204 SCIRPUS. ERIOPHORUM. 



the Cove shore and the foot of Dunglass burn, J. Hardy. Aug., 

 Sept. 



71. S. MARiTiMTJS. Salt marshes. B. Mouth of the White- 

 adder : in the ditch at Newwaterhaugh. — D. Yarrowhaugh. Coast 

 near Beal. — N. Mouth of Warn burn, F. Douglas. July, Aug. 



72. S. SYLVATicug. River sides and damp vpoods, not common. 

 B. and D. Sides of the Tweed above the Union bridge, plentiful. 

 Sides of the Whiteadder near its mouth. — B. Birgham wood, Dr. 

 R. D. Thomson. Banks of the Eye below East Reston, A. A. Carr. 

 — N. Wood immediately above Ford bridge on the Till, Dr. F. 

 Douglas ; and on the Till at Wooler bridge. July. 



73. Eriophorum vaginattjm. Turfy bogs, and common on our 

 elevated moors. April. — This has various appellations in the Lam- 

 mermuirs. While just springing it is known by the name of fjluivs 

 crops!, iHHo&i, 3Purlatng, and EtlW or JLtng;. This latter name it 

 shares with the Deer's-hair (Scirpus csespitosus). When it has run 

 to seed it is called Cat=tail£!. The plant, while it is putting forth its 

 fresh herbage, in the opening of the year, is the chief support of 

 upland flocks, and without its aid, in late seasons, they thrive but 

 indifferently. In favourable years it begins to sprout as early as the 

 end of January and beginning of February, but its general time of 

 springing is in March. Black -faced sheep are especially fond of it, 

 scent it out, and crop it with such avidity that it looks as if it had 

 been " cut with a hook." They will spend days in the middle of 

 mosses, browsing on the favourite luxury, which is famous also for 

 its renovating powers. Some herds maintain that if a weak sheep 

 obtain but two or three mouthfuls of the fresh herbage, there will be 

 no danger of its recovery. The farmers of an age scarce expired, 

 were accustomed to cast out their feeble sheep in spring to the 

 mosses, and leave them to range at will, till, by the aid principally 

 of this grass, they had recovered. In many years the sheep sent up 

 from the low country to summer in the hills, are fat before " clipping- 

 time" ; and the grass renders others more profuse of milk. The 

 quantity of fodder it affords does not cease with the first growth, 

 for it braids and grows like grass or corn that has been eaten over ; 

 and after the seed has been ripened, which is about the end of July, 

 it undergoes a second spring. Then, however, its utility is less felt, 

 for now the muir pastures are all flush with many flowers and grasses. 

 J. Hardy. See also Ray's Philosophical Letters, p. 218 ; and Syn. 

 Stirp. Brit. p. 436. 



" This plant," say Messrs. Bailey and CuUey, " grows in wet 

 mossy places ; it generally springs in February and March. The 

 sheep are remarkably fond of it, not only the flowering stem, but the 

 roots ; and will scratch away the mossy soil six or eight inches deep 

 to obtain it. We have seen them working up to the eyes for this 

 purpose. The shepherds tell wonderful tales of the nutritive powers 

 of this plant ; asserting that sheep, reduced by hunger, will recover 

 faster, and thrive much better upon this plant than turnips. It is 

 certainly a valuable plant for three or four weeks ; but after it has 



