1907] Cushman,— Primula farinosa, var. macropoda 217 
PRIMULA FARINOSA, VAR. MACROPODA ON THE 
MAINE COAST. 
JOSEPH A. CUSHMAN. 
WniLE I was collecting on the coast of Maine about Machias Bay 
in early August my attention was called to the occurrence of a peculiar 
plant said to be found at the base of the lighthouse on Libby Islands. 
It was thought to have been brought there by birds which frequently 
fly against the lighthouse and are killed. ‘To see what this plant might 
be I visited the island with Mr. S. N. F. Sanford and found the plant 
in very considerable numbers. It proved to be Primula farinosa L., 
var. macropoda Fernald. The only places where it occurred were at 
the base of the lighthouse and the ground about the oil-house nearby. 
At the time of collecting, the plants were in excellent fruit and cer- 
tainly seemed thoroughly established. They were growing in loose 
sandy loam well grassed over. From its appearance it was soil which 
had been added there by grading and was not in its original position. 
From the occurrence of the plants it seemed in every way probable 
that the seeds were brought, as was first told us, by birds coming from 
farther north. As is well known, many birds are killed by flying 
against lighthouses at the various exposed points along the coast. 
The very limited occurrence about the lighthouse seems to be explained 
only in this way. 
After visiting the island we studied the chart of the region and 
decided to make a trip to Moose Peak Light on Mistake Island. 
This is the outer exposed point of the northeastern chain of islands 
- extending out from Jonesport. This was in the direction which birds 
would probably take in migration. If the theory of the source of the 
other station was true it seemed as though the plant should be found 
there also. A day or two later we visited Mistake Island and were 
much pleased to find the plant there though the individuals were 
much fewer in number. It was growing near the light on moist grani- 
tic cliffs but in considerable soil. On the same day we also landed at 
Black Head on the outer part of Head Harbor Island. On the sum- 
mit were found scattered specimens of the same plant. ‘These were 
growing in wet grassy spots among the rocks and appeared more likely 
to be indigenous than in either of the other places visited. It was 
planned to visit Nash Island still farther to the southwest but time and 
