No. of Objects.

38

of crenated trifoliate form, with a small sharp pin (Pl. I, fig. 8.)

1 Pin of a large brooch or buckle.

1 Pin, two inches long, slenderly made, with solid globular

head.

1 Finger Ring, well formed; in a thickened portion containing an uncut but polished ruby, clear and bright as ever. This interesting example Mr. Mayer refers to the thirteenth century from ornaments on sculpture of this date. (Pl. I, fig. 9.)

10 Finger and Ear Rings, all plainly constructed.

1 Stud, of similar shape to those now in use for the collar and wrist-band. (Pl. I, fig. 10.)

14 Buckles of Straps, some retaining the tongue, of various

types: one, found by the writer, being a novel one

(Pl. I, fig. 11); another, from a belt, has foliacious ornamentation.

22 Other attachments of Straps, as buckle-shanks, hasps, tags and small ornaments.

10 Fragments of sheathing, pans, &c.

1 Handle of drawer from a cofferet.

2 Keys, of simplest construction but different type (Pl. I, figs. 12, 13.) These were found a quarter of a mile from the beach, but yet upon or in the artificial "mediæval "stratum," which must have been of great extent, for abraded as it has been by the sea for a long course of years, it is yet proved to underlie the meadows to some distance inland.

1 Tray-shaped object, of uncertain use: it has four sharp projections on one side, and is very strongly made. (Pl. II, fig. 14.)

1 LEAD AND PEWTER.-Ring Brooch, a flat disk, two

No. of Objects.

103

inches diameter, inscribed in large characters IHESVS. NAZARENUS. LA. (Pl. II, fig. 15.) The meaning of the two final letters, supplying the place of the usual REX, is unascertained. The letters are incuse and were probably designed for the reception of coloured pastes.

3 Fragment of Ring Brooch, 11⁄2 inch in diameter, ornamented with beaded and lozenge shaped facets, and two pins of similar sized brooches.

3 Bullæ or Seals and a merchant's cloth mark.

2 Counters, with chequered and other designs. (Pl. I, figs. 16, 17, 18.)

5 Studs, some ornamented.

3 Net sinkers (?)

14 Buckles, Hasps and fragments of attachments to leather straps.

1 IRON.-Key, 5 inches long, nearly perfect in the wards,

but badly oxydized.

12 Clench-bolts, of various sizes.

6 Nails, of curious forms.

1 Fragment of Norman Prych Spur.

1 Rowel of Spur, fifteenth century, with eight spikes.

2 Hooks; a large and a fish-hook.

2 Large buckle and hasp.

6 Knives, one with shaft in handle of bone.

9 Washer and miscellaneous objects.

1 Flat trowel or digger. (Pl. II, fig. 19.)

1 LEATHER.-Sole of shoe, fifteenth century, ten inches long, three inches broad. (Pl. II, fig. 20.)

38 CLAY.-Fragments of Pottery, twelfth to sixteenth century, four of which show ornamentation on the body and two upon handles.

No. of Objects. 213

Later English.

1 SILVER.-Quarter-shilling of Elizabeth, bearing date

1572.

1 COPPER.-Half-farthing of James I.

2 Half-pence of Charles II-" Carolus a Carolo."

4 BRASS.-Shoe and Knee buckles, mostly fragmentary. 4 IRON.-Nails from the old "Curing House" of the past two centuries, remains of which are visible in the sand hills north of Hoylake.

4 CLAY.-Heads of Pipes, sixteenth century, without potters' names.

4 Ditto, seventeenth century, one bearing G. A. on the rest, another D. B.

5 Ditto, eighteenth century, one with A. D. on the rest.

238 Total number of objects of archæological interest, irrespective of animal remains, found on or near the seabeach of Cheshire in 1866.

THE INTRODUCED PLANTS OF THE

LIVERPOOL DISTRICT.

By Mr. H. S. Fisher.

(READ 17TH January, 1867.)

THE history of our British Flora is one of considerable interest and affords ample scope for the research of the curious.

Within a comparatively few years so many additions have been made to our indigenous plants, that it becomes a difficult question to settle whether we are entirely indebted for this increase to the perseverance and careful examination of our botanists, or to a continued process of creation or development.

The first list of indigenous plants of any authenticity is one made by John Ray, who died in the year 1705. His list (omitting the cryptogamic plants) contains about 950 species; while the best modern list, "The London Catalogue of British "Plants," contains upwards of 1460-a difference scarcely to be accounted for by the mere supposition that many species may have been overlooked or not then discovered.

We find in our own district a change continually going on: dock extension and miles of new streets now covering what were formerly favourite botanical collecting grounds; so that year after year many of our local plants become more scarce or altogether eradicated. It is only from the changed character of the district, calling into existence species which were otherwise rare or perhaps quite unknown, that we occasionally get a return by discovering additions to our list.

There can be little doubt in the mind of any thinking

person that the earth beneath us is full of fertility, and that only some superficial disturbance is required to bring this fertility into action. It seems also that the earth is replete with the seeds and spores of vegetation, ready to spring forth when brought to the surface by any casual occurrence. It is true that many seeds being carried by the winds, or birds, or other agencies, to a suitable site, may speedily grow up; but this we think is not sufficient to account for the mass of vegetation that so soon covers a plot of newly turned soil. A remarkable instance of this fact occurred a few years since at Wallasey. The mud from the bottom of the Pool having been used in embanking the sides of the new dock formed there, was very soon covered with plants of various kinds. The most prominent among these was Erythrea pulchella, a species supposed to be entirely new to this district. This grew in such profusion as to entirely preclude the possibility of its being an accidental introduction, and I think clearly proves that the seeds must have been buried far beneath the surface, so as to prevent their vegetation until brought under the influence of the atmosphere.

It is said that soil brought from a deep mine, although carefully covered so as to prevent any seeds mixing with it, will in the course of a few weeks show signs of vegetation. The common white clover (Trifolium repens) invariably springs up on arable land after a fire has been upon the soil, as for instance, the site of the gipsy's fire by the lane side will be found in another year carpeted with this plant. The farmer also often finds a luxuriant crop from the use of bone manure without having sown the seeds.

The Nottingham Catchfly (Silene Nutaus) was unknown in the locality from which it derives its English name until after the Castle had been destroyed by fire, when this plant in a short time made its appearance on the ruins. A similar result was found after the great fire in London (1666); the