite but distant neighbour America can best do without.

4. Beginning with the northern portion of the East Coast we first meet with Belfast Lough, opposite the south-western extremity of Scotland. It has pleasant shores, skirted by sand-banks, and a sheltered harbour. Farther south is Strangford Lough, of which the narrow mouth and swift tides make the entrance dangerous. Carlingford Bay has a bar,1 and Dundalk Bay is shallow; both these inlets have valuable oyster-beds.

5. Farther southward the coast is comparatively low as we pass Howth (Hōthe) Head, and the open harbour of Dublin Bay. Dublin Bay is exposed to the easterly winds; it has been made available for trade by building long piers seawards, and by constant dredging; Kingstown on this bay is a safe harbour for large vessels.

6. Towards the south-eastern corner of the island the shores become steep, and are skirted by dangerous sandbanks. Here Wexford Harbour is the only haven of any consequence. It is large, but has many sand-banks.

7. The South Coast, between Carnsore Point and Mizen Head, has many openings and two good harbours

Waterford Harbour and Cork Harbour-the latter being one of the finest in the world. Cape Clear Island, a small island near the south-west extremity of Ireland, is surrounded by high cliffs; the cape, which is 400 feet high, is a well-known landmark.

LESSON 26. THE COASTS.-II.

1. The West Coast forms a succession of peninsulas and deep inlets. In the south-west are Bantry Bay,

1 A bar is a sand-bank or shelf of rock extending across the entrance to a bay or estuary; it "bars" or prevents the entrance of vessels, except perhaps at high tides.

Kenmare Bay, and Dingle Bay, forming fine natural harbours, and having beautiful coast scenery. Valencia (Va-len'-cia), an island on the south side of Dingle Bay, is important as the point of departure of the submarine telegraph cables to America. Dunmore Head, north of this bay, is the most westerly point of the mainland.

2. The entrance to the estuary of the Shannon is marked by the high promontories of Kerry Head on the south, and Loop Head on the north. In the estuary of the Shannon are numerous islands. Farther to the north is Galway (Gall-way) Bay, which is well situated for trade with America; the Arran Isles form a natural breakwater to it. Still farther north is Clew Bay, famous for its fisheries and containing many fertile islets.

3. From Galway Bay the land projects so as to form a prominent "shoulder," at the north-west point of which is Erris Head, on a rugged peninsula called The Mullet. This portion of the coast, between Galway Bay and the Mullet, is surrounded by islands, among which is Achil Island, the largest of the Irish islands.

4. The coast now turns eastwards and forms a large opening or bight, in which are Sligo Bay and Donegal (Don'-e-gal) Bay, both with good harbours.

5. The western extremity of the North Coast is formed by Bloody Foreland. This coast is high and steep, and very irregular in outline. The two largest inlets are Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle, both forming excellent harbours. Between them is a peninsula on which is Malin Head, the most northerly point of Ireland.

6. Carrick-a-Rede (Reed), between Fair Head and Giant's Causeway, may be taken as an example of the rocky character of this coast. It is a mass of rock separated from the mainland by a chasm 60 feet wide and 80 feet deep. Salmon are caught in great numbers as