By ascending one of the glens, south of Ballaugh, but still in that Sheading, (so called,) we are soon in a different kind of country—in the heart of the hilly part of the island, quite sub-alpine in character. Here the mosses are not low and flat, but commonly high and inclined, becoming constant feeders to the rivulets. They abound with the usual plants—Drosera rotundifolia, Pinguicula, Anagallis tenella, Scutellaria minor, Hypericum elodes, Waldenbergia, Aspidium Oreopteris, Lycopedia, Bryum punctaten, and, no doubt, others. Frequent waterfalls are here formed, where the streams flow down their rocky beds, and especially whores they leave the slate rock for the boulder clays, which the water more easily scoops out. Such is the case at the Spoogt-vane, a pretty cascade, situated in a retired amphitheatre, south of Ballaugh. It is less frequented than Rhenass or Glen Meay, and to some, therefore, perhaps as pleasing, though these are certainly romantic, the last even approaching the grand, where the river finally trends through the rocky ravine to the sea. There are the remains of a Treen Church in the wood, near the Spoogt-vane Cascade. The river abounds with a small dark-coloured trout.[1]
[To Be Continued.]
The Ray and Palæontographical Societies: An Appeal.
By W. R. Hughes, Esq., F.L.S.
As the principal object of our Union is to promote the study of Natural History, I venture to bring before its members the claims which these admirable Societies have ta their sympathy and support.
Perhaps no better illustrations could be given of the successful combination of numbers in effecting results, which are equally beyond the reach of private means on account of their costliness, and of public enterprise on account of the risk and uncertainty of sale, which many of the publications—mostly of a technical nature—would involve.
It is, therefore, not toe much to say that, except for the existence of these Societies, many most valuable works in Natural History—on which the talented authors have devoted years of labour as well as much expense—would never have been published.
Having, at the request of my friend, Mr. Wm. Mathews, jun., M.A., F.G.S., (who held the office of local honorary secretary to both Societies for upwards of twenty years,) undertaken to succeed him in the duty of collecting the subscriptions and distributing the volumes, and thus feeling more than an ordinary interest in the welfare of the Societies—this circumstance must be my apology for introducing the subject to the notice of the members of our Union, many of whom are doubtless more familiar than I am with the splendid works which they have issued.
- ↑ I gathered Hypericum androsœnuem, and Hiertcimon sylvaticum below the fall; and at Glen Meay, Vicia sylvatica and Erodium maritimumm.
