Rit (Vísindafélag Íslendinga) - 01.06.1939, Blaðsíða 10

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tion and are usually quite level. On the hills between the
denudation continues along with the vegetation so that
a continuous carpet of vegetation has not succeeded in
forming but it is broken by patches of gravel formation
here and there.
3. Blómlendi.
The question is as to whether it is possible to speak of
”blómlendi” as a separate formation on the whole, but it is
here in many respects different from the peat formation,
under which it might otherwise be grouped. First and
foremost it is on so great a slope that a hillocky field
cannot be formed, the soil is also very shallow and mixed
with sand or gravel, and the aspect always facing the sun.
Peculiar to the blómlendi are the two plant. spec., Plan-
tago lanceolata L. and Succisa pratensis Moench (see be-
low).
4. Dry meadow land.
The dry meadow land in the Westmann Islands is pe-
culiar in several ways: 1) It is on the whole found at
100—200 m above sea level, on the tops of the cliffs in
Heimaey and on the crowns of the other islands; 2) it is
everywhere on more or less of a slope; 3) moss is little
in evidence; 4) it is on the whole not covered with snow
in winter; 5) the soil is damp all the year round because
of the great rainfall which is slow in running away; and
6) the vegetation is dense and high, in many places about
20—30 and even up to 40 cm.
B. BIRD COLONIES.
The bird colonies are scattered here and there in the
islands where the situation is favourable and there is a
sufficient slope, and, as regards the fulmar colony, where
it is difficult or impossible of access to man and beasts.
The plant formations within the bird colonies may be