122 REV. MR Clark's address. 



The beautiful Erythraa littoralis grew here in profusion ; and a 

 SaliXf at the time supposed to be the argentea, but which, after- 

 wards, on examination by Mr Borrer, proved to be the S.fusca, var, 

 repens, formed in many places circular patches, so dense as to 

 exclude the growth of other herbs with it. It makes an admir- 

 able binder of the moveable sands. On its silvery leaves there 

 were hundreds of the Chrysomela vitellina, in its blue and 

 metallic varieties ; and, on the Ragwort, the caterpillars of the 

 Callimorpha Jacobs were observed in great numbers. The party 

 were now driven from their loitering walk to a more rapid pace 

 by threatening rain, which fell rather heavily before they reached 

 the cottage on the Old Law, the only place of shelter. 



On its cessation, instead of retracing their steps along the wind- 

 ing shore to Fenham, which, it was ascertained, could not be ap- 

 proached nearer than half a mile, in a boat, at that time of tide, 

 they resolved to visit " St Cuthbert's Holy Isle," and embarking 

 in a small coble, were soon wafted across the tideway by a favour- 

 able breeze. Some French fishing-boats were at this moment 

 entering the harbour. One of them seemed bearing down in a direc- 

 tion which threatened danger to the party, but casting anchor, the 

 cheerful " bon jour" of the captain saluted them as they sailed 

 close under her bows. On landing upon the beach, some frag- 

 ments of limestone were picked up full of entrochi ; these, when 

 freed from the stone, constitute the beads which St Cuthbert is 

 said to manufacture on a small island in the harbour during 

 stormy weather. 



But fair Saint Hilda's Nuns would learn, 

 If on a rock, by Lindisfarne, 

 St Cuthbert sits, and toils to frame 

 The sea-borne beads that bear his name : 

 Such tales had Whitby's fishers told, 

 And said they might his shape behold, 



And hear his anvil sound — 

 A deadened clang — a huge dim form — 

 Seen but, and heard, when gath'ring storm, 

 And night were closing round. 

 But this, a tale of idle fame, 

 The Nuns of Lindisfarne disclaim. 



Marmion, Canto ii., 16. 



In ascending the cliff, a single plant of Hyoscyamus niger was 



