1 88 1 -82.] Edinburgh NaUiralists Field Club. 19 



v.— NOTES OF A BOTANICAL RAMBLE IN THE SAENTIS 

 DISTRICT, SWITZERLAND, AUGUST 1881. 



By Mr GEOEGE BIRD. 



{Read Dec. 22, 1881.) 



It is proposed in this paper to give a few notes of a recent trip to 

 Switzerland, with special reference to a botanical ramble in the 

 Saentis district. I was accompanied by our friend and fellow- 

 member, Mr J. C. Keller,! who, while spending his vacation in his 

 Swiss home, kindly undertook to make me acquainted with sonie of 

 the interesting features of his native mountains. Our headquarters 

 during our stay were at Eheineck, in the canton of Appenzell. 

 This flourishing and important village is prettily situated on the 

 banks of the Ehine, which forms at this point the boundary between 

 Switzerland and Austria. The buildings of which Rheineck 

 is composed are substantial edifices, forming several handsome 

 streets, with remarkably pretty suburbs stretching on either side. 

 The industries of curtain and embroidery manufactures are carried 

 on extensively, and the sound of busy shuttles may be heard 

 issuing from many of the larger structures as one passes along. To 

 the rear the ground rises at a considerable incline ; farmhouses 

 and mansions are scattered thickly on every available space, and 

 the banks which slope towards the river are occupied by orchards, 

 where immense quantities of fruit are raised, and where the Vine is 

 cultivated to a great extent. The views from the higher grounds 

 command comprehensive stretches of exquisite mountain scenery ; 

 the Lake Constance — a splendid sheet of water fifty miles in length 

 — lying to the left, while the intervening valley was richly culti- 

 vated with Maize and other products. We botanised in this 

 neighbourhood, examining all the plants that were in flower ; and 

 though we were rather late in the season for the flora generally, 

 what were got were interesting and abundant, none, however, being 

 considered rare, nor differing much from our own flora. The 

 weather was exceedingly warm, and a very noticeable feature was 

 the number of insects to be seen. The Crickets especially were 

 very active, and filled the air with a continual chirping ; while 

 Butterflies of beautiful hues flitted about in greater numbers than 

 one is accustomed to see them with us. A very conspicuous plant 

 everywhere on the roadsides was the Chicory [Cichorium Litybus), 



1 We are sorry to have to record that Mr Keller died on the 10th January 

 1882. 



