409 



various species of gull) find a ready market in the metropolis at 2s. 6d. 

 a dozen, and are considered a delicacy, though I am unable to ascer- 

 tain to what class of persons the consumers belong. The samphire 

 is consigned by the cliffsmen, packed in casks with salt water, to 

 certain wholesale houses in London, by whom they are paid 4?. per 

 bushel, cleaned and sorted. For smaller quantities, as when required 

 for private consumption, the charge for collecting is one shilling a 

 gallon. The samphire is considered in perfection when just about to 

 flower, or towards the end of May, and the gathering lasts for several 

 weeks, as the plants come successively into blossom. The herb, 

 minced, is served up with melted butter, instead of caper sauce, in 

 this island. 



Angelica sylvestris. Extremely common everywhere, in damp or 

 wet and boggy thickets, hedges, &c. 



Peucedanum palustre? A specimen of this scarce species I saw 

 August 13th, 1845, in the herbarium of the London Botanical So- 

 ciety, marked " Southampton, Mrs. Dennison," but without date, or 

 other particulars to serve as a clew to its rediscovery in the county. 



Pastinaca sativa. In pastures, waste places, borders of fields and 

 woods ; abundant in most parts of the Isle of Wight where the soil 

 is chalky. Rare about Ryde, at Binstead stone-pits. Profusely in 

 woods at Swainston, and plentiful about Luccombe, Bonchurch, Yar- 

 mouth, Calbourne, Carisbrook, &c. Common at Andover. Maindell 

 chalk-pit, near Fareham ; Mr. W. L. Notcutt!!! 



Heracleum Sphondyliiim. Common everywhere in the county and 

 island in damp woods, pastures and hedges. The var. fl. migustifo- 

 lium I once gathered near Ryde. Var. y., with pink flowers, below 

 Marvel Copse near Newport, June, 1841. 



Daucus Carota. In pastures, by road-sides and borders of fields, 

 one of the most abundant and universal plants of its order over the 

 entire county and Isle of Wight; our old, dry pastures are often 

 quite covered with it. 



maritimus ? On cliffs, waste ground and grassy slopes by 



the sea in several parts of the Isle of Wight. Abundant on the steep 

 banks in Sandown Bay, and about the cliffs and fields above Fresh- 

 water Gate. Plentiful at Bonchurch. By this name I have been 

 accustomed to designate a plant very common along the coasts of this 

 island, but which I am quite unable to distinguish by any constant 

 character from D. Carota, from which it differs materially at^ first 

 sight in its much stouter, very densely hispid stern, more hairy 

 leaves with somewhat broader segments, larger umbels, often 4^ 

 Vol. hi. 3 h 



