14 THE PLANTS OF uoLY ISLAND. {January, 



aquatilis (or one of the multitudinous progeny that give so much 

 labour and so little satisfaction to those who labour in this 

 barren field), Sparganium simplex, Menyanthes trifoliata, Juncus 

 coenosus, Littorella lacustris, Polygonum amphibium, and many, 

 more of less note. A walk over two or more fields brought me 

 to the bounds of cultivation, and I arrived at the Links, which 

 present some diversity in their productions, or yield a few species 

 which I had not previously gathered. 



As before said, in describing the island, the Links, which oc- 

 cupy so large a portion of its area, consist of rounded hills of 

 sand, which are also covered with Arundo arenaria. Carex 

 arenaria also has a good footing, and among other Grasses I 

 saw Phleum arenarium and Festuca rubra. In passing one of 

 the banks 1 was attracted by some fine examples of the Rest- 

 harrow. I had almost passed it with merely a passing look, 

 taking it for the commoner species, Ononis arvensis ; but on pos- 

 sessing myself of a sprig, I saw at once that it was O. antiquorum. 

 This simple circumstance, at the same time, showed me the value 

 of accurate observation in botanical rambles, for if this is not 

 attended to, many awkward mistakes may be made. Astragalus 

 hypoglottis, though not in flower, was still visible in many places, 

 and the same may be said of Cochlearia officinalis. 



By the way, the rarer C. danica grows on the Fame Islands, 

 which lie a few miles to the south of Holy Island. In many 

 parts of the Links there are depressions, which are usually damp. 

 The most important plants I found in these places were Samolus 

 Valerandi, Blysmus compressus, and Lycopodium selaginoides. 

 Gentiana campestris, G. Amarella, and Erythraa littoralis appear 

 to occupy as much ground as they can, for I found plants of 

 these species here and there all over the Links, but always thinly 

 scattered, Bosa spinosissima and Salix fusca grow side by side 

 in various parts all along the coast ; the former, indeed, is plen- 

 tiful in many parts of our Northumbrian shores, but Holy Island 

 is the only locality in our county for this Willow that I know of. 



At the north-western corner a long point juts out towards the 

 opposite shore, forming about half the length of the island, 

 though very narrow ; and it is so similar in character and pro- 

 ductions to the portion I have last described, that it will not 

 repay a journey along it ; I shall therefore cross to the western 

 shore, and proceed southward. 



