1902-1903.] Grasses of the L othians. 7 



but I am far better pleased that I have learned so much 

 about the Graminese ; and I fully intend, if spared, to com- 

 plete my collection as far as possible as representing the 

 British Grasses. 



I shall now deal .with the specimens which I have gathered, 

 and will take them in their order as arranged. 



1. Seteria, or Italian millet. There are 24 species in this genus, 

 two said to be British but not found here. This species was fairly 

 plentiful at Leith Docks, from seed spilt while some cargo was being 

 delivered. 



2. Phalaris — canary-grass ; 23 species, 2 British, one undoubtedly an 

 introduction, but useful as providing food for our pet birds. 



3. Anthoxanthum — sweet-scented vernal grass ; 6 species, 1 British : 

 two specimens mounted, one an alien. This is the grass which gives the 

 odour to new-mown hay ; it is very common. 



4. Phleum — cats'-tail-grass ; 8 species, 4 British : three species and two 

 vars. mounted of P. Boehmeri. I only saw this single specimen. P. 

 arenarium gathered in several places ; P. pratense and vars. grown as a 

 hay crop under the name of Timothy grass. 



5. Alopecurus — fox-tail-grass ; 21 species, 6 British : three specimens 

 mounted. A. pratensis, a common but rather coarse grass. A. agrestis 

 scarce. 



6. Gastridium — 2 species, 1 British : the one mounted the only one 

 seen. A pretty little grass. 



7. Millium — millet grass ; 15 species, 1 (M. efifusum) British : a very 

 tall graceful grass, not very common, but plentiful on the Avon in 

 Caribber Glen. 



8. Agrostis — bent grass ; 100 species, 7 British, five of which I have 

 gathered : mostly useful pasture grasses. A. Spica-venti not common in 

 Scotland, although I found it in several localities. A. stolonifera soon 

 covers a large space of ground by its long creeping stems or stolons. 



9. Ammophila — 2 species, 1 British : a coarse but very useful grass on 

 our sandy shores, its creeping and fibrous roots forming a network which 

 prevents the sand from being removed by the wind. 



10. Aira — hair grass ; 25 species, 4 British. I have mounted four 

 species and one variety. Very pretty but useless grasses, all common. 



11. A vena — oat grass ; 34 species, 6 British. I have mounted six 

 species and vars., including the common oats. A. fatua, the wild oats, is 

 not very common ; A. strigosa can be gathered in almost every corn-field. 

 The other species are all common. 



12. Arrhenatherum — false-oats ; three species, 2 of them British. I 

 have only one species and two vars. of this very common grass. It is a 

 regular pest to the farmer. 



13. llolcus — soft grass; 7 species, 2 British, both very common. 

 Cattle will not eat either if they can get anything else. Pigs are very 

 fond of the creeping roots of H. mollis. 



