58 Dr. Arnott' s Botanical Excursion to the Rhinns of Galloway. 



of those who reside in Glasgow during the mouth of September, as fine 

 specimens may be had between Bowling-bay and Erskine feny, and else- 

 where on the banks of the Clyde. 



At Port Logan we visited the far-famed fish pond, where we see the 

 inhabitant of the sea reduced to the same degree of tameness as a cat, 

 by means of that mighty engine, hunger ; an excellent illustration of that 

 dominion which God promised to man, not only " over the fowl of the 

 air and every living thing that moveth upon the earth," but also " over the 

 fish of the sea." There was, indeed, something almost ludicrous in the 

 familiarity shown by some of the larger ones, coming to the very edge of 

 the pond, with their jaws expanded and half out of water, so as to be fed 

 with a few limpets. 



Passing for a short way through the grounds of Port Logan, we took 

 the road to Port Gill, and met with the Aster Tripoliu7n, Scirpus maritimus, 

 Helosciadium nodifiorum, a variety of Polygonum aviculare considerably 

 different from the ordinary one, and a small maritime form of Catabrosa 

 aquatica. On some grassy slopes we found Carlina vulgaris. The shore 

 being too much indented and rugged to permit of us following it, we again 

 left it in search of the road to Portpatrick. Jn this portion of our 

 journey we observed Eqidsetimi limosum, [E. Telmateia) and in one or two 

 places, Isolepis Saviana, a species which, although distinguishable from 

 /. setacea by its nut being destitute of longitudinal furrows, has yet so 

 precisely the same appearance, that in the absence of the fioiit, it would 

 have been impossible to decide which was the species. Besides /. Saviana, 

 another species or form of this is found in some parts of England and Lreland : 

 it is the I.])ygmcea of foreign botanists, a name which is older than/. ^Saviana, 

 although it is not very applicable to some of the elongated Lrish and even 

 Galloway specimens I possess. Under the name of /. pyma;a, the 

 plant has a very wide geographical distribution: as I. Saviana, it is 

 peculiar to Europe. In the specimens collected in Galloway, the nut 

 cannot be said to have any asperities or tubercles on its surface ; 

 it only appears rough, on account of minute and vei*y close numerous 

 impressed dots, like a thimble. After joining the road to Portpatrick, we 

 met with Radiola millegrana; and in one spot on the east side of the 

 road, TormentiUa reptans, a species which ought not to be confounded 

 with Potentilla repta/ns; but if blended with any, it must be with Tm-- 

 ineMiUa officinalis, of which it has the ex-facie appearance of a very luxu- 

 riant variety. I am not awai-e if any attempt has been made to cultivate 

 it, or compare it with TormentiUa officinalis, also cultivated : roots or 

 seeds for that purpose may however be easily procui-ed near Glasgow, close 

 to Lambhill bridge across the canal, where I have seen it for two years 

 in the month of July in great luxm'iance. 



Coming near Port Float, we descended to the beach, but foimd nothing 

 worthy of notice, except Ligusticum Scoticum; and as much of the day 

 was spent, we resolved on again seeking the road, and proceeding dii'ect 

 to Dunskey Castle, a distance of five or six miles. This part of our walk 



