I905. Prakgkr.--^ Further Glyceria Hunt. lyi 



Swan Rock yielded the plant in the greatest abundance. 

 Here, again, the succession of zones of maritime plants was 

 extremely well marked. In ascending order, first came a 

 grand fringe of G. festuc^formis, then Atripiex plus Aster, 

 then Agropyro7i, then Festuca ovina, and finally a little plateau 

 of meadow plants, such as Leontodon autumnalis, Cnicus 

 lanceolatus, &c., growing above the highest storm level. 



We had next a long row to Bird Island, lying in the middle 

 of the lough opposite Kircubbin. This islet, like Dunnyneill, 

 is higher than most, with a more gravelly beach, and in con- 

 sequence the G. festuccsformis zone is missing, save at the 

 south-eastern side, where the Boulder-clay comes to the sur- 

 face. A couple of miles of sailing northward, now with a fair 

 breeze, brought us to Sheelah's Island. This is a low gravel 

 ridge, yielding only Atripiex, Silene, Cochlearia, and Festuca 

 ovzna—not to mention a vast quantity of Terns. Our last call 

 was at Gabbock Island off Greyabbey, where we were pleased 

 to see a fine fringe of the grass along the western shore ; on 

 the eastern shore the plant was rarer. It was now low water, 

 which made these upper islands of the lough difiicult of ap- 

 proach, and prevented access to the last of the likely spots, a 

 rock called Chanderies, off Mountstewart. Our skipper, who 

 bad already proved correct in predicting the botanical capa- 

 cities of almost every island we visited, assured us that the 

 grass was abundant there, and promised to procure and post 

 us specimens. 



With a brisk southerly breeze, we slid across the lough, and 

 again landed at Ardmillan. The result of our cruise was to 

 show that on every island in Strangford I,ough where suitable 

 natural conditions prevail, and where cattle have not des- 

 troyed the taller vegetation, G/ycerza festuccsformis is the most 

 abundant maritime species, forming a broad dense fringe 

 rather lower down than the fringes of Atripiex, Agropyroft, 

 and Festuca ovina by which it is usually accompanied. 



A 2 



