OSMINGTON MEETING. xlv. 



November 6th of that year), but, as the Vicar of Osmington was 

 to celebrate Mass in the chancel of the church on the annual 

 festival of its dedication, which chancel was to be kept in repair 

 by the Abbot and Monastery of Milton, it is probable that the 

 chancel of the church existed up to the time of the dissolution 

 of the greater monasteries, and was secularised at some time 

 after that. 



BOTANY OF THE EXCURSION, 



CONTEIBTJTED BY EEV. E. F. LlNTON, M.A. 



On leaving Weymouth, the marsh at Lodmoor would have offered some 

 interesting plants, the Strawberryhead Trefoil and Sea Trefoil, both species of 

 Ruppia, Brookweed, &c., if time had allowed. Passing rapidly, however, one 

 could see fine tufts of Sea Campion on the beach, where the rare Yellow Vetch 

 (V. lutca) has also been found. As we approached Preston, fine plants of 

 Hemlock raised their graceful umbels high over the hedges, and another 

 poisonous plant of the same order, Water Dropwort, whitened waste bits of 

 osier-bed with its masses of flowers. Ascending the long hill, the slaty blue 

 flowers of the Iris, most unfairly named the stinking Iris, since it buries its fetid 

 odour in its roots, caught the eye. The Teasel, not yet in flower, Rest-harrow, 

 and Sage, or Clary (Salvia Verbcnaca.J , grew near the roadside, and the Redspur 

 Valerian and Pellitory adorned the walls. Osmington, too, had some curious wall- 

 plants ; the Lesser Broom-rape, on Crcpis fi'rcns (Hawk-bitj for its host, topped 

 one old wall. Pennywort and Ivy-leafed Toadflax caught the eye on others. 



The cliffs from Holworth to Osmington Mills are not very rich in rare plants, 

 but several of interest were noted. The rare Vetchling, Lathy rm Nissolia, was 

 found by some ladies of the party in quantity a curious plant with grass- like 

 leaves (which are really petioles, or phyllodes, destitute of leaflets) ; the Bee 

 Orchis was found by others; Lady's Fingers (Anthyllis Vnlncrarla), the Small - 

 flowered Buttercup (R. parviflorusj, with its curious tubercled fruit, Wild 

 Celery, Gromwell, and Hound's Tongue were noted ; the Bristly Ox- tongue 

 (Hclniinthia echwldcs) especially drew attention, its leaves, armed with 

 numerous white-based prickles. Eclilum (Viper's Bugloss), from which the last 

 takes its specific name, showed its blue spikes here and there. The Milk Thistle 

 (Sili/biwi MariamimJ, which had been found previously, was conspicuous by its 



BUSINESS MEETING. 



The various divisions of the party were reunited at Osmington 

 Mills, where tea, which had been ordered for them at the Picnic 

 Inn, was served under an awning in front of it. Whilst tea was 

 being served the business meeting was held. 



