The Scottish Naturalist. 209 



ON THE PLORA OP SHETLAND. 

 By W. H. Beeby, A.L.S. 



AT the end of last August, I found myself again in Shetland, 

 expecting, the visit being made six weeks later than that 

 of the previous year, that I might find the Spargania, &c, in 

 good fruit. So far as regards the Spargania, I fared little better 

 than in 1886, for the fitful Shetland summer is not advantageous 

 to late-fruiting things of this sort ; and the last three seasons have, 

 I understand, been unusually bad. At this time of year the most 

 striking feature in the Flora is the large size of the individual 

 flower-heads of some of the Composite particularly noticeable 

 in Senecio aquaticus, which makes a brilliant display ; in Sonchus 

 arvensis, where it occurs; and, to some extent, in Achillea 

 Ptarmica. The same characteristic is strongly marked in 

 Raphanus, and, in a lesser degree, in several other plants. 



On landing at Scalloway, I found a steamer excursion to the 

 island of Foula announced for the next day but one. Some idea 

 of the difficulty of reaching this island to those whose time and 

 means are limited may be imagined, when it is mentioned that 

 the only communication is afforded by a sailing smack which 

 carries the mail once a fortnight ; and that but one other steamer 

 excursion has been made during the past fifteen years. I, there- 

 fore, gladly availed myself of the opportunity ; but, unfortunately, 

 the arrangements allowed of only two hours being spent on the 

 island, which, however, yielded one new record for the county. 

 As before, most of the time was spent in Unst ; with one day 

 about Scalloway, and a few hours about Lerwick. 



I had hoped to report on some of the forms, such as Cerastium 

 longirostre, mentioned in 'my previous paper (Scott. Nat. 1887, p. 

 20), respecting their behaviour when cultivated with the view of 

 testing their claims to be considered distinct' ; but the seeds did 

 not germinate. A few plants grown from the roots collected are 

 noticed in their respective places. I have not referred again 

 specially to such common plants as seem to have been recorded 

 erroneously ; but these were constantly kept in mind, and their 

 apparent absence maiy be taken as emphasised, so far as regards 



