258 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OP GLASGOW. 



Toadflax has always managed to remain represented. It can 

 grow on a stone with scarcely any depth of soil, and tiny plants 

 of not more than two inches in height pi'odiice numerous seeds, 

 and scatter them to seek the chance of more favourable conditions. 

 It is light, sandy, or chalky soil that this plant prefers, and hence 

 its scarcity in our heavy, clayey ground of Clydesdale. 



The LTmbelliferse common at Crail include several plants which 

 either do not occur or are rare in Clydesdale. On the grassy 

 slopes near the sea, Cmicalis nodosa, Scop. , creeps along, and bears 

 its knot-like sessile umbels on shortly-straggling stems, which 

 never rise much above the surrounding herbage. Conium 

 maculatum, Linn., is everywhere present all about the burgh, and 

 it grows to giant height in large patches here and there along the 

 shore. jEthusa Cynapiimi, Linn., is a common garden weed, and 

 a pretty plant clothed in the rich green hue of its early growth. 

 In any cornfield there is plenty of Scandix Pecten-Veneris, Linn., 

 but it does not seem to grow so tall here as I have found it 

 farther south. Ligusticimi scoticum, Linn., grows profusely on 

 the rocks out towards Fife Ness, and its green shiny leaves serve 

 to drape many an otherwise bare patch. 



One of the most pleasant walks is along the coast to "The 

 Coves," as tliey are locally called. Provost Sim, of Ci-ail, who is 

 an accomplished and enthusiastic botanist, accompanied me in 

 this and several other walks, and I was greatly indebted to him 

 for furthering my interest in the local flora. The caves are large, 

 natural cavities in the rocks some distance to the west of Crail, 

 and they are accredited with being the abodes of Culdees. Upon 

 the walls may be seen many of their crosses, which have been 

 hewn out with much care. 



The Provost pointed out to me where, in his opinion, the 

 warden of the cave-dwellers was, and that right in front of the 

 caves were still to be found patches of Chenopodium Bomos- 

 Henricus, Linn. This plant had been cultivated as a vegetable 

 by the Culdees, and it has apparently during all these years 

 maintained a hold at this place. 



Among the numerous plants found in full flower in the district 

 of the caves may be noted — Triglochin palusire, Linn., and 

 T. maritimum, Linn., both growing together; Geranium 

 eangrdneum, Linn., Thalictrum minus, Linn., and Malva 



