[May, 1857.] 97 



DINGLE AND ITS FLOEA. 

 By the Rev. W, M. Hind. 



In visiting Dingle I had an object beyond the mere gratifi- 

 cation of my taste as a tourist or botanist^ — I wishjd to ascer- 

 tain^ by personal inquiry^ the state of the Protestant Missions in 

 that neighbourhood. Were the ' Phytologist ' the fitting vehicle 

 for communicating the satisfactory results of my investigations 

 to the worldj they should be included in this paper. While glad 

 to bear my feeble testimony to the moral and social elevation 

 arising from the labours of the Irish Society, I feel that I have 

 no right to press into its service the pages of a journal devoted 

 to the cultivation of botanical science and discovery. 



Dingle is situated near to the south-west extremity of a pro- 

 montory of the county of Kerry, and is the most westerly town 

 of the British Isles. Formerly it enjoyed a considerable trade, 

 but is now decayed, and is dependent on its fisheries and agri- 

 cultui'e. The scenery around and along the whole route from 

 Tralee, the county town, about twenty-five miles distant, has a 

 wild grandeur, — having all the advantages of lofty mountain, 

 bold coast, and magnificent sea. During my short stay, from 

 June 28th to July 4th, 1856, I was, only able to investigate to a 

 very slight extent the botanical products of the neighbourhood. 



Near the town I observed Erodium moschatum, Sm., Veronica 

 grandiflora, at first sight taken for V. Buxbaumii ; also, in great 

 profusion and of remarkably vigoro^^s growth. Digitalis purpurea, 

 L., one single specimen having white flowers; Scolopendrium 

 vidgare, Sym, var. cristatum; Osmunda regalis, L., and the 

 other ferns of generally ordinary occurrence. On old walls I 

 found Cotyledon Umbilicus, L., and Glyceria loliacea. On the 

 headlands and along the coast were growing very plentifully 

 Cochlearia danica, L., Crithmum maritimum, L., Jasione Mon- 

 tana, L., of unusually luxuriant habit and large flowers, Erythraa 

 latifolia, Sm., Anagallis tenella, L., Beta maritima, L., and As- 

 plenium marinum, L. On the beach, Zostera marina, L., was 

 thrown up by the tide, and also some vascula of Utricularia in- 

 termedia, Hayne ; from which I infer that the plant must have 

 grown in the vicinity, and have been brought down to the bay 

 by some stream, and in the end thrown on the beach. The 



X. S. VOL. 11. o 



