A VISIT TO LIHOU 



BY MR. G. T. DERRICK. 



The third visit of this Society to the islet of Lihou was made 

 on June 25th, 1895. The weather was everything that could 

 be desired ; the long drought and extreme heat had caused 

 plants to ripen early, so no signs were to be discovered of some 

 of the small spring plants which, occurring plentifully on the 

 mainland, may also exist on Lihou, as for example, Teesdalia 

 nudicauliS) Drdba vema. Sisymbrium thalianum, &c. 



Lihou may be spoken of as a rectangle measuring about 

 500 yards from east to west, and 240 from north to south, with 

 two spurs at the east extremity projecting one north, the other 

 south, making a width here of about 600 yards ; so the area 

 would be about 30 acres. The shores are considered a good 

 collecting ground for seaweed, and Lihou is still the principal 

 Guernsey station for collecting and burning vraich for the 

 manufacture of iodine, but the finishing processes are per- 

 formed at the old steam mills at St. Martin's. A large party 

 (62) took part in the excursion, and these, crossing by the 

 causeway with little difficulty at 12.30, mostly made their way 

 to the ruins of the Priory to refresh themselves for their 

 afternoon's work. Assembled at this historic spot, the 

 archaeologists naturally had the first innings. Then the 

 company separated, and each division devoted itself to making 

 as complete a survey of the islet as the limited time would 

 allow. The botanists had hoped to obtain as many as 50 

 species of plants, and were highly delighted that they nearly 

 doubled that number ; no less than 86 flowering plants and 

 4 ferns were catalogued by our worthy ex-President and his 

 colleagues. 



For botanical purposes the island may be divided into 

 three regions ; — 1st, The coast and the outcrop of rock at the 



