SISYRIXCHIUM BERMUDIANUM IN KEERY. 

 By a. G. More, F.L.S. 



When visiting my friend Dr. Battersby, last April, I took the 

 opportunity of calling upon the Rev. A. Isaac, of Milltown, who 

 was reported to have found Sisijrinchiian Bennudianum in that 

 neighbourhood. At the Rectory we were fortunate in meeting 

 Lady Godh-ey, who was kind enough to conduct us to a locality 

 within a short distance of Milltown, where she had previously 

 marked down the plant, and showed us the young shoots, of which 

 only a few were to be seen at this early season. 



This locality, which lies on the north-east of Milltown, is on 

 some enclosed, grassy, but not boggy, pastures, adjoining a road, 

 and near to a large copse which is clearly not aboriginal. The 

 station seems at present sufficiently "wild," nor could I trace near 

 it any cottage ruins, nor recent marks of agriculture. Still the 

 ground was certainly occupied as pasture, and might have been 

 tilled at no very distant period. 



In a letter dated 29th July, 1881, Mr. Isaac mentions another 

 locahty a mile and a half south-west of Milltown, near Lough 

 Dromin, where he found the Sisyrinchmm growing "in a field over 

 which it seems to be evenly but not densely scattered" ; and at the 

 same time he was kind enough to send a specimen, which, beyond 

 all doubt, authenticates the species. He searched for it in adjoining 

 fields, but did not find it; but, "from the nature and general 

 circumstances of the soil in which it is found," he is strongly 

 disposed to beheve it native. 



I may here mention a locality in Westmeath where the 

 Sisyriiwhium cannot be considered otherwise than as an intro- 

 duced plant, and for the knowledge of which I am mdebted to my 

 friend Mr. H. C. Hart. Mr. John R. Simms reports the " Canadian 

 grass" as having been found (1879) near MuUingar, growing 

 "in a gravel walk that had been neglected for years, and 

 covered with weeds. The soil was very cold and hard ; in 

 fact its roots were in the stones and gravel which formed 

 the foundation of the walk. It is a very free gi'ower and 

 boars dividing, and is at present (July 6th, 1879) covered with 

 pods of seed." 



Under the circumstances, it will probably be best to wait until 

 we know something more of its range, present circumstances, and 

 past history, in Kerry, before pronouncing any opinion on its 

 claims to be considered indigenous ; the more so, as it seems so 

 easily to establish itself. 



