A BOTANICAL RAMBLK OX THE BANKS OF THE DART, 199 



This is also to be met with on the Mill Leat, near Totnes. Passing Folly 

 Marsh, I saw the Common Snake, {Natrix torquata,) swim from the opposite 

 side of the Dart to the side where I stood, with its head raised gracefully 

 above the water; which it did with great ease apparently, and crawled up 

 the bank by my side. Here the Wood Horsetail, (Equisetum sylvaticum,) 

 with its fertile spike may be found, also the Earth Nut, {Bunium flexuosura,) 

 with its umbel of delicate white flowers, but it is very common everywhere. 

 In all directions now the Common Bugle, (Ajuga reptans,) is seen with its 

 pale blue flowers, growing in the hedges a foot or more in height, but more 

 diminutive in pastures. On the sandy soil in Folly Island, the flowers of 

 the Wood Loosestrife, or Yellow Pimpernel, (Lysimachia nemorum,) peep 

 forth from amidst their delicate green leaves. Passing a corn field near North 

 wood, I found the Common Fumitory, (Fumaria officinalis,) ^^Rank fumites" 

 as Shakspeare calls it, and the yellow flowers of the Creeping Cinquefoil, 

 (Potentilla reptans) just out, not yet abundantly — 



"The five-leaved gi-ass mantling its golden cup of flowers." 



And a single specimen of the Butterfly Orchis, (Orchis hifolia.) Before I go 

 further, I must mention that I found a short way back the Common Currant, 

 (Rihes ruhrum,) growing close by the water's edge. Eeturning to North wood, 

 the Dog Violet, [Viola canina,) still in great beauty — 



"That queen of secrecy, the Violet." 



Keats. 



The yellowish tinged flowers of the Dogwood, (^Cornus sanguinea,) and the 

 pretty blossoms of the Maple, {Acer campestre,) met my eye, in addition to 

 many of those already mentioned, many of which flower in great beauty here. 

 A short walk brought me now to Staverton Bridge — which I crossed, and 

 on the Staverton side of the River found the Monks-hood, (Aconitum napellus,) 

 in bloom — a very rare flower in this neighbourhood, and which I have only met 

 with here and by Brook side, near Bidwell Copse. — It is so well known in our 

 gardens, that it needs no description here. Recrossing the bridge, I bent 

 my steps over the fields by the water side to Hood, and in a field not far 

 from Staverton found a great favom-ite of mine, the Common Dwarf Lousewort, 

 (Pedicularis sylvatica,) on marshy, sandy soil, raising its bright pink flowers 

 just above the ground amongst the golden flowers of the Furze, [Ulex Europoeus,) 

 not at all a common plant. Above Hood Bridge, the rocks in some damp 

 situations were covered with the Golden Saxifrage, (Chrysosplenium oppositi- 

 folium,) occasionally a Columbine, (Aquileyia vulgaris,) with its drooping purple 

 flowers was seen, a rare plant in some districts, but plentiful in all our Devonshire 

 woods. About a mile above Hood Cottages, a most delightful part of the 

 Dart, I discovered a short time back the Pasque Flower, {Anemone pulsatilla,) 

 similar in shape to the Wood Anemone, but the petals of a dull violet colour, 

 — a scarce plant in this country. 



Although rather diverging from the route laid down at starting, I will 



