FAREWELL FACTS AND FANCIES. 275 



of the land, were, when we visited the place, tanned to the hue of the 

 veritable Red men of the west. From the window of our little sitting-room 

 at the Queen's Arms, we had a charming park-like prospect adown a wooded 

 valley extending eastward, but this we had no opportunity of exploring, as 

 our time ran short, and after an early dinner, and a subscription of our 

 names in the visitors' book, four o'clock saw us again "steaming away" for 

 Guildford. The retrospect of my visit is a very pleasing one, and only 

 furnishes an incentive for one which I trust to take in cooler weather, and 

 with more time on my hands: for the present, my observations, such as they 

 arc, have been recorded. 



September 21s«., 1854:. 

 FAREWELL FACTS AND FANCIES FROM NORFOLK. 



BY" G. R. TWINN, ESQ. 



On Tuesday, June 13th., I walked early in our orchard, and was surprised 

 at the sight of three Goldfinches, {Cardiielis elegans,) and a Blackcap, {Cur- 

 ruca atricapilla ,) singing on a cherry tree, and occasionally indulcjing in a 

 little fruit. In the evening I strolled to Melton ruins, and gathered my 

 first Scarlet Pimpernel, (Anagallis arvensis,) in the lanes, and also some Wild 

 Strawberries, (^Fragaria vesca,) quite ripe. A fine cluster of Forget-me-nots, 

 {^Mijosotis palustris,) became our prize as we returned, and a flower of the 

 Red Campion, {Lychnis clioica.) 



By reference to my calendar, I find May 9th. was my date of collecting 

 the White Campion, one of our most pleasing wild flowers, and not so 

 frequently selected as the favourite spot of a very prolific race of Beetles 

 as the Rose Campion. In regard to the Pimpernel, and many other plants, 

 it is not fully known what constitutes their deep sensibility, for the presence 

 of rain or damp very powerfully aflfects them; it appears the possession of 

 a highly-organized and sensitive tissue, very closely blended with the general 

 substance of the leaves and petals, and which resembles the nerves in manj 

 but what peculiar aids are subservient to the plants' organization and structure, 

 it will require much practical observation and culture to detect; for the 

 Wood Sorrel, {Oxalis acetosella,) that closed in the open air, did also in 

 the confinement of a room when rain threatened; but a Pimpernel, with 

 which I made trial, did not. I am only repeating what is well known — that 

 diflerent treatment ends in different results. I have seen the Forget-me-not, 

 by a high degree of heat, produce very dark purple flowers, some almost 

 black. 



To study the peculiar habits or properties of the wild flowers in their 

 native states is fraught with much pleasure, and well repays every close 

 observer of that great volume, which tells, (with its beautiful coloured illustra- 

 tions,) God's great goodness; and leads us to ask, "are not plants indeed endued 

 with sensation?" 



