284 



IRELAND 



perfect. The dense, almost impenetrable, thicket of shrubby 

 wood, which a few years since afforded excellent cover for many 

 aquatic birds, and also sheltered C. Buxbaumii, has recently 

 been cut down. The little island is now a bare exposed pasturage 

 where, in the struggle for existence, only the more hardy and 

 aggressive are likely to maintain their hold." The other peculiar 

 species, Calamctfirostis Hookeri, first found on the same or a neigh- 

 bouring island, has disappeared thence ; but although rare, still 

 occurs on the Antrim and Derry shores of Lough Neagh. Many 

 plants, indeed, are extinct or on the way to extinction in the north- 

 east of Ireland ; such are Cladium germanicum ("not found 

 recently"), Hypericum hirsutum, Adoxa Moschatellina , Arabis hirsuta, 

 Subularia aquatica, Andromeda Polifolia, both species of Rhamniis, 

 EpipactU palustris, and others. 



One or two known introductions have thoroughly established 

 themselves. Hottonia, which was planted by Templeton at Cran- 

 more, has been " more recently introduced to the bog-meadows, 

 and has spread amazingly in the drains there. Still later it has 

 been brought to Holywood and to Cushendun. The origin of 

 this plant in Down was most probably through human agency, at 

 no remote date." The cowslip is wild only in one locality, 

 Ilostrevor, and even there is said to be " possibly introduced ;" in 

 its several other localities it was " probably introduced by design or 

 accident." The plants excluded from the 'Flora' are put by 

 themselves in an appendix — a practice which, while showing a 

 laudable tendency not to swell the numerical estimate of the work, 

 is, we think, of doubtful convenience. So carefully are these sus- 

 picious chai acters isolated, that even a separate index is provided 

 lor them which is almost certain to be overlooked. These unfor- 

 tunate plants are of two grades : the first consisting of such as are 

 not indigenous and not naturalised;" the second of "plants 

 erroneously recorded." No fewer than 141 are in the first class 

 ana 12J m the second. Mr. Stewart has certainly not erred on 

 the side of leniency, and it seems to us that some of the first 

 group might have claimed admission to the body of the book as 

 naturalised. The second grade is unusually large, and much care 

 «s manifested in the notes stating why certain plants are excluded, 

 lempieton's memory is satisfactorily cleared from a large number 

 01 errors for which he has been held responsible ; but many plants 

 winch found their way into the Irish flora on the authority of Mr. 

 iJ. Urr are shown to require confirmation, and indeed it is not 



ODscureiy lunted t] ^ the records of this collector are not to be 

 accepted as trustworthy. 



Mr. Stewart has secured the help of specialists in the more 

 cinical groups, whose help i s duly acknowledged; and the local 

 naturahsts have actively co-operated. Mr. G. A. Holt, of Man- 

 chester, has critically examined the Mosses and Hepaticas, the 

 enumeration of which is very extensive. The Alga» and Fungi are 

 not included in the volume. The local names for many species 

 are given: "Michaelmas Daisy" for Matricaria inodoru is probably 



