1903. 197 



NOTES, 



BOTANY. 



County Down Plants. 



Late in August last year, while rambling along the shore between 

 Groom sport and the Orlock Coastguard Station, I came across se'veral 

 fine clumps of the Samphire. At the same time and place I observed 

 the Scottish Lovage. Both species were in bloom, and vigorous, Nearer 

 Groomsport the Field Gentian was in quantity, and looked lovely, 

 surrounded by the scant and parched herbage of the rocky headland, 



WlIvI^IAM POETKR. 

 Belfast. 



Ranunculus Auricomus. 



When driving, on April 25tli, near Castle Blunden, two miles west of 

 Kilkenny, I was greatly struck by a Ranunctihis on the roadside. The 

 flowers were so large and perfect I could scarcely believe it to be 

 Atiricovms. There was some water by the edge of the fence, and as the car 

 drove quickly by, Caltha passed momentaril}- through my mind. It was, 

 however, R. Auricomus, with splendid flowers, some one and a-quarter 

 inches across, on tall vigorous stalks. I never saw perfect blossoms in 

 Ireland in such quantity — if, indeed, I ever saw perfect ones at all — 

 for some of the petals are usually abortive, and those that are not 

 abortive drop off" on the slightest touch. Syme says, in English 

 Botany — *' In Scotch specimens I have very seldom found the 

 flowers perfect — but in Kent and Surrey they are generally so." 

 There was plenty of Aurico/inis with abortive petals within 100 yards of 

 the plants with perfect flowers. The latter were more shaded, and the 

 soil they grew on was wet and pasty. I send a blossom. 



Richard M. Barrington. 

 Fassaroe, Bray. 



[Mr. Barrington's plant is very striking. I do not know if this is a 

 described variety. The " tall vigorous stalks '' preclude its reference to 

 var. grandifiorus, Lecoq et Lamotte. I have not seen the leaves. 



R. IvT. PJ. 



ZOOLOGY. 



Partial Migration of Sparrows. 



During the mouth of March I observed numbers of dark-coloured 

 House-Sparrows [Passer domesticus) in this neighbourhood, quite different 

 in appearance from the lighter coloured and cleaner birds resident here 

 throughout the winter. I believe this to be accounted for by these birds 

 migrating to the larger towns for the winter, where food would be more 

 abundant, and getting begrimed in the sooty atmosphere ; but with the 

 return of spring they return to their breeding haunts. 



Nevin H. Foster. 



Hillsborough, Co. Down. 



