i899-]T PRAEGKR.— A Botanist in the Central Plain. 93 



An odd day a week later was spent in the extreme north of 

 Meath, between Nobber and Kilmainham. Valerianella 

 Auricula and. Galeopsis versicolor grew in cultivated land, at 

 Cruicetown ; these, with Sparganium affi?ie and Lysimachia 

 vulgaris at Whitewood Lough, were the only noteworthy 

 plants observed. 



On August 14 I went to Sligo, and had several very 

 pleasant days botanizing along the coast, the flora of which 

 was but little known. What remained of the day of my 

 arrival was spent in working from Sligo to Rosses Point, 

 with fair results, Arcthim ?iemoros2im, Scirpus Tabernce- 

 mo?ita?ii, and Carex nmricata being found for the first time 

 in District IX. On the 15th I cycled to Bundoran, and 

 returning carefully listed the maritime plants of Leitrim, 

 which has a coast line of just three miles. The dunes and. 

 salt-marshy meadows at Mullaghmore added a good many 

 species to my Sligo list, and a halt at Drumcliff in the dusk 

 added Trifolium fragiferum to the flora of IX. Next day the 

 falls of Ballysadare were visited, and a course made along the 

 salt-marshes that surround the muddy head of Ballysadare 

 Bay. Working along the northern shore, the flora included 

 GL?ianthe Lachenalii, /uncus obtusiflorus, Scirpus rufas, Pota- 

 mogeton flabellatus, and Ruppia rostellata, the last two being 

 additions to the flora of IX. Ruppia grew not only in 

 brackish pools, but out on the fore-shore, where it covered 

 several acres of tidal mud-flats — an unusual habitat. Further 

 w T est, on an ivy-covered rock that rose on the edge of the 

 beach, Orobanche Hederce was flourishing. Pushing on between 

 the towering cliffs of Knocknarea and the sea, Fesluca rott- 

 bozllioides was noted on a wall near Culleenamore House, and 

 a couple of hours were spent on the desolate sand-hills, not 

 much brightened by the rayless variety of the Ragweed, 

 which face the Atlantic belo\v Strandhill. There is a 

 striking difference between the maritime flora of the east and 

 west coasts. Here in Sligo we find no Sea Holly, Sea Bind- 

 weed, Horned Poppy, or Sea Spurge. No Viper's Bugloss 

 brightens the dunes with its brilliant blue ; no Hounds- 

 tongue fruit seeks the friendly .shelter of one's stockings. 

 The despondency consequent on absence of plants and the 



