NATURAL HISTORY. 
19. Rosa tomentosa, Downy-leaved Rose. 
Hab. Common in many places. 
20. Rubus ccesius, Dewberry. 
21. R. Kochleri; Weihe and Nees — R. glandulosus ; E. Flora —Koehler’s Bramble. 
Hab. Both on banks at the side of the Foyle, above Derry. 
22. R. rhamnifolius (W. and N.), Buckthorn-leaved Bramble. 
23. Nuphar lutea, Yellow Water Lily. 
24. Nymphcea alba, Great White Water Lily. 
Hab. Both in Ballyarnet Lough. 
25. Galeopsis versicolor, Large-flowered Hemp Nettle. 
Hab. In Killea. 
26. Cnicus pratensis, Meadow Plume Thistle. 
Hab. Meadows in Killea. 
27. Ceratophyllum demersum, Common Hornwort. 
Hab. In a marsh by the side of the Foyle, above Derry. 
The natural meadows in this parish are moderately extensive, principally on the sides of 
the boggy ground in Ballyarnet, Shantallow, and Ballynagalliagh. The grasses and other 
plants, of which they are chiefly composed, are :—the Agrostis alba, Fiorin, or Marsh Bent, 
Grass; Cynosurus cristatus, Crested Dog’s-tail Grass; Holcus mollis, Soft Grass; Aira 
ccespitosa, Turfy Hair Grass ; and, on wet ground, the Juncus effusus, Soft Rush; J. conglo- 
meratus, Common Rush ; and J. acutiflorus, Sharp-flowered Jointed Rush. The average 
produce of these meadows is generally rated at 2-^ tons per Cunningham acre. 
The Alopecurus pratensis, or Meadow Fox-tail Grass, and the Bromus Mollis, or Soft Brome 
Grass, are also very common in the neighbourhood of Derry. 
The mountain pasture is generally poor. The most abundant plant on the top of Sheriff’s 
Mountain (552 feet in height) is the Calluna vulgaris, Ling, or Common Heath. The pasture 
grasses are the Festuca ovina, Sheep’s Fescue Grass ; Agrostis vulgaris, Fine Bent Grass ; 
Anthoxanthum odoratum, Sweet-scented Vernal Grass; Nardus Stricta, Mat Grass. The 
following plants likewise are abundant:—the Eleocharis Ccespitosa, or Scaly-stalked Spike Rush ; 
and the Juncus squarrosus, or Heath Rush. The productions of Creevagh Hill, and all the mossy 
ground in that neighbourhood, are similar, with the addition of the Melica ccerulea, or Purple 
Melic Grass, on the low ground. 
In most of the corn fields throughout the parish the Sinapis arvensis, or Wild Mustard, or 
Charlock—generally known here by the name of Prashach —is very common, and is, in many in¬ 
stances accompanied by that still more troublesome weed the Chrysanthemum segetum, or Corn 
Marigold—known here by the name of Guil, or Guilgowans. The Spergula arvensis, or Corn 
Spurrey, known here by the name of Yare, is also very abundant: of bog’gy ground lately re¬ 
claimed, it often takes almost exclusive possession. In some places the tall oat-like grass, here 
known by the name of Pearl —the Avena elatior —is but too frequent in the corn-fields,—as are 
also the Rumex obtusifolius, or Broad-leaved Dock ; and the Cnicus arvensis, or Creeping Plume 
Thistle. 
Zoology.— It is probable that a first view of this parish would lead an observer, totally 
unacquainted with its localities, to anticipate a full harvest of rich and interesting facts in zoolo¬ 
gical science—and such, assuredly, must have been the result of research in those remote times, 
when the surface of the land was covered with forests, its inmost recesses occupied by swamps or 
lakes, and the waters of the expanded Foyle still silent and undisturbed. The scene is changed : 
the small lake of Ballyarnet affords no shelter for water fowl; the plantations on the sides of the 
Foyle are narrow stripes, which abound in small birds, but produce few of large size, amongst 
which are probably two species of owls. 
The bare and exposed surface of the interior of the parish is even less favourable ; and 
the hills, though rocky, are too low to tempt the larger predaceous birds to linger among them, 
when the mountains of Ennishowen,—the lofty summits and heathery sides of Sawel, Dairt and 
Menard,—and the wild and gloomy precipices of Benyevenagh (beyond the Foyle)—invite them to 
more sequestered and fitting positions for nidification and repose. Nor have the lough and river 
of the Foyle been unaffected by the influence of advancing civilization, and extending commerce,— 
though in more retired parts, beyond the ordinary track of vessels, they are still resorted to in 
winter by numerous flocks of water fowl, for some of which the lough has long been celebrated. 
Among these are the Bernicle Goose ( Anser Benicia) ; the Brent Goose ( A. Brenta) —a species 
which is probably often sold as Bernicle in the Derry market; the common Teal ( Anas Crecca; 
Linn.); and the common Wigeon ( A. Penelope; Linn.) 
On reviewing these circumstances it is evident that this branch of the Natural History of the 
Parish requires only a brief notice of some leading facts, and may, in the more general details, 
be allowed to merge in the description of the Zoology of the county at large. 
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