Da. Balfoub'b Botanical Excurs _7 



and aftor storms I have no doubt that mauy rare species might be 

 gathered. 



August 15th. — This day we intended to have crossed by a ferry- 

 boat to the island of Gigha, but the weather was so stormy, and a 

 north-west wind was blowing with such fury, that it was deemed 

 advisable to proceed along the shore to the foot of Loch Tarbet, 

 whore the steamboat touches on its way to Islay. Accordingly, we 

 proceeded to Clachan and Stewartfield, and thence to Porthullion. 

 The shore was bare and unproductive. Helosciadium nodiflorum, 

 Trollius europa)us, Lycopus europams, Bidons tripartita, and Papaver 

 dubium, were tho chief plants which we picked. Near Porthullion 

 wo were more successful, having gathered Radiola millegrana, Carum 

 verticillatnm, Pinguicula lusitanica, Salicornia herbacea, the pro- 

 cumbent variety, Schoberia maritima, Epilobium virgatum, Eleo- 

 ( haris pauciflora, Myrrhis odorata, Veronica scutellata, Habenaria 

 viridis, and Sedum Telephium. 



About 4 p.m., we joined the Maid of Islay steamboat, and, after 

 encountering a heavy swell off the northern point of Gigha, to the no 

 small discomfort of some of the party, we entered the sound of Islay, 

 and reached Port Askaig about 9 p.m. Here, through the kindness 

 of Mr. G. T. Chiene, factor for Mr. Campbell of Islay, we found a cart 

 ready for our baggage, and a carriage and four to convey the party to 

 Bridgend and Ealabus, our drive commencing in true Highland style 

 with a bagpipe accompaniment. A comfortablo inn at Bridgend 

 received some of the party, and the remainder were kindly accommo- 

 dated in Mr. Chiene's house at Ealabus. 



Before considering tho botany of Islay, I shall make a few remarks 

 on the general features of Cantyre botany. The part of Cantyre 

 examined by the party did not yield many rare plants. This may 

 depend, in some measure, on the nature of the rocks, which are often 

 of a hard non-disintegrating and dry micaceous nature. The most 

 prevalent rock is mica slate. This, along with some chlorite slate, 

 forms the greater part of Cantyre. The old red sandstone formation 

 occurs on the shore between Campbelton and Ballyshear, and is also 

 found on the island of Sanda. It likewise appears on the west coast, 

 and can be traced from Campbelton by Kilchinzie to Machrihanish 

 bay. I have already stated that it forms a range of cliffs at a short 

 distance from tho shore, near Killian. Primary limestone occurs to 

 tho north of Campbelton, and in several places near Killian and Tayn- 

 lono, as well as in tho Largybean district, not far from tho point of 

 the Mull. In the valloy which extends from Campbelton to Lossit, 

 we meet with the carboniferous series of rocks. The island of Gigha 

 is composed of mica slate. 



The crops, so far as wo observed, were good, and the harvest was 

 early. On tho 13th of August, we saw some barley cut Rye is culti- 



