1857.] BOTANICAL SKETCHES. 233 



Vulneraria and Prunella vulgaris, with Tussilago Farfara, straggle 

 on the loose side of the cliflF, frequently overtopped by a droop- 

 ing bunch of LoHum spicatum ? The dry, rocky soil of the under- 

 cliff is plentifully sprinkled with Carlina vulgaris and Linum 

 catharticum, which latter at this place replaces L. angustifolium. 



Let us now proceed until we approach a structure, designated 

 by courtesy a house. It will be seen to be made from an old . 

 boat, that, after having nobly braved the storm at sea, has yet 

 to do good service on shore. It is probable the occupant will 

 be seen trudging up and down near his castle, now and then lift- 

 ing his glass to scrutinize some distant sail. We will however 

 let him alone, and proceed to examine the swampy ground below. 

 Here luxuriate Equisetum fluviatile and two or three species of 

 Juncus, together with Stonecrop, Samolus, and the Bog Pim- 

 pernel. Triglochin palustre reaches a great height, nearly over- 

 topping the bushes of Cnicus j^alustris that crowd the ooze. 

 Perhaps the most interesting plants to be found here are some 

 specimens of a viviparous E,ush, which, from an examination of 

 their stems, seem to belong to Juncus lamprocarpus. Before 

 going further, it may be as well, for the benefit of incipient bo- 

 tanists and all others whom it may concern, to say a few words 

 about viviparous plants. Certain members of the vegetable king- 

 dom, in a freak, instead of bearing fruit and seed in due course, 

 " shirk ^^ the cares of maturing them, and produce bond fide 

 young plants : this may be especially noticed in the common 

 Onion, together with many Grasses, and with the Bush before 

 us. 



Let us now pass on and continue our descent until we reach 

 some firm ground, where, after a slight search, we observe a few 

 specimens of Neottia spiralis, one of the smallest of the British 

 Orchids. Here also Carduus nutans droops its head, besieged by 

 a score of busy bees, that are waging cruel war on its honeyed 

 dew. On the beach below, At7'iplex patula, of coarse succulent 

 growth, straggles on the smooth pebbles ; and as we pick a spe- 

 cimen, hundreds of jackdaws wheel above, puzzled beyond mea- 

 sure at the notice taken of such a vile weed ; however, their noisy 

 chatterings fail to disturb an old raven that sits moodily enough 

 on one of the crags, no doubt despising the black busybodies, his 

 neighbours. The cornfields on the top of the clifl" abound in 

 Filago germanica and Linaria spuria, together with some few 



N. S. VOL. II. 2 H 



