Fitz of Fitz-Ford; a legend of Devon - University Library

FITZ OF FITZ-FORD. 15
indeed the basis of nearly the whole moor^
that were all the cities of Europe built from
their blocks, it would scarcely exhaust them.
Upon the very summit of most of these
mountains arise, with peculiar g-randeur, those
fabrics of nature's own construction, the tors
of Dartmoor. By some geologists they are
supposed to be the product of volcanic fusion.
They chiefly consist of solid granite, piled
mass on mass, in horizontal strata ; some por-
tion of dark iron-stone is found amongst them^
and so gigantic are many in their forms, that
when viewed in twilight, or through a vale of
mist (as the clouds, with which they are fre-
quently crowned, break asunder), they might
easily be mistaken for the ruined towers and
walls of an ancient castle. The black eagle,
though now rarely seen upon them, was once
a frequent inhabitant of these lofty summits,
as well as the heath polt, the rock ouzel, or
the moor black-bird, which now is so often
observed at the source of the river Dart.
The soil of Dartmoor, that in several parts
is merely a formation of decayed vegetable
matter, covering the foundation of rock,
affords excellent pasture for cattle, since it is
always verdant, from the continual showers