97 



FURTHER 

 DISCOVERIES OF ARENARIA GOTHICA. 



LISTER ROTHERAY. 

 Skip ton -in-Cra ven t J r orksk ire. 



SECOND PAPER. 



In 'The Naturalist' for November 1895 I recorded the discovery on 

 August 13th, 1895, of Arenaria gothica Fries, on a cart-track in three 

 adjoining pastures near to the head of Sulber Nick, but between that 

 place and Selside, the said cart-track running between the latter place 

 and Crummack Dale and Clapham. 



At that time, being dissatisfied, as regards their completeness^ 

 with my observations of the plant in the stations above-named and 

 in the cart-track outside the head of the Nick (Mr. Farrer's Station i), 

 I resolved to visit the place again at the earliest opportunity, in 

 order to explore the track lying further to the south of the latter 

 station as well as also to investigate the moorland on the west, 

 and Sulber Nick itself on the east. 



Accordingly with these objects in view, the morning of Sept 16th 

 found me once more in the vicinity of Sulber Nick, but alas ! under 

 changed and more unfavourable conditions for the work in hand ; 

 for when I reached the precincts of the Nick, I found all the 

 surrounding district enveloped in a thick, sleety fog, which com- 

 pletely hid from view all objects except those within a radius of a 

 few yards, and which seemed to have arisen and settled down in 

 a very short time. This being the case, the task in hand was 

 rendered all the more difficult and uncomfortable by reason of the 

 soaking nature of the grass and blinding sleet, the latter of which 

 being driven by a strong breeze, swept the surface of the ground 

 like a drizzling rain. 



However, despite the unpleasant nature of the atmospheric 

 conditions, the task of exploration was commenced with a survey 

 of the precincts of the Nick itself; but although I made a most careful 

 search of its northern side, together with a large portion of its bottom 

 surface, extending some distance towards its southern limit, not 

 a vestige of the Arenaria was seen, until the slope bounding the 

 western end was reached. It was whilst here ascending a footpath 

 that, after crossing the Nick, leads up the western slope towards the 

 wicket-gate in the boundary wall outside the head of the Nick, that 

 the first sign of the Arenaria was met with. 



When near to the top of the sloping side, and within a few yards 

 of the gate itself, one single plant, then two more, and another odd 



•V fr ii 1896. G 



