Botany, 



V61 



together : the whole is to be fixed firmly to a light stick about 3 ft. long. 

 It is to be used with a slight jerk ; and, with a little dexterity, it will gene- 

 rally enclose the insect between the bags. — John Ferri/,jun. July 13. 1831. 



Art. II. Botany. 



On the relative Scarciti/ of certain Species of Plants^ and on Changes in 

 their Habitats. — Sir, Mr. Bree's communications are always interesting ; 

 they present the observations of an enthusiastic naturalist without any sci- 

 entific rust ; and his uniform candour and goodnature in reference to the 

 observations of others, well merits imitation. His remarks " On the claims 

 of /Vis tuberosa as a native of Ireland " (p. 28.) have induced me to take 

 up my pen, with the intention of making a few observations on the change 

 in the habitats of plants, and their relative scarcity. 



Mr. Purton, in his Midland Flora^ complains that he could scarcely ever 

 find any of the rarer plants in the stations assigned them by authors ; and 

 he therefore observes, " that in the present work no plant is inserted ex- 

 cept on positive information." However, I have myself found the same 

 disappointment with regard to Purton's habitats as he himself complains 

 of in others, and it shows the necessity not only of recording any new 

 habitats that may occur*, but of stating the failure of the old ones, where 

 that is the case, since it is frequently the occasion of much disappointment 

 to the botanist. For instance, i?anunculus Lingua appears in several 

 botanical works, as found on "bogs in Malvern Chase;" but without any 

 other local adjunct: — I have trod the chase in all directions in vain, and 

 I need not hesitate to say that it is no longer found there, nor have I ever 

 found it nearer than Langorse Pool, Breconshire; a fine station for marsh 

 plants, and where it flourishes abundantly. It is true that a considerable 

 part of Malvern Chase is now enclosed, and doubtless several bogs may 

 have been drained, but no record of this appears ; and the new edition 

 of Withering still flatters us with " bogs on Malvern Chase," only to be- 

 tray : ignis fatuus like, we are led into the bog, and left there. 



Dr. Stokes (for I have his edition of Withering as mentioned by CCj* 

 at p. 55.) savs that he found ^Scandix Cerefolium " near Worcester, grow- 

 ing in considerable plenty in the hedge on the south-east side of the 

 Bristol road, just beyond the turnpike. May, 1775." Now, lest the veracity 

 of the good doctor should be hereafter impeached, I beg to say that it was 

 growing in the very place indicated by the doctor, in great profusion in 

 1829, and I had previously noticed it there for several successive years ; 

 but in 1830 came that great enemy to botanical habitats the " surveyor 

 of the roads," who, armed with his "brief authority," demolished the 

 bank on each side, lowered the hill, altered the direction of the road; 

 and hence, farewell to Dr. Stokes's habitat of the ^Scandix Cerefolium, 

 " near Worcester," for I can perceive no traces of it this year. Dr. Stokes 

 also records J'pium graveolens as growing in Sansom Fields, Worcester; 

 where, indeed, there would seem to have been a mere or lake at some 

 distant period ; but the meadows are now enclosed, gardens formed, and 

 built upon, a canal cut, and the plant in question is no longer to be found 



* Mr. Dale's plan (p. 265.), where he interlaces his " captures of in- 

 sects," with an occasional rare plant, is excellent ; but a few more parti- 

 culars, as to whether there were few or many of the plants, if in full 

 flower, &c., would be acceptable. 



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