40 The Irish Naturalist. [Fel^ruary, 



10. Hclianthcmum vulgrarc, L. — Co. Donegal. — The simple asser- 



tion that " the species was either planted or derived from 

 cultivation," however courteous to my expressed opinion, does 

 not satisfy me as an argument. It is merely so many words. 

 Unless the editors have seen the station, they are unable to 

 form an opinion of any value. I will be happj'to guide either of 

 them to the locality, which they are very unlikely (so remote is 

 it) to find without assistance. It is a most interesting country, of 

 man}' miles in extent, absolutely barren and devoid of possibility 

 of cultivation, of the same formation as the well-known South 

 Isles of Aran, craggy, but not so deeply fissured, and if anything 

 less fertile. I have never visited this district (and it takes a 

 week to thrash it) without great expectation, and I fully expect 

 it will yet 3'ield more rarities. There is no cultivation of any 

 sort near the Helianthenmni, nor a garden within some miles. 

 Nor is the plant one which shows any disposition to ramble, 

 even iD a garden. 



* Reseda suffruticulosa, L. — The claims of this plant to a place 



in the flora, from the Portmarnock habitat, are too strong to be 

 overlooked. It has been naturalised there abundantly for at 

 least 70 years It should be left in with asterisk. 



* Medicago sativa, L. — Admittedly and abundantly established in 



various places about Baldoyle, Portmarnock, Hovvth, and 

 Portrane. Its claims are better than many admitted plants. 

 TrifoIiuiYi maritimum, Huds. — "The district V. records are all 

 probably referable to T. scabnini " This is incorrect. The 

 Lambay record is undoubtedly referable to T. striatiun, where 

 Z". scabrmn has not been found, and the former is plentiful. 

 This is probably the case also with Kilbarrack record. 



Ribes Crossularia, L. — Is thoroughly established in wild places 

 in Donegal. Sometimes borne thither by streams in flood, but 

 sometimes apparently by birds. 



Anthcmis arvensis, L — Has as good a claim (from Howth, 

 Portmarnock, &c.), to a place in flora as various other cereal 

 weeds. 



Centaurea solstitialis, D. — I have gathered this twice at Port- 

 marnock, about 1870-75. 



IVIyosotis sylvatica, Hoffm A white variety of this used to 



grow at Woodlands, among trees near the lake. No doubt an 

 escape, but in a wild place. 



11. Atropa Belladonna, L.— Should be kept in flora with a star. 

 Mentha viridls, Lr. -I cannot follow the reasoning. When a 



plant is thoroughly established, in a wild place, unaided by 

 cultivation, and where it has not been planted, does it come 

 within a "starry influence" .^ Otherwise a number of other plants 

 should be where these last two are. I should prefer the latter 

 course myself. 



