BOTANICAL RAMBLES. 



128 



and many other useful plants. The name, both in English and Latin, 

 refers to the position of the stamens, which are six in number, set in the 

 form of a cross, (cress,) four long ones in pairs, and two shorter placed 

 opposite to each other. You may see plenty of these little plants in patches 

 on the south and south-west slopes of the gentle undulations that occur on 

 the wide part of the beach, from the toll-bar to the harbour, where the 

 scanty herbage is gradually extending itself over the once naked pebbles^ 

 every year more beautifully decked with wild flowers. 



Amongst them already may be seen the green tufts of the Common 

 Thrift, {Armeria maritima.) As we pass on we may admire the pretty stars 

 of green leaves that cover the bank on our right; they are the Flanfago 

 coronopus, not yet in bloom; easily distinguished from the other plaintains 

 by its tender pinnatifid and toothed leaves, that spread out on every side 

 from a common centre, like a many-rayed star. As we approach Southwick 

 the bank gradually increases in height; many a plant, by no means common, 

 lies hid there, beneath the rank grass, or has not yet burst its winter 

 tomb. 



The Common Charlock, (Sinapis arvemis,) another of the Cress tribe, and 

 the farmer's pest, flaunts gaily with its yellow blossoms on this high bank, 

 and vies in tint with the Gorse, [Ulex Europoeus,) below it, that, as yet, is 

 but sparingly decked 



"With its flowers of scented gold." 



Sir James Edward- Smith, the celebrated botanist, was commencing his 

 botanical studies by the examination of this plant, on the 10th of January, 

 1778, at the very moment that the spirit of the great Linnaeus was leaving 

 this lower world; which he had rendered more beautiful and intelligible to 

 those who should come after him, by the light of order and arrangement 

 his wonderful genius threw over the whole of nature. But here is the 

 Shepherd's Weather-glass —the Scarlet Pimpernel, {AnagalUs arv:nsis,) in a 

 sheltered little nook, looking as lusty as a child of June; not in blossom 

 yet, it is true; or, b}' its open flowers, it would tell us of the fine weather 

 we are destined to enjoy to-day. 



We may rest a few minutes on this warm bank, for the wind cannot reach 

 us, and the grass is long, while the scenery is picturesque and animated. 

 The tide has filled the new ship canal, several boats are sporting upon it, 

 tacking backwards and forwards against the wind; the sun lights up their 

 sails, and is brilliantly reflected in the water; the men are calling to each 

 other as they pass and repass: one little streak of ocean is just visible, of 

 dazzling brightness. In the distance, as we look down the harbour, with its 

 red cliffs beautifully coloured by the sun, we shall see the old Norman church 

 and town of Shoreham, with a few masts and tall chimneys rising up in 

 agreeable contrast to the horizontal features of the landscape. It is a 

 picture that many an artist has thought worthy of recording. 



We must now take the main road till we arrive at the railway: we cross 



