773 



Report of the Botanical Proceedings of the Twenty-second Meeting 

 of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. 



The President, before announcing the first paper, adverted to the 

 decease of the Jate William Thompson, of Belfast ; and concluded by 

 moving a resolution, to the effect that the Section desired to put on 

 record their deep regret at the loss which science and humanity have 

 sustained by the sudden and premature death of this distinguished 

 naturalist. 



On the Altiiudinal Ranges of Plants in the North of Ireland, by 



Prof Dickie, M. D. 



The observations were made on Slieve Donard in the County 

 Down, attaining an elevation of 2796 feet ; Muckish and Erigal, in 

 County Donegal, the height of the former being 2190 feet, of the lat- 

 ter 2450 feet ; and Nephin, in the north-west of County Mayo, its 

 elevation being 2639 feet. It might have been expected that in 

 general the species noted would have the upper and lower limits of 

 each respectively obeying the usually understood law ; instead of 

 which, it appears that their natural upper limits are, with a very few 

 exceptions, lower in the North of Ireland than in North Britain. The 

 lowest limits of plants usually found at high elevations were next 

 examined, and those of twenty species in Ireland compared with their 

 recorded lowest limits in different parts of North Britain ; from which 

 comparison it appears that the lower limits in Ireland are generally 

 much lower than in North Britain. It may be stated, in other words, 

 that in Ireland, with a climate which is generally mild, plants usually 

 growing in low grounds do not rise so high upon the mountains as in 

 North Britain, with a less favourable climate ; and plants usually 

 growing at high elevations descend lower in Ireland than in many 

 parts of North Britain. 



Prof. Balfour had often observed a considerable descent of alpine 

 plants. Draba incana he had found on the sea-shore. Saxifraga 

 oppositifolia was found very low near Glasgow. 



Prof. Walker- Aniott mentioned several instances of alpine plants 

 descending to the sea-shore, as Saxifraga aizoides. He thought those 

 plants descended which grew in the vicinity of streams, and would 

 divide alpine plants into dry and moist. There was a considerable 

 difference in the distribution of plants, according as they grew on 

 continents or islands. 



