447 



remarks I lately offered on the three allied species or varieties, — E. 

 hyemale, Mackaii and variegatum ; there is, however, this difference 

 between the two localities that I have examined, that the prevailing- 

 rocks on Deeside are granite, and, if I mistake not, gTanitic gneiss. 

 The situation of E. variegatum at Bany seems to overthrow my con- 

 jecture that " the banks and bed of rivers " are its natural habitat : 

 there is scarcely an imaginable way in which a stream could have de- 

 posited it in the spot which it now occupies. 



The roots of the Barry plant scarcely differ from those of the Dee- 

 side variety. The stems are of the same variable length and number 

 of articulations, with 4 — 10 striae : they are completely prostrate, ex- 

 cept in a few instances, when supported by Ammophila arenaria. 

 When not sheltered by that or any other plant, they are brownish on 

 the upper or exposed side and green on the under ; it is, however, 

 possible that the brown colour may be the effect of the lateness of the 

 season. On the upper side also the bands of black upon the sheaths 

 run farther down the stem than they do on the under side. The teeth 

 are wedge-shaped, not ovate as at Banchory : the bristles are longer 

 and apparently more persistent. The catkins are in general more 

 cxserted and matured, and, as well as the stems, have sometimes a 

 reddish tinge. The plant seems to branch in the same manner as in 

 the higher and moist situation on Deeside, 150 feet above the sea. 

 When the sand is compacted by small plants which afford no shelter 

 to the Equisetum, the latter is generally very small, slender and fili- 

 form ; where the sand is loose or the plant has shelter, its growth is 

 much stronger, and in the sheltered situation it is greener. In no 

 case does the plant attain the same size as on Deeside. Some speci- 

 mens slightly resemble E. Mackaii, but are perfectly distinct ; the 

 resemblance arises from the bristles being longer, and the amount of 

 black upon the sheaths greater than in the usual state of the plant. 



The links and sands of Barry form a very interesting botanical sta- 

 tion. I have no doubt that a summer ramble among these hills and 

 hollows would amply repay the researches of the botanical visitor ; 

 for although my visit took place at the end of October and the begin- 

 ning of November, when they were in a state of decay, I could detect, 

 among others, the following plants:— Astragalus hypoglottis, Elymus 

 arenarius, Juncus balticus, and, I think, Erigeron acris. Juncus bal- 

 ticus is especially plentiful, being found in almost every part of the 

 extensive links, and forming large plats in the meadows and hollows 

 between the sand-hills. In this and similar places the intelligent 

 observer cannot fail to be struck with the peculiar adaptation of the 



