1885.] NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 379 



of glacial origin. The more central portion consists of level 

 plains of gravel, covered with oaks, mostly Quercus oblusi- 

 loba. The general character of the flora is much like that found 

 on the summit of the divides in southern New Jersey, though 

 much move limited as to species. Farther south, extensive ponds, 

 both of fresh and salt water, introduce their characteristic vege- 

 tation. In Nantucket he had* found the gravelly hills of much 

 less height, the greater portion of the island consisting in fact of 

 treeless plains — one extensive grove of Pinus rigida exists in the 

 central portion of the island, and is known to have been planted. 

 The plains alluded to were many years ago occupied as sheep 

 pastures. But of late years this has been prohibited, and it is 

 said that since then there has been a great change in the character 

 of the vegetation. The most characteristic plant of these plains 

 seemed to be Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, which grows there in greater 

 profusion than he had ever seen it. The two species of Hudsonia 

 abound, the H. ericoides being seen everywhere, and less frequently 

 the more bluish-green tufts of H. tomentosa. Polygala jjolygama, 

 Myrica cerifera and various Vaccinese abound. He saw many 

 large patches of Gorema Conradii, the existence of which in 

 Nantucket had first been made known by Mrs. Owen of Spring- 

 field, Mass. But the most interesting feature is the existence 

 here of three species of heath, possibly indigenous. Mrs. Owen, 

 who published a preliminary catalogue of the Nantucket flora a 

 few years ago, records Galluna vulgaris and Erica cinerea as found 

 upon the island. The first of these had long been known to occur 

 at Tewksbury, Mass., and there had been some question as to 

 whether its presence there was due to human agenc} r . Its subse- 

 quent discovery in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland had seemed 

 to strengthen the idea of its indigenous character. Mr. R. did 

 not see the locality of Galluna vulgaris, but had the privilege of 

 seeing that of the Erica cinerea. This plant had been known 

 and watched for 10 or 12 3'ears, and is evidently an old one. It 

 grows in the open common — far away from the town — and there 

 is nothing about its surroundings to indicate human introduction. 

 It covers only a space of eight inches by ten. 



Since Mr. Redfield's visit the third species Erica tetralix had 

 been discovered in a locality very distant from that of E. cinerea, 

 but under circumstances which favor the idea of its accidental 

 introduction in connection with the importation of foreign trees. 

 But there are said to be seven or eight of the plants all thriving, 

 large, and bushy. 



October 20. 

 The President, Dr. Leidy, in the chair. 

 Twenty-eight persons present. 



