The “Birchdale” bog seems to be a myth; but that stories of such a marvel were current is evident from a statement by Giraldus Cambrensis, who has heard that there was such a bog in Norway. _Opera_, V, 86. Möre is an old Norwegian shire lying to the west of Trondhjem along the coast. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ X THE NATURAL WONDERS OF IRELAND _Son._ I am familiar with all these things since they are found in our own country, and I have seen them all. But I have no knowledge of all those other marvels which are to be found in Iceland, Greenland, and Ireland, and in the seas about those lands, for of those things I have heard rumors only. _Father._ Those lands, if we are to speak more fully about them, differ much in character and are not all of the same appearance. For the wonders of Iceland and Greenland consist in great frost and boundless ice, or in unusual display of flame and fire, or in large fishes and other sea monsters. And these countries are everywhere barren and unfruitful and consequently almost unfit for habitation. But Ireland comes near being the best land that is known to man, though the grape vine does not grow there.[177] And there are many marvels in Ireland, some of which are of such a character that this country may be called holier than all others. Footnote 177: Cf. Giraldus Cambrensis, _Opera_, V, 26-28. Giraldus quotes Bede (_Historia Ecclesiastica_, i, c. 1). See also Isidore, _Etymologiae_, xiv, 6.