OBSERVATIONS. 



3G3 



to tlie Xortli of Blackpool. The 

 Ringed Plover (Cliamdrlas Illati- 

 cula) kept running along the edge of 

 the waves with sm-prising rapidity, 

 picking lip tiny mollusks and crusta- 

 ceans here and there as the waves re- 

 treated, and uttering all the time his 

 happy, whistling notes. This bird is 

 particularly partial to tidal rivers, such 

 as the Kibble, where extensive mud- 

 flats prevail on the ebbing of the 

 sea. The Grey Gull (Larus canus) 

 is ajDt to make incursions inland. 

 I saw it not unfrequently busy fol- 

 lowing the plough and consorting with 

 the rooks for the purpose of picking 

 up the worms and grubs thrown to 

 the surface. Its notes when alarmed 

 on the furrows were singularly harsh 

 and grating, and so different from those 

 that it utters on the sea, that I coidd 

 not but fancy that it must have been 

 taking a lesson in scolding from the 

 knavish rook ! On my return, the 

 plantations at Lytham Hall, re- 

 sounded with the cooings of the 

 Ring-dove, and the flapping of the 

 wings of the pheasants before going 

 to roost for the night. The deep 

 flute-like notes of the Blackbird, and 

 the drowsy cawing of the Jackdaw, 

 were among the last sounds of day. 

 — Peter Ixchbald, Storthes Hall, 

 March 17th, 18G5. 



Aberdeenshire Plants. — In August 

 1864, during a stay of ten days 

 at Collieston, a fishing village on 



the east coast of Aberdeenshire, 

 I had an opportunity of having 

 a few botanical rambles witliiu a 

 radius of three miles of the abovo 

 named place. I cither collected, or 

 observed the following plants, omit- 

 ting some of the very common species. 



Arctium Lapxxi, abundant about 

 the village. 



Antlujllis vuhieraria, not uncom- 

 mon. 



Elijmiis arcnarius, common. 



Ccikile mantima, rather local among 

 sand, in full flower. 



Gentiana camj^estris, not uncom- 

 mon. 



Ranunculus sceleratus, a few plants. 



Glaux maritimaj not plentiful. 



Salsola Kali, rare. 



Ligusticum scoticum, rather local. 

 Sea side, among rocks, not common. 



Lycopsis aruensis, frequent. 



Coniuni maculatum, about the vil- 

 lage, abundant. 



Nartliccium ossifrajum, common. 



Pavnassia iialustris, abundant. 



Ilahenaria viridis, rare. 



Plantago maritima, frequent. 



P. coronopus, abundant. 



Drosera rotundifoUa, rather local, 

 abundant. 



Erodium cicntarium, frequent. 



Pimplnella Saxi/ra{/a, frequent 



Lithospernium maritinium, yerj 

 sparingly. 



Spenjularia mhra, few. 



Silene maritima, abundant. 



Sedum anr/licum, frequent. 



