334 BOTANICAL NOTES OF A TOUK IN CAITHNESS AND SUTHERLAND. 



mud, above which it floats. Equiseluni limosum was abundant, and 

 on a sandy promontory we found Leontodon pratensis. In the 

 stream flowing out of the lake Potamofietmifiliformts, Mi/no}ihylliim 

 (tlternijionun. (very common also elsewhere), and Heloscunliuni inmi- 

 datum occurred. 



Crossing a slight rise by the main road, we struck the Wick 

 River at the point where it is crossed by the railway. Three 

 hundred yards below this we found Curex salina /3. kuttef/utensis, 

 which was discovered for the first time last year by Mr. J. Grant ; 

 it was growing in abundance, together with Carex Watsoni, and 

 continued on both banks of the river to within a mile and a half of 

 the town. Mini ul its luteus, thoroughly established in marshy places 

 by the river-side, was flowering in beautiful contrast with Mi/osotis 

 strUjulosa Reich. We were unsuccessful in our search for Ajiuja 

 jiyramidaUs, which is recorded from the banks of this river ; but it 

 was late in the season for this, and the herbage was very high. We 

 gathered Fi;rola media among the heather about a mile and a half 

 above the town. Bhjsmus rufus and Scirpus unvilurnis, with other 

 salt-marsh plants, grew lower down among stones at the edge of 

 the river. At Wick we were fortunate in making the acquaintance 

 of Mr. J. Grant, and enjoying the hospitality of his family. This 

 intelligent young botanist has already been successful in adding 

 two plants to the British Flora from his own county, which have 

 escaped previous observers. 



The road westward from Thurso passes over the low watershed 

 between the river of that name and the Forss. Besides Primula 

 scotica, a very pale and dwarf form of Anthyllis Vulneraria, and 

 Carex dioica (which latter is common everywhere in marshy places 

 through the two counties), nothing of special interest was noted 

 till the sea was again struck at the mouth of the Forss River. 

 Lujusticum scuticum and Populus tremula were here growing on the 

 low rocky clifl's near the shore. The common Primrose was still 

 flowering (July 7th) on grassy banks and along the headlands; its 

 exquisite northern congener, P. scotica, again occurred in profusion, 

 together with a very dwarf and richly-coloured form of Kuphrasia 

 officinalis, with capsules much longer than the calyx, apparently 

 the form called E. maritiina in Hooker's ' Student's Flora,' hitherto 

 recorded only from Shetland. Silene maritima, Plantago Coronopus, 

 and P. vKtritiiiia presented a curious appearance, on account of their 

 stunted growth and abnormally-thickened leaves. 



At Downreay, about two miles west of the Forss, we met with 

 Oxytropis Uralensis for the first time ; it recurs in more or less 

 abundance along the coast at various places, but we did not notice 

 it further west than the mouth of the Borgie. 



Mertensia maritiina was gathered in a sandy bay about two miles 

 east of Reay. The sand-hills of this place are full of interest. The 

 burn which flows past the little inn to the sea is choked with 

 masses of a cultivated form of Miinulus, which was swept out of a 

 neighbouring garden some years ago by a winter flood, and has 

 now thoroughly established itself for more than half a mile along 

 the stream. Myosotis striyidosa was here again in great beauty. 



