216 Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion. 



much to improve the agriculture of the district, and we wore particu- 

 larly struck with the excellent farm arrangements on his estate. 



On moors near Southwick, we found Vaccinium Oxycoccos, Carex 

 pauciflora, Scutellaria minor, Utricularia minor, Carlina vulgaris six 

 or seven miles from the sea, Hypericum elodes, Drosera longifolia, 

 and Alsine rubra. Near Sauterness Point where grey sandstone, 

 some shale, coal, and limestone occur, we met with Anchusa somper- 

 virens. Convolvulus arvensis and sepium, Eryngium maritimum, Hier- 

 acium umbellatum and inuloides, Atriplex rosea, Carex remota, 

 Knautia arvensis (only seen in this place during the trip). Lychnis 

 Githago, Lycopsis arvensis, Lysimachia vulgaris, Malva moschata. 

 Ononis antiquorum, Ornithopus perpusillus. Ranunculus sceleratus, 

 Rubus csesius and suberectus, and Vicia gracilis. 



Near Kirkbean and the Carse, Senecio viscosus was found, while 

 Ononis antiquorum and Sanguisorba officinalis were observed on the 

 banks of the Nith near Dumfries. 



At Dumfries our party broke up, after twelve days of most pleasant 

 botanizing. I remained for several days in the neighbourhood of 

 Dumfries, and examined more fully the Flora of the district. Among 

 the plants which I added to my collection, I may notice, Potaraoge- 

 ton pusillus, rufescens, heterophyllus, and perfoliatus, Lysimachia vul- 

 garis, and Eriophorum pubescens or latifolium, near Maxwelltown 

 Loch, Lobelia Dortmanna, Cerastium arvense, Pilularia globulifera and 

 Typha latifolia atLincluden, and T. angustifolia at Lochmaben, Cicuta 

 virosa. Polygonum minus, Andromeda polifolia, Drosera anglica, Carex 

 sylvatica, irrigua and lasvigata, Symphytum officinale, Lepidium cam- 

 pestre, a rare plant in Galloway, Callitriche platycarpa. Nastur- 

 tium terrestre, Lolium temulentum or poisonous Darnel,* and Holcus 

 lanatus, in a viviparous state. On Criffel, the highest hill near Dum- 

 fries, I gathered a few subalpine species, as Polypodium Phegopteris, 

 Lycopodium Selago, selaginoides and alpinum, Vaccinium Vitis-Idsea, 

 Allosorus crispus and Empetrum nigrum. The hill consists of dry 

 granite rocks which are not much disintegrated, and, as frequently 

 happens in such cases, is comparatively unproductive. Moreover, it 

 does not attain a sufficient elevation for alpine species. 



Such are a few hurried details of a botanical trip to a very inter- 

 esting district of Scotland, which has not been as yet thoroughly ex- 

 amined. I trust that the remarks I have made will have the effect of 

 inducing other botanists to visit these counties ; and I am satisfied if 

 they do so, that they will be amply rewarded. 



* This plant existed in considerable quantities in a barley-field. Of late a case of poi- 

 soning caused by it has been recorded. The symptoms produced were somnolency, con- 

 vulsive tremor, and coldness of the extremities. M. Ruspini says, that the adulterated 

 flour may be detected by digesting in alcohol, which, when Lolium is present, assumes a 

 characteristic green tint. 



