1909. Knowi.es & O'Bripcn. — Botany of Fergus Est2ia7y. 59 



Circcea iMtetiana, Ivy, Carlina vulgaris^ Anfennaiia dioica, 

 Verbasaim Thapsus, Marjoram, Orobanchc Hedercs^ Orchis pyra- 

 midalis, Parietaria, Kceleria crisiata and Ceterach were the chief 

 plants found. Brassica alba and Hop grew near the houses 

 on the low shore. 



As the aspect of O'Grady's Island is like that of Inish- 

 macowney, which we were unable to visit, we may perhaps 

 infer that their floras are similar. 



The large island of Inishcorker is rolling grass and 

 reclaimed corcass, rich land, and quite uninteresting. Scirpiis 

 rnaritimvs and Triticuvi p^nigens were noted on the muddy 

 foreshores. 



Inishloe or Low Island is flat, and the most populous of 

 the group. On it is a school, and the master, Mr. Lecky, took 

 an oar in the boat to show us the intricacies of the passages 

 among the outljnng islets. Malva sylvest?is grows in great 

 quantities on the rocky shore, as it does on all the larger 

 islands. Lavatera was noticed near houses ; Papaver so77i7ii- 

 fefuvi, Ftimaria officinalis, and Sfachys arvensis in a potato 

 field. 



Sand Island is the most southern outlier of the Fergus 

 islands, and is exposed to the full sweep of the crossing 

 tides and waves, a long chine of stones, the haunt of seabirds. 

 On its highest point a soil of gravel, broken shells, deca3dng 

 seaweed, and the wreck and drift of the river has formed a 

 fertile and unvisited seed-bed for many of the characteristic 

 plants of the district. Having found Glyceria pesHicceformis 

 on Trummera Big, on the Limerick side of the river, we 

 were on the look-out for it here. It is one of the most 

 abundant plants on this island. Other species noted on the 

 beach were Cochleaiia anglica, Spergniaria rnpestris, Aster, 

 and Statice rarifio7'a. The broken sward consisted of Glaux, 

 Thrift and Plantago, while on the crest of the island grew a 

 tall fringe of Atrip/ex deltoidea (most of the plants near 3 

 feet high), So7ichus arvefisis, l\Iairicaria inodora^ Rttmex cyispus^ 

 and Triticuvi pungens. 



Tine Island is similar, and ungrazed. We were unable to 

 land, which we much regretted, as we could distinguish the 

 same tall growth of Atriplex, and, we fancied, Glyceria festu- 

 ccsfofmis on its shore. 



A 2 



