^60 Natural History in the English Counties. 



rous interesting ones, occurs there : — " The wryneck is seldom observed 

 to climb trees, although the feet seem calculated [constructed] for that 

 purpose." I once saw it climb the perpendicular face of an old tall wall 

 in the botanic garden at Bury St. Edmund's ; it was seeking either insects 

 or grit, and proceeded as if in neither haste nor fear, but uttered its hawk- 

 like note at intervals. I observed it through a telescope, and at no great 

 distance, and then first saw the elegant markings of its plumage : this was 

 seven or eight years ago. — J. D. 



The Kingfisher not rare about Bury St. Edmund's. — At the bottom of 

 the botanic garden, where runs the river Lark, specimens may very often 

 be seen ; and also in the low meadows south of the town. On Easter 

 Sunday last, some boys watched an old one into a hole in the bank, and 

 attempted to capture it on its exit ; but without success in this case. 

 They then with a crooked stick pulled out a portion of a nest, consisting 

 of a few feathers, old dried roots, and hay. I subsequently examined 

 the hole. It was in a low meadow 300 yards east of Northgate Street, 

 and on the bank of a small stream. The entrance to the hole was about 

 3 ft. from the water, and 1 ft. beneath the level of the meadow. Hole 

 9 in. in diameter, and about 5 ft. in length ; straight, and somewhat larger 

 at the end than at the entrance. Since this, I have been told of another 

 nest's being found from watching the old bird into her breeding-place, 

 where, in this case, she and her eggs were captured. I have seen many 

 specimens, but only one to alight. I saw one alight about three years 

 since, which it did on a weeping willow that overhangs the Linnet, a 

 branch stream of the Lark above, and where it sat about a minute, atten- 

 tively watching the fishes in the water, and then plunged in and seized what 

 I believed to be a stickleback, and with this in its beak flew swiftly away. — 

 Henry Turner. Botanic Garden, Bury St. Edmund' Sy May 15. 1831. 



I have frequently observed this bird fly up and down the stream of the 

 Lark, and once to be perched on a bar that was placed across the stream. 

 One of its white egg-shells, obtained from a boy who had plundered a nest, 

 was once given me. The size of the hole described by ray friend Mr. Turner 

 was seems past the powers of such a bird to excavate : hence Montagu's 

 opinion that it adopts a rat's hole is probably correct j of course a water 

 rat's, and one that has been deserted. — J. D. 



Anemone vanuncidoides. — I had, this morning, April 3., the pleasure of 

 finding this plant wild in the vicinity of Hawstead, on the banks of a rivu- 

 let, about half a mile to the south of Pinfer End Farm. I believe it is of 

 very rare occurrence in this neighbourhood, having never seen it wild before. 

 There were five or six full-blown specimens. — Henry Turner. Botanic 

 Garden f Bury St, Edmund^ s, 1831. 



Worcestershire. 



Barer Plants of Worcestershire.' — The following list, which I hope will 

 not be unacceptable to Worcestershire botanists, contains only plants which 

 were observed and gathered by myself in 1812, 1813, 1816, 1827, and 

 1829. Yours, &c.~- W. G. Ferry. Warwick, March 12. 1830. 



5cirpus sylvaticus. Near the Lodge-pool, Kid- Dlpsacus pilosus. Blackstone Rock, near Bewd- 



derminster, and in Wire Forest. ley. 



Eriophorum polystachyon. In a bog in Wire Galium saxitile. On all the heaths in the 



Forest, and in a boggy field by Finny Rough, vicinity of Kidderminster. 



near Stone. ilfyosbtis caispitbsa, with white flowers. In 



Eriophorum angustifblium. In a swamp on Burnt Wood, near Bewdley. 



the north side of Falling Sands Common, Symphytum officinElie, with purple flowers. 



; Kidderminster, and in Burntj Wood, near On the banks of the canal, &c., Kiddermin- 



Bewdley. ster. 



^Tardus strlcta. On Sutton Common, near Kid- Jfenyanthes trifoliJita. In a boggy field by 



derminster. Finny Rough, near Stone. 



Meliea uniflbra. Blackstone Rock, near Bewd- Xysim^chia neraorum. In a wood by Picket 



ley. Rock, near Kidderminster. 



M6ntia font^na. In a swampy place on Abber- Jnag&Uis tenella. In a boggy field b Finny 



ley Hill, above the Hundred House. Bough, near Stone. 



