234 BOTANICAL SKETCHES. [October, 



plants of jEthusa Cynapium. Further on a singular circumstance 

 is presented by the occurrence of the Horned Poppy, in great 

 abundance on the schistous side of the cliff, thriving capitally, 

 notwithstanding the elevated situation. Having descended to 

 the shore by a crevice, our scansorial propensities induced us to 

 climb the cliff-side, in the hope of adding another stranger to our 

 queer Flora in the botany-box, and we were rewarded by a speci- 

 men of Bird's-foot Trefoil, the scientific name of which, Orni- 

 thopus perpusillus, may be quoted as one of the many triumphs 

 of botanical nomenclature. Wild Celery abounds, together with 

 the Willow-herb, in all the damp crevices formed by the rain and 

 drainage of the fields above. Little novelty is to be seen, except 

 perhaps the abundance of Linum angustifolium, until we approach 

 Whitenothe Cliffs, which one can but admire as noble specimens 

 of the white cliffs of Albion. 



The vast extent of undercliff here requires no small amount of 

 exertion and considerable agility to sm-mount its many obstacles. 

 Ample proof of the abundance of rabbits is given by the scanty 

 vegetation being entirely destroyed in some places by their exer- 

 tions. On the least alarm, they scamper away and dash up the 

 perpendicular side of the cliff, where, crowding on the rock, they 

 quietly watch your puny efforts, either by stone or voice, to dis- 

 lodge them from their fastnesses. We have no doubt however 

 that the peregriae [falcon ?], sailing along so majestically above, is 

 apt sometimes to steal a member of their community. The first 

 part of the cliff is decidedly unpromising : nothing but thickets of 

 Blackberry-bushes is to be seen; we will however clothe them 

 with the name of Rubus fruticosus, and thus render them more 

 acceptable to our formally scientific botanist. Proceeding a little 

 further, the dark green of the Iris foetidissima allured us up a 

 rocky incline, where we were pleased to find some splendid spe- 

 cimens of Reseda Luteola, or Dyer's Weld, attaining the height 

 of four or five feet. Thickets of Ligustrum vulgare now occur, 

 and we think it to be one of the reaUy native stations of this 

 ^*'' plant, perhaps the only one in Dorset. If Privet be so abundant. 

 Elder (/S. nigra) \^ not less so, as it may be seen clinging to the 

 chalky sides of the cliff throughout their whole length, and appa- 

 rently getting a pretty good living from the poor soil. " Heaps " 

 of Samolus Valerandi clothe every damp place, where also are 

 scattered Senecio Jacobaa and aquaticus. Euphorbia portlandica 



