284 . RARE PLANTS. 



thin horizontal strata, and covered at the top with a 

 layer of poor soil, on which harley was growing. 



At the edge of the rocks, near low water mark, the 

 points and projections of the shale were covered 

 with the curious honey-combed tubes of Sahella 

 alveolata ; a covering which gave to the rocks an 

 appearance of rounded masses, singularly suggestive 

 of the brainstones of tropical seas. Pretty tide-pools 

 and deep inlets occurred between the rocks, with 

 sandy bottoms ; their sides densely fringed with Ser- 

 tularian zoophytes and Polyzoa, sponges and various 

 sea-weeds. Actiniae of the species mesemhryanthemum^ 

 crassicornis, and gemmacea, I observed ; the last- 

 named more than usually fine : the common shore 

 shells, whelks and purples, tops and periwinkles, were 

 crawling about in profusion. One of these crea- 

 tures I shall return to presently. 



I climbed up the sandy cliffs. The great sea- stock 

 ( Matthiola sinuataj, a rare plant, was numerous on 

 these cliffs, now displaying its purple flowers, I was 

 struck with the curious large yellow glands on the 

 leaves and pods. The samphire in dark green tufts, 

 the pretty sea lavender, and the common thrift were 

 likewise clothing the cliffs ; and on the top, between 

 the barley and the very edge, was a narrow belt of 

 •wild plants, which I had scarcely time to look at 

 before a peasant came along and cut them all down 

 with his merciless scythe. 



There was the rest-harrow, the little centaury, both 

 beautiful ; the fragrant yellow-bedstraw ; the woad, 

 or wild mignonette ; the brilliant azure flow^ers of 

 the viper's bugloss : and the golden heads of the 



