50 KENTISH BOTANY. [February, 



been reported from Hampsteacl, is no sure proof that they are 

 not there. 



Rosa villosa and Lathyrus Nissolia (Nos. 11 and 13) are among 

 the doubtful species. They may have been erroneously recorded 

 as Hampstead plants ; and, after the example of the learned au- 

 thors of the ' London Catalogue/ probably they should be put 

 into the Index Exirurgatorius, the limbo of British plants. 



Sigma. 



British Museum, January \Qtli, 1862. 



KENTISH BOTANY. 

 A Chapter on the Botany of Thanet. 



The first week of August, 1861, was spent in the investigation 

 of the indigenous or spontaneous vegetation of the north-eastern 

 coast of Kent. Since the publication of Mr. CowelFs ' Floral 

 Guide for East Kent,' there has been nothing published on the 

 botany of this part of the county ; and the present contribution 

 is offered in the hope of inducing botanists to direct their atten- 

 tion to the Isle of Thanet. 



Like most visitors who come here by water, we landed at Mar- 

 gate, and lost no time in sallying out to view the productions of 

 the country which our London folk, with their usual good sense 

 and sound judgment, have selected as the best locality where 

 marine-bathing, land and sea breezes are to be had in perfection. 



This part of Kent, its north-eastern corner, presents a singular 

 contrast to the general aspect of this picturesque county in being 

 almost flat and destitute of trees. It is a table-land in minia- 

 ture, not supported by lofty mountains, but rising, as it may be 

 said, out of the ocean's lap, and resting on a bed of chalk which 

 is elevated from two hundred to three hundred feet above the level 

 of the sea. Consequently the soil on the cliff's, and for some miles 

 inland, is what is called marly, or chalky, or gravelly, and on the 

 west and south-west the alluvial or river deposits predominate. 



The most elevated parts are on the brink of the sea, and the 

 general slope or declivity is towards the west, to the depression 

 once filled by the ancient channel which separated this island, as 

 it is called, from the rest of the county. This channel existed 

 in days long past, and it is no myth ; there was anciently a chan- 



