212 Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion. 



means well made out, Ligustrum vulgare, Vaccininm Oxjcoccos, 

 Carduus tenuiflorus, Stachys ambigua — a very doubtful species in- 

 termediate between S. palustris and sjlvatica. In the neighbourhood 

 of a garden we observed, Inula Ilelenium and Senecio saracenicus. 



On the 12th we proceeded to Killiness Bay and Point, and picked 

 Orchis pyramidalis and Convolvulus Soldanella among tlie bent on 

 the Bandy shores, and Polygonum Raii among the gravel on the 

 beach. The first mentioned plant has been nearly extirpated from 

 this locality by the rapacity of botanists. Our party only took one 

 specimen each, leaving others in flower and seed. Near Maryport there 

 is profusion of Raphanus maritimus, probably a variety of R. Raphan- 

 istrum, marked by its torulose necklace-like siliqua, and its large lyrate 

 lower leaves. Helosciadium nodiflorum was very vigorous and abund- 

 ant here, and Verbascum Thapsus occurred frequently. 



We next directed our steps, by East Tarbet, to the Mull of Gallo- 

 way, and visited the lighthouse near the point. The weather being 

 very calm, and the sea smooth, we were enabled to descend the cliffs 

 below the lighthouse, and to avail ourselves of a fishing boat in visiting 

 some of the least accessible parts of the rocks. Here we got Crith- 

 mum maritimum or the common samphire, Inula crithmoides or the 

 golden samphire, Apium graveolens or wild celery, and Statice spa- 

 thulata in profusion. We failed in getting Halimus portulacoides, 

 which grows on inaccessible cliffs at the Mull. The same species of 

 plants occur profusely on the opposite coast of Ireland. Landing at 

 West Tarbet we found Crambe maritima or the native sea kale. We 

 now proceeded along the shore to Cardrain, and saw excellent speci- 

 mens of Euphorbia portlandica. Here, too, we picked Oxytropis ura- 

 lensis in fruit on the edge of the cliffs, and in doing so no small exer- 

 cise of caution was called for; all the accessible specimens were 

 eaten in a greater or less degree by sheep. The station for Ononis 

 reclinata was visited, but only four specimens were procured. This 

 plant seems to be another of those rarities which have been unwittingly 

 extirpated by botanists. Mr. M'Culloch, a farmer in the neighbour- 

 hood, has preserved some specimens of the plant in his garden, and 

 means to sow the seed on the cliffs with the view of preventing the 

 plant from disappearing entirely. Geranium sangineum on the cliffs 

 exhibits a peculiar viviparous appearance, in place of producing flowers. 

 A glaucous variety of Festuca, probably F. ovina var. crosia, is com- 

 mon in many places. Alisma ranunculoides and Hypericum elodes 

 occur in marshy spots near the cliffs. 



Leaving Cardrain, we visited Kindraw Hill and Dunman, and re- 

 turned by Portencorckchrie Bay to Drumore, but did not meet with 

 any plants of peculiar interest. The sea shore and the rocks in its 

 immediate vicinity seem to be the most productive parts of the 

 county. 



