68 Mr Syiiiiiigtoii Grieve on the 



that the true wealth of" the islands lay in their rich pas- 

 ture-lands, on which are reared fine herds of cattle, and 

 large numbers of sheep. 



The Flora of this district is sucli as one expects to meet 

 with in the Lowlands, but from the humidity of the atmo- 

 sphere the climate proves most congenial to those plants 

 requiring moisture; we find it therefore the home of some of 

 our best ferns, which grow with a luxuriance perhaps only 

 equalled on the coasts of Cornwall or Devon. For instance, 

 we found in the caves along the shore of Kiloran Bay 

 hundreds of Scolopendrium vulgare, and among others a 

 specimen with fronds 2 feet 6i inches in length ; and it is 

 curious to note that this fern seems mostly confined to these 

 caves, ajid is comparatively scarce on the east of the island, 

 where Aspleniurii ■marinum is in great plenty ; and in the 

 deep clefts of the rocks near the sea we found several plants 

 of this Asplenium, with fronds of the same length as those of 

 the largest hart's tongue above mentioned. It seems to vary 

 greatly, for on exposed cliffs it exists in a dwarf state with 

 thick curled fronds, and might easily be mistaken fur a 

 different plant ; and we noticed on the walls of the ruins at 

 Oransay that the dwarf variety and the ordinary form of this 

 fern grow together, which is remarkable. 



Ncphrodiuni ocrnulurn grows plentifully ; Osmunda regcdis 

 is abundant, and Hymenophyllum unilatercdc in some 

 places forms the sward beside the heather. Altogether, 

 we noted seventeen varieties of ferns, and there may be 

 others which did not come under our observation. 



With regard to flowering plants Anogallis tenclla and 

 Sedum anglicuiii adorn almost every bank about Scallasaig, 

 and on the western clifi's the chief ornament is Sedum 

 Bliodiola. In the marshy meadows the show of orchids is 

 magnificent, among the number being Listcra ovata, Orchis 

 macidata and latifolia with Hcdioiaria viridis and hifolia, 

 while on a sandy meadow is the only station known on the 

 west of Scotland for Orchis pyyximidal is. In the ditches are 

 found Samolus valerandi, Ajuga reptans, and many others ; 

 but as a Catalogue is appended of flowering plants, ferns, 

 club mosses, and horse tails, numbering upwards of 

 two hundred, besides between forty and fifty mosses, it is 

 needless to name them. Mr H. C. Watson, author of 



I 



