102 THE FLORA OF SARK. 



of Sark do not occur in Jersey (except perhaps Scleranthus 

 annum). Trichonema columnce, confined to one spot in 

 England, is as abundant in Sark as in the two larger islands ; 

 but Orchis laxiflora, common in Jersey and Guernsey, does not 

 occur in Sark. Centaurea aspera, Cicendia pusilla, Lagurus 

 ovatus, Ophioglossum lusitanicum and Isoetes hystrix, which are 

 found in Guernsey, do not occur in Sark or Jersey, but in the 

 former there are no localities favourable to the growth of any 

 of them except Ophioglossum. It seems as though Sark scarcely 

 favoured one island more than the other. There are certain 

 special natural features which tend to make the flora of Sark 

 much less copious than that of Guernsey. 1st. Its small size ; 

 2nd. The small size of the streams, the scarcity of ponds and 

 marshes, and the limited extent of irrigated or natural water- 

 meadows ; 3rd. The absence of a low-lying area corresponding 

 to that at the Vale, which precludes the occurrence of those 

 plants which delight in sandy or rich marshy soils. 



Two lists of the Flora of Sark have already been pub- 

 lished : First, Professor Babington's, contained in his Pri- 

 mitice Floroe Samicce. In it he enumerates 247 species as 

 natives of Sark. The second is that contained in Professor 

 Ansted's Channel Islands, which is Babington's list with a few 

 additions and omissions ; it gives 266 species. 



This Society, including Sark within the scope of its 

 operations, determined to undertake the preparation of a list 

 of Sark plants, and in order to make this list as inclusive as 

 possible, I have spent two vacations in that island, one at 

 Easter (April 7th to 11th), the other at Whitsuntide (May 

 23rd to 26th), and with the assistance of other members on 

 the day of the Society's excursion (June 25th), we have been 

 able to visit all parts of the island and collect specimens at 

 varied seasons. Mr. Royle kindly undertook the examination 

 and identification of the difficult plants, and the result of our 

 labours, though by no means exhaustive, we consider very 

 interesting and satisfactory. 



Our list already contains 240 species, although we have 

 done little among the rushes, sedges and grasses, and have 

 been unable to include several plants which we have observed, 

 but could not thoroughly identify for lack of some essential 

 organ. If any member visiting the island would secure for us 

 mature specimens of these we should be pleased to avail our- 

 selves of his services and lengthen our catalogue. 



I consider our list both important and gratifying, for in 

 it we have no less than 66 species found neither in Babington 

 nor Ansted ; there are 67 not in Professor Babington. 



