1898-99.] 475 



Coming near to Killough we noted the raised beach and 

 the upper accumulation of crass gravel which Harris, writing 

 150 years ago, called " unripe sandstone." This tertiary de- 

 posit of calcareous matter occurs along the shore from Killough 

 by Ardglass to the beach at Ballyhornan, some distance 

 beyond Gunn's Island. It is a pervious deposit, and is no 

 doubt the source of the water supply to the wells along the 

 coast, as at Killough, where it rests upon the impervious 

 rocks, and thus holds the water that supplies St. Seordin's 

 Well, from which the supply for the town is derived. This 

 bed of calcareous conglomerate may be called " the mother of 

 Seordin," a term that is sometimes applied to the smaller 

 wells along the coast below the Coastguard Station. 



Killough, presenting such a variety of physical conditions, is 

 known as a highly interesting district for the botanist, yielding 

 a number of plants of much rarity, and a wide range of 

 the more general forms. The result of our visit was there- 

 fore quite satisfactory. On the coast the following were 

 collected: — The pretty blue skullcap {Scutellaria galericulatd), 

 knotted pearl- wort {sagina nodosa), the lesser swine cress 

 {smebiera didymd), the white centaury, &c. On the road- 

 side, near the well, the dwarf elder, or Dane's blood, was 

 found ; also one of our rarest rushes, juncus obtusiflorus. The 

 wild beet {beta maritimd) occurs near Killough Station. This 

 species is the origin of the cultivated beet. The wild chicory 

 {cichorium intybus) was found in a grazing field near the town. 

 The root of this is the chicory of commerce ; it is cultivated in 

 England and the Continent, and may be supposed to have been 

 introduced here ; if so, it now appears to be quite naturalised. 

 The principal discovery of the day was the samphire {crithmum 

 marilimum). This is the St. Peter's herb of Italy {herba di 

 San Pietro), from which our name is derived. Old Gerard 

 says that, ' 4 mixed with vinegar and oil, it stirreth up an 

 appetite to meate," hence there was a trade in its collection 

 and preparation. To this Shakspere refers in connection with 

 Dover Cliffs — 



