August, 1905. 



AUG 24 1P05 



The Irish Naturalist. 



169 



A FURTHER GLYCERIA HUNT. 



BY R. IvLOYD PRA.EGER. 



It may be remembered by my botanical readers tbat last year, 

 in describing a search for Glyceria festucceformis round the 

 shores of Strangford Though, it was found that wherever cattle 

 had access to the shores (and this was almost everywhere), 

 there was no use in searching for the grass ; and that a small 

 ungrazed islet to which I swam was found to be literally in 

 possession of the plant in question. Acting on this hint, I 

 devoted two July days this year to an exploration of the 

 islands of the lough. I had the advantage of the company of 

 Mr. H. C. Marshall; himself a local man and a keen botanist, 

 and (through him) of two excellent boatmen from Ardmillan, 

 whose exact knowledge of the myriad channels and reefs of 

 Strangford lyough continually filled us with admiration. 

 According to local statement, there are 365 islands in the 

 lough, one for every day in the year — a peculiarity belonging 

 to several Irish localities ; but of these, almost all are grazed, 

 the animals being brought by boats or by swimming as the 

 case may be. The conditions imposed by experience- 

 namely, reefs rising above spring tide level, and not invaded 

 by cattle — imposed a strict limitation on the number of islets 

 to be examined. 



Slipping down the channel from Ardmillan, v/e first, after a 

 preliminary unsuccessful cast on the mainland shore, explored 

 the Lythe Rock. Here, over two miles north of its most 

 northerly mainland station (Ringhaddy) we found the plant 

 growing in great abundance and luxuriance. We tried, as a 

 kind of control experiment, the rough shore of Mahee Island 

 close by, but here cattle have played their usual part and no 

 trace of the grass was to be seen. Then we went south a 

 couple of miles to Craigaveagh, the next spot fulfilling the re- 

 quired conditions. Here, again, G. fesiuccsfof?nis formed one of 

 the leading features of the vegetation, especially on the 

 southern shore. Green Island Rock, lying west of the Minnis 

 Islands, was our next point. It proved to be in complete pos- 

 session of the grass — indeed, the only other plants present 



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