Wild Connemara. By Dr Charles Stuart. 211 



were lying in numbers at the bridge, some leaping out of the 

 water. All round the house the banks were adorned with St. 

 Dabeoc^s Heath in full bloom, as far as the eye could reach — a 

 sight worth going any distance to see. The Dwarf Whin, 

 Wlex Europeeus, var. strictus, gilded the knolls, with sheets of 

 blossom, and was new to most of us. We had however now a 

 blazing sun above us, temp, above 80^, no breeze, and a stagnant 

 air in consequence, which fatigued us greatly. JEscallonia mic- 

 antka, an exotic, and evidently planted, filled a disused quarry, 

 growing with a luxuriance unknown in Scotland, except in 

 some favoured spots on our west coast. We were now in the 

 moors, bogs, and among numerous lakes fringed in many 

 instances with Osmunda regalis. 



Many good plants were gathered, among which may be men- 

 tioned Cladium mariscus ; Pinguicula Lusitanica — a truly carni- 

 vorous plant — many insects being found in its leaves ; Drosera 

 anglica, I), intermedia, D. rotundifoiia, Rhynchospora alba ; all over 

 the moors with Schcenus nigricans. Rhynchospora fusca was first 

 seen by the Eev. D. Paul, and was a good find, on the shores 

 of a lake due west from the factor's house. We were gathering 

 Nymphea alba, the white water lily, in glorious beauty, when 

 Rhynchospora fusca in abundance was seen. In proceeding west- 

 ward, following the shores of one lake after another, innumer- 

 able little plants of the Royal Fern were growing, and proved 

 too tempting to be passed, without digging up a few for planting. 

 Lastrcea (bmula, far from a common fern in Scotland, was gathered 

 growing out of a wall in considerable quantity. Carex flava, C. 

 binervis, and C. pulicaris, were the common Carices observed. 

 Naias flexilis, Eriocaulon septangulure, and Lobelia Dortmanni — 

 three good plants, grew associated in one of the far lakes ; 

 Samolus Valerandi, Nuphar lutea, on wet spots ; and Utricularia 

 minor and U. intermedia were in abundance in the water holes ; 

 while on the banks vievQJuncus lampocarpussind. Scirpi in great var- 

 ieties. Juncus uliginosus, with its floating appearance in the peat 

 holes, was remarkable ; fine specimens of White Ling, Calluna vul- 

 garis, also white Erica tetralix and E. purpurea. I saw no white 

 Daboecia polifolia in flower, but I have living plants which I believe 

 are the white form, obtained from the moors near Clifden. 



A few of our party returned to Professor Pye's residence for 

 lunch, where they were treated to unbounded hospitality. With 

 some other enthusiasts I remained in the moors collecting, 



