46 ARENARiA BALEARicA. [February, 



Lloyd gives a full and particular account of the habits of this 

 interesting novelty, viz. : " This species grows in patches [pieds 

 isoles), not forming a turf or sward^ on dry sandy flats, and seated 

 on small tumps or little hillocks like mole-hills. The disposition 

 of its leaves, which spread out and form a circle, serves to distin- 

 guish it from the plants with which it is associated, for example, 

 from Romulea Column(B {Trichonema Columiioi), and Scilla au- 

 tumnalis, which frequently are found in the places where this 

 plant grows." This intelligent author further adds : " Although 

 the ordinary stations or habitats for this species be exposed grassy 

 flat places, I have often seen it growing on the sands at the base 

 of dunes (small hills or sandy banks near the sea), where the 

 plant is larger {plus robuste). In Belle Isle I have seen it on 

 several steep hills of no great height, exposed to the south, and 

 surrounded with Romulea [Trichonema) and Ophioglossum lusi- 

 tanicum. It grows on the south-western coast of France, from 

 the Loire to Cape Fiuisterre. It is perennial, and is in fructifi- 

 cation from March to May. 



It will probably hereafter be detected in other parts of the 

 Channel Islands, and we hope that the above brief, simple de- 

 scription of the plant and of its habits and localities will assist 

 in its identification those who may be so fortunate as to find this 

 interesting novelty. 



AEENARIA BALEARICA. 



" Semper ego auditor tantum, nunquamne reponam p" 



"Strange! all this difference should be 

 'Twixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee." 



In the Annual Address, printed in our first monthly issue for 

 this current year, 1861, there is some allusion to the subject of 

 the present article, which was then under consideration ; and an 

 engagement was then made, that the matter should be fully dis- 

 cussed on the earliest fitting occasion. This promise is now to 

 be redeemed by the present performance. 



In this case the pen is drawn, not to attack, but to defend; 

 and it will not be used for inflicting castigation, but for main- 

 taining the truth. It is a compulsive, and neither a voluntary 



