THE FLORA - 87 



description of the Western Isles, 1695, mentions that "the 

 middle is rocky and heathy, which in most places is prettily 

 mingled with thick evergreens of Erica baccifera, Juniper, 

 and Cat's-tail." 



Lightfoot accompanied Pennant to the island in July 1772, 

 and remained on it for several days. In his Flora Scotica, 

 which appeared five years later, Lightfoot records six plants 

 (Carum carui, Convolvulus soldanella, Schlerochloa maritima, 

 Bromus arvensis, Carex arenaria, Triticum junceum) from 

 Oransay, and four (Orchis pyramidalis, Gymnadenia albida, 

 Habenaria viridis, Osmunda regalis)hom Colonsay ; he having, 

 no doubt, intentionally omitted all the commoner kinds. 



The first systematic investigation of the flora of Colonsay 

 was made by Mr Symington Grieve in 1879-81. The results 

 of Mr Grieve's researches are embodied in two interesting 

 papers read before the Edinburgh Botanical Society in April 

 1880 and in July 1881, and afterwards published in the 

 Transactions of the Society, vol. xiv., 1883, pp. 66, 219. 

 About 350 species of flowering plants and vascular crypto- 

 gams, besides mosses, are included in Mr Grieve's lists. 



During a brief stay in the island from 3rd to 5th August 

 1886, Mr W. F. Miller found about 265 species and 

 varieties, most of which had been previously noted. There 

 were some new records for V.C. 102. A short notice with 

 reference to this visit afterwards appeared in the Journal 

 of Botany, 1886, p. 308. 



While staying at Machrins House in July and August 

 1906, the late Mr Alexander Somerville, B.Sc., F.L.S., took a 

 keen interest in the local flora. During a prolonged residence 

 in the island the writer had made extensive collections of 

 native plants, which were examined by Mr Somerville, and, 

 with new records of his own he was able, before his 

 departure, to raise the list to about 500 species and 

 varieties, including previous collectors' records. The most 

 interesting finds of the season were the Eock Samphire and 



