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to Portland one of the first plants we find is by no means a common 
one: it is the bird’s-foot trefoil (Trifolium ornithopodioides), which 
occurs rather sparingly in dry, sandy spots. The rose-pink blossoms 
of the sea-bindweed (Convolvulus Soldanella) and the thrift or sea-pink 
‘Armeria maritima) are conspicuous amongst the moss which covers 
much of the ground near the road; and here, also, we may notice the 
stately sea-holly (Eryngium maritimum), which grows very lvxuri- 
antly.. The Danish scurvy-grass (Cochlearia Danica) skirts the road 
nearly all the way to the Bridge. The four-leaved all-seed (Polycar- 
pon tetraphyllum), first found by Mr. Hudson, and afterwards by 
Mr. Lightfoot, in Portland, was also discovered here by Mr. A. B. 
Lambert. This, however, is only one of several plants, formerly found 
on this beach, whith are now seldom, if ever, to be met with. We 
must not, however, forget to notice the rare Festuca uniglumis, almost 
peculiar to the sandy shores of the South of England, which may be > 
seen here by the roadsides, together with the hemlock stork’s-bill 
(Evedium cicutaritum), the blossoms of which are often almost white, 
and the buck’s-horn plantain (Plantago Coronopus), which, with the 
little thyme-leaved sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia) are very com- 
mon. 
A narrow tract of sand and shingle stretches out on our right, ex- 
tending someway Hast of the Ferry Bridge; and now our attention is 
attracted by the luxuriant profusion of the sea-spurge (Huphorbia 
Paralias). The Portland spurge (Euphorbia Portlandica) also 
occurs, but more sparingly, although in Portland it is very com- 
mon. The handsome blossoms of the yellow-horned poppy (Glau- 
cium luteum) render the sea-shore gay though the summer months. 
Dr. Maton, in his interesting ‘ Observations on the Western Counties 
of England, published in the year 1797, vol. i. p. 54, writes, “Just 
after crossing the Ferry, Asparagus officinalis appears, but very 
sparingly, and so diminutive that it may easily escape observation.” 
We have in vain searched for this plant, and we much doubt whether 
it is now to be found in this locality. The sea-kale (Craimbe mari- 
tima) formerly grew abundantly on the Chesil Bank, as appears by 
Hutchin’s ‘History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset,’ 2nd 
edit. vol. ii. p. 364; but he states that in his time it was nearly all 
destroyed, and we now find no traces whatever of it. 
Crossing a broad belt of wet sand and mud on our left, we meet 
with the sea Schoberia (Schoberia maritima), and on the beach the 
more rare species, the shrubby Schoberia (S. fruticosa). A sea-shore 
umbel-bearer, the sea-samphire (Crithmum maritimum), peeps up 
