472 WILD FLOWERS OF 



the Steep Holmes, that I should judge they were 

 formerly connected, and, perhaps, disjoined by the 

 dashing waves at a far distant period. A glorious 

 view of Weston Bay, the expansive estuary of the 

 Severn, and its guardian islets, burst upon my view 

 from the summit of the promontory, which is covered 

 with a fine green turf, invaded now, however, from 

 its virgin state, by various small allotments let to 

 cottagers for potatoes, &c. On the south side is an 

 almost perpendicular precipice, and the peninsula, 

 narrowing in places, subdivides itself into three 

 portions. I now commenced my search along the 

 southern ledge for the Cistus* but, for some time, in 

 vain ; nor till arriving at the end of the first division 

 of the down did I find a single plant, though quantities 

 of the Iris fcetidissima, with open capsules appeared, 

 displaying a rich array of orange-coloured seeds. t At 

 last a single scrubby withered Cistus appeared on the 

 cliff, and thus assured I was on the right scent, I 

 pressed on more appeared, yet, still, all withered. 

 But as I entered upon the second portion of the pro- 

 montory, where the rock forms a fine slope towards a 

 little bay below, I was rejoiced to notice numerous 

 plants quite green and flourishing ; then I saw some 

 with perfect fruit ; and, beyond all hope, a beauteous 

 group lay on the hill side, still bending with unex- 

 panded white petals, tipped with rose. It was a lovely 

 sight, and one I may, probably, never behold again, 

 since, except at Babbicombe rocks, in Devonshire, this 

 rare and beautiful flower is found no where else in 



* Cistus of LINNAEUS, Helianthemum of De CANDOLLE. 



t OQ Brean Down grows also the pretty dwarf silvery Carex, C. clan- 

 destina, which has been only found in Britain here, on St. Vincent's rocks, 

 the downs near Bayford, and on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. 



