238 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



confined to a few spots, chiefly near flour-mills along the 

 south side of the ground, to the earthier patches on the 

 cinders, and to rubbish thrown down along the edge of the 

 cinders here and there. 



The tendency to the diminution in number of species, 

 and to the occupation of portions of the ground by individual 

 species of the more vigorous large weeds, almost to the 

 exclusion of all others, is still more marked than in 1896. 

 A few species not previously observed have to be added ; 

 but these are hardly such species as might have been 

 expected to occur. The absence of many of the commonest 

 weeds of cultivation and of waste ground elsewhere near 

 Aberdeen, formerly remarked on by me, is no less noteworthy 

 this year than it was in past years. A few of the evidently 

 introduced plants named in my former notes as increasing 

 have in 1897 become very scarce, or even seem to have dis- 

 appeared, while others have continued to hold their place 

 unchecked or to increase, though not apparently more suited 

 to do so. 



My census this year was taken in July, and again in the 

 beginning of September ; and I use the same symbols to 

 denote frequency and condition as before, viz. I scarce, 2 not 

 rare, 3 common, 4 plentiful (each being modified by the signs 

 and + where desirable to denote a less or greater degree 

 of frequency than that indicated by the number itself) ; /. 

 denoting local, and v.l. very local. Veg. denotes the absence 

 of flowers and fruits, and fr. denotes the presence of ripe or 

 nearly ripe fruit. Species with neither symbol were in 

 flower and fruit when recorded. The names of non-British 

 species are in italics ; and an asterisk before a name denotes 

 that it is not native here, though British. I have noted 

 each species observed in 1897, to contrast with my former 

 lists, and have added brief notes of any points of special 

 interest to many of the names. 



Ranunculus acris, L. i in July. 



R. repens, L. o to /. 3 + on the cinders and more open places, 

 spreading much by runners. 



*Papaver Rhosas, L. One plant, in flower in July, on the 

 cinders. 



