246 The Irish Naturalist. [October, 



Hypnum (Amblysteglum) serpens var. depauperatum, 



Boiila}-. — On rocks just above high-water mark at Ardglass Bay. It is 

 a variety so well marked as to have been accorded specific rank by a 

 continental bryologist (M. du Buysson), and differs from the type in that 

 it is singularly rufescent, with very slender branches, the leaves being 

 more distant and more minute, and the nerve less obvious. It has much 

 the appearance of H. confen'oidcs, for which, without close examination, 

 it might be mistaken. It was first found in Ireland at Malahide, by the 

 late Dr. Carrington, who designated it var. salimini, a name which is 

 suggestive of its habitat. The only other Irish station for the plant is 

 Portstewart, Co. Derry, where it was detected by Mr. S. A. Stewart in 

 1884. 1 



The viciuity of Ardglass and Killougli is particularly 

 interesting alike to the naturalist and archaeologist, and it 

 was a cause of regret to me that my time there was so short 

 Several plants that are local in the north are there in great 

 abundance. For example, Lijiaria vulgaris, which is b}^ no 

 means common in the district, is plentiful in many places, as 

 is likewise Silcne i7iflata, and Scabiosa arvcnsis, not often 

 seen near the inland borders of the count}^, is in such remark- 

 able profusion as to form quite a striking feature of the fields 

 and waysides ; and is conspicuous on the railway banks all 

 the way from Crossgar by Downpatrick to Ardglass. Atenaria 

 leptoclados occurs near the sea ; and by Killough Bay, Be^a 

 maritivia grows so rank that, in many cases, its stems become 

 broadly fasciated with curiously multifid terminations. In the 

 corn-fields there is much Eiiphorbia exigua, which, as a plant 

 of the district, is rather rare. The expanse of Sagifia ?iodosa, 

 then in full blow, on a wet gravell}^ part of the coast on tlie 

 Ardtole side of Ardglass Bay was delightful to behold ; close 

 by being great quantity oi Juncus viaritinius. Ballota nigra 

 {foetidd) is plentiful on banks and loosel3'-built walls, especially 

 so on Cone}^ Island, but in no case far removed from the 

 neighbourhood of cottages, and may be the result of former 

 garden cultivation. In remote times it was, I believe, grown 

 in some places for use as a medicine for cattle, but its supposed 

 virtues have long ceased to be recognised, and I am not aware 

 that it is anywhere now cultivated. It certainly could not be 

 discovered in any of the cottage gardens which I had the 



curiosity to examine. 

 Lisburn. 



^Dr. Braithwaite's British Moss-Flo?'a, vol. Ill, p. 25. 



