2TT 



Perhaps the instances cited are enough to show that 

 there are pecuharities in the flora of Nahant, tending to dis- 

 tinguish it from that of the mainland. It would be a very 

 interesting study, to make careful examination of the larger 

 islands along the coast, such as Lowell, Thacher's, and the 

 Miseries, and then include those in Boston Harbor, for the 

 purpose of comparing the productions of these truly insular 

 soils with those of this peninsula. I have my suspicions that 

 a similarity would appear among them all, and a common 

 quality of difference from the mainland, which might furnish 

 some clue to the cause of the facts, I have stated, at least 

 it might throw some light on the question of the distribution 

 of species, and would go far to verify the statement, I have 

 already made, that Nahant is, essentially, an Island. 



Wednesda/j, June 30, 1858. 



Field Meeting at Newburyport. — The second field 

 excursion took place this day, and the destination for the 

 party was selected at Newburyport. It was a fine, clear and 

 hot day, and suitable to invite forth a goodly number of per- 

 sons to partake of the anticipated pleasures of such gather- 

 ings, which are made periodically by the Institute. The Rail- 

 road train which leaves for the Eastward at quarter past eight 

 o'clock, A.M., was selected for the means of conveyance, and 

 an agreeable and diversified ride after a while, brought the 

 company to a spot previously agreed upon for disembarking, 

 at about three miles this side of the city. A small stream, 

 called Little River, wended its way through the adjoining 

 pastures, and as this spot was gained the region was at once 

 seen to be of a different character from any before noticed. 

 Along the track of the railroad and upon its bed the Euphor- 

 bia Esula (L.) had established itself profusely, a plant no- 

 ticed by Oakes as naturalized in the eastern portions of the 

 county, several years since. It is a native of Europe and 

 one of the many troublesome foreign visitors in our agricul- 

 ture. The surface of the rocks betrayed, by the greyish 

 tints and peculiar lichen growths, their calcareous characters: 



