Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion, 37 



Losset, which is a fishing village, the cliffs are remarkably fine, attain- 

 ing a height of many hundred feet, and covered with innumerable 

 sea- fowl. In this quartor there are the remains of a fort. 



The most interesting plants seen on the cliffs were Sedum Rhodiola, 

 Pvrethrum maritimum, in some cases with a singular flattened or 

 fasciated stem, caused apparently by the union of several stalks, 

 Ligusticum scoticum, Carex extensa, Spergula subulata, and Pulicaria 

 dysenterica. The cliffs are now and then interrupted by sandy shores 

 covered with bent, and there Convolvulus Soldanella, and Equisetum 

 Telmateia were found, along with Galium verum curiously altered by 

 the attacks of insects. 



At Kilchearan, where a slate quarry is worked, we joined the rain- 

 dreading botanists, whom we found comfortably accommodated in the 

 house of Mr. Ralston, the tenant of the farm in this quarter, who 

 kindly entertained the whole party. Mr. Ralston seems to be an in- 

 telligent farmer, and has contributed to the improvement of the 

 agriculture of the district He pointed out to us a field of from 

 twenty to thirty acres bearing an excellent crop of wheat He has 

 introduced Cheviot sheep with profit, and in his dairy he has the Ayr- 

 shire breed of cows, to the excellence of the produce of which some of 

 the party can bear testimony. 



Returning by the shore to Ealabus we did not observe any plants of 

 peculiar interest On our return we had the pleasure of meeting 

 Mr. Christison, who had been sent to this country by the Norwegian 

 government for the purpose of getting information as to agriculture. 

 Foreign governments, in the encouragement which they thus give to 

 science, set an excellent example to Britain. 



August 20th. — This day the botanical section proceeded first by the 

 shore, and then across the island to Loch Gruinart, examining the 

 southern shore of the loch, and going as far as Ardnave and the point 

 of the Nave. The rest of the party indulged their fishing propensities 

 by visiting the river Laggan. The day was showery, but upon the 

 whole favourable. 



In the salt marshes near Islay House, many common sea plants 

 were found, as Salicornia herbacea, Glaux maritima, Aster Tripolium, 

 and Poa maritima. In a ditch near Gruinart, Rumex Hydrolapathum 

 or great water-dock, was picked, a species well distinguished by its lan- 

 ceolate acute leaves tapering below into a petiole which is flat above, 

 and by the enlarged ovato-triangular divisions of its perianth nearly all 

 with tubercles. It was formerly described by botanists as Rumex 

 aquaticus, a distinct species with broader leaves, not tapering, and 

 non-tuborcled fruit, hence called grainless-dock. R. Hydrolapathum 

 is rare in Scotland, although it is found in many places in England. 

 Mr. Stewart Murray observed the plant in ditches near Meikleom in 

 Perthshire, and I have a specimen from the station, picked by Mr. 

 Gorrie. Hopkirk mentions the plant as growing near Old Kilpatrick 



