257 



Account of a Botanical Excursion to Ailsa Cray, in July, 1844. By 

 J. H. Balfour, M.D., F.L.S., Regius Professor of Botany in 

 the University of Glasgow.* 

 ' At a previous meeting of the Society, Mr. Keddie gave an account 

 of a botanical trip to the Bass Rock, that remarkable trap island which 

 lies on the east coast of Scotland, and by way of contrast 1 now pro- 

 pose to give a short notice of an excursion made about a fortnight 

 afterwards to Ailsa Crag, an equally, or perhaps still more remarkable 

 island on the west coast. 



Our party, consisting of myself and seven pupils, viz. : Messrs. F. 

 and O. G. Adamson, Caldwell, Craig, Risk, Stevenson and Connal, 

 left Glasgow on Friday, 21st July, 1844, by an afternoon railway train 

 for Ayr, where we went on board the Stranraer steamboat. The wea- 

 ther was propitious, and we had a fine view of the Ayrshire coast as 

 we skirted along. Greenan Castle, the Heads of Ayr, Dunure Castle 

 and Culzean Castle were among the objects of interest which we no- 

 ticed. We reached the rocks called the Maidens in the evening, 

 having previously arranged that a boat should be in readiness to take 

 us ashore. The landing here is by no means easy in rough weather, 

 and even when calm, the shallowness of the water on the sandy beach 

 prevents a boat of large size from landing its passengers comfortably. 

 Having secured quarters at Kirkoswald, we proceeded along the shore 

 to Culzean Castle. On the way we picked Atriplex laciniata and ro- 

 sea, Salsola Kali, Polygonum Raii, Convolvulus Soldanella, Mentha 

 sativa, /3, rubra, Agrimonia Eupatoria, Habenaria viridis, Eryngium 

 maritimum, Ribes nigrum, Carex arenaria, Ammophila arenaria, Pyre- 

 thrum inodorum, &. maritimum, Zostera marina and several sea-shore 

 plants. Leaving the shore, we proceeded to the woods of Culzean, 

 where Epipactis latifolia, Campanula latifolia, both blue and white, 

 Epilobium angustifolium, Listera ovata and Symphytum officinale 

 were gathered. A visit was paid to the pond, which is frequented by 

 a great number of interesting species of water-fowl, and we afterwards 

 directed our steps towards the castle. Culzean Castle was founded 

 by David, late earl of Cassilis, in the year 1777. It stands on a rock 

 which rises perpendicularly out of the sea to the height of 100 feet. 

 It is interesting both as regards its architecture and the splendid view 

 which it commands of the Frith of Clyde and of Ailsa Crag. On the 

 fort at the castle there is a cannon marked as being of the time of 

 Charles I. There are several remarkable caves in the rock, some of 



* Read before the Botanical Society of Glasgow. 



Vol. II. 2 k 



