JUNE. 191 



the common green T way-blade (List era ovata), while 

 in some spots, though but rarely, the eye is relieved 

 with the appearance of the bright red clusters of the 

 Wood Hound' s-tongue (Cynoglossum sylvaticum). 



In wilder and more mountainous woods the glades 

 are decorated with the blue flowers of the "Woody 

 Crane's-bill (Geranium sylvaticum), and the elegant 

 nodding grass Melica nutans, occurs in similar spots ; 

 in such situations, also, damp and umbrageous, the 

 barren fronds of the Wood Horse-tail (Equisetum 

 sylvaticwn) spread their compound whorled branches 

 like some fir-tree in miniature, or a grove of palms. 

 A few fertile plants with black terminal catkins may 

 be discerned among them. On all sides here the 

 Enchanter's Nightshade (Circcea lutetiana^) scatters 

 its slender red spikes and pale flowers widely around, 

 while sheltered in mossy hollows the Winter- Green 

 (Pyrola rotundifolia et minor}, is here and there 

 revealed by its small drooping round white or rose- 

 tinged blossoms. In favoured tracts such as those of 

 Wyre Forest, Worcestershire, whole glades become 

 white as ermine with the numerous stainless flowers 

 of the Narrow-leaved White Helleborine (Epipactis 

 ensifolia). 



Meadows on the borders of hilly woods, especially 

 on calcareous soil, now exhibit in various localities the 

 specious pink Saintfoiii (Onobrycliis sativa), shining 

 from afar, and the purple-headed Mountain Milk 

 Vetch (Astragalus hypoglottis), as well as the common 

 Yellow Melilot (Melilotus ojficinalis) ; while lime- 

 stone banks and quarries present to view the yellow 

 clusters of the Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), 

 and the brighter clusters of the Bird's-foot (Hippo- 



