236 



The Irish Nainralist. 



November, 



interesting. Its nearest stations lie in Clare, Westmeath, and 

 lyOndonderry, and it was strange to find it in so remote and 

 isolated a scrap of water. Two small lakes lying on the 

 moorland three miles north of BelmuUet proved to be ordinary 

 bog-lakes, with a flora chiefly of Lobelia and Jtnieu^ stipinus. 



Heath, Bog, and Marsh, 



Although when well developed, the heath, bog, and marsh 

 vegetations are sufficiently distinct, yet in these western areas 

 they fuse to a large extent, both heath and marsh so frequently 

 tend to boggyness. On the low hills that terminate the 

 Mullet on the southward, a stunted grassy heath is developed. 

 Here Habeyiaria co7iopsea has its only station, and among the 

 other plants are H. zmidis and Ophioglosstii7i,QQ.Qh. found else- 

 where in only one spot. On the hill-tops at the north end of 

 the Mullet, and along the cliffs to Krris Head, there is a large 

 extent of wind-shorn heath, the carpet being formed of 

 Erica ci7ierea, Calluna, Arctostaphylos (Jva-ursi, 2iW^ Empehuiu, 

 with sometimes a small admixture of fiuiiperus nana. 



Here in the north, peat bogs are well developed, but; 

 excepting Di'osera aiiglica, no plant peculiar to them was noted. 

 Elsewhere, shallow bog, marshy spots, and wet sandy areas 

 are intermixed, and their flora is to a great extent similar. 

 Characteristic and abundant species are Radiola lijioides, 

 Hypericum elodes, Peplis Portula, G^iaphalinni nlighwsum, 

 C^iicus pratensis, Myosotis repens (first recorded for Ireland from 

 the Mullet by Babington, and here replacing M, palusiris), 

 Veronica Anagallis, Hydivcoiyle vulgaris, Anagallis tenella, 

 Eleocharis viulticaulis. Djvsera anglica was seen only on the 

 northern bogs ; D. intermedia is widespread, like Pinguicula 

 lusitanica. Sium angustifotijim has its head-quarters about 

 Cross Lough and Leam lyough, like Lotus uliginosns, 

 Bidens tripajtita, and Lysimachia vulgaris. Epipactis palust?'is 

 favours the sandy marshes and is frequent therein ; Ju7icus 

 obtusiflorus forms several large colonies on similar ground by 

 the roadside between Belniullet and Binghamstown, no doubt 

 the station observed by A. G. More. Erica 7ncditerra7iea, poor 

 and stunted, haunts the tract west of Belniullet, between the 



